Chapter 108: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [108] [40 PS]
Bonus Chapter!
---
"It should be him..."
"But didn't he say he was going back to Snezhnaya? Why is he in Inazuma?"
"Maybe... he lied to us earlier..."
Lumine and Paimon whispered to each other as they watched Luo Qing's figure on the stage.
They didn't notice that standing right beside them, Thoma's eyes had widened in shock.
In his view, Luo Qing was gently patting the top of Ayaka's head with his right hand, his expression soft and affectionate.
And Ayaka, blushing shyly, didn't seem to mind Luo Qing's actions at all.
Could it be that what Luo Qing had said before was true?!
Was he really trying to woo Ayaka?!
But this was the Kamisato Princess!
How on earth did he pull this off?!
[+1 Frustration Value from Thoma]
Thoma's mind was suddenly filled with confusion.
He'd been back for several days, yet Ayaka hadn't mentioned anything about Luo Qing.
And hadn't he already given a heads-up to the clan master?
How did Luo Qing still manage to get close to her?
Paimon glanced at Thoma's face and scratched her head in confusion, "Huh? Thoma, why do you look like you just swallowed something nasty?"
"Ah? Cough, cough... it's nothing, really. I just happened to see something... baffling."
Thoma forced a smile, sighed, and said to Lumine and Paimon, "Alright, you've seen the Shogun. We should move on to our next destination. Staying here too long could bring unwanted trouble."
Lumine glanced back at the stage, remembering Ganyu's request. She hesitated.
"Could we wait a little longer? We have a friend over there... A friend from Liyue asked us to bring something for him..."
Paimon chimed in, "Yes! We haven't given him Ganyu and Shenhe's gift yet!"
"A friend?"
For some reason, Thoma's unease grew stronger.
"He's on the stage?"
"Yes, that's right. He's... that person right there!"
Paimon pointed her tiny finger toward Luo Qing's direction.
"..."
As expected, Thoma knew this wouldn't be simple.
If he allowed Lumine and Paimon to go over now, Ayaka's presence might be exposed.
So, even though he had many questions, he had to follow Ayaka's instructions and lead them away for now.
"Your current status is rather sensitive. If it's not urgent, could we wait until after this task is over to visit your friend?"
"Huh? But..."
"Don't worry, I know your friend too. I'll arrange for you to meet him quietly later."
Thoma forced another smile. To get them to leave, he had to pretend he knew Luo Qing.
"Uh... okay..."
Lumine, half-believing, half-doubting, ultimately had no choice but to trust Thoma in this unfamiliar land.
She glanced back one more time at Luo Qing on the distant stage, then followed Thoma out of the Tenryou Commission.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
From the high platform, Luo Qing had noticed Lumine and her group the moment they entered the Tenryou Commission.
But with Ayaka on one side of him and Raiden Shogun on the other, any odd expression on his face might draw unwanted attention.
So, he had no choice but to act as if he hadn't noticed them and continue with the final stage of the exam.
And, while Thoma was watching, he took the chance to gently ruffle Ayaka's hair...
Seeing Lumine and her companions leave, Luo Qing felt a sense of relief.
If Lumine had stubbornly approached him and encountered Raiden Shogun prematurely, he wouldn't have known how to handle the situation.
The final day of the exam concluded.
Luo Qing's one-on-one, hands-on training with Ayaka over the past month had paid off.
In the end, Ayaka delivered the most flawless execution of the First Form of Thunder Breathing: Thunderclap and Flash, earning her Raiden Shogun's praise and the privilege of co-creating a new sword style with Luo Qing.
However, Ayaka, being a noble daughter raised in the Kamisato tradition and well-versed in Kamisato-style swordsmanship, had participated in the training mainly out of duty.
What mattered to her wasn't the so-called privilege, but the chance to work together with Luo Qing.
But with their relationship at such a sensitive stage, Ayaka couldn't linger around Luo Qing after the exam. After exchanging a few polite words, she returned to the Komore Tea Room to meet with the traveler.
Though she couldn't interact with Luo Qing for now, his words remained in her heart.
Knowing that the traveler was coming to Inazuma, she began her preparations.
She hoped that the traveler could truly help them overturn the Vision Hunt Decree.
If that day came...
Maybe her brother wouldn't oppose her relationship with Luo Qing anymore...
...
The month-long training had ended.
As of today, Luo Qing had accumulated a total of 8,011 Frustration Points. With the previous emergency ten-draw, he now had enough for ninety pulls.
Though the system seemed unimpressive, at least it didn't suffer from bad luck.
Now, Luo Qing was certain he could obtain the Resurrection Armor without a hitch.
Returning to his resting quarters, he pondered where to perform this sacred eighty-pull draw.
Opening the door, he discovered someone waiting inside.
A figure was sitting casually on his tatami mat.
"Weren't you supposed to be gone for two months? Why are you back already?"
Seeing Rosalyne lying against the table, flipping through a light novel, Luo Qing calmly asked Teresa to prepare tea and sat down across from her.
He glanced at the cover of the novel she was reading. It read: The Wandering Girl Who Fell in Love with a Noble Knight.
"Hmph, this safehouse isn't exclusively yours. Why can't I be here?"
"This is my room. What, Lady Rosalyne, do you want to sleep here with me tonight?" Luo Qing teased.
"Hmph, all you can do is run your mouth."
After spending so much time with Luo Qing, Rosalyne had become immune to his jabs.
But she was keeping a mental note.
She was just waiting for the day she'd get the chance to punch him hard.
Every time Luo Qing teased her, she imagined those words turning into icy flames, destined to burn him one day.
"Those old geezers at the Commission were easier to deal with than I expected. If it weren't for you, I'd already be on a ship back to Snezhnaya, not wasting time reading this garbage light novel."
"But this is your promise, isn't it, Lady Rosalyne?"
Luo Qing smiled, his gaze drifting over Rosalyne's perfect figure.
He had to admit, compared to a naive girl, a mature woman like her had a different kind of charm.
If she were to wear a maid outfit...
Hiss...
"By the way, Lady Rosa;yne, why did you pledge your loyalty to Her Majesty the Tsaritsa?"
"Hmph, what does that have to do with you?"
"Just curious."
"Hmph, I don't have time to waste on idle chatter with you. In a month, I won't stay a day longer. If you have any tricks up your sleeve, you'd better act fast."
Rosalyne shifted her position, settling into a more comfortable posture, and continued,
"Now get out. Don't disturb my reading."
"This is my room. Shouldn't you be the one leaving?"
"..."
---
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
If you wish to support me or read ahead here's a link! [patreon.com/WiseTL]
Chapter 109: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [109] [50 PS]
Bonus Chapter!
---
Besides, it wasn't like Rosaline was actually going to spend the night in his room, and he needed a place to perform his card pulls anyway.
After giving Teresa a few instructions to keep an eye on Rosaline, Luo Qing left the safehouse, intending to find a good spot for his card pulls.
On Narukami Island, the Grand Narukami Shrine was considered the prime spot for fortune, but it was too far away, and Luo Qing wasn't about to make that journey.
After some thought, he looked at Tenshukaku in the distance and had an idea.
...
On the other side.
Ever since the exam had ended, Raiden Shogun had returned to Tenshukaku to meditate.
Suddenly, a slight breeze swept past her back. Without turning around, she already knew who it was—Luo Qing, of course.
"What do you want now?"
"It's been a while since I last saw Ei, and I thought I'd drop by for a chat."
Luo Qing placed the light novels and snacks he was carrying to the side, sitting cross-legged before the Shogun.
"A chat?"
Raiden Shogun glanced at the two large bags of gifts, frowning slightly.
How come every time Luo Qing visits, it's either to see Ei or to ask for a favor? He never thinks of bringing me any gifts for a friendly chat.
"Yes, exactly."
Luo Qing nodded with a smile, "So, can I go in this time? Don't worry, I won't take long."
"..."
Raiden Shogun was momentarily speechless.
She wasn't sure why, but she felt a reluctance to let Luo Qing enter.
"Huh? What's with that expression?"
Noticing her hesitation, Luo Qing leaned forward and teased, "Are you jealous?"
"!"
"Ridiculous!"
Raiden Shogun's voice turned cold, "Why would I be jealous of you?!"
"Alright, alright, I understand. I'll make sure to bring you some treats next time."
Luo Qing chuckled, unfazed by her frosty demeanor. He spoke gently.
"If I didn't think you'd overpower me in a fight, I might have given you a comforting head pat right now."
"..."
[+1 Frustration Value from Raiden Shogun]
Raiden Shogun's brows furrowed. Luo Qing's patronizing tone irked her.
With a wave of her hand, she threw Luo Qing into the Plane of Euthymia.
This guy... he's so irritating.
She wasn't sure when she'd make up her mind to cut him down.
...
As his vision returned, Luo Qing found himself within the Plane of Euthymia.
When it came to superstitious card pulls, it was all about making an event of it.
And this plane was his stage.
Maybe he could hit the jackpot here?
As long as he didn't claim his prizes immediately, not even Ei would sense the system's presence, so he wasn't worried about being caught.
"Seriously, you've never cleaned this place, have you?"
Seeing light novels and dessert boxes scattered haphazardly around, Luo Qing sighed. He walked over to Ei, placed the light novels and snacks on the floor, and started tidying up the trash.
This disorganized space had a distinct feel of a stay-at-home girl.
Ei slowly opened her eyes, speaking in a soft voice.
"These are merely possessions. Their presence here doesn't affect me."
"That's just an excuse. You're simply lazy."
"..."
[+1 Frustration Value from Ei]
"Did you bring the latest updates?"
Ignoring his jab, Ei's eyes sparkled with anticipation as she eyed the light novels in the bag—like a purple-furred ragdoll cat.
"I brought all the latest releases."
Luo Qing smiled, feeling an overwhelming urge to pat her on the head.
"If you're that eager, why not go out and buy them yourself instead of always waiting for me? Aren't you anxious?"
"I remain here to pursue the path of Eternity. I can't just go out for trivial matters."
Ei pulled the bag towards her, skillfully sorting the novels in the order of their release.
She was determined to seek Eternity, and leaving her domain casually would go against that purpose. And she couldn't bring herself to ask the Shogun to buy them for her, so she relied on Luo Qing for the updates.
If Luo Qing hadn't come, she wouldn't have known what to do.
"Ha, so what made you come out last time?" Luo Qing asked offhandedly.
Ei feigned ignorance. "Did I?"
Seeing Luo Qing's eyes fixed on her, she couldn't hold back any longer and mumbled,
"That time doesn't count... the Shogun made me come out."
"..."
Luo Qing felt a strange sensation at that moment.
Was this really the almighty Archon who ruled over Inazuma? She was acting like a bashful shut-in!
She wasn't like this during my earlier visits!
Did I really manage to spoil this girl?!
After considering it, Luo Qing decided to test his theory. He teased gently.
"You're acting a bit different today."
"Different?"
Ei looked puzzled. "What's different about me?"
"Cute."
"..."
[+1 Frustration Value from Ei]
Why does he keep saying such weird things?!
"If you have nothing else to do, you should leave."
Ei picked up a light novel, pretending to focus on reading.
"Hey, who delivers gifts and then gets chased away? Can't I stay a little longer?"
Luo Qing sat down cross-legged across from her.
Was it his imagination, or had she just blushed?
Is this girl's defense that weak?
I hope I didn't spoil her too much...
"I'm reading."
Ei lifted the book, ignoring Luo Qing.
Luo Qing's main objective was to find a good spot for his card pulls.
Seeing that Ei was pretending not to notice him, he decided not to say anything more. He glanced at the deep valley of her chest, swallowed, and silently recited to himself:
"The Dao is vast, the fragrance eternal."
Then, with a focused thought, he opened the card pull interface.
Alright, it's up to you!
Eighty-pull draw!
Since obtaining the Resurrection Armor was practically guaranteed, Luo Qing's only concern was how many pulls it would take to get it.
Not bothering to watch the animation, he skipped each round without seeing any golden glow, preferring to check the final results all at once.
One pull... two... three... four... five...
Seven consecutive purple lights left Luo Qing feeling numb.
Really? Is it going to take the full guarantee?
Looks like Ei has terrible luck too!
Finally, on the last pull, a golden glow appeared, but Luo Qing's face showed little excitement.
He slowly opened the rare item list he'd obtained.
---
Guardian Angel (Gold) x1
Affection Enhancement Card ProMax (Purple) x3
Interstellar Toilet (Purple) x2
Cryo Vision (Purple) x1
Vision Binding Card (Purple) x1
---
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
If you wish to support me or read ahead here's a link! [patreon.com/WiseTL]
Weekly Power Status
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