Chapter 193: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [193] [50 PS]
Well, well, look at you! So dedicated, you've earned a little extra treat! 🎉
---
Still mulling over the strange sense of authority Jin exuded, Luo Qing shuffled to the door and opened it.
"Mr. Luo Qing, the Grand Sage requests your presence at the Sanctuary of Surasthana," said Setareh, the ever-reliable aide to Azar. Her tone was as flat as ever.
"Hmm?"
Luo Qing's brows furrowed in confusion.
Could Azar have found out about his interaction with Nahida last night?
Testing the waters, he asked, "What does Azar want with me?"
"It's the routine communication day with the Little Archon. The Grand Sage believes observing it might help you with your duties."
"Routine communication day?"
Luo Qing blinked, momentarily stunned.
What in Teyvat was a "communication day"?
"Alright, give me a moment to change."
With that, he shut the door in Setareh's face with a decisive click.
Moments later, he reappeared, dressed in his Matra uniform.
Say what you will, this outfit carried a certain weight in Sumeru City. People usually steered clear just at the sight of him.
---
Following Setareh, Luo Qing once again arrived at the device imprisoning Nahida in the Sanctuary of Surasthana.
However, compared to last time, there were now additional strange instruments surrounding the area.
"I thought this was a communication day?"
Luo Qing glanced at the devices with a skeptical smile. "Are you planning to communicate with her or experiment on her?"
"Hmph..."
Azar snorted disdainfully and condescended to explain.
"Everything we need to say has already been encapsulated in these canned knowledge capsules. With the help of the transmission device, we simply insert them into her consciousness via the Akasha."
"Canned knowledge?"
Luo Qing followed Azar's gesture and saw rows of green capsules neatly arranged on a storage rack.
"What's inside them?"
"Just messages we wish to convey to her," Azar replied curtly before signaling to a nearby researcher.
The transmission began, and one by one, the green capsules turned into streams of light, traveling through the device's tubes and entering Nahida's containment field.
From behind the pale green barrier, Luo Qing could faintly make out Nahida's figure. Her expression turned pained, and her small body curled even tighter.
It was clear that these so-called "messages" were far from kind words.
"So, if this device can transmit canned knowledge, doesn't that mean it could also be used to communicate directly with her?"
Luo Qing pointed at the contraption, his tone casual.
The setup resembled a head-mounted neural interface so much that he couldn't help but make the connection.
"Hmph..."
Azar's lips curled into a sneer.
"You're smarter than I expected. Yes, this device could facilitate direct communication, but we don't need that. She is unworthy of being our guide."
"Come on, she's still your god. No need to be so harsh," Luo Qing quipped, shaking his head.
He stepped closer to the transmission device and gestured to the helmet-like structure.
"Mind if I borrow this?"
"What do you need it for?" Azar asked suspiciously.
"Well, didn't you bring me here to influence her mind?" Luo Qing replied, pointing at Nahida, who was still curled up inside her containment.
"If I don't talk to her, how can I manipulate her?"
"..."
Azar fell silent for a moment.
While Nahida was young and inexperienced, her mental fortitude was still that of a god. This was the real reason Azar avoided direct interaction—there was a significant risk of mental backlash through the device.
Yet, Luo Qing didn't seem concerned in the slightest.
"Are you having second thoughts?"
"Hmph. A mortal's mind isn't equipped to handle divine mental strength. If you insist on trying, why should I stop you?"
Azar sneered and signaled the researcher to set up the device for Luo Qing.
"Don't say I didn't warn you. If she retaliates, you might end up a drooling idiot."
In Azar's eyes, Luo Qing was just another lunatic from the Fatui, much like Dottore. While Azar doubted Luo Qing could cause any real harm to their plans, he didn't mind letting him attempt the impossible.
After all, decades of conditioning wouldn't be unraveled by a few words.
Ignoring Azar's smug disdain, Luo Qing donned the neural interface.
The researcher nodded at him, then activated the device.
"Hmph, these Fatui really are insane," Azar muttered before turning to leave the chamber.
"You lot, record his condition once he's done," he instructed the staff.
Without the authority to monitor Nahida's activities within the Akasha, Azar decided to leave Luo Qing's potential mental collapse to be logged for later analysis.
---
As soon as the device started, Luo Qing's vision went dark.
When the darkness lifted, he found himself in a vast void.
Nahida sat in the center, her small frame curled up as if she were shielding herself from the oppressive gloom.
"Nahida?" Luo Qing called softly.
There was no response.
"Nahida?"
Still, she didn't stir. Her eyes remained closed, her breathing shallow and steady.
"Is she... asleep?"
Luo Qing mused, his thoughts swirling.
After a moment's pause, he tried again.
"Nahida, sweetie?"
"My dear wife?"
"My precious daughter?"
"..."
Despite his various attempts, Nahida stayed motionless, curled up like a sleeping white kitten.
"Nothing's working..."
Luo Qing sighed, realizing he'd have to take matters into his own hands.
Focusing his intent, he stepped closer to her, crouched down, and gently cupped her face with his hands.
Her soft, round cheeks felt warm against his palms as he slowly lifted her face.
As though sensing the touch, Nahida's body relaxed slightly, and she opened her eyes, her emerald gaze filled with a mix of confusion and recognition.
"You are..."
Her voice was soft, hesitant.
Then, as her memories pieced themselves together, her expression shifted.
"Luo Qing... What are you doing here?"
"I came to check on you. You disappeared so suddenly last night," Luo Qing said with a chuckle, his hands instinctively ruffling her hair.
The classic head pat—always reliable, never overrated.
"I..."
Nahida lowered her head, a trace of guilt in her expression.
"I'm sorry, Luo Qing..."
"Don't apologize. How about you make it up to me by taking a walk with me around Sumeru City?"
Luo Qing's tone was light, though deep down, he harbored a faint hope.
If he could awaken Nahida's full potential now, he might become the foremost supporter of the Little Archon's rise.
The thought alone conjured up countless scenarios in which he could milk frustration points from Akademiya scholars.
"I'm sorry, Luo Qing..." Nahida whispered, her voice tinged with sorrow.
Her expression grew solemn, as if weighed down by immense pain.
"The current me... I'm still too immature... I'm not ready to face the people of Sumeru."
"When I grow up... when I become a proper god..."
"Then we can walk through Sumeru City together... Okay?"
---
This bonus chapter is like an encore after a rousing performance—totally worth staying for, wouldn't you say? Oh, and don't worry, my lyre's got plenty more tunes to play next time!
But for now, it's time to take a bow. Thank you for the applause (and all that wonderful support). If you're feeling extra inspired, you know where to find me—[patreon.com/WiseTL]. Toss a coin, and who knows? Maybe the next bard will sing your praises!
Now, go forth, Traveler, and revel in the wonders of this world. Until next time! 🍃✨
Chapter 194: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [194] [100 PS]
Well, well, look at you! So dedicated, you've earned a little extra treat! 🎉
---
"You're a god. It's your inherent nature. Why should you measure yourself by the standards set by others?"
"I understand..."
Nahida lowered her head, her voice tinged with melancholy.
"But the previous god entrusted me with the responsibility of guiding Sumeru's people. I haven't been able to meet their expectations... It's my failure as a god."
"But—"
Luo Qing tried to interject, but Nahida cut him off.
"I'll keep learning through dreams here," she said, her tone determined.
"When the day comes that I can truly fulfill my duties as a god... then, Luo Qing, I'll take you on a walk through Sumeru City. Will that be alright?"
"..."
Luo Qing fell silent.
The constant emotional manipulation by the Akademiya's leadership was clearly taking its toll.
They'd been gaslighting Nahida so thoroughly she didn't even realize how deeply she'd been pitted against herself.
Just as he was considering a different approach, the scene around him began to change.
The darkness shattered, and Luo Qing found himself back in the Sanctuary of Surasthana.
"Why did it disconnect?"
Annoyed, he turned to the researcher nearby.
"The transmission device overloaded," the researcher explained, gesturing at the apparatus. The once-vivid green transmission tubes had turned a deep red.
"Overloaded?" Luo Qing frowned.
"Godly consciousness is immensely powerful. The Little Archon experienced a strong emotional fluctuation just now, and the transmission device couldn't handle the surge. That's why it overloaded," the researcher explained while beginning to dismantle the equipment.
"Can't we use it again today?"
Luo Qing's interest was piqued. If Nahida's emotional reaction indicated progress, this was the perfect time to strike while the iron was hot.
"It's not usable anymore."
The researcher shook his head.
"After being overloaded by divine mental energy, this device is probably fried."
He glanced at Luo Qing with a puzzled expression.
A mortal would typically suffer severe backlash from exposure to a god's emotional surge through the Akasha—losing their sanity, rolling their eyes back, or even wetting themselves.
Yet Luo Qing seemed perfectly fine.
"What are you staring at me for?" Luo Qing asked, noticing the odd look.
"N-Nothing."
The researcher quickly shook his head and continued packing up.
"We conduct these communication sessions twice a month. We'll inform you about the next one. For now, you may leave."
"..."
Luo Qing scrutinized the researcher for a moment. They didn't seem to be hiding anything.
Reluctantly, he turned to look at Nahida, still asleep within her containment device, then shook his head and left the Sanctuary.
---
The midday sun blazed overhead as Luo Qing stepped outside.
Remembering Makoto's request to come home early for lunch, he decided to head back.
But as he walked through the plaza near the Akademiya, he spotted someone familiar—Layla.
On the other side of the square, Layla also noticed Luo Qing.
Panicking, she glanced around desperately for a place to hide. However, the open plaza offered no cover, leaving her frozen in indecision.
Her anxious movements didn't escape Luo Qing's sharp eyes.
She wasn't this skittish last time we met. What happened?
Quickening his pace, Luo Qing intercepted her just as she tried to dart toward the Akademiya.
"Well, if it isn't Miss Layla! What a coincidence. Are you visiting the Akademiya too? Did you sleep well last night?"
"Uh... Hello, Mr. Luo Qing. I..."
Layla stammered, her gaze flitting everywhere but at him, her expression uneasy.
"Am I that scary today, Miss Layla?" Luo Qing asked, genuinely puzzled.
The previous night, he'd spent quite some time tickling her inner personality's soles.
Despite the effort it had taken to get her inner self to talk, Layla's dominant personality shouldn't have remembered anything. Had her inner self lied to him?
"N-No!"
Layla quickly shook her head but still hesitated, glancing at Luo Qing with a mix of guilt and nervousness.
"What's wrong, Miss Layla? Are you in trouble?"
"I..."
"Don't hesitate to tell me! As a Matra officer, it's my duty to help!" Luo Qing declared, grabbing her hand enthusiastically.
"Uh..."
After a long moment of hesitation, Layla finally seemed to make up her mind.
"Mr. Luo Qing, could you... let go of my hand first?"
"Oh, right. My bad, I got a little carried away," Luo Qing said, feigning embarrassment as he let go.
Though, in truth, he wouldn't have minded holding her hand a bit longer...
"Hmm..."
Layla rubbed her hand nervously before pulling a small piece of paper from her pouch.
"Someone left this on my desk last night..."
"A note?"
Luo Qing took the paper and unfolded it, reading the large characters scrawled across it:
"Beware of Luo Qing."
"..."
Ding!
[+1 Frustration Value from Luo Qing]
Seriously?
Hadn't Layla's inner self said she wouldn't let the dominant personality know about her existence?
And now she was leaving notes?
As if to drive the point home, a smaller line of text beneath the bold warning read:
"If you don't believe me, check your soles."
"..."
Okay, Luo Qing had to admit, maybe he'd gone a little overboard last night.
It wasn't his fault Layla's inner self had such ticklish feet...
"I..."
Layla's voice trembled, sounding both hesitant and aggrieved.
"When I woke up this morning, my soles were so red..."
The note had terrified her at first. Fearing Luo Qing might have done something inappropriate, she had even checked her body.
But aside from the redness on her feet, there were no other suspicious marks.
"..."
Luo Qing froze, unsure how to respond.
In hindsight, he should've applied some ointment or at least pretended to heal her...
Taking a deep breath, Luo Qing straightened his expression and placed his hands firmly on Layla's shoulders. His tone was serious and sincere as their eyes met.
"Miss Layla, this is a traditional Liyue foot massage technique. It's great for relieving tension and improving sleep. Last night, I noticed you were utterly exhausted, so I decided to help you relax while you rested."
"Miss Layla... you're not mad at me, are you?"
"I..."
---
This bonus chapter is like an encore after a rousing performance—totally worth staying for, wouldn't you say? Oh, and don't worry, my lyre's got plenty more tunes to play next time!
But for now, it's time to take a bow. Thank you for the applause (and all that wonderful support). If you're feeling extra inspired, you know where to find me—[patreon.com/WiseTL]. Toss a coin, and who knows? Maybe the next bard will sing your praises!
Now, go forth, Traveler, and revel in the wonders of this world. Until next time! 🍃✨
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