Chapter 206: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [206]
A month passed.
Since Rosalyne's overwhelming display of power, the members of the Tanit tribe had abandoned all thoughts of rebellion.
Even Babale, once defiant, seemed to have resigned herself to the harsh reality. She obediently followed Luo Qing's schedule, waking early for morning exercises and dutifully completing her nightly reflections.
This dreary routine had taken a visible toll on her, leaving her looking worn and frail. She no longer knew when—or if—this nightmare would end.
Her authority within the Tanit tribe also dwindled day by day. If Luo Qing and his group stayed for another few months, her reputation as the tribe's matriarch might be irreparably damaged.
After all, what was the point of her title? She was no different from the rest of them: dancing earnestly at the front of the group during exercises, jumping with vigor at Luo Qing's insistence.
The other tribespeople, once deferential, began to lose their respect for her.
Meanwhile, Luo Qing had grown accustomed to the steady flow of frustration value delivered by his new captives.
Over the month, he had amassed enough to perform another 90-pull session.
However, as humans tend to adapt, the frustration value generated by the tribespeople had gradually diminished. They had become accustomed to the rigid schedule, the 5,000-word reflections, and Luo Qing's strict rules.
Now that they followed his commands without question, there was little left for him to gain.
Seeing no reason to linger, Luo Qing decided to return to Sumeru City, leaving Rosalyne, Natalia, and the others behind to maintain order for another month before regrouping.
True to his belief in the importance of spiritual balance and good fortune, Luo Qing intended to find a new "feng shui hotspot" to perform his next round of pulls.
---
After utilizing Time Zero's acceleration, Luo Qing arrived in Sumeru City in record time.
Wasting no effort, he rushed straight to his residence, eager to visit the "chosen spot" he had prepared earlier.
But when he pushed open the door, the house was empty.
"Huh…? Where is everyone?"
Puzzled, Luo Qing searched upstairs, checking the rooms belonging to Rosalyne and Makoto, but both were similarly deserted.
"Did something happen…?"
The only potential threats in Sumeru were the Doctor and the Balladeer. Just as Luo Qing considered heading to the Akademiya to investigate, he heard the front door creak open.
Makoto entered first, her arm linked with Theresa's. Both women carried baskets filled with Sumeru's fresh produce.
"That's settled, then. You'll show me some new techniques tonight, Sister," Theresa said with a playful smile.
"Of course, but don't forget about those outfits we discussed," Makoto replied, laughing lightly.
Their cheerful conversation came to an abrupt halt when they spotted Luo Qing standing in the living room.
"… You're back?" Makoto's eyes widened slightly in surprise.
"…"
"Am I not allowed to come back?" Luo Qing quipped, his gaze shifting between the two women.
Despite Makoto's simulated mask, her distinctive violet eyes and long hair remained unchanged. Theresa, too, bore the same hair and eye color, though hers were complemented by a youthful, short-haired look.
Standing together, the pair resembled a pair of sisters—a surreal sight considering Makoto's actual sibling was still in Inazuma.
"… What were you two doing?"
"Buying groceries, obviously," Makoto replied nonchalantly, shaking the basket in her hand. She tugged Theresa past Luo Qing and set the basket on the dining table. Then, with a teasing grin, she tapped Luo Qing's nose.
"We're trying out some new recipes tonight, and you'll be our test subject!"
Luo Qing swallowed hard. She's way too flirty…
"You two seem… close," Luo Qing muttered, eyeing their linked arms suspiciously.
When did their relationship get this good? They're even holding hands indoors?
Before he could press further, Theresa suddenly released Makoto and threw her arms around Luo Qing, wrapping him in an unexpected embrace.
"Theresa, what are you doing?" Luo Qing asked, startled.
"Master…" Theresa gazed up at him, her eyes seemingly brimming with affection.
Luo Qing felt a jolt—was it his imagination, or were those literal hearts in her eyes?
"My sister has already told me everything…"
"… Sister?" Luo Qing turned to Makoto, momentarily stunned.
She was covering her mouth, clearly amused.
"What did she tell you?" Luo Qing asked, a sinking feeling in his chest.
"She said…" Theresa blushed and lowered her gaze shyly.
"She said that I'm destined to be one of your future brides…"
"???"
Luo Qing froze. He turned back to Makoto, his expression one of utter disbelief.
"What exactly did you say to her?!"
"I didn't say anything untrue," Makoto replied with a smug hum. "You know what you want, don't you?"
"… I—"
Luo Qing was at a loss for words.
"Alright, Theresa, that's enough hugging," Makoto said, beckoning the girl. "Come help me prepare dinner."
"Yes, Sister!"
Theresa released Luo Qing and followed Makoto into the kitchen, leaving him standing alone in the living room.
Watching their retreating figures, Luo Qing began to piece things together.
So Makoto's starting to build her alliances, huh?
She's positioning herself as the head wife…
He couldn't help but admire her strategy.
Still, the realization left him momentarily distracted, his earlier excitement about the feng shui hotspot completely forgotten.
Night fell, and the first rays of moonlight spilled into the house just as Makoto and Theresa finished preparing dinner.
The table was laden with a variety of dishes, a mix of Makoto's signature Inazuman recipes and a few newly-learned Sumeru specialties.
As for Theresa, her contributions to the meal were minimal—she was more of a kitchen assistant, her cooking skills barely passable.
The three of them sat around the table, Luo Qing at the head seat.
As he glanced at Makoto, he still couldn't quite wrap his head around the situation.
Where's the harem drama? The fiery rivalries?
It's only been a month, and you've already subdued her?
"We worked hard on this meal. You're not going to just sit there and admire it, are you?" Makoto teased, leaning forward slightly.
"Or are we so pretty you're already full just looking at us?"
"… Something like that," Luo Qing mumbled, diving into the food to avoid further conversation.
To his credit, Makoto's cooking was leagues ahead of her sister's.
"So, why are you back already?" Makoto asked. "Where's Rosalyne and the others?"
"They're still wrapping things up in the desert. They'll return in a month."
"Ah, what a pity," Makoto said with a soft hum.
"… Pity? What's a pity?"
Makoto's eyes sparkled with mischief as she glanced at Luo Qing.
She felt a sense of satisfaction—Rosalyne had already joined her side long ago. Now, Theresa was firmly within her camp.
Her efforts to consolidate her influence were bearing fruit.
"Aside from those in Inazuma, I've already secured most of the key players," she thought smugly.
Out loud, she replied, "It's just a shame we couldn't all sit down for a family dinner, don't you think?"
"…" Family dinner?
---
Is Unlocking the Stellaris Tech Tree in Star Rail Really Okay? got locked by webnovel (probably reported...?) so I'll have it up on the sribble hub later today with the new updates :p same username on there btw ughh should i repost on here?
Chapter 207: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [207]
Once Makoto and Theresa had finished tidying up the dishes, he sidled up to Makoto and whispered, "Can you come up to my room for a bit? I need to talk to you about something important."
"Something important?" Makoto looked him up and down, a teasing glint in her eyes.
"Is it urgent?"
"…"
"It's urgent."
"Well, if it's that urgent, go ask Theresa. She's free. I still need to finish knitting. I'll come up later, alright?"
As though placating a child, Makoto pinched Luo Qing's cheek gently.
"What are you even knitting?" Luo Qing asked, his gaze falling on the ball of yarn in her hand.
"For you, obviously. Aren't you happy?" she said with a wink.
"…"
Luo Qing felt a pang of flustered embarrassment.
Why is she so good at this?
Wasn't Makoto supposed to be inexperienced in romance? Where on Teyvat did she learn to flirt like this?
"Come on, don't sulk," Makoto said, nodding toward Theresa, who was clearly trying to suppress her impatience. "Look at Theresa—she's practically jumping out of her seat."
"…" Luo Qing's face darkened.
"That's not what I meant."
"Oh?" Makoto raised an eyebrow, her hands still busy with her knitting. "Then what do you mean? What could you possibly want this late at night?"
"…" Luo Qing frowned.
"You know what? Never mind."
Without another word, he scooped her up and slung her over his shoulder.
"Wha—!" Makoto's surprised yelp echoed through the house as Luo Qing carried her upstairs, leaving Theresa momentarily frozen in shock.
By the time Theresa snapped out of it, Luo Qing was already halfway up the stairs with Makoto.
"Master! I can come too!" Theresa called after him, her voice filled with eagerness.
In Luo Qing's room, he placed Makoto on the bed unceremoniously, locking the door and drawing the curtains shut.
"… Are we really doing this now?"
Though she usually carried herself with the confidence of a seasoned matriarch, Makoto's expression betrayed a hint of nervousness.
"…"
Luo Qing sighed.
"Do you think the only thing on my mind is… that?"
"Isn't it?"
"…"
[Luo Qing's Frustration +1]
"Alright, I was just joking. Come on, lie down," Makoto said, patting her lap invitingly.
She knelt on the bed in her loose, pale lavender yukata. The motion exposed a generous stretch of creamy thigh, while her neckline dipped just enough to tease.
"How did you—" Luo Qing hesitated, his eyes narrowing slightly.
He had indeed planned to use her lap as his "feng shui hotspot" for tonight's pull session.
"Of course I knew," Makoto said with a sly smile. "This isn't the first time you've come rushing to me for something like this, is it?"
"…" Luo Qing felt a twinge of indignation.
Having knowledge of the future really gives her an unfair advantage…
Unwilling to let her have the upper hand, Luo Qing leaned in, cupped her face, and kissed her deeply.
The kiss was long and fervent, leaving Makoto breathless by the time he pulled away. Her cheeks were flushed, and she was panting softly.
"You guessed right," Luo Qing said, his voice steady. "I do want your lap."
With that, he reclined onto her lap, closing his eyes.
"You're impossible…"
Though her tone was tinged with faux annoyance, Makoto's expression softened as she began to run her fingers through his hair gently.
It's been so long since I've given him a lap pillow…
Meanwhile, Luo Qing summoned the system's interface, taking a deep breath as the faint scent of cherry blossoms tickled his nose.
Alright. Let's do this. Golden legendary, come to me!
He began the pull session.
One streak of light after another flashed across his vision.
To his astonishment, golden light appeared on the fifth ten-pull.
"Wait… it worked?" Luo Qing murmured in surprise.
Makoto's lap had proven to be unexpectedly lucky. Perhaps this was what she meant when she said he would often return to her lap for draws in the future.
Though he had used fifty wishes to obtain the golden item, it was still a far better result than his previous pity-max pulls.
The system chimed in his mind.
[UP Pool Updated. Please review the new item.]
Luo Qing opened the updated pool and found that the previously featured golden item, Seed of Nirvana, had been replaced.
In its place was a new item: Authority – The Void.
"… The Void?"
The name struck a chord, tickling the edges of his memory. Curious, Luo Qing opened the description.
[Authority – The Void]: Grants the user the ability to expand the scope of the Void proportionally to their personal strength. Additionally, grants full and unrestricted access to the Void's highest permissions.]
[PS: The Void's maximum range can encompass all of Teyvat. Permissions include unrestricted administrative control, free from external influence.]
"…" Luo Qing was speechless.
For the first time, he had drawn an ability explicitly tied to Teyvat itself.
But the Void in Sumeru… isn't that just the Internet?
What would he even do with global Void access?
He needed power, something that could let him pin Raiden Shogun down without breaking a sweat!
Sigh… I guess it's better than nothing.
With a resigned shrug, Luo Qing used the remaining forty pulls, hoping for another stroke of luck.
Unfortunately, there was no golden glow in sight.
When the session ended, Luo Qing reviewed the items he had received.
[Cryo Vision x1]
[Vision Binding Device x1]
[Substitute Doll x2]
[Affection Boost Card ProMax x2]
[Interstellar Flush Toilet x2]
"…"
None of it improved his combat capabilities.
Why does this system keep giving me Cryo Visions? Does it think I'm collecting wives?!
Luo Qing opened his eyes, greeted by the sight of Makoto's chest obscuring his vision. For a moment, he felt utterly defeated.
"What's wrong? You look so upset," Makoto asked, her voice tinged with concern.
"… Nothing." Luo Qing sat up, sighing. "Just feeling a little… unlucky."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I mean… I'm a little pissed off right now."
"Oh? Want me to help you cool off?" Makoto teased with a mischievous smile, arching a brow.
She had heard this exact sentiment many times before.
And she knew exactly what Luo Qing wanted when he said those words.
"Can you?" Luo Qing asked, his tone hesitant but hopeful.
In truth, his month in the desert had been filled with constant teasing from Babale. While he had resisted her provocations, his pent-up frustration had only grown.
"I can~"
Makoto slid her arms around his neck, pulling him close. Her eyes gleamed with a rare sincerity as she whispered softly,
"If that's what you want, then anytime is fine with me~."
"…"
---
Hello! Thank you so much for reading this chapter. WiseTL has worked hard to bring these wonderful stories to you, and I'm so happy we could share this moment together! Don't you think stories are a little like dreams? Each one has its own colors and shapes, and they grow even brighter when shared with others.
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-With love, Nahida 🌱
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