Chapter 283: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [283]
Luo Qing's voice was soft and apologetic. "I'm sorry, but I don't remember anything."
"Mm..."
A faint voice came from his embrace, tinged with sadness.
Just as she had feared, it was exactly as he'd once said—when they met again, he would no longer remember the past.
But at least, about her being his bride...
That part, he seemed to recall.
"It all started at the beginning of the Archon War..."
Buer began to recount the events, her voice gentle yet carrying the weight of millennia.
She told him of their first meeting, which had been by chance during a battle, and how Luo Qing had shamelessly stayed in her palace afterward, refusing to leave.
She spoke of how they had fought side by side, fending off invading gods. Luo Qing, though not a god himself, wielded power surpassing even the highest-ranked deities.
Over countless years, Luo Qing had remained by her side, helping her establish the Akademiya and create the Void System.
Though he often teased her, claiming she would one day become his bride, he never once overstepped his bounds.
Gradually, Buer came to accept his words, silently envisioning a future where they would be together.
She had even planned to confess her feelings and agree to his request on a special day.
But then, Khaenri'ah's calamity struck.
She had to remain by the World Tree, defending it from the corruption of forbidden knowledge.
Knowing her end was near, she resolved to sacrifice herself to cleanse the tree completely. The confession she had rehearsed was replaced by an ambiguous remark:
"Luo Qing, she'll be our child now. How about you give her a name?"
"No excuses! You contributed too! By the people's reckoning, we're her mom and dad! Hurry up, name her!"
"Nahida? That sounds nice... Alright, we'll call her Nahida."
"Luo Qing, if I'm no longer here someday, will you let her stay with you?"
She hadn't anticipated, however, that Luo Qing would leave her first...
"So Nahida is like you, a branch of the World Tree?"
After hearing Buer's story, Luo Qing finally understood the broader picture.
Five hundred years ago, Buer had known she needed to be erased to fully cleanse the World Tree of its corruption.
Before her demise, she had chosen the purest branch of the World Tree to serve as her reincarnation, someone who would continue to protect Sumeru and accompany Luo Qing in her stead.
However, her power had been greatly diminished by the pollution of forbidden knowledge, reducing her form to that of a child.
Unable to create the reincarnation alone, she had persuaded Luo Qing to help her. Together, they had brought Nahida into existence.
Nahida was not only the World Tree's reincarnation but also, in essence, the child of both Buer and Luo Qing.
That lingering sense of closeness Luo Qing felt toward Nahida wasn't an illusion.
Her being carried traces of his power and essence.
To call her his child wouldn't be far from the truth.
"Luo Qing, have you met Nahida yet?"
Buer looked up at him, her eyes filled with anticipation.
"She must have grown a lot by now, hasn't she?"
"Well..."
Luo Qing scratched his head awkwardly.
If Buer found out that the guardian god she had painstakingly created had been imprisoned by her people for 500 years right after being born...
He couldn't imagine how she would react.
"She has indeed grown quite a bit..."
"Mm."
Buer responded with a soft hum of satisfaction.
"I'd like to meet her. Can I?"
"Of course."
Luo Qing nodded.
"But before that, we need to prepare a little..."
He couldn't just show up unannounced and tell Nahida: 'I'm the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, your mom. And this is Luo Qing, your dad.'
Nahida's brain would likely short-circuit on the spot.
Meeting her was inevitable, but some groundwork needed to be laid first.
"Alright, Luo Qing. I'll do whatever you say," Buer replied obediently, snuggling into his embrace.
Once burdened with the responsibility of protecting the World Tree, she had repressed her feelings. But now, as an ordinary girl free of those heavy duties, she could finally express her love to the person she cherished.
"Shall we head back now?"
Her emerald eyes sparkled with eagerness as she looked up.
She couldn't wait to move into Luo Qing's home and finally act as its true mistress!
"Uh..."
Luo Qing hesitated, swallowing hard as he thought of the women waiting at home.
"We can, but..."
---
Later that night, Luo Qing's residence
Makoto sat on the couch in the living room, knitting a black sweater under the soft glow of the lamp.
For some reason, she felt restless tonight, an inexplicable sense of unease nagging at her.
Suddenly, footsteps echoed down the hallway.
Makoto turned to see Ei walking toward the kitchen, lazily stretching as she shuffled in her slippers.
She didn't need to ask—her sister had clearly run out of desserts and was heading for the pantry to restock.
"So, what did Luo Qing have you do today?" Makoto asked casually, not looking up from her knitting.
"Nothing much. Just cleaning up some mistakes from the past," Ei replied, rummaging through the cabinet before grabbing several small cakes and cradling them in her arms.
"Mistakes?"
Makoto's brows furrowed.
Suddenly, her earlier unease made sense.
"Do you mean that puppet?!"
"Oh, you knew about him? Did Luo Qing tell you?" Ei's tone was nonchalant as she headed upstairs.
"It's fine. I've already taken care of it."
"..."
[Frustration +1 from Makoto.]
The puppet was indeed dealt with—but it was what came next that concerned her.
Taking a deep breath, Makoto recalled memories from her previous life.
Pulling a pocket watch from her sleeve, she checked the time.
"He's not back yet... So that means..."
Her murmurs were cut short by the sound of a key turning in the door lock.
Moments later, the door swung open, and Luo Qing stepped inside.
"Luo Qing, you're home—"
Makoto's words faltered as a silver-haired figure followed him inside.
So it had finally come to this.
Makoto stood frozen, staring at the familiar yet foreign figure.
For the first time in ages, she felt the weight of ancestral blood coursing through her, as if being suppressed.
No. That was the past. This life, I came first!
The advantage was hers now.
Taking a deep breath, Makoto folded her arms, her expression shifting to one of cool authority. Her aura radiated the unmistakable presence of the household's mistress.
She was just about to assert her position when the silver-haired figure smiled warmly, cutting her off.
"Long time no see, Makoto. I heard..."
"You want to be Luo Qing's bride, too?"
---
T/N: Could it be...DRAMA? YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES
Ahem! Gather close, esteemed audience! Do you comprehend the privilege of basking in my radiance? Truly, you're witnessing history in the making—a performance unparalleled in the annals of Fontaine!
Ah, but don't get distracted! Let me be clear: this brilliance isn't conjured from thin air. No, no, no! It requires effort, dedication, and… well, a touch of your generosity. If you fancy being part of something truly extraordinary, do step forward here: [patreon.com/WiseTL].
Oh, but wait! You're probably wondering, "Furina, how can someone as magnificent as you need assistance?" To that, I say: why deny mortals the honor of contributing to such greatness? Supporting me is supporting art, and who doesn't want to say they were instrumental in a legend's rise?
Now, off you go. Make your offerings, and perhaps, perhaps, I'll acknowledge you in my next soliloquy!
— Furina ✨
Chapter 284: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [284]
Clinging to Luo Qing's right arm, her expression was warm and polite, yet her words carried a sharp undertone that made his heart sink.
So Buer's a closet schemer too, huh? Luo Qing thought, feeling a chill run down his spine.
"I..."
Makoto inhaled sharply, her mind racing.
As expected, Buer's personality was no different from her previous life.
Before meeting Luo Qing, Makoto had thought of the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata as a wise and compassionate being who was easy to get along with.
But after Buer became involved with Luo Qing, Makoto discovered the truth—behind that dignified exterior lay a hopeless romantic!
When it came to matters involving Luo Qing, Buer's wisdom seemed to vanish entirely.
And her jealousy? It was... exceptional.
"Long time no see, Buer," Makoto said, her voice calm, though her arms crossed over her chest, her demeanor firm.
"But let me correct you on one thing: I'm not also trying to be Luo Qing's bride."
Her tone turned triumphant as she puffed out her chest.
"I already am."
[Proud Wife: We've already crossed that bridge, and the rice is cooked.]
Makoto wasn't about to let herself be pushed around.
Buer may have come with hostile intentions, but Makoto wasn't going to back down.
The title of the legitimate wife was hers, and no one was taking it away!
"Is that so..."
Buer's lips curved into a soft smile as she tilted her head to look at Luo Qing. Her gaze remained gentle, yet there was an unmistakable gleam in her eyes—sharp and cutting, like a blade hidden beneath calm waters.
"Ah... well..."
Luo Qing felt sweat bead on the back of his neck.
On their way home, he had briefly mentioned the six other girls in his life to Buer, attempting to prepare her and prevent an explosion.
At the time, she had silently clung to his arm, nodding calmly even after hearing about all of them. She hadn't said much—aside from tightening her grip on his arm.
"Sort of... I guess," Luo Qing stammered, his face turning awkward.
By Buer's account, they had been together for thousands of years. She had likely envisioned a grand wedding after her revival, one that would finally fulfill the promises they had made in the past.
Instead, she was met with the news that her lover had acquired six other fiancées in her absence—and any future wedding would involve splitting him seven ways.
It wasn't an easy pill to swallow.
"In that case..."
Buer's voice was soft, almost as though she were conceding.
Makoto was beginning to think she'd won this round when Buer suddenly stood on tiptoe and wrapped her arms around Luo Qing's neck.
"Luo Qing, how about we sleep together tonight?"
"!"
Makoto's eyes widened in shock.
This woman! She's barely arrived and already refuses to acknowledge my position?!
If this goes unchecked, what will she do next?!
"Luo Qing, didn't you promise to spend the night with Ei?" Makoto said in a low voice, glancing toward the staircase.
At the top stood Ei, holding an armful of desserts, her expression confused as she tried to process what was happening.
"Meow meow meow?" Ei mumbled, clearly caught off guard.
She had just come downstairs for snacks, only to get roped into her sister's schemes.
"Uh... yes! That's right!"
Makoto gave Ei a meaningful look, one that screamed help me out here. Ei's body tensed, and she glanced nervously at Luo Qing before saying stiffly:
"Luo Qing, you still owe me. You promised to sleep in my room tonight."
"Uh..."
Luo Qing blinked, then looked at Makoto.
It didn't take long to realize she was deploying a classic encirclement tactic.
Since she couldn't pry him away from Buer herself, she'd use Ei's earlier promise to remove him from the equation altogether. That way, neither she nor Buer could claim him tonight, preserving her lead.
"Or are you planning to break your promise?" Ei added, her tone suddenly sharper.
Truthfully, Ei wasn't against spending more time tormenting Luo Qing. After all, she had extracted his promise as a condition for helping him earlier.
The thought of having Luo Qing bound and at her mercy sent a thrill through her.
This is going to be fun, she mused, her lips curling faintly.
"Of course not..."
Luo Qing sighed, glancing at Buer, preparing to gauge her reaction. But before he could speak, she smiled softly, her tone affectionate.
"Well, since it's a promise you already made, there's no helping it."
Her words were gentle, but her next sentence blindsided Makoto entirely.
"Luo Qing, you go ahead. I'll sleep with Makoto tonight."
"...What?!"
Makoto was stunned.
What kind of strategy is this?
Was Buer admitting defeat, or was she planning to test her boundaries with Makoto?
Either way, it felt uncomfortably reminiscent of her past life—where Buer's cunning always made her the most difficult rival to deal with.
"Is that alright, Makoto?"
Buer turned, her silver hair swaying as she let go of Luo Qing and gently took Makoto's hand.
"It's been so long since we've had the chance to talk. Tonight, let's catch up properly."
"..."
Makoto hesitated.
Back during their Seven Archon gatherings, she and Buer had gotten along reasonably well.
But that was before their rivalry over Luo Qing began.
Now, with Buer's intentions laid bare, her seemingly innocent invitation was laced with the potential for mischief.
If I agree, who knows what she'll try? But if I refuse, she might just go after Luo Qing directly...
After weighing her options, Makoto decided to take the risk.
"Fine. It's late already, so we shouldn't waste time. Let's go."
She led Buer upstairs, her steps firm, as silver and purple figures ascended side by side, leaving Luo Qing and Ei alone in the living room.
"She's the reason you asked for my help?" Ei asked, glancing at the stairs before turning her attention to Luo Qing.
"You needed the Gnoses to bring her back?"
While not particularly perceptive, Ei had pieced together enough of the situation to understand Luo Qing's motives.
If he could revive Makoto, it wasn't a stretch to imagine he'd do the same for someone like Buer.
"More or less," Luo Qing admitted with a sigh.
"Some things can only be resolved with her alive."
"Hmph. Suit yourself."
Ei turned and headed upstairs, her slippered footsteps soft against the wooden steps.
"But don't forget—you owe me tonight."
"Yes, Master..." Luo Qing replied wryly, watching her retreating figure.
---
Meanwhile, outside Sumeru City
Deep within a rainforest cave serving as a Fatui outpost, Dottore sat alone at his cluttered desk.
Scattered across the surface were intelligence reports and files, among which lay a damp photograph.
In the picture, Raiden Shogun and Luo Qing stood at the prow of a ship, locked in a passionate embrace.
Dottore's lips curled into a faint smile as he gazed at the image.
"Brighella" he murmured, leaning back in his chair. "How many more secrets are you hiding?"
---
Ahem! Esteemed audience, gather closer! You stand in the presence of brilliance, the likes of which Fontaine has never seen! Truly, you're witnessing a masterpiece in motion, a living legend in the making, an—
Oh! But wait! Where was I? Right, me! As you all know, such brilliance doesn't manifest from nothing! It takes effort, dedication, and a sprinkling of your… oh, how shall I put it? Generosity! If you desire to be immortalized alongside my unparalleled splendor, do step forward here: [patreon.com/WiseTL].
And yet, I must ask: why do mortals so often hesitate to seize an opportunity like this? I mean, really, supporting me is tantamount to—oh! Imagine if I personally rewrote every law in Fontaine! The brilliance! The upheaval! The dramatic courtroom soliloquies! And naturally, I'd—
"Furina, enough. The audience is here for the translations, not your Fontaine fantasy chronicles."
Wait, Wise! I wasn't done captivating them!
"You've captivated them plenty. Now, mortals, if you wish to contribute to something truly extraordinary, the link is there. Support and bask in the glory of my—"
—our—
"my hard work."
Hmph! Fine! But I'm still the true star of this end note. Obviously.
— Furina ✨ (reluctantly sharing the stage with Wise 👑)
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