Bonus Chapter!
---
Luo Qing spent some time lingering on the cliff.
As midnight arrived, he slowly got to his feet and glanced in the direction of the Delusion Factory. He then put on the translucent Mimic Mask he had brought with him.
The Mimic Mask allowed him to imitate the aura and appearance of any template he had stored. So even if he were discovered, no one would trace it back to him.
[Ding! Please select a template to simulate:]
[Available templates: Tartaglia, Zhongli, Ganyu, Keqing... Thoma, Beelzebul, Yae Miko...]
"..."
Luo Qing stared at the list of names in confusion.
He could understand having female options... but how could he even simulate the fox?
"Well then, I'll choose this one..."
With a thought, he selected Yae Miko as the template and carefully put on the Mimic Mask.
The moment the mask touched his face, a faint glow enveloped his body. In just a few seconds, his appearance morphed into Yae Miko's.
Luo Qing moved to a small pool nearby and looked at his reflection.
Soft pink fox ears and a rather impressive chest.
Hiss... Ah...
So this was what cross-dressing felt like?!
No, he had to use this thing sparingly.
Otherwise, Luo Qing feared it might mess with his psyche.
"Let's see something..."
Curious, he patted his pants.
Ah.
Still there.
...
With the Mimic Mask in place and the Invisibility Cloak draped over him, Luo Qing headed toward the Delusion Factory.
There was only one entrance—a cave opening. He'd have to either use Time Zero to rush inside or rely on invisibility to sneak in.
Both Ei and the Raiden Shogun could sense Luo Qing's use of Time Zero, so Kunikuzushi likely had similar abilities.
Thus, he opted for the cautious approach, using both the Mimic Mask and the Invisibility Cloak.
By now, the night was deep. The Fatui soldiers responsible for producing Delusions had retired for rest, leaving only the stationed guards behind. The factory was nearly deserted.
Relying on his memory from his previous visit, Luo Qing navigated through the factory, his invisibility and Time Zero rendering him undetectable to the guards.
Soon, he spotted Kunikuzushi in the core section of the factory.
Kunikuzushi sat alone in the heart of the Delusion production room, eyes closed, seemingly resting.
"Tch, what a diligent little workhorse, sleeping right next to the core," Luo Qing mused.
Only those who had been abandoned sought to constantly prove their worth to others, yearning to feel needed.
The Doctor and the Jester must have understood this about him, which was why they had recruited him into the Fatui.
Luo Qing's predecessor had heard stories of Kunikuzushi's prowess in the Abyss.
As a tool, he was even more dedicated than the Lady and Childe.
"Time to feel the warmth of motherly love."
With a quiet sigh, Luo Qing set Time Zero's speed to maximum and approached Kunikuzushi. He slipped the first letter from Ei into Kunikuzushi's lap.
Just as he set the letter down, Kunikuzushi's eyes opened. Even at two hundred times Time Zero, he sensed Luo Qing's presence.
But as the first experimental prototype, his physical capabilities weren't on par with the Raiden Shogun's. He could sense Luo Qing's presence but couldn't keep up with his speed.
In the blink of an eye, Luo Qing vanished from sight.
...
Kunikuzushi's eyes slowly opened, staring down at the letter in his lap.
He was puzzled.
For a brief moment, he'd felt someone pass by him.
But whoever it was, they had moved too quickly for him to react, dropping something before vanishing.
"Hmph, for me, is it?"
Kunikuzushi frowned, turning the letter over in his hands.
There was a faintly familiar aura about it.
With a wary glance at the entrance, he slowly opened the letter and began to read.
The first line alone made his brows furrow tightly.
"Prototype of Eternity..."
Skimming the contents, a surge of anger flared within him. A powerful burst of energy shredded the letter into fragments as fury spread across his face.
"It's from her..."
Kunikuzushi glanced toward the direction where the intruder had disappeared.
No wonder he'd sensed a familiar presence—it had to have been that accursed fox...
The words on the letter played over and over in his mind.
Unsettled and unable to find an outlet for his anger, he used his willpower to piece the shredded letter back together, glaring at it as if trying to see through the paper and into the depths of the Plane of Euthymia.
...
At the same time...
Having delivered the letter to Kunikuzushi, Luo Qing returned to the cliff he had chosen as his resting spot.
Not long after he arrived, his system log began displaying notifications.
[+10 Frustration Value from Kunikuzushi]
...
[+10 Frustration Value from Kunikuzushi]
...
Just as Luo Qing expected, Kunikuzushi's emotions were volatile—an excellent source of Frustration Value.
Every now and then, a notification popped up in his system log, continuing until the late hours of the night.
Just from that single letter, Luo Qing had accrued 560 points of Frustration Value—equivalent to five draws.
"Kunikuzushi's resentment is certainly strong... Alright, tomorrow, I'll send another one."
Luo Qing nodded with satisfaction as he reviewed the accumulated Frustration Value.
He still had around ten letters left.
Delivering one letter a day to Kunikuzushi would hopefully yield enough Frustration Value for dozens of pulls by the time he left with the Lady.
Of course, that assumed Kunikuzushi's reactions stayed as intense as they were today.
A few lines were enough to push him over the edge.
...
The next day.
Rosalyne left to stir up trouble at the front lines between the Shogunate and the Resistance.
Meanwhile, Kunikuzushi remained at his post, overseeing the Delusion Factory as usual.
By the end of the day, Kunikuzushi's anger from the previous night's letter had finally subsided, and his resolve had only strengthened.
One day, he would return to Inazuma and take revenge on the deity who had abandoned him.
As night fell, Kunikuzushi resumed his vigil in the core section of the Delusion Factory, meditating alone.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew through the cave entrance.
Sensing something amiss, Kunikuzushi leapt to his feet, eyes fixed warily on the entrance.
But even then, he was a step too slow.
By the time he stood, another letter with purple edges lay on the ground in front of him.
"Is this never going to end...?"
Kunikuzushi cursed under his breath.
Though he resented the letters...
A small part of him couldn't resist the urge to open them.
...
Later that night.
Luo Qing's system log:
[+10 Frustration Value from Kunikuzushi]
...
[+10 Frustration Value from Kunikuzushi]
...
---
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]
Bonus Chapter!
---
Every night, Luo Qing would sneak into Kunikuzushi's room to deliver another letter penned by Ei.
After a few times, Kunikuzushi grew aware of the pattern.
Luo Qing expected Kunikuzushi to set a trap and try to catch him during one of his deliveries, but surprisingly, Kunikuzushi made no such attempts. It almost seemed like he was eager to see what else Ei had to say.
Just like hitting the peak repeatedly dulls one's excitement, the Frustration Value he was getting from Kunikuzushi began to decline—similar to his experience with Osial.
A few more days passed, and by the time Rosalyne returned from her machinations, Luo Qing had delivered all the letters. In total, he'd only managed to gather 3,010 Frustration Value points—just enough for thirty pulls.
The gacha system guaranteed a five-star pull at ninety, so even with the ten draws he had saved up from before, he wasn't even halfway there. Pulling a golden item seemed unlikely.
If he wanted a guaranteed outcome, he'd need to come up with some new strategies once they returned to Inazuma City.
Speaking of which, wasn't Ei planning to have him run a breathing technique class?
...
Soon enough, matters on Yashiori Island were settled, and Rosalyne prepared to sail back to Inazuma City.
Luo Qing had managed to avoid any direct encounters with Kunikuzushi throughout the entire ordeal, so there was no reason for him to stick around any longer.
As previously agreed, he set off with Rosalyne when she left the island.
A few days later...
They arrived at a small, makeshift port near Inazuma City.
"Ever since we first met, you've been hinting at my death every chance you get. Do you... know something?"
As they disembarked, Rosalyne couldn't suppress her curiosity any longer. She turned to Luo Qing, voicing the question that had plagued her mind.
She hadn't spoken much to him during the journey, but she couldn't shake the memory of his repeated warnings.
What if you die?
In this world, there were indeed ways to glimpse one's fate—like astrology, or the grand visions the Tsaritsa had shown her of new worlds yet to come.
Someone capable of becoming a Harbinger couldn't be a nobody.
Perhaps... Luo Qing did know something?
"Oh? What's this? Is Lady Rosalyne finally getting curious?" Luo Qing teased, just as he had anticipated.
After all the hints he'd dropped, he knew she would eventually start wondering if he held some secret knowledge.
Why else would he keep bringing up the topic?
"Hmph, forget it then."
Rosalyne snorted and looked away.
By now, she'd figured out Luo Qing's habits.
The moment she showed any sign of interest, he'd seize upon it, toying with her curiosity like a fisherman waiting for a bite.
The more she played along, the more he enjoyed it.
"Oh? Isn't Lady Rosalyne curious about what I might know?"
Luo Qing leaned closer, smirking as he taunted her.
"If you really want to know, I might be persuaded to tell you~."
"Fine, then say it."
"Ask nicely first."
"..."
[Frustration Value +1 from Rosalyne]
This guy... was really testing her patience!
Rosalyne's expression darkened, and she stepped off the boat in her high heels, determined to focus on the job in Inazuma, negotiate with the Raiden Shogun, and then return to meet with the Tsaritsa—far away from Luo Qing's nonsense!
Seeing her walk away, Luo Qing called out to her retreating figure, "Oh, Lady Rosalyne, remember that promise you made to me before? Now's the time to fulfill it~."
"..."
Rosalyne's face fell at his words.
But no matter what, as a former witch, she had to maintain her integrity.
With a grim expression, she turned back.
"Fine. What do you want?"
"First, let me ask—Lady Rosalyne, your purpose in coming to Inazuma is to negotiate with the Raiden Shogun and acquire the Gnosis, right?"
"Hmph, that's only one part of the mission," Rosalyne said coldly.
"I see."
Luo Qing nodded slightly.
Just as he suspected, Rosalyne didn't actually know the whereabouts of the Gnosis.
"Well then, the task I have for you is this."
Luo Qing paused before continuing.
"Until I say otherwise, you are not allowed to meet with the Raiden Shogun."
"What? Why?" Rosalyne snapped.
"What, are you planning to steal my credit?"
"Just answer—do you agree or not?"
Luo Qing's casual tone masked his true intentions. It wasn't about her—well, maybe a little. He just didn't want her getting herself killed too early.
In a world like Teyvat, capable and dedicated individuals were a rare asset. He needed Rosalyne, like a dependable tool, to keep working for him.
After all, she was destined to fall sooner or later.
Might as well make use of her while she's still around... No, while she's still useful.
He'd have to figure out the best way to guide her, though.
Rosalyne was a wild one.
"Give me a specific timeframe. I can't waste my time lingering in Inazuma," Rosalyne said, her voice cold. Although Luo Qing's request wasn't unreasonable, she had other matters in Sumeru that couldn't wait.
"Uh... How about a year?" Luo Qing suggested.
"..."
"Are you joking?"
"Six months?"
"..."
"Two months, at most. Then we're even."
Rosalyne snorted, then turned away and stepped off the boat in her high heels.
Before meeting with the Raiden Shogun, she had to visit several key families in the region. Her mission was to lay a stronger foundation for the Tsaritsa's future plans.
Two months was just about right.
"Tsk, tsk, taming you won't be easy, huh..."
Watching Rosalyne and her entourage depart, Luo Qing shook his head slightly.
The Resurrection Armor didn't come with a side effect of improving relationships. Whatever their relationship was before revival, it would remain the same afterward.
If he wanted Rosalyne to become his reliable tool...
He had two options: either guide her himself, or rely on the system's assistance.
And why?
Who wouldn't want to see a cold and aloof queen turn into an obedient sweetheart?
---
Before entering Inazuma City, Rosalyne had other destinations in mind. She and Luo Qing parted ways at the port, and she headed toward Chinju Forest.
With a two-month limit in mind, Luo Qing knew he'd need to gather more Frustration Value during that time to ensure he could pull the Guardian Angel's Resurrection Armor. Otherwise, Rosalyne might be reduced to ashes before he got the chance.
He already had a plan.
Back in Snezhnaya, he had managed to farm Frustration Value from the new recruits.
And when he last visited the Plane of Euthymia, Ei had asked him to teach the Shogunate soldiers a breathing technique, right?
Since he had the final say on how that technique worked, it meant he could manipulate the training however he wanted.
He couldn't miss this opportunity to train Ei's soldiers thoroughly.
Luo Qing felt it was only right to repay her favor.
---
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]
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