Bab 117: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [117]
Under the crimson moon, the clash of spear and sword echoed.
Even though Lumine had already left, the battle between Luo Qing and Ei showed no signs of stopping.
Ei's power continued to mirror Luo Qing's, as if she were toying with him, venting her frustrations.
...
"Hey, she's already gone. Why are you still fighting me...?"
"Hmph..."
"I swear, after bringing you all those light novels and desserts, you're still going to cut me down like this?"
"Heh..."
"I'm telling you, if you keep this up, I won't bring you any more novels or treats!"
"..."
At these words, Ei's strikes genuinely slowed for a moment.
Seizing the opportunity under the deceleration of Time-Zero, Luo Qing quickly sat down on the toilet, pressing the flush button, escaping from the Plane of Euthymia.
He knew this shut-in would never leave her sanctuary. While the Raiden Shogun was a bit aloof, she was far easier to deal with compared to Ei, who had lived for centuries.
Returning to the Vision Hunt platform...
Lumine had just gotten off the toilet when Luo Qing's head popped out of it. If she had lingered a moment longer, his face would have sent her flying off.
With two people emerging from such a bizarre object, the crowd around them was already buzzing with murmurs.
What was initially expected to be a simple Vision Hunt ceremony had turned into quite a spectacle, and everyone was wondering how the Raiden Shogun would deal with these intruders.
Luo Qing glanced at the Raiden Shogun, who stood imposingly on the platform. With a flick of his finger, a thin pillar of rock rose beside Thoma, slicing the ropes binding his wrists.
"You two go. I'll handle things here."
"Luo Qing... but..."
Lumine hesitated, seemingly reluctant to leave him behind.
"Don't worry about me,"
Luo Qing said with a reassuring smile, keeping a wary eye on the Raiden Shogun to prevent her from making any sudden moves.
Seeing his confidence, Lumine finally steeled herself. Sharing a glance with Thoma, they broke through the encircling soldiers and fled.
The Raiden Shogun watched them go, her brow furrowed slightly as she turned her gaze back to Luo Qing.
If she chose to strike, Luo Qing would certainly block her. But somehow, she just couldn't bring herself to deliver a fatal blow.
Considering everything that had happened in the Plane of Euthymia, she decided to let the traveler go—this time.
Next time, however, she would seal her within the statue, no exceptions.
"Take him to the Tenshukaku,"
the Raiden Shogun commanded coldly, before vanishing from the scene in a flash of lightning.
Elsewhere...
Luo Qing knew he had interrupted the Raiden Shogun's ceremony, so he figured he might as well cooperate and give her some face.
He didn't resist as the soldiers bound him tightly and escorted him to the Tenshukaku.
...
Before long, he was at the Tenshukaku.
It was the same familiar room, with the same familiar person.
Luo Qing had been here so many times that he was quite at home. The only difference this time was that he was bound like a prisoner, kneeling before the Raiden Shogun.
It was almost like he was a rebellious servant facing his stern mistress.
"Why did you save her?"
The Raiden Shogun stood before him, hand gripping her sword, as if ready to decapitate him should he lie.
Of course, this was all for show—she would never actually strike.
"In this world, loyalty and friendship are everything! She's my friend, isn't that reason enough?"
Luo Qing declared passionately.
"..."
The Raiden Shogun's expression turned flat, her gaze seemingly saying:
Do you think I'm buying any of that?
"You knew she was coming to Inazuma, didn't you?"
"Wow, you're smart! Should I reward you with a little pat?"
"..."
[Raiden Shogun's Frustration Value +1]
The Raiden Shogun's eyes narrowed as she spoke icily.
"Do you really think I wouldn't kill you?"
"Of course, I know you'd never bring yourself to do it."
Luo Qing gave a soft chuckle, even leaning his neck forward as if to dare her.
Go ahead, if you have the guts—do it!
"..."
The Raiden Shogun remained silent for a long while before two words slipped from her lips.
"Shameless scoundrel."
She sat down across from Luo Qing, continuing in a calmer tone.
"I've already issued a warrant for their capture. How long do you think they can run?"
"They just need to survive. I don't care where they go. Now, can I get up? My legs are falling asleep..."
"No."
"Alright... Can I at least get a drink?"
"No."
"Then what's the point of dragging me here? Miss me that much?"
"..."
The Raiden Shogun's expression darkened.
How could someone like Luo Qing, with such thick skin, exist in this world?
He was a prisoner—a prisoner! How did he lack any sense of self-awareness?
Did he think he was here as a guest?
...
Meanwhile, at the Komore Teahouse...
After dodging the pursuit of the Shogunate soldiers, Lumine and the others slipped into the Komore Teahouse.
As a domain exclusively for the Yashiro Commission, the teahouse was off-limits to outsiders without permission—except for the Shogun herself. No one else could enter freely.
Thus, even with the Shogunate soldiers scouring Inazuma City, as long as they remained inside the Komore Teahouse, they were safe for the time being.
As the Yashiro Commission's housekeeper, Thoma could stay indefinitely, but Lumine and Paimon clearly couldn't.
At Thoma's suggestion, they decided to head for Tatarasuna before the bounty was fully announced, hoping to find refuge with the resistance forces.
After seeing Lumine and Paimon off, Thoma returned to a private room inside the teahouse.
Seeing him enter, Ayaka quickly rushed forward, her face full of concern.
"Thoma?! Are you alright? Thank goodness you still have your Vision..."
Realizing he was alone, her worry deepened.
"Where are Lumine and Paimon? Did something happen to them?!"
"Don't worry, my lady. They're safe."
Thoma shook his head. "The Shogun's bounty will be issued any moment now, so I told them to head for Tatarasuna and meet with the resistance."
"The resistance..."
Ayaka murmured, lowering her gaze in thought.
Beyond the Yashiro Commission, the only group openly opposing the Vision Hunt Decree was the resistance on Watatsumi Island. Sending Lumine to them was indeed a last resort.
"How did you manage to escape?"
Ayaka asked.
"Well..."
Thoma's expression grew complicated as he recalled the earlier events.
He had always suspected Luo Qing, fearing that his presence would endanger the Kamisato Clan and the Yashiro Commission.
Yet in the end, it was Luo Qing who had sacrificed himself to save him.
"It was Luo Qing... He saved us from the Shogun."
"Luo Qing?!"
Ayaka's eyes widened in surprise.
Ever since she'd learned of those two women in Liyue from Lumine, she had been wrestling with the decision to cut ties with Luo Qing.
They hadn't seen each other in so long, and she had almost made up her mind.
But now, once again, his name surfaced at a critical moment.
Was it really impossible to escape him...?
---
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
(IN THE STORY)
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Bab 118: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [118]
Since that night when Luo Qing interrupted the Vision Hunt ceremony, he had been confined within the Tenshukaku.
To say "confined" might be an exaggeration—it was more like he was living alongside the Raiden Shogun, staying indoors as a homebody.
With his high approval rating, if it had been anyone else, they would have been cut down by the Shogun long ago. But since it was Luo Qing, she couldn't bring herself to draw her blade. And putting him in the dungeons? With his strength, he'd escape in a matter of moments.
So, with no better option, she kept him close, acting as his personal warden. She locked him in the Tenshukaku, maintaining the shogunate's dignity in the process.
Days passed, and at first, Luo Qing had expected some form of punishment. But as time went on, he realized the Shogun's idea of confinement was just keeping him in her room and preventing him from going to the Plane of Euthymia to see Ei.
As long as he didn't try to escape, she didn't care what he did.
Compared to Ei, who had her various shut-in tendencies, the Raiden Shogun was more rigid. Aside from meditating or attending to the many administrative affairs of Inazuma, she didn't have any hobbies. She was like a robot, indifferent to all of Luo Qing's attempts at teasing.
Unlike Ei, she didn't blush, didn't react when he tried to mess with her. She remained aloof, reducing the thrill of his antics.
Luckily, Luo Qing was still able to request light novels from the servants, keeping his boredom at bay.
That evening, Luo Qing was, as usual, reclining lazily on the Raiden Shogun's private dais, a light novel in one hand and his head resting on the other, trying to kill time.
In front of him, the Raiden Shogun sat at her desk, reviewing reports from the front lines in Tatarasuna. The Traveler had been spotted in the rebel army's ranks, causing trouble for the shogunate forces.
But Luo Qing didn't care about any of that. He was just biding his time, waiting for a chance to lure Rosalyne into becoming his tool. The rest? He was merely a spectator.
One was reading war reports, the other reading a light novel. With the quiet night and the glow of candlelight, there was an unexpected sense of harmony between them.
Suddenly, a breeze passed through, and Luo Qing noticed something was off.
The air... seemed to carry more Electro energy than usual?
Before he could ponder further, a Thunder Manifestation flew in from the balcony, landing on his book and blinking its large eyes at him.
"Hmm?"
Luo Qing recognized the markings. This wasn't just any manifestation—it was a special breed nurtured by Teresa, far more intelligent and powerful than the average one. Teresa rarely summoned it, and it was a rare sight even in battle.
Why had it flown here?
A bad feeling crept over Luo Qing.
Just as he was about to rise, a firework exploded in the distance. In the midst of the colorful burst, the sound of a gunshot pierced the air, a bullet hurtling towards the back of the Raiden Shogun's head.
In an instant, violet lightning flickered, shattering the bullet into fragments before it could touch her.
At that moment, more of Teresa's Thunder Manifestations flew in, filling the room. All of them were the specialized types she had bred.
Then, a figure in violet landed before Luo Qing, shielding him.
"Luo Qing-sama, we've come to rescue you!"
"..."
[Frustration Value +1 from Luo Qing]
Luo Qing stared at Teresa standing protectively in front of him, feeling a mix of emotions.
"I..."
Before he could explain, more gunshots rang out from the distance, but, like before, the bullets were torn apart by the Shogun's lightning before they could come near.
"Hmph..."
The Raiden Shogun finally understood what was happening. With a cold snort, she stood and looked directly at Teresa, who had barged into the Tenshukaku.
Locked in a gaze with the legendary Inazuman deity, Teresa felt a chill crawl down her spine. Clenching her teeth, she grabbed Luo Qing's hand, intending to jump off the balcony with him.
But before she could move, a bolt of lightning struck the ground, blocking their path.
Turning back, she saw the Raiden Shogun, sword in hand, staring coldly at them.
In a panic, Teresa steeled herself and yelled, "No time, my lord! I'll cover you! Natalia and the others are waiting outside to assist you!"
"I said, Teresa..."
Luo Qing patted her shoulder, about to speak, but Teresa cut him off.
"Luo Qing-sama, don't worry about me! Just go!"
"..."
Hearing her self-sacrificing tone, Luo Qing wasn't sure whether to feel touched or annoyed.
"I was saying..."
Before he could continue, the Raiden Shogun acted first, slashing her blade toward Teresa without hesitation.
Teresa's Thunder Manifestations rushed forward, firing volleys of Electro orbs at the Shogun in an attempt to protect their master. But they were shredded instantly by the violet lightning.
In a blink, the blade was at Teresa's head.
"My life is over... wait, huh?"
Teresa braced herself for death, closing her eyes tightly, but after a moment of silence, she opened one eye to peek. She saw Luo Qing, holding his spear, blocking the Shogun's blade.
"Luo Qing-sama... why did you save me? You need to go! If you escape, I... even if I die, I..."
Teresa spoke frantically.
She and her companions had risked everything, even their lives, to storm the Tenshukaku and free Luo Qing. Her life belonged to him, and if she could ensure his escape, she'd gladly sacrifice herself.
But if he didn't leave, all their efforts would be in vain.
"Who said anything about dying?!" Luo Qing interrupted.
"But, Luo Qing-sama, you..."
Before Teresa could finish, the Raiden Shogun slashed again, sidestepping Luo Qing to target Teresa.
She was an unfeeling puppet, and even if it meant cutting down her own creator, she would do so if their wills clashed. There was no hesitation in striking down an intruder like Teresa.
Fortunately, Luo Qing was quick, intercepting her once more.
"This is a misunderstanding!" Luo Qing shouted at the Shogun.
But the Raiden Shogun paid him no mind, circling around him to strike at Teresa again.
"Dammit..." Luo Qing muttered, frustrated. Activating Time Zero, he moved to block her once more.
The two clashed, moving so fast that to the naked eye, they appeared as nothing more than flickers of light. Teresa could only hear the rapid metallic clashes around her.
She had always known Luo Qing was strong, but witnessing it firsthand still left her stunned.
The stalemate dragged on. It seemed the Raiden Shogun was deliberately avoiding harming Luo Qing, but she wasn't letting up her attacks.
Being a puppet, she had infinite stamina, so she could keep this up indefinitely. Luo Qing, on the other hand, couldn't—sustaining Time Zero at maximum intensity put a severe strain on his mind and body.
"Can't we just stop and talk this out?" Luo Qing pleaded.
"Hmph..."
The only response was the Raiden Shogun's cold snort.
"Don't push me!"
"Hmph."
"I'm warning you—don't push me!"
"Hmph."
"You leave me no choice!"
Realizing that words were futile, Luo Qing sighed internally and accessed his system's inventory.
[Ding. Used Affection Boost Card ProMax. Affection increased:]
[Raiden Shogun: +15]
[Ei: +15]
[Total Affection:]
[Raiden Shogun: 52.5]
[Ei: 45]
The Raiden Shogun's body suddenly stiffened. She dropped to one knee, supporting herself with her sword, her chest heaving, her face tinged with a blush.
Damn this fluttering heart...
...
Meanwhile, in the Plane of Euthymia...
Ei's hand trembled as she held her light novel. Pressing her hand to her chest, her face flushed, she whispered softly,
"Luo Qing... It was you, after all!"
---
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
Posture and water check!
If you wish to support me or read ahead here's a link! [patreon.com/WiseTL]
Status Power Mingguan
200+ Peringkat
Power 
238 Power
stone 
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