章 6: Yae Miko’s Teary Act
"Ei, after so long apart, the first thing I see is that sour look on your face. Your divine aura is enough to terrify anyone—who dared to anger you so?"
Yae Miko's gaze shifted back to Ei. As her contracted familiar, Miko immediately recognized that it was Ei's consciousness in control.
She could feel the brewing divine wrath within her god, as still and foreboding as a volcano before an eruption.
"What happened? Did you just come out of your little room only to get this upset?"
"Lord Shogun." Kamisato Ayato bowed respectfully, though Miko's words startled him.
The Shogun was angry?
Thinking back to the thunderclouds that had filled the sky earlier, he now understood they were an expression of her fury.
But what had caused this? Ayato's mind turned to Inazuma's current turmoil, and he began to form some guesses.
"Miko, why didn't you tell me how terrible things have become in Inazuma?" Ei's face darkened as she swept the reports from her desk onto the floor, her voice trembling with anger.
The thought of being lied to for centuries—of reading nothing but fabricated reports—made her blood boil.
RUMBLE!
As a natural-born god, her emotions influenced the heavens. The skies above Narukami Island thundered ominously.
Yae Miko instantly understood: Ei had discovered Inazuma's true state, and that's why she'd been summoned.
While part of her felt elated that Ei had finally stepped up, another part was filled with bitterness.
"So you summoned me in a rush just to scold me, Ei?"
Forcing tears to well up in her eyes, Miko made her voice tremble with grievance.
"You finally decided to leave your Plane of Euthymia and take a look at this country. For five centuries, you've ignored me entirely. Every time I tried to tell you about Inazuma's problems, you would rather trust those liars than listen to me."
Miko covered her face with her hands and began sobbing theatrically.
"What else could I do? I could only work myself to the bone with the shrine maidens at the Grand Narukami Shrine, trying my best to fulfill my duties. And now you summon me only to reprimand me... Wuuu..."
Watching Yae Miko's tearful display, Noah felt like he was witnessing the juiciest drama unfold. He was thoroughly entertained.
Using his spatial authority, he summoned a camera from Fontaine and recorded the scene for future enjoyment.
Kamisato Ayato, outwardly stoic, was equally stunned.
Was this really the same Yae Miko who loved to toy with others and take pleasure in their reactions?
Then his gaze fell upon the reports that had been swept onto the floor. Glancing down, he caught a glimpse of their contents.
The reports claimed Inazuma was a land of peace and prosperity, where the people lived happy and fulfilling lives.
Ayato froze.
He had known the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions had falsified their reports to some degree. But to fabricate them entirely?
As head of the Yashiro Commission, responsible for Inazuma's cultural and ceremonial matters, Ayato had no authority to interfere with governance or military affairs. He hadn't even been sure if his own reports reached the Shogun's desk.
But now, with the Shogun herself summoning him, Ayato understood: the time had come to rectify Inazuma.
His heart raced.
The corrupt aristocracy that had plagued Inazuma for so long was about to face judgment. Ayato's Kamisato Clan would likely be tasked with spearheading this effort.
If those corrupt officials were purged, the Kamisato Clan would undoubtedly rise to become one of the most powerful families in Inazuma.
Seeing Yae Miko weep so bitterly, Ei felt a pang of guilt.
"I'm sorry, Miko. I thought you were joking as you used to, and it never occurred to me that Takayuki Kujou and the others would dare to deceive me so brazenly," Ei admitted, her expression filled with remorse.
But Miko, sensing an opportunity, played her role to perfection.
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she sniffled, her voice heavy with grievance.
"You don't know, Ei, how they've worked against me. They even targeted the Kamisato siblings! If not for me, they might have been crushed entirely."
"And yet, despite everything, you stayed in your Plane of Euthymia, letting those people rule Inazuma as if it were theirs. What could I do? I had no choice but to endure."
Her act was flawless. The more pitiful she seemed now, the easier it would be to earn favors later.
And of course, she wasn't going to miss the chance to advocate for the Kamisato Clan, her closest allies.
Ayato silently thanked Yae Miko. She was clearly trying to ensure the Kamisato Clan received the Shogun's favor.
Wiping away her crocodile tears, Miko's voice hardened.
"Over the years, my shrine maidens and the Kamisato Clan have gathered plenty of evidence against those officials. Their ties to the Fatui, their exploitation of the people, human trafficking, even forcing women into unspeakable fates—it's all here."
"We were just waiting for an opportunity to present it to you."
Ei's expression turned icy, her voice brimming with killing intent.
"There's no need for evidence. Inazuma's decline alone is proof enough. They've brought the nation to ruin and nearly provoked Celestia's wrath. For that alone, they should commit seppuku immediately to atone."
Inazuma was her sister's nation. It had nearly been destroyed because of these vile people.
If the new Heavenly Principle hadn't intervened, and instead the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles had arrived, Inazuma would undoubtedly have faced annihilation.
"Hiss—"
Yae Miko drew a sharp breath, her tail curling in shock.
The situation had grown severe enough to attract Celestia's attention?
So that's why Ei had stormed toward Celestia earlier—she had received a direct summons.
Ayato was similarly taken aback.
While he knew Celestia was a realm far beyond the Shogun's, the idea of Inazuma's troubles drawing attention at that level was terrifying.
This wasn't just a political matter; it was a question of Inazuma's survival.
Those corrupt officials were doomed.
Ayato's thoughts turned dark. Those same officials had once oppressed the Kamisato Clan mercilessly when he and his sister were young. If not for Yae Miko's protection, neither of them would have survived.
Ei's voice was as cold as the thunderclouds outside.
"Miko. Kamisato Ayato. Take the Shuumatsuban and the Hatamoto and arrest Takayuki Kujou, Hiiragi Shinsuke, and every official responsible for Inazuma's chaos."
"Wait… Simply arresting them isn't enough. That punishment would be too light," Noah interjected.
Satisfied, he tucked away his camera.
"By the way, Ei, who's this little brother of yours? He seems rather daring, sneaking a recording just now," Yae Miko said, her gaze turning playful, her fox-like eyes glinting as they locked onto Noah.
She had noticed the young man's casual use of a camera to record her tearful act and was already plotting her revenge.
If not for Ei's presence, she would've pounced on him and twisted his ear for his audacity.
Whoever he was, Yae Miko had added him to her personal list of targets for future mischief.
But then Noah smiled.
"My name is Noah. I hail from Celestia."
Yae Miko froze, her playful demeanor evaporating in an instant.
Her thoughts screeched to a halt.
Celestia?
Her expression stiffened, all mischievous plans forgotten.
Yae Miko's tail fur bristled beneath her robes.
Celestia.
Celestia was the realm of gods, the pinnacle of divine power. The number of gods residing there was unknown, but anyone from Celestia was unquestionably extraordinary.
Was this god someone who had returned with Ei to Inazuma?
And just a moment ago, she had referred to this god—who seemed more powerful than Ei—as "little brother"!
After two seconds of internal panic, she managed to compose herself, though her demeanor now exuded both reverence and a sense of helplessness.
"Oh, so you are a god from Celestia. I apologize for my lack of decorum and beg your forgiveness, my lord."
Her ears threatened to stand straight up in nervous alarm. She had assumed this figure was merely a bold retainer of the Shogun, confident enough to act casually. She never imagined he was a god from Celestia itself.
He must have descended to supervise Ei due to Inazuma's chaos.
And she had dared to address him so familiarly. This was tantamount to blasphemy!
It was like a mortal daring to call Ei a "little girl."
Her gaze darted toward Ei, her eyes pleading. Help me! You won't leave me to fend for myself, will you?
But Ei looked just as tense, her gaze fixed on Noah.
This was the new Heavenly Principle, a being of immense power, far beyond anything she could challenge. If he chose to punish Miko, she doubted she could shield her.
It was the first time Yae Miko had seen Ei so anxious. That only confirmed her worst fears: this god from Celestia was someone even Ei wouldn't dare to offend.
She was doomed.
Noah watched the expressions on Yae Miko's face shift from shock to terror, then fear, and finally outright despair. Amusement flickered in his eyes.
Of all Teyvat's two-dimensional beauties, Yae Miko was undoubtedly one of his favorites—a mix of cunning, charm, and innocence.
The room grew heavier with tension as the silence dragged on.
Even Kamisato Ayato, who wasn't directly involved, felt suffocated, as though the air itself had thickened.
The atmosphere was unbearable. Ayato's heart raced. Would he, too, face divine punishment by mere association?
Yae Miko, staring at the unfamiliar god's playful smile, felt her soul slipping away. Just as she was about to plead further, he finally spoke.
"Oh my, why has the atmosphere suddenly grown so tense?"
Noah's smile brightened, radiating an easy-going charm.
If he waited much longer, Yae Miko might actually faint from fright, and that wouldn't do at all.
"It was just a slip of the tongue. I'm not a petty god who holds grudges over trivial matters. As a god, I pride myself on my broad-mindedness."
At first, Yae Miko relaxed slightly, but then her entire body stiffened again as certain words—"petty," "trivial," and "broad-mindedness"—rang pointedly in her ears.
As a sly fox herself, she quickly caught on to the teasing in his tone.
"You know, I'm a very magnanimous god. If I got angry every time someone insulted the heavens, wouldn't I be busy raining down divine punishments all day?"
"Don't worry, I'll forget about this soon enough."
Ei's amethyst eyes widened slightly.
This was… completely different from the authoritative figure she had first met in Celestia.
For a brief moment, Noah reminded her of a certain bard from Mondstadt, carefree and unpredictable.
"Oh dear, I seem to have a slight ache in my shoulder all of a sudden," Noah said, theatrically massaging his shoulder with an exaggerated sigh.
Yae Miko's fox-like instincts flared. She immediately understood his implication and groaned inwardly.
Her expression turned strange as she pieced together his character. She'd encountered a similar personality centuries ago.
"My lord, I happen to know a thing or two about massage techniques. Would you permit me to ease your discomfort?" Yae Miko asked, her voice tinged with reluctant resignation.
This god clearly appreciated her beauty. She could already tell his personality wouldn't be much better than that of a certain infamous woman she once knew.
Having just offended him, she dared not refuse, lest she provoke further mischief—or worse, retribution.
"Oh? That sounds wonderful. Ei, you don't mind, do you?" Noah turned to Ei with a grin.
"If Miko is willing, then I have no objections," Ei replied, her tone calm.
Yae Miko's heart sank further. Do I have a choice?
Helplessly, she moved behind Noah and began massaging his shoulders, her fingers skilled and precise.
As the Grand Narukami Shrine's Guuji, she was well-versed in many arts, including medicine, divination, and spiritual rituals. Massage techniques fell under her knowledge of medicinal practices.
"Ah, excellent. This feels wonderful. You're quite skilled, Miko. I'm impressed," Noah remarked, clearly enjoying himself.
"Thank you for your praise, my lord. I'm glad you're satisfied," Miko replied, her voice composed, though her thoughts churned with bitterness.
Even Ei, Makoto, and Kitsune Saiguu had never received such a privilege as having her massage their shoulders!
Yet here she was, catering to this unfamiliar god.
Meanwhile, Kamisato Ayato kept his head bowed, making himself as inconspicuous as possible. I wasn't here. I didn't see anything.
"Noah, why did you say the punishment for them would be too light?" Ei asked, her tone curious.
She had shifted from addressing him as "Lord Heavenly Principle" to "Noah," recognizing his preference to keep his identity as the Heavenly Principle hidden. She wasn't politically adept, but she wasn't oblivious either.
Yet she still struggled to understand his reasoning.
Wouldn't executing those corrupt officials suffice?
"That's simple," Noah replied, half-closing his eyes.
"As a god, you underestimate the depth of human selfishness and greed. While humanity can reach great heights, it can also sink to unimaginable lows. Their capacity for both good and evil knows no bounds."
He continued, his tone sharp.
"The goal of exploitation and tyranny is often to amass wealth and power for their families. These resources are then passed down to their descendants, ensuring their line thrives while others suffer."
"If you merely execute the perpetrators, their children and grandchildren will still benefit from their crimes."
"What would that teach others? That committing a lifetime of evil can guarantee your family's fortune for generations? Nonsense."
Satisfied with his explanation, Noah added, "But this is your domain, Ei. How you proceed is up to you."
He leaned back, giving her the space to decide. He had no desire to overshadow her authority as the ruler of Inazuma.
Ei nodded thoughtfully but looked uncertain. While she understood his point, she wasn't sure how to proceed. Her gaze turned to Yae Miko.
"Miko, what's your opinion?"
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