บท 196: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [196] [400 PS]
Well, well, look at you! So dedicated, you've earned a little extra treat! 🎉
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Makoto changed into a light purple, airy kimono. Taking advantage of the twilight, she walked alongside Luo Qing through the streets of Sumeru, heading toward the Grand Bazaar.
This time, it was just the two of them going to watch the performance. Rosalyne had been left behind at home.
With the use of a simulated mask, Makoto's appearance now bore a resemblance to her previous one—close enough to avoid confusion, but different enough not to raise questions.
Her waist-length dark purple hair and her delicate, charming face gave her an air of refined beauty. Coupled with her Inazuma-style attire, her presence drew quite a few glances along the way.
"Hey, let me ask you something."
They had just walked a short distance when Makoto turned her head slightly, glancing at Luo Qing. Her voice was soft.
"When you flirt with girls, do you always walk like this?"
"What?"
Luo Qing was puzzled. He didn't quite catch her meaning.
Walking is just walking, right? Did she expect him to do something outrageous while walking?
"Tch, playing dumb, are we?"
Makoto whispered, leaning closer as she pointed at his arm with her lips.
"Let go of me."
"Huh?"
Luo Qing blinked, still a bit dazed, but followed her words and let his arm drop.
The next moment, Makoto slipped her right arm through the crook of his, pressing her body lightly against his side and linking arms with him.
"..."
The soft sensation on his arm, paired with the faint scent of cherry blossoms emanating from her, left Luo Qing baffled.
In his memory, ever since he'd revived Makoto, he hadn't gone out of his way to woo her. In fact, he hadn't even tried flirting with her.
So why was she suddenly holding onto him like this?
"You..."
"What about me?"
Makoto tilted her lips into a faint smile, her tone playful and gentle.
"What? Are you afraid the girl you're trying to charm might see us like this?"
"..."
"I'm not—I didn't—don't make stuff up."
"Then it's fine, isn't it?"
Makoto let out a soft hum of amusement, continuing to walk arm-in-arm with him toward the Grand Bazaar.
With such a beautiful, elegant woman clinging to him, their presence drew even more attention as they walked.
The Sumeru passersby couldn't wrap their heads around it.
How could such a stunning and graceful woman already have a partner?
And that guy—what did he have going for him besides being just a little good-looking?
On the other hand, Luo Qing was still dumbfounded.
In all his time since arriving in this world, this was the first time he'd met a girl who was so openly forward with him.
"What exactly did you see...?"
He asked in a low voice.
"Why are you asking this again?"
Makoto tilted her head up slightly, gazing at him as she pressed closer. Her voice carried a teasing hum.
"Can't it be that I've simply taken a liking to you?"
"..."
"Don't do this—I'm scared," Luo Qing muttered weakly.
Having grown up in Snezhnaya, he didn't believe in free lunches. Any sudden benefit was often accompanied by traps or schemes.
Even though he had brought Makoto back to life, her actions now went far beyond anything he had anticipated.
This woman was just too over-the-top, more so than Teresa, the reigning queen of smooth talk.
"Tsk, look at you, all nervous."
Makoto poked his shoulder, her eyes surprisingly filled with affection.
"Do you really think I'd harm you?"
"Well, you could at least give me a reason..."
"Fine..."
Seeing the confusion on his face, Makoto seemed to contemplate for a moment.
As she led him along, she began to explain in a gentle voice.
"You're aware of my consciousness realm, right?"
"I am, but what does that have to do with the future you mentioned?"
"It's simple," Makoto replied with ease.
"It embodies my understanding and insight into the concept of eternity."
"Eternity isn't about unchanging stasis, like what Ei believes. It originates from Teyvat's space-time yet transcends it. The past and future are one, and what binds them together is eternity."
"My consciousness realm reflects that. It exists outside of Teyvat's time and space, an unrestricted domain."
"Uh... but how does that answer my question?"
Luo Qing asked hesitantly.
"When Baal-sama is speaking, no interruptions!"
Makoto huffed softly and pinched his wrist before continuing.
"Since it's independent of time and space, it means that from the moment I created it, every version of me—from any point in time—can enter it."
"You mean... future you can also enter it?"
Luo Qing struggled to grasp the concept.
If that were true, wouldn't there be multiple versions of Makoto in the consciousness realm simultaneously?
"Yes and no."
Makoto shook her head, raising her linked hands and extending her index finger.
"Look, imagine these two fingers: the one on my left hand represents the past, and the one on my right represents the future."
"When they both enter the consciousness realm—snap—they merge into one finger again."
"There will only ever be one version of me in the realm. But when future me and past me both enter, my consciousness layers together, and I gain the memories of both the past and future."
"The past me understands what will happen in the future, and the future me remembers the past even more vividly. That's how I'm able to see the future."
"..."
Luo Qing fell silent.
He understood what she meant, and it left him astonished.
"So rather than 'seeing' it, it's more like you experienced it yourself, gaining the memories..."
"Smart boy," Makoto said as she reached out to pinch his nose lightly, her eyes filled with unmistakable tenderness.
"..."
"But I still don't quite get it." Luo Qing thought for a moment and asked, "Didn't you say you saw multiple timelines of the future? Does that mean you experienced all of them?"
"Not exactly~"
Makoto shook her head and continued.
"The future is uncertain yet singular. The reason I can see many futures is that they are all possibilities."
"After certain key events occur, some futures cease to exist. When that happens, they vanish from my mind as though they were never there to begin with."
"So..." Luo Qing pondered for a moment. "After I revived you, the only futures you could see were the ones where I existed?"
"Correct~"
"Ah, I see..." Luo Qing sighed.
Now it all made sense why Makoto was so unusually attached to him.
It turned out that his future self had already put in the effort for him.
All he had to do now was roll up his sleeves and reap the rewards...
This really was...
"Too cool..."
"It seems like we will go through a lot together in the future." Luo Qing looked to the sky.
"If you want to know, you could ask me nicely. Maybe I'd give you a little hint~" Makoto teased.
"Of course, I can't tell you too much. Who knows? It might affect the future. If we accidentally ended up with a bad ending, that'd be awful."
"A bad ending?"
Luo Qing was taken aback.
How could words like these come out of Makoto's mouth?
Who's the one actually from another world here—her or me?
"So, is there anything you want to ask me?"
"Well..."
Luo Qing thought for a while before nodding.
"There's one thing I'm really curious about..."
"Go ahead."
"How many people are in my harem, exactly?"
"...?"
---
Ah, Traveler, it seems the winds didn't quite carry us far enough this week to activate the Noble Phantasm: Tapisserie Éternelle. But no need to fret! Even the mightiest gales start as gentle breezes, and there's always next week to soar even higher.
Unfortunately, this bard won't be here to see it—another melody calls me elsewhere—but I'm sure the next storyteller will inspire you just as much! Keep your spirits high and those Powerstones coming; after all, the best songs are born from perseverance and a touch of hope. 🍃✨
Until we meet again, may your journeys be filled with wonders and your stories ever bloom!
But for now, it's time to take a bow. Thank you for the applause (and all that wonderful support). If you're feeling extra inspired, you know where to find me—[patreon.com/WiseTL]. Toss a coin, and who knows? Maybe the next bard will sing your praises!
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