Chương 171: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [171]
And then Paimon dropped a single sentence that extinguished the flames of their fight entirely.
The Raiden Shogun, ignoring Ei entirely, flashed like a bolt of lightning toward Paimon. Her voice was cold and unyielding.
"Repeat what you just said."
"Uh..."
Terrified by the overwhelming pressure emanating from the Raiden Shogun, Paimon quickly darted behind Lumine, peeking out timidly.
"I-I said, Luo Qing isn't dead. He's alive and well! You two can stop fighting now..."
"..."
The Raiden Shogun fell silent, raising her blade and pointing it at Lumine and Paimon. Her voice was like a chilling gust.
"If you dare lie to me, you will face divine retribution."
"I-I'm not lying..." Paimon stammered, clutching Lumine's shoulder for safety. "Luo Qing was so terrified by you that he faked his death to escape..."
"..."
The Raiden Shogun was silent again, her blade hovering indecisively.
"Luo Qing is really still alive?"
Ei, too, approached, her brows furrowed as she studied Lumine and Paimon.
"Of course! We just saw him not long ago," Paimon said, raising her voice slightly. "He mentioned he might return to Snezhnaya. If you two keep fighting, he could be gone before you even find him!"
"..."
Ei exchanged glances with Lumine and Paimon. Their sincerity made her suspect nothing.
Perhaps Luo Qing had indeed escaped using some unknown method...
If that were true, then—
"In that case..."
Before Ei could make her decision, the Raiden Shogun lifted her blade once more. Her tone was calm, yet resolute.
"Let this final battle mark the end of the five hundred years of fate binding us."
Even without Luo Qing's presence, the betrayal against eternity was still an unavoidable catalyst between them.
No matter what, the battle between Ei and the Raiden Shogun was destined to happen.
"Huh? Why are they still fighting?"
Paimon blinked in confusion.
Weren't they fighting because of Luo Qing's supposed death? Now that they knew he was alive, shouldn't this be the part where they stopped fighting and ran to find him, like in those light novel plots?
"Paimon, stay back."
Lumine summoned her blade, shielding Paimon as the battle reignited.
The Raiden Shogun ascended into the air, her form wreathed in thunder. The divine aura surrounding her was even more intense than before.
"You..."
Feeling the Shogun's intent, Ei frowned. She could sense it clearly—the Shogun was determined to finish this battle quickly, so she could pursue Luo Qing.
The murderous intent she'd once harbored toward Luo Qing had long since dissipated, replaced by a lingering fondness she couldn't fully understand.
Even if her memories of those tender days were erased, an inexplicable affection remained in her heart.
Ei couldn't comprehend why the Raiden Shogun would blush and grow excited at the mere mention of Luo Qing's name.
Though, she had to admit, she felt a little...
"Since that's the case..."
Drawing the Musou Isshin once more, Ei spoke calmly.
"Let this blade's will end everything between us."
In the next moment, Ei charged at the Raiden Shogun, her determination unwavering.
Their clash filled the realm of consciousness with the brilliance of blades and lightning.
This was a battleground for gods, one in which Lumine, far from her former strength, had no place. All she could do was wait beside Paimon for the battle to conclude.
At last, the lightning subsided.
Bearing the hopes of countless Inazumans, Ei emerged victorious.
"This is the end... You... have won..."
The Raiden Shogun knelt on one knee, her face weary, though her tone carried a hint of urgency.
"The will that knows no wear... In the end, it cannot embrace the future."
"The reasons behind our blades define the limits of our skills. What I carry are the gazes of countless souls, fixed on the dawn. You need not fear the future, nor face it alone."
Ei gazed at the Musou Isshin in her hand, her voice soft.
"This blade... only responds when I truly understand and accept it. I never saw you as a mere tool, just as you never treated me as a fearless, unfeeling weapon."
"Heh... So, are you apologizing for that?"
"..."
Ei understood what the Shogun referred to—the erasure of their memories with Luo Qing, his death for the sake of eternity.
"I'm sorry."
"..."
The sudden apology surprised the Raiden Shogun. It was a long while before she responded quietly.
"You truly have changed... Is this what humans call growth?"
After a moment's hesitation, the Raiden Shogun continued in a calm voice.
"I understand. I will become your shadow, as you once were mine... But as for him... I won't give him up to you."
"..."
It took a moment for Ei to process the Shogun's parting words.
"You still can't let it go, can you?"
"Hmph... Neither can you."
With that, the Raiden Shogun ascended, transforming into a streak of light that returned to the Plane of Euthymia.
"Wait, that's it?"
Paimon poked her head out, muttering.
"So, do we head back now, or..."
Before she could finish, the Musou Isshin in Ei's hand began to glow a soft pinkish-purple.
From within the light, a cheerful voice echoed.
"Hello, Ei, and to all the witnesses here..."
"This voice... You are... truly..."
"Yes, it's been a long time, Ei."
---
Meanwhile, beneath the Sacred Sakura Tree...
Luo Qing twirled his fingers, summoning a small, emerald-green seed into his hand.
"This is..."
Sensing the seed's vibrant life force, Yae Miko raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"No need to be so shocked, Miss Yae," Luo Qing said with a smirk. "It's merely a little prop for the wager between us."
With that, he placed the seed in front of the Sacred Sakura Tree.
The air shifted as he did. Yae Miko's expression tightened—she could sense the turbulence of time and space calming instantly with his actions.
At the same time, a voice echoed in Luo Qing's mind.
[Ding! Residual souls of deceased lifeforms detected nearby. Would you like to use the Seed of Nirvana?]
"Just as I thought..."
Luo Qing's lips curled into a knowing smile.
It was as he'd suspected. The final fragment of her consciousness had become a seed within the Sacred Sakura Tree, crossing the currents of time and space to return to the past, saving Inazuma from calamity.
But only by planting the seed in the past, once Ei's heart truly changed, could her spirit fully manifest within the Sacred Sakura.
"Use it."
With a thought, Luo Qing activated the seed.
A soft violet glow emerged from the Sacred Sakura Tree, gathering around the Seed of Nirvana in his hand.
[Ding! Residual souls collected. Would you like to proceed with physical reconstruction?]
"Alright then," Luo Qing said suddenly.
"What?" Yae Miko asked, startled.
"Miss Yae, remember to keep this a secret for me~"
Before she could respond, Luo Qing disappeared from beneath the Sacred Sakura Tree.
---
If you notice anything that feels off, just let me know—I don't mind fixing things up.
Oh, and don't forget to sit up, grab some water, and take it easy while you're here. No rush, right?
If you're into this, consider checking out [patreon.com/WiseTL].
Your support helps me keep going, and I'm grateful for every bit of it.
Chương 172: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [172]
The moment he raised his hand earlier, the turbulent flow of time she had sensed seemed to abruptly cease.
Moreover, the faint glow that had gathered around the Sacred Sakura Tree emitted an aura that felt both familiar and foreign—similar to Ei's yet distinctly different.
"Could it be..."
Linking together Luo Qing's recent actions, an extraordinarily bold theory emerged in her mind.
"Does he really have such power?"
Yae Miko glanced at the Sacred Sakura Tree.
For reasons she couldn't explain, the tree seemed smaller than before, its cherry blossoms less radiant than usual.
Just as she debated whether to track down Luo Qing and confront him directly, hurried footsteps interrupted her thoughts.
She turned to see Lumine and Paimon waving as they approached, and alongside them was her old friend—Ei.
"You're back already? Seems everything went smoothly," Yae Miko remarked with a soft smile, her eyes scanning Ei from head to toe.
"My, so you've stepped out of your shell. How does embracing the future feel?"
"...It's fine," Ei murmured.
"Lady Miko, you won't believe this!" Paimon exclaimed, her tone exaggerated. "We just met Makoto!"
"Makoto?"
Yae Miko raised an eyebrow. Her voice was calm but carried a hint of curiosity.
"Little Paimon, care to explain in detail?"
"It happened right after Ei defeated the Shogun! Makoto's voice came from within the Musou Isshin sword!"
Paimon animatedly recounted everything that had transpired in the realm of consciousness.
As the story unfolded, Yae Miko's expression grew more thoughtful. By the time Paimon finished, she had pieced the sequence of events together.
"No wonder... So it was you three who calmed the turbulence I sensed earlier."
Yae Miko resumed her contemplative pose, her expression serious.
By now, she realized the truth—Luo Qing had known in advance not only what would transpire within the realm of consciousness but also that Makoto would manifest when Ei's heart truly changed, delivering the Sacred Sakura Tree's seed.
That's why he had said the tree had yet to be planted at that time.
"This man..."
A trace of irritation crossed Yae Miko's face.
It had been a long time since anyone had made her feel like a mere puppet on their strings.
"Lady Miko? Is something wrong?"
Lumine's concern pulled Yae Miko from her thoughts.
"Nothing at all," she replied, her demeanor shifting as a sly smile spread across her face. Her gaze turned toward Ei.
"But you—since you know Luo Qing is still alive, how about meeting him one more time?"
Yae Miko had long been aware of the connection between Luo Qing and Ei.
Although she didn't fully understand why Ei had once sought Luo Qing's life, that didn't stop her from using her friend as an excuse to probe into Luo Qing's secrets.
At the very least, before Luo Qing returned to Snezhnaya, she intended to unearth every last bit of his mystery.
"Him..."
Ei lowered her head, her emotions conflicted.
The name "Luo Qing" stirred something inexplicable within her, a vague sense that they had shared some history, though she couldn't recall what.
"I hear he's heading back to Snezhnaya," Yae Miko teased. "If you don't seize this chance, you might have to chase him all the way there~"
"..."
Ei remained silent, her gaze unfocused as though deep in conversation with the Raiden Shogun.
"I do owe him a proper apology," she finally murmured.
---
Elsewhere
After slipping away from the Grand Narukami Shrine, Luo Qing quickly returned to his safehouse in Inazuma City.
The place, once lively with Rosalyne and Teresa's presence, now felt noticeably quiet as Luo Qing prepared for his imminent departure to Snezhnaya.
He glanced around at his belongings, recalling that many of his personal items had been taken by Kamisato Ayaka—likely for a cenotaph, though he wasn't entirely sure.
After tidying the room, Luo Qing retrieved a set of light purple women's kimono. With a thought, he summoned the emerald-green Seed of Nirvana from his system inventory.
[Proceed with physical reconstruction?]
Staring at the system prompt, Luo Qing steadied his excitement and selected "Yes."
The Seed of Nirvana immediately emitted a dazzling green light, floating in midair. It began to grow rapidly, the glow intensifying before condensing into the form of a young girl.
As the light faded, pale, snow-like skin gradually came into view.
When the radiance finally dissipated, a girl with long, deep purple hair floated in the air. Slowly, she opened her eyes, her expression dazed as she took in her surroundings.
"Impossible..."
A hint of astonishment flickered through her violet pupils. Before she could say more, the Seed of Nirvana's effects completed, and she plummeted, landing face-first onto Luo Qing's tatami mat.
"Ouch..."
The girl rubbed her knees, noticing Luo Qing nearby. She straightened up and looked directly at him.
"Uh..."
Luo Qing examined her from head to toe.
Her features were nearly identical to Ei's and the Raiden Shogun's—stunningly beautiful, with a figure just as ample. Yet, unlike Ei's mature demeanor, this girl carried an air of youthful innocence.
"It's you..."
Her voice was soft, tinged with disbelief.
"Yes, it's me. But more importantly..." Luo Qing swallowed, pointing first at her chest and then at the purple kimono he had set aside.
"Shouldn't you, uh, put on some clothes first?"
Just like with Rosalyne before, the system's resurrection tool had brought back her body—but not her clothing.
The girl sitting in front of him, Raiden Makoto, was utterly bare, her long purple hair barely concealing her fair skin.
Luo Qing couldn't help but steal a few more glances.
Those legs...
That figure...
...Smooth.
"..."
Makoto looked down at herself and immediately turned crimson. Hugging the kimono to her chest, she glared at Luo Qing with a mix of shame and anger.
"You...!"
"Me what?" Luo Qing asked, feigning innocence.
"Get out! I need to change!"
Makoto's voice was high-pitched, tinged with both embarrassment and frustration.
"There's no one else here. Why not just change? Besides, I've already seen everything..."
"?"
[+1 Frustration Value from Makoto]
Makoto bit her lip, glaring at him with defiant eyes. Unbeknownst to her, this very expression and posture were driving Luo Qing to the brink.
Seeing no sign of him leaving, Makoto let out a small huff, turned away, and began dressing herself.
As she picked up the kimono, she noticed something odd.
"Is this the only piece?"
"Yup. What's the problem?"
"..."
Makoto sighed.
What kind of girl wears just the outer layer of a kimono? At the very least, she should have some undergarments. This felt far too unsafe...
After securing the obi tightly, she finally turned back to face him.
"All done?"
"Yes."
"Good. Now, it's time for answers."
Luo Qing's voice turned serious as he stared at her.
"Earlier, you said 'of course.' You know me, don't you?"
"...Yes."
Makoto's lips curled slightly as she met his gaze.
"I know you, Luo Qing."
---
If you notice anything that feels off, just let me know—I don't mind fixing things up.
Oh, and don't forget to sit up, grab some water, and take it easy while you're here. No rush, right?
If you're into this, consider checking out [patreon.com/WiseTL].
Your support helps me keep going, and I'm grateful for every bit of it.
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