Chương 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! 🎉
---
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!
Chương 197: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [197]
All she said was that it was "a lot," and then confidently patted him on the shoulder, assuring him that as long as she was around, there would never be chaos in his harem. He was free to flirt however he pleased.
Luo Qing understood her words, but he was equally stunned.
Did that mean she was the main wife?
It all made sense now...
---
Before the last rays of twilight faded, the two of them entered the Grand Bazaar, still holding hands.
Compared to the stern and solemn atmosphere of the Akademiya, the people of the Grand Bazaar were far more enthusiastic and full of life.
Merchants on either side of the streets shouted energetically, while the faces of passing travelers were filled with carefree joy.
Walking hand in hand with Makoto along the bustling streets gave off the vibe of a long-married couple going grocery shopping after work.
Before long, they arrived at the very heart of the Grand Bazaar.
This was the stage of the Zubayr Theater.
The performers from Zubayr Theater held their shows here every day, and tickets weren't even required.
Luo Qing had no idea how this theater managed to sustain itself financially. It's not like they could be running a side hustle in merchandise sales, could they?
Today's performance was said to feature Nilou, the theater's star dancer.
As one of the most stunning beauties in all of Sumeru, Nilou was incredibly popular in the Grand Bazaar. The performance hadn't even officially started, yet the seats around the stage were already packed, leaving no room to move.
Luo Qing and Makoto had arrived early enough to snag seats in the front row.
---
Suddenly, the stage lights dimmed. In the darkness, the faint silhouette of a girl stepped quickly to the center of the stage.
The next moment, the radiant glow of a Hydro Vision lit up.
Water elements gathered around the girl, forming lotuses that floated gracefully into the air.
The lights came back on, revealing a beautiful girl with long crimson hair standing center stage. Her mere presence ignited cheers from the crowd.
"OMG, Nilou is just TOO beautiful!"
"Miss Nilou, do you need a dog at home? I come with my own leash!"
"Nilou is the best!"
"Thank you, everyone!"
Nilou smiled sweetly at the audience, then pressed a finger gently to her lips. The crowd instantly quieted down.
Soft, melodious music began to play. As the rhythm flowed, Nilou's movements on stage became a breathtaking dance, her figure gracefully rising and falling with the melody.
Many of the men in the audience were utterly captivated.
Of course, Luo Qing wasn't one of them.
After all, he'd seen countless beauties in his time...
"Ahem..."
Makoto cleared her throat, glancing sideways at him.
"You're here with me today. Watch your expression."
"..."
"I'm just appreciating the art!" Luo Qing retorted.
Teyvat had so many beautiful girls—he may have been a bit of a flirt, but it wasn't like he had his eye on every single one of them.
Though, Nilou's figure was admittedly... impressive.
Clearly, all that dance training had paid off...
And her...
Wait...
"Appreciating what exactly? The clothes? The person? Or the person in the clothes?"
Makoto huffed softly, leaning closer to whisper in his ear.
"Should I try wearing something like that tonight?"
"...?"
Luo Qing turned his head.
"Are you serious?"
"Hmph."
Makoto's lips curled into a mischievous smile.
"Keep dreaming."
"..."
Luo Qing's brow twitched.
Why did Makoto suddenly feel like such a sly fox?!
---
While the two were bickering, Nilou finished her first performance on stage and began thanking the audience.
"Thank you, everyone! Please take a short break—we'll have the next performer on stage soon…"
Before she could finish, a commotion broke out in one corner of the audience.
A group of scholars dressed in Akademiya uniforms, escorted by guards, pushed their way through the crowd, interrupting the performance.
"You all…"
Nilou frowned slightly, maintaining a polite demeanor.
"May I ask what brings you here? The performance is still ongoing. If it's nothing urgent—"
She was abruptly cut off by the leader of the group, a man with a cold expression.
"Fetch your manager. We're here for a routine business inspection."
The man showed no remorse for interrupting the show.
"But the performance is still—"
"I won't repeat myself. Bring out your manager," he said coldly. "Otherwise, I'll have this venue shut down for illegal operations."
"You're doing this on purpose!"
Nilou's frustration showed.
This wasn't the first time the man had caused a scene during a performance, always under the same pretense.
Unfortunately, as a representative of the Akademiya and the Grand Bazaar's governing authority, he held power that even Mr. Zubayr couldn't counter.
"Think whatever you want," the man sneered. "Now, get your manager!"
His eyes scanned the audience dismissively.
Though the spectators were visibly angry, they didn't dare speak up. The guards accompanying the scholars, armed with curved swords and spears, weren't the type to reason with.
All they could do was watch helplessly as their beloved Nilou was harassed.
---
"Tsk, how annoying," Makoto muttered, puffing her cheeks in frustration.
"These people are clearly here to make trouble!"
She nudged Luo Qing with her elbow.
"They're ruining the show. Go teach them a lesson!"
"Huh?"
Luo Qing was momentarily stunned.
"What were you about to call me just now?"
"Slip of the tongue! Don't overthink it. Just get rid of those guys—I want to enjoy the performance!"
Makoto's tone turned playful, resembling a girl pouting at her boyfriend after a bad day.
"Alright," Luo Qing said with a shrug.
He was already annoyed with the troublemakers anyway.
He opened the system interface in his mind, scrolling through his item cards to decide which one to use.
"Hmm... Making them sing in public might be embarrassing, but they deserve something harsher..."
Muttering to himself, his gaze landed on a particular card: Extreme Nausea and Diarrhea.
Ding!
[You have used three Extreme Nausea and Diarrhea cards.]
The cards, capable of briefly influencing even divine beings, were a precious resource to Luo Qing.
Thus, he only used them on the three lead scholars causing trouble.
"How many times do I have to tell you?! If you don't—"
The lead scholar suddenly froze.
His brows furrowed as an unsettling sensation overwhelmed him.
He clamped a hand over his mouth.
Why did he feel like throwing up? And why did his stomach feel... off?
Uh-oh. He couldn't hold it in...
"What are you people even—"
Nilou, still fuming, was about to confront them further when she noticed the lead scholar and his two companions drop to the ground.
Each of them clutched their stomachs with one hand and covered their mouths with the other.
Both Nilou and the audience were puzzled, wondering what on earth was happening.
BLEGH!
SPLAT!
The next moment, the three scholars could no longer contain themselves. They vomited violently.
And as their abdominal muscles contracted, their other... "muscles" gave out too.
The dampness spreading from their backsides left no doubt as to what had just happened.
---
The stunned silence in the audience was broken by a cry of disbelief:
"Holy crap, are they seriously puking and crapping themselves on stage?!"
---
Hello! Thank you so much for reading this chapter. WiseTL has worked hard to bring these wonderful stories to you, and I'm so happy we could share this moment together! Don't you think stories are a little like dreams? Each one has its own colors and shapes, and they grow even brighter when shared with others.
If you'd like to support WiseTL, you can visit [patreon.com/WiseTL]. Even a small gesture is like sunlight and rain to a growing flower—it helps the garden of stories flourish and bloom!
-With love, Nahida 🌱
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