Chương 259: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [259]
Hearing someone call out behind him, Luo Qing turned around. His subordinates also glanced back, curious.
Standing there was a tall, blue-haired woman wielding a massive greatsword. Her fiery, intimidating gaze was locked onto Luo Qing as if he were her sworn enemy.
"Who's calling me… huh?!"
When Luo Qing and Eula's eyes met, the atmosphere suddenly fell silent.
"So, it really is you…"
Eula's voice trembled with anger, and before anyone could react, her hand shot to her sword, and she swung it at Luo Qing.
Even Kaveh, who had been spectating nearby, was utterly stunned.
So the rumors are true—people really do chase down Fatui operatives on sight?
Barely moments into their arrival, and his boss was already being attacked?!
The scene unfolding before him gave Kaveh the distinct urge to grab his tools and flee. But…
I signed the contract…
If he broke it now, he'd owe Luo Qing a hefty sum of Mora.
Ugh. If I'd known he was with the Fatui, I wouldn't have signed so readily…
"Now, now…"
Luo Qing casually raised a hand and stopped Eula's strike by gripping the hilt of her sword. With a smooth twist of his wrist, he disarmed her, taking the greatsword for himself.
Wait. Why did I think "again"?
"Is that how you greet an old friend? By swinging at them?" Luo Qing teased.
"Who's your friend?!"
Eula's anger flared even hotter.
This man—this thief—had not only stolen her sword but also tickled her feet, spanked her, and carried her off like a sack of potatoes. And now he had the audacity to call her a friend?!
Shameless!
"Give me back my sword!" she demanded, her tone seething with fury.
"Here."
Luo Qing handed over the greatsword he had just taken from her.
"And the other one!"
"The other one?" Luo Qing tilted his head, pretending ignorance.
"The one you took last time!" Eula snapped.
"Ohhh, you mean that one," Luo Qing said, as though finally remembering.
Indeed, during their previous encounter, he had confiscated her favorite greatsword as a form of punishment for her incessant complaints. It had been sitting unused in his system inventory ever since—probably gathering dust by now.
"Nope. Not giving it back."
"..."
[Eula's Frustration +1]
After a brief moment of stunned silence, Eula swung her sword at him again, but to Luo Qing, her attack was no more threatening than a child's tantrum.
With a casual swipe of his hand across her weapon, the greatsword vanished into thin air.
"Alright, this one's mine now too."
"..."
[Eula's Frustration +10]
"You… Fatui scoundrel…"
Eula clenched her fists, her body trembling with rage.
With no sword left, she prepared to engage Luo Qing with her bare hands. But before she could make a move, Luo Qing turned away as if she were no longer worth his attention.
"You all can go handle your tasks," Luo Qing said, addressing his subordinates. "I have a personal matter to deal with."
"Yes, my lord…"
Natalia glanced at Luo Qing, silently sighing to herself.
Another woman chasing after him?
With the six women back at the house in Sumeru already stirring enough drama…
Ugh… this isn't going to end well.
Once the others had left, Luo Qing turned back to Eula.
"So? Do you still have something to say?"
"I…"
Eula fumed internally. If it weren't for the strict etiquette lessons drilled into her as a member of the Lawrence clan, she would've already cursed him out.
"You Fatui scum! Give me back my sword, or else don't blame me for what happens next!"
"Oh, so being Fatui is the problem now?" Luo Qing shot back, smirking. "Did a Fatui operative steal your family's rice, or something?"
"I'm here investing Mora into Mondstadt's GDP as a major business owner. You'd better show me some respect."
"And besides," he continued, "you attacked me first. It's only fair that I keep your sword as a war trophy, don't you think? So, what are you going to do about it, huh?"
"You…!"
Under the barrage of Luo Qing's rapid-fire retorts, Eula found herself at a loss for words.
"But," Luo Qing said, his tone suddenly shifting. His eyes roamed up and down her figure.
They say Eula's rear is Mondstadt's pride… truly legendary.
Ah… perfect.
"If you ask nicely, I might just return it to you," he added with a teasing smile.
"You… you scoundrel!"
Feeling unnerved under his strange gaze, Eula instinctively stepped back half a step.
"So? Are you going to ask?"
"Hmph! Dream on! I'd never stoop to begging you!" Eula spat, her voice icy.
"No begging? Then I guess we're done here. Farewell."
And with that, Luo Qing's eyes glowed briefly with a golden light, and in the blink of an eye, he vanished.
"Wha—?!"
Eula gasped.
"Damn it! Get back here! Give me back my sword, you Fatui scoundrel!"
But no matter how loudly she shouted, there was no response. It was as if Luo Qing had left Mondstadt entirely.
"My sword…"
After yelling for a while, Eula realized passersby were staring at her with bemused expressions. Embarrassed, she felt tears of frustration welling up in her eyes.
She had saved up for months to buy that new sword, and now it was gone again!
Damn it. The next time I see that man, I'll tie him up and drag him to the Knights' dungeons myself!
Then a thought crossed her mind.
Wait… those other people were with him, weren't they?
Eula quickly abandoned her plans to wash up, heading straight for the Knights of Favonius Headquarters to report her findings.
---
Meanwhile, in Sumeru
Luo Qing had no intention of lingering in Mondstadt. After escorting Kaveh and Natalia there, he quickly returned to Sumeru via teleportation.
As for Eula's sword?
It wasn't of much use to him, but he planned to hold onto it until Eula stopped being so stubborn. Once she learned how to sweet-talk him, maybe he'd consider giving it back.
After all, taming a tsundere is one of my favorite pastimes, he thought with a grin.
By the time he returned to Sumeru, night had already fallen.
He was about to head home and enjoy some quality time with his "wives" when he noticed something unusual in the city.
The citizens seemed… off, moving mechanically, as if under some form of control.
"Hm?"
Luo Qing frowned and projected his consciousness into the Void.
In an instant, he discovered the cause.
The Doctor had hacked into the Akademiya's Void permissions through the God-Creation Project and was now controlling all of Sumeru's citizens.
At that moment, the Doctor stood in front of the Akademiya plaza, putting on a theatrical display for Lumine and her companions.
"Well, well," Luo Qing muttered, shaking his head as he made his way toward the plaza. "Impressive. Even cracking the Void's permissions? Quite the feat."
---
At the Akademiya Plaza
Lumine and Paimon, along with Nahida (disguised as Katheryne), were surrounded by Sumeru citizens under the Doctor's control.
Lumine hesitated. She couldn't bring herself to harm innocent people, even if they were being manipulated.
Protecting Nahida, she retreated step by step as the circle of armed citizens closed in.
The Doctor stood nearby, arms crossed, watching with a smug expression as though enjoying an entertaining play.
Just as Lumine was preparing to defend herself, the controlled citizens suddenly froze, as if the Doctor's influence had been severed.
A familiar voice rang out from behind them.
"You're going a bit overboard, Dottore."
---
T/N: If my ass was as legendary as Eula's my life would be perfect
Reader, your presence signifies commitment.
To walk this path is to contribute to the pursuit of eternity.
Should you wish to further fortify our resolve, step forward: [patreon.com/WiseTL].
Each action contributes to the unyielding foundation of our creation. Together, we etch a mark that transcends the fleeting nature of time.
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— Raiden Shogun
Chương 260: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [260]
"Oh?"
The Doctor turned toward the source of the voice, his lips curling into a faint smirk.
"Brighella. What's this? Are you here to save them?"
"Save? Not quite. Let's just say I have some… collaborations with them," Luo Qing replied as he stepped slowly out of the shadows.
He glanced briefly at Lumine and her companions, who were surrounded by the controlled citizens, before turning his gaze to the Doctor.
"If your goal was simply to meet them, then you've already achieved it."
"Luo Qing…"
Lumine's voice was low, and she was taken aback to see a rare seriousness etched onto his face.
"Are you asking me to leave? And what if… I refuse?"
Luo Qing's lips curved into a faint smile. "Then feel free to try."
"Hmph…"
The Doctor remained silent for a few seconds before chuckling softly. Without another word, he turned and began walking back toward the Akademiya.
"In that case, I'll leave you to it. Until next time, Traveler," he said, his tone light and dismissive.
As Luo Qing had pointed out, his only purpose here was to meet the Traveler and gauge her reaction. He had no intention of escalating matters unnecessarily.
After all, a conflict with Luo Qing would be counterproductive. The Doctor had a vested interest in Luo Qing's abilities and foresaw many opportunities for collaboration in the future. Why not leave on a friendly note?
Lumine and her companions watched the Doctor disappear into the distance, their tension easing slightly. They turned toward Luo Qing, questions forming in their minds, but before they could speak, Luo Qing raised a finger to his lips, signaling for silence.
His eyes swept over the crowd of controlled Sumeru citizens.
A moment later, the Void Terminals they were wearing returned to their normal faint green glow, as though the earlier control had never occurred. One by one, the citizens dispersed, each going about their business as if nothing had happened.
When the square was finally empty, Luo Qing turned back to the group and smiled.
"Alright. You can talk now."
"…"
Lumine hesitated for a moment before speaking in a low voice.
"Luo Qing… You can control them too?"
"Of course," Luo Qing replied with a small nod. "Though my method is a bit more refined."
"…"
"Thank you, Luo Qing," Lumine said, her voice tinged with gratitude.
"No need for thanks. After all, I have business with you, too." Luo Qing waved a hand dismissively before shifting his gaze to Katheryne—who was, of course, being controlled by Nahida.
His tone softened, carrying an almost paternal warmth.
"So, how does it feel to finally get some fresh air?"
If it had been the real Nahida instead of the puppet, he would've indulged in giving her a head pat.
"…It's… nice," Nahida murmured, lowering her head slightly in shyness. She resembled a young girl caught playing hooky by her father.
"If only you could come out yourself next time," Luo Qing mused with a quiet chuckle. "That would be even better."
"Um…" Nahida looked up briefly but said nothing more.
"Anyway, Nahida," Luo Qing continued, "I need to borrow these two for a bit. Mind if I have a private word with them?"
"Huh?"
Lumine and Paimon exchanged confused glances. It was rare for Luo Qing to request anything from them.
"…Alright," Nahida finally said, nodding softly. She turned to Lumine and Paimon with a gentle smile.
"Lumine, Paimon, I'll see you both later, then."
With that, Nahida guided Katheryne's puppet away from the square.
Lumine and Paimon watched her go, waiting until she was completely out of sight before Paimon crossed her arms and turned to Luo Qing.
"Okay, hold on! Since when did you and Nahida become so chummy?! It's like you're best friends or something!"
"Why does that matter?" Luo Qing replied, entirely unconcerned. "Have you seen any Archon I don't get along with?"
"…"
"…Fair point."
The two recalled how Luo Qing had befriended Zhongli in Liyue, dragging him on endless fishing trips.
And in Inazuma, he had gone even further, charming the Raiden Shogun herself—right in front of her people, no less—and even receiving a kiss from her.
Now, in Sumeru…
Why does this feel like a father-daughter dynamic?!
"Alright, what do you need from us?" Lumine asked quietly. "You and the Doctor are both Harbingers, aren't you? Why are you helping us?"
"Why?" Luo Qing interrupted her. "You think the Fatui are some tight-knit team? Please. Everyone's got their own agenda. Sure, we say it's for the Tsaritsa, but who isn't satisfying their personal desires behind the scenes?"
"So…" Lumine's tone turned serious. "You have your own desires too?"
"Something like that." Luo Qing nodded. "But let's discuss it somewhere else."
---
At Luo Qing's Home
From morning till night, Luo Qing's six housemates hadn't seen him once.
Normally, his presence during meals helped ease the tension, creating an atmosphere where they could at least engage in casual conversation. Even Makoto, who had taken it upon herself to oversee the "harmony" of the household, often felt that managing this "harem" wasn't as difficult as she'd imagined.
But with Luo Qing absent, cracks began to show.
Lunch had been a silent affair.
Ganyu barely ate anything, claiming she needed to watch her figure. Shenhe had excused herself after only a few bites, returning to her room to meditate. Ayaka had gone to the Grand Bazaar to practice dancing with Nilou and hadn't returned for dinner either.
Meanwhile, Ei and Theresa had holed up in a room together, apparently bonding over their shared love of light novels.
When Luo Qing was around, meals often ended with lighthearted games to strengthen their bonds. But without him, everyone simply went back to their rooms, avoiding one another entirely.
The once lively dining room was now eerily quiet, occupied only by Makoto and La Signora.
Makoto sighed softly, setting aside her knitting needles.
"As I thought… It's not easy to truly bring them together as a family."
La Signora, standing respectfully nearby, replied calmly, "You've done your best, Lady Makoto. Please don't burden yourself with such thoughts."
For reasons unknown, despite not being bound by the same servant contract as Luo Qing's other companions, La Signora treated Makoto with the same level of reverence.
"Go call them down," Makoto finally said after some thought. "Tell them… tell them Luo Qing will be pleased to see everyone together when he gets back."
"As you wish," La Signora replied with a slight bow before heading upstairs.
Soon, Theresa was the first to rush down, clutching a light novel and practically throwing herself onto Makoto's lap.
"Thank you for the heads-up, Lady Makoto!" she chirped.
Next came Ganyu, her cheeks slightly flushed as she greeted Makoto and Theresa before settling on the sofa beside them.
A little later, Shenhe descended as well, her face similarly tinged with pink, and quietly took a seat next to her senior disciple.
Ayaka, however, was still at the Grand Bazaar with Nilou and hadn't returned yet.
And Ei…
"Where's Ei?" Makoto asked La Signora.
"She…" La Signora hesitated briefly. "She said she was reading light novels and didn't want to come down."
"…"
That silly girl. Does she want to end up like me?!
Makoto shook her head in exasperation, but she didn't press the matter. Instead, she continued knitting, occasionally engaging the others in conversation to keep the atmosphere from growing too cold.
After a while, the sound of the front door opening broke the silence, accompanied by the low murmur of voices.
"Luo Qing, are you sure it's not too late for a visit?"
"Not at all. We could talk all night if we need to—huh?"
"Everyone's here?!"
---
Attention, all. I am pleased to announce the release of a new translation, "This Is My Holy Grail War." Your support is acknowledged. Engage with this work at your discretion.
Reader, your presence signifies commitment.
To walk this path is to contribute to the pursuit of eternity.
Should you wish to further fortify our resolve, step forward: [patreon.com/WiseTL].
Each action contributes to the unyielding foundation of our creation. Together, we etch a mark that transcends the fleeting nature of time.
For those who aspire to push the limits further, offering one 'Burger' will unlock an additional 5 chapters: [ko-fi.com/wisetl]. Specify which story your donation pertains to; this offer applies exclusively to stories available on Scribble Hub.
— Raiden Shogun
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