Xianyun didn't want to lose.
This was her chance to prove her worth to a certain man.
She studied the map and slowly touched her red glasses. "I've seen several Teleportation Gates in Liyue. The spatial mechanism Eiji is going to build has an excellent stability radius. No matter where you place it, young Knight of Mondstadt, our Liyue will have no trouble synchronizing with it from across the way."
[Tsk, tsk. You're truly worthy of being one of the Adeptus. Xianyun, do you know just how flexible my Teleportation Gate is?]
'Hmph.'
Hearing Eiji's inner voice, Xianyun lifted her white neck even higher. She was clearly pleased, but tried not to let it show on her face.
What a shame, thought Eiji.
Jean let out a short sigh, feeling greatly relieved by the presence of Lisa, Lumine, and Xianyun in their current conversation.
She had made a decision and looked at Lumine with an apologetic expression.
"Thank you for your advice. Cider Lake is a great location for the Teleportation Gate project. But… I've been thinking of another location that I think is also good and is closer than Cider Lake."
Lumine didn't mind that her suggestion hadn't been chosen; she casually said, "It's okay, Jean. So, what location do you have in mind?"
Not only her, but everyone in the room—including Eiji—was curious about the location Jean would choose.
"An area not far from the end of the bridge—Whispering Woods." Jean walked confidently over and pointed to a spot on the map with his finger. "The area is quite spacious, close to the city's main logistics route, and the knights guarding the gate can monitor security in the surrounding area twenty-four hours a day."
"Oh? That's a good choice, Jean." Lisa commented.
Lumine nodded, "I think that's a good location, too."
"Not bad—it's very close to the city, and you can keep an eye on the location 24 hours a day."
Xianyun also praised Jean.
As for Paimon? She was busy eating a bag of potato chips that Eiji had given her.
Where did those potato chips come from?
Actually, Eiji pulled them out of his inventory. He was like Doraemon, who could pull anything out of his pocket.
Of course, Jean, Lumine, and the other two women didn't know this. After all, they'd never watched Doraemon.
"Well then, let's finish building the Teleportation Gate right now." Eiji slowly stood up from his chair under Jean's slightly surprised gaze.
"Right now? Eiji, you really should rest... You just arrived in Mondstadt. If you want, you can take it easy for a bit first."
Hearing Jean's kind and somewhat indulgent words, Eiji understood why so many residents of Mondstadt had become lazy slobs.
However, he wasn't like them.
As Jean's future husband, he had to be the person she could rely on the most.
"No need—I'm not tired, and setting up a Teleportation Gate won't take long."
[Or rather, I can finish it very quickly.]
"???" Jean and the others.
Except for Paimon, they could hear Eiji's inner voice. So, they wondered how he was going to create a Teleportation Gate.
Wouldn't something like that take at least a considerable amount of time?
A few moments later.
They had stepped out of the Knights of Favonius headquarters and were walking toward the designated location. On a fairly large grassy plain, just a few meters from the end of the bridge outside Mondstadt.
Whispering Woods.
That's what people called that area.
The knights guarding the city gates—including Lawrence—and a few curious residents had gathered at a safe distance, staring curiously at Eiji, Jean, and the other women.
Eiji stood tall in front of the empty clearing. The gentle breeze of Mondstadt softly ruffled the hem of his cloak. By the way, since returning to Teyvat, he had changed his clothes. Now, he was wearing a long maroon coat, paired with dark leather pants, gloves, and buckled boots.
At first glance, he looked just like Dante!
Of course, Eiji is more handsome than the Devil Hunter in that game. As proof, Jean, Lumine, Lisa, Xianyun, and the other women watching in the crowd couldn't help but think he was incredibly handsome.
To create a Teleportation Gate identical to the one in Liyue, Eiji didn't even need to use his abilities as the Mechanical Emperor.
He simply snapped his fingers.
*SNAP!*
In that very instant, an incredibly dense spatial energy vibration erupted from a spot in the empty area not far in front of him.
Streaks of golden light mixed with astral blue shot up from the ground, twisting and turning to form a giant cylindrical formation five meters tall. In the blink of an eye, those particles of light instantly solidified, perfectly materializing into a magnificent permanent Teleportation Gate.
The gate's structure was made of white Liyue jade, encircled by carvings of pure silver metal, with a vortex of transparent water at its center spinning slowly.
"Done. This Teleportation Gate can also be used immediately to travel to Liyue Harbor. The destination coordinates can also be adjusted as long as both parties agree to grant access to each other's Teleportation Gates."
Eiji said this casually before glancing at Jean. His expression—and that of the other women—looked amusing.
[Showing off.]
'You guessed it right, Miss System.'
Miss System was speechless for the moment.
"U-Uwaaaaaah! With just a snap of your fingers?! Eiji, you can create a Teleportation Gate that fast!?" Paimon immediately flew around in circles in front of the gate, her eyes wide with astonishment. She glanced at Eiji with an adorable expression. "Paimon thought you'd need days or some weird ritual to build something this big!"
Ritual?
What kind of ritual was that fairy thinking of?
Eiji fell silent.
"Amazing... How were you able to create a Teleportation Gate that big in the blink of an eye, Eiji?" Lumine asked curiously.
Eiji glanced at her beautiful face and replied, "It's easy. If you choose to become a mechanic and hone your skills until you surpass even the experts, you can do it."
"...." It wasn't just Lumine—Jean, Lisa, Paimon, and Xianyun didn't understand what the man was saying either.
Is he still speaking human language!?
"You..." Xianyun didn't finish her sentence. She recalled Eiji's appearance in his Otsutsuki Ancestor form and knew he was clearly not human!
His power level even surpassed that of the Geo Archon, Morax.
At first, she suspected he was one of the beings living in Celestia. But after hearing his inner voice just now, she knew he wasn't one of them.
Eiji was similar to Lumine.
He wasn't from Teyvat. But compared to the other Descenders, he is more mysterious, and the limits of his power are unknown.
'Hehehe.'
[You must be very happy, host.]
Eiji ignored what Miss System said. On the surface, he looked calm and somewhat indifferent.
But in his heart?
Miss System knew he was happy because he'd succeeded in making Xianyun and the other beautiful women admire him again!
"High-level technology capable of instantly connecting two countries, created in a matter of seconds. I don't know what else to say other than to call you extraordinary, Eiji. I'm also very grateful that you've made it easier for Mondstadt to connect with Liyue from now on."
Jean looked at the handsome man in the maroon coat with white hair, her eyes filled with gratitude.
She also gave him a sweet smile.
However, that smile froze when she saw Lisa wrap her arm around Eiji's and press her large breasts against him.
"My dear, this is bad... You're too cool. How about having dinner together at my place tonight?"
The implication of the words from Mondstadt's sexiest sorceress was clear.
She was seducing a man!
Not only were they in awe, but Lawrence and the other knights also looked at Eiji with envy. They'd certainly dreamed of spending a steamy night with Lisa. However, not a single one of them dared to flirt with her after learning that many men in the past had been struck by lightning because of her.
"Lisa! W-What are you saying in a place like this?"
Jean tugged on the back of Lisa's collar, pulling her away from Eiji.
Eiji was a little disappointed; he'd been enjoying the soft sensation of Lisa's body for a few seconds and had even considered accepting her invitation.
However, as a veteran, he possessed what's called self-control! At least wait until he and Lisa were alone. That's because right now, Jean, Lumine, and Xianyun were also there.
[Our king, Leme admires you so much!]
'Leme, you're flattering me too much. This is par for the course for the Harem King.'
[Just as expected of the Harem King!]
Hearing the two of them talk, Miss System was speechless. As a normal person in this situation, she felt it was better to stay quiet and watch.
"Ara. Jean, are you jealous? If it's for… Well, I don't mind giving in for now." Lisa teased the blond knight.
"What? Lisa, stop talking nonsense! I-I just don't want you to be a bother to Eiji. He's our guest of honor! Watch your manners!"
Jean scolded her best friend, but there was a slight blush on her cheeks.
Lawrence and the other knights' envious stares at Eiji grew even more intense.
How could they not?
It wasn't just Lisa—Acting Grand Master Jean seemed to like him, too! Many of them were heartbroken and felt green with envy.
Eiji was in a great mood. Because of that, he even felt like he could meet his daily calorie and protein intake right then and there.
"Excuse me!"
Still, someone's sweet, melodious voice rang out. Amid the commotion of the Mondstadt residents who were still staring intently at the Teleportation Gate, a young woman dressed in the elegant robes of a cathedral deacon pushed her way through the crowd. With light footsteps and a pair of blue eyes sparkling with curiosity, she approached Eiji and the others.
Eiji had certainly noticed her presence a long time ago, but seeing her now made his eyes light up.
The young woman was beautiful; she had ash-blonde hair tied in two ponytails, blue eyes, and fair skin that looked soft to the touch.
From the original work, he knew she was both a deacon and an idol in the city of Mondstadt. She also had another identity that not many people knew about—she was Jean's younger sister!
"Can… can we really try this Teleportation Gate? Is it true that something this beautiful can take us straight to Liyue in the blink of an eye?"
The young woman looked up, gazing at Eiji with an expression that was a mix of awe and hesitation.
Her name is...
"Barbara?! Why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be leading choir practice at the Cathedral?"
Jean was surprised by her younger sister's sudden appearance and looked at her anxiously.
Eiji took his eyes off the blonde woman with two pigtails in front of him and turned to look at Jean. "Jean, who is she? You two seem to have an unusual relationship."
Hearing his casual question,
Jean and Barbara were taken aback; they exchanged awkward glances. They were siblings, but after their parents divorced years ago, they chose to live with their respective fathers and mothers.
Because of their formal status in Mondstadt, they also found it difficult to show that they were actually siblings and cared deeply for one another.
There were also other factors that complicated their relationship. For example, Barbara always felt inferior to Jean, which is why she chose to become an idol who could heal the hearts of many people in Mondstadt.
However, this often makes Jean worry about her safety because many of her fans are too obsessive.
Eiji knows all this, but he pretends not to. As Jean's future husband, he feels he needs to do something to mend her relationship with her younger sister.
Then...
[Then what?]
He didn't answer Miss System's question.
Miss System rolled her eyes; she had a pretty good idea what her host was thinking about Barbara.
"Ah! I-I'm so sorry for being so rude, sir!" Barbara immediately bowed respectfully several times, looking very awkward and flustered. "I'm truly sorry for forgetting to introduce myself first! My name is Barbara Pegg, Deacon of Favonius Cathedral. I just got so excited when I heard the news from the knights about the magical gate connecting the two countries!"
Barbara answered Eiji's question herself and introduced herself.
Watching Barbara's panic, Lisa chuckled, a look of amusement on her face. She was one of the people who knew the connection between Jean and that young woman.
Paimon floated closer, hands on her hips. "Relax, Barbara! Eiji isn't going to bite you, even though the gate he created is truly astonishing!"
"...." Eiji.
"Eh, um... Is that so? "Thank you, Paimon." Barbara said awkwardly.
Of course, she wasn't really worried that Eiji would bite her, especially in front of everyone, including Jean.
[Should I bite you, Paimon?]
Lumine stifled a laugh.
Paimon flinched; she suddenly felt a chill. Without hesitation, she immediately hid behind Lumine.
"So that's how it is... Barbara. This is actually a really great opportunity." Eiji said with a smile on his handsome face. "We can conduct the first test to ensure the stability of the spatial pathway from the Teleportation Gate I just created. Come on, follow me."
This is also a chance to woo—ahem, forget what I just said.
Barbara's eyes sparkled.
Jean didn't object; she, too, naturally wanted to test the Teleportation Gate first before letting the residents of Mondstadt try it.
Based on what Eiji said, she also believed Barbara would be fine if she went with them.
Eiji stepped forward first without hesitation. Jean, being overly protective, immediately took Barbara's hand, surprising and delighting her at the same time. Lumine, Paimon, and Xianyun followed right behind them. Together, they stepped through the blue light in the center of the gate.
*Wussh—*
A warm sensation instantly enveloped their bodies in the blink of an eye. There was no dizziness or strange spatial disorientation. As soon as Barbara opened her eyes again, the cool air characteristic of Mondstadt had vanished, replaced by a warm sea breeze and the intensely fragrant scent of glayom wood incense.
They hadn't appeared in the skies above the Jade Chamber, but right on the wooden pier of Liyue Harbor's main plaza. All around them stood magnificent buildings with traditional ancient Chinese pavilion-style roofs, adorned with thousands of beautifully suspended red lanterns, as well as massive merchant ships of the Qixing faction docked nearby.
"Wow!" Barbara immediately let out a loud exclamation, jumping back while covering her mouth with both hands. Her blue eyes widened as she stared at the bustling crowd of merchants dressed in traditional Liyue hanfu passing by all around them. "This... is this really Liyue Harbor?! We were standing right in front of the Mondstadt gates just a second ago! And now... We're here!?"
Jean already knew just how amazing the Teleportation Gate was, so she was simply relieved that it had worked properly. "We're really in Liyue now. With the Teleportation Gate, we can cross distances of thousands of miles in the blink of an eye."
Hearing what her older sister said, Barbara grew even more amazed by the technology they were discussing. Of course, she couldn't help but glance at Eiji and wonder who he really was.
He could create technology as amazing as the Teleportation Gate with just a snap of his fingers!
Her older sister also seemed to have a very favorable impression of him.
Paimon flew around in circles above Barbara's head proudly, as if she were the one who had created the gate. "Hehe! Cool, right? We can go back and forth between Monstadt and Liyue, and try all kinds of food in both regions whenever we want!"
Everyone was speechless.
After all, that's Paimon for you.
After a brief tour of the docks that lasted a few minutes, Eiji led them back through the connecting gate on the Liyue side to teleport back to Mondstadt.
In the blink of an eye, they were standing once again on the expanse of green grass at the end of the Mondstadt bridge. The waiting townspeople immediately cheered in admiration at their safe return.
"They're back!"
"Were they really in Liyue just a few minutes ago?"
"I can't wait to try the Teleportation Gate and go to Liyue!"
Soon, Jean informed the residents there that the Teleportation Gate connecting Mondstadt and Liyue was working properly.
They could try it as long as they followed the protocols.
At the same time.
A man in a thick jacket wearing a Fatui-style black-and-silver mask slipped through the crowd of residents. His piercing eyes tracked Eiji's every move from a distance.
"Hm?" Eiji certainly sensed that hostile gaze, but he ignored it.
It wasn't just the beautiful women in Monstadt; he actually wanted to attract the attention of the beautiful women in the Fatui organization as well.
So, he deliberately let that ant go and reported to his superior. At that time, he had actually assigned a mission to Merraid, Cassandra, and Gilberda.
He wanted them to capture someone for him.
[Host, you know what you're doing is something only a villain would do, right?]
'I'm an anti-hero protagonist.'
[That's a new way to deny that you're a villain.]