Chapter 188.
After a chaotic sprint around the courtyard, the storm finally subsided, and Futsu Mitama abandoned his pursuit of Yae Miko.
While she hadn't suffered a single scratch, Miko dramatically insisted her heart was broken.
He used to call me 'Guuji-sama' so respectfully, she lamented internally. Now he's actively trying to decapitate me! He hasn't even officially ascended to the Shogun's throne yet, and he's already inflicting martial violence upon me! If he actually becomes the Third Raiden Shogun, will this poor little fox even have a future?! If this is my fate, perhaps I should just launch a rebellion!
Of course, the moment Futsu Mitama narrowed his eyes and the crackling purple lightning flared across his blade again, Miko immediately changed her tune, sweetly declaring that physical exertion was wonderful for the cardiovascular system.
With the crisis averted, the group settled into the expansive estate. It wasn't so much a rest as it was a massive, chaotic networking session. Since half the room was already familiar through the Chat Group, they focused on introducing the real-world outsiders.
Lumine, Paimon, and Mona were formally introduced to Kujou Sara, Yoimiya, and Gorou.
Mona required little explanation; her reputation as an eccentric, impoverished, yet terrifyingly accurate astrologer preceded her.
Lumine and Paimon, however, received a glowing introduction from Futsu Mitama, painting them as practically omnipotent fixers.
"So, as long as you're paid, you'll literally do anything?" Gorou asked, his fluffy ears twitching in surprise. He looked between Lumine and Paimon. "Isn't that just a standard member of the Adventurers' Guild?"
Kujou Sara nodded in agreement.
Executing tasks solely for Mora is the exact definition of a mercenary or an adventurer, she reasoned.
Yoimiya blinked, leaning in close to Lumine.
"Can you make fireworks?"
"No, but we can learn!" Paimon proudly placed her hands on her hips, her chest puffed out. "Lumine is like a blank slate! She seems like she knows absolutely nothing, but the second she learns something, she masters it instantly!"
"When I first fished her out of the ocean, she was just a clueless girl who only knew how to grill fish! Now, she can pilot things that fly in the sky, command ships that swim in the water, and operate ancient machines that run on the ground!"
Paimon rattled off, functioning perfectly as Lumine's hyperactive PR manager.
"You know the Mondstadt Wind Gliders, right? At first, she crashed constantly! But after a few lessons from Amber, she became a legendary glider!"
Paimon fired off Lumine's achievements like a machine gun, enthusiastically establishing her as a mythic figure holding a pristine 100% mission completion rate at the Guild.
Lumine buried her face in her hands, completely unsure how to stop Paimon's aggressive marketing campaign. Her floating companion truly understood her a little too well.
"It's true. Lumine is incredibly versatile." Kuki Shinobu nodded in quiet endorsement. "After the Rite of Descension concludes, she plans to travel to Inazuma. If either of you encounter any insurmountable problems, Sara, Gorou... you can safely entrust them to her."
"Mm."
Sangonomiya Kokomi nodded, offering her absolute seal of approval. She had witnessed Lumine's tactical execution firsthand.
If the Watatsumi Resistance had possessed an asset like her during the war—
Kokomi sighed internally. She could have actually relaxed. Tragically, Lumine had been wandering around Mondstadt solving dragon problems while Inazuma was burning.
"Really?!"
Gorou's eyes lit up with desperate hope.
Seeing the general's desperate expression, Lumine offered a commercial smile.
"Yes. As long as the compensation is adequate, everything is negotiable."
"Inazuma is currently navigating a multitude of dangerous transitional issues." Sara noted, crossing her arms and studying the golden-haired outlander. "If possible, I would like to spar with you later. Once I accurately gauge your combat parameters, I will decide what caliber of threat to entrust to you."
It wasn't an arrogant challenge; it was a pragmatic necessity. Despite the Vision Hunt Decree ending and the nation stabilizing, the sheer density of lethal threats roaming Inazuma—from vagrants to rogue samurai to ancient curses—was significantly higher than the relatively peaceful wilds of Liyue. Sara needed to know if Lumine would survive.
"You're on."
Lumine replied, eager for the challenge. She had wanted to test her blade against the legendary Tengu General for a long time. Through the Chat Group, she knew that Sara was publicly recognized as the strongest mortal warrior in Inazuma.
Even Kuki Shinobu had admitted that unless she was granted prep time to lay down a complex trap barrier, she possessed zero confidence in defeating Kujou Sara in a straight fight.
Naturally, Aila, Black Aila, Miko, and Kokomi could all decisively crush Sara, but they were monstrous anomalies operating on an entirely different power scale.
"Oh, that reminds me." Kokomi said softly, looking at Lumine. "When you arrive in Inazuma, make sure to thoroughly scour the wilderness."
"Although the Fatui have officially retreated and the Nobushi ranks have thinned, they abandoned a massive amount of secured treasure across the islands in their haste. Isn't that right, Sara?"
Sara was slightly stunned, unsure why the Divine Priestess was suddenly offering treasure-hunting tips, but she nodded.
"It's true. They buried their caches quite deep, and the recovered contraband is highly valuable. The Tenryou Commission doesn't actively prioritize recovering it, as we are focused on regional stability."
Sara suddenly paused, a chill running down her spine.
Why are Lumine's eyes literally glowing red?!
"Inazuma! We are absolutely going to Inazuma!!!"
Lumine declared, her voice vibrating with terrifying, unadulterated greed.
The moment she heard 'abandoned Fatui treasure chests,' her travel itinerary was permanently locked. There was no room for debate. She had to go to Inazuma immediately.
"Ah~" Paimon sighed, recognizing the manic glint in her companion's eyes.
When will Lumine learn to be as mature and steady as I am? Hearing about treasure and instantly losing her mind... she's so childish!
"Inazuma also possesses an incredible, evolving culinary scene." Shinobu added smoothly, perfectly reading the room. "The recent reforms have opened trade, leading to a massive influx of new gourmet foods. The desserts, in particular, are phenomenal. I've had to heavily restrict my intake to avoid gaining weight."
She admitted, lightly pinching her toned stomach.
"WHAT?! GOURMET FOOD!!!"
Paimon screamed, her tiny eyes widening to the size of dinner plates. She instantly abandoned all pretense of maturity.
"Lumine! It is an absolute, non-negotiable imperative that we go to Inazuma!"
"Agreed!" Lumine said with deadly seriousness. "The exact second the Rite of Descension is over, we are setting sail!"
"YAAAAY!!!"
Paimon spun through the air in a joyous, chaotic loop.
Mona and Ayaka watched the synchronized meltdown with fond smiles, thoroughly familiar with the duo's predictable priorities.
While the Inazuman delegation discussed combat and culinary tourism, Futsu Mitama, Ganyu, and Yae Miko had retreated to a quieter corner of the estate.
Their discussion was highly concentrated: Ganyu was actively finalizing her plan to take an extended vacation outside of Liyue.
"Have you completely made up your mind?"
Futsu Mitama asked, studying Ganyu's resolute expression. He genuinely hadn't expected Mona's divination to act as the final catalyst to push her onto his ship. In his mind, he felt less like a political escort and more like he was taking her on a fishing trip.
"Mm." Ganyu nodded seriously, her gaze drifting toward the glowing lanterns of Liyue Harbor visible over the estate walls. "I have. Miss Mona's reading illuminated something vital for me."
"If I stubbornly remain in Liyue Harbor, the outcome will be stable. I will survive. But she showed me that I still possess choices. And since I have the luxury of choice, I want to step into the unknown. Just as Rex Lapis granted humanity the opportunity to boldly forge their own path, I must forge mine."
Whether Ganyu had organically arrived at this epiphany herself, or if the sheer, absolute positivity of Mona's reading had granted her the courage to leap, was irrelevant. The undeniable truth was that the suffocating melancholy had vanished from her eyes. She was no longer spiraling into self-doubt.
"Hmm..."
Futsu Mitama crossed his arms, genuinely hesitating.
Agreeing to take her was a trivial matter. The nightmare was the timing. The Rite of Descension was days away. When the Rite concluded... Rex Lapis was going to fake his own brutal assassination and permanently step down.
If Futsu Mitama recalled the timeline correctly, virtually all the adeptus inherently knew Morax wasn't truly dead. Even the Qixing eventually suspected he was still secretly watching over them.
However, in the original plot, Keqing and Ganyu were the tragic exceptions. They genuinely, whole-heartedly believed their god had been murdered.
There were rumors that Rex Lapis utilized a dream-walking ability to privately inform the adeptus and the Qixing of his survival. But Keqing and Ganyu were pathological workaholics who literally never slept, meaning they entirely missed the divine memo.
(Or, alternatively, they received the dream but logically dismissed it as a stress-induced hallucination born of grief.)
Now that Keqing was integrated into the Chat Group, she would naturally learn the truth once Zhongli's identity was exposed. But what about Ganyu?
When the 'assassination' happened, Ganyu would be emotionally devastated. Furthermore, the ensuing political chaos would cause the Qixing's workload to violently skyrocket. If Ganyu were to abandon her post and leave the nation at that exact, critical juncture, it would look like an unforgivable dereliction of duty. She would never forgive herself.
Knowing the impending script put Futsu Mitama in an agonizing dilemma. Sometimes, possessing prophetic knowledge was a curse.
"What's wrong?"
Ganyu asked, her newfound confidence instantly fracturing as she watched his silence drag on.
Was he going to reject her?
If he refused to take her, Ganyu knew she would never muster the courage to leave Liyue alone. Just like Sara, Ganyu was a prisoner of her own duty. For thousands of years, her workload had been so astronomically massive that her absence would have crippled the government.
Now that a golden window of opportunity had finally opened, she desperately wanted to clear her mind and witness the broader world—just as the older adeptus occasionally wandered into foreign nations to observe and report back to their peers.
"Oh my, he's probably just overwhelmed by his own good fortune~" Miko chimed in, perfectly reading Futsu Mitama's hesitation. A wicked, knowing light flashed in her eyes. "After all, Sister Ganyu, you are a peerless, mythological beauty."
"Futsu Mitama is still a hot-blooded young man. Having such a stunning woman personally ask to accompany him on a long journey—he is naturally feeling a bit shy."
Ganyu offered a helpless, highly embarrassed smile, knowing Miko was just trying to ease the tension. She knew Futsu Mitama was surrounded by women far more beautiful than her, and she was acutely aware that he possessed zero romantic inclinations.
Furthermore, Ganyu subtly shifted her gaze toward Aila and Black Aila, who were standing near the courtyard entrance. The twin maids were tracking Futsu Mitama's every interaction with the terrifying, unblinking focus of apex predators. Any woman who actually attempted to romance him would have to survive them first.
"My apologies, I was getting lost in the logistics." Futsu Mitama said smoothly, deciding to rely on a half-truth to navigate the crisis. "I cannot agree immediately, Ganyu, because you are still fundamentally bound by your ancient contract with Rex Lapis."
"Before you finalize any travel plans, I strongly advise you to seek an audience with him and obtain his explicit blessing."
"I am not suggesting you resign." Futsu Mitama clarified gently. "But you must formally request an extended leave of absence."
He carefully outlined the political reality.
She was the cornerstone of the Liyue Qixing. She couldn't simply vanish into the night. If she did, the Qixing would descend into panic, entirely misinterpreting her absence. However, if Rex Lapis officially authorized her leave, the Qixing would be forced to respect the divine mandate and formally assign personnel to absorb her residual duties.
Ganyu's expression grew complicated. She voiced her primary fear: The Rite of Descension was imminent. Rex Lapis was undoubtedly consumed by preparations. How could she selfishly burden her god with a vacation request at such a critical moment?
"Is it truly appropriate to withhold a major personnel shift within Liyue's government from Rex Lapis because you feel you are 'dispensable'?"
Futsu Mitama countered sharply, deliberately challenging her lingering imposter syndrome. How could the eternal Secretary of the Qixing possibly view herself as a trivial inconvenience?
Sensing the opening, Miko seamlessly stepped in to support Futsu Mitama. Using her own grueling responsibilities as the Guuji of Inazuma as a parallel, she expertly outlined exactly why Ganyu had a political obligation to report her absence.
Cornered by the combined logic of the future Electro Archon and the Guuji, Ganyu finally yielded. She realized she had to report this to her god.
Reaching into her robes, she produced a pristine, glowing Adeptal Talisman. It was a divine communication artifact; so long as the user remained within the borders of Teyvat, they could transmit a message directly to Rex Lapis.
Ganyu closed her eyes, channeling her adeptal energy into the talisman, and sent a formal, deeply respectful request to take an extended leave of absence to travel abroad with Futsu Mitama.
A tense minute passed. Then, the talisman pulsed with a warm, golden Geo resonance. Ganyu listened intently to the silent transmission.
Slowly, a radiant, incredibly relieved smile broke across her face.
"Well?"
Miko asked, already knowing the answer but wanting to hear it.
"Rex Lapis said there is absolutely no problem." Ganyu beamed, turning her bright, amethyst eyes toward Futsu Mitama. "He stated that once the Rite of Descension concludes, I am to temporarily lay down all my burdens and travel with you."
Ganyu offered a deep, graceful bow.
"For the journey ahead—I place myself in your care, Futsu Mitama."
Her heart was completely light. In the intimidating, rapidly approaching era of humanity, she had finally found a path of her own.