"Pfft—!"
"So that's what Miko was like as a child?"
"She was way too cute, wasn't she?"
Ganyu had been quietly eating Qingxin flowers when she heard the light screen's narration. She couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing.
In her impression, Yae Miko had always been sly, mischievous, constantly teasing others.
Who would've thought she'd once been the one bullied instead?
How interesting~
Keqing looked slightly surprised as well. But when she noticed Ganyu's suppressed giggles, she raised an eyebrow and stroked her chin, speaking with exaggerated seriousness.
"While the little fox is indeed soft and adorable…"
"I think Liyue's plump little cocogoat is even cuter."
Ningguang cleared her throat and joined in smoothly.
"Ahem, quite right."
"Besides, our cocogoat can roll down mountains with a 'guruguru.' Inazuma's little fox can't."
"So by comparison, Liyue's cocogoat is clearly superior."
Ganyu: "…"
Weren't they talking about Miko's childhood?
How did this become about her again?
And as for being able to roll down mountains—
She would rather not receive that kind of "praise."
Casting a resentful glance at Ningguang and Keqing, Ganyu gloomily took a large bite of Qingxin.
Everyone here is mean…
Only food understands her.
Tenshukaku
When the light screen first announced it would evaluate Yae Miko, the fox priestess had already sensed danger.
Sure enough, everything from her childhood was dragged out into the open.
Miko felt completely numb.
In the past, only her old friends knew those embarrassing stories.
After they passed on, only Ei remembered.
But now?
The entire continent of Teyvat knew.
Her carefully cultivated image—
Shattered.
Seeing her expression, Lumine, Paimon, and Ei all burst into laughter.
It was rare to see the trickster herself become the joke.
"Go on. Laugh all you want~"
Miko rolled her eyes.
Though she felt slightly annoyed, she had long prepared herself mentally, so she recovered quickly.
"Ei, you've lost your leverage over me now~"
Ei's smile was radiant.
"Worth it. Letting so many people see your embarrassment? Absolutely worth it~"
Miko: "..."
Extraordinary Chat Group
Ganyu: Little Miko was so cute~ I'd love to hold her in my hands as a hand-warmer.
Arataki Itto: Yo! Didn't expect fox lady to sell cuteness like that! Hahaha!
Kuki Shinobu: Boss…
Gorou: Teased by Lady Alice until she cried? Pfft—HAHA!
Sangonomiya Kokomi: Ahem, so that's how a top-tier shrine maiden is raised~
Scaramouche: A prank-loving yokai finally got pranked herself? Hah. Satisfying.
Alice: Oh my, I didn't say anything~ Come here, little sister~ I have delicious fried tofu~ (smirk.jpg)
Ei: My poor little fox couldn't eat her tofu because she got bullied~ So pitiful~ (doge.jpg)
Lumine: So when Miko teases Ei, she's just projecting her own experiences~ (doge.jpg)
Paimon: Nonsense! Lady Guuji Yae is beauty and wisdom combined! What bad history? Pure slander! (doge.jpg)
Miko's smile stiffened.
Her eyes narrowed.
How many times now?
Good.
Very good.
Excellent.
She was writing all of this down.
The little fox holds grudges.
When the time came—
New grudges, old grudges—
All would be settled together.
For now, she remained silent.
As a veteran teaser, she knew the trick.
If you respond, they get excited.
If you ignore them, they get bored.
Sure enough, when Alice and the others saw no reaction, they quickly lost interest.
Cunning fox.
Villa
Luo Chen continued:
"Now that we've discussed Yae Miko's childhood, let's move on to her adulthood."
"Formal Evaluation Item Two — Master Strategist."
"Don't be fooled by the cute pink fox of her youth."
"Once grown, she became something entirely different."
"Outwardly slacking and lounging."
"Inwardly calculating every move."
"A true fox in spirit."
"In the original future, she saved Inazuma through careful布局."
"Let's examine her moves."
First Move — Preserve the Kamisato Clan
"High-ranking shrine maidens of Narukami Shrine can perceive the currents of heaven and worldly affairs."
"Meaning, they can roughly predict shifts in Inazuma's future."
"Kitsune Saiguu sensed the coming calamity before Khaenri'ah."
"Miko inherited similar abilities."
"Years before the storm, she foresaw turbulence ahead."
"At that time, the Kamisato Clan was about to be punished by the puppet Shogun over the Raiden Gokaden incident."
"Miko intervened to protect them."
"She later held a private meeting with the clan head and left one crucial line:"
'Your survival was due to the Shogun's mercy. Never forget her grace.'
"That sentence became embedded into the Kamisato family code."
"The purpose?"
"When the storm came, even if they opposed other Commissions, the Yashiro Commission must remember the Shogun's true path."
"And it worked."
"The Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions later colluded with the Fatui."
"But the Yashiro Commission fulfilled its duty."
"Even working alongside Miko."
Second Move — Enter the Plane of Euthymia
"After the Sakoku and Vision Hunt Decrees began, Inazuma descended into chaos."
"Let's review the power structure."
"Miko and the Yashiro Commission formed one side."
"The Resistance existed, but was weak."
"Miko corresponded secretly with Sangonomiya Kokomi."
"There was also a key link — Kaedehara Kazuha."
"His clan was affiliated with the Kamisato Clan."
"After becoming a fugitive, he received their protection."
"He later joined the Resistance."
"He also had ties to Beidou's Crux Fleet."
"And the Crux Fleet was the only route for the Traveler to reach Inazuma."
"Opposing them: Tenryou, Kanjou, the Fatui, and the puppet Shogun."
"The objective?"
"Abolish the Sakoku and Vision Hunt Decrees."
"To achieve that, they needed to reach Beelzebul in the Plane of Euthymia."
"Miko herself couldn't enter."
"So she needed someone who could."
"And by then, the Traveler Lumine had already made a name in Mondstadt and Liyue."
"So she was targeted."
"If it failed? No loss."
"If it worked? Huge gain."
"From the moment Lumine boarded the Crux Fleet, she was already on the board."
"When she saved Thoma, she proved she could enter the Plane."
"That moment—"
"She truly entered Miko's sight."
Third Move — Raise the Stakes
"To convince Beelzebul that the decrees did not bring Eternity."
"The Resistance's growing momentum was necessary."
"With support from Miko and the Yashiro Commission…"
"Lumine, Beidou, and Kazuha joined."
"The Fatui, though adversaries, temporarily benefited from the rising chaos."
"Delusions enhanced the Resistance's power."
"The war escalated."
"But expansion had limits."
"And then came the turning point."
"When Lumine was ambushed in the Delusion Factory—"
"Miko arrived swiftly."
"She exchanged the Electro Archon's Gnosis with Scaramouche."
"Why him?"
"Because his interests differed from La Signora's."
"He wanted the Gnosis for himself."
"She wanted it for the Tsaritsa."
"This move achieved three things."
"Recovered the Traveler."
"Shut down the Delusion Factory."
"And weakened Signora's position."
Somewhere in the Abyss
Scaramouche fell silent.
"So that's how I obtained the Gnosis in the original future…"
He recalled Dottore's words.
"So I eventually go to Sumeru…"
His eyes flickered with thought.
On the Road to Mondstadt
La Signora froze.
"Wait."
"If Scaramouche got the Gnosis…"
"Why did I still go to Tenshukaku?"
She suddenly realized.
If she had already secured it—
Why challenge the Raiden Shogun?
Unless—
Her face darkened.
Extraordinary Chat Group
La Signora: Scaramouche. Did you take the Gnosis and leave without informing me?
Scaramouche: Heh. So you're not completely stupid.
La Signora: You bastard!!!
Rage exploded in the chat.
If he hadn't hidden it—
She wouldn't have gone to Tenshukaku.
Wouldn't have dueled the Traveler.
Wouldn't have been executed.
It was his fault!
Scaramouche: If you're weak, accept it. Your tantrum just proves your incompetence.
La Signora: We'll see how you end up!
La Signora: Taking the Gnosis alone—what are you plotting? Betrayal of Her Majesty?
Tartaglia: Isn't it obvious? He was never loyal.
Il Capitano: Scaramouche. Is that your intent?
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