Chapter 50: There Are Some Things That Rise Above One

How can one seek the protection of the gods without offering anything in return?

This is a necessary price.

After all, she is barely holding her ground against the three great yōkai—but if they return again, can she repel them once more?

That remains uncertain.

Worse still, what if, while she is locked in battle with the great yōkai, lesser demons sneak in and breach the village’s protective barrier?

The Wisdom of the Expander: “Kikyo, Itachi need not do this. Once Itachi join the chat group, over time, Itachi will surely grow stronger step by step and protect your village with ease.”

The Wisdom of the Expander: “If Itachi fear Itachi won’t live to see that day, I promise Itachi this: should Itachi face mortal danger, I will intervene to protect Itachi!”

This is no empty words.

Kikyo is a group member he recognizes, and he greatly admires her character.

Within his capacity, he has no objection to lending a hand.

The Great Female Lead of Cross-Verse: “Kikyo, Hermes was once an anonymous benefactor who acted for the sake of heaven’s justice. His words are beyond doubt—so Itachi’d best reconsider.”

The Warring States Shrine Maiden: “No need to reconsider. I understand clearly—I am a shrine maiden; choosing a deity to serve is only natural.”

The Warring States Shrine Maiden: “Moreover, to serve Lord Hermes is already beyond my worth. To other shrine maidens, this would be an unimaginable stroke of fortune!”

Kikyo gazed into the distance, where the wild, rampant yōkai aura seemed to loom right before her eyes.

Had she not thought of what the group owner said?

She was certain that, given enough time, she would grow stronger step by step.

She might even grow strong enough to end this age of yōkai dominance.

But how long would that take?

One year? Two years? Ten? A hundred?

Could she wait that long? But could all that she protected wait as well?

She had the support of her groupmates and the promise of protection from Lord Hermes—but what of the village? What of her sister?

Should she ask her groupmates for help?

Or beg Lord Hermes to intervene?

That would be unreasonable!

Lord Hermes promised to protect her because she is a member of the chat group, bound by a natural tie.

But how could she demand more?

Kikyo understood this clearly, and she knew it well.

Dorgal, Ning Qingyu, Konan… each group member watched silently, offering no interference in the decision before them.

Unlike the group owner Luo Qianqiu, many members truly understood Kikyo’s choice.

For Dorgal, Ning Qingyu, and others, there are always things in this world that rise above one’s own life.

Dorgal could give his life for revolution, for the creation of a new world as he envisioned it.

Ning Qingyu could sacrifice everything to uphold the Huashan Sect, which she had guarded her entire life.

…

Flos could likewise pour his soul into forging a new age of cuisine—where everyone had enough to eat and wear, and children laughed freely.

All of this, woven through their entire lives, was a devotion surpassing life itself!

And so it was with Kikyo!

Hermes fell silent for a moment, then finally agreed.

Whether from the Expander's instinct to explore all worlds, or the Sage of Wisdom's thirst to study the unknown…

Or even the Pure Beauty’s Root’s desire to transform this world of rampant demons into an ideal golden age…

These longings were all pure.

They were the kind of temptation a seeker on the Path of Fate could not resist!

The Wisdom of the Expander: “@Kikyo, carve a statue of the deity yourself, then organize the villagers to hold the proper ceremony. Remember! It must be done with sincerity!”

The Wisdom of the Expander: “Finally, perform the Kagura dance yourself to consecrate the statue with gathered faith. At that moment, I will send down a divine thought to inhabit the statue and establish a faith anchor. Do Itachi understand?”

Hermes did not misunderstand the power of faith.

Even without prior study, after encountering Teyvat, he had acquired at least some knowledge of the Way of Faith.

He modified the Seven Heavenly Statues of Teyvat and roughly formed his own faith system.

Even the Divine Descent Technique—the hallmark divine art of the faith path—Hermes created effortlessly.

The Warring States Shrine Maiden: “I understand, Lord Hermes. I will begin preparations immediately.”

With that, Kikyo logged off.

The Great Female Lead of Cross-Verse: “How wonderful, Hermes—Itachi now have a beautiful shrine maiden dancing the Kagura for Itachi.”

The Great Female Lead of Cross-Verse: “Speaking of shrine maidens who serve their deities…”

Luo Qianqiu recalled the golden-eyed girl who had timidly tried to approach him, and fell into thought.

If even my fellow countryman can do this—could I not, in this cross-verse world, recruit some of the female leads I once watched on screen?

Make them my shrine maidens, dancing the Kagura for me?

Don’t say no!

The moment the thought arose, Luo Qianqiu felt a surge of excitement.

The Great Female Lead of Cross-Verse: “@The Wisdom of the Expander, Hermes, fellow countryman, share your knowledge of faith, will Itachi?”

The Great Female Lead of Cross-Verse: “Star-eyed.jpg”

She, Luo Qianqiu, had power, had divinity—why couldn’t she become a deity herself?

The Wisdom of the Expander: “...I’ve compiled it and put it in the store. Check it yourself—see what knowledge Itachi need and exchange for it.”

Yet.

Faith knowledge?

Hermes wondered whether he should delve deeper into this field.

The Way of Faith is a grand path. If studied thoroughly, its essence could be absorbed and integrated into his own path—wouldn’t that be a good approach?

Thinking of this, Hermes recalled a hidden treasure among the group’s newcomers.

The Wisdom of the Expander: “@Intermittent Amnesia, Index, do Itachi have any of your recorded grimoires on the subject of faith?”

Ten thousand three hundred grimoires may not seem like much.

But know this: every one Index has recorded is at least top-tier.

Merely glimpsing a single page could overwhelm a normal person with the power within its knowledge.

Of course, if Itachi think reading all ten thousand three hundred grimoires and mastering them would make Itachi a demon god—well, dreams are full of such things…

Intermittent Amnesia: “Ahh, Lord Hermes needs something from me? Oh, Itachi need grimoires on faith?”

Sardinia.

In a seaside villa, Index swallowed a cream strawberry pudding in one bite, then smiled with genuine happiness.

Under the remote guidance of the group owner Luo Qianqiu and Hermes, Index had shaken off her pursuers, left the Academy City, and settled permanently in Sardinia, a tourist paradise.