Chapter 43

"Him?"

Yae Miko raised an eyebrow, then said with a smile: "Don't worry about him; it’s just not convenient for him to show his face right now."

Seeing Lumine breathe a sigh of relief, Yae Miko continued: "Come with me. The anti-Raiden Shogun special training—I have prepared it carefully for you. Hurry and follow."

In the real world’s Plane of Euthymia, Raiden Ei’s eyes drifted toward Yae Miko, her pupils carrying a hint of resentment as she asked: "What does 'anti-Raiden Shogun special training' mean?"

"Oh my, oh my, it’s naturally just so Lumine can understand your mechanisms well enough." Yae Miko smiled craftily.

In the video.

Lumine passed the special training with some difficulty.

Paimon asked with great curiosity: "Speaking of which, Miko, why do you know so much about the Raiden Shogun?"

"Eh? Are you asking me?"

Yae Miko chuckled: "Perhaps because... I am the Raiden Shogun’s familiar."

"Eh! Similar to the relationship between Dvalin and Barbatos? I really couldn't tell..." Paimon was very surprised.

"Heh, does that sound like you are more interested in my fox form?" Yae Miko chuckled.

"Interested! Want to see!" Lumine nodded repeatedly.

"In your dreams." Yae Miko smiled slightly.

[Gu Chen]: Want to see!!

[Raiden Ei]: (Photo of pink fox stretching) (Photo of pink fox frolicking in the yard) (Photo of pink fox sleeping)

[Yae Miko]: ???

[Gu Chen]: Beautiful! Love it! Post more! (Xiangling: Starry eyes)

[Lumine]: Beautiful! Love it! Post more! (Xiangling: Starry eyes)

[Paimon]: Ahhh, Miko the fox lady is so cute!!! (Xiangling: Starry eyes)

[Kamisato Ayaka]: I really want to pet her... (Xiangling: Starry eyes)

"Ei!!"

"What are you doing!"

Yae Miko glared at Raiden Ei with resentment.

Raiden Ei burst into laughter, tilting her head back with a victor’s smile, feeling very happy.

It had always been Yae Miko backstabbing her in the group chat; now, she had finally won one back!

Raiden Ei was in an unexpectedly good mood.

Yae Miko asked puzzledly: "Where did you get those photos?"

"Hmm?"

Raiden Ei replied as a matter of course: "I discovered that I can extract scenes from my memory to post as photos."

"To think you’d find such a way just to backstab me, I really pity you." Yae Miko was torn between laughter and tears.

It had always been her teasing this dull god, but now she had been backstabbed in return. For a moment, Yae Miko felt as if Raiden Ei was finally starting to catch on.

"Don't just post everything!" Yae Miko rolled her eyes at her.

"Mm-hmm, I know."

Raiden Ei nodded, then glared at Yae Miko vigilantly: "I’m not stupid! I know what to do!"

Yae Miko smiled and said nothing.

The meaning was too obvious; Raiden Ei stared at her, feeling both annoyed and amused.

"Alright, alright, let’s watch the video. Let’s see how I, your familiar, usurp the throne." Yae Miko coaxed Raiden Ei as if she were a child.

Raiden Ei knew she was changing the subject, but she turned her gaze back anyway.

In the video.

Yae Miko began:

"Actually, the strange thing is not my form, but that she and I can no longer meet, isn't it?"

"An unchanging nation was a dream she and I shared, but I do not believe that means complete stagnation."

"From a certain moment on, she embarked on a path that became increasingly difficult for me to reach."

"Before Ei stepped into the Plane of Euthymia, she did not say goodbye to me... perhaps it was wishful thinking, but I think this is also the way she believes friendship can remain eternal."

"By not saying goodbye and never meeting again, the relationship between us is permanently maintained as it was back then—at least that is what she thinks in her heart."

Lumine shook her head: "Perhaps it is the Raiden Shogun who is engaging in wishful thinking."

Yae Miko continued: "Since we have already embarked on two completely different paths of eternity, I can continue to maintain the status quo, or I can choose to bring her back on track at any cost... Now I choose the latter, precisely because... if retreating into the Plane of Euthymia is her stubborn insistence on eternity..."

"Then, dragging her out of her own world is my duty as the familiar of eternity."

Listening to Yae Miko’s words, Paimon said sincerely: "Miko is a very good friend."

"Heh~ I only told you these things to make it easier for you to understand my plan. Don't get carried away."

"Alright, enough chatting. It’s time for the second phase of the anti-Raiden Shogun training."

Yae Miko’s smile made Paimon exclaim in shock: "There’s more?!"

[Gu Chen]: Rational analysis: if the Raiden Shogun’s self-seclusion is to avoid erosion and to stop losing things, then does her leaving Yae Miko without a word count as Yae Miko losing her god? Does it count as the Raiden Shogun intentionally hurting Yae Miko’s feelings for her?

[Gu Chen]: It is known that Yae Miko is the Raiden Shogun’s familiar, so the time they spent together is at least several hundred years! So, assuming the Raiden Shogun is constantly losing things, I can understand her sadness, but Yae Miko must have been losing things during this time too. Does the Raiden Shogun’s silent self-seclusion count as a loss for Yae Miko?

[Furina]: Good question!

[Shikanoin Heizou]: My sadness is always one part more than yours, because this part was brought by you?

[Kaeya]: Good heavens, are you trying to stab the Raiden Shogun in the heart? (Hu Tao: Smirk)

[Furina]: Wishfully thinking that friendship is frozen in place, neither developing nor regressing—what is this?!

[Venti]: At least I was only too weak to help Dvalin; you, on the other hand, just ran away on purpose! (Nahida: Pointing fingers)

[Seeing Seeing Seeing Seeing Seeing Zhongli]: From a generally rational perspective, Miko has already become accustomed to wearing a 'mask' in front of others. Beneath the mask she deliberately reveals, how much sadness is hidden? Perhaps at the moment her friend left without a word, the real her was actually in extreme pain?

Good for you, you old timer, you really have class.

With this said, wouldn't Raiden Ei be consumed by guilt?

In the real world’s Plane of Euthymia.

Watching the group members’ comments, Raiden Ei was stunned.

She slowly turned her head to look at Yae Miko, who still wore a beaming smile, with no trace of sadness on her face.

Back then, I secluded myself in meditation, pursuing eternity... She was losing things just like me, and she even lost me, her god. She must have been in so much pain, right?

The more Raiden Ei thought about it, the more her heart felt like it was being pricked by needles.

She suddenly reached out and hugged Yae Miko. Yae Miko was slightly stunned, her expression softening as she gently patted Raiden Ei’s back.

"Miko, I’m sorry... I won’t do this again!"

Feeling Raiden Ei’s sincere apology, Yae Miko finally broke down, her eyes shimmering with tears. "Then it’s a promise; you must never do this again."

While patting Raiden Ei’s back to comfort her, Yae Miko took a photo.

[Furina]: Why are these two not saying anything? (Sucrose: Question)

[Gu Chen]: Could the sensitive and fragile Raiden Shogun be sobbing in the great Guuji’s arms? (Funny)

[Kaeya]: Really? I want to see! @[Yae Miko]

[Yae Miko]: (Yae Miko: Smirk)

[Furina]: Hurry, hurry, is it real? Tell us!

[Yae Miko]: Guess. (Smirk)

[Raiden Ei]: ...

[Venti]: She’s silent. Honestly, I’m afraid of being silenced now. (Shivering)

[Seeing Seeing Seeing Seeing Seeing Zhongli]: (Scared)

[Nahida]: (Shivering)

[Charlotte]: Speaking of which, can this be used as an exclusive scoop? The Raiden Shogun wouldn't kill me, would she? (Shivering)

[Kujou Sara]: (Dizzy)

[Sangonomiya Kokomi]: There is so much information here, but I really want to ask: are the Shogunate and Watatsumi Island still fighting? (Shenhe: Stare)

[Raiden Ei]: Listen to Miko first. (Raiden Ei: Self-secluded)

[Yae Miko]: This Guuji announces that the god has been tamed. From now on, Inazuma enters the era of Guuji-sama’s rule! (Proudly hands on hips)

[Gu Chen]: Congratulations to Guuji-sama on ascending the throne, Long live your Majesty!! (Hu Tao: Smirk)

[Venti]: Congratulations to Guuji-sama on ascending the throne, Long live your Majesty!! (Funny)