Chapter 284: The Arrangement of the Duel Before the Emperor

The so-called anti-Electro Archon special training.

In Luo De's view, it was pure torture.

Because this thing is purely training reaction speed.

The Electro Archon is said to be the most formidable and terrifying lightning incarnation in Teyvat, its true form being the very first bolt of lightning in Teyvat.

Using the properties of the Electro element.

When serious, the Electro Archon is the symbol of Teyvat's utmost speed.

And the Electro Archon, as a person—

is very stubborn.

Whenever she attacks, she never has a playful attitude toward Luo De like other gods do; she always strikes seriously, just like that blade on Eight Brew Island that was ready to cut Luo De down outright.

So this anti-Electro Archon special training is actually a magic tool crafted by Yae Miko imitating the Electro Archon's attack style.

"Inside are her battle memories from five hundred years ago."

"As for whether she has gained any insight or developed new moves in those five hundred years, that's entirely up to you to adapt on the spot."

While Luo De and Ying were training, Yae Miko stood aside giggling.

Luo De, drenched in sweat, couldn't be bothered to reply to her.

Ying, who had been knocked down countless times, was even worse off—she could barely speak.

The only one who still had the energy to say a few words to Yae Miko was

Only Paimon, who hadn't entered the magic formation.

"Miko, with them like this, will they be in danger later?"

Paimon, floating in the sky, could hardly hide the worry on her face.

Regarding the Electro Archon's fearsome nature.

During this training period, Luo De had already explained it to her and Ying several times.

Especially the matter of cleaving an island with a single strike.

Paimon remembered it especially clearly.

She deliberately compared Ying's width with that of Eight Brew Island, then confirmed that if Ying were hit by such a blow, she would surely be cut in half.

Although she had just said that when Luo De gave her a knock on the head, and even today her head still ached a bit.

But Paimon was still worried.

Especially Ying's performance in the anti-Electro Archon special training was very poor.

In contrast, Luo De was always getting injured.

Ying hadn't suffered any injuries, but she kept getting blasted by lightning like a ball, rolling around everywhere; every night she would complain of pain and toss and turn until late at night before she could sleep.

Paimon felt both heartbroken and worried watching her.

"Don't worry, little Paimon."

"These two little guys are quite capable; they definitely won't run into trouble."

Yae Miko, on the other hand, wasn't worried at all.

She even leisurely reclined on a lounge chair, reading a light novel while enjoying the tea and sweets brought by the shrine maidens.

"Hey, you!"

Seeing her like that, Paimon puffed her cheeks and shouted.

However, Yae Miko obviously paid no attention to Paimon's voice, still waving the pastry in her hand at Paimon: "Little Paimon, want to have some? It's really delicious."

"I won't eat!!"

"You tell me clearly!!"

Paimon's voice started out firm, and she kept tugging at Yae Miko's clothes, wanting her to speak properly with her.

However, as Yae Miko shoved a piece of green pastry into her mouth,

Paimon's voice grew softer and softer.

In the end,

only the sound of her wolfing down the pastry remained.

When Luo De and Ying emerged from the training formation, panting, the two of them had already finished all three plates of pastries, even drinking the tea that had been prepared to quench their thirst.

"That."

"You guys listen to my explanation."

Paimon, who had made eye contact with Luo De and Ying, quietly hid behind Yae Miko, awkwardly rubbing her fingers and saying: "These pastries are really good, huh, the tea is also great to drink, I accidentally ate too much."

"."

Luo De, now with a few more bloodstains on him, ignored the greedy her, casually found a chair and lay down, letting out a comfortable sigh.

Compared to Ying, whose flesh could outright block magic-tool attacks,

Luo De would still get injured when attacked.

Although his self-healing ability is still strong, even minor injuries that don't reach the bone leave no scar.

But he still ends up feeling pain.

Moreover, compared to Ying covered in dirt, Luo De, stained with blood, still looked rather disheveled.

However, Luo De didn't bother to argue with Paimon.

This doesn't mean Ying won't.

Ying, parched and with no water to drink, puffed her cheeks, grabbed Paimon in one hand, put her hand on her hip, and complained dissatisfiedly: "Paimon—!"

"Oh dear, sorry."

Paimon shrank her neck, not daring to meet Ying's gaze.

Just as the two were playing and joking around.

After resting a while and recovering his strength, Luo De tilted his head and asked Yae Miko: 'How much longer do we need for that opportunity you mentioned? I've already been in Inazuma for almost a month, and there are still many things I need to do in Sumeru.'

As soon as he asked that question.

Ying stopped bickering with Paimon, turned her head, and waited for Yae Miko's answer.

Luo De had only undergone a month of special training.

But hers has been much longer—almost since the start of Inazuma, when Yae Miko grabbed her and brought her here for special training.

Don't look at her now, a mess after each training session.

When she first started training, she was in an even worse state than now.

Back then, she would spend an entire day...

If it weren't for Yae Miko also providing medicinal baths and trauma medicine, she probably wouldn't even be able to get up the next day.

Luo De couldn't stand it after just a month of beatings.

But she has endured beatings for several months.

She's long had enough.

So now she wants to know even more than Luo De does—when exactly she can go see the Electro Archon, so she can quickly escape this anti-Electro Archon training that could torture a person to death.

"Opportunity~~"

"Roughly, it should be soon~~~"

Yae Miko still laughed as usual, never willing to give an exact time.

The opportunity she and Luo De mentioned.

It is when the Watatsumi Island rebels, carrying the people's will to resist, arrive before the Electro Archon.

This matter differs somewhat from Luo De's earlier speculation.

And this also made him realize just how indifferent Yae Miko is toward Inazuma as a nation.

Even though she talks about Inazuma this way and that way with her mouth,

In fact,

Yae Miko doesn't care at all about what Inazuma is really like,

whether the people are oppressed,

whether the people's will is being stripped away,

she doesn't care in the slightest.

In Yae Miko's eyes,

The only thing that can make her care about this country is the current Electro Archon. In order to get the Electro Archon to break free from her stubborn and mistaken path of eternity, Yae Miko can even let the rebels on Watatsumi Island grow strong through war, while outwardly suppressing the rebels through the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions, she secretly turns a blind eye to funding and allowing the rebels to grow, and she also joined forces with the Kamisato clan of the Shogunate's administration, letting them secretly open a sea route so that Watatsumi Island can directly send the rebels to the shogunate's main base on Narukami Island.

Now Luo De and Ying.

They are waiting for those rebels who carry the people's will and can provide Luo De and Ying with enough resolve to come to Narukami Island.

However.

Every time Luo De and Ying ask this question, Yae Miko's answer is always the same.

This also made Paimon immediately complain, saying, "You always say that."

"Hehe—"

Yae Miko covered her mouth and smiled: "Don't rush, if we don't have enough people, facing the Shadow will be dangerous, so don't worry; when the time comes, I will definitely notify you right away."

Another evasive answer like that.

Luo De also had no choice.

Luo De could only shake his head as before and say, "You'd better hurry up a bit; this thing is quite tormenting."

"Oh, right."

"Oh, by the way, we've also brought in some external help this time, someone you know."

Yae Miko replied irrelevantly.

External help?

Upon hearing that term, Luo De frowned slightly and wondered who it was: "The Southern Cross Fleet? Did you bring people from Inazuma over?"

"Little guy, I said you know a lot."

"Look."

"I didn't get it wrong, did I?"

Yae Miko wasn't at all surprised that Luo De could point out her plan in a single sentence, but she still corrected him: "However, little guy, you need to watch your words—the Southern Cross Fleet wasn't brought by me; they were sent by Inazuma's Celestial Star to stir things up on their own."

She said.

Yae Miko sat up and leaned in, saying: "Bringing foreign armed forces into Inazuma is a serious act of treason; if the Shadow finds out, I'll be in quite a trouble~~~~"

That's what she said.

Yet Yae Miko's face showed no sign of the worry she had just voiced; on the contrary, she wore a smile.

As the last remaining retainer of the current Electro Archon,

Yae Miko has been following the Electro Archon since the era of the first Electro Archon, Raiden Ei, and her relationship with the Electro Archon is not merely that of master and servant, but also that of closest friends.

Not to mention pulling the Electro Archon out of her consciousness space to bring foreign troops into Inazuma; even if she were to offend the Electro Archon to her face, the most she would get is a scolding, with no real punishment whatsoever.

This is both a privilege befitting Yae Miko and the source of her confidence that no one in Inazuma, or even much of Teyvat, would dare to provoke.

After all, almost all of the Electro Archon's friends from back then have died.

This sole surviving sprout is her only spiritual reliance now—a state where she will kill anyone who dares to harm Yae Miko.

And when faced with such a Yae Miko who loves to play the rogue and toy with people,

Luo De naturally also found himself helpless, tossed about by her antics.

He let out a soft sigh, then fell silent and continued to rest with his eyes closed.

The arrival of the Southern Cross Fleet.

He had already guessed this.

He didn't know whether what Yae Miko said was true.

But as Liyue's armed fleet, the Southern Cross Fleet, even though they are not officially affiliated, dared to go to Inazuma to join the rebels' insurgent actions, and even dared to storm the keep of Narukami Island.

Inazuma could easily wipe them out first, then lodge a diplomatic protest against Liyue.

Inazuma is not a small nation.

Their god, the Electro Archon, is renowned among the Seven Archons as a god of war known for martial prowess and slaughter.

To invade Inazuma so openly and blatantly.

Even if the Southern Cross Fleet participated as mercenaries.

As long as the Electro Archon wishes to pursue responsibility.

Then Liyue would inevitably face a diplomatic wrangle.

Especially since they had just returned divine authority to human rule; the Liyue the Liyue the Liyue Qixing's first time in power caused such a huge mess, and if mishandled, it could lead to unforeseeable severe consequences.

"Ningguang really dares."

Luo De muttered a sentence, then leaned back in the chair and fell into a deep sleep.

That sleep.

Luo De slept until Yae Miko called him to continue training.

After another half month of tossing and turning.

Yae Miko's side finally sent word.

"The opportunity is ready."

"When you go to see Ying, I will send them in."

Handing the two talismans to Luo De and Ying, Yae Miko, for the first time in these days looking serious, said: "I have applied for two Imperial Duels for you; this is your only chance to approach the Shogun."

"And, little one."

Yae Miko then turned her gaze to Luo De: "In the Shogun's eyes, you are the chief culprit who destroyed Tatarasuna; although she spared your life then, the Archon's grudge you released still pollutes Tatarasuna to this day—in other words, you remain guilty in her sight, and you are also a clear eternal variable, so even if you win the Imperial Duel, before the Shogun draws you into the Single Heart Pure Land, she may very well strike you down with a thoughtless blow."

"You've screwed me!"

After hearing Yae Miko's words, Luo De's face changed drastically.

He had no objection to fighting in the Imperial Duel.

He had no objection to meeting the Electro Archon.

But now, facing a berserk Raiden Shogun, Luo De has reservations.

That puppet is completely inflexible, just a pure mechanical mind.

Moreover, Yae Miko explicitly said that, as far as the puppet Raiden Shogun is concerned, she is still considered guilty and will most likely strike first.

If it cannot be blocked,

then it would be just like Rosalin, not even leaving ashes!! "Don't rush—"

"Since I'm letting you see the Shogun, I definitely have a way to protect you."

Yae Miko leisurely tapped the talisman in Luo De's hand: "Remember to wear it conspicuously; when the Shogun attacks you, it will protect you once."

"Does this thing have that effect?"

Luo De raised an eyebrow, weighed the talisman in his hand, and his expression finally eased a little.

As long as there's protection, it's fine.

Until then.

Ying, who had been listening on the side for a while, asked a question Luo De had overlooked: "The Imperial Duel you mentioned—is it the one where losing means death?"

The Imperial Duel is a specialty of Inazuma.

The duelists must fight a life-and-death battle before the Raiden Shogun as witness; the victor lives, the loser dies, the rules are extremely cruel, and if the victor cannot bring themselves to take the loser's life, the Shogun as witness will personally strike, directly cutting off the loser's life.

"Hey—"

"Miko, how could you drag Ying into something so dangerous again!"

Paimon complained again.

This feeling of being led by the nose, having to follow others' arrangements for everything, is not good at all.

"Once you settle Ying's matter, I'll compensate you~~"

Yae Miko chuckled lightly and brushed off the matter.

Then.

Luo De asked again: "Who is the opponent? You won't drag innocent people unrelated to this into it, will you?"

This is also something Luo De worries about.

Yae Miko's eyes hold only the Electro Archon.

Luo De worries that, in order to draw out the Electro Archon's consciousness, she will make him commit some indiscriminate slaughter of innocents.

"Oh, don't worry, it's impossible to harm innocents."

Regarding this, Yae Miko replied calmly: "They're all your old acquaintances—the Sixth Harbinger Scaramouche and the Eighth Harbinger Lady; neither of them is some innocent passerby."

(End of chapter)