"Ei won't listen to anyone now, nor trust anyone."
"Even if the issues in Inazuma are resolved step by step, Ei's inner knot cannot be untied, and she absolutely cannot govern the nation properly."
"Makoto is different…"
"No one is more suited to be the Raiden Shogun, and only if Makoto is revived can Ei's heart be eased."
"Only if Makoto is revived will Ei obey."
"If Makoto returns to Inazuma, she can resolve the chaos in the shortest time. Ei listens to no one but Makoto."
"As long as Makoto speaks, everything will be fine."
"So, the best—and only—way to resolve Inazuma's disorder is to let Makoto take control of Inazuma again!"
Miko took a deep breath and looked at Ryen.
"So, Ryen, please, whether for personal reasons or for the sake of Inazuma itself, help us revive Makoto…"
"No matter the cost, it's acceptable!"
Ryen slightly nodded, smiling lightly.
"Revival isn't difficult. Haven't you already brought Makoto's consciousness fragments?"
"Her existence is now engraved in this world. If you want to revive her, it can be done anytime."
"Zhongli's Revival Totem has points. He doesn't need to use them right now; just tell him."
Upon hearing this, Miko turned to Zhongli.
Without hesitation, he took out the Revival Totem from his bosom.
This totem is something Zhongli keeps extremely close; even while sleeping, he strings it around his neck with a rope.
The Revival Totem holds immense significance for him.
He cannot trust anyone else to handle it.
With the accumulated points, he can revive any Archon at any time. Losing one is inconvenient—it can be remade, but it's troublesome.
Withering skulls are not easy to find.
Truthfully, seven points, compared to the number of Archons he may need to revive, are still insufficient.
But if it means reviving the Raiden Shogun, Zhongli is very willing to help.
She is one of the few rulers admired by all the first-generation Archons.
Besides Makoto, the only other is the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata.
One could say that the first-generation Archons all shared good relations.
Makoto is also Zhongli's friend!
"This… is the Revival Totem…"
Miko looked at the Revival Totem Zhongli handed her, her gaze complicated.
It looked plain, in keeping with this world's modest appearance.
Even when studied carefully, Miko could not discern anything extraordinary about it.
But since everyone said it could work…
This was Miko's last hope.
Taking a deep breath, she calmed the excitement swelling in her chest.
Miko turned to Ryen.
"Is there anything I should be careful about?"
"Careful…"
Ryen paused, then smiled.
"Just make sure you don't cry when you reunite—it'll ruin your image."
Miko raised her eyebrows, feeling considerably relieved.
"Then you're underestimating me! I am, after all, the Grand Priest of the Narukami Shrine. Under my command, the Yae Hall has countless touching moments in its light novels."
"I never cry, you know."
But usually, the ones who say that are the first to cry like a child.
Ryen was secretly looking forward to seeing the sulky pink-haired fox girl tear up.
He lifted his chin slightly.
"Just hold the Revival Totem and think about the person you want to revive."
Miko blinked.
"No ceremony needed?"
"Ceremony? You want me to make you dance a godly jig first?"
Seeing Ryen teasing her with a smile, Miko pouted but no longer hesitated.
She held the Revival Totem firmly in her hands.
Recalling the times spent with Makoto, her hands trembled slightly, beyond her control.
"Makoto… come back…"
Whispering softly, the Revival Totem blazed with light.
In an instant, dense bolts of lightning gathered before Miko.
Unlike Ei's harsh, violent thunder, this lightning was bright and gentle, carrying a soothing power.
Miko recognized it immediately—this was the kind of thunder she loved back before she had taken human form.
"Makoto…"
Although she expected some emotional strain from reviving Makoto, Miko had still overestimated herself.
Just sensing the thunder made her eyes wet; she could hardly imagine what it would be like when Makoto truly returned.
Zhongli was curious about the process; now he could also observe the results of reviving Makoto.
Reviving Archons seemed simple, easily done.
What if something went wrong?
In truth, they had underestimated how unpredictable the MC world could be.
In the MC world, it didn't matter if you were an Archon, an Archon's follower, or even the embodiment of natural law—everyone was treated equally.
The waiting time matched the revival time for the other Archons exactly.
As the thunder, tinged with gold light, dissipated, a dignified, gentle woman appeared before everyone.
Her purple kimono, her braided hairstyle, her features—identical to Ei.
But to Lumine and the others, her aura was different.
Makoto exuded the gentle presence of an elder sister, whereas Ei carried an undercurrent of danger.
Truly, at first glance, Makoto seemed like the kind of person one could immediately like and trust.
Her eyelashes fluttered slightly as Makoto finally opened her eyes.
Curiously, she looked at her hands, then lifted her head to see Miko standing before her.
She remembered that she had died…
Yet everything felt like a vivid dream, and upon awakening, it was as if the dream had never truly ended.
Both real and absurd.
But now was not the time to ponder that.
Makoto's gaze immediately fell on Miko, whose eyes were red.
A gentle smile appeared on her face.