Chapter 187: God of Hydro? Furina! Xianzhou Tingyun!
Ren was certainly not such a lustful person.
Compared to just obtaining a body, he still preferred the intimacy of connecting hearts; the fusion of body and mind was wonderful.
He put Alina down, his hand lingering on her waist. He lightly touched her shoulder. A flash of gold, and a light green long dress covered her body. That color, like a fresh grassland, gave the bewildered Talulah a deep, psychological blow.
"Alina, you haven't seen Talulah for a long time. You two talk," Ren smiled brilliantly.
"Mm... Thank you, Master." Alina nodded, her small face flushed. She heard the hidden meaning in Ren's words.
I must properly... guide Talulah. Alina thought.
Ren left the Chaos Realm. He gave them time to talk to each other. Nothing could change Talulah faster than opening her heart.
He believed Alina could pull Talulah out of her self-blame. He also believed she could change Talulah's thoughts and erase any potential lingering yuri feelings.
...
Afterward, Ren went to the Student Council. Kaguya informed him of a piece of news. The building Ren had requested—a small apartment complex—had been found. It had about ten to twenty units.
Ren decided to go see it on the weekend.
...
After school, he returned home.
Ren routinely played with the "cats." There were currently three cats at home. Neko (Mao), Haru (the actual cat), and a "Yukino-nyan."
Yukino sat in Ren's arms, while Haru and Neko lay in her lap.
On one side was the warm, strong embrace of the person she loved. On the other side was the soft, purring softness of the cats she adored.
As Ren's girlfriend and a top-tier cat lover, Yukino-nyan was blissfully lost.
Kanae and the others were already accustomed to this scene. They each went about their business, not disturbing them.
Only Eriri lay on the sofa drawing her doujinshi, occasionally kicking him with her smooth, stockinged little feet.
"Ren! I'm going to sell doujinshi at Comiket tomorrow, will you come with me!" Eriri leaned in, whining.
Tomorrow was Saturday. If he put off seeing the house until Sunday, he would indeed have time. But selling doujinshi...
Ren looked up at Sayuri, who was massaging his shoulders from behind the sofa. "Aren't you going with her?"
Sayuri smiled faintly. "Of course I'm going with her, but with just the two of us, we might not have enough hands."
Eriri pouted. "Dad used to go with me..."
As soon as the words left her mouth, she realized she had said the wrong thing and quickly covered her mouth, looking worriedly at Sayuri.
Sayuri didn't mind at all; she simply leaned down and gave Ren a long, slow kiss on the lips, her entire being already clinging to Ren.
Her meaning seemed to be directed at Eriri. What's with all this 'dad' talk? Isn't your new dad right here?
"..."
Yukino awkwardly turned her head away. If you're going to kiss, why do you have to do it right on my shoulder?!
After Sayuri lifted her head, she giggled, her face flushed. "Then let Daddy and Mommy go with you this time too."
"Mm, Daddy has plenty of time, oh," Ren added, smiling.
"Ha!!! Baka! Hentai!"
Eriri exploded on the spot, entering invincible whirlwind mode, throwing a pillow at him. The commotion even made Haru and Neko's fur stand on end.
Ren didn't mind. He embraced Yukino, resting his chin on her rosy shoulder, which was fresh from her bath, and lightly sniffed her clean, floral scent.
Occasionally, he would even touch Yukino's fair neck with his lips and tongue, causing Yukino's body to tremble slightly and her cheeks to flush crimson.
Teasing Yukino like this truly excited him, and he never tired of it.
Just as Ren was wondering if he should be bolder, his hand creeping down from her waist...
Ding-dong!
He received a message on his phone. He had so few contacts; usually, messages sent to him were important.
It was a message from Haruno.
[Haruno: "Ren-kun, I'm free this weekend. Want to go out together?"]
[Ren: "A date?"]
[Haruno: "Of course. I'm really looking forward to it, oh."]
[Ren: "Alright, but you might have to go see a house with me first."]
[Haruno: "Oh? Is preparing to move?"]
[Ren: "That's right. The house is getting too small."]
[Haruno: "Tsk tsk, got a new girlfriend already?"]
[Ren: "Well, not a girlfriend, more like a subordinate I've taken in."]
[Haruno: "Understood. So you haven't 'conquered' her yet."]
[Ren: "..."]
Ren clicked his tongue, completely seen through by Haruno.
[Haruno: "Hehe, if you're moving, I want to move too. I want to share a room with Yukino-chan."]
[Ren: "That's not for me to decide. It depends on Yukino's own thoughts."]
[Haruno: "Oh? I originally wanted to help you fulfill your wish for a 'sister flower' bowl, but it seems there's no chance now."]
[Ren: "Alright! Absolutely! I'll convince Yukino!"]
[Haruno: "Tsk. Be gentler with Yukino-chan. If you get any photos of her rolling her eyes in pleasure, you can take a few and send them to me."]
[Ren: "..."]
Haruno... are you a devil?
Yukino would definitely cry if she knew.
"Stare..."
Ren turned his head... alright, Yukino, who had been reading over his shoulder, already knew.
Yukino looked up at him with a gloomy, icy expression. Her voice was like ice. "Ren-kun, will you do what my sister said?"
Ren decisively shook his head. "Of course not! I love Yukino so much, how could I bear to make my cute Yukino roll her eyes like that?"
"!!!"
Yukino glared at him, her face flushed with embarrassment. "Don't say 'roll her eyes'!"
"Won't say it!" Ren cooperatively made a zipping motion over his mouth.
Only then did Yukino relax, though her body had been tense. She was really scared.
That day, Yukino had personally seen Eriri, after a "session" with Ren, rolling her eyes and sticking out her tongue, completely broken.
If she imagined herself in Eriri's place... she felt she might truly not have the face to live on.
Most importantly, sending such photos to her sister—she couldn't even bear to think about it.
However... as for photos...
Yukino cupped Ren's face, her expression determined but shy. She awkwardly said, "You can... you can send me... Sister's... sister's photos!"
"Huh?"
Ren was stunned. Yukino? Where did my kind and cute Yukino go?
Haruno! You've corrupted your cute sister!
But, the next second, Ren thought of a good idea. He bit Yukino's ear and whispered, "Photos are ultimately not safe. I can... directly transmit what I see... into your brain... oh."
"!!!"
Yukino froze. This... why does this sound so strange? It sounded like... she would be seeing it live, from his perspective.
Seeing Yukino show a hesitant expression, Ren's eyes lit up—there was a chance!
Immediately, Ren began his persistent, whispered persuasion.
Eriri and the others watched as Yukino went from initial hesitation... to confusion... and then, finally, to shyly nodding.
They couldn't help but sigh in their hearts. "Yukino has been completely and utterly bamboozled..."
...
"Kanae, you've gotten better."
Later that night, Ren leaned on the bed, enjoying Kanae's simple, silent massage. Neko (Mao) was sound asleep, a cat that couldn't be woken by thunder or earthquake.
"..."
Alright, Kanae couldn't speak, and he was just casually praising her anyway.
However, his attention was quickly drawn to the Chat Group.
For no other reason than that new members had joined.
[Ding! God of Hydro has joined the Chat Group!]
[Ding! Tingyun has joined the Chat Group!]
...
Fontaine, Opera Epiclese.
"Hmm... so boring. Isn't there anything more interesting?"
The girl in the elaborate blue dress twirled her mismatched hair with her fingers, feeling unsatisfied.
This was the Teyvat Continent, Fontaine's Opera Epiclese, which was also the Court of Fontaine. This was the highest seat in the Court, her exclusive seat above the Oratrice Mecanique d'Analyse Cardinale, which resembled a giant, ominous scale.
She was Furina. The God of Hydro of Fontaine. Fontaine's superstar.
If one didn't step into the magnificent Opera Epiclese, perhaps travelers from other lands wouldn't understand why the deity of this place was given the title of "superstar."
There was a reason for this. Whether it was a performance or a trial, she always appeared on time in her exclusive seat.
She would laugh and scold, or rage and curse, often more impressive than what was happening on the stage. People bought tickets to enter, seeking a full and novel emotional experience.
In this regard, Furina was clearly more likable than the absolutely impartial Iudex, Neuvillette.
Admiration does not only take the form of looking up. The residents of Fontaine showed their respect for Furina in a unique way. Or, perhaps, 'affection' would be a more accurate word.
She was not perfect, and perhaps not powerful. But on the stage, she was the most trustworthy presence. Because she had never disappointed anyone.
There was a popular metaphor in Fontaine's literary circles: Furina was like the never-fading memory of youth in countless people's hearts. Who wouldn't wish for eternal youth?
After watching another trial, Furina had just returned to her empty seat. She sat alone in the vast, empty courtroom, feeling a little bored... and a little tired.
To others, Hydro Archon... what an enviable title.
To herself, Hydro Archon... what a depressing, heavy title.
Furina gently stroked the armrest of the chair. Her mind couldn't help but recall the past.
How long had she been sitting here? Probably hundreds of years had passed.
I am the Hydro Archon. This is necessary. And it must be.
In the empty opera house, no one could see the Furina who was usually cheerful, confident, passionate, lofty, and elegant, now with a faint trace of deep loneliness and desolation on her face.
Her emotions were only allowed to be shown when she was alone; this was what Furina, as the Hydro Archon, had to do.
"This is…"
Suddenly, Furina put away the expression she would never show in front of others. She sat up straight, her gaze fixed straight ahead.
"Doomsday Chat Group?"
Something she had never heard of had appeared before her eyes.
...
Aboard a Star Skiff.
Tingyun, a luxuriously dressed fox-eared woman, stood on the deck, gazing at the sea of stars passing by.
Around her Star Skiff, many other Star Skiffs from the Whistling Flame Mercantile Guild followed in formation.
Tingyun was the Sky-Faring Commission's Head Representative for the Xianzhou Luofu. She had traveled with merchant groups to many planets, establishing trade and alliances.
She was now on her way back to the Xianzhou Luofu with the merchant group.
(Author's Note: Regarding when Tingyun was swapped, and whether she died, there are various speculations. The setting used here is that Tingyun was swapped by Phantylia not long after entering the Xianzhou.)
She gazed at the sea of stars, narrowing her beautiful, cunning fox-like eyes, and gently fanned herself with the fan in her hand.
"Oh dear... this humble one seems to have discovered something truly extraordinary."
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