"Eh?" Paimon's sharp little ears twitched in alarm. "Using the names of the Seven Archons—won't that get us in trouble?"
"At least Ei doesn't mind."
"So, there are other Archons to worry about… Hmm… Though I doubt the Anemo or Geo Archons would care either, their followers might report it if they saw!"
"Other Archons, huh? You're right, the Sakoku Decree will have to end sooner or later. We can't just think about Inazuma anymore… We'll just add a disclaimer saying it's a work of fiction, unrelated to reality. As long as we don't name names directly, 'god' isn't an exclusive term anyway, right?"
"You're not changing anything!?"
"Little Paimon, you just don't understand~ The whole point is that there are Seven Archons. Otherwise, where's the fun in the story?"
"I don't understand? I've read tons of novels, okay!"
Victor, now reduced to a bystander munching metaphorical melon seeds, muttered inwardly: Paimon, where did this sudden competitive streak come from…? Oh right, I took the fall for the Kun Jun and Azhdaha incident. Never mind then.
Yae Miko chuckled softly. "Light novels and regular novels are completely different genres, you know. Have you ever read a light novel before?"
"I… uh…"
Paimon scratched her head. Before coming to Inazuma, she honestly hadn't read many light novels. And among those she'd seen here, the most popular ones were things like 'Reincarnated as a Hilichurl: I Can Grow Stronger by Eating Sunsettias!', 'Reincarnated as the Raiden Shogun—Now I'm Invincible!', and 'Please, My Fox Priestess!'
"Oh, right! The Chronicles of Shenzhou's Broken Sword counts as a light novel too, doesn't it? It's full of Victor's trademark imagination—no reincarnation, no Archons, but still amazing!"
"…What did you just say?"
Seeing Yae Miko momentarily freeze, Paimon puffed up proudly. "The Chronicles of Shenzhou's Broken Sword! Oh, you probably haven't read it because of the isolation decree, right? I brought a copy—you can borrow it!"
"No, wait… who did you say wrote it?"
Paimon didn't know that, ever since A Legend of Sword from Liyue had exploded in popularity, Yae Publishing House had been asking the Crux Fleet to bring over famous Liyue novels on every voyage. The latest shipment had included The Chronicles of Shenzhou's Broken Sword, and the staff at Yae Publishing House had already read it to tatters. But since it was clearly labeled as "Published in Liyue," they couldn't treat it like A Legend of Sword—which had appeared as a self-published work first, with the contract added later.
So not only Yae Miko, but the entire editorial team perked up their ears, eyes darting between Paimon and Victor.
"It's Victor! Surprised? He's not just strong—he's a best-selling author too!"
"…That is quite the surprise."
Every editor's gaze now burned like twin suns, fixed on Victor Wang. Meanwhile, Yae Miko's eyes gleamed with fox-like cunning; she was already calculating how to make him pay for spreading "rumors."
"You actually wrote a light novel?!" Kokomi was the first to react.
"Victor can write novels?!" Yoimiya practically echoed her.
The mood shifted in an instant—suddenly it was a literary club meeting.
"Well, I did write some…" Victor said, half-defensive. "But Yoimiya, why are you so excited? Do you read novels too?"
"Of course I do!" Yoimiya replied with conviction. "Yae Publishing House is a real treasure of Hanamizaka and all of Narukami Island. It's super popular among the young people! My house is nearby, and besides—how could I tell stories to the kids without reading a bunch first?"
"But there was one story I followed for ages, and when it finally ended, the heroine lost her memory… The wedding never happened… I was so heartbroken!"
Taking full advantage of Inazuma's former isolationist nature, Paimon began gleefully dropping spoilers. "Victor's written worse! In his endings, both the hero and heroine die! In two of them!"
"Ah—what…"
Yoimiya's smile faltered. Even Kokomi and Gorou frowned slightly, while the Yae Publishing editors stared in disbelief that someone had dared to kill off their main characters.
Beidou, however, let out a hearty laugh. "I think The Butterfly Lovers was brilliant!"
"Beidou—wait, you read novels too?"
"Our crew cares a lot about morale! During long voyages, we organize all sorts of activities—photography, music, chess, painting, cooking—you name it. Reading's so common we don't even need a class for it anymore. Everyone just grabs a few books on shore. Out of your works, my favorite's The Butterfly Lovers! The defiance till death—that spirit was perfect!"
So… it really had become a book club.
Even Kazuha joined in. "I'm a bit different—I prefer Victor's poetry. The styles of Liyue and Inazuma poetry differ, but the spirit behind his verses speaks to me deeply."
Only the Arataki Gang, unfamiliar with Victor's "Dust" works, felt left out. Though Shinobu looked intrigued by his identity, Itto didn't seem to care in the slightest.
Yae Miko narrowed her eyes, murmuring, "All of you… not giving me a single chance to speak, huh…"
"Hey, fox ears! Didn't think you were the head shrine maiden of Narukami Shrine!"
"What's wrong, oni boy? Does my title scare you?"
"Hah! The great Arataki Itto fears no one! No matter who you are, it won't change the fact that I won the ramen-eating contest!"
"Yes, yes, you're absolutely right~"
Yae Miko replied lazily, trying not to laugh.
A kitsune and an oni having a ramen-eating contest? And even after realizing the ramen had deep-fried tofu in it, he still forced down thirty-two bowls? All to keep his "champion" title? What an amusing little demon—she hadn't seen such a funny one in years.
"Actually, your second-in-command knows exactly who I am, don't you, Shinobu?"
Shinobu frowned slightly, finding this exchange troublesome. Itto, meanwhile, puffed up. "Hey, you're not trying to recruit Shinobu too, are you? Kujou Tengu already tried!"
"Hehe~ I'm afraid you've got that backwards."
"What do you mean 'backwards'? You're talking in riddles again! I don't understand a word!"
"Enough, boss. I'm not leaving the Arataki Gang," Shinobu said flatly.
Determined to protect her past, she met Yae Miko's gaze evenly. The kitsune only smiled—carefree, as though none of this truly mattered.
"Ahem!"
Sensing the lively atmosphere, Itto suddenly clapped his hands. "Since everyone's in such a good mood, how about we have a feast to celebrate Victor's victory in the Duel Before the Throne!?"
"A feast!?" Paimon's eyes lit up instantly.
Akira leaned close and whispered, "Boss… normally the host pays for these things. Given our finances…"
"…"
Mamoru added in a hushed tone, "Akira, don't keep exposing the boss like that. Look, he's speechless already."
"We can afford ramen every day now, right? That means we're doing great financially!"
Genta sighed. "That's… not quite the same…"
"Ahem! Grilled lavender melons for everyone, how about that?!"
"Grilled… lavender melons?" Paimon blinked. "That's our feast?"
"What, Paimon? You planning to sponsor us or something?"
Paimon shrank instantly, glancing around pitifully. "Th-there are so many people here! It's not my turn! Victor—back me up here!"
"It is worth celebrating with a good meal," Victor admitted, half-smiling.
After all, reaching this point meant his main goal in Inazuma was halfway done.
It had been a hard road—saving Hanachirusato, convincing her to surrender cleanly in the second duel; becoming the strategist of Watatsumi Island and gathering the Delusions that granted him a five-second power burst; cleansing the Sacred Sakura so Yae Miko would yield in the third duel, allowing the Shogun to grant him this chance.
Every one of those steps had been essential.
And yet, only half complete—because Inazuma had no Electro Dragon.
Looking back, Mondstadt and Liyue really had been the "beginner zones"…
Venti and Zhongli, the first-generation Archons, were powerful and untroubled.
The Anemo and Geo Dragons were stable—he hadn't even met Dvalin properly except during its rampage over Mondstadt, and that "material" had been directly provided by Venti. As for Azhdaha, though he'd gone along for that incident, Zhongli had handled it all.
But later? Everything got complicated—
At least he'd secured the Raiden Shogun's aid; the Electro Dragon's situation still remained to be seen. Maybe the Shogun had a way… even if not, half the journey was better than standing still.
Winning the Duel Before the Throne was definitely worth celebrating.
"Then tonight it is. Dinner's on me."
"Yay!"
"I'd like to invite Kujou Sara too. I only managed to save my strength for the first strike because she didn't drag the fight out."
"I'm good friends with her—"
"I'll go get her."
Seizing the chance to escape, Shinobu stepped forward—only for Itto to cut her off.
"That woman owes me a rematch! Leave it to me, I'll bring her! I'm going right now!"
…
Night fell at Uyuu Restaurant.
After Victor and Kujou Sara officially made peace, Yae Miko finally cornered him.
"Remember what I said during the duel?"
"'I'm just a five- or six-year-old little girl,' right? That's what you said."
"Heh. Getting bold now that it's over, are we? Talking back to me?" Yae Miko's lips curved upward—but there was no warmth in her smile. "You still haven't done what you promised. I haven't even held you accountable yet."
"…Which thing was that?"
"Having that Divine Priestess call me 'Sister Miko.'"
"She… didn't?"
"No. Even Lumine's attempt was a half-measure. It feels like you just spread rumors about me and then washed your hands of it…"
Sensing the rising density of Electro energy in the air, Victor inhaled sharply. "Let's talk this out!"
"You're Dust, aren't you?"
"Uh-huh!"
"In that case… you'll atone by writing a novel for Yae Publishing House."
Back at Uyuu Restaurant, Victor immediately glanced toward Kokomi—only to find her smiling knowingly, that scheming glint in her eyes betraying that she had seen through everything from the start.