Little Klee looked at the alluring great shrine maiden. Though the face was fox-charming and a little wicked, it felt oddly warm and pleasant—like a spring breeze.
"My mommy is Alice! A famous great adventurer!"
Not knowing why the pretty sister asked, Klee answered honestly.
Yae Miko: "…"
So that was it.
No wonder this little elf looked so familiar—she was the descendant of that famously infamous witch.
At the thought of that witch, Yae Miko even ground her teeth a little.
Back when she was still a child, every time that witch came to Inazuma she'd visit the Grand Narukami Shrine and tease Yae Miko until she bawled and threw tantrums. Even now, thinking back made her feel a bit embarrassed.
Sure, after Yae Miko grew up, she took revenge once.
But even so, it couldn't erase the shame of childhood.
So whenever she heard the name "Alice," she would recall the image of herself wailing as a kid. For a great yokai who'd become a major figure, it was truly awkward—pure black history.
Now, staring at the witch's daughter, Yae Miko suddenly smiled.
"Little one, have you ever heard of something called an Onikabuto beetle? Sister Miko will show you. It's very cute, very cute—you'll like it."
If she couldn't make Alice cry, she'd make Alice's daughter cry.
Thinking that way, her heart instantly felt much more balanced.
Yae Miko's smile grew thicker. Her slender hand stroked Klee's cheek, her gaze unusually intense.
Klee shivered.
This auntie… no, this big sister… why does she feel kind of weird? Especially after hearing my mom is Alice—her expression got even stranger.
It wasn't just Klee. Even Ayaka was surprised.
Though she didn't deeply understand Lady Guuji, when she wore that smile it meant nothing good—
It meant Lady Guuji's fun had suddenly spiked.
"Klee, go back to your room and play."
Seeing Yae Miko's mischief, Ken decisively sent his daughter away.
Otherwise this fox might toy with Klee in who-knew-what ways.
"Okay… Klee gets it. Klee will go back to Mondstadt first!"
If it were another pretty sister, Klee would definitely stay and play.
But this Big Sister Yae… made her feel a little creeped out.
Better run first!
As Klee ran in an airplane sprint through the vortex gate, Yae Miko looked disappointed.
She'd wanted to regain face through the little witch—who knew Ken would protect his kid so fiercely, sending her off in seconds.
"I didn't expect you and Alice actually had a daughter."
Yae Miko looked at Ken, her flawless face wearing an alluring smile, as if surprised.
But thinking carefully, it made sense.
That witch acted in ways no one could predict.
Someone like her finding Ken on Blue Planet… sounded entirely plausible.
"Save your grudge with Alice for when you meet her. Don't take it out on Klee."
Ken smiled at the fox-charming yet not vulgar shrine maiden, not rejecting the probing in her eyes.
After all, Alice's mischief was even worse than Yae Miko's.
She probably left Yae Miko with childhood trauma. Seeing Klee now, of course she wanted revenge.
"Hmph." Yae Miko snorted softly, eyes charming. "Still, I didn't expect you could even conquer that witch. You know her personality—ordinary people can't handle her. Why not tell your contract partner the process?"
Yae Miko grew more curious about Ken and Alice's story.
To show friendliness, the fox shrine maiden—perfect in face and figure—leaned closer.
Besides curiosity, she also wanted to write the story into a novel for Yae Publishing House. If Alice saw it, she'd surely feel awkward, right?
Of course—
That witch might instead feel proud, even nitpick the novel and ask for it to be written more outrageous.
Thinking of that, Yae Miko sighed.
In a sense, compared to that witch, her own mischief still fell short.
"No comment. If you're curious, ask Alice yourself."
Ken glanced at the fox's soft, flowing figure, and ripples stirred in him too.
He never denied his lust, nor that facing someone like Yae Miko did spark interest.
"Heh… If she came to today's Inazuma, she'd probably start meddling again."
Yae Miko sat up straighter, arms crossed.
Ayaka, who'd been silent, smiled and added:
"Indeed. I've also heard the great adventurer's name. It's said she once modified the Mikage Furnace at Tatarasuna. In a way, she did the people of Inazuma a great favor."
This was long ago—before Ayaka was born. She heard it as a child from elders.
The Mikage Furnace was essentially a massive high-temperature smelter that could refine the crystallized bones of defeated gods, iron ore, and more into superior weapon materials—one of Inazuma's proud assets.
But its side effect was scorching heat.
The nobles didn't suffer it; ordinary workers did.
Workers were burned by heat and by tatarigami contamination—scarred all over and unable to live long.
Passing by, Alice saw the near-nonexistent protective barrier. She worried the tatarigami would run out of control from overheating, and everyone nearby would have their lives burned away.
So she altered the furnace parameters without permission—tossed some valves and panels directly into the sea, and upgraded the protective barrier.
That way, even if war reached the place and it lost control, the explosion wouldn't be too catastrophic.
"It was good for the people, but it lowered production. To the old predecessors of the Kujou clan, it wasn't good at all—he raged in the Tenryou Commission for days, nearly twisting his moustache crooked in anger."
As Ayaka spoke, a light smile floated on her face.
If Miko was a fiery, seductive rose, Ayaka was a graceful green lotus. Their beauty was like fire and ice—each with its own splendor.
Hearing that, Yae Miko pursed her lips.
"Not just rage. Even if that guy had been so angry he dropped dead on the spot, Alice wouldn't feel the slightest pity—she'd probably enjoy it."
Even Yae Miko, who usually stayed out of politics, had heard plenty of complaints about the Tenryou Commission's style.
And as for Alice… Yae Miko knew her too well: that woman's wicked fun surpassed her own.
"Alright. Now I'll try inviting Ei over."
Ken smoothly changed the subject, seeing Miko's resentment growing.
If they kept talking about Alice, the fox's grievance would only deepen.
"Mm. I'm really looking forward to Ei's shocked face when she's forced out of the Plane of Euthymia."
Just imagining Ei's bewildered, shocked expression filled Yae Miko with anticipation.
Ken: "…"
What a best friend—at a moment like this she still wanted to see her friend embarrassed.
But precisely because Yae Miko was close to Ei, Ken had Ayaka bring her.
Ei had become too shut-in.
Even though Blue Planet had Morax and Barbatos, those two gods might not calm Ei immediately.
Only Ei's own familiar—her fully trusted best friend—could make her lower her guard.
…
Inazuma.
The Plane of Euthymia, where the most exalted Narukami's consciousness resided.
Raiden Ei, who laid down the rules for Inazuma's unchanging eternity, was meditating—indeed, ever since retreating into the Plane, this was what she did every day, resisting erosion.
In her view, only eternity was closest to the Heavenly Principles—best for Inazuma's future.
As for the Raiden Shogun outside, it was a puppet she crafted with her own body, carrying all her memories and divine power—one tool to implement eternity.
Her consciousness remained inside, avoiding erosion.
"Hmm?"
Yet as Ei meditated, the once-still Plane of Euthymia trembled slightly.
A seven-colored radiance descended, forcibly seizing Ei's consciousness.
…
Tenshukaku.
As Electro Archon's seat, it was heavily guarded.
A place once accessible only to the god's familiars had loosened slightly; the Shogun's confidants could occasionally report progress here.
Still, despite being the god's dwelling, it wasn't extravagantly decorated.
The Raiden Shogun stood on the high tower, gazing into the distance, executing Ei's will without deviation: pursuing eternity. The Vision Hunt Decree was a concrete expression of that pursuit.
To move forward is to lose something.
The once-most-prosperous nation collapsed; even Liyue bid farewell to its Archon. The wind of parting seemed to blow from the far end of time.
Only eternity could halt all things—could keep Inazuma forever.
But as the Shogun stared out, a sudden mental turbulence struck. She frowned, realizing the true Electro Archon had returned, and closed her eyes.
In an instant—
Those violet eyes opened again, but compared to the previous iron-handed thunder, they now held far more emotion and reflection.
"Strange…"
Ei looked around, frowning.
The Shogun puppet was created to manage Inazuma forever. Though Ei occasionally took control, she hadn't done so today.
Yet her consciousness had been forcibly awakened.
Before the exalted Electro Archon could understand, she saw a mysterious, radiant door in midair, spilling gentle power—and with irresistible force, it pulled her toward it.
…
Inside the villa.
Tap… tap… tap…
Footsteps came from the vortex gate. Yae Miko and Ayaka held their breath, a touch uneasy.
They couldn't be sure the one invited was truly Ei.
Even if it was… it might be the Shogun puppet instead.
If it was the puppet, even with Yae Miko here, she might not be able to do much.
When Ei created the puppet, she set the law of eternity as the highest directive.
Not only would Yae Miko fail to change it—
Even Ei herself would be challenged by the Raiden Shogun if she tried to alter that law.
"Ei?"
As the figure stepped out, Yae Miko called instinctively.
Ken raised his eyes to the Electro Archon of Inazuma, hovering in the air.
The high and noble god, thousands of years old, looked as breathtaking as a woman in the prime of youth.
She wore a purple gradient kimono embroidered with lightning motifs. A sash cinched her slim waist. Beneath layered skirts, straight slender legs showed.
Violet hair, adorned with fresh wisteria blossoms, flowed behind her, bringing faint floral fragrance.
Those purple eyes that could contain countless mortal worlds were calm as crystal. A tear mole on her perfect face added a hint of allure.
Time left no trace of erosion on her beauty.
Yet as the most terrifying embodiment of thunder, ruler of Inazuma's shogunate, the one who bore the authority of roaring lightning, the lone seeker of eternity—her aura swallowed all that allure, leaving only coldness and steel.
"Yae Miko?"
In this unfamiliar place, Ei's hand already formed a naginata. Being dragged here by force felt like a provocation she hadn't sensed in many years.
But as she prepared to unleash divine thunder, she saw her familiar standing nearby.