"What a terrifying talent!"
In the depths of Inazuma's Delusion Factory, Dottore—wearing his black mask—returned with disbelief written all over his face.
His segments were scattered across all of Teyvat— in the seven nations, even within ancient ruins.
Of course, Inazuma held one as well.
This segment had originally planned to leave.
Yet when he boarded a ship that morning and sailed out… after a short distance, he somehow returned right back to the harbor.
At first, Dottore thought someone was mocking him.
So he prepared carefully, then tried again.
This time, he even measured the distance.
Ten kilometers.
That was the limit.
Any further, and he would snap back to the starting point.
No matter how many times he tried, the result was the same.
It was as if the world itself told him— the road ahead does not exist, stop exploring.
Worse still, his other segments beyond Inazuma lost contact.
Only this one remained, isolated, cut off.
Linking this to what the Raiden Shogun had said days ago, Dottore realized: he was trapped in a dream.
And before this? No sign at all.
The only oddity—last night, he suddenly felt drowsy.
He had closed his eyes for less than three seconds.
When he woke, it was already too late.
Dragged into the dream created by that so-called genius!
It could not have been the Shogun's work.
She did not possess such an ability—nor such a talent.
"To wield such power… yet not include me?"
Dottore was vexed.
He knew the genius disliked him.
Still, what harm in adding another hand?
If not as an assistant, then at least as a scholar eager to learn!
True sages never feared sharing knowledge.
Even Dottore was willing to discuss his research, though few cared to hear it.
Was the genius afraid he would surpass him? Ridiculous.
Even if he learned the secret, what loss was there?
They were both Fatui Harbingers.
At worst, once the lesson was over, this segment could be discarded.
Still, he admitted he bore some blame.
When the Shogun had spoken of creating a dream for all, he had scoffed.
Had he taken it seriously then, perhaps he might have had a chance.
"…Time I visit that cold colleague. Even Sumeru requires the Akasha to weave dreams. Yet here—no Void Terminals."
To ensnare all Inazuma in sleep without tools, without the World Tree… that was no simple feat.
How could such vast computation be supplied?
Had he captured the Raiden Shogun herself?
No—Dottore quickly rejected the thought.
The Electro Archon was no feeble god.
She was strong—terribly strong.
Not some frail child like the little Dendro Archon.
Never could she be imprisoned so easily.
Then what was the principle?
Where lay the core of this dream?
Perhaps the Tenshukaku held the answer— the dwelling place of gods.
"This nap was rather long. Ayaka, are you unwell?"
"…Not at all."
"Seems my lap pillow did the trick, then."
"… …"
Were it not for Su Ran's irreverence,
Ayaka might never have warmed to him so quickly.
He was far more approachable than the Raiden Shogun.
"What do you think of Ei?"
"Lady Ei? I suppose… she is a lonely god?"
Ayaka knew little of the Shogun.
Only that she was Inazuma's true Archon.
And what the people saw was merely her puppet.
"Lonely? She was, once. But now—she's a little girl who loves to cry and fuss."
"…Impossible."
Even in child form, Lady Ei had seemed calm when Ayaka held her.
Crying and fussing hardly suited her.
"I've proof. She admitted it herself. Why not stay here a while? You might see her throwing a tantrum with your own eyes."
He thought to produce evidence on the spot.
But this was the Tenshukaku, her home.
Ei and Makoto would surely return.
No need to rush.
Though when Ayaka saw them both… she might be too stunned to react.
She had been shocked enough by "little Ei."
If yet another Raiden appeared, perhaps she would go numb.
"By the way—do you prefer the gentle Raiden, the stern Raiden, or the clueless, silly Raiden?"
For now, Inazuma truly had three gods.
All with the same face.
"Gentle…? What do you mean?"
Stern, yes. Clueless, perhaps.
But gentle? Ayaka wondered if he was simply bragging.
Gentle hardly described him— he loved teasing girls far too much.
"Besides Ei, there is Makoto as well. Another Raiden has returned. Trouble for you Inazumans—more gods to worship."
"…What?"
Ayaka could hardly believe it.
If the Shogun was the outward shell, Ei the true essence… then who was this Makoto?
Was this still the Inazuma she knew?
"And one more thing. When Makoto heard that someone as outstanding as myself was pursuing you—she grew quite curious. So when you meet her, Ayaka… don't lose your composure."
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