"Poor Ei…
Waiting day after day for her beloved to return— and who would've thought she'd end up waiting over ten days?
If she hadn't gone out and bumped into him by coincidence, who knows how long he planned to fool around outside?"
Yae Miko's tone sounded like pity, but every word was a knife stabbing Ei's image.
Once the story passed through her mouth, even a dignified Archon would turn into a joke.
"And even after she finally gets him back home, his heart is still wandering outside.
All the benefits— all the sweetness— he gives to other girls.
Never his own people.
Sigh, Tragic."
Yae Miko clutched her chest dramatically, as if she were the one abandoned.
If someone didn't know her true nature, they might actually be fooled.
A fox lying is as natural as breathing— no matter who the target is.
"I'm a Harbinger of the Fatui.
Technically speaking, I am a Snezhnayan."
Su Ran added lightly.
Yae Miko's smile cracked.
Did he really have to say it that clearly!?
You're a Fatui Harbinger—
yet you come to Inazuma, stir up trouble, leave chaos in your wake, and now you want to declare you have nothing to do with them?
Oh no.
Absolutely not.
If she didn't squeeze some profit out of him, Fox Shrine would change its name to "Fox Stupid."
And that Liyue woman—Ningguang!
What was she compared to the great Yae Miko?
Prettier?
More graceful?
Better figure?
Younger? (cross that out)
A nicer voice!?
Every time Ningguang was mentioned, Yae Miko gritted her teeth.
Su Ran— was your brain filled with Mora?
You took the entire Hiiragi clan's assets and invested them all outside!?
What about her?
Was she not qualified!?
She could make money too!!
"I don't care.
As Ei's best friend, shouldn't you at least show some goodwill?
Let me visit that space station."
Since logic wouldn't work, Yae Miko decided to borrow Ei's signature move—
sheer, unreasonable stubbornness.
"Sure~"
"Then I'll settle for—wait.
What did you say?!
Sure?!"
She froze for three whole seconds before her brain rebooted.
"Though it's still under construction.
Most of it isn't finished yet.
But there is a livable section."
Su Ran's easy agreement made Yae Miko hesitate instead.
Was… was this a trap?
"Don't give me that look.
I really got a lot done these past days.
Plenty of projects nearing completion.
I'm in a good mood—can't I be generous?"
Her suspicious stare stabbed him in the heart.
Was he really that untrustworthy!?
"So… the thing really is outside the sky?"
Miko's heart nearly burst with excitement.
A chance to see beyond Teyvat— a chance no one had ever had.
"Though… Ei will never allow us to leave the dream."
Miko's ears drooped.
Last time, Su Ran left for "just a bit" and vanished for over ten days.
Ei had practically died of anxiety.
Once bitten twice shy— this time Ei would never let it happen again.
"Correct.
I absolutely will not let you go!"
Raiden Ei entered with Raiden Makoto beside her, eyes full of suspicion.
The moment she heard "go outside," she glared at Su Ran as if he were planning to run off forever.
"If you want to leave, step over my dead body!"
"Really?"
Su Ran blinked, testing her determination.
"Give up!
I will never agree!"
Her tone was firmer than when she executed other gods.
"Makoto, do you want to go outside?
To see the world beyond the sky?"
Raiden Makoto nodded gently.
"Of course.
I've seen Inazuma unchanged for a thousand years— I'd like to see something new."
Ei froze.
Su Ran had gone straight for her weak spot.
And it worked instantly.
Makoto's wish was something Ei couldn't refuse— not now, not ever.
Her expression twisted with conflict.
"Ei… may I?"
Makoto looked at her hopefully.
Ei opened her mouth to refuse— but the words wouldn't come out.
Too cruel.
Impossible.
But then— a life-saving thought struck her.
"But… Makoto exists only as consciousness.
No physical body.
How could she go outside?
So… it's better if we don't—yes?"
As long as Makoto had no body, the matter solved itself.
"No problem.
Didn't I already build new bodies for both you and the Shogun?
Makoto can just use the Shogun's one.
It's not like the Shogun wants to go anyway."
Raiden Shogun (not present):
How do you know what I want?!
Ei's eyes widened again.
"Then… why Makoto in the Shogun's body?
Why not me?"
What kind of shameful spectacle would that be!?
Seeing Makoto while she herself was reduced to the tiny puppet body???
Social death!!
Absolute social death!!
"Because an older sister should look older than her younger sister.
Otherwise, how do people tell who's who?"
Makoto nodded happily.
"And I'm curious too.
What does the small version of Ei look like?"
Memories of her own past misunderstanding made Makoto's cheeks heat slightly.
But she wanted to see it.
Ei wanted to sink into the earth.
She wanted to refuse.
Desperately.
But Makoto's anticipation— and her own distrust of Su Ran's self-control left her helpless.
She had to supervise him personally.
If he ran off again…
She'd die from worry before he returned.
"…Fine.
But just—just this once!"
Seeing Ei compromise, Su Ran smiled.
Bottom lines truly do exist… so they can be broken.
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