Inside the Komore Teahouse, Zhongli sat calmly, sipping tea as though nothing in the world could disturb him.
Across from him sat Childe.
At the other table sat four women—
Kamisato Ayaka, Beidou, Yoimiya, and Thoma (acting waiter).
Ayaka's eyes, however, were fixed curiously on the legendary Geo Archon.
It was hard to believe.
The Rock God of Liyue, the Rex Lapis of countless tales— was just quietly drinking tea… right in front of her.
"Miss Kamisato, how is it?
Does our Lord Rex Lapis surpass what you imagined?"
Beidou grinned.
Ayaka's curiosity was written all over her face.
Of course Beidou noticed.
For a Liyue native like her, seeing foreigners shocked by the majesty of the Geo Archon was something that filled her with pride.
"He does feel more like a God compared to Lord Su Ran."
Ayaka admitted honestly.
Unlike her Lord Su Ran— who caused heaven and earth to tremble whenever he acted, yet was indistinguishable from an ordinary person when he didn't.
If not for knowing his identity, no one would treat him as a god.
Though not a traditional Archon, his power unquestionably placed him above the divine.
Su Ran—quiet like a mortal, terrifying like a deity.
Zhongli—dignified like a god, mild like a scholar.
That was her impression.
"Hahaha! Your lord might not even be a match for the Geo Archon!"
The moment Beidou said this…
Cough—!!!
Zhongli sprayed his tea everywhere.
Aside from him, the whole teahouse fell silent except for Beidou's bold laughter.
"Miss Beidou… have you forgotten how the Geo Archon ended up in prison?"
Ayaka asked gently, but the irony was sharp.
To claim Su Ran wasn't as strong as Morax?
How could those words even leave someone's mouth?
She didn't even want to argue.
The Shogun had been defeated in one move.
Could Morax last two? Maybe.
But would it change the result?
A loss was a loss.
"Cough… this is just habit, alright?"
Beidou felt the sting of embarrassment.
Liyue citizens had long been used to boasting about their Archon.
In the old days, it was justified.
After all, of the Seven, the oldest and mightiest was their Rex Lapis.
Liyue itself was forged through endless warfare.
The fact that Rex Lapis built civilization upon such a brutal land was an undeniable achievement.
But now…
He had lost a fight.
Been thrown into jail.
And someone else had the "achievement" of putting him there.
"But if we talk contributions—
the Archon still wins.
He led Liyue into prosperity. That's real merit."
"But Lord Su Ran is a Genius," Ayaka countered softly.
Beidou shook her head.
"What's the use of being a 'genius'?
All it means is he can hit things really hard."
That much she admitted.
If it was about combat, she knew Morax had lost.
But in every other area?
Beidou refused to concede.
Her Archon was a master of both warfare and governance.
He guided Liyue for thousands of years.
How could he lose to a mere punch-happy executive?
Ayaka only smiled.
"If you had seen the vastness of the starry sky, you would not underestimate Lord Su Ran so much."
Of everyone present, only she had witnessed the cosmos with her own eyes.
Beidou had lived her whole life under Teyvat's false sky.
How could she grasp the universe's enormity?
"There are worlds beyond this world.
And with but a single word, Lord Su Ran can command billions.
With one call, millions of worlds will answer him.
How could such a thing be done by any Archon of Teyvat?"
Beidou blinked.
Ayaka's tone was soft, but her words hit like thunder.
She recalled what she'd learned from Su Ran and Herta—
the scale of the universe, the terrifying brilliance of the Genius Society…
Before seeing it with her own eyes, she assumed Su Ran's strength alone made him special.
Only now had she realized— his strength was the least impressive part of him.
"This is a bit exaggerated, don't you think?"
Beidou crossed her arms.
To her, Ayaka sounded like a girl drunk on love, seeing her beloved as flawless.
She had no idea Ayaka was underplaying it.
But Ayaka didn't argue the point.
If someone wanted to stay ignorant, there was no reason to force them.
"Since Miss Beidou has not seen the world beyond, you naturally cannot fathom its scale.
But I have.
I've seen countless worlds with my own eyes."
Her expression grew distant, as though staring back into space.
"One day, when our world connects to the stars, we will meet countless civilizations…"
Some of what she said was her own imagination— but none of it was unrealistic.
The outside world was far more advanced than Teyvat.
Ayaka was certain of it.
"And how do you know that when they hear of our Lord's deeds, they won't worship him too?"
Beidou insisted.
She had never seen the outer world, but she believed that Rex Lapis's might would not be overshadowed so easily.
Zhongli sipped his tea silently.
But the tea tasted… more and more bitter.
Where had this strange competition of ego even come from?
Ayaka continued gently:
"In the outside world, what Lord Su Ran is most renowned for is not his combat strength—
but his unparalleled intellect."
She leaned slightly forward.
"Perhaps Miss Beidou has not seen it— but floating beyond the sky is a space station the size of Inazuma City itself.
From there, one can overlook all of Teyvat."
Beidou's eyes widened despite herself.
"And if you ever meet Miss Ningguang again, she would surely tell you who is truly the greater one."
"Mm…"
Beidou suddenly felt a weight in her chest.
Ayaka hadn't cited an Inazuman as her witness— but Ningguang.
A Liyue native.
A friend.
A woman who would never flatter a Fatui executive.
If even Ningguang acknowledged it…
Then it must be true.
And thus, in this invisible battle of pride—
Kamisato Ayaka won.
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