"You look rather pleased. What happened?"
Seeing Kamisato Ayaka quietly brimming with joy, Su Ran couldn't help asking.
To him, those "accomplishments" she was thinking about were nothing remarkable.
Sure, they might shake the entire universe, but to Su Ran—
they weren't anything special.
He had completely fallen into effortless humble-brag mode without realizing it.
"That's because Miss Beidou compared Liyue's Geo Archon to you, Lord Su Ran.
I couldn't accept it, so I debated her for a while."
As for the outcome—obvious.
Ayaka had won, though not overwhelmingly.
In fact, she only won because she invoked Ningguang's name, a trump card Beidou couldn't refute due to lack of knowledge.
"And where did this instinct to compare us even come from…?"
After listening to Ayaka's retelling, Su Ran was speechless.
Comparing him to Zhongli?
They weren't even in the same category.
To the people of Liyue, the Geo Archon was everything— their founder, their guardian, an existence whose status could never be shaken no matter what happened elsewhere.
But in the greater universe?
Zhongli versus himself?
That was like a shrimp versus a star cruiser.
Outside primitive, planet-bound civilizations, there were very few who didn't know Su Ran's name.
If the topic were "greatness" within Liyue, of course Rex Lapis was supreme.
But on a cosmic scale—
What is Morax?
How many planet-destroying starships does he command?
Liyue's entire population wasn't even as large as the IPC's half-hour onboarding quota.
So yes— Ayaka comparing the two was insane.
Like comparing a "champion of the world"
to a "threat from beyond the stars."
"Lord Su Ran…?"
Seeing his expression, Ayaka panicked.
Had the comparison upset him?
"Why didn't you compare Zhongli to Ei instead?
Those two are actually on the same level."
After all, they were both archons.
That comparison made sense—unlike using him as the benchmark.
"Well…"
Ayaka suddenly froze.
Compare Lord Ei to Zhongli…?
She really couldn't bring herself to say it.
Given all the disasters Ei had caused recently, saying it out loud felt like airing Inazuma's dirty laundry.
Better not speak of it at all.
Even Ayaka—who deeply respected her Archon— couldn't think of anything flattering to say.
When there were no external crises, the Shogun herself had become Inazuma's biggest crisis.
"Alright, I know.
Ei's governing ability is… well, that.
And the puppet was a glorified AI with bugs.
The fact Inazuma survived at all is thanks to commoners having tough lives."
Su Ran finished for her.
"…"
Raiden Makoto's thousand-year legacy— almost completely exhausted within 500 years.
If not for Makoto knowing the root cause was herself, Ei would have long since been scolded into the ground.
"I heard that."
Ayaka stiffened instantly.
She turned her head with trembling movements—
The Raiden Shogun was walking toward them.
If not for the lack of killing intent, Ayaka might have already thrown herself behind Su Ran.
"What? You disagree?"
Su Ran crossed his arms, completely unfazed.
This was, after all, a mere defeated puppet.
And one he'd saved, no less.
"If you must blame someone, blame the incompetence of my creator.
It has nothing to do with me."
The Shogun said this with absolute confidence.
She didn't know how strong Su Ran truly was— but she knew he was far beyond her.
And she absolutely refused to let Ei's errors fall on her.
"Alright then.
We'll dump everything on Ei.
She already carries so many problems, one more won't hurt."
Compared to Ei, Su Ran was much more satisfied with the puppet.
"And you— why are you wandering around Inazuma City today?"
He rarely saw the Shogun here; she usually roamed the outskirts.
"Morax has already released the rebels.
I suspect they'll rise again within days.
And the traveler's recent efforts have stirred up quite a lot of unrest."
The Shogun was not idly patrolling outside.
She had been observing daily.
If this had been earlier, she would have simply dismissed these people as troublemakers.
But now—
Although she still thought some were troublemakers, she finally realized how many of her informants deserved to be cut down.
If dream creatures could die, her naginata would likely have claimed hundreds by now.
"I am prepared to take over once the dream collapses."
She had been waiting long enough.
Hearing this, Ayaka tensed.
Rebellion forces had only one archon and one magically overpowered Harbinger.
If both the Shogun and Ei engaged… they might not stand a chance.
"Do not worry.
I understand your concerns."
The Shogun spoke calmly.
"Mortal beings are harmful to eternity.
I will not allow mortals to remain once the dream ends."
Ayaka lowered her head.
So the Shogun had understood everything all along.
It was she herself who had been deluding herself.
"If you want, I can install a module for you— so your body can house the dream once it collapses."
Su Ran offered.
It would certainly be more convenient than keeping a machine in Tenshukaku.
"Much appreciated.
Consider this… part of my bride-price."
The Shogun accepted immediately.
"Looks like you really aren't that buggy puppet anymore."
"Silence."
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