With the joint efforts of Yae Miko and Kamisato Ayaka, the people of Inazuma were led to believe that everything that had happened was the result of the Raiden Shogun's divine might.
Soon after, soldiers of the Tenshukaku once again saw Raiden Ei seated within the palace.
That alone was enough to confirm the rumor.
Tenshukaku
Raiden Ei sat upright upon the main throne, her presence imposing and solemn.
Below her stood Kujou Sara, back straight, head held high.
At Sara's feet lay two bound figures—
The heads of the Kujou Clan and the Hiiragi Clan.
"Shogun…"
Kujou Takayuki knelt heavily, his head lowered to the ground.
"I have investigated everything."
Raiden Ei's eyes remained closed.
"Long ago, the Kujou Clan earned the right to command the Tenryou Commission through courage and steel."
"But I never imagined that their descendants would one day degenerate into colluding with the Fatui—"
"—and harming the people of Inazuma."
"You are unforgivable."
She paused, then spoke coldly:
"Sara. Take them away."
"Announce their crimes to all of Inazuma."
"Then—"
"…carry out death by a thousand cuts."
Her voice trembled ever so slightly at the final words.
Even she had never heard of such a punishment before.
The image alone—
Flesh carved away blade by blade—
Made her stomach churn.
"Shogun—Shogun, please!"
Kujou Takayuki's body shook violently.
"I have always upheld your Eternity!"
"I only wished for the Kujou Clan to eternally govern the Tenryou Commission!"
At the word Eternity, Raiden Ei visibly stiffened.
A flicker of terror passed through her eyes.
"Impudent!"
Thunder exploded across Tenshukaku.
Even Kujou Sara broke into a cold sweat and dropped to one knee.
"If not for the resistance forces of Watatsumi Island—"
"If not for Sangonomiya Kokomi—"
"I would never have known how thoroughly I was deceived!"
"You fed me false intelligence."
"You used my judgment for your selfish gain."
"Your crimes are absolute."
"Sara. Carry out the sentence."
"Yes, Shogun."
Kujou Sara accepted the order without hesitation.
She had once believed she would never see the Shogun again.
She had even prepared herself to die alongside the Kujou Clan.
But now—
Her will burned anew.
Though something about this felt off, neither Yae Miko nor the Kamisato Clan had raised objections.
Sara concluded that the issue must not be as grave as her doubts suggested.
As a tengu sworn to Narukami, she chose to personally oversee the execution.
But the Audience Saw Everything
The future Kujou Sara noticed nothing.
Neither did the condemned.
But the viewers did.
They saw the momentary fear.
They saw the trembling voice.
This new Raiden Ei, though granted immense power as Aerin's Valkyrie, was mentally unstable.
That fear—
It came from the deepest part of her soul.
Something no other Valkyrie had ever shown.
Reactions Across Teyvat
Kokomi: "A thousand cuts…?"
Xiangling: "Cutting meat one slice at a time… like cooking?"
Chongyun: "…How did cooking even come into this?"
Venti: "The fate of those who sided with the Fatui is truly horrifying."
Zhongli: "To remain conscious… blade after blade…"
Yoimiya: "That's terrifying…"
Furina: "That must be a punishment from the Fifth Descender's homeland."
Navia: "The harshest thing I've heard of was lifelong imprisonment in Meropide…"
Yelan: "Even I've never heard of something this cruel."
Cyno: "So instant obliteration is actually the kindest death. Noted."
Inazuma Falls Silent
Mondstadt's citizens had died instantly—frozen and shattered.
But Inazuma's traitors would be cut to death, piece by piece.
Just imagining it made people's legs go weak.
Kamisato Estate
"No wonder the Shogun is afraid…"
Ayaka's voice trembled.
"Kamisato-sama… Aerin's punishment is far more terrifying than anyone imagined."
Ayato said nothing.
Even he felt uneasy.
Grand Narukami Shrine
Yae Miko felt her vision darken.
This wasn't just punishment.
This was deterrence.
Aerin was making an example.
This is what happens to those who betray Inazuma.
Live on—but live in fear.
Even Raiden Ei, now a Valkyrie, showed terror.
Then—
Ei tilted her head.
"Miko… didn't Aerin say he stripped me of all authority?"
"I can still give orders, can't I?"
Miko felt her despair deepen.
This was ignorance, not freedom.
"That's not authority," she thought bitterly.
"That's him letting you finish the cleanup."
Once the executions ended—
Kokomi would take full control of the Tenryou Commission
Inazuma's military and governance would pass to her
Ei would remain in Tenshukaku
A symbol.
Nothing more.
Later
As Kujou Sara escorted the prisoners away, Raiden Ei collapsed into her seat, gasping.
"…A thousand cuts… terrifying…"
Only she knew the agony of backlash.
And compared to that—
Bella's deception no longer angered her.
What truly terrified her—
Was Aerin himself.
He loved the people.
Yet his punishments were beyond imagination.
Entering the Imaginary Space
After steadying herself, Raiden Ei opened her Imaginary Space.
She emerged into Aerin's chamber—
Where he was speaking with a silver-gray-haired young woman.
At Sea — Skirk
Skirk's eyes lit up.
"That girl… she feels oddly similar to me."
"No—just the hair."
Inside the Imaginary Space
"Bella ran?" Aerin asked calmly.
"Yes," Benelres replied.
"I circled Teyvat multiple times. Her remnants remain only in Inazuma."
"She was terrified by your strike."
"She's likely hiding—or gone entirely."
"She knows if you trace her power to its source, she'll be erased completely."
Raiden Ei's body trembled again.
Even Eula, shaping ice nearby, froze mid-spell.
"So that's Benelres…"
A New Report
Benelres glanced at Ei.
"Barbatos—no, Beelzebul. Speak if you have business."
Ei knelt deeply.
"I have carried out the execution as ordered."
"Is there anything else you require, my lord?"
Aerin didn't even look at her.
"You're done."
"Remain in Tenshukaku."
"No public appearances without my permission."
"I understand."
She withdrew, heart sinking.
Then—
"One more thing," Aerin added.
"Return to the consciousness space left behind by Raiden Makoto."
"There's something you must do."
"If you fail—"
"Commit seppuku."
Meanwhile
Benelres continued her report.
"I sensed someone flying toward Inazuma."
"Extremely powerful."
Aerin paused.
"Appearance?"
"Black hair. Tall. Black and gold robes."
Aerin smiled.
"…Morax."
"So he came on his own."
Liyue's God of Contracts.
Walking straight into the net.
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