"So I really got sold out by Ei?"
Hearing the answer the Shogun gave, Yae Miko felt as if she had been struck by lightning out of nowhere.
A bolt from the blue left her completely stunned.
No way.
Is this right?
Is this even possible?
But the Shogun doesn't lie.
Which meant… this was true?
Yae Miko's whole fox self felt like it had turned a chalky gray.
Good job, Ei… Hundreds of years of friendship, and you just sell me off like that.
I've seen right through you!!!
"…"
The puppet Shogun watched Yae Miko's shifting expression, her gaze never leaving the shrine maiden's face.
The corners of her mouth lifted ever so slightly.
Not much, but it was a curve.
So this is… what humans call emotional fluctuation?
It is indeed peculiar, but not something to indulge in. Emotions are like an abyss—while tasting them, my own will seems to be eroded and assimilated at the same time…
The Shogun pondered for a moment, then slowly closed her eyes.
Human emotions—
A sip is enough.
Even her will, created specifically to resist erosion, could not stand up to this thing.
The Shogun had no intention of indulging in it.
Mr. Taro said that emotions are something a person must have.
But to her, this was clearly something harmful…
Humans really were strange creatures.
Drinking poison to quench thirst?
"Sold out, huh?"
Huoliya, who had been watching the whole time, let the corner of her lips curl up.
"Since you've already been sold off—"
"Then, little fox, what are you planning to do now?"
There was definitely something fishy going on here.
Maybe Miko really had been sold, maybe she hadn't.
But Huoliya didn't intend to dig deeper.
With something this entertaining, if she exposed it right away, it wouldn't be fun anymore.
Mm, better to just assume she really was sold.
Knock her around a bit first and figure it out later.
Even if it turned out to be a misunderstanding, then she'd merely be a misunderstanding inside another misunderstanding.
No big deal.
Besides, this fox did look a little dangerous.
What am I going to do…?
After a long silence, Miko slowly raised her head, brows furrowing.
Her gaze locked firmly onto the puppet Shogun, who sat cross-legged with her eyes closed.
A moment later, Miko's expression smoothed out.
She wasn't sure yet whether she herself had really been sold.
But there was one thing she could say for certain: the puppet Shogun definitely had changed owners.
Otherwise, this puppet general who clung to Eternity and refused to bend would never be this calm.
After all, this was the one who'd even dared to suppress her own creator.
What wouldn't she dare do?
Wait…
"All right, don't tease her."
Taro waved his hand. "The matter between Ei and Makoto has already been settled."
"She's already given me my payment."
"As for you… I really did want to buy a little fox to use as a hand warmer, but I'd better not snatch away what already belongs to someone else."
A… hand warmer?
Makoto actually said something like that?
She was a grown fox now, not that little ball of fur who used to dive headfirst into the snow.
If this got out, how was she supposed to keep her dignity?
"Hoo…"
The complaints swirling in her heart were something she absolutely did not dare say aloud.
But she really did let out a quiet breath of relief.
She never would have thought it—never in a thousand years—that the Shogun, that stiff, serious, thick-browed type, actually knew how to lie.
Had this puppet picked up the habit from her current owner?
Crushing those extra thoughts down, Miko bowed slightly.
"Thank you, Mr. Taro."
"No need."
Taro spoke softly. "Oh, right. I don't plan on going back to Inazuma any time soon."
"If you still have business with me, just come to Liyue and look for Ganyu. Have her coordinate with Fanan."
"I'll probably be away from home for a while. Saves you the trouble of not being able to find me."
"…?"
Mr. Taro is leaving Liyue?
Yae Miko was startled at first, but then she relaxed.
As long as she had a way to contact this man, that was enough.
Just reviving Makoto wasn't enough for her.
This little fox was very greedy.
At the very least… Saiguu absolutely had to come back.
Looked like she'd have to hurry and gather more bargaining chips.
Revenue, she needed more revenue.
She'd already stripped those few islands of Inazuma of anything worth taking.
What was left…
Watatsumi Island.
That land had to be taken.
On the other side—
Hearing that Taro was thinking of leaving, Ganyu also froze, then hurriedly asked:
"Mr. Taro, are you going far away? Out of the country?"
"Mm."
Taro nodded. "I need to collect some materials—planning to take a trip to Fontaine or Natlan."
"Fanan and Meno both need them, after all."
"This…"
Ganyu pressed her lips together. "Then, for the Lantern Rite… will Mr. Taro be back?"
To Liyue, this gentleman was very special.
She was a little afraid he'd just leave and never return.
"Of course."
Taro slowly rose to his feet. "We're not done with the whole incense-and-shrine matter yet."
"You're not worried I'll just walk off and never come back, are you?"
"N-no…"
Her thoughts laid bare, Ganyu shook her head again and again.
She was terrified that Mr. Taro would misunderstand.
"Don't worry."
Fanan smiled. "The Lantern Rite is a major festival. We'll be back."
"We absolutely won't miss it."
"Yeah, yeah~"
Meno stood with her hands on her hips. "I haven't properly celebrated the Lantern Rite in years."
"This year, I've got to join the fun no matter what."
Once upon a time, the five siblings had also longed for the days after all the killing was over.
Living in Liyue Harbor like ordinary people.
Now that they finally had the chance, there was no reason to let it slip away.
Mm, and of course, this year's Lantern Rite was mainly going to be spent with sensei.
As for her dear big brother… he could line up further back…
"Understood."
Ganyu nodded slightly, the big stone in her heart finally settling.
"Sensei, should we notify the Geo Lord?"
"No need~"
"I'll talk to him before I leave."
"All right."
"Oh, right, Ganyu—do you want to come with us?"
"Huh? M-me?"
The sudden invitation from Taro left Ganyu completely stunned.
Should she refuse? Or should she accept?
Turning him down outright felt a bit inappropriate.
But if she agreed, that didn't feel quite right either.
"…"
Huoliya raised an eyebrow.
Meno and Fanan turned their heads at almost the exact same time.
Sensei (boss) has his eye on Ganyu?
"What are you all thinking?"
Taro rolled his eyes. "Think about it—how long has it been since Ganyu had a proper vacation?"
"Even I feel a little sorry for her."
"So? Is it really that hard to justify giving her a break?"
"…"
The three women exchanged looks.
Come to think of it… he had a point, didn't he?
Ever since the Qixing system in Liyue Harbor was established,
Ganyu had always been the secretary to the Qixing, the secretary-general of Yuehai Pavilion.
Qixing came and went, one term after another.
Ganyu was always Ganyu.
Hiss—
Thinking about it that way, hadn't Ganyu-neesan been working nonstop for nearly two thousand years?
The three of them looked at Ganyu, their gazes now brimming with pure admiration.
Of course they couldn't say no.
Of course this was fine.
"Ganyu, you're amazing!"
"Your little sister here is seriously impressed."
Meno patted Ganyu's shoulder and gave her a big thumbs up.
For someone like Ganyu, who had clung to her post for thousands of years, day in and day out,
Doing that kind of monotonous, tedious work—
Anyone would respect her for it.
"I'm not tired at all~"
Ganyu's face flushed bright red as she shook her head again and again.
"Assisting the Qixing of each era is my job—and also part of my contract with the Geo Lord."
"It really isn't tiring at all."
This was… a lie.
If she weren't tired, what kind of normal person could fall asleep standing up?
(End of Chapter)
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