Thank you for your Patreonage, Mr. Hrabia~!
Chapter 2. Miko, where is my Gnosis?
Futsu Mitama had no clear reference for what "legendary kitchenware" truly meant within Teyvat's standards, but one thing he understood without question—anything obtained through the sign-in system was never ordinary. Even the most seemingly mundane items often carried value far beyond their surface appearance.
Yet Raiden Ei was clearly not in the mood to appreciate such nuances.
A faint displeasure lingered on her face, subtle but unmistakable. The result she had hoped for—the special husk doll—had not appeared. And that single absence outweighed everything else.
Yes, she could now speak with Raiden Makoto through the Chat Group. Yes, she had confirmation that her sister still existed in some form. But to Ei, none of that was enough.
Words on a screen could never replace presence.
What she wanted was not conversation.
She wanted Makoto…standing beside her.
A quiet sigh escaped her lips. For a brief moment, a sharp glint passed through her eyes, the kind that only appeared when her resolve solidified.
"Once Inazuma is stable," she said calmly, her tone already carrying the weight of a decision, "I will go to Sumeru. The World Tree…even if it proves troublesome, for Makoto's sake, it is worth the risk."
There was no hesitation in her conclusion.
Zhongli's words alone were enough. If he had spoken, then the probability was already overwhelmingly high. Whether seventy percent or eighty percent certainty made little difference—Ei would treat it as truth.
If the key material truly lay there, then she would obtain it. And if obtaining it required force—then so be it.
In truth, she had already studied the special husk doll before. Zhongli had once allowed her to examine it, precisely because of this matter. With her own mastery of forging, she had immediately recognized just how extraordinary that construct was. At the time, she had even considered creating a similar vessel for herself—one that would allow her to walk the mortal realm more freely.
But now…such thoughts had long been cast aside.
Compared to Makoto's return, everything else was secondary.
Futsu Mitama's expression stiffened slightly at her words. He quickly stepped in, tone turning more serious than before.
"Sumeru isn't urgent right now," he said, cutting into her train of thought. "Makoto and Maha Rukkhadevata have already discussed this. The situation there isn't simple."
He paused briefly, making sure his words carried weight.
"You're the Raiden Shogun. If you act without fully understanding what's happening in Sumeru, there's real risk involved."
That wasn't exaggeration.
The World Tree was no ordinary existence. According to Maha Rukkhadevata, it was currently tainted by forbidden knowledge—something so dangerous that even she, as its incarnation, could barely suppress it, and only with the assistance of the Chat Group.
If Ei were to charge in blindly, cut down what she believed to be the "material," and expose herself to that corruption—The consequences would be catastrophic.
Inazuma, having just reached the brink of renewal, could collapse all over again in an instant.
For a fleeting moment, Raiden Ei almost spoke.
The familiar words rose to her lips—
There is nothing in this world that can harm me.
But they never left her mouth. Because another image surfaced in her mind.
Maha Rukkhadevata.
The one who should have been equally untouchable—now struggling, weakened, barely holding herself together.
The words dissolved before they could take form.
Silence lingered for a second, then quietly, Raiden Ei closed her mouth. The sharp certainty from earlier softened—not gone, but restrained.
She would not act recklessly.
Not this time.
"Then this matter can wait," she said at last, her voice returning to its usual calm.
With that, her gaze shifted.
The golden glow within the Plane of Euthymia drew her attention once more—the set of kitchenware still resting there, quietly radiating a refined, almost elegant aura.
For something she had not wanted, it was—undeniably well-crafted.
Raiden Ei studied it in silence, her expression slipping into contemplation.
"So…" she murmured slowly, "this set of items…"
Within the Plane of Euthymia, it was as if a quiet thought passed through Raiden Ei's mind—what exactly should she do with these items?
Even for a god like her, she could not help but feel a trace of astonishment toward what the sign-in had produced. The set of kitchenware resting before her was clearly no ordinary object. The faint golden radiance shimmering across its surface carried a subtle, unfamiliar power, something that did not belong to the conventional systems of Teyvat.
No wonder everyone in the Chat Group was so curious about sign-in rewards. Now that she had seen it herself, the reason was obvious.
Futsu Mitama naturally understood what she was thinking. After a brief pause, he suggested, "Why don't we tell everyone in the group? Items obtained through sign-in should probably be shared. There might be hidden value we haven't noticed."
Raiden Ei hesitated for a fleeting moment. Her expression remained calm, but there was a slight pause in her response. However, when she recalled how Guizhong had unconditionally provided the special husk doll for research, and how Sangonomiya Kokomi had contributed condensed resin without reservation, her hesitation gradually faded.
In the end, she gave a small nod. Perhaps…this item truly held some hidden significance.
With that thought, she shifted her focus back to the Chat Group and began to report the result.
[Raiden Makoto: "How is it? Did you sign in successfully? How much experience? It's normal not to get an item on the first sign-in."]
[Azhdaha: "Actually, is there a possibility that your sister signed in for it?"]
[Yae Miko: "I do hope Ei can sign in for an item. After all, if she doesn't get one this time, it might be difficult next time."]
[Yae Miko: "Sigh~ When will the luck item be created, @Albedo."]
[Albedo: "Stop rushing, stop rushing. It will take some time to create an item that affects luck. If it were for ordinary people, I could expedite it—but are there any ordinary people in this Chat Group?"]
[Kuki Shinobu: "Me."]
[Kamisato Ayaka: "I should be considered an ordinary person, right~"]
[Keqing: "Although I am one of the Liyue Qixing, I feel I'm similar to ordinary people."]
[Venti: "Actually, I also feel I am~"]
[Azhdaha: "Barbatos, have some shame."]
[Guizhong: "So, is there a result from the sign-in? I'm quite curious about that."]
[Futsu Mitama: "An item was signed in."]
[Raiden Ei: "Mm."]
[Raiden Makoto: "What is it? [Curious]."]
[Zhongli: "+1."]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "+2."]
[Venti: "+3."]
[Yae Miko: "Stop adding numbers. Ei, just tell us—what is it?"]
[Raiden Ei: "A complete set of legendary kitchenwares."]
[Raiden Makoto: "?"]
[Yae Miko: "Pfft!"]
[Sangonomiya Kokomi: "What's wrong? Isn't that a good thing?"]
[Kamisato Ayaka: "Why is Guuji-sama laughing?"]
[Kuki Shinobu: "I have a bad feeling."]
[Yae Miko: "It's nothing, it's nothing. I didn't laugh. I just subconsciously typed 'pfft.' Everyone, don't overthink it."]
[Raiden Ei: "..."]
[Zhongli: "Interesting. A complete set of legendary kitchenwares. What does the description say?"]
[Venti: "Legendary kitchenwares, huh? Can they make particularly delicious food? Just thinking about it makes my heart flutter!"]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "Items from the Chat Group are always high-quality. Something labeled 'legendary' must be extraordinary."]
[Raiden Ei: "The description says they can make the food prepared even more delicious, and the more skilled the chef, the greater their effectiveness. Furthermore, if their full potential is perfectly unleashed, the food may gain special effects."]
[Futsu Mitama: "Special effects?"]
[Aila: "Xiangling would probably love this item."]
[Shenhe: "My master might also be interested in this set of legendary kitchenwares."]
[Keqing: "Special effects? What kind of special effects?"]
[Zhongli: "Interesting."]
[Venti: "Beelzebub, why don't you try cooking something?"]
[Maha Rukkhadevata: "Special effects… what kind of effects? I'm getting curious."]
[Raiden Makoto: "Alas… that may be true, but it's a pity."]
[Guizhong: "A pity? Why a pity?"]
[Raiden Ei: "I don't care about this matter right now. @Yae Miko."]
[Yae Miko: "What is it? Are you going to try to cut me again?!"]
[Raiden Ei: "Put the cooking utensils aside for now. Come to the Plane of Euthymia. I have something to discuss with you."]
[Yae Miko: "How can I get in? I'm still being—by the Raiden Shogun—Eh?!"]
Before the message could even finish sending, the answer came in the most direct way possible.
Within the Plane of Euthymia, Yae Miko was abruptly pulled in.
Futsu Mitama looked at her in mild surprise. She appeared slightly disheveled, as though she had just escaped pursuit. It was not difficult to imagine—while she had been casually chatting in the group, the Raiden Shogun had likely been "greeting" her quite enthusiastically.
"Oh my, oh my~ I finally made it in," Yae Miko said with a soft smile, quickly regaining her composure.
For hundreds of years, Raiden Ei had avoided her. Entering the Plane of Euthymia had always been out of reach. Back then, when she first encountered Futsu Mitama, she had even prepared a contingency—hiding a fragment of her will inside a brocade pouch, intending to use it as a backdoor entry.
Yet now, Ei had personally brought her in.
"Mm." Raiden Ei looked at her, a faint trace of nostalgia flickering across her eyes. Though she had observed Yae Miko through the Shogun countless times, this was their first true face-to-face meeting in a century.
Yae Miko was just about to speak—and then her gaze fell upon the neatly arranged, golden-glowing kitchenware.
"Pfft—"
She couldn't hold it in.
The laughter slipped out before she could stop herself.
Yae Miko had originally intended to ask why she had been summoned, yet the moment her gaze fell upon the neatly arranged set of cooking utensils resting on the ground within the Plane of Euthymia, her words caught in her throat. A brief silence passed—and then she burst into laughter.
It wasn't without reason. Both she and Raiden Makoto understood Raiden Ei's cooking ability far too well.
Futsu Mitama, of course, also knew—but wisely chose to remain silent.
After all, how should one even begin to describe it? Take Hu Tao for example—one of the only individuals capable of producing dishes so "unique" they bordered on the incomprehensible. Even she had once relied on her signature creation to knock Yae Miko unconscious.
So then— what kind of result would emerge if Raiden Ei—famously the only person utterly incapable of cooking—were to attempt to "defy the heavens"?
It was almost unnecessary to imagine. Makoto, as her elder sister, and Yae Miko, as her longtime attendant, clearly knew more than enough.
That was precisely why one remained silent…while the other laughed without restraint.
"Zzzzt—!"
A sharp crackle of electricity split the air. Violet lightning flickered across Raiden Ei's eyes, and the Musou Isshin in her grasp released a suffocating pressure.
The message was unmistakable.
Say one more word—and she would not hesitate to strike.
Of course, whether such a strike would land was another matter entirely. With Yae Miko's abilities, evasion was practically instinct. In truth, while her direct combat strength might not rival the foremost among Archons, her ability to escape was something else entirely.
"Alright, alright, no more jokes."
Sensing the shift in atmosphere, Yae Miko swiftly restrained her laughter, smoothing her expression as if nothing had happened. With a faint smile, she asked, "So? You called me here for something important?"
Seeing that the topic would not be pushed further, Raiden Ei lowered Musou Isshin in silence. Her expression returned to its usual calm as she spoke evenly, "It's simple. The aftermath."
Her gaze sharpened slightly. "The Resistance. The Shogunate Army. You already have a plan, don't you? And the Tenryou Commission… how do you intend to deal with it?"
With that, the tone of the conversation shifted. What had begun as a moment of levity settled into something far more grounded—governance, consequence, and the future of Inazuma itself.
Although the Raiden Shogun had previously declared that all matters would be handled by the Okuzume, Ei understood the limitations of that arrangement. The Okuzume were elite in combat, unquestioning in obedience—but governance had never been their role. Administration, policy, civil order—those responsibilities had always rested in the hands of the Tri-Commission.
"Mm. Everything's already been arranged."
Yae Miko nodded lightly, her expression relaxed, though her eyes held something sharper beneath the surface. "The Resistance? They're ours. The moment you revoke the Sakoku Decree and the Vision Hunt Decree, they'll dissolve on their own."
"At most, Watatsumi Island has gathered a number of capable fighters. But once the nation reopens, fighters won't be what Inazuma needs. It will need people who can rebuild—farmers, fishermen, craftsmen."
She let out a soft, almost playful hum. "As for the Tenryou Commission and the Shogunate Army— hmph. Do you really think Inazuma lacks replacements?"
Her lips curved in a smile—but there was no warmth in it.
Because this matter had already crossed her bottom line.
Kujou Takayuki might have been foolish—but not irredeemably so. Yet his decision to collude with the Fatui had gone far beyond mere incompetence. It had directly forced both Futsu Mitama and Yae Miko to return prematurely, derailing their plans.
Worse still, it had led to her ambush at the hands of Il Dottore—and the loss of the Electro Gnosis.
That alone was enough to strip the Kujou Clan of their authority.
Whether through deception or arrogance, the consequences remained the same. His actions had invited disaster upon Inazuma.
Had it not been for the long-standing contributions of the Kujou Clan—and for Kujou Sara's capability as a general—Yae Miko would have long since reduced them from nobility to commoners, forcing them to rebuild everything from nothing.
"…."
A faint hesitation flickered through Raiden Ei's gaze. She shook her head slowly, her voice calm yet resolute. "Not yet."
"The Tenryou Commission will remain under the Kujou Clan—for now. These are unstable times. Let them atone through service. When Inazuma stabilizes, we can revisit the matter."
Yae Miko studied her for a moment, then blinked lightly. She understood immediately—Ei had softened.
She did not press further.
Instead, she shifted the discussion smoothly. "Then the rest is simple. The real issue lies elsewhere."
"How do you restore livelihoods?"
"And more importantly… how do you repair Inazuma's reputation?"
A faint pause followed.
"You may not realize it," she continued, her tone growing quieter, "but Inazuma's reputation is already on the verge of collapse. Even if trade resumes, few will be willing to engage with us."
Raiden Ei frowned slightly, confusion surfacing in her expression. "Explain."
Yae Miko did not hesitate.
She began outlining, piece by piece, the "achievements" of the Kanjou Commission and the Tenryou Commission. Naturally, the story began with the International Chamber of Commerce.
The policies enforced at the time had dealt them a heavy blow. Though the merchants maintained polite facades, resentment had long since taken root beneath the surface.
The former head of the Hiiragi Clan had been removed—but Hiiragi Chisato, the new head, lacked the authority and decisiveness to truly resolve the situation. At best, she could stabilize the common populace. Beneath her, the nobility maneuvered for their own interests, each pursuing private gain.
The result was a fragile balance.
In Ritou, life for ordinary citizens had indeed improved—slightly.
But for foreign merchants, the situation remained only marginally better than before.
"And when the Sakoku Decree is lifted," Yae Miko concluded, "if this remains unresolved, those merchants will return home and speak."
"And once they do—the consequences will speak for themselves."
She didn't need to elaborate further.
The implication was clear.
Reputation, once tarnished, was far harder to restore than any decree.
Raiden Ei fell silent. Her expression grew complicated, thoughts shifting beneath the surface—but in the end, she said nothing.
Because for Yae Miko to speak so thoroughly—and so directly—could only mean one thing: she and Raiden Makoto had already devised a solution.
It was simply that Raiden Ei had never anticipated the Sakoku Decree she issued would ripple outward to this extent, entangling so many layers of Inazuma's stability.
Yae Miko did not stop there. She continued, one point after another, laying out the accumulated issues of the past several centuries as if she intended to present them all in a single sitting. There was no attempt to soften the blow—only a steady, deliberate unfolding of reality.
To the side, Futsu Mitama simply watched, a faint smile on his face as the scene played out.
This, in truth, was far more realistic.
The damage wrought by the Sakoku Decree was never something that could be undone with a single command. If this were merely a story within a game, perhaps the Raiden Shogun could lift her hand, revoke the decree, and restore prosperity overnight—but reality did not function so conveniently.
These were systemic fractures. They required time, patience, and careful reconstruction.
Fortunately, the decree had only persisted for a year or two. Had it endured longer, the consequences would have been far more entrenched—beyond the reach of simple correction.
Within the Plane of Euthymia, the discussion between Yae Miko and Raiden Ei deepened.
Yae Miko's smile grew ever more radiant as she spoke, yet the light in her eyes sharpened with each passing moment. In contrast, Raiden Ei's expression gradually stilled, her silence deepening—not from indifference, but from the weight of realization pressing down upon her.
She had not expected this.
Not to this degree.
At one point, it seemed as though she might retreat inward once more, withdrawing into that familiar stillness she had clung to for centuries.
Yet even so, there was a difference now.
According to Yae Miko, the Sakoku Decree alone was not solely responsible for the scale of the damage. The deeper issue lay within the Tri-Commission itself—two of its branches had harbored ulterior motives, twisting policy into something far more harmful than originally intended.
That, more than anything, had allowed the situation to spiral.
"I understand now."
After a long silence, Raiden Ei drew in a slow breath. When she spoke again, her voice carried a sincerity rarely heard before.
"You've shouldered much over these past years, Miko."
It was not a casual remark. It was gratitude—genuine, unguarded.
Yae Miko let out a soft laugh, waving it off lightly. "No trouble at all."
Yet inwardly, she was thoroughly satisfied. To lay everything bare in one go…to see Raiden Ei forced into silence, into reflection—that alone made the years of effort worthwhile.
After all, she was the wise and beautiful Lady Yae Miko.
Understanding a problem did not mean she had any intention of handling every tedious detail herself. If she were ever reduced to the same daily burdens as Sangonomiya Kokomi—endlessly processing logistics, governance, and reports—then she would truly consider drastic measures just to drag Ei out of seclusion.
Because if it ever reached that point—Inazuma would already be teetering on collapse.
"Mm."
Seeing Yae Miko's relaxed smile, Raiden Ei exhaled softly. It was as if some invisible weight had finally lifted from her shoulders.
Then, her tone shifted.
"I brought you into the Plane of Euthymia not only to discuss these matters."
Her gaze steadied, becoming far more focused.
"There is something else. Something important—that I need you to handle."
Yae Miko blinked, a flicker of confusion passing through her eyes. For Ei to summon her here specifically for this—whatever it was, it could not be trivial.
"What is it?" she asked, curiosity sharpening beneath her calm demeanor.
Raiden Ei did not hesitate.
"My Gnosis."
She spoke the words evenly.
And for the first time since entering, Yae Miko's smile froze.