Chapter 3. Ei Heads to Snezhnaya
"The Gnosis."
Raiden Ei extended her hand, her voice calm yet absolute as she requested the Gnosis from Yae Miko.
The smile on Yae Miko's lips vanished instantly. Her expression stiffened, her thoughts halting for a fleeting moment, as though even she did not know how to respond.
Raiden Ei did not notice this subtle abnormality. In her eyes, Yae Miko's reaction was nothing more than deliberate mischief.
Perhaps she intended to make her believe the Gnosis had been lost—or had gone missing.
Raiden Ei was naturally aware that Yae Miko did not carry the Gnosis on her person at this moment. However, she did not believe that, with Yae Miko's capabilities, such an item could truly be lost.
Even if one sought to sell it for an exorbitant price—who in this world could afford such a thing?
Both Raiden Ei and Yae Miko understood the value of a Gnosis all too well. One must not be misled by Venti's casual act of handing his over to Futsu Mitama.
What schemes lay behind that act—could Raiden Ei possibly be unaware? Even within the Plane of Euthymia, she could almost hear the faint clatter of his calculations.
In exchange for a future successor—one who also possessed the mysterious Chat Group—The potential of such an individual was nothing short of terrifying.
And with such potential, the nation he would one day govern was destined for prosperity.
It was precisely for this reason that Raiden Makoto and Azhdaha had often scorned Venti's shamelessness—seeking to secure such a successor at so trivial a cost.
As for why Raiden Ei now demanded the Gnosis from Yae Miko, the reason was simple.
It was to entrust it to Futsu Mitama.
Futsu Mitama's current strength was already formidable. Should he fight without restraint, he would surpass Yae Miko by more than double.
This was the conclusion reached by the Shogun after personally testing his power.
Yet strength alone was not the deciding factor. More importantly—
How could it be acceptable for him to wield the Anemo Gnosis? Hmph
As the dignified guardian of eternity, he should command the authority of thunder itself.
He must wield the Electro Gnosis. How could he continue to use the Anemo Gnosis?
It was for this reason that Raiden Ei intended to retrieve it.
"This… that… ah~"
Yae Miko covered her face, her composure wavering. If this had been three or four hours ago—or even an hour and a half earlier—
She would have smiled, produced the Gnosis without hesitation, and placed it into Ei's hand, watching as it was bestowed upon Futsu Mitama. With that, she could have declared, without reservation, within the Chat Group—
That Futsu Mitama was the rightful successor to Inazuma's Electro Archon.
After all, the inheritance, the authority, and the Gnosis—
Would that not complete the triad?
But now—
She no longer possessed it.
Originally, she had intended to report this matter to Raiden Ei once Inazuma's situation had stabilized. Yet she had not expected that, the moment Ei entered the Chat Group and encountered Maha Rukkhadevata, suspicion would arise—prompting her to demand the Gnosis immediately.
"?"
Seeing Yae Miko's reaction, Raiden Ei's brows furrowed slightly.
"Yae Miko, cease your pretense," she said evenly. "There is no need to rush to witness my impatience. For I am already anxious regarding Raiden Makoto's resurrection."
A trace of displeasure surfaced within her voice. She had already made herself clear—yet the Gnosis was still not presented.
"Actually… regarding the Gnosis…"
Yae Miko exhaled softly, her tone tinged with helplessness.
"It was taken."
"?"
Raiden Ei's gaze sharpened.
"I do not believe it."
She understood Yae Miko's capabilities all too well. If Yae Miko wished to escape, even she would require effort to pursue her. To seize the Gnosis from her hands—such a feat demanded strength at least comparable to her own.
And for beings of such a level, the Gnosis held little necessity. Should anyone dare contend for it so shamelessly—They would first have to consider whether her blade was sharp enough.
Moreover, Yae Miko possessed the secret art to summon her. In any life-threatening situation, she would undoubtedly call upon her aid. If one of similar strength attempted such a theft—The act would be no different from challenging an Archon directly.
Yae Miko sighed once more, fatigue faintly surfacing in her expression. For a moment, even she seemed uncertain how to explain.
"… "
Silence lingered.
Seconds passed.
Raiden Ei's expression gradually darkened.
"Who?"
At last, she accepted the possibility.
"The Fatui's Second Harbinger."
Yae Miko answered, her tone restrained.
"Il Dottore. He is… a most calculating individual. Under normal circumstances, I would never have relinquished the Gnosis."
"But he chose his moment well."
"He seized my lifeline. And under such pressure—I had no choice but to yield it."
Under ordinary conditions, Dottore could neither threaten Yae Miko nor interfere with Sangonomiya Kokomi.
Yet the battlefield had shifted. The Resistance stood strong, while the Shogunate Army faltered.
With Dottore's intervention, the advantage reversed entirely. The Shogunate forces suffered a crushing defeat. Then—
He captured Sangonomiya Kokomi.
With her life as leverage, Yae Miko was forced into a choice.
Refuse—and Kokomi would die.
And with her death, the Resistance would lose its leader, plunging into chaos. Their fury would inevitably fall upon the Shogunate, who had aligned with the Fatui.
Inazuma would descend into true disorder.
That was a future Yae Miko would not allow.
Thus, she handed over the Gnosis.
And in return—Kokomi lived.
Dottore, having achieved his aim, withdrew without hesitation. Along the way, he retrieved Scaramouche from Futsu Mitama's side.
His decisiveness revealed everything.
He knew—That the Electro Archon would pursue this matter.
"… "
Raiden Ei fell silent.
Yet both Futsu Mitama and Yae Miko understood—Her anger was not absent.
It was accumulating.
She knew Yae Miko's nature. For her to relinquish the Gnosis so decisively—The circumstances must have been dire.
There was no negligence to blame.
For centuries, Yae Miko had borne the burdens of Inazuma in her stead.
Thus—Her wrath found another target.
The Fatui. And Il Dottore.
"I will return shortly."
Raiden Ei's voice grew cold, a faint glint of lightning flickering within her eyes.
"Yae Miko. Futsu Mitama. You will handle the remaining matters."
With a single motion, the gate to the Plane of Euthymia unfolded.
In the next instant, both were expelled from that realm.
When they regained their bearings, they were already within Inazuma City.
The transition—Instantaneous.
Raiden Ei herself had already become a streak of violet lightning, vanishing toward a distant horizon.
"This—"
Yae Miko watched her departure, lips slightly parted, before exhaling with quiet resignation.
She turned toward Futsu Mitama.
"Little one—do you believe the Gnosis can still be retrieved?"
Earlier, neither she nor the Chat Group had spoken of this matter.
Clearly, they all understood Dottore's cunning.
Even Maha Rukkhadevata had remarked upon the precision of his timing.
Too early—or too late—and the outcome would have differed entirely.
Yae Miko agreed. He had acted at the exact moment when both she and Kokomi were at their weakest.
Even when reinforcements arrived, he did not linger.
He took the Gnosis—
And left. Without hesitation.
From that alone, it was clear—He was no ordinary opponent.
"Difficult."
Futsu Mitama shook his head slightly. Unless Raiden Ei pursued him without cease—Retrieving the Gnosis would be unlikely.
And beyond that—The Tsaritsa's designs were already in motion.
Tacitly acknowledged by Venti and Zhongli alike.
Even Raiden Makoto and Maha Rukkhadevata, though long departed, seemed to have foreseen this—and chosen silence.
In other words—Raiden Ei would likely not reclaim the Electro Gnosis.
But neither—Would Snezhnaya emerge unscathed.
"At the very least—some of Il Dottore's segments will inevitably fall."
"That was my thought as well." Yae Miko nodded lightly.
She stretched languidly, her gaze sweeping across the familiar surroundings. A soft chuckle escaped her lips.
"However, since Ei has already sent us back—Then I should return to the Grand Narukami Shrine. A mountain of affairs awaits the Guuji's attention."
Futsu Mitama cast her a peculiar glance, as though about to speak—yet ultimately remained silent.
For when Yae Miko spoke of her "burdens," the smile hidden within her eyes was impossible to conceal.
It was evident—Her so-called duties were but an excuse.
Compared to the chaos of the Resistance, the Grand Narukami Shrine was a far more…comfortable domain.
There, she need only review the critical matters before delegating them at will—And then, naturally, indulge in leisure.
At the same time, she extended an invitation to Futsu Mitama, suggesting he accompany her back to the shrine. After all, he was presently unoccupied—he might as well keep her company.
Indeed, the conflict between the Resistance and the Shogunate had come to a temporary halt. The greatest internal upheaval within Inazuma—Raiden Ei herself—had also been resolved.
What followed would be a period of recovery.
Futsu Mitama, too, found himself momentarily without obligation.
Yet in the face of Yae Miko's invitation—He refused.
That cunning fox would never extend such an offer without ulterior intent. Given the slightest opportunity, she would undoubtedly burden him with work.
Thus, within Inazuma City, the two parted ways.
Yae Miko claimed she would return to the Grand Narukami Shrine—Yet the direction of her steps led unmistakably toward Yae Publishing House.
As for Futsu Mitama, he found a modest food stall, ordered several snacks, and reported his safety within the Chat Group.
He informed them that both he and the Guuji had been returned safely to Inazuma City by Raiden Ei.
Aila replied that she, along with her senior sister and Kuki Shinobu, would arrive as swiftly as possible, asking him to wait patiently.
Kamisato Ayaka stated that she would depart immediately from the Kamisato Estate and head toward the city.
Sangonomiya Kokomi expressed her envy—her responsibilities still bound her. Once the Shogun formally announced the abolition of the Sakoku Decree and the Vision Hunt Decree—The Resistance would soon disband.
Preparations had to be made in advance.
The Chat Group buzzed with discussion—Yet none spoke of Raiden Ei's pursuit toward Snezhnaya to reclaim the Electro Gnosis.
The reason was simple.
Those who dared to speak… did not.
And those who did not dare—Remained silent.
Even Venti merely chuckled, deliberately avoiding any mention of the Gnosis in Futsu Mitama's possession—lest he provoke Raiden Ei into waging war without restraint.
Freed from immediate concerns, Futsu Mitama joined the conversation more actively.
Then—A presence approached.
He lifted his gaze instinctively. At first, he saw only a large, dark silhouette—reminiscent of a black Slime.
Then, as his eyes rose further—He met the gaze of Kujou Sara.
Her expression carried a trace of surprise.
"Futsu Mitama—why are you here?"
Her voice was steady, yet tinged with confusion. By all reasoning, he should still be on the battlefield. How, then, had he returned to Inazuma City?
Could it be—That the war had already ended? But such a conclusion seemed impossible. Her father had assembled elite forces, bolstered by the Fatui. Even with Futsu Mitama and Yae Miko present—
To conclude the war within mere days?
Unthinkable.
Unless—The Shogun herself had intervened.
Kujou Sara's thoughts deepened. For in her mind, only one explanation remained:
The war was over.
That was why Futsu Mitama, the future guardian of eternity, could now sit at ease, enjoying simple street fare.
"Sara, sit. Have something to eat."
Futsu Mitama spoke calmly, unsurprised by her presence. Kujou Sara nodded and took a seat beside him, though the doubt in her eyes remained.
"What transpired on the front lines? Why have you returned?"
Futsu Mitama lifted a skewer of tri-colored dango, taking a measured bite before answering.
"The Shogunate Army suffered a crushing defeat. The Resistance claimed complete victory. The Shogun intervened—but Yae Miko and I stopped her."
"She has now resolved to abolish both the Sakoku Decree and the Vision Hunt Decree. The orders will be issued soon. In other words—"
"It is over."
"What follows will be reform. As a general of the Shogunate, you will likely find your burdens increased."
Shock surfaced upon Kujou Sara's face.
Though she had suspected as much—The reality was difficult to accept.
Not even three days had passed.
And yet—Defeat?
How could the Shogunate Army fall so completely?
Those were the elites of Inazuma—How could they collapse so utterly?
"Explain it to me in detail. How did the Shogunate Army fall?"
Her voice sharpened—not with denial, but with resolve. The outcome no longer concerned her.
With Futsu Mitama and Yae Miko present—and with the Shogun's authority involved—Victory had already been decided.
But the cause—That, she needed to understand.
"This—"
Futsu Mitama fell silent. For a moment, even he hesitated.
Kujou Takayuki—her adoptive father.
Had it been anyone else, he would have spoken without restraint, exposing every misstep and folly.
But before Kujou Sara—
He paused.
Should he tell her the truth?
That her father's blind trust in the Fatui had led the Shogunate to ruin—And even cost them the Gnosis?
Such truth—Would crush anyone who heard it.
"I can bear it."
Kujou Sara's voice cut through his hesitation.
She had already understood.
"Very well."
Seeing her resolve, Futsu Mitama began recounting the events of the battlefield.
—
Far to the north—
In Snezhnaya—Snow fell without end.
On this day, the Fatui Harbinger La Signora returned.
A rare occurrence.
She had come to lead her forces in suppressing abyssal creatures.
Yet her mood—Was far from calm.
The incident in Mondstadt—where Futsu Mitama had nearly claimed her life—Had spread throughout the Fatui.
Her near death was secondary.What truly mattered—was that she had nearly implicated Snezhnaya itself.
Tsaritsa had not punished her.
For she had acted in ignorance.
And the Anemo Archon had indeed been present.
It was merely—That the Nameless Island was now suspected to be under the gaze of—something beyond. To approach it rashly—Was to invite calamity.
Thus, the operation against Mondstadt had been halted. The plan to seize the Anemo Gnosis would resume only after Barbatos emerged.
Though unpunished, La Signora understood her failure. And so, with neither Liyue nor Inazuma requiring her presence—She volunteered to guard against the Abyss for a year.
Afterward—She would return.
And take the Gnosis.
"Futsu Mitama…"
Her voice was low, seething with restrained fury.
"Futsu Mitama…"
Hatred coiled within her chest.
Yet she could not act. The contract had been witnessed by Zhongli.
Absolute. Unassailable.
Still—She had already resolved—Once she returned to Mondstadt—She would kill him.
No one—
Not even the Raiden Shogun—
Would save him.
"Boom—!!"
A thunderous roar shattered the heavens. A vast, indescribable divine pressure descended.
La Signora's body trembled.
She lifted her gaze sharply, disbelief flashing across her eyes.
"Has the Raiden Shogun… lost her reason?!"
"Buzz—!!!"
A bolt of thunder cleaved the sky. Though not the Musou no Hitotachi—It was still a divine strike imbued with unrestrained wrath.
La Signora's heart tightened. Even had she wished to intervene—It was already too late.
"Crack—!"
The very air froze.
Tsaritsa rose into the heavens, weapon in hand. With a single motion—A colossal spear of ice formed and collided with the descending thunder.
"Beelzebub… why?"
Her voice, cold as eternal winter, echoed across the frozen expanse.
Opposite her—Raiden Ei stood amidst the storm. Raiden Ei gripped Engulfing Lightning, violet radiance surging within her eyes.
Her voice fell—
"Hand over the Gnosis."
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