Themis clutched Furina to herself, keeping a wary eye on players who dared try to steal her wife.
Especially CatCatEatsNoMedicine, who after realizing her role had been cut from HI3, had returned to Genshin Impact and was now manipulating Furina to constantly evade.
Hearing Furina's voice inviting the Traveler to go shopping and eat cake, Themis felt her heart churn with bitter jealousy.
How despicable! She's so sour!
In the bedroom at the top of Palais Mermonia, Themis held Furina, growing increasingly angry.
Under Focalors' bewildered gaze, she suddenly stood up and lifted Furina into her arms.
Seeing Furina asleep in Themis' embrace as they headed toward the neighboring bedroom, Focalors instinctively placed a hand protectively over her waist.
Focalors spoke in a pleading tone, "Could you be gentler? I have work tomorrow."
Themis widened her eyes, her gaze pure and innocent, with a slight smile at the corner of her lips. She nodded in response to Focalors' relieved expression.
Afterward, pinned to the bed, Focalors lay utterly exhausted, too drained to move or speak. She wept silently, vowing never to trust Themis' promises about such matters again!
As Focalors drifted off to sleep, Themis stared at the already-named draft manuscript: Inuzuma Unofficial History — My Yandere Little Sister Is Actually the Raiden Shogun.
"Huh?"
Themis nearly burst out laughing. What was this? Had Fontaine become too tame for Focalors' shenanigans? Was she now reaching her tentacles into Inazuma?!
Covering her face, Themis turned to look at Focalors, who was sprawled out like a ragdoll from exhaustion. She decided to let this slide.
Just some Inazuma unofficial history, after all.
If Focalors wanted, Themis thought she could support her in writing unofficial history for all seven nations!
When bound together, they could go door-to-door presenting them to the other six Gods. Surely they'd agree!
Her expression was complex, eyes brimming with curiosity. Perhaps this was the benefit of being Focalors' lover—being able to read the latest updates of her unofficial history chronicles first-hand.
She flipped open the cover. Perfect. A sheet inserted after the cover was densely packed with writing—her own notes about the Raiden Shogun's interpersonal relationship chart that she'd given to Focalors.
After carefully storing the chart in a nearby drawer, Themis picked up the main text of the unofficial history.
Having been disconnected from the internet for too long, Themis reluctantly continued reading the web novel.
The first volume of Inazuma Unofficial History unfolded before Themis.
My name is Makoto, living in the land protected by Narukami.
My hometown is a remote village in Inazuma, nearly isolated from the world.
But our ancestors were blessed by Narukami, and for generations we've worshipped the only statue of Narukami in our village.
The peaceful village seemed destined to continue this way day after day.
But one day, the sky turned deep red as black calamity descended upon the village. Fierce, ugly monsters appeared everywhere.
Monsters from the Abyss slaughtered villagers without mercy.
We ran without stopping, desperate to survive.
Unconsciously, Makoto had run to the statue of the enshrined god.
Exhausted from her desperate flight, Makoto's body was covered in countless wounds. Her skin dripped with fresh blood, nearly torn open.
The monster's sharp claws had repeatedly left horrifying wounds on her body. Though they had avoided vital areas, she was now barely holding on.
Looking at the statue of Narukami, she realized this was the safest place she could imagine.
Her vision swam with red as Makoto collapsed before the god's statue, using her last remaining strength.
The black monster, drawn by the scent of blood, had followed her here.
The creature's roars from behind made Makoto's body tremble uncontrollably. She reached out with hands already raw and bleeding, grasping the edge of the statue.
The monster closed in, its labored breathing now audible, saliva dripping, low growls rumbling.
Without intervention, Makoto would die here - before the very statue of Narukami that had been worshipped for generations.
Makoto shook, blood-colored tears rolling down her cheeks. Her eyes brimmed with tears and despair. Though she couldn't see the monster's terrifying form, the primal fear gripping her soul paralyzed her completely.
Just as death was about to claim her, purple lightning flashed, and a deafening thunderclap roared in her ears.
Makoto heard the thud of something heavy hitting the ground, then felt two hands lift her up.
"Makoto..."
The woman's voice trembled with sobs, her hands caressing Makoto's cheeks as if handling a treasured relic regained after loss.
Blind and barely hearing through the ringing in her ears, Makoto swayed from blood loss and severe injuries. Finally, she collapsed into the woman's arms.
"Mm..."
"Ah, this..."
Themis, clutching her phone and subway ticket, could no longer contain her reactions.
What's going on?! What's going on?! Focalors, what unofficial history are you making up now?!
Yet, relief washed over Themis as she finished reading the passage. At least Focalors had restrained herself this time.
If this was all, Themis felt confident she could persuade Raiden Ei to abandon her obsession with the fantasy realm and focus on reality.
As Themis drew two deep breaths to continue reading, the bedroom door creaked open.
The bedroom door opened, and a blue-white cat head peeked out cautiously.
Themis glanced sideways at her blue-white kitten, Furina, who was stealthily observing the room's occupants.
When Furina spotted Focalors on the bed, her face flushed crimson.
"Furina~"
With a swift movement, Themis appeared behind the startled kitten, who had been trying to slip away unnoticed.
In the next instant, Furina found herself enveloped in a hug, her head gently stroked before being pressed against the wall for a firm kiss.
Furina's pale pink fists, lacking any real force, patted Themis' shoulders twice.
Still dazed from the kiss, her misty eyes glared at Themis with a mixture of confusion and irritation.
"Alright, Furina, why did you wake up suddenly?"
"Did you have a nightmare?"
Themis lowered her voice, mindful of Focalors who lay exhausted in Furina's bedroom.
"No." Furina turned her head, her delicate pink skin flushing deeper as she considered her response.
After all, Furina couldn't possibly tell Themis the truth.
When Furina and Focalors engaged in such activities, they made no attempt to restrain themselves.
Originally, Furina had merely opened her eyes to find them missing, feeling somewhat puzzled.
As she stepped out of Themis's bedroom, she heard faint sounds of two voices coming from her own chamber.
No longer the pure, inexperienced kitten she once was, Furina instantly understood what they were doing.
Part of her burned with anger, while another part ached with bitter jealousy, threatening tears.
Why did they go out of their way to avoid me? she thought. I'm not so fragile that I can't handle three of us together.
At night in bed, I might even be able to bear three of us...
But the fact that they snuck out while I was asleep makes my whole body ache with resentment.
Am I no longer Themis's favorite little kitten?!
Though Focalors shared her very essence, in this moment, Furina felt half of the love meant solely for her had been stolen away.
At first, Focalors had teased playfully, then began resisting while secretly yielding.
After gentle coaxing, Themis's movements grew increasingly forceful.
The unrestrained breathing sounds in Furina's ears made her blush uncontrollably. She fled back to Themis's bedroom from her own doorway.
After the noises from the neighboring room had completely ceased, Furina waited a while before stealthily peering over.
But unexpectedly, as soon as she pushed open the door, Themis caught her red-handed.
"Furina." Seeing Furina on the verge of tears, Themis sighed in exasperation.
She lifted Furina's soft body, taking the opportunity to give her a couple of improper gropes.
After swiftly returning to her room, Themis set the Inazuma Unofficial History on the bedside table.
Then she rapidly stripped off all of Furina's neatly arranged outer garments.
Stripped bare and roughly thrown onto the bed, Furina held back the tears threatening to spill from her eyes. She blinked her watery Hydro-type pupils, utterly bewildered by the situation.
"Now that Focalors is asleep, I want to do more intimate things with you~"
"Is that okay?"
"My Darling~ Furina~"
Themis lay atop Furina, her golden eyes gazing down at the younger girl.
With Furina's hands held firmly against her temples, escape proved impossible.
Under Themis' piercing gaze, Furina nodded bashfully, eyes squeezed shut as her entire body tensed.
Pfft!
The sudden giggle made Furina's eyes snap open. Watching Themis retreat, she hastily grabbed the blanket and burrowed beneath it, curling into a tiny ball.
"Mad at me?" Themis prodded the balled-up quilt.
The muffled feline inside only rolled over in silent resentment.
"Sorry~ It was my fault." Themis' apology carried through the fabric, her ears perking up even without visual confirmation.
Resting her cheek on her palm, Themis smiled warmly. "I shouldn't have done that without you. Bring you along next time, okay?"
"Furina, scold me. All the blame is mine."
"It's my fault we can't split in two to satisfy both you and Focalors."
"There's no way to kiss both of you at the same time, to let you both feel my love for you."
Why does it sound even more regretful the more she speaks?
Themis felt deeply regretful. She only had one mouth and two hands.
There was no way to split herself in half to make both Furina and Focalors happy at the same time.
Regretful - it was just so regretful!
As Furina listened, her face turned red, and her sense of shame exploded.
She really didn't want to know in detail what positions Themis and Focalors used in bed, or Focalors' exact reactions, or how Themis felt!
She grabbed a pillow and threw it at Themis. This feeble attack couldn't compare to the damage caused by Focalors' nails.
Quickly batting away the pillow, Themis swiftly grabbed Furina's slender wrist and pulled her out.
Then she adjusted Furina's position, settling her into her own embrace.
"Alright, don't be angry."
Kissing Furina's flushed cheek, she tasted something sweet and fragrant.
On her young girlfriend's body, there lingered a faint milky scent.
Truly, Themis had to work incredibly hard to restrain herself from immediately pressing Furina back onto the bed.
When Furina performed, the sensations would feedback to Focalors, but when they were intimate, it didn't reciprocate the same way for Furina.
In a strange sense, this was truly peculiar.
Now that Focalors had exhausted herself to the point of sleep, if Themis were to unleash her full power on Furina here, Focalors might not be able to get out of bed for days.
But the problem was, Focalors actually had important matters to attend to in the coming days.
Moreover, the unofficial history Focalors wrote contained a certain flavor that Themis simply couldn't replicate.
This irreplaceable work made Themis show mercy to Focalors.
"Be good now, Furina. Let Focalors rest a bit."
Themis stroked the blue-white cat's head, nuzzling and kissing it. Her hands, however, weren't content, roaming over Furina's rounded, firm thighs. Then she undid the buttons at the collar of Furina's white shirt.
Furina's ears flushed red, but she made no attempt to push Themis away.
Just some kisses and touches - Furina had grown completely accustomed to this by now!
"Shall we read Focalors' new unofficial history together?"
Furina the Cat tensed up, and Themis rested her chin on Furina's head. "Don't worry," Themis said, "this isn't Fontaine's Unofficial History. It's Inazuma's Unofficial History."
When Furina heard it wasn't about Fontaine, she was momentarily surprised.
Then, upon hearing "Inazuma's Unofficial History," Furina fell silent for a few seconds, silently mourning for the neighboring Inazuma's Raiden Shogun.
Being targeted by Focalors and becoming the main subject of an unofficial history was truly not an ideal experience!
Yet simultaneously, her curiosity about this freshly minted book titled "Inazuma's Unofficial History" began to grow.
Noticing Furina's curiosity, Themis stood up, retrieved Focalors' unofficial history from the bedside table, and handed it to Furina.
Furina accepted the book and began reading.
The name on the cover made Furina pause, her bewildered eyes turning to Themis.
"...Well, it should be fine?" Themis said uncertainly. "At least when I read the first page earlier, everything seemed normal."
Furina's eyes brimmed with skepticism. Was Themis really not teasing her again?
Guided by her doubts, Furina opened the Unofficial History of Inazuma under Themis's watchful gaze.
Striving to ignore the book's title, Furina took two deep breaths, mentally preparing herself layer by layer before finally beginning to read from the first page.
Hmm, this is fine. Nothing problematic here.
The story began with Makoto, a young girl who, during the Black Calamity that swept through the seven nations five hundred years ago, lost everything in a single day.
While fleeing, she was saved by a powerful, mysterious woman.
Having seen the book's title, Furina recognized this woman as the Raiden Shogun of Inazuma.
However, it was clear that Makoto, having suffered eye injuries during the calamity that left her blind, remained unaware of this.
There was one question Furina couldn't understand: Why would the Raiden Shogun call a young girl "sister"?
With Themis having taken away the relationship chart, Furina, unable to see it, was left with a head full of question marks.
Nevertheless, this didn't hinder Furina's reading. After all, this was a novel, not reality.
As long as the story comes full circle, any plot development is acceptable.
-
When Makoto woke up, she found herself surrounded by darkness, plunging her into panic.
She covered her eyes and felt the bandages wrapped around them.
Struggling to sit up, she realized the unfamiliar, intricate clothes she wore had been changed at some point. In her haste, she caught her foot on a corner of the fabric.
"Ah—"
Makoto cried out instinctively, her hands flying to protect her face.
But instead of the expected pain from falling, she felt something warm and familiar beneath her.
"Makoto... Are you alright?"
The woman's worried voice made Makoto blink in confusion.
"Who are you? How do you know my name?"
"Also, what happened to my home?"
Makoto's questions piled up as her hands unconsciously gripped the woman's clothes.
Only after voicing all her doubts did she realize the nameless, faceless woman had been absent for quite some time.
The steady, rhythmic breathing she heard now felt unnaturally calm, making Makoto lower her head in uneasy silence.
Blind Makoto couldn't see the violent waves of emotion crashing through the person holding her.
The moment Makoto asked who she was, the woman's purple eyes lost all their light. A dangerous madness crawled into her gaze, filling her eyes completely.
When Makoto's hand was grasped, the wounds on her palm made her instinctively gasp.
But Makoto could feel the woman unconsciously soften her grip, as if handling something fragile, gently supporting her hand.
Makoto felt confused. She couldn't understand why this person would treat her so gently. They shouldn't have any connection at all.
Just like she couldn't understand how the woman knew her name, Makoto couldn't understand where this kindness and care were coming from.
This made her feel uneasy. Don't treat me like this, she thought, it will make me think I'm the person you're talking about.
No... you must have the wrong person. You're just mistaken.
Her dry, pale lips pressed together. Her porcelain-white cheeks showed anxiety as her eyebrows furrowed, making her look very resistant.
Weak and frail, that's the best description of Makoto now.
"Makoto..."
Hearing the woman's voice, Makoto instinctively lifted her head, her pale cheeks evoking a surge of tenderness in Ei's heart.
"Please don't mistake me for someone else..." Makoto's heart raced as she spoke. "I'm just an ordinary village girl. My name is Makoto."
"Lord, you... perhaps you've mistaken me for someone else."
With her body injured and eyes blind, Makoto spoke with even greater caution.
She did need help, but no matter what, pretending to be someone else was something she couldn't accept.
"No, I haven't mistaken you!"
The woman's attitude on this matter became noticeably more agitated.
"I wouldn't mistake you! Makoto, I don't mistake you! Sister, do you not want me anymore?"
"Did Ei do something wrong? Is that why you don't recognize me?"
"I'm sorry..."
"I'm sorry, Sister."
The woman's voice, or rather, Ei's voice, trembled with sobs. Scalding tears fell onto Makoto's face, leaving her at a loss for what to do.
Ei's mouth kept spewing apologies, her voice thick with self-reproach and regret.
"It's my fault for not protecting you properly."
"I'll protect you, Sister."
"From today on, I'll stay by your side at all times, just like before!"
Ei's almost obsessive devotion left Makoto constantly on edge.
In the days that followed, Makoto found herself under Ei's constant watchful eye, regardless of what she tried to do.
Whether it was initiating conversation with others or simply leaving her room, Ei would not allow it.
If this were all, Makoto might have endured it. After all, she was still bound by medical restrictions and couldn't move about freely.
What truly grated on Makoto was Ei's interference when she merely asked questions of the medication delivery person.
Unable to bear it any longer, Makoto - a young girl unaware of Ei's true identity - finally unleashed her pent-up frustrations in a one-sided outburst.
Her cold words carried a sharp edge of anger as she demanded Ei stop meddling in her life.
"You may be my savior, but I don't need you to do this!"
"I'm just an ordinary person," Makoto said. "If all you want is for me to play the role of the 'true' you mentioned, I can't accept that!"
"I am who I am - just a village girl. I don't want to pretend to be anyone else!"
As Makoto spoke these words, she prepared herself to be driven out or accused of being ungrateful.
But what she didn't expect was that Ei actually took the time to seriously consider her words.
Ei sincerely apologized, but she wouldn't back down on the matter of Makoto's true identity.
"Please don't leave me, Makoto," Ei pleaded. "You're the only one I have left."
Hearing Ei's near-desperate tone, Makoto couldn't bring herself to continue speaking coldly to her.
After releasing her from supervision, Ei still followed her every step. But Makoto had grown accustomed to this. Holding hands with Ei, feeling her careful protection as they walked through unknown places, brought Makoto a sense of happiness.
The terror of blindness didn't cast deeper shadows. Instead, with Ei's companionship, Makoto found herself growing more sunlit and cheerful.
So far, the story was so plain and uneventful that it hardly seemed like something Focalors would write.
Furina looked at the text, and no matter how she saw it, it appeared to be a healthy, sunny, and uplifting story!
However, reality proved that Furina was thinking too simply!
Themis wrapped her arms around Furina's slender waist, watching Furina's furrowed brow as she pondered. She gently nuzzled Furina's cheek.
Unlike Furina, Themis had read many formulaic web novels. The moment she saw the title, she knew there were certain things that were inevitable.
There's already a stalker, a secret room, and then the whole chain of events - restraints, imprisonment, and drugging. Isn't that coming soon?!
But...
Looking at the oblivious Furina, Themis wondered if this... might be too advanced for her?
Sure enough, Focalors' book later contained all of these elements.
With Ei's companionship, Makoto's life had regained a sense of peace and tranquility, reminiscent of her village days.
But the story took a turn, as befitting an unofficial history - it couldn't remain at a perfect 12 rating forever.
Thus, the first malicious supporting character made her debut!
As the Raiden Shogun's shadow, Ei was perpetually occupied. This left Makoto alone in her room at times, or escorted by others through the courtyard.
Naturally, many harbored resentment toward this blind woman who suddenly appeared, receiving the god's meticulous care.
How dare a mere blind girl capture the God's attention?
We've served so faithfully, yet the God won't even spare us a glance!
Their jealousy solidified into tangible malice. When the Narukami was absent for several days, the planted villain seized the opportunity to brutally torment Makoto.
The Raiden Shogun's residence was too well-guarded for any sneak attacks. Ei hadn't stationed guards, and her desire to limit Makoto's social interactions left the blind woman completely vulnerable to the sole remaining adversary.
-
Themis felt a pang of frustration. Is this going to be another misunderstanding? she thought. Will they both refuse to speak up again? One won't say anything, the other won't ask, and in the end, it leads to tragedy!
Yes, Themis's guess was spot-on!
-
Makoto, who had been secretly bullied all along, chose to bury these recent events in her heart.
After all, she was just an imposter. Being bullied by someone who might have served her original owner was only natural.
Her body had nearly healed, though her eyes still hadn't recovered.
But Makoto, determined to face life head-on, wasn't the type of girl who relied solely on others.
So she still brought up the matter of leaving with Ei.
But Ei's reaction was intense. The atmosphere grew so heavy it was hard to breathe, losing all its usual warmth and gentleness.
Ei's hand clamped around Makoto's wrist with such force that the usually considerate Ei forgot to hold back. The pain made Makoto's eyes well up as she struggled to free herself.
"I won't let you go!"
"You can only stay with me, Makoto!"
After saying these words, Ei threw Makoto back into her room.
In the courtyard where they lived, only Makoto and Ei moved about.
After Ei left, Makoto would be locked in her room.
Except for when Ei had spare time and stayed longer, Ei would only appear at meal times.
Amidst Makoto's daily pleas, Ei remained unmoved, her resolve to keep Makoto confined growing stronger.
Makoto, her dear sister, was so fragile. Without her, Makoto would surely be bullied outside.
Scenes from Khaenri'ah's battlefield replayed before Ei's eyes - moments when Makoto had left her behind. Each memory left Ei gasping for air.
Seeing Makoto weeping, begging to be spared and set free, Ei reached out to cup her sister's face.
"Makoto... listen to me. Staying here is the safest choice."
Ei couldn't imagine what she might do if separated from Makoto, or worse, abandoned by her.
Though Ei's words were sincere, Makoto couldn't comprehend her intentions.
For a human, the love and protection of a god was truly too heavy.
It was suffocating her, and Makoto had tried in vain to escape.
But her eyes couldn't support her actions, and Ei always dragged her back.
Until her final escape, when she met a stranger.
It was a strange girl who appeared in the courtyard where Makoto had been staying.
"Makoto?"
"No, you're not Makoto."
The strange girl supported Makoto, her body even smaller than Makoto's.
"Please take me away. I'm not her Makoto."
Crystal tears slid down Makoto's cheeks as she cried helplessly.
Finally, finally she didn't have to be someone else anymore. She had met a girl who recognized her as someone else at first glance, and this made Makoto cry.
-
"Although the intelligence agents had previously described her as imposing, looking as cold and mechanical as a Clockwork Meka."
"Truly, one cannot judge a book by its cover! Who would have thought she'd go so far as to kidnap innocent young girls!"
Furina was deeply opposed to Ei's actions, even going so far as to believe that such confinement could warrant charges before the opera house!
As she continued reading, Furina's expression grew increasingly furious.
-
Because Makoto was engaged in conversation with the newly arrived pink-haired girl, she failed to notice Ei's presence.
So Ei expelled the pink-haired girl - Miko - from the premises.
Heartbroken by Ei's actions, Miko wept helplessly, prompting Makoto to instinctively comfort her.
Under the weight of Miko's tears, Ei's demeanor softened slightly.
"I'm sorry, Miko. My words were too harsh."
The gentleness in Ei's voice sounded familiar to Makoto's ears - it was the same tone Ei usually reserved for her.
A compensatory kiss brushed against Miko's lips before Ei sent her away.
Makoto was bewildered as Ei led her back to the room where she'd been confined. In the days that followed, she never saw the girl called Miko again.
Regarding the matter of the miko, Ei remained silent, focusing instead on applying ointment to Makoto's wounds.
Ei possessed no divine means to heal physical injuries. Though her divine power had stabilized Makoto's condition, allowing her to recover from many severe wounds through careful nursing, some scars on her skin could only be treated with ordinary salves.
At this moment, with Makoto unable to see her wounds, Ei laid her on the bed. She then scooped up ointment with her fingers and began applying it bit by bit across Makoto's body.
Makoto's once frail and pale form gradually regained its luster under Ei's attentive care, becoming fair, smooth, and full-figured.
Gazing at Makoto's beautiful body, Ei felt a surge of passion stirred by her long-held affection for her sister.
The two were twin God sisters, the most intimate pair of deities in existence.
At their creation, Makoto had split her own power to nourish Ei's birth.
In the days that followed, they lived as sisters and lovers, their bond inseparable.
Seeing Makoto's bashful expression, Ei kissed her lips, just as she had in the past.
-
Furina's impression of the Raiden Shogun plummeted further, leaving her utterly bewildered.
What is this Raiden Ei woman thinking? Or is she just a rotten bitch that the intelligence agents failed to uncover?!
She watched as Makoto tried to fend off Ei's advances, only for Ei to ignore her struggles and continue her relentless pursuit.
Perfect. This matches Focalors' unofficial history exactly.
It's successfully evolved from a 12+ rating to an 18+ one!
As Makoto's desperate attempts to escape grew more frantic, Ei's disregard for her pleas intensified. Through repeated acts of confinement, Makoto was reduced to tearful misery.
When Makoto finally reached a state of numb acceptance, she encountered the familiar figure of the pink-haired girl.
Their reunion came three years later. Under Ei's relentless pressure, Makoto's body and features had matured, carrying a newfound sophistication.
Yet the pink-haired miko remained as innocent and inexperienced as ever.
Unlike their previous encounter, Makoto's eyes now clearly perceived the girl's delicate features.
"You... truly intend to leave Her Highness?"
The miko wrung her fingers nervously, her gaze fixed on Makoto's impassive face.
"I-I'm going to marry Her Highness, Ei."
"Everyone says Inazuma needs a day that can make people feel safe and forget their pain."
"Nothing brings more comfort and relief from sorrow than the miko's wedding."
If she wanted to leave, this was her only chance.
Makoto's numb expression gradually faded as she gazed at the girl with sakura-pink hair. Her eyes filled with hope.
She had always wanted to escape this place, truly, she'd been thinking about it constantly.
The twisted, chaotic relationship with Ei, the nightmare-like nights - every moment she spent thinking about how to flee.
So when the miko spoke these words, she hesitated not at all.
She didn't ask any other questions, like why the miko was marrying Ei, or why Ei never told her about the outside world.
Maybe in Ei's heart, I'm just a toy, Makoto thought.
The questions she voiced were never answered. She was always confined to her room, then pinned to the bed whenever she needed something.
The miko's plan went smoothly. On the wedding day, even the gatekeepers began to relax their guard.
Using Makoto's experience here, with the miko's help, she successfully escaped the courtyard she'd never left before.
Outside, the atmosphere was festive, everyone celebrating the wedding of the miko and Ei.
Makoto, however, only wanted to escape. Just as she was about to leave, to finally flee—
A familiar purple figure caught the unconscious miko, standing at the finish line, quietly watching her.
Makoto, having been recaptured, had her hope utterly shattered, like a bird with broken wings.
"Sister... Makoto... Why did you leave me?"
Ei's fingers soaked in the warm water as Makoto trembled helplessly, biting down on a corner of the pillow.
Tears streamed down her face, sobs escaping her throat. Her body, now accustomed to these things, betrayed her will.
The touch of Ei's hands made Makoto want to faint, to disappear from sight.
"The miko... she's grown bolder recently."
"To think she'd try to make you leave me..."
Ei leaned close to Makoto's ear, continuing, "Sister, what do you think I should do to punish the miko?"
"Don't punish her..." Makoto panicked, hearing that the miko who had helped her might be punished. Tears streamed down her face as she begged Ei to spare the miko.
"She's innocent! It's my fault! Please, don't hurt her!"
"I'll stay here properly!"
Ei embraced the weeping Makoto, wiping away her tears. "Of course, Sister. This is your request."
"But Sister, I've been so obedient. Is there a reward?"
In the night's embrace, Makoto's tear-filled eyes had long abandoned resistance, leaving only surrender.
She reached out tremblingly, wrapped her arms around Ei's neck, and settled onto her lap under Ei's watchful gaze.
Only the moon's silvery light illuminated the room's unfolding drama.
-
There was no help for it; Furina was completely unfamiliar with the real-life Ei.
If Furina knew Raiden Ei was a goofy sister complex, she probably wouldn't have called her a "scum woman" outright.
"Even if I were the Hydro Archon, I'd never act like that!"
"Love is mutual understanding and respect—what kind of twisted game is she playing?!"
"Married to a miko while violating the sister in her mouth!"
Furina was so furious she could barely breathe.
She was so enraged she nearly wanted to rush to Inazuma and deliver two solid punches to the Raiden Shogun.
Of course, if Focalors in the bedroom was still awake, she wouldn't escape those punches either.
When Focalors naturally woke up to dinner, she found herself bewildered by Furina's intense glare, utterly confused.
However, when Themis waved the draft of the first part of the first volume of Inazuma's unofficial history she'd written, everything became clear.
But what did it matter? It was just a novel, after all. Treating fictional history as truth—that's what's truly strange!
-
While Lumine and Paimon were browsing the Unofficial History with Furina, they encountered Zhongli and Venti strolling down the street.
"Lumine, long time no see!"
Venti greeted with a smile, then leaned in close to Lumine. "Why didn't you tell me Themis' face looks like that?"
"Poor Anemo Archon, you almost got caught."
"Good thing Zhongli and I ran fast. The consequences would've been terrible otherwise."
They didn't want to get involved with the people from the opera house. Although they'd already realized Themis wasn't the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles, she was clearly more dangerous than the actual Sustainer.
At Venti's reminder, Lumine laughed awkwardly. Crap, I was so focused on the Unofficial History and its star-crossed lovers that I completely forgot about this.
"It's my fault! All my fault! To make up for it, I'll treat you to dinner!"
She just hoped the Mora Themis had given her would cover Zhongli's expenses. If it wasn't enough, she'd have to muster the courage to get a part-time job to pay off the debt!
Dining together on both sides was certainly a pleasant arrangement.
After dinner, Themis and the two archons happily snuggled under the same blanket.
Meanwhile, Lumine desperately clutched her nearly-empty wallet.
Good news: No need to risk being accused of eating a free meal and having to work at the opera house to pay off the debt.
Bad news: Her already-struggling family's financial situation was getting even worse!
After chatting with Venti and Zhongli for a while, Lumine noticed the late hour. She produced the Serenitea Pot and extended an invitation to both.
Zhongli and Venti didn't decline, instead feeling somewhat nostalgic. After all, they rarely entered the Serenitea Pot, only occasionally visiting.
The night passed in silence, except for Lumine clutching her empty wallet and weeping.
The next day, while passing by Katheryne's place, she received a quest from Themis priced at 200,000 Mora.
Lumine: "Seriously, I almost knelt down right there and shouted, 'Second Parents, I've found you!'"
"Thank you, Themis! Because of you, you've warmed my wallet and my heart!"
The mission involved delivering an unofficial history author's draft, with explicit permission to read it first.
After receiving the manuscript, Lumine felt a guilty thrill as she eagerly retreated to the Serenitea Pot to read.
When she finished the first section, seething with indignation, she realized Zhongli and Venti had somehow appeared beside her.
Judging by their expressions, they'd clearly read the entire document from beginning to end.
"Ah ha ha ha ha—"
Venti burst into laughter, his mirth so intense it made the Anemo Archon's stomach ache.
"I never imagined Beelzebul would be portrayed like this in someone's mind!"
Zhongli remained silent for a long moment before finally managing a response: "It's... remarkably imaginative and creative."
Lumine had learned the art of tactful speech. After explaining that their conversation was part of a commissioned piece and not for public dissemination, she set off with Paimon for Inazuma, eager to see the fun.
Upon reaching the Narukami Grand Shrine, they delivered the unofficial history novel to the shrine maiden.
When the miko choked on her wine, coughing uncontrollably and losing all composure, Lumine's face lit up with delight.
Finally, the sly fox has met her match!