[The dim cave kept you from seeing the girl's face clearly. You could just barely make out that she wore an intricately crafted demon mask that covered the lower half of her face.]
Green hair, a mask, and a hideout in a place as strange as this—aside from Kuki Shinobu, Lucas couldn't think of anyone else who fit the bill.
But that's how the simulator worked. Until a character's identity was officially revealed, all their details remained a mystery.
[Before you even had time to react, the green-haired girl fired off three questions in rapid succession: "Who are you?" "Why are you here?" "What's your purpose?"]
[You were never particularly good at lying, and with your life hanging by a thread, you decided to just be honest. You told her you were an assassin who had attempted to kill the Raiden Shogun, later escaped from prison, and ended up falling into this valley after being struck by an arrow. You stumbled into this cave purely by accident.]
[Unexpectedly, the green-haired girl sheathed her dagger the moment she heard your explanation, then picked up the Raikiri you carried with you. Suppressing the excitement in her voice, she muttered, "So you're the one who tried to assassinate the Raiden Shogun… I can't decide if you're a vicious criminal or just a hopeless idiot. Do you even realize the Tenryou Commission has put a bounty on your head? Even turning in your corpse would earn a hefty reward."]
[You could guess what they'd do with your body—probably hang it at the city gates until it rotted, left for the crows to pick apart. A public warning to anyone who dared stand against the Raiden Shogun.]
[But you weren't afraid. You replied calmly, "If you want to turn me in for the reward, I won't hold it against you. But… if you wait a little longer, you might be able to trade my head in for a much bigger sum."]
[Your words clearly piqued her interest, and she naturally asked for an explanation.]
["If you hand me over now, I'm just a 'lunatic who failed to assassinate the Shogun,'" you said through gritted teeth. "But if I had a little more time—enough to figure out a real way to kill her—then you'd be turning in the 'infamous criminal who actually succeeded in assassinating the Shogun.' The bounty would be way higher, right?"]
[You thought she might burst out laughing at your ridiculous claim. But instead, she simply paused, then asked, "Why do you want to kill the Raiden Shogun so badly?"]
[Maybe it was because you'd already let go of everything, or maybe it was just the pressure of holding it in for so long—but for some reason, you ended up telling this masked stranger nearly everything. All the things that had happened to you, from beginning to end.]
[And strangely, as you kept talking, the steely look in her eyes began to soften. Tears welled up in them before you even realized it. At some point, she had wrapped you in her arms, gently comforting you like a mother soothing her child.]
[And during all this, she finally introduced herself. She said her name was Kuki Shinobu, the deputy of the Arataki Gang. This cave was just one of several temporary shelters she used while on missions throughout Inazuma.]
[For reasons even she didn't fully understand, she felt a strange, inexplicable pity for you—this boy she had just met. (Talent "Favored by Others" has activated.)]
Is that really all it takes?
Lucas had a baffled look on his face.
So this talent just makes people pity you as long as you act pitiful enough?
If that's the case, wouldn't it be perfect for shows like Liyue's Got Talent? You could ride the sympathy train all the way to the finals.
Even someone like Kuki Shinobu, who usually gave off such a calm and cool-headed vibe, had let her maternal instincts show because of it.
[Immersive Mode Engaged]
Huh? Now?
Lucas opened his eyes—only to find himself still engulfed in darkness.
Because Kuki Shinobu's black crop top was made of a sheer mesh layer, from a distance it was fine… but up close, it was basically see-through.
And right now, he was pressed tightly against it.
Even after everything he'd been through, Lucas was still a seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy—actually a bit younger than Kuki Shinobu. Add in the effects of the [Favored by Others] talent, and to this warm-hearted "Oni Deputy," he now looked like a helpless little brother in need of affection.
But the truth was… Lucas wasn't quite as innocent as he appeared.
Not long ago, he had just completed a long-delayed wedding ceremony with Kujou Sara. They had taken things all the way—crossing that final threshold from boy to man.
And now, nestled in Kuki Shinobu's embrace, with her faint fragrance surrounding him, Lucas's thoughts inevitably drifted back to that final hour he had spent alone with Kujou Sara in the prison cell.
Kuki Shinobu seemed to sense something was off. She suddenly pushed him away, her cheeks slightly flushed. "W-What do you think you're doing?"
"I-I didn't do anything…" Lucas replied with an expression of pure innocence.
"Liar!" Kuki Shinobu bit her lip. "I… I could feel it!"
Sure, Lucas could control his limbs—but there were some reactions he couldn't control, no matter how hard he tried.
"I-I didn't mean to…" Lucas hung his head, looking apologetic. "Maybe it's just because you're so pretty, Shinobu-neesan."
Say what you will, but when it came to acting, Lucas was a seasoned pro.
There wasn't even the slightest hint of awkwardness in his performance as the flustered, embarrassed teenager.
[Talent "Favored by Others" has activated!]
Seeing his expression, whatever frustration Kuki Shinobu had was instantly swept away. She just let out a light huff and said, "I'm wearing a mask—how could you even tell if I'm pretty or not? For all you know, I could be hiding fangs under here and look like some terrifying demon."
"No way," Lucas shook his head. "If you don't believe me… why don't you take it off?"
Please. It's a miHoYo game. Say what you will about the gameplay, but when it comes to character design? Always top-tier. Besides, Lucas had already seen what Kuki Shinobu really looked like in the real world.
Shinobu removed the mask—and sure enough, just like in real life, she had a serious expression, but her looks were far from average. She said calmly, "Forget it. You're just an inexperienced kid. Losing control like that is… understandable."
"Well… actually, Shinobu-neesan," Lucas scratched the back of his head awkwardly, "I'm… not that inexperienced."
The moment she heard those words, a subtle change flickered across Kuki Shinobu's face—barely noticeable, but it was there. Then just as quickly, she forced her expression back to normal.
What?
Why would someone who looked even younger than her have that kind of experience?
She herself didn't even have any yet!
Up until now, thanks to the effect of the [Favored by Others] Trait, and also because Lucas appeared to be younger and still had a faint trace of youthful innocence on his face, Shinobu had genuinely thought of him as a pitiful little brother—nothing more.
But to think... he actually had experience?
The moment she remembered how tightly she'd hugged him just now, a wave of embarrassment surged through her.
"Re... really?" Shinobu tried to act composed. "Practicing with yourself doesn't count as experience, you know."
"It's not that kind..." Lucas scratched his cheek, flashing a smile as pure as an angel's. "It was with my fiancée. I think I mentioned her earlier… Kujou Sara."
Right. Now that she thought about it, he had talked about her before.
And Kuki Shinobu wasn't unfamiliar with that woman—in fact, she knew her quite well.
Shinobu's talents were no secret. Despite the confusion many held about why someone like her would join the Arataki Gang as its "Deputy Oni," her reputation for being highly capable meant that even the three Commissions would frequently reach out to her whenever they faced manpower shortages or particularly tricky problems.
Otherwise, Thoma wouldn't have asked her—in real life—to secretly observe Lucas's movements.
It was during Lucas's year-long disappearance that Kujou Sara and Kuki Shinobu had an unexpected encounter, and Sara, impressed by her abilities, had invited Shinobu to host legal awareness lectures and combat training sessions—work Shinobu ended up excelling at.
The relationship between Kujou Sara and Kuki Shinobu was somewhere between friends and rivals. As two equally outstanding individuals, they constantly found themselves in subtle competition.
In fact, from a certain perspective, Shinobu—an "outsider" to the Tenryou Commission—might actually understand Kujou Sara better than many of her own subordinates.
Never in a thousand years would she have imagined that this boy, not only had experience, but that his first partner was that woman.
It felt like a rookie practicing swordplay for the first time… only for their first official match to be against the Raiden Shogun.
And yet, when she imagined that expressionless Kujou Sara sweet-talking and cuddling up to the boy in front of her, Shinobu couldn't help but blush again.
"So… it was her?" Shinobu crossed her arms and said coolly, "That woman is certainly capable—but when it comes to that, she's just an inexperienced fledgling."
"So what you're saying is..." Lucas tilted his head, sounding curious. "You have a lot of experience then, Shinobu-neesan?"
"Of… of course I do!" Shinobu's eyes darted away. "I even have certificates!"
"Oh?" Lucas locked eyes with her. "You can get certified in that kind of thing?"
Wow… Inazuma really is progressive. Do ladies of the night need licenses too?
Crap…
Shinobu cursed internally. Despite how calm and quiet she usually appeared, she had a serious competitive streak. Whenever someone doubted her abilities, she'd pull out an arsenal of certificates to prove them wrong.
The problem was, some "skills" couldn't be certified that easily.
"I was… just making a comparison," she said stubbornly. "And what's with that look? Don't tell me… you don't believe me?"
"N-no, not at all." Lucas shook his head. "I just… get the feeling you're not that experienced."
"And why would you think that?" Shinobu asked, brows furrowing. "You can tell that just by looking?"
This kid… he's sharp! He can even pick up on something like that?
"It's because… you remind me a lot of Sara," Lucas said quietly, a faint bitterness in his voice. "But… she and I have no future now. That unforgettable experience… it's probably something I'll never get to have again."
"Don't say something that stupid," Shinobu said, and before she knew it, she had leaned in close, her breath brushing against his cheek. "Sara's not the only woman in the world, you know."
That cursed sense of competition was flaring up inside Kuki Shinobu once again.
She was undoubtedly brilliant, but there were many areas where Kujou Sara had her beat—especially in martial prowess.
If you compared it to test scores, Shinobu's high grades came from a well-rounded performance across all subjects, while Sara excelled in the core subjects like math, language, and science.
"Shinobu-neesan..." Lucas said softly. "I don't understand what you mean."
"If you don't understand," Shinobu murmured, her voice breathy and low, "I can teach you… I'm no worse than Kujou Sara."
Normally, Shinobu wouldn't be this forward. But right now, there were two reasons behind her unusual behavior.
First was the lingering influence of the [Favored by Others] Trait, which sparked an odd, protective fondness toward Lucas.
Second… was that burning urge to prove that she could outshine Kujou Sara in this domain too.
If this were the simulator version of Lucas—fresh off a prison escape—he probably wouldn't be in the right state of mind for this kind of interaction.
But this was Lucas in Immersive Mode.
Fresh off a climactic "battle" with Kujou Sara, still riding a high, and now served another delicious opportunity on a silver platter… of course he wasn't going to say no.
Ahem. Don't blame me—it's her fault for being the one to initiate!
"But..." Lucas added coyly, "Sara knew a lot of techniques."
"I know even more," Shinobu's voice was velvety smooth now. "I've got certificates in gymnastics and yoga instruction."
Lucas knew full well—just getting either of those certifications required impressive flexibility and physical control.
He had to admit… this cave of hers was pretty great.
Despite the torrential downpour outside, the interior was warm and cozy, the perfect little hideaway.
Their bodies, both lean and slim, didn't feel crowded even while sharing a single-person sleeping bag.
Though Shinobu lacked firsthand experience, her stack of certificates made her an encyclopedia of theory. Her knowledge was vast—even if her practice was lacking.
And this "boy who fell from the sky"… naturally became her practice dummy.
After the rain cleared and the skies brightened, it was already the next day.
Because the cave was located in a low-lying area, a lot of water had pooled outside. Lucas pushed aside the dew-drenched green grass, letting the sunlight reach the dim and damp depths of the cave.
And those faint crimson stains… proved that everything Kuki Shinobu had claimed about being "experienced" was nothing more than tough talk—a bluff, really.
"What are you planning to do next?" Shinobu stood behind Lucas, still unclothed. After all, in a place like this, where even animals were rarely seen, modesty seemed like a luxury.
Lucas stayed silent for a moment before finally replying, "Do you have any suggestions?"
"I could recommend you to the Arataki Gang. With a mask and a bit of makeup from me, you could walk laps in front of the Tenryou Commission's gates and no one would recognize you," Shinobu said casually. "With your skills, you'll never starve. But… you'll have to learn to keep a low profile. If you start forging things like Raikiri again, people will notice you sooner or later."
That was true. A blacksmith capable of crafting a divine weapon like Raikiri was rare—not just in Inazuma, but across all of Teyvat. If he chose to live discreetly, he'd have no choice but to spend the rest of his life forging second- and third-rate arms.
Lucas replied coolly, "Do you think that's the kind of life I'd choose?"
Shinobu wrapped her arms around him from behind and said softly, "From where I stand, I have no right to ask you to let go of your hatred. But if you want to kill the Raiden Shogun… that path is nothing short of a thorn-covered cliff."
"Gods aren't immortal, are they?" Lucas murmured thoughtfully. "If even gods can die, then there must be a way to kill one. My blade has already severed her arm—that alone proves she's not invincible."
"You… really hate the Shogun that much?" Shinobu whispered.
"No. I have no personal grudge against her," Lucas said, clenching his fist. "My father wasn't killed by Musou no Hitotachi—it was the resistance to the Vision Hunt Decree that took his life. It wasn't the Shogun's punishment that ruined me—it was the Thousand-Armed, Hundred-Eyed God's great lie. But the Vision Hunt Decree, and the cult built around it, only exist because of her. And I'm not the only one they've hurt. So… the Raiden Shogun must die."
"Even if you succeed, you won't survive it," Shinobu said, biting her lip. "And worse—you'll be branded a regicide. A villain cursed throughout all of history."
"Well then," Lucas smiled calmly, "let me be that eternal villain."
Splash…
As they spoke, the weather—fickle like a child's moods—turned gloomy again, and rain began to pour down in sheets.
"It's raining again. Looks like we won't be heading back any time soon," Shinobu remarked after a moment of silence. "Good thing I stored plenty of dry rations here beforehand. Should be enough to last us until the skies clear."
"But staying cooped up here… won't it get boring?" Lucas chuckled helplessly. "Not that I mind. Forging is a dull business anyway—I'm used to boredom."
"Well, I'm not. I hate wasting time. Too bad I couldn't bring my exam prep materials here—they'd just get damp…" Her fingers trailed across Lucas's chest as she whispered, "But if it's the two of us… I doubt we'll be bored these next few days."
There wasn't much choice. With the rain continuing, the entrance to the cave would remain muddy for a while. They'd need to "dry it out" somehow.
[Exiting Immersive Mode]
[The unending downpour lasted for nearly half a month. Thanks to Kuki Shinobu's dedicated care, your injuries improved significantly… though that didn't mean you were in great shape. By the time you left the cave—a hidden refuge—you were visibly weakened, while Shinobu looked perfectly fine.]
[After all, over those ten-odd days, she hadn't exactly been idle. Still, before you parted ways, she reminded you to keep your relationship a secret. The reason was simple: as the Arataki Gang's second-in-command, she had to maintain a stern image. That's also why she wore a mask—because with her cute face, even her scolding might feel like a "reward" to certain people.]
[Upon returning to Inazuma City, the aftermath of the "assassin escapes prison" incident was still unresolved. According to Shinobu's intel, Kujou Sara had been suspended for half a year because of your breakout. Fortunately, the punishment was only for "dereliction of duty" rather than collusion with an assassin—otherwise, the consequences would've been far worse.]
[As for you, Shinobu had already fabricated a backstory—a young man attacked by bandits in the mountains, left with severe injuries and complete memory loss, not even remembering his own name. The only thing he recalled was that he was a blacksmith. Since you were found in the mountains, she dubbed you "Yamano-kun" (Mountain Boy) for the time being.]
[With Shinobu's recommendation, you smoothly joined the Arataki Gang. You even met its leader: Arataki Itto. This burly, boisterous oni seemed to have no doubts about your identity. He didn't even bother with basic vetting before welcoming you into the fold.]
[At first, you figured that any group impressive enough to keep someone like Shinobu as second-in-command must be a big deal. But you quickly realized it was more of a "shelter for misfits." Most of its members were societal outcasts. Even Arataki Itto himself—being an oni—had spent his life facing discrimination.]
[That said, the Arataki Gang was actually the perfect fit for you. After joining, the gang gained a new—and rather shady—source of income: black-market weapons trading.]
[Inazuma's martial culture was strong, especially in swordsmanship and archery. High-quality weapons were always in demand. The Kanjo Commission had seized on the opportunity, jacking up taxes on smithies and weapon shops. As a result, buying legal weapons became prohibitively expensive. Naturally, some people began crafting and selling weapons under the table—to poor warriors who couldn't afford the real deal, or merchants looking for self-defense.]
[Regarding the black market trade of weapons, the Kanjou Commission had long turned a blind eye. For one, strictly enforcing a ban would be a massive hassle, and two, the quality of these weapons was usually so poor that they posed no real threat to the legitimate market.]
[Age 18: After a long period of recovery, your shoulder injury had barely healed—but you could no longer wield a sword. Even forging weapons had become difficult. It was unlikely you'd ever create another masterpiece like Raikiri again. But rather than give up, this only solidified your resolve: you would find another path—using firearms to kill the Raiden Shogun.]
[Meanwhile, the weapons you casually forged still fetched high prices even on the black market due to their exceptional quality. However, they didn't cause too much of a stir. After all, compared to the flood of mediocre black-market weapons, your contributions were just a drop in the ocean. Thanks to Kuki Shinobu's legal know-how, the Arataki Gang managed to keep this side gig discreet and stable.]
[Even so, the income from your weapons boosted the gang's finances significantly. Arataki Itto treated you like a walking treasure vault—he even asked you to teach him how to forge. But in this area, he was hopeless. Teaching him how to smith was like Ke Jie trying to teach a hawk to play Go—way too abstract.]
[Besides, Itto's personality didn't suit forging. He got bored in no time and ran off to challenge kids to beetle battles instead.]
[As for your relationship with Kuki Shinobu, publicly she was the gang's second-in-command and your "big sis." But in private, the two of you frequently "shared experiences" behind closed doors. Your relationship was so well hidden that no one suspected a thing—especially not the thick-headed Arataki Itto.]
[Meanwhile, the Vision Hunt Decree was becoming more and more severe. At first, the three great clans and their close allies were allowed to keep their Visions. But now, even their allies weren't exempt—only the clans themselves were spared. Every other Vision was to be confiscated by the Shogunate.]
[The Thousand-Arms and Hundred-Eyes Church also grew more powerful alongside the tightening decree. Countless families, seduced by its doctrines, ended up in ruin.]
[Once, when Arataki Itto was selling your forged blades at the black market, he was caught by the Tenryou Commission. Normally, with his skills, escaping wouldn't have been an issue—but this time, he was captured. Not only was he caught red-handed, even his Vision was confiscated.]
[And the one who apprehended him? Kujou Sara. Fortunately, Kuki Shinobu pulled some strings—and even willingly surrendered her own Vision—to secure Itto's release.]
[Most people, after losing their Vision, would spiral into despair. But Kuki Shinobu and Arataki Itto weren't like most people. For Shinobu, a Vision was just another credential, no different from the endless certificates she already had. As for Itto… he was simply too carefree to care.]
[You had to admit, that year of your life, though far from luxurious, was deeply fulfilling. You'd made friends in the Arataki Gang and rediscovered the joy of forging.]
[In the past, your sole focus had been crafting ever sharper blades. Raikiri had been your magnum opus. But even the sharpest blade had its limits. So now, you'd turned your sights to crafting firearms of overwhelming power.]
[You once asked Kuki Shinobu to help you acquire a military-issue musket from Snezhnaya. With your talent for forging, it didn't take long to understand its mechanics through dismantling and reassembling. You could now replicate it perfectly—and even modify it with specialized components to harness a degree of elemental energy.]
[But the elemental power drawn this way was nowhere near as potent as that channeled through a Vision. It might pass as a weapon for a Fatui Skirmisher, but for killing the Raiden Shogun? That was pure fantasy. You, more than anyone, understood just how terrifying she truly was.]
[Then you remembered the fireworks you saw that day in the valley. If those explosions could be launched like fireworks, using muskets or some kind of launcher, maybe—just maybe—they could cause real damage to the Raiden Shogun's body.]
[The problem was, you had no idea how to formulate gunpowder. That's when the idea struck you: hide your identity, become an apprentice at the Naganohara Fireworks store, and use "learning how to make fireworks" as a cover to study how to make explosives.]
[But doing so meant you'd have to leave the Arataki Gang—not just to take on a new identity, but more importantly, because attempting to assassinate the Shogun was a capital crime. If you were serious about going through with it, you had to sever all ties with the gang as soon as possible to avoid implicating them.]
[The problem was, you didn't know how to bring it up. After all, Kuki Shinobu had saved your life. Itto and the others had treated you like family. In the end, you waited for a time when the other gang members were away and knocked on Kuki Shinobu's door.]
[Switching to Immersive Mode]
In reality, the Arataki Gang had no fixed base, given their chaotic finances. But in the simulation, thanks to the money earned from black-market sales of your weapons, the gang had managed to secure a place to stay in Hanamizaka.
Naturally, only "Big Sis" Kuki Shinobu had her own room. The rest—including you—shared rooms in groups. Even so, it was way better than sleeping on the streets or camping outdoors.
"Who is it?"
A lazy voice floated from inside the room. No surprise—Shinobu was probably up all night cramming for yet another exam. How she managed to keep her skin so flawless despite the all-nighters was beyond you.
"It's… it's me," you answered quietly.
The room fell silent for a moment, followed by the sound of papers rustling. A few minutes later, the door swung open. Kuki Shinobu stood there, her long hair down, red-framed glasses perched on her nose, cheeks slightly flushed. After making sure no one was around, she quickly pulled you inside and locked the door behind you.
Her appearance at the hideout was completely different from her delinquent look on the streets. When she was studying here, her vibe was much more homey.
"You… what are you doing here today?" Shinobu crossed her arms and frowned slightly. "Didn't I tell you? No more than twice a week!"
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