Paimon quietly stepped aside, understanding that the two needed some time and space alone. She remained nearby but chose not to follow.
Lumine walked toward Shao Yun, who sat before Tenshukaku, her gaze fixed on his somewhat desolate figure, her eyes reflecting a trace of uncertainty.
"Where is the Raiden Shogun?"
Those three simple words struck Shao Yun like a hammer to the chest.
He lowered his head slightly, unable to meet Lumine's eyes, and replied softly, "I... I did what I had to do."
Lumine gently sat down beside him, turning her head to observe this man—so strong for so long—now revealing such vulnerability once more.
She blinked her bright eyes, hesitated for a moment, then voiced the conclusion she had been dreading.
"You... killed her?"
Shao Yun slowly lifted his head, his eyes meeting hers.
After a moment of silence, he gave a slight nod, confirming what she had said.
Lumine's expression turned complicated, her heart flooded with emotion, leaving her momentarily speechless.
"Should I... be happy? Or should I be angry?"
Her words were a response to Shao Yun's act—but also an honest reflection of her internal conflict and turmoil.
Shao Yun took a deep breath, then looked away from Lumine, gazing into the distance.
The sky was a haunting, terrifying violet. Then his eyes shifted toward the city—Inazuma's buildings were still standing, undamaged.
Finally, Shao Yun turned back, his gaze settling once more on Lumine.
"I promised you that the sky over Inazuma wouldn't rain blood. I didn't hang people beneath the eaves. And there's no headless horseman holding my head and the Raiden Shogun's."
"As for the Raiden Shogun... she disappeared like the God of Salt Harvia. Not a trace of her body remains. If there was one, perhaps it vanished along with the Plane of Euthymia, lost in some void."
After saying this, Shao Yun fell silent again, giving Lumine time to think.
At that moment, Lumine had no interest in discussing the dream any longer. In some sense, Shao Yun had fulfilled his promise.
And yet... the outcome was so far from what she had hoped.
Clutching the hem of her dress tightly, Lumine slowly spoke of the plan she had devised with Sangonomiya Kokomi.
"Kokomi and I came up with a brilliant plan to resolve all of Inazuma's problems peacefully."
Shao Yun nodded and gently asked, "What kind of plan?"
So Lumine detailed the plan of political pressure they had crafted—the soldiers' remonstration—and also mentioned how she and Paimon were preparing to meet Yae Miko, to check on the progress of her effort to draw the Raiden Shogun out of the Plane of Euthymia.
Now that the Raiden Shogun had been killed by Shao Yun, there was no need to keep these confidential plans hidden anymore.
As Lumine spoke, Shao Yun recalled the original storyline—how Lumine had once entered the Plane of Euthymia again.
How Yae Miko, with her wit and wisdom, had handed over the Gnosis, allowing her consciousness to enter and deliver the crucial message that let Ei hear the people's wishes.
That was how Lumine had broken through the Raiden Shogun's stubborn obsession with eternity.
Then, Lumine shared her unexpected personal plan—how she had hoped to comfort Shao Yun afterward.
But Shao Yun had no interest in such "happy endings." His mind was fully occupied with the soldiers' remonstration and the meeting with Yae Miko.
Had Lumine's plan succeeded, it would've aligned perfectly with the original plot.
Just like Polonius who could've talked Hamlet to death with nothing but words.
But if it came down to willpower, then his obsession with killing the Raiden Shogun far outweighed the people's desire for change.
One must never underestimate the resolve of those seeking revenge.
Even Dutch, in his final moments, ensured Colm was hanged in Saint Denis.
…
After hearing all Lumine had to say, Shao Yun extended a finger and pointed directly at her chest, asking solemnly:
"Alright, let's set aside how things turned out for now. Just looking at the plan itself—both Watatsumi Island and the Shogunate would have benefited. But what about you?"
Yes—what about you, Lumine?
Startled, Lumine turned her head and asked with confusion, "Me?"
Shao Yun nodded again and delivered what he believed to be the most critical, most pressing question.
"That's right. Everyone else's interests were taken into account—but you? What did you gain?"
Shao Yun didn't want her to say something like "I earned everyone's smiles" like some hero from a fairy tale who slays dragons and saves kingdoms.
Fairy tales were just cowardly lies told by people afraid of facing real life.
Lumine was stunned into silence. She had never seriously thought about it from that perspective.
"I..."
She opened her mouth, but no words came. Could she really say her reward was "everyone's smile"?
Seeing her lost and helpless expression, Shao Yun sighed deeply and recalled the past.
"Do you remember? Back when we stole the Holy Lyre together, I swore that I would protect you and Paimon. That I would kill for you—and die for you if I had to."
"And now, I've done it. I fulfilled that promise!"
As he said this, Shao Yun pounded his chest, his voice trembling with emotion.
Lumine listened quietly, her heart growing heavier.
Finally, she gave voice to a fear she had long buried deep inside.
"But what's the cost? Dainsleif once warned me—not to put too much trust in the Seven, but also never to go down the path of overthrowing or hunting them."
"I don't fully agree with the first half of what he said, but right now... your actions make me feel like you've already set foot on the path of slaying gods."
That was the advice Dainsleif had given Lumine and Paimon back in Mondstadt.
It had been just before they went to Favonius Cathedral, a moment Shao Yun had missed—but Dainsleif had said it.
Shao Yun, visibly stirred by her words, raised his voice in protest.
"This isn't about godslaying. It's revenge—pure and simple! When someone hurts you, I must honor my promise!"
"To me, everyone in Teyvat falls into three categories—your friend, your enemy, or someone who could become either. Whether they're a god doesn't matter!"
Hearing this, Lumine clutched her head in anguish.
"I just... can't understand it. Maybe... maybe I'm afraid..."
That confused Shao Yun. He hadn't gone to drown the divine throne in abyssal fire, or kill all Seven. Why was she afraid?
If Ei had been willing to talk, he wouldn't have drawn his blade. But she couldn't understand human words. So, what was the point in wasting breath?
Was this the unbridgeable gap between a PG-13 story and one for adults?
Or was Lumine still holding on to hope, simply because she hadn't seen Teppei die?
Shao Yun reached out, trying to take her hand—but Lumine turned away and avoided it.
He slowly retracted his hand, clearly hurt, and asked with a tinge of sadness:
"So, you'd rather I stood on the sidelines, hands in my pockets, praying that things would magically work themselves out?"
"Watched you get hurt, and clapped along from the side? Would that make you happy? Would that make you feel safe?"
Lumine quickly dropped her hands from her head, looking straight at him as she hurried to explain.
"That's not what I meant!"
Shao Yun stared at her, puzzled.
"Then what do you mean?"
Lumine swallowed hard and, after much internal struggle, finally voiced what she truly felt.
"Yes, the Raiden Shogun made mistakes. But it hadn't reached the point of no return. There was still room for peaceful negotiation! The conflict didn't have to escalate further!"
"No one knows what price we'll have to pay for killing a god!"
Shao Yun understood that she was worried for him—afraid that, having slain the Raiden Shogun, he might suffer some kind of divine retribution. After all, there was some truth to what Dainsleif had said.
But to Shao Yun, no matter the cost—it had been worth it.
"There was no room for negotiation. The moment she struck you down, that possibility vanished."
Lumine heard those words like a blade to the heart. She couldn't find a single thing to say in return.
"I..."