Not only Miko, even Elliot and Chiyo didn't react at first.
But Chiyo only froze for a moment before quickly understanding.
After spending so much time with Zebul, Chiyo had already come to understand how her mind worked.
If it was a contest of who could be more shameless—
Zebul was unmatched.
Compared to her, that sly little fox was nothing. Zebul's head was always full of bizarre tricks, and her sudden ideas were often so outrageous that Chiyo sometimes wondered if something in Zebul had broken.
Last time, Zebul even wanted to disguise herself as an ordinary girl and sleep on the street just to see what strange things might happen.
Fortunately, Chiyo and Kitsune Saiguu had stopped her in time.
Elliot hadn't expected it either...
When Zebul's friends were with her, when she wasn't pursuing eternity, when she wasn't shutting herself away...
Her smile was dazzling.
She really was just a mischievous, lively girl.
But—
When her friends disappeared one after another...
When she witnessed the fall of Khaenri'ah with her own eyes...
She would one day have to shoulder the weight of all Inazuma alone.
Zebul would stop trusting her comrades. She would create a puppet that pursued only eternity, one that would rule in her place, governing the nation she had always loved.
That puppet would start wars.
Families would be torn apart.
Countless lives would be lost.
The people would suffer endlessly.
But this time—it would not be like that.
This time...
He, the puppet, would carry everything.
He would protect that smile. He would protect this warmth.
"Hey, Sasayuri, how big of a fish do you think you could catch with a fox this size?" Zebul patted Elliot's shoulder.
"Maybe even a sea monster."
Watching the Miko who had just mocked him now completely subdued in Zebul's hands, Elliot felt his mood instantly lighten.
Hearing his answer, Zebul's eyes lit up.
"Quick, let's go fishing!!" She grabbed his arm, ready to set out.
"Dinner's ready."
At that moment, Baal and Kitsune Saiguu, who had been absent until now, came out each carrying two dishes.
"Little fox, we'll go fishing after we eat." Zebul let go and smiled.
Finally free, Yae Miko hurriedly put distance between herself and Zebul. She knew she wasn't a match for that woman right now, and her eyes were full of wariness.
"Is there more food?" Chiyo asked.
"There's some left."
"I'll get it."
Before long, the entire table was filled to the brim with food.
Over dinner, everyone chatted and laughed, the atmosphere warm and lively.
Elliot seemed to have recovered from the last incident, showing no unusual expression.
But only Zebul knew—he still carried that weight in his heart.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have gone off to live alone on a deserted island.
He was clearly afraid that his Lonesome Transcendence would bring harm to others.
"By the way, Sasayuri, how long can you fly now?"
Kitsune Saiguu asked casually while eating fried tofu.
"Uh... if it's just normal flying, I can go for several days and nights. But I get hungry quickly," Elliot answered.
"Days and nights!?"
His words left everyone staring in shock, frozen on the spot.
"Then... what about full speed?" Chiyo swallowed hard and pressed on.
"About four or five hours. My longest was five and a half." Elliot recalled clearly.
Most of his training now came from flying—ordinary physical training could no longer push him forward.
With his current strength, he could lift thousands of tons—essentially, he could raise a mountain.
But because he had lost one hand, he couldn't perform feats like that, nor could he find heavier weights for training. Flying had become his only way to push his limits.
If he fought Orobashi again now, it would end in a single strike.
His sword aura could already rival Zebul's full-power "Musou no Hitotachi."
"Hsss..."
Everyone shivered at his words, their scalps tingling.
"Your strength... might not be any weaker than mine now, right?" Zebul looked at him as if he were some kind of monster.
In Teyvat, serious growth wasn't impossible.
With enough effort, even mortals could rival the gods.
Mortals could obtain Visions.
Those who bore Visions were called "Original Gods."
And every Original God carried the potential to ascend and become a true "God."
Gods were not as unreachable as people imagined.
Most simply lacked the will to walk that path, treating their Vision only as proof or a tool.
"I don't think so," Elliot denied.
"True enough... after all, you're missing a hand."
In combat, Zebul still had absolute confidence.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have become one of the Seven Archons.
Anyone who sat in that seat was no ordinary figure.
"You've got incredible stamina..." Chiyo couldn't help but exclaim.
Kitsune Saiguu's brow arched.
"What a strange way to put it." Her lips curved as she teased Chiyo.
"Strange? Flying full speed for four or five hours, isn't that—"
Chiyo suddenly realized what she was saying.
Her face instantly flushed crimson, steam practically rising from her head.
Seeing her like that, Baal covered her mouth, laughing softly.
"I-I-I-I didn't mean it that way..."
"Yes, yes, we all get it." Before Chiyo could finish, Kitsune Saiguu patted her shoulder, her smile making it impossible for Chiyo to argue.
"You're all grown up, and you still get shy," Zebul teased with a grin, rubbing her head against Chiyo.
"I-I-I—ahhhh!!"
Flustered and red-faced, Chiyo bolted back into the house.
The others exchanged glances, then burst into laughter at her expense.
"Anyway, shall we play cards later? I've prepared some prizes."
They had clearly planned well for Elliot's return.
Baal had prepared a feast, and now Kitsune Saiguu was inviting them warmly.
"Great! Where are we playing?" Zebul's eyes lit up.
"I know a place with beautiful cherry blossoms and hardly any people. Let's go there."
"Perfect! Playing cards while flower-viewing—Kitsune Saiguu, you're the best." Zebul praised.
"Then I'll make some snacks later. What do you all want to eat?"
Baal, who hadn't spoken much until now, asked gently.
"Dango!" Zebul immediately chimed in.
"Fried tofu for me!" Kitsune's love for fried tofu was downright strange—no matter how much she ate, she never tired of it.
"Fried skewers for me!!"
The moment food was mentioned, Chiyo, who had just fled inside, came running right back out.
"Dango, fried tofu, fried skewers..."
Baal repeated, making a note of everything, before finally turning her gaze to Elliot.
"And you, Sasayuri? What would you like?" she asked with a gentle smile.
"Candied hawthorn," he answered softly.