"That sly fox really has done a great deal for Inazuma."
Hearing Raiden Makoto's sigh, Han Feng silently agreed.
In the original storyline, Yae Miko had always monitored Inazuma's situation from the shadows.
After the Traveler arrived, she provided substantial support—all in the hope that the Traveler could defeat Raiden Ei, save Inazuma, and save her friend.
For that goal, she even gave up her precious Vision.
Now, in this altered timeline, she had sailed across great distances to reach the manga shop, and then used soul exchange to return 500 years into the past.
It could be said:
Everything Yae Miko had done was worthy of her title as the Grand Narukami Shrine's chief priestess.
Makoto Asks About Her Friends
"Boss Han, may I ask you something?"
Makoto spoke respectfully.
After learning how miraculous the shop was, she now held deep reverence for the black-haired young man before her.
This was undoubtedly an existence of terrifying power.
"Go ahead,"
Han Feng replied with a faint smile.
"I want to know about my friends."
A trace of sorrow entered Makoto's voice.
After learning that her sister had become the Electro Archon, she had already guessed her own fate.
There was a high probability that she had fallen during the war with Khaenri'ah.
If that was her end—then what about her friends?
Makoto cared deeply.
Their Fates
"Kitsune Saiguu died in battle.
As for Mikoshi Chiyo, she ventured into the Abyss, became corrupted, later drew her blade against the Shogun, had one arm and one horn severed, and was ultimately exiled."
Han Feng answered plainly.
He knew those were the two she cared about most, so he didn't hide the truth.
However, Saiguu's situation was somewhat special.
The masked figure Hanachirusato still carried a lingering connection to her.
"I see…"
Hearing the fate of her friends, Makoto's eyes filled with grief.
Because of that war:
She herself had died.
Kitsune Saiguu had died.
Mikoshi Chiyo had been gravely wounded and forced to bear the stigma of raising her blade against the Archon.
And Inazuma itself had suffered unimaginable devastation.
At that moment, Makoto fully understood.
No wonder Ei's personality had changed so drastically.
No wonder she sealed herself inside the Plane of Euthymia.
A New Hope
"But fortunately… it's not too late."
After calming her sorrow, a light of hope appeared in Makoto's eyes.
That hope originated from this very shop.
From the knowledge she had just received, she knew this place possessed incredible power.
Simply reading manga could grant extraordinary rewards.
The soul exchange item Yae Miko used came from here.
Therefore—if she could obtain a powerful reward, she might be able to change the past tragedies and reverse the future.
As for visiting her sister, that could wait.
Right now, there was something more important.
"Boss Han, I would like to read manga."
"100,000 Mora per person. One session per day."
Han Feng replied calmly.
He wasn't surprised by her choice.
Though Makoto had a gentle temperament and wasn't known for overwhelming combat strength, her mind was exceptionally sharp.
Otherwise, in the original story, she wouldn't have left behind a fragment of power inside the realm of consciousness—
waiting for Ei to awaken, so she could pass along the seed.
A seed planted in the future that grew in the past.
Without the Sacred Sakura Tree, Inazuma might have been swallowed by disaster and corruption centuries ago.
Han Feng suddenly grew curious.
"If Makoto truly gains the power to change the past… will the Sacred Sakura Tree still exist?"
Payment
"100,000 Mora… that's quite reasonable."
Makoto nodded.
Compared to the miraculous rewards, the price was cheap.
Yae Miko had carried some money, so Makoto quickly produced a pouch of Mora.
"Boss Han, here you are."
"The manga is on the shelf over there. Afterward, you may choose the discussion area or the silent area."
After accepting the payment, Han Feng gestured toward the bookshelf.
"Thank you."
Makoto nodded and walked toward the shelf.
Two More Arrivals
At that moment, two figures entered the shop simultaneously.
Venti and Zhongli.
"Boss Han, I'm back! This morning I told people about Umaru's story, and they didn't believe me. Today I'm definitely picking something interesting!"
Venti complained as he approached the counter.
Every day, he read manga here.
Then the next day, he would go out and enthusiastically retell the stories to Mondstadt's citizens.
Yesterday, he had read Himouto! Umaru-chan.
So he excitedly described it to the townspeople.
But when they heard that a beautiful girl could turn into a lazy, messy shut-in, everyone rejected the idea.
Impossible.
A beautiful girl could never be that sloppy.
The bard must be slandering her.
This left Venti completely speechless.
Did people really think beautiful girls had to be elegant and flawless all the time?
Beautiful girls were human too.
They went to the bathroom like everyone else.
Zhongli Notices Something
While Venti was complaining, Zhongli's gaze shifted toward the figure near the bookshelf—
"Yae Miko," the shrine maiden of the Grand Narukami Shrine and familiar of the current Electro Archon.
As the former Geo Archon, he naturally knew such information.
But something felt off.
"Why does she give me the feeling of an old friend?"
Zhongli frowned slightly.
Anyone he considered an old friend usually dated back to the Archon War era.
Yet by age, Yae Miko should be his junior.
Recognition
After selecting her manga, Makoto also noticed the two of them.
Their divine auras were impossible for her to miss.
They were fellow Archons—and old companions.
Moved by nostalgia, she stepped forward to greet them.
"Gentlemen, I didn't expect to meet you again in the world 500 years later."
"Five hundred years later? Then you must be Raiden Makoto."
Zhongli's eyes narrowed slightly.
The realization struck him immediately.
No wonder she felt familiar.
So that was the reason.
The only mystery left was why she appeared in this form inside the manga shop.
"Perhaps Yae Miko obtained some kind of miraculous reward."
He formed a quiet hypothesis.
"Wait—Raiden Makoto? You've got to be kidding…"
Hearing the name of a long-lost friend, Venti froze.
His gaze locked onto Makoto, filled with disbelief.
The Archon who had died 500 years ago—was now standing before him.
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