"Looks like bringing Ei here really was the right choice."
Although Raiden Makoto had been casually wandering around the shop, she had still kept part of her attention on her younger sister.
Seeing Ei fiddling with something at the counter while smiling brightly,
Makoto felt genuinely happy inside.
This was how things should be!
What was the point of staying cooped up in the Plane of Euthymia all day?
Just as she was about to walk over and see what reward Ei had obtained—
Suddenly, a dazzling light enveloped her body.
"This is?"
Makoto was briefly stunned, but soon sensed something.
Her body instantly relaxed.
"Looks like it's time for the soul exchange."
She hadn't expected that, in the blink of an eye, half a day had already passed.
But she didn't ask for more.
Within this short span of time, she had already gained so much.
Not only had she visited a mysterious manga shop, read interesting manga, and obtained powerful rewards—she had also toured Inazuma five hundred years into the future.
More importantly,
she had learned the original course of fate!
To Raiden Makoto, that was the most precious thing of all.
Sensing that her departure was near, during these final lingering moments, Makoto gazed fondly at everything inside the manga shop.
The first thing she saw after crossing through time had been this place, and the last thing she would see before leaving was also this place.
Finally, her gaze settled on Ei and Boss Han Feng at the counter.
"Ei, Boss… let's meet again in 500 years."
After deeply looking at the two of them one final time, Raiden Makoto slowly closed her eyes.
Immediately, brilliant light once again filled the shop.
500 Years Ago — Inazuma, Tenshukaku
At this moment, inside a certain room,
Raiden Makoto—
or rather, Yae Miko—
was kneeling before a table with her eyes closed in meditation.
Her brows twitched slightly, as though she were pondering something deeply.
In her arms, a small fox continued playing restlessly.
It liked the aura surrounding its owner.
"I wonder if Ei and the others have finished making preparations…"
After a while, Yae Miko slowly opened her eyes and sighed inwardly.
After crossing over, because time had been limited, she had only briefly explained the matter concerning Khaenri'ah.
However, since she wasn't fully familiar with the situation five hundred years ago, she hadn't dared interfere recklessly.
Instead, she simply let them make preparations themselves.
"There's only so much I can do. The rest depends on them… or on Makoto."
Yae Miko looked out the window helplessly.
At first, she had believed returning here would allow her to change many things.
But after careful thought, she realized—some matters were still beyond her ability.
Even if she knew disaster was coming, she could only watch helplessly as it unfolded.
All she could do was offer warnings, allowing Ei and the others to prepare in advance.
To minimize losses as much as possible, and perhaps preserve their lives.
But the crisis of the Khaenri'ah war was simply too massive.
Perhaps, in the end, the outcome would remain unchanged.
In that case, the only true variable was Raiden Makoto.
If Makoto could obtain some powerful reward from Boss Han Feng, then perhaps tragedy could still be altered.
She didn't seek to change the grand course of history!
She only hoped that Raiden Makoto, Chiyo, and Lady Saiguu—
those three—
could survive.
If that happened, Inazuma's fate would finally change!
Knock knock knock!
While Yae Miko was deep in thought, a knock sounded outside the room.
"Come in."
After receiving permission, the door opened and three figures walked in.
It was Raiden Ei and the others.
"Makoto, we've already begun making preparations according to your instructions. We've also sent people to notify Liyue and Mondstadt."
Looking at her sister seated before the table, Ei stepped forward and spoke.
"That's good."
Yae Miko let out a sigh of relief.
"Lady Ogosho, is what you said earlier truly that serious?"
Kitsune Saiguu knelt to one side and asked softly.
The things Yae Miko had said earlier had simply sounded too terrifying!
She claimed that the coming crisis would spread across all of Teyvat!
That Inazuma would suffer devastating losses.
That even they themselves might perish.
If those words had come from anyone else, Kitsune Saiguu would never have believed them.
But these words had come directly from Lady Ogosho herself.
Naturally, they couldn't be false!
Even if she still felt something about all this was rather strange.
"You'll understand later."
Yae Miko slowly shook her head.
Since the events hadn't happened yet, explanations were meaningless.
Once the crisis arrived, they would naturally understand.
This soul exchange—she had already completed her mission.
"Makoto, you…"
Just as Ei was about to say something—
Suddenly, a brilliant light descended from the void and enveloped Yae Miko.
"T-This light… where did it come from?!"
Seeing this scene, the three people in the room were all stunned.
There wasn't even a skylight in Tenshukaku—so how could light possibly shine through?
And this light carried an indescribable power, faintly radiating mystery.
"There's no need to worry."
Seeing everyone's alarmed expressions, Yae Miko smiled softly.
She had already experienced this phenomenon once this morning.
Naturally, she knew the reason.
The time for the soul exchange had arrived.
"Everyone… you must survive this crisis. I hope we can meet again in 500 years."
Feeling her departure approaching, Yae Miko looked longingly at the three people before her.
Then she slowly closed her eyes.
At that moment, the light surrounding her grew even brighter.
"Makoto!"
"Lady Ogosho!"
Although Ei and the others still didn't understand what Yae Miko meant, seeing such a bizarre scene instantly made them panic.
They tried rushing forward to check on her, only to be blocked by an invisible force.
Fortunately, the light soon dissipated.
Seeing Raiden Makoto still kneeling there, the three finally sighed in relief.
And strangely enough,
the aura around Makoto—around Lady Ogosho—had changed again.
She had become the familiar person they knew best.
"Makoto… are you alright?"
Seeing Makoto open her eyes, Ei stepped forward and asked softly.
"I'm fine."
Makoto smiled and shook her head before looking around at her surroundings.
The familiar Tenshukaku.
The familiar three people.
She knew—she had truly returned.
If not for the fact that her rewards were still with her, she would've believed it had all been a dream.
"I'm glad you're alright."
Ei finally relaxed.
But remembering those strange words from earlier, she quickly asked again:
"Makoto, what did you mean earlier by 'survive the crisis' and 'meet again in 500 years'?"
Upon hearing this, Chiyo and Kitsune Saiguu also turned curious gazes toward her.
They were extremely curious as well.
"You'll understand later."
Makoto smiled lightly.
Ignoring the speechless expressions of the three women, she picked up the little fox in her arms.
"This time, it's all thanks to you. From now on… your name shall be Yae Miko."
Looking at the somewhat bewildered little fox in her hands, Makoto revealed a gentle smile.
She never would have imagined—that the little fox's name had actually come from the future!
How wonderfully mysterious.
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