With Lumine now set upon her own, somber path, and the weight of his new, divine mission settling upon his shoulders, Ren found himself with an unexpected and very enthusiastic new tour guide: Yae Miko herself.
"Well now, little one," she purred, a mischievous, foxy grin on her face as she took his hand. "As your official, all-knowing guide—a role I have just now appointed to myself—it is my solemn duty to ensure you experience the very best that Inazuma City has to offer. Ganyu dear, you may tag along as… emotional support."
Ganyu, who had no intention of letting Ren out of her sight, especially not with the notoriously playful and unpredictable Guuji, simply gave a polite, if slightly wary, nod.
And so began the most surreal and high-profile sightseeing tour in the history of Inazuma. Yae Miko, with Ren's hand in hers and a perpetually flustered Ganyu trailing behind, swept through the city like a beautiful, pink-haired whirlwind.
She was a masterful guide, her commentary a witty, entertaining, and often scandalous blend of history, gossip, and personal anecdotes. She showed him the best dango shop ("The owner is secretly in love with a Tenryou Commission officer, so the sweets are always made with extra passion"). She pointed out the most scenic spots ("From this bridge, you can get the best view of the Tenshaku, and also of General Kujou Sara's notoriously strict training drills. Utterly dreadful for the soldiers, but quite entertaining for the rest of us").
Her tour eventually led them to a small, elegant, and surprisingly popular establishment. "And this," she announced with a grand, theatrical flourish, "is the Yae Publishing House. My humble little contribution to the literary arts of Teyvat."
She led him inside, the air thick with the smell of new paper and ink. She navigated through the shelves of novels and light novels, her fingers dancing over the spines, before pulling out a particular book with a vibrant, eye-catching cover. It depicted a powerful, beautiful, and unmistakably Shogun-like figure wielding a massive, lightning-wreathed sword.
"The latest bestseller," Miko said, a deeply amused twinkle in her violet eyes as she showed him the title: "That Time I Got Reincarnated as the Raiden Shogun."
Ren looked at the cover, then at the mischievous, foxy shrine maiden, and a small, thoughtful smile touched his lips. "It sounds like a good story," he said politely. "But honestly," he added, his tone turning contemplative, "if I could be reincarnated as anything, I don't think I'd want to be a god like the Shogun. I think… I would rather become a qilin."
The statement, so unexpected and so specific, made Ganyu, who had been quietly observing, blush a deep, beet red.
"A qilin?" Miko asked, her interest genuinely piqued. "Why ever for? A god has absolute power. A qilin is merely a benevolent, auspicious beast."
"Exactly," Ren replied, his gaze turning to his blushing, flustered older sister. "Qilin are supposed to be gentle creatures. They walk so softly they don't even bend the grass, and they bring peace and good fortune wherever they go. They have great power, but they use it to protect, not to rule. I think… that's a much better way to be."
His words were a quiet, profound tribute to Ganyu, a testament to his deep, abiding love and admiration for her gentle, protective nature. Ganyu's blush deepened, and she found herself suddenly, intensely, fascinated by a nearby display of inkstones.
Yae Miko just laughed, a sound like the chiming of small, silver bells. She was utterly charmed. She leaned in close to Ren, her voice a playful, conspiratorial purr. "And what about a fox, little one? Wouldn't you like to be a clever, cunning, and devastatingly beautiful kitsune, like me?"
Ganyu, recovering from her fluster, shot her old friend a small, pouting glare.
Ren just smiled, a look of pure, innocent sincerity on his face. He gestured towards Miko with his free hand. "No, I don't think so," he said, his logic simple and unassailable. "I already have a friend who's a beautiful fox. So why would I need to become a fox myself?"
The statement was a perfect, flawless, and utterly disarming counter. He had not only complimented her but had also claimed her as his friend, all while neatly sidestepping her teasing question.
Yae Miko was thrown completely off balance for a moment. She stared at the small, smiling boy, and then she let out another peal of delighted, unrestrained laughter.
"Oh, you are dangerous," she said, her violet eyes sparkling with a mixture of amusement and profound admiration. "So sneaky. So smooth. You flatter, you charm, you evade. It is as if you are trying to woo every woman you meet."
She gently poked his cheek, a gesture of fond, teasing affection. "You, my dear little Ren, are either the most innocent soul in all of Teyvat, or you are the most dangerous flirt I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. And I honestly cannot decide which is more entertaining."