Paimon then asked, "What about your own body? Why do you always use this method? I remember you live in the Sanctuary of Surasthana, right?"
Hearing this question, Nahida's face showed a hint of loneliness. He replied, "This goes back a long time. After Greater Lord Rukkhadevata disappeared, the sages found me, newly born, and brought me back to Sumeru.
At that time, I was indeed young and weak. The sages, under the guise of protection, confined me in the Sanctuary of Surasthana and barely paid me any mind. But I knew very well how much the sages wished they had found Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, and not me, who almost symbolized the fact that Greater Lord Rukkhadevata had passed away.
From a certain perspective, they weren't wrong. Greater Lord Rukkhadevata was omniscient and omnipotent. Even after he passed away, Akasha continued to give this nation strength. But I... am far from worthy of the title of God of Wisdom. The Akademiya is also more adept at governing the nation. My existence doesn't hold that much significance..."
Before Nahida could finish speaking, Miyashiro, who was nearby, let out a scoff, drawing the attention of the three of them.
Miyashiro couldn't help but burst out laughing: "Sorry, but I really can't help it. I didn't expect that even you, as a victim, would still hold such absurd and ridiculous notions. It seems the Akademiya's influence on you is truly profound."
Nahida frowned and said, "Regent, what do you mean by that?"
Miyashiro shrugged and said, "This is the first time I've heard of a nation's God thinking he has no reason to exist. If that's the case, if I were to lead Inazuma's army to attack Sumeru, I wonder if Sumeru's Thirty Personal Guards could resist Inazuma's attack!"
Nahida's expression immediately changed. He said, "You... are you declaring war on Sumeru?"
Paimon and Lumine also became nervous at once, especially Lumine, who knew how strong this man in front of them truly was. If Inazuma really attacked Sumeru, it was likely no one would be able to withstand Miyashiro's assault.
Paimon quickly tried to smooth things over: "Miyashiro, you're just using an example, you're joking, right?"
Miyashiro added: "I'm not joking. In my opinion, today's Sumeru is an incredibly delicious piece of fatty meat, making one unable to resist taking a bite.
Inazuma is a small island nation with scarce land resources, barren soil, and a lack of produce. Because of this, Watatsumi Island and Narukami Island fought two protracted wars, resulting in hundreds of thousands of casualties.
If the ancestors of Watatsumi Island knew that in the neighboring nation of Sumeru, not far from them, there was a sick tiger that was neither protected by a God nor had any teeth, they wouldn't have had to live thousands of years of hardship."
Upon hearing this, a hint of panic flashed in Nahida's eyes. He immediately connected to Akasha, wanting to know if Sumeru currently had the ability to cope with war. However, when Akasha responded, his face turned pale.
Today's Sumeru not only has no army of its own, but the military budget's share of national expenditure is pitifully small. Indeed, as Miyashiro said, can today's Sumeru truly rely on such a small force to withstand a nation's attack?
Miyashiro slowly said, "Nahida, you just said that you felt your existence was meaningless because you couldn't compare to Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, right?
In my opinion, ever since the Archon War resulted in seven victors across The Seven Archons regions of Teyvat, The Seven Archons divided their domains and developed independently. Your existence, besides protecting the people of your regions, has a greater purpose in preventing the kind of national war I just mentioned."
Nahida: "National war?"
Miyashiro nodded: "Humans are actually a very warlike species. Because of their short lifespans, history to them is merely a book compiled by their predecessors.
Throughout Teyvat's history, conflicts, wars, and internal strife among the people within a nation have been countless. However, in such circumstances, have you ever seen any nation's army openly attack another nation?
No! In the more than two thousand years since the Archon War ended, not a single national war has occurred. This is because the rulers of these nations all know that if they have minor squabbles within their own God's domain, no God will intervene. But if they were to attack other nations, do you think the Gods of those other nations would act against the invaders?
They dare not take such a gamble, because in their hearts, The Seven Archons are symbols of power, beings above humanity, not to be antagonized.
But what if other nations were to learn that Sumeru's Dendro Archon is a God who has been imprisoned by his own people and has no ruling power? Do you think Sumeru would still have its current peace?"
At this moment, Nahida frantically tried to use his wisdom in his mind to verify what Miyashiro had said. However, no matter how he reasoned and experimented in Akasha, Sumeru, without his protection, would become a target for all.
As soon as he thought of that scene, out of the innate loving nature of a God, Nahida immediately made up his mind and said decisively, "I absolutely cannot abandon the people of Sumeru City!"
Miyashiro: "Alas, it's a pity that the sages of the Akademiya have already decided to abandon you and create a new God themselves."
Nahida, Lumine, and Paimon said in unison: "What?!"
Lumine: "Could it be that the Akademiya sages' plan is to create a new God!"
Nahida, upon hearing this, also began to ponder this possibility and said, "The Akademiya's governance of Sumeru has always been without major issues. This is also the first time I've seen them deviate from the right path, using the residents of the entire Sumeru City as experimental subjects. If the Suflower Festival's cycle hadn't been disrupted in time, perhaps the situation really would have been very serious.
I also tried to investigate in Akasha, but there was no suspicious data in Akasha. Key personnel also seemed to have deliberately not worn Akasha Terminals. Could this be what they are hiding?
Regent, why are you so easily telling me such a confidential matter? Or for what purpose?"
Seeing the determination in Nahida's eyes, Miyashiro felt that the time was ripe, so he said calmly, "Alright, alright, don't be so serious. My mission to Sumeru this time is naturally to establish diplomatic relations with Sumeru.
However, the current sages of the Akademiya are very unfriendly towards Inazuma, always liking to make some rude demands. I can't stand their actions, but as Inazuma Regent, I cannot openly crush them directly.
So I specifically collected some dirt on them, thinking of using it as a breakthrough point.
But I didn't expect that without investigating, I wouldn't have known, and once I investigated, I was shocked. I didn't expect that the Akademiya sages not only imprisoned Lesser Lord Kusanali for five hundred years, but also tried to cooperate with the Fatui to create a new God. This gave me a new plan: to bet on you."
Nahida: "Bet?"
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