"What? Since when do we need permission just to meet our own colleagues? The Genius asked you to host a banquet personally—why shouldn't I be allowed to attend as well?"
With three Harbingers present, leaving her out would only sour Rosalyne's mood.
As for the Genius's so-called plan, she couldn't care less.
The Geo Archon had already sealed the contract.
If the God of Contracts himself broke his word, that would be the greatest joke of all.
So long as Childe was left to handle his part, everything else would fall neatly into place.
"Fine, but if the Genius takes offense, you'll shoulder the responsibility yourself!"
If the "Lady" insisted on going, there was nothing Tartaglia could do.
All he could do was comply.
If the Genius grew displeased, it would be on her.
Not that he minded.
He'd been sick of Rosalyne's arrogance for a long time.
If the Genius ended up teaching her a lesson— all the better.
"At least then she'd learn to rein in that pride," he thought.
"You don't need to worry. Just do your job."
Rosalyne's gaze turned inward.
Morax's whereabouts remained unknown…
Should she share the truth of the contract with the Genius?
That knowledge was volatile.
If Childe learned of it by accident, it could derail everything.
Night fell.
After a whole day wandering Liyue Harbor, Raiden Ei still looked unsatisfied.
"Weren't you supposed to be keeping an eye on me? Why does it feel like you've enjoyed yourself more than I have?"
Su Ran's eyes drifted to her stomach.
She'd eaten no small amount today— so why hadn't it shown at all?
When he reconstructed her body, he'd made it realistic down to the finest detail.
By all logic, her stomach shouldn't be able to hold that much.
"What are you staring at?"
Ei glanced down at her belly as well.
"…Wait. You're not hoping I'll bear a child, are you?
You and the puppet… have you—?"
Her eyes went wide.
So, while I wasn't aware, you've already done quite a bit with her, huh?
"You've got rocks in your head!"
Su Ran flicked her forehead with a sharp snap.
For a god forged in war, the pain was nothing— but she still rubbed her head instinctively.
When her food nearly slipped from her hand, she snatched it back with lightning reflexes.
As expected of a battle-hardened warrior, he mused.
Anyone else would've dropped it.
"Then why were you staring at my stomach?"
Ei downed another snack, then rubbed her belly.
No spark of new life stirred within.
A shame.
If there had been… it would've been the perfect way to chain Su Ran to Inazuma forever.
"Would you really want your child to grow up without a father by their side, Su Ran?"
"You've been eating nonstop all day. Can you even keep going at dinner?" he asked, baffled.
"I am a god. Whatever I consume turns instantly into energy. I can eat as much as I like."
She patted her still-flat stomach with pride.
"…So you're basically a bottomless pit."
Not only had she gained an "external brain" and stopped thinking for herself, not only did she try to solve everything with brute force— she even had a limitless stomach.
"Face it—you're the amoeba of this world."
"A bottomless pit? Are you insulting me?"
Her eyes flashed dangerously.
"Of course not! Don't you know the old Liyue saying—'a good appetite is a blessing'?"
Su Ran waved it off with a laugh.
Unexpectedly, she nodded in agreement.
"I see… that makes sense."
Sense your head! And since when do I look like a Liyuean anyway?
"But you're not from Liyue. How do you even know their sayings?
Unless… you've studied their culture because you want to stay here?"
She'd dropped the earlier topic easily, but suspicion flared once more.
The lengths she goes to just to keep me from leaving…
"Are you Chancellor Cao Cao now? Must you doubt everything?"
"Cao… who?"
"You don't need to know. Someone from beyond this world."
"Oh…"
She actually let it drop.
That, perhaps, was her charm.
With a girlfriend like her, even if you cheated, she might not care.
All she hated was the thought of you leaving home.
Come to think of it, Su Ran mused, Raiden Ei really is an excellent partner in her own way…
"Then… will you leave Teyvat someday? Travel to the world beyond?"
So long as he stayed within Teyvat, she could still find him.
But if he stepped outside the world itself— she would be powerless.
"Yes."
The moment he said it, Ei seized his arm in a vise-like grip.
If the outside world was beyond her reach, then she would cut off that possibility entirely!
"…But not now."
Su Ran tugged, but her grip was iron.
Fine. Let her hold on if she wanted.
"You know people can see us like this, right?"
"Then let them see.
The more who know you're mine, the fewer will dare to covet you."
Reputation? She cared little.
Her name was won through battle, not polite words.
"How sappy…"
Still locked together, they arrived at the doors of Liuli Pavilion.
Tartaglia was already waiting outside.
Seeing Ei clinging to Su Ran's arm, he raised his brows in silent question.
So… who exactly is controlling who here?
"Do you two really have to be glued together like this?"
He'd watched them walking so close the entire way.
Earlier, he had only suspected.
Now, their intimacy was undeniable.
"None of your business."
Ei's glare carried a blade's edge.
Tartaglia threw up his hands in surrender at once.
~~--------------------------------------
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