Chapter TextMakoto can't believe how easy it's to convince Traveller to follow him. It's so easy that compared to beating Childe everynow and then before when he still a Fatui harbinger.
First, he just needed to tempt Traveller little companion Paimon with the promise of dinner later and as Makoto expected Paimon immediately excited hearing that. To her, most of the time only spent thinking about what she should put in mouth is very easy to guess. Then he said "You can get the dinner you want but I need you both to do something for me" and with that before the Traveler can refuse or ask what kind of job is that, Paimon persuades him to accept it.
At the beginning The Traveller wanted to ask something about the job or Makoto guessed, but before he could say a single word, Makoto said "You can order anything you want too" to add the fuel to fire which made Paimon more increasingly enthusiastic hearing it and in the end Aether (forced to) accepted it without can asking anything about the job.
Makoto, followed by Aether and Paimon behind him, is currently walking toward Inazuma Pier and he is right now very close to his destination as he can hear the sound of waves and saltiness of sea in the air. He needs to talk to someone there.
Captain of the ship which he used to travel to Inazuma from Sumeru and would he use back to Sumeru this day if not for something that happened yesterday.
He doesn't even bother to remember his name. But the few things he likes about that man is that the Captain is a very competent and experienced sailor, even the smell of liquor that always accompanies many sailors there is nothing at all on him, even with enhanced sense of smell, and that was enough for him to sail on his Ship without any unnecessary criticism from him.
Makoto despised Alcohol, it all began when his body can still be seen as having the characteristics of a puppet. His body has the same texture and hard as polished Wood, different from his body right now that has changed over time to resemble human. At the time someone accidentally dropped a cup of sake over him that caused his body and clothes to have stain, it needed a few weeks to disappear from his skin. It really, really frustrates his younger self because it causes him to remember that he is just a failed product of his mother's hands.
His hatred of alcohol became bigger after he joined Fatui, how the smell of blood mixed with alcohol in Dotto-... Why is he even thinking about this right now? Dwell on something in the past? He can use his time to think of other useful things and…here he is now, Inazuma Pier, the place where Ships which want to make a stop in Inazuma are anchored. It's better to search for the man before he needs to meet his mother. " Where is that man?".
Makoto looked around to search for the man it's not long before he noticed a Ship with a flag of Sumeru.
" There he is " The captain of the ship he used. The man, aware that someone is looking at him, turns his attention from supervising the dockworkers to him.
"Ah kid! Ready to go back home eh? Just need to load these boxes a lot to the Ship before okay". The captain gave him a big toothy smile as he gave to him before sailing to Inazuma.
"About that, sorry but I cannot go home for now," Makoto answered. The captain raised his eyebrow and scratched his head confused what Makoto means by that. "There a sudden business i need to deal in Inazuma apparently, so sorry about that"
Makoto explains it politely to the Captain, for if he explains the reason with his usual tone there is a good chance the captain would report a complaint to their Boss A.K.A. Kusanali A.K.A Nahida and even if the captain does not complain about him, there is also another chance that Nahida would ask the captain personally and like any Sumeruan will answer it honestly to their Archon and if the man somehow lied about Makoto, Nahida will instantly know because of her power.
So yeah, he needs to be a good boy when dealing with him.
"Eh, fine i just need to report it to her then so what about the mission given by Lesser lord Kusanali herself" The Captain asked. Ah right the mission, the Captain sailing under assumption that Makoto is under a very important mission from his Archon.
Makoto wonders what the Captain's reaction is if he knows what Makoto 'Mission' truly is.
"It's done," Makoto answered as he gave the Captain a very decorative small box containing Nahida order. A small device Made by some scholar from Kshahrewar Darshan, a cooling box. Good piece of work and a waste of resources at the same time for Makoto. Good because it's useful and a waste of resources because the creators didn't need to waste money on mere excessive decoration. "Here give this to Nahida"
The Captain frowned for a mere second before returning back to his usual smile, Makoto knew the reason why the Captain frowned was not because he gave his supposed result of the 'mission' to him but because called the Dendro Archon with her name. In just a short time of their interaction Makoto knows The Captain is one of devout believers of Dendro Archon, so hearing someone called their Archon so casually even if they work directly under herself must feel like an insult to them.
"Nice box over there, kid" the Captain commented as he accepted and inspected the box. "So just need to give this directly to the Dendro Archon herself right".
Makoto nodded.
"Are there any messages or reports I need to tell her?" the Captain asked as he looked behind Makoto. He looked and greeted the Traveller and Paimon warmly. Before turning his attention back to Makoto. " huh never know you befriend the Traveller and eerrr…what the flying kid name is? Something to do with Pie, pretty sure"
Makoto can hear Paimon complain behind him before she flies to the captain and starts to continue complaining to the Captain even after he apologizes and the Traveller needs to intervene.
Fortunately the Captain just laughs and gives Paimon a candy in his pocket and just by that it's enough to stop her rant.
They talk for more before one of the Ship crews shout from the Ship deck that they already load all the cargo they need to bring back to Sumeru.
The captain then gave his farewell before boarding his ship and leaving the Harbor.
While Paimon is still enjoying her candy, Traveller tiredly turns to him. "So, is that part of my job or you just want me to follow you without a clue at all?"
Makoto turns to The Traveller. "Are you perhaps happy if my answer is the latter?
Makoto smiles sadistically as The Traveller starts to stare intently at him, clearly annoyed by him.
"Good, then you start to understand me more," Makoto teased. "So be a good employee to your employee or Paimon need to said goodbye to her dinner"
Hearing that, Paimon is shocked and starts lecturing the Traveller on how to act as a good employee to their employer. It's quite a funny sight, it's even more funny as The Traveler gives him death glares before Paimon makes him pay attention to what she says. To Makoto what Paimon said to Aether was just bullshit that employers said to enslave their employees.
2+Affection Point ( Aether ( 10/100) )
Huh, weird somehow his Affection point suddenly rises.
Then another 'Window' pops out.
Congratulation!
Aether perk has opened!
Masochist (Non-sexual)
Heroes always know pain!
If you insult or hurt the person with this perk there are chance you get Affection Point from them!
Explanation :
Aether was never aware that he found satisfaction in the form of Battle pain.
A perk? As he reads the perk of The Traveller, Makoto feels disgusted. No wonder the man in question somehow always ends up in a dire situation, he is apparently unaware about his masochist side.
How The Traveller can still be alive to this point is beyond him.
But how he can open the perk of The Traveller in the first place, Makoto scolded himself, he just needed to think of the word 'perk' to find his answer.
Perks can be opened when certain requirements are fulfilled. Each individual has different requirements.
And here is his answer. Makoto wondered what his mother's requirements were.
Makoto arrived earlier than he promised with his mother but yet the woman in question is also already here.
"Ah sorry, did i come too quickly" His mother asked him before turning her attention to Paimon and The Traveller behind him " Aether and Paimon in here too".
"Hello""Hello, Ei" Aether and Paimon give their own greetings replied with another "hello" from his mother. Then She turned her attention to Makoto.
"I never knew that you befriended The Traveller and Paimon. The world is a small place sometimes if you think about it" Makoto could see a flicker of amusement by this discovery in her eyes. Makoto doesn't understand what she meant by that but regardless he agreed with what she said.
"Friends?" Makoto scoffed. "Just an Acquaintance, The Traveller and Paimon are not my friends at all and for the time being he is my employee helping me explain things to you". Makoto explaining his relationship with the Traveller and Paimon, Acquaintance is a more fitting word than friend after all. Neither Makoto and the Traveller try to deepen their relationship other than just being ex enemies and acquitenance. The fact that they can speak civilly after their history itself is quite astonishing development between them.
Still it's not stopping Traveller to hate him, but at the same time Makoto doesn't hesitate to remind Traveller who humiliated and defeat him the most if he proved to be a nuisance to Sumeru and Nahida cause.
Makoto doubted he would lose to the Traveller for the second time. Especially with Nahida sharing the record of the memories of their fight during 168 loops. Makoto feels there is something Nahida hides from him within the memories, Makoto can clearly view the records before and during the fight but never the end and how he defeats the Traveller oddly are missing from the records itself.
When he asked about this to Nahida, she just said it's not an unnecessary thing to defeat the Shouki no Kami.
Her reasoning is founded but still…
"Is that so? weird, Many people proudly said they are his friends" Then his mother turned her attention to the Traveller again. "So Traveler, how is your day in Inazuma?"
The Traveler and Paimon walk closer to Makoto and Ei.
"It's good as usual", Makoto looked at the Traveller unamused, so this man can lie for just the sake of being polite but unable to lie to his enemies at all to save his own skin. What an annoying personality. "I really li—.
"He is lying." Makoto cut him off. "I found him hungry and desperate enough to steal vegetables along with Paimon from someone's farm yesterday."
The Traveler and Paimon grimaced as he said that. Definitely never expected him to say that at all. The Traveller and Paimon turn their faces, their faces hurt by what he just did.
Ei, his mother looked at him before turning to the Traveller, to Paimon before turning her gaze back at him. She is clearly confused by what he just said. She probably thought that Inazuma's condition was not that bad, how fun it was to prove how wrong she was.
"I just said what I just said, there is no lie from what I just said." Makoto then looked at the people who started to look at their grup, at first those bystanders did not even dare to even close, but after he said those controversial things about the Traveller and Paimon, the fear started to be replaced by curiosity. Makoto understands revered heroes like the Traveller to have bad rumors must be quite news, Makoto internally grinned as he looked as Aether squirming uncomfortably by these people.
But these people will not be good for Makoto either. After all He is the one who said that, so there is a chance there is a bad rumor people make about him. The last thing he wants is attention from strangers. Makoto glares at those people, understanding and afraid that after being glared at by him, those people decide to go back to their own business.
"Let's go somewhere there a no one"
"Paimon really regretted being tempted by him" Paimon said regretfully as she whispered to Aether's ear.
"Good, you are learning something" Aether murmured.
The Ocean view from the random beach they choose is quite boring as it shows only the blue sky, few abandoned small boats in its beach and waves like many beaches in Inazuma island but it's remote and quiet from any human activity and lowers the possibility of certain organizations to eavesdrop. So it's the perfect place for him to explain things to his mother.
Makoto then looked at the Traveller, he could see doubt and anxiety in his expression. With a smile on his face, Makoto said "Traveler, can you confirm the dear Electro Archon why you even need to do what I said about you before".
1+Affection Point ( Aether ( 11/100) )
" Huh he enjoyed it"
Paimon looked pale, anxious about what the Traveler would say.
The Traveller looks at him with hatred, but the hatred tame compared when they battle for the fate of Sumeru.
The Traveller then sighed before turning to Makoto's mother. He gave her a sorry smile. "Yes, i'm so sorry about that"
His mother nodded. "Right. But why? Aether?" Her expression confused what the Traveller needed to do such low things like that.
Makoto smirked for a moment before it disappeared from his face, this is quite fun but there is no need to make his mother suspect something wrong.
His plan was to make the Traveller tell his sad stories why he needed to steal to survive with the idea that he will gain pity from his mother. Makoto is sure about this plan, the Traveller while having a humble personality he is at the same time still have pride.
From what knowledge Makoto gathered both from his past incarnation and his current self. Is that the Traveller hates to show any form of weakness. Even if it can bring advantage to him during battle. Makoto doesn't know if it's just stupid Pride or other meaningless thing.
From his past incarnation, where he read one of Signora spies reports because he was bored he found that the Traveller refused healing by some hydro user even though the wound he sustained was quite fatal.
And recent news he hears from Nahida is how the Traveller was injured after fighting with The Knave and still refused healing.
How stupid the Traveller is, can he realize the reason why he won many big battles was not by his own strength but because he relied on others.
Back to the problem before.
The Traveller sighed before he explained. "The price of necessities like food has been rising since the beginning of the civil war and even after the war ended it is still rising but not as bad as before." Makoto can see his face redden as the Traveler looks at Ei before continuing "it makes me spend more Mora faster than when I was in other nations, also the reward quests provided by the adventure guild still don't cover our expenses at all."
"S-sorry once again about what i did, i swear i and Paimon did it because we were really desperate". The Traveller then bowed, followed by Paimon, Makoto pretty sure that not all He wanted to say but it's still enough for now.
Makoto looked at his mother, her eyes showing pity before sighed. "Traveller" title now, not the name? "I understand your…circumstances but you can call Miko or me for a financial problem after all you saved Inazuma itself."
"I just don't want to bother you guys, I help because I want" Wanderer gave the Traveller a look that " you are serious?", the Traveller winced when he looked at Makoto and gave him that look. "A few things dragged me to join the war but my main goal is to ask you regarding my sister whereabout but when I gained nothing i thought there was no problem if I joined at all. But I forgot something about war : you need to be ready to lose someone important to you".
Makoto grumble.
The Traveler looked at the Makoto with a hollow stare, Makoto remembered their second encounter in the delusion factory about how the Traveller said someone's name that he lost because of the Fatui mechanism.
Makoto doesn't regret that decision at all, the man's life was his own to take care of. Fatui just gave him another choice to end it. Nothing more nothing less. In the end the decision was in his hand, they already said about the negative effect but he still didn't listen at all.
There is silence between them.
Fortunately his mother decided to break the silence. "I understands"
"Now you understand one of Inazuma's problems, Inflation and so listen carefully to how to deal with it."
Ei listened to Makoto's explanation carefully. She easily understood what the younger man was explaining. In the beginning when he explained about how to deal with inflation she was a little doubtful but when Shogun said that his explanation is worth trying. It makes Ei really excited that she doesn't need to spend night after night with a headache dealing with many problems.
Now a few hours have already passed as Makoto explained about other problems and how to deal with them.
" Makoto is really amazing right! If only those clans head like him" Ei shouted to Shogun.
"Indeed, my calculation about this unknown man is indeed correct, now he really proved worthy of our praise" The Shogun agreed with her creator as she listened and recorded what all He said before. "the man now can have the gift you want to give to him"
" Thank, Shogun"
The Shogun doesn't reply but Ei knows her creation is always like that. Only talk when necessary.
"And that end of what i need to say today" Makoto ends his explanation. Aether claps his hand followed by very tired Paimon.
"Thank you very much, Makoto" Ei now calling him Makoto feels less weird now. The young man is just as clever as her late sister. Honestly Ei also feels weird seeing how similar he is to Makoto, her late sister. But it's just something that can be called a mere coincidence.
"That really impressive, Makoto!" Aether said as he congratulated him. "Nahida really not kidding when she said how smart you are."
"So even Dendro Archon herself praise him"
"Ei you really need to tie him to Inazuma" Shogun said to her, clearly considering this is a very important thing.
"There is no need to praise me," Makoto said, trying to calm Aether's praise. Now Ei know another fact about him: He is apparently not the type of person that likes to be praised.
"Aether" Aether froze as Makoto said his name, Ei found this quite weird. Why did Aether suddenly act like this? "About my question last night? Care to answer it before we split back to our own life".
"Why did you name
Chapter TextYae Miko smiled. Happy that she doesn't need to hear friend complain for at least 5 more days.
It's the second day of her friend's vacation. And here Miko right now sits in temple stairs as she wonders what Novels idea she needs to write.
She was ecstatic at the beginning when Ei said that she will take more responsibility with Inazuma and its governance from Shogun's hand. Miko was very happy that her friend finally decided to take more responsibility for her own duty, the loneliness of 500 years almost felt worth it.
How fool she was.
At first Ei just occasionally came to meet her, just a chat between friends. Then she started to bring a piece of paper between her fingers. Without Miko realizing that piece paper started to grow each time Ei meet her to become pile of paper. And the purpose of Ei meeting her starts to change. From just wanting a chat to needing help with her duty.
Yae Miko sighed.
She wants to complain to Ei that she doesn't want to help her. Miko herself is already busy with her jobs: reading and writing novels, occasionally playing pranks on other people but sometimes doing guuji work too if her mikos need help. Miko doesn't need an extra job to help her friend duty as Shogun. But how she can said "No" to that cute and pathetic face Ei give to her was enough to melt her heart enough to help Ei.
Which Miko regretted agreeing to it later. It makes her remember why she helped that Brat (Kamisato) clan from its destruction. If that clan falls from Grace there is a good chance those 'vultures' called themselves Kamisato clan comrades will take a chance to take more control of Inazuma for their own sake. The Brat would be their puppet but Miko doubts it that he would be their good puppet, after all that Brat was smart enough to outplay herself so few scheming clans was not something to worry about but the Brat sister on other hand would be the problem to him. Miko knows that many men of other clans want to marry the Brat sister after all. Especially when she was still at such a young age at the time.
Miko frowned, remembering that the corruption of those clans was something she even felt disgusted by. Thankfully it's just a thing in the past by Ei's decision to be more involved in Inazuma politics and governance.
A pity, those fallen clans descendants cannot gain their former glory. Like kaedahara and other smith clans because of that one Smith that became mad.
Miko frown deepened as she felt her head suddenly hurt so much. Every time she think about those incident somehow she always have this nasty headache, she not understand why but just mere thinking it, the headache suddenly appeared and gone. When she thought about what happened in the past, like what she ate with Makoto when she was still alive or when Ei decided to leave her for 500 years, the headache never occurred. But when she thought about the tatarasuna incident, the headache came back but it was many orders of magnitude worse. It's the worst physical pain she ever felt.
Miko never feels so humiliated to wake up surrounded by her mikos and how they tell her that she suddenly fainted in the middle of Temple with vomit stained her clothes and convulsed convulsively. It's much worse that day all the mikos are in the temple. So yeah all her mikos know and she ends up threatening all of them to never tell this to anyone. Miko doesn't want a ridiculous rumor floating around that said Guuji was sick or even worse, too old to take care of her duty. Miko after all wanted to become the one to spread the rumor not become the rumor itself.
Thankfully, every time she thought about the mad Smith incident she just had less pain from the headache. But in the tatarasuna incident the effect only appears if she thinks too deeply about it. Unfortunately to discover that it's caused her to faint and end up waking up in her own puddle of her own vomit. Luckily no one found her the second time it happened. Her pride did not allow that.
Miko doesn't know the connection between those two dark histories of Inazuma besides that it happened to the Smith clans. But she wants and will find out. Just need to be careful and patient.
"Yo, nice woman, apparently you're here" Miko's attention is diverted by the familiar oni who greets her. Following behind him another familiar face. "Thanks again for the Dango Milk before!".
Miko still remembers when she gave that idio–, that word too harsh for such good yokai such as him, "the muscle is too thick caused all nutrient supposed go to brain gone to muscle" is much polite way to describe the intellegience of this Oni. Miko remember give him a box full of Dango Milk of nut flavor before. The reason she gave him was because he had such a chattering mouth that made him perfect to advertise this new flavor of Dango Milk plus it's quite funny to see his allergy acting up because of the nut in Dango Milk he drinks.
It's also her plan to make Ei busy for the week, if Ei busy searching for the source of the limited flavor of Dango Milk only to not find any clue and in the end of her vacation Ei would come to here with that cute sad face to her, and Miko will have given her a box of so-called limited flavor Dango Milk. Just by Imagining Ei's reaction sent shivers down her spine. Miko can't wait any longer.
It's also a good way to advertise the drink and when she sells it, the temple will gains
But enough about that, for now back to the Oni.
The Oni certainly knows where Miko was because Kuki Shinobu is the one who told him about her. Her sister sometimes talks about dragging her back to the temple but never finds the chance to.
"Hahaha never knew that you are one of miko here, why Shinobu never tell me stories about you" The oni said while his companion showed a tired face, even if Kuki was using the mask, it's still easy to see how tired she was with her boss.
"I wonder too," Miko replied as she gave Shinobu a smile, the girl straight up her back when see her smile. Ah, perhaps she pranked Kuki too much when she was still learning to be a miko. That girl is quite cute to play with. Too bad she ran away to play being Kunoichi instead. "Should I call your sister Kuki?"
Hearing that Kuki shaked her head. Afraid or something close to that, to deal with her sister for now."Err don't need Lady Guuji, she's probably still busy".
Miko just gives her a smug grin before it turns into a fake small smile.
"So for what reason do you search for me?" Miko doesn't know the reason for both of them searching for her but definitely something Miko wants to have a finger in the pie. With Ei busy with her little game of detective to search for the limited flavor Dango Milk for a week, it makes Miko kinda bored and it's just two days after the last time she met Ei. Miko after reuniting with Ei has this urge to always prank or play with her. When Miko mentions this to Ei, she dares to compare her with the dog miss its owner. But Ei's complaint about her duty and work load was more unbearable than this urge.
"Hahaha, can you give more of those new Dango Milk?. It's tasty but weirdly enough I'm always sick after that. But who cares after all Arataki Itto Boss of Arataki gang never be stopped by such small sickness! Hahahah". Miko almost let out a small laugh seeing the Oni boast such a claim, as he was never aware that he has an allergy to nuts or perhaps he didn't read what was written on the bottle. Probably both.
"Hahaha also I need to give more to Raiden Shogun because it looks like she really wants it. So I gave the rest of it to her yesterday!" Wait, what?. Give more to who?. Did the Oni say the last part wrong or did she hear it wrong?. It must be the former, no way Kitsune, as young and beautiful as her, starts to have bad hearing like an old woman. Yup definitely the latter, the Oni just said it wrong.
"Can you repeat the last one?" Miko asks as she doesn't believe what she just hears.
The oni stops laughing as he and kuki look at Yae Miko confused by her question. For Kuki she never sees Lady Guuji like this. Asking someone to repeat what they just said proved that she didn't hear it or Kuki believed Lady Guuji didn't trust what she just heard. That made Kuki very concerned but Miko ignored that. It's not important right now.
"Err "also I need to give more to Raiden Shogun because it looks like she really wants it. So I gave the rest of it to her yesterday" part?" The oni repeated what he just said before.
"Yup that part, can you explain to me what that is supposed to mean?" Miko really, really hopes what she thinks is wrong. If it is indeed true then her plans failed before reaching its conclusion at all.
How?. Just how?.
How do I even Ei get Dango Milk in just single day? That is not how it is supposed to happen! Ei was really bad at something outside battle and craft weapons! Especially talking with someone either she scares them or she just doesn't know what to say.
She needs to know more about this!.
"How did Ei even know about the new Dango Milk flavor in the first place?" Miko asked but it sounded more order than anything. For a moment Itto looked at Miko confused.
"Hahaha about that, there is this little guy who accompanied her, man i want him to join my gang so much". Wait, is there someone brave enough or perhaps scared enough to accompany Ei herself?. What kind of man is he?.
"Tell me more" This time Miko's order is very clear.
"Haha well it's the first to begin with…"
From Itto start to explaining, from the start to the end, Miko listened carefully. Trying to find what kind of man that accompanies Ei and destroys her plan. She shall have her revenge against him but it's really difficult with the one way of explaining things. It feels too… festive.
So it's really hard to understand what Itto even trying to said to her.
Miko looked at Shinobu and in response Shinobu turned her face to another direction, too afraid to explain things to Miko.
"So how about my story?" itto said as he puffed his chest.
Miko sighed.
"Useless"
"Eh? What how? This great Arataki Itto definitely tells the story clearly and concisely!"
As Itto started to complain and it started to make the headache come back again. Miko looked at Shinobu and said, " bring this Buffon his Dango Milks, you still know where the kitchen is right? or perhaps the lack of training will make you forget where the location is".
Shinobu nodded, afraid. "Y-yes i know Lady Guuji, I am still not forgetting my training at all." She then drag the complaining Oni about how he is not Buffon at all to the kitchen.
Miko massaged her head as the headache there still is. She really needs to buy medicine for this annoying headache.
She then stands and walks to her room, accidentally she before hears something from mikos chatting then continues to work.
"Did you hear that Narukami Ogosho did something interesting yesterday?" One of them said to another.
"Eh what kind of did? I'm curious?" The other asked.
"I don't know much this is really hot rumor in Inazuma city, there are many witness too"
"Eh just say that, it's not good to make me curious you know"
"Hehehe sorry, you know that yesterday Narukami Ogosho chase someone"
"Eh perhaps they did something or displeased her somehow"
"No, no in fact many witnesses said that Narukami herself after that walking together with him"
"Him? So it's a man, perhaps Narukami herself take interested to him, kyaa this sound like those romantic Novels i read before"
"Right, right, it's start of romance, just thinking about Immortal meeting a mortal and fall in love with them, just imagi–"
And Miko already heard enough. As she said the two mikos. "Care to elaborate you two?."
""Kyaaa, lady Guuji!!""
" Ei, i already have enough headache dealing with your bad reputation, it's will be death sentence if i need to dealing with rumor about your romantic life too"
"Why did you name me Makoto?'
That is a question that Aether tries to avoid answering at all. Especially with Ei in front of him. It's a complete pain in the ass to explain, how should he explain things to Makoto that his name is her creator's sister name.
Since last night he tried avoiding answering it and now Makoto asked it again in the worst situation.
Aether really needed to grow a pair and just said no to Paimon before it became such a mess on his side.
" Relax, Aether, there is only a small chance that Wanderer would rip you to pieces again " Aether trying to cheer himself up, it's not bad to be ripped to pieces again at least it's not a loop again and even if Wanderer want to rip him, Ei definitely will help him, he hope.
First plan. He needs to pretend he doesn't know what Wanderer is talking about.
"Hahaha, what do you mean by that?" Aether pretended to ask along with a fake small. Wanderer looked at him not amused by what he did meanwhile Paimon and Ei looked at him like he just did something stupid.
" Shit, it's not work" it's instead making him look like a total idiot.
Second plan. Divert Wanderer attention using Wanderer himself as subject.
"Ah, let's talk later, it's dinner time, I really want to taste your cooking again" "aahh why i said dinner !" He made a mistake, why did he say dinner?
"Oh dinner time" Paimon said while Ei said "Makoto cooking!"
It diverted the attention of Paimon and Ei but not with Wanderer. "Really?" Wanderer gave him another annoyed look.
Then third plan. He wo—.
Before Aether can carry out the third plan, Wanderer suddenly grabs his right hand. Momentary Aether sees a glimpse of Giant metal hand squeeze him to death. Fortunately it happened so fast that none of the three people around him realized what just happened to him.
Good, it'd be worse if he suddenly had a seizure just because Wanderer grabbed his right hand. Aether doubts he can explain it without seeing another of those Loops.
Aether looked at Wanderer and gave him a pleading look so convincing that Ei and Paimon were affected by it. But no for Aether it's just a mask Wanderer uses, not his real one.
"Aether, please…" his voice was so soft, so different from that time .
"Huh, fine," it's better explained with Ei around him. Wanderer then releases his grab from Aether's hand.
Aether looked at Ei. "Ei, you definitely want to hear this too"
Ei nodded.
He sighed " so the truth then"
"First of all, Wanderer, you know I'm the one who named you right" Wanderer nodded.
"So, your are the one who named him Makoto, right Traveller?"
Aether nodded.
"Please continue," Ei said to him.
"Wanderer never has a name, his mother never gave him a name at all" Aether looked at Ei, he could see sadness in her eyes. But it's confirming that she forgot about Wanderer's existence and Wanderer himself still has not told her too. Better leave Wanderer identity alone then.
"There are a few conflicts between me and Wanderer and in the end Wanderer wants to change himself to be better" Aether stopped as he looked at Wanderer and Ei waiting if both of them wanted to ask something before he continued. "So when he asked me to give him a name, it makes me thinking back to what Makoto said before to you, Ei"
Aether looked at Ei. "Makoto" she said softly. Before turning to Wanderer.
Now it makes Wanderer curious about what he means by that.
"Wanderer when we meet, he is a really dangerous enemy. Among the enemies in Teyvat I fought, you are among the dangerous ones. But when you want to turn a new leaf along with a name to mark that. It makes me remember only one name "Makoto" , the former Electro Archon and Ei's sister. It's a really fitting name for you.
Wanderer eyes widened open. Shocked by what he just heard.
"Makoto gave Inazuma a second chance to live and prosper, what more fitting name you "Makoto" as she gave second to Inazuma itself, the name "Makoto" will give a second chance to you for life and prosperity." Aether stopped again as Wanderer, still shocked, he continued. "There are also a few other reasons, your first family loves Inazuma and I know you still love your old family too, Wanderer
"And Makoto loves Inazuma and its citizens the same way as your first family loves you, they struggle and sacrifice for their family including you. It's beautiful thing"
"Also somehow" before he continued Aether looked at Ei again, smiling "Makoto is really fitting name for you, Wanderer, no, i need to use name i give you, Makoto"
Aether looked at Makoto, he was still stiff, he waited for a few moments before Makoto turned his back on them before walking away.
" Ah I'm messed up" Aether thought as he looked at Makoto.
Suddenly, Makoto stopped. Before looking at them "What are you doing? Follow me, let's have a snack before dinner, I pay" as he shows them a small smile. "You too, Ei"
Paimon and Ei cheered hearing that.
Aether just smiled. Happy that he didn't end up dead.
Chapter TextMakoto looked at Aether as he ate his dinner, Aether occasionally looked at him with that sheepish look.
Right now, Makoto, Aether, Paimon and Ei are currently eating dinner together at the same place he met with Aether and Paimon yesterday.
After they enjoyed some snacks paid for by Makoto, of course, Makoto scoffed as he heard thank you from Paimon and Ei. After that the flying little girl mentioned something about dinner.
Makoto really regretted agreeing to what clearly was Aether's poor attempt to explain his original name before. He looked at the sky and he remembered that they lacked the ingredient for he was already using it all. It's too annoying to search it in the wild and while Makoto definitely brings enough money with him it's better to use it during urgent times and unfortunately for Paimon and perhaps Ei too, it's not urgent at all.
He better said this to them now than later and so he said they lacked ingredients for dinner so there is no dinner for them tonight. Hearing that Paimon and Ei were too shocked then sad. Paimon flew annoyingly close to his face, she asked why he didn't say that earlier and almost cried.
Aether then comes and calms her down, So they discuss how to get the ingredient, with little time left for dinner. Surprisingly for Makoto it's his mother that helps them. She said she can bring ingredients from Tenshukaku to bring with her.
Both Aether and Paimon thanked and praised her meanwhile he just nodded with understanding. At least Paimon stopped complaining.
And so after that Ei went back to Tenshukaku, it's not long before she returned with the ingredients she promised.
Long story short. Here they are, in the same place he meets with Aether and Paimon but this time with Ei too as they eat dinner he cooks with utensils Aether prepares.
The usual 'window' pops out as usual but not this late after he completed a quest.
Congratulation
Quest "The meaning of Name" has ended
Status : successful
15+ affection point
(Raiden Ei (39/300))
5+ affection point
(Aether (16/100) )
5+ affection point
(Paimon (5/100) )
Note : if the user is under intense emotions, the window notification will not appear.
When Makoto reads the note part, he understands why it's not even appear after he knows the meaning behind his name which supposedly completed the quest.
" Makoto" never guessed that he would inherit his late aunt's name. He knew about the existence of the previous Electro Archon before Ei was her sister but he never learned her name.
Makoto looked at Aether who looked at Paimon with a small smile as she put another spoon of food to her mouth and his mother, Ei, looked like she enjoyed the food he cooked too.
"Not bad, right?" Makoto smugly asked. He already knows he is an above average cook even for a few centuries of nothing but pain and rage, his cooking abilities still not affected at all, proving how his so-called classmate in Sumeru first tasted his food and right now how three of them clearly like his food.
"Yes, Hat guy food is really delicious" Paimon said followed by Aether and Ei nodded along. Paimon then takes another spoonful to her mouth. "You better be called as Chef guy than hat guy, ah also you need to change your hat too to chef hat".
" This Brat" He doesn't understand why Aether can deal with her antics everyday, she is gluttonous, greedy and a really big mouthed Brat. If he still Scaramouche, this Brat will regret her words to him by making sure that she ends up as one of the new 'children' of The Knave. His soft feeling to children aside, even when as Scaramouche he makes sure everyone suffers who dares to annoy him.
Luckily it's just a last, but would he punish her? Punish her no, but a little prank will not hurt anyone, right?.
Makoto looked at Aether, it's not long for Aether to be aware that he looked at him. At first Aether was a little bit surprised, but at least there was no fear in his expression like before. Makoto then pointed at Paimon who was still running her mouth regarding him needing to change his occupation and Aether luckily understood what he was trying to say without saying any word.
"Good, with this Paimon you have debt to me" He doesn't really mean it, but seeing her surprised face was really worth it. "You work for me at least for a month after i back to Sumeru"
"What!!" Paimon said never hearing anything like this before. "You never said anything like that before!".
"Aether! Help me" Paimon tried asking for help from Aether. She gives a sad face to him pleading to help her.
"Oh, Don't bother, Aether already agreed about this before, we already talked about this, right Aether" Paimon hearing started to become more panicked, she accidently dropped –fortunately– her empty bowl and flew to Aether.
"Hahahaha" Makoto laughed as Paimon hug the Traveller.
Aether pat Paimon's head trying to calm her down. "ssshhh…Makoto just kidding Paimon"
"H-huh? What!" Hearing that Paimon looked at Makoto who just smiled mockingly at her. "uh, Paimon hates you!"
Hearing what Paimon just said to him, Makoto answered by. "So you don't want another bowl of my food then fine it's your choice"
Makoto smirked, it's quite fun to mess with a glutton like her. Messing with her is probably not a bad thing but when he took a look at the annoyed look on the Traveller's face.
" A pity… why good thing always end fast"
"E-eh that's not what Paimon means, Paimon means she doesn't like you bu-but" before Paimon can finish her sentence, Makoto gives her his bowl.
"Here, eat this and stop opening your damn annoying mouth." Makoto takes a peek at the Traveller who is watching him before turning his attention toward Paimon who is back happily munching another bowl of food.
2+ affection point
(Paimon (7/100) )
He ignored the "window" as he looked at the Traveller.
Makoto can see a small smile on his face. It reminds him of that kid, the little one, the nameless, he remembers how his empty chest felt warmth when seeing the nameless eating happily, did perhaps he have the same smile as the Traveller?.
Who knows, in the end it's just the past which has been erased and forgotten by all with few exceptions.
Just a mere past but also very important to him.
A past that—
"Can I have a second too?" Before Makoto could get lost deeper in his memories, his mother asked as she held out her empty bowl in front of him.
"Sure, sure" Makoto answered as he gave her a small smile.
He wondered what Scaramouche would feel about all of this.
"Thank you, Makoto," Ei replied, smiling.
Huh, probably his old self definitely will kill or at least try to kill them all.
"There are still many left, don't worry about that flying Brat ends up eating it all."
He can hear the flying Brat complaining but he ignored it.
And Makoto also wondered what the abandoned nameless puppet would feel about all of this too.
Definitely happy. Happy that he finally has friends or similar words that are close to him. Definitely not Makoto, the Traveller and Paimon at best are acquaintances and tolerable at worst to him. And clearly the part that makes his past self happy the most would definitely have a close relationship with his mother.
And what is his current self feeling about all of this?.
In the end this question is worthless to ask because He already knows the answer.
"Here, I give you extra because you have manners instead of a certain flying Brat".
He ignored another complaint from said Brat.
His mother happily smiled hearing that.
He can feel it in his empty chest.
"Don't need to thank me, Ei"
What he's feeling right now is definitely plain annoying as usual.
The difference is there is another emotion. It's something he can describe as something close that can be called a good feeling, unfortunately it all vanishes instantly the moment the world stops again and at the same time the goddamn "window" suddenly pops up again.
You opened the quest " The rest of holiday : get close to her by your way"
Reward for completing the quest :
5+ affection point (Raiden Ei)
Failed/Reject the quest :
Lost 5 affection point (Raiden Ei)
" Shit"
Now he is just plain annoyed.
Later after that dinner, Ei and Makoto walk side by side leaving Aether and Paimon after of course all of them clean everything up before leaving.
"It's a very tasty food you cook, Makoto" Ei praised Makoto, the young man only smirked.
"Can you perhaps cook dinner for me again tomorrow?" Ei casually asked but at the same time she was serious too, unfortunately for her, Makoto thought she was joking. After all, what kind of Archon asked someone to cook food for them when they are themself have many personal chefs ready.
In truth she really wants to eat Makoto food again. She can definitely say that Makoto in terms of tastiness is equal to the chef and cook who work at Tenshukaku but there is one thing she really disliked about their food they offered to her, it's the amount of food.
With all of them who follow Inazuma culture's manner and tradition when preparing foods to Nobles and especially to their Archon who rank above all nobility and clan, its food needs to be prepared with following a standart.
A standard that unfortunately limits the amount of food they can serve on almost all types of foods she consumes. Ei still remember how sometimes Makoto, her sister complained about the amount before saiguu lecture her about manner and tradition before dragged her sister out to picnic together along with their friends.
Aside from that, this young man who inherited the Makoto name feels somewhat like his sister.
Ei can see many physical similarities to Makoto, how she cannot see it at their first encounter baffles her, perhaps because she is not living as her sister's shadow anymore but as its own person. He can definitely pass as Makoto's son because of how similar they look.
"Huh, the Raiden Shogun asked me to cook for her? What an honor" Ei can hear his sarcastic answer to her question but not with malice or something similar but with a light joking tone. Did he think she was joking perhaps? Ei remembers that Miko mentions she who tries to look friendly and approachable to those working mikos on the temple only to end up scaring those Mikos away, in the end only Miko laughing meanwhile she just embarrassed as Miko mentions that moment. Did perhaps something similar happen just now but the opposite?. Did Makoto really think she was joking?.
She is not that bad at socializing right?. Luckily for her Miko isn't here to tease or annoy her. Her teasing is the worst.
"I am not kidding," Ei replied. "I really mean what I said."
While Indeed she sometimes tries to make a joke to appear more friendly and approachable to many attendants that work in Tenshukaku because Miko really recommended her to try it, but in the end it ends up backfiring because it's only making an awkward situation for her.
"You're really bad at making a joke, you know" He snorted. "seeing you smiling just because i give you a second serving was annoying
Makoto gave her a confused look. Before asking "Why did you ask me this? Surely the chef in Tenshukaku can cook better than me".
Ei shakes her head. Then she explained the reason.
"It's Indeed true, but it's just become a very tiring and boring experience for me these days. While their food is very delicious and beautifully presented, there is also a limit to the food i can eat just because of my position as Shogun and Archon, after all there are some expectations from them for me. Including how I behave during meals. And that is the answer why I want you to cook for me, during holiday there is no obligation for me to follow" Ei ended her explanation.
Makoto looked at her with his eyes, he looked at her intently. Before "But why do I hear some rumor that you eat Dangos and other sweets that can be called uncivilized, heck even gluttonous ".
If emotion can create Elemental energy perhaps Ei would end up creating another Gorge in Inazuma because right after she hears what Makoto just said to her. Ei right now is filled with embarrassment as her face turns to red very quickly.
" W-what kind of rumor was that!?"
She has never heard this kind of rumor before from Miko at all !? Did Miko know but just hide it from her? Since when did this rumor spread !? She needed to ask Makoto right now.
"Is there really a rumor about that regarding me?" Ei really hope Makoto is just joking to her, while she is really aware about how Inazuma citizens and foreigners see her, if this rumor is indeed true that clearly will tarnish her reputation more, she supposedly raised her good reputation not the opposite. "I am pretty sure I eat those sweets with manners, right?".
"I'm certainly sure there Indeed rumors about that," Makoto replied confidently. She can feel something punch her in the gut. Ei knows when someone is lying, deceiving or hiding the truth from her, experience and mistake forced her to learn this after all the shenanigan regarding Fatui and Shogun. Miko is a surprisingly good teacher about all of these. Is it because she is a Kitsune or perhaps it's just Miko?. And Makoto is definitely not lying at all. She is definitely sure he is not based on what Miko taught her.
Unbeknownst to her, Makoto is just playing with her, all rumors regarding her are just a lie he created for his own purpose. Regarding the reason why she failed to know that Makoto was just lying to her is simple, Makoto is a master of Politics, deceit and lies who hones his mastery over centuries.
Someone like Ei who is just truly learning about her nation's politics cannot compare to Makoto at all. After all her core is Warrior not politicus.
"Where did you hear that?" Ei ask again.
"on my travel from Inazuma harbor to the city, i hear many rumors about you but if you asked about the rumor i just said i hear it from a child that complained being scolded for eating manners and she retorted by saying 'but her excellency can eating without manner but why me' he quickly silenced by his parents and the parent saying 'we don't talk about that regarding the excellency, show some respect' or something from what i remember".
"Oh" So it's already become an open secret among her people at this point, great. If Barbatos is in her position he definitely does not care at all, instead he will laugh and say good things about his people but not her, she after all has dignity that needs to be upheld. But now her honor disgraced and fell to the point of children using her as an excuse to their bad habit.
Ei sighed, tired.
Then Makoto says something she really wants to hear from him.
"About your question before about whether you want me to cook for you again, regarding that you can consider yourself lucky because suddenly I want to cook something again tomorrow."
That is the answer Ei wants. Momentarily she forgot all the problems as she smiled happily toward this young man.
"Really!? You really mean it?" She said before realizing how childish she was right now in front of Makoto. She fake coughs to calm her nerves. "I mean thank you, Makoto, I really appreciate that for accepting my sudden request like that."
"Don't think too much about it," Makoto replied. "but you bring your own ingredient of course, i really tight on money right now"
Ei nodded before asking him. "What kind of ingredients and how much do you want ? and you are tight on money right about that don't worry i also pay you in the end".
Makoto nodded "good, at least I gained something. After all not everyone can get in my good graces, so consider yourself lucky and about your first question it depends what kind of food you want me to cook to begin with?"
Makoto's words may come off as arrogance but his tone is light and calm. There is also the fact that Ei detects no malice in his words. It's just the way he talks to her. Almost the same as the way he talks to the Traveller with the difference Makoto is much more biting when he talks with the Traveller. In just a few days of knowing him, she already knows much about his personality. At least the one he shows normally to people.
"I want your recommendation, it's not a problem for you right?"
Makoto smirked. "What an annoying woman you're Shogun but I will comply with your wants"
"I already told you to just call me, Ei"
"Right, right I understand then. First, I need you to bring me…."
As Makoto said what she needs to bring tomorrow, Ei wonder if she should invite Makoto to Tenshukaku? Preferably as her personal chef, after all Shogun mentions to make him work to her right?.
Unfortunately after this Shogun scolded her for thinking about making Makoto her new personal chef who later used their last conversation about Makoto as the way to defend herself. Let's just say Shogun scolded her more.
A glimpse to the future
Among Kitsune there is a rumor that to those who have reached nine tails, their fur color would turn to pure white.
But to Yae Miko such a rumor was bullshit.
She just recently got her sixth tail. But, she can clearly see the white hairs among her pink hairs.
She knows what caused all of this. Because no way young Kitsune likes her already showing signs of aging which supposedly happen a few centuries more.
It's all the fault of those brats her friend gave birth to a few years ago.
If Miko knew this would happen, she definitely would not have said 'yes' to Ei all those years ago, not even if Ei pleaded with her teary eyes.
She definitely did not agree to being babysitter to Ei brats children at all.
Absolutely no!.
Now look what stress caused by babysitting those brats makes her previous furs.
"Yae!" There was someone calling her name.
" Oh no " She recognized that sound anywhere, for she heard it many times, that the sound of her friend asking to babysit again.
She needs to hide right now and fast.
" Ugh, i hate all of this"