Inside the villa, after giving the people of Teyvat a moment to digest everything they had seen, Luo Chen continued.
"After the previous three evaluations, everyone should now have a fairly clear understanding of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's and Lesser Lord Kusanali's experiences and wisdom."
"Next, we move on to the final serious evaluation."
"The fourth and final category—A God's Merits and Faults."
"As with previous evaluations, this will serve as a summary and conclusion regarding the deity in question."
"And as always, it is based on the fundamental principle that a god loves their people."
"So I hope everyone will view this objectively."
"First, let us begin with Greater Lord Rukkhadevata."
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's Merits First: Creating the Rainforest and the Aranara during the Archon War
She established the rainforest civilization and nurtured the Aranara, allowing Sumeru's people to live and prosper.
Second: Eradicating Forbidden Knowledge Twice
The first time was thousands of years ago.
She cleaned up the disaster left behind by King Deshret and successfully saved Sumeru.
Because of her efforts, the desert civilization survived through Aaru Village.
To accomplish this, she exhausted most of her power and regressed into the form of a child.
The second time occurred during the Cataclysm five hundred years ago.
She saved Irminsul.
She saved Teyvat itself.
For that, she paid the ultimate price—
her life.
And even her very existence within Teyvat.
She allowed herself to be completely forgotten by the world.
Third: Bestowing Wisdom
During her lifetime, she founded the Akademiya and granted wisdom to the people of Sumeru, giving them the means to transcend limitations and pursue freedom.
After her death, she left behind the Akasha System, providing Sumeru with an efficient tool for acquiring knowledge.
Fourth: Creating Nahida
At the end of her life, Greater Lord Rukkhadevata used the purest branch of Irminsul to create Nahida.
This served two purposes.
To erase herself and save Irminsul.
And to leave Sumeru with a new God of Wisdom.
Judging from everything that happened afterward—
she succeeded.
Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's Faults First: The Conflict Between the Desert and the Rainforest
Both regions belonged to Sumeru.
After becoming the Dendro Archon, the people of both lands became her subjects.
Yet she failed to properly reconcile the relationship between them.
As a result, their conflict persisted for thousands of years.
Much like the struggle between Watatsumi Island and Narukami Island in Inazuma.
Even the Wall of Samiel, originally built to stop sandstorms, eventually became a symbolic divide separating the desert from the rainforest.
Second: Failing to Properly Guide Her People
Humanity possesses limitless potential.
But also limitless greed.
Wisdom plays a significant role in both.
After granting wisdom to her people, Greater Lord Rukkhadevata failed to properly guide its use.
The scholars of the Akademiya gradually became arrogant.
This further intensified the divide between the desert and the rainforest.
In the end, they even strayed onto a dangerous path that nearly plunged Sumeru into catastrophe.
Of course, these failures are understandable.
Because throughout much of her life, Greater Lord Rukkhadevata was occupied by the threat of Forbidden Knowledge.
The first time, she exhausted her strength and became childlike, leaving her unable to govern effectively.
The second time, she perished entirely.
She did not neglect these problems because she was unwilling.
She simply lacked the ability.
Just as Makoto once did in Inazuma.
Had both of them survived their respective calamities—
perhaps they would have eventually eradicated every flaw within their nations.
And if that had happened...
perhaps today's Inazuma and Sumeru truly would have become the Eternal Paradise and the Nation of Wisdom they were meant to be.
A regrettable possibility.
"Overall, Greater Lord Rukkhadevata had both merits and faults."
"But her faults were understandable."
"Her achievements far outweigh her mistakes."
"She made immense contributions to both Sumeru and Teyvat."
"She was a gentle and truly great deity."
"And after dedicating her entire life to her people, her final wish was merely to be forgotten."
"So rather than calling her the God of Wisdom..."
"I think it would be more accurate to call her the God of Compassion and Benevolence."
"A god's love for their people can go no further than this."
"To have such a deity was Sumeru's blessing."
"And Teyvat's blessing as well."
The audience nodded repeatedly.
After everything they had learned, no one could deny it.
To have been protected by such a gentle and selfless god was a blessing beyond measure.
The people of Sumeru, however, felt both pride and shame.
Pride—
because they once had such a magnificent deity.
Shame—
because they had failed to live up to her expectations.
Many of them no longer knew how to face her.
[Transcendent Chat Group]
[Venti]: She created the rainforest, granted wisdom, saved Sumeru twice, saved Teyvat itself, and even left behind hope before her death.]
[Venti]: Greater Lord Rukkhadevata spent her entire life thinking of her people.]
[Venti]: I've already said this many times, but I still want to say it again—a truly gentle and great god.]
[Zhongli]: As the light screen said, perhaps calling her the God of Compassion would be more fitting. Wisdom was merely her method; life itself was always the goal.]
[Raiden Makoto]: Aside from the desert issue and the Akademiya, Buer truly achieved the limits of what a god could accomplish.]
[Raiden Ei]: Those problems weren't entirely Buer's fault. Had the Akademiya helped even a little, things wouldn't have deteriorated this far.]
[Ei]: Though I have no grounds to criticize Sumeru. My own nation was hardly any better.]
[Furina]: A god's love for their people can go no further than this! Greater Lord Rukkhadevata deserves to be remembered forever!]
[Nahida]: Exactly! A god like her should never be forgotten!]
At that moment—
[Lumine]: Wait. Ever since the earlier evaluations, something has been bothering me.]
[Lumine]: Why is the massive barrier between the desert and rainforest called the Wall of Samiel? Doesn't the name sound a little strange?]
[Dehya]: It's a wall built to stop sandstorms from the desert. What's strange about that?]
[Paimon]: Yeah! What's weird about it?]
[Alice]: Ahem. Wall of Samiel... Wall Against Idiots. (doge.jpg)]
The chat froze.
Then everyone collectively lost their minds.
Wait—
Hold on—
You can interpret it like that?!
[Collei]: Uh... how did I never notice that before...?]
[Tighnari]: I never thought anything was odd about it before, but now I can't unhear it.]
[Keqing]: As expected of the Traveler. Always noticing things nobody else does.]
[Yae Miko]: Oh? If the wall prevents desert sandstorms... then what exactly does the other interpretation prevent~?]
[Arataki Itto]: Wahahaha! Obviously it keeps desert idiots out!]
[Yae Miko]: Hehe~ I didn't say anything at all.]
[Dehya]: ...]
[Candace]: ...]
[Cyno]: ...]
Thanks.
We've all been indirectly insulted again.
Itto finally realized what he'd said.
His smile instantly froze.
[Itto]: Wait, that's not what I meant! That fox lady tricked me into saying it!]
[Yae Miko]: One should be careful with their words~ After all, you said it yourself. I never said a thing.]
[Yae Miko]: Everyone in the chat can testify to that.]
[Itto]: Y-you...!]
Itto was completely broken.
Meanwhile, Kuki Shinobu, Kamisato Ayato, and Gorou could only sigh.
Lady Guuji's revenge had officially begun.
Their boss's future looked bleak indeed.
Villa
"Wall of Samiel? Wall Against Idiots?"
Seeing the barrage of comments, Luo Chen raised an eyebrow.
Lumine had a point.
The name really did sound suspicious once you thought about it.
He remembered finding it odd while playing through the story as well.
There was another example too.
Caravan Ribat.
Say it quickly enough and it almost sounded like kawaii.
Whoever handled cultural localization at HoYoverse was a genius.
Shaking his head with a laugh, Luo Chen continued.
"Now that we've finished discussing Greater Lord Rukkhadevata..."
"Let's move on to Lesser Lord Kusanali."
Nahida's Merits First: Kindness and Compassion
Though she had been imprisoned by her own people from the moment of her birth, Nahida never became trapped by the past.
She held no resentment.
No hatred.
Instead, she devoted herself wholeheartedly to protecting her people and preserving the stability of the world.
Throughout those five hundred years, she never stopped learning.
And she never stopped helping others.
She comforted children through fairy tales.
Protected scholars and desert dwellers in times of danger.
Refused to abandon her people even when facing the Doctor.
And tirelessly searched for a way to save everyone trapped within the Sabzeruz Festival dream loop.
Second: Defeating the False God
Together with the Traveler and the wisdom of Sumeru's people, Nahida defeated Scaramouche's god-form.
And during that battle—
she trapped him within a dream loop 168 times.
Not one less.
A perfect example of:
You did it to my people, so I'll do it right back to you.
Such was the wrath of the God of Wisdom.
Third: Weakening the Doctor
By threatening to destroy a Gnosis and using another as leverage, she forced the Doctor to erase his segments.
The greatest threat facing Sumeru was dramatically weakened.
Fourth: Saving Irminsul
Using the power of two Gnoses, Nahida met the final remnant of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata.
Together, they eradicated the final traces of corruption and saved Irminsul.
From that moment onward—
the Withering ceased expanding.
Eleazar was completely cured.
Fifth: Saving Apep
In the future, with the Traveler's assistance, Nahida successfully removed the corruption within Apep.
As a result, every major hidden threat in Sumeru was finally resolved.
Despite suffering two devastating betrayals—
Nahida never descended into bitterness.
Instead, she continued loving others.
A feat easier said than done.
"Unlike a certain someone who never stops talking about having suffered three betrayals..."
"No comparison, no damage."
Nahida's Faults First: Excessive Self-Doubt
When faced with the Akademiya's imprisonment of their own god, Nahida accepted it.
Partly because of her people's disappointment.
Partly because she genuinely believed she could never compare to Greater Lord Rukkhadevata.
Thus she compared herself to the moon.
Yet moonlight itself comes from the sun.
Even after the sun sets—
the moon can still illuminate the road ahead.
Unfortunately...
her insecurity unintentionally enabled the Akademiya's arrogance and ambition.
Eventually, the situation spiraled completely out of control.
To some extent, Nahida also bears responsibility for how far Sumeru declined.
Second: Immaturity
When she later attempted to save Apep, an unexpected incident occurred.
To save the Dragon of Dendro—
Nahida prepared to sacrifice herself.
Fortunately, the Traveler arrived in time.
Otherwise, Sumeru would have lost its god once again.
Even mortal kingdoms have a saying:
A precious heir does not place themselves in needless danger.
How much more responsibility rests upon the shoulders of a nation's god?
Taking such risks was already questionable.
Attempting self-sacrifice afterward was even worse.
She even intended to entrust Sumeru to the Traveler.
As a god.
As the God of Wisdom.
Such a decision was not particularly rational.
Had Greater Lord Rukkhadevata been present, she would surely have found a better solution.
Of course—
comparing Nahida to Greater Lord Rukkhadevata is somewhat unfair.
There are thousands of years of experience between them.
Considering that Nahida spent most of her life imprisoned and had only recently gained her freedom, these mistakes are understandable.
Still—
they should serve as a lesson.
Remember that many people love and care about you.
Remember that an entire nation rests upon your shoulders.
Think carefully before acting.
And never act recklessly.
Sanctuary of Surasthana
Lumine had been listening with great interest.
When Luo Chen discussed Nahida's flaws, she initially nodded in agreement.
Wasn't that exactly the problem?
Nahida was far too insecure.
If she had gained confidence sooner, the Akademiya would never have been able to imprison her for so long.
But when she heard the second point—
her expression changed instantly.
What?
Nahida was planning to sacrifice herself?
For Apep?
She immediately turned toward Nahida.
"N-Nahida... you..."
Yet when she saw Nahida lowering her head guiltily, the words of criticism stuck in her throat.
In the end, Lumine could only sigh helplessly.
"Nahida..."
"That was incredibly irresponsible."
"You wanted to leave Sumeru to me?"
"I know that means you trust me."
"But I'm a Traveler."
"Did it never occur to you that I might leave Sumeru one day?"
"If that happened, what would become of Sumeru?"
Beside her, Paimon nodded repeatedly.
"Exactly!"
"Lumine's right!"
"At that point, we'd only recently resolved the whole artificial god incident."
"Everything was still chaotic."
"If Sumeru had lost its Archon right then, things would've been even worse!"
"The Doctor, the former Grand Sage, and others might've returned!"
"Wouldn't all your efforts have been wasted?"
For once, both Lumine and Paimon fully understood the seriousness of the matter.
As Nahida's friends, they felt obligated to make her realize it.
And so, they continued trying to persuade her.
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