Oh, right, and Ioroi. After all, they are the only two people who came from that era.
"I didn't expect the Oni to do such things to integrate into society?" Ayaka exclaimed.
"Oni and humans don't have much difference. People think they are cruel and violent purely because of the corruption caused by the Abyss," Raiden Ei explained.
"It's like humans corrupted by the curse gods, they completely lose their sanity, and their temperament changes drastically, becoming incredibly brutal."
As Raiden Ei said this, Ayaka remembered the village chief of Crimsonwood Village, who, under the influence of the curse gods, was not only invulnerable to blades and guns but could also wield the power of wind and water.
Of course, the price was losing all sanity and becoming a complete monster.
Shiki was pensive. From the perspective of being able to corrupt, the curse gods and the Abyss were quite similar.
So then the question arises, why is it that only the power left behind after a Archon dies causes people to go mad?
Could it be that a pathological change occurs due to the loss of individual restraint?
Or is there a possibility that Abyssal power can also be rendered harmless through some means? For example, a certain riddle-speaking Dain?
And the reason why the two are so similar might be that the power of the Archons and the power of the Abyss share common parts.
But Shiki didn't know the deeper implications. This was just her speculation based on the game and Raiden Ei's words.
It is certain that a Archon's death will cause a strong outbreak of corruption, otherwise Inazuma wouldn't have set up talismans to suppress the curse gods, and Liyue wouldn't have the Yaksha working 007 every day.
From this perspective, Raiden Makoto's act of merging herself with the Sakura Tree after her death was also a way to prevent a corruption outbreak, which is why Shiki obtained completely harmless Archon power.
Her thoughts returned to reality. At this moment, they had arrived at the location of Yae Publishing House. Kuroda had already gone home at this time, so there was no one inside Yae Publishing House, and the door was locked.
"Is this what you wanted to show me, Miko?"
"Yes, it's a bit of a shame that it's already closing time."
Yae Miko felt very annoyed. Not only was she critically hit by Shiki, but she also couldn't enjoy Raiden Ei's antics. Instead, she herself became the complete entertainment today.
Seriously, couldn't this Kuroda stay a little later (meaning work two more hours)?
It's decided! Tomorrow, she'll deduct his salary for stepping into Yae Publishing House with his left foot first!
Thinking this, Yae Miko turned to look at the idle Shiki, and Ayaka, who couldn't stop herself from looking at the girl.
'Oh? It seems I've discovered something extraordinary.'
"It's getting late, let's stop here for today. There are many matters at Tenshukaku waiting for me to handle," Raiden Ei said, looking at the setting sun.
"Alright, fine, since Yae Publishing House is already closed."
"We can visit again, it's not a big deal right now," Shiki said.
"Indeed." Raiden Ei nodded, "In that case, let us part ways here. And don't forget about the negotiations with Watatsumi Island."
"Got it. If they don't obey, I can teach them about physical."
"…What is physical?"
"Uh… a way to make others listen to reason, yes, that's it!" Saying this, Shiki nodded with great certainty.
Convincing people with reason, nothing wrong with that!
"Alright, as long as Watatsumi Island is willing to surrender, then there's no need to make things too difficult for them."
"Well… that depends on their performance."
After bidding farewell to the Archon, Shiki teleported with Ayaka to the Kamisato Estate. Although the Kamisato Clan had Komore Teahouse and a house in Inazuma City, it was clearly inappropriate to just leave the girl there.
"How do you feel about today's visit? Do you have a clearer understanding of your God now?"
"I should say it subverted my understanding, right? In previous audiences, the Shogun always maintained a stern, unsmiling expression. But today I learned that even Gods have their joys, sorrows, and troubles. She must be very lonely in that position, I imagine?"
Ayaka's eyes revealed a hint of sadness. Everyone knows that Raiden Shogun lives forever, but who knows that the God who guides humanity can also have moments of confusion?
"There's nothing to be done about it. Five hundred years ago, Raiden Ei was not yet the Electro Archon of Inazuma, and she had many close friends."
"But due to a disaster, she not only lost her only family member, but also all her friends who had survived the Archon War died or were severely injured. The Yae Miko you see today was just a little fox who knew nothing back then."
"Ei was forced to take over the divine throne and do something she was completely unsuited for. However, if she could, she would have only wanted to be a Kagemusha her entire life, assisting her elder sister."
Through the game, Shiki could know some things that ordinary people couldn't, such as Raiden Ei's former friends and family.
Unlike Morax, Liyue still has many Adepti who followed him since the Archon War, but in Inazuma, besides Raiden Ei, only Ioroi can be considered from that era.
However, excluding the time he was sealed, Ioroi's age is actually only a few hundred years, barely making it onto the last train of the Archon War.
Moreover, in earlier years, Tanuki and foxes were at odds and fought daily. How could Ioroi, who came from this species, have known Raiden Makoto and obtained a position without Kitsune Saiguu's recommendation?
"From your words, I feel that the Shogun is just a little girl yearning for family affection," Ayaka said.
"It is precisely because of loss that she yearns even more, because she has experienced what that feeling is like. And after five hundred years of such lonely meditation, she will only yearn more intensely."
"It's better to guide than to block. Constantly suppressing oneself will only lead to a more violent rebound."
Shiki knew that Raiden Ei, who had lived for over two thousand years, could not be unaware of this point. It was precisely for this reason that she would set the pursuit of eternity as the highest priority during the Shogun's design.
Because she knew that one day she would inevitably be unable to resist wanting to regain what she had lost, and with the blessing of erode, her actions would only become more frantic.
And the puppet Shogun, who possessed her full strength, was a shackles.
It is the guarantee of eternity, and also the one who will destroy her countless years in the future...
"This is a wrong path, and I promised Raiden Makoto that I would pull Ei back from this path."
"To be precise, I was forced to agree. At that time, Raiden Makoto entrusted her power directly to me before she even finished speaking, so I had no choice but to agree."
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