Chapter 425: Visiting the Shrine

Clear weather is a precious gift for the people of Inazuma. As an island nation, Inazuma is often shrouded in dark clouds, and days of bright sunshine like this are rare.

In Inazuma City on Narukami Island, the streets are bustling with activity, and the people coming and going are filled with joy.

Scaramouche, however, is not one of them.

A faint, mocking smile lingers on his lips, as if he finds the bustling crowd both amusing and pitiful.

Unlike in Mondstadt and Liyue, the Fatui have no established presence in Inazuma City.

However, the Inazuman authorities provide accommodations for envoys from Snezhnaya.

Scaramouche enters the room of the envoy from Snezhnaya.

"What brings you here, Scaramouche?" La Signora asks.

"The Delusion Factory is no longer necessary," Scaramouche replies. "So I came to see if you were still alive."

"Oh, do you think I would die?" La Signora retorts. "Scaramouche, you're as arrogant as ever."

"Inazuma has a second god-level fighter now, and I happen to know who it is. I'm worried… you might get yourself killed while running around."

He.

In the language of Teyvat, "he" and "she" are pronounced differently.

La Signora knows exactly who Scaramouche is referring to: "Hmph, that person died in the battle with the Raiden Shogun. The real problem now is that the Electro Archon has emerged from the Plane of Euthymia."

If it were just the puppet Raiden Shogun, La Signora could easily manipulate her. But if it's the true Electro Archon, she'll have to tread carefully.

She might not show it, but her actions will need to be more cautious.

"Speaking of which, Scaramouche, what happened with the Delusion Factory?"

"The Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine, Yae Miko, and that shrine maiden appeared on Yashiori Island. It's only natural they discovered the Delusions. What I didn't expect was that the shrine maiden seemed to understand how the Delusions worked at a glance and informed Sangonomiya Kokomi. Kokomi's strength is negligible, but she's not entirely useless."

Scaramouche looks down on Kokomi, seeing her as nothing more than a weakling, though he acknowledges her organizational skills.

He continues, "La Signora, how's your mission going?"

"Regarding the Gnosis… yesterday, the Raiden Shogun invited me to discuss the matter of the Gnosis."

"Oh, congratulations on your success."

"Hmph." La Signora watches as Scaramouche leaves.

The Gnosis was originally in the hands of that shrine maiden from the Grand Narukami Shrine. Now that the shrine maiden is dead, it has returned to the Electro Archon.

—As for how that shrine maiden obtained the Gnosis…

That's not important.

What matters is that she needs to get her hands on the Gnosis.

After leaving the accommodations, La Signora heads for the Grand Narukami Shrine.

Since the destruction of Tenshukaku, the Raiden Shogun has been residing at the Grand Narukami Shrine atop Mount Yougou with Yae Miko. The Tri-Commission now has to report to the shrine for any matters.

This shift signifies a change in Inazuma's political landscape, but La Signora doesn't care. Her only concern is the Gnosis.

Leaving the outskirts of Inazuma City, she passes through Konda Village, the only way from Inazuma City to Mount Yougou.

With the Shogun now residing on Mount Yougou, Konda Village has become much livelier. While the main forces of the Tenryou Commission are stationed on Kannazuka, the Shogun's personal guards, the Hatamoto, have been freed up. With Tenshukaku destroyed and the Grand Narukami Shrine not requiring their protection, the Hatamoto have been tasked with clearing out monsters along the path from Inazuma City to Mount Yougou.

As a result, there are plenty of accommodations available for travelers in Konda Village. La Signora decides to rest here for the night.

However, the next day, as she prepares to set out for Mount Yougou, she encounters someone unexpected.

"It's that big bad lady, La Signora!"

Fate works in mysterious ways. Just as La Signora and her Fatui entourage leave Konda Village, she hears a familiar, high-pitched voice. Turning around, she sees the Traveler and her floating companion.

"Didn't your parents teach you not to speak ill of others? Oh, I forgot, a peculiar creature like you probably doesn't have parents," La Signora says in a sweet yet mocking tone.

Without giving them a chance to respond, La Signora smiles and leads her Fatui entourage away.

All that's left is Paimon stomping her feet in mid-air, complaining to Lumine: "That nasty La Signora! Paimon is so mad! Paimon is going to come up with a really, really mean nickname for her… like 'Arrogant Lady'!"

"Paimon, La Signora is already gone. She can't hear you," Lumine says.

"It's fine if she can't hear. Next time we meet, Paimon will definitely call her that."

Lumine: "Let's head to the Kamisato Estate first. Then we'll go up to the Grand Narukami Shrine with Ayaka."

She glances in the direction La Signora left.

That's the path to Mount Yougou.

It doesn't take long to travel from Konda Village to the Kamisato Estate.

As a friend of Ayaka's, Lumine is easily allowed into the estate and begins conversing with her.

During their meeting, Lumine mentions La Signora's presence.

"A Fatui Harbinger? It's not unusual for her to meet with the Raiden Shogun. Thoma, could you bring us some fresh tea?"

"Of course, my lady."

After Thoma leaves, Ayaka says, "Actually, since that day, the Shogun's attitude toward the Fatui has become less friendly. From our perspective, it's only a matter of time before the Shogun expels the Fatui."

"Really? Really? If that's the case, Paimon wants to see that nasty La Signora get what's coming to her!" Paimon exclaims excitedly.

Ayaka replies, "It's just a possibility. The Shogun's thoughts are not something we can easily predict. Traveler, shall we head up the mountain tomorrow? You can rest at the Kamisato Estate tonight."

"Sure."

"Yay! Ayaka, Ayaka, how's the food at your place?" Paimon asks, her eyes wide with curiosity.

When it comes to the essentials of life—food, clothing, shelter, and travel—food is undoubtedly the most important to Paimon.

Ayaka smiles gently. "The Kamisato Estate's meals are quite delicious. I'm sure Paimon will be satisfied."

"Yay! Life on Watatsumi Island was great, but we had seafood every single day. Not that seafood is bad, but eating it all the time gets boring."

Paimon's explanation doesn't win the support of the other two. Instead, it makes them laugh.

Perhaps… it's the way Paimon's tone and expression make it all so amusing.

The Kamisato Estate is always filled with laughter.

However, La Signora, who is making her way up the mountain to the Grand Narukami Shrine, is unlikely to be smiling.

Halfway up the mountain, the other Fatui are stopped. Not just anyone can reach the shrine to meet the Shogun. So La Signora continues alone up the rugged mountain path.

—What's annoying is that the path becomes much easier to traverse as she nears the Grand Narukami Shrine.

Why couldn't they have fixed the first half of the path?

But by the time she reaches the Grand Narukami Shrine, La Signora is no longer thinking about such things.

She sees the person waiting to greet her.

"Hello, La Signora of Snezhnaya. Please follow me to meet the Shogun."

The speaker is a man.

He is the shrine maiden of the Grand Narukami Shrine.

And he is the one who fought the Raiden Shogun.