Chapter 21

Bai Luo possesses many advantages.

Not to mention his status as a Fatui Harbinger.

The mere fact that he knows so much about everyone is a significant advantage in itself.

For instance, who would have thought that Yae Miko, who appears so aloof, was once tormented by Klee's mother, Alice?

Thinking about how she had moments of drunken babbling and emotional outbursts, Bai Luo finds it hard to believe.

Whether the Raiden Shogun truly likes tri-colored dango or not, Bai Luo isn't sure, but that doesn't stop him from trying to trick Kujou Sara.

What if she believes it?

"Would the Shogun really like such a thing?"

As it turns out, Kujou Sara isn't as easily fooled as Bai Luo thought. In her heart, the Raiden Shogun holds an extremely high status.

To put it simply:

If the Raiden Shogun wanted to confiscate Kujou Sara's Vision, she would hand it over without hesitation.

Not just her Vision, but even if her life were demanded, she wouldn't hesitate.

When she was a child, the reason she fell from a high mountain and emerged unscathed was because the god glanced at her in that moment.

From then on, her life no longer belonged to herself but to the Raiden Shogun.

Although she doesn't know that the distribution of Visions has nothing to do with the Raiden Shogun, even if she did, it wouldn't shake her faith.

For her, assisting the Shogun in achieving eternity is the most important thing.

Even if she knows that she won't be present at the end, she doesn't care.

Such a Raiden Shogun, in her mind, would never be interested in commoners' food.

And Bai Luo's words, to her, are nothing short of blasphemy.

"You just don't understand, do you?"

Shaking the tri-colored dango in his hand, Bai Luo explains.

"Haven't you noticed what the Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine brings when she visits the Shogun?"

With that woman's mischievous nature, she would definitely bring tri-colored dango when visiting the Raiden Shogun.

As for whether the Shogun, secluded in the Plane of Euthymia, would come out to meet her, Bai Luo can't control that.

As long as Kujou Sara has seen her bringing these things in, that's enough.

"..."

Kujou Sara falls silent.

As the current general of the Tenryou Commission, she often visits Tenshukaku.

Whether she gets to see the Shogun or not, she still pays her daily respects.

So she often encounters the Guuji.

In her memory...

That mischievous Guuji does indeed often bring tri-colored dango to the Shogun's residence.

Most importantly, according to the information she has, the Guuji's favorite food should be fried tofu.

So the reason she brings tri-colored dango to Tenshukaku...

"Gulp..."

Looking at the last piece of tri-colored dango in Bai Luo's hand, Kujou Sara unconsciously swallows.

Whether she likes it or not isn't the point. What matters is that if the Shogun truly likes this kind of thing...

"Want a bite?"

Seeing the faint hint of wings spreading behind Kujou Sara, Bai Luo knows the fish is about to bite.

So he pushes a little harder.

Kujou Sara is undoubtedly the Raiden Shogun's number one fan. Faced with the Shogun's favorite tri-colored dango, her resolve begins to waver.

Whether she's ever eaten this before or not, now that she knows the Shogun likes it, this dango has taken on a new meaning.

"Ah..."

Under the astonished gazes of the Okazaki couple, Kujou Sara gently tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and, with a mix of hope and nervousness, takes a bite of the tri-colored dango Bai Luo offers.

The usually stoic Kujou Sara showing such an expression?

Even Okazaki Rikuto, who knows her well, finds it hard to believe.

Could he have guessed right?

Regardless of what he thinks, Bai Luo, noticing the expressions on the Okazaki couple's faces, knows he's succeeded.

Making others misunderstand that he and Kujou Sara are in a relationship isn't just a spur-of-the-moment whim.

Compared to his identities as a Snezhnayan envoy and a Fatui Harbinger, being known as Kujou Sara's rumored boyfriend is far more convenient for gathering information in Inazuma.

And a place like an izakaya is perfect for spreading rumors.

In no time, the news of his relationship with Kujou Sara will spread throughout Inazuma City.

Under the Okazaki couple's gossip-filled gazes, the two leave Uyuu Restaurant and step back onto the streets of Inazuma.

Kujou Sara is unaware that she's been played by Bai Luo.

She's still savoring the taste of the tri-colored dango. Even though she claims to dislike sweets, the flavor is unforgettable.

As expected of the Shogun's favorite food.

Past the town streets lies Hanamizaka.

Hanamizaka is Inazuma's commercial district, similar to Liyue Harbor's Chihu Rock.

It's filled with various shops.

Like the Naganohara Fireworks, Amenoma Smithy, and Komaniya Express.

Compared to the town streets, these shops might not be as luxurious, but they're more down-to-earth.

Among these shops, the most famous is Yae Publishing House.

Yae Publishing House is essentially a bookstore in Hanamizaka.

Compared to other nations, the books here are mostly a new literary genre called "light novels."

Unlike the dense, hard-to-read formal books, light novels are written in a more colloquial style, making them easier to understand.

Besides light novels, they also sell something called "merchandise."

These are items related to the light novels, such as plushies, posters, figurines, and accessories.

"Lady Kujou, welcome to Yae Publishing House."

Seeing Kujou Sara, one of Yae Publishing House's editors, Kuroda, lights up.

Thanks to having powerful backers, Yae Publishing House can occasionally sell "risqué" light novels without much trouble.

For example, titles like "Reincarnated as the Raiden Shogun" or "Please, My Fox Priestess," which would be thrown into the forest for bears in Snezhnaya.

And when it comes to the Raiden Shogun, there's inevitably related merchandise.

Initially, Lady Kujou would lead the Tenryou Commission to confiscate these items under the charge of "blasphemy against the Almighty Narukami Ogosho."

It wasn't until Lady Yae personally intervened that the issue was resolved.

Since then, whenever Yae Publishing House releases merchandise related to the Shogun, Kujou Sara is always the first to arrive.

Though now, instead of confiscating, she buys all the merchandise under the pretext of "not letting commoners blaspheme the Shogun."

So in a way, Kujou Sara is Yae Publishing House's biggest customer.

"I'm just here to show someone around today. I'm not buying anything."

Kujou Sara's eyes occasionally drift to a portrait of the Raiden Shogun hanging nearby.

Unfortunately, that portrait is Yae Publishing House's treasure and isn't for sale.

Otherwise, she would have "snatched" it long ago.

With her wealth, buying these things isn't an issue.

After all, she's considered a "noble lady."