Genshin Impact: Strength Through Bonds [147]

"Dangerous... you say?"

Ren gazed at the girl who had turned her face away under the moonlight, unable to suppress a small smile.

Such an adorable reaction.

"What are you smiling at?" Keqing demanded, her tone sharp as a cat's claws.

"I just thought of something happy," Ren replied, looking serious as he spread his hands.

"Isn't it a good thing that someone cares about me?"

"Wha—what do you mean 'cares'!?"

Keqing's small hands fidgeted as her words became flustered.

When had she ever said anything about caring for him?

"Hmm?"

Ren blinked, barely holding back his laughter.

"You're still laughing!"

Keqing lowered her head, biting her lip.

She absolutely hadn't meant it that way!

Her face suddenly felt hot—so hot that she wanted to cover it.

But if Ren noticed something was off…

He's already noticed.

"Feeling better?"

Ren chuckled softly as he sat down beside Keqing.

It seemed the little cat wasn't in a hurry to go down the mountain.

"You're sitting too close," Keqing muttered, tugging at the hem of her skirt while puffing out her cheeks.

Despite her words, she shuffled a bit to the side—closer to him.

"..."

Ren watched her inch closer, a faint smile curving his lips.

"Anything you want to ask?"

Propping himself up with his hands, he leaned back and looked at the starry sky. His voice was calm, almost a murmur.

Keqing puffed out her cheeks again, staying silent.

"How about I play you a song?"

Ren took out his lyre, plucking the strings gently.

The enchanting melody filled the air, stirring something deep inside.

Keqing's long lashes fluttered as she turned her head to look at him.

Her bright, beautiful eyes shimmered with a hint of expectation.

But she couldn't help blurting out in a harsh tone:

"You were playing for her earlier too...!"

"Weren't you asleep?" Ren asked, tilting his head in genuine confusion.

"!"

Keqing's body stiffened, her words caught in her throat.

Oh no—she had forgotten about that detail!

"I-I mean…"

Seeing the doubt in Ren's eyes, Keqing opened her mouth to explain.

But then she noticed something unusual.

"Ren, behind you."

"Hmm?"

Ren smiled but didn't take her words seriously.

What a clumsy attempt to change the subject.

"Look behind you!"

Keqing pushed Ren's shoulder, urging him to turn around.

"Alright, alright, I'll look. What could it possibly—huh?"

Ren responded casually but froze mid-sentence.

A soft, radiant blue figure floated silently toward him, landing on his shoulder.

"A suspicious Seelie?"

He raised an eyebrow, his expression tinged with curiosity.

An idea suddenly became clear in his mind.

Could Columbina have sent it?

"Probably not…"

Ren murmured to himself as he lifted a hand.

His fingertips brushed against the tiny Seelie.

In the next moment—

A strange, ethereal sensation surged from within him.

"This is…"

Ren's eyes widened.

His vision seemed to pierce through vast distances, taking him to an unfamiliar land.

There, snow blanketed the earth, and a serene, absolute stillness reigned.

This was the land ruled by the Cryo Archon.

---

Within the grand and solemn cathedral of the Tsaritsa, a girl's song resonated, ethereal and haunting.

In the depths of the cathedral, where tranquility and coldness intertwined, a pale-skinned girl with long hair cascading to her waist lowered her gaze and withdrew her hands.

She wore a velvet mask, her figure graceful and elegant.

She was Columbina, the Third Harbinger of the Fatui.

In her arms, the strings of a glowing lyre shimmered faintly.

Once part of a pair, only half of the lyre remained.

As for the other half, its current whereabouts were a mystery…

"You've arrived," Columbina whispered with a faint smile.

As her song ended, she descended the steps of the cathedral.

Outside, the Snezhnayan auroras lit up the sky in breathtaking splendor.

At the base of the stairs, the Mirror Maidens stood respectfully, guarding the sacred space.

"It's been a while, Columbina."

From the shadows emerged a blue-haired man.

He wore a raven-beak mask and bowed slightly in greeting.

"Or should I say, we meet again so soon."

He was Dottore, the Second Harbinger of the Fatui.

"Dottore... you look particularly young today," Columbina remarked softly as she approached the window, her tone light and casual.

It was a simple greeting, but her words carried a subtle sting.

"Hmph, you know why."

Dottore's lips curved into a smile, though his eyes remained cold.

Her remark wasn't a greeting—it was a jab.

The failure of his experiments, the loss of critical data, the damage to his segments…

It was the first significant setback he'd suffered since joining the Tsaritsa's ranks.

Everyone knew how much effort had gone into his schemes.

But…

"Who would have thought you had an ally?"

"That boy truly surprised me," Dottore said, his voice cold and calculating.

The strike that severed the dream had been powerful.

And he had a hunch—that wasn't even the boy's full strength.

"I know what you're thinking," Columbina murmured, her voice soft and melodic.

She suddenly turned to face Dottore.

"You were trying to project your full consciousness, but he stopped you."

Before her words settled—

BOOM!

Outside the cathedral, the icy heavens shifted violently.

Blinding thunder tore through the auroras, roaring furiously.

In an instant, divine wrath descended.

Crack!

Frost spread rapidly across the land.

"Her Majesty the Tsaritsa," the Mirror Maidens intoned in unison, bowing deeply.

"!"

Dottore's eyes narrowed, a glint of hatred flashing within them.

He recognized the clashing forces in the sky.

It was the power of a true god.

"The Raiden Shogun... no way!"

Could it be because of the boy in that dream?!

"It seems we've unintentionally angered a god," Columbina chuckled softly as she walked past Dottore.

The struggles of deities didn't interest her.

"Where are you going?"

She paused, glancing over her shoulder. "To Inazuma, of course."

"Have you already decided on the candidate?" Dottore asked after a moment's thought, frowning.

"Candidate?" Columbina murmured, shaking her head.

"This game has been in the works for a long time."

"The final Ascension—Her Majesty will decide that herself."

The Ascension marked the transformation of a pawn into the most powerful piece, determining the outcome of the game.

He will agree, Columbina thought as she left the cathedral.

"Won't you?"

Her ethereal voice echoed across space, finally reaching Ren's ears.

"Ascension…"

Ren murmured softly.

In his eyes, the golden light burned brightly, as radiant as the sun.

---

T/N: newwwwwww translation 'Pokemon: My Titles Know No Limits!' however it seems theres already a translation ongoing already, so just letting you know they did it first! last i checked they had 66 chaps out on webnovel and 150+ on patreon! go check them out if you're interested: 'Pokemon: With Title System'

"..."

- Gardevoir

(End of Chapter—Support the translator at [patreon.com/WiseTL]!)