Genshin Impact: Strength Through Bonds [194]

Thanks to Rukkhadevata's divine authority, Ren could freely travel between the Irminsul's dreamscape and reality.

It was as if he had experienced an incredibly vivid dream.

The flow of time between the two worlds was not the same.

So, while Ren fought a grueling battle in the dream, saving Rukkhadevata and Teyvat itself—

Something equally chaotic was happening in reality.

More specifically—at the Komore Teahouse.

And it was quite the spectacle.

Let's have Paimon rewind the timeline to the start of this mess.

---

With Ei's silent approval, Ren had drifted into Rukkhadevata's embrace, falling into a deep sleep.

"Sweet dreams, my sun."

She held him gently, like a kind mother tucking in her child.

Bathed in moonlight, she looked even more pure and serene.

Raising a hand, she softly caressed Ren's face, her gaze tender.

Sweet dreams.

It was the first thing Ren had said when he found her.

Back then, he had been holding the newborn Nahida, mumbling to himself beneath the Irminsul.

Perhaps he never knew…

At that time, Rukkhadevata's soul had been on the verge of collapse, eroded by forbidden knowledge.

She had gathered the last of her strength to nurture the World Tree's leaves—fully prepared to fade away.

But then… Ren appeared.

Even if his words were meaningless whispers,

They kept her soul from vanishing.

My sun, you've already saved me once before.

"…I'll leave it to you, Raiden Shogun."

Rukkhadevata pulled herself from her thoughts and turned to the cold, distant figure standing in the dark.

After all, what was about to happen must not be interrupted.

"Just make sure you keep your word," Ei said, her violet eyes narrowing slightly.

"Don't try anything."

Yet, for some reason, she had a bad feeling about all this.

A nagging unease prickled at her heart.

When it came to battle, she always pursued absolute decisiveness—

Yet with Ren…

She let out a quiet sigh.

If only her sister were still here, she would surely have answers for this frustrating feeling.

But that was impossible.

Her sister was gone forever.

Slam—!

The door suddenly swung open.

"Oww, my head!"

With a loud thud, several shadowy figures tumbled inside, collapsing into a tangled heap.

"…"

Ei's eyes flickered as she looked down at the pile of girls at her feet.

All of them… had something to do with Ren.

"Who the hell just yanked the door open?! No sense of courtesy at all!"

The first to sit up, clutching her chest, was a lively golden-haired girl—clearly annoyed.

Getting squashed flat like that hurt.

But before she could finish complaining, her gaze met a pair of cold, violet eyes in the darkness.

"Sh… Shogun…"

Yoimiya's whole body froze.

Then—without a word—she flopped right back down, lying flat on the floor.

Like an ostrich burying its head in the sand—except her butt was still sticking up.

Why was the Raiden Shogun suddenly in Ren's room?!

Ei was about to speak—

"Mmph… mmph…"

Yoimiya clamped her hands over her ears, curling up into a ball.

I'm sorry, Shogun-sama! I swear I won't set off fireworks near the Tenryou Commission again!

"Ugh… I told you I wasn't interested in eavesdropping on Ren…!"

Keqing groaned, rubbing her head as she sat up.

Then—she locked eyes with Ei.

Instant hostility.

Another rival?!

This voluptuous woman had just walked out of Ren's room…

Was she showing off that she had won the raid on his heart?!

Still half-asleep, she hadn't fully realized who Ei actually was.

"Keqing, dear, you should show a little more respect to the gods."

From the hallway, a soft glow flickered—

A brown-haired girl in silk pajamas wheeled herself forward, yawning.

Sandrone, clearly still half-asleep.

"?"

Keqing's eyelashes quivered.

She glanced around at the others.

"…"

Kamisato Ayaka and Hiiragi Chisato were kneeling politely on the floor, like two well-behaved children.

Wait…

That really is Raiden Shogun.

Two of Inazuma's most dedicated workaholics had just gotten caught red-handed by their boss.

And they weren't just any employees—

They were core leaders of the Yashiro and Kanjou Commissions.

This was beyond awkward.

"…Why are you all still standing in the doorway?"

Ei's imposing pressure grew heavier.

The girls exchanged uneasy glances and quickly shuffled outside.

But inwardly, each of them had the same thought—

Whose stupid idea was it to eavesdrop first?!

"?"

Yoimiya opened her mouth.

Why is everyone looking at me?!

We all came over together! Why am I the scapegoat?!

Slam.

The door shut behind them, cutting off their prying eyes.

"…And who are you two?"

Ei's gaze swept over Keqing and Sandrone.

The girls fell silent under the immense pressure.

They were still recovering from the shock of the situation.

The tense stillness didn't last long.

"…Me? I'm just one of Ren's partners."

"Perfectly normal for me to be here, isn't it?"

Sandrone casually twirled a strand of her hair, smiling.

She felt no fear beneath Ei's oppressive aura.

Her status as a Fatui Harbinger had surely already been exposed,

So she didn't bother hiding it anymore.

"…Keqing. Yuheng of Liyue."

"Ren insisted I come to Inazuma… What a troublesome man."

A classic tsundere line.

Keqing had already calmed down, her golden eyes sharp.

A god? So what?

She was never one to blindly revere deities.

Besides, her instincts were screaming that something was off about Ei's attitude toward Ren.

Work?

Was that why she kept dragging him away for private discussions?

And now, she was in his room at night?

There was no way they were just talking about work.

Keqing knew one thing for certain—

Aside from her, no one would ever do overtime with Ren!

"Shogun-sama, we were just having a small gathering to deepen our bond."

"Besides, Ren and I are… quite fond of each other. The Kamisato family will surely welcome him in due time."

High emotional intelligence: Strengthening bonds.

Low emotional intelligence: Fighting for Ren.

Ayaka's voice was calm and composed, but her heart was pounding.

Why does Shogun-sama look like she wants to dismantle the entire teahouse?

"I'm also Ren's fiancée. Isn't it natural for me to be here?"

Sara raised her chin confidently.

She had long been meaning to formally request the Raiden Shogun's approval for their marriage.

Might as well make it official now!

"W-Well, I'm Ren's…"

Yoimiya stammered, looking for help.

Everyone else had a valid reason to cuddle Ren. What was she supposed to say?!

Waaah! This is so unfair!

"…So, you're all sisters, then?"

Ei muttered.

She suddenly understood something.

"…Is this a God War?"

All the girls: ???

Not that extreme!

And what god would fight over Ren?!

"…I see."

Ei closed her eyes and nodded slightly.

Shogun-sama, what exactly did you "see"?

"…So, who's the leader?"

Her piercing gaze swept over them.

All eyes fell on Yoimiya.

"???"

Yoimiya lowered her head, trembling.

What does this have to do with me?!

Then—

A playful chuckle broke the silence.

"By the way, Shogun-sama…"

Sandrone's blue eyes gleamed as she smiled slyly.

"…What exactly were you doing in Ren's room at this hour?"

The moment she said this—

Ei's violet eyes wavered.

And all the girls widened their eyes in shock.

Not bad, Sandrone!

With one sentence, you've done what we never could!

Everyone turned toward Ei.

"Shogun-sama, please explain yourself!"

The battlefield had shifted.

"…I…"

For the first time, Ei hesitated.

The pressure was now on her.