"Click."
The last sound came from behind him.
The door was thoughtfully locked.
The next moment, the world fell silent.
Only the sound of someone's heavy breathing remained in his ears.
"Mmmph mmmph mmmph."
Qin Yu raised his head, emitting an unintelligible sound from his mouth.
His vision was completely dark.
His body was tightly bound.
His mouth was prevented from even crying out for help.
At this moment, he felt as if he had been forcefully dragged into a bandit's den.
Or, more accurately...
He had been brought into a room filled with a rich fragrance.
This was the private room of Inazuma's greatest "bandit" leader.
The Electro Archon.
"Nnnh!"
Qin Yu grunted a few times, receiving no response.
It seemed he had been forgotten by the majestic and stern Archon.
He shook his head, leaning against the wall.
Recalling carefully.
At first, he was merely from a fallen family.
With an empty wallet, he chose to work for the Archon.
Thus, he became a samurai in the Tenryou Commission.
How good it would have been to be a loyal Inazuma civil servant, commuting to and from work without a care.
And then...
He inexplicably met the mysterious shrine maiden.
And was caught in the vortex of the Vision Hunt Decree.
Step by step, until he arrived at Tenshukaku.
And before Ei.
"Nnnh!"
Qin Yu tried to pull his hands free.
Why did things turn out like this!
Fighting a deity was one thing.
He clearly won, yet he was tied up.
Archon, you wouldn't want the people of Inazuma to know you're playing dirty, would you?
Just as he was exerting his full strength.
"Da, da..."
A series of light footsteps approached.
Qin Yu stopped his movements, instinctively looking in a certain direction.
The surrounding fragrance seemed to intensify.
"Nnnh."
Although he couldn't see, Qin Yu knew very well.
The aloof and majestic Archon had appeared.
And at this moment, she was right in front of him.
The room was silent for a long time.
"..."
Qin Yu's heart beat a little faster.
The overwhelming silence led to him overthinking.
Such as why Ei brought him here.
Could it be...!
"Swish—"
Suddenly, the sound of air being cleaved shattered the quiet.
The restraint on his back loosened, and he was freed.
Qin Yu instinctively pulled off the blindfold.
"This is..."
Everything before him caused his eyes to widen slightly.
Warm light illuminated his vision.
A familiar yet unfamiliar cold and beautiful silhouette stood before him.
"..."
Qin Yu blinked slightly.
The majestic deity he had imagined did not appear.
Instead, it was the shrine maiden wearing a fox mask.
"Sakura... we meet again."
Qin Yu's eyes lit up with surprise, and he softly called out.
He knew that night was not goodbye.
His earnest efforts had ultimately kept Sakura.
"What are you looking at?"
Ei withdrew her finger and let out a soft hum.
Seeing Qin Yu's reaction, she felt satisfied.
It was worth her specially changing her clothes.
Even though these casual clothes were nowhere near as impressive as her Archon attire.
But unconsciously...
She had begun to cherish everything related to Sakura.
"I'm looking at a beautiful shrine maiden."
Qin Yu responded instinctively, then suddenly realized.
It's over.
How could he have accidentally spoken his mind.
And before him was the aloof and majestic Archon.
Was he not afraid of death!
However, the rage he expected did not materialize.
"Mhm."
Ei merely nodded softly, without speaking.
Qin Yu felt uneasy.
What did that "mhm" mean?
Before he could think further, a fragrant breeze wafted over.
By the time Qin Yu regained his senses.
Ei was already kneeling gracefully before him, her posture proper.
She stared at Qin Yu like this, serious and earnest.
"Archon?"
Qin Yu said softly.
As they made eye contact, they seemed to feel each other's warmth.
The distance was so close.
Even though Ei was wearing a mask at this moment.
That cold beauty could not be concealed.
More importantly.
As long as Qin Yu was a little bolder and reached out his hand.
He might be able to touch...
"Mhm."
Ei hummed softly, as if in response.
They sat properly together, and then there was nothing more to say.
After all, the majestic Archon was aloof.
And for someone like him, facing a deity formally for the first time.
To say he wasn't a little flustered would be a lie.
The room fell silent once more.
Time quietly slipped away.
"..."
Qin Yu glanced at Ei.
The cold silhouette was also looking at him.
Their gazes had met countless times by now.
"Archon?"
Qin Yu's heart suddenly stirred.
The pressure and solemnity of facing a deity had somewhat dissipated.
Perhaps Ei had been waiting for him to do something...
Recalling the warm sunlight from that day.
Back then, when he didn't know the shrine maiden's identity.
He had also been curious about that fox mask.
If he could take it off with his own hands...
Thinking this, his fingers trembled slightly.
Why did his hands suddenly disobey him?
Ei seemed not to notice Qin Yu's small movements.
She simply said calmly, "What is it?"
"You've been wearing the mask... it must be hot."
Qin Yu tentatively asked.
The moment he said it, he cursed himself inwardly.
What a flimsy excuse...
Did deities even feel heat!
"Hot?"
Ei frowned, as if pondering.
She had never experienced such a feeling.
Could he really deceive her with just such words?
Thinking this, Ei nodded slightly.
"Tenshukaku is a bit hot."
"?"
Qin Yu blinked.
Archon, you said that yourself.
His fingers became even more eager.
"Then I'll help the Archon..."
Before he could finish speaking, his hand rose uncontrollably.
Qin Yu insisted that he absolutely didn't want to do this himself.
"..."
Ei gave Qin Yu a peculiar look.
With that speed, he thought he could approach her.
The man maintained a polite smile, feigning composure.
He was going all out!
The reaching hand drew closer and closer.
Ei let out a soft hum.
She slowly closed her eyes.
The majestic Archon did not refuse.
After all, Tenshukaku was indeed a bit hot.
And this was also the wish of the shrine maiden, Sakura.
...
Finally, the fox mask was removed by Qin Yu.
The shrine maiden's face was finally clear before his eyes.
His heart skipped a beat uncontrollably.
Ei opened her eyes.
Looking at Qin Yu, who seemed slightly dazed.
The feeling of fullness in her heart was also warm.
She didn't dislike being looked at like this.
"Archon."
"Mhm."
"You are so beautiful."
"..."
This time, Ei did not respond.
However, Qin Yu noticed.
Quietly, the corners of Ei's lips curved into a gentle arc.
Her long-held coldness.
Melted away with the removal of the mask.
Ei, she smiled.
Qin Yu's eyes widened slowly.
Was this a sight he was allowed to witness?
"Archon, I have an important matter to report."
"What is it?"
"You look even more beautiful when you smile."
In the quiet room, Qin Yu said earnestly.
"..."
After a long while, Ei glanced at Qin Yu.
Qin Yu's hand, holding the fox mask, began to sweat slightly.
"If you look beautiful, you can look for a while longer."
"Yes, Archon!"