In Tenshukaku, Inazuma City.
"?"
Qin Yu's consciousness returned to reality, and he shivered.
For some reason, he felt a chill down his spine since a while ago…
Was there a draft in Tenshukaku?
No.
This intuition of impending disaster…
Nothing had gone wrong with Keqing, had it?
Qin Yu felt something was amiss.
He shook his head gently, chasing away the messy thoughts.
He shouldn't scare himself.
"Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"
As Qin Yu retracted his gaze, a cold voice sounded.
Ei, sitting beside him, turned her head, her brow furrowed.
At the same time, a dangerous glint was condensing in her eyes.
She had been paying close attention to Qin Yu's condition since his return.
If he had met with an accident due to the Fatui earlier…
She wouldn't mind making another trip to Snezhnaya.
"I'm fine, Your Excellency the General."
Qin Yu smiled and shook his head, patting his chest vigorously.
Everything was fine.
"If you feel anything is wrong, you must tell me."
Ei's eyes flickered, as if recalling something.
The Tsaritsa's plan…
Thinking this, she opened the light novel on the table, saying no more.
Qin Yu gazed at the graceful figure beside him, blinking.
The sun was setting now, and the sky was darkening.
Stars dotted the horizon.
Warm candlelight flickered to life in the great hall.
It was as if a hazy, ethereal veil had draped itself over Ei, making her appear serene and beautiful.
Just quietly admiring Her Excellency the General like this was also a kind of enjoyment.
This heartwarming feeling…
Qin Yu found himself smiling uncontrollably.
Ahem, stay calm.
There were still some things to discuss.
With this thought, Qin Yu's gaze became more serious.
"Your Excellency the General."
He paused for a moment, about to speak.
But this time, something unexpected happened.
"Let's try again."
Ei let out a soft hum.
"I'm tired of that title."
She said this, glancing at Qin Yu.
In the flickering candlelight, her purple eyes seemed to ripple.
"This…"
Qin Yu was slightly stunned, then his heart suddenly raced.
What did the great leader mean by saying that all of a sudden?
He quickly pondered, deciding to test the waters.
It couldn't be that she wanted him to call her "Supreme Inazuma Godhood Great Sovereign Lord," right?
"Hurry up."
Seeing Qin Yu's troubled expression, Ei urged him.
"Ei?"
A voice echoed in the great hall.
The air suddenly grew silent.
Qin Yu sat up straight, his gaze fixed ahead.
He couldn't help but start guessing wildly.
Surely he hadn't misspoken…
After a long silence.
"Mhm."
Ei's gaze softened further, and she nodded gently.
Such a casual and intimate address was fitting for Qin Yu's unique position in her eyes.
Qin Yu's hands clenched suddenly.
She agreed! The great leader agreed!
The simple address seemed to open a new world, making his eyes light up.
"If there's something you need to say, go ahead, Yu."
Her plain voice made Qin Yu pause.
What had he just heard?
He subconsciously opened his mouth and murmured:
"Your Excellency the General… no, Ei."
Sensing Ei's sudden stern look, Qin Yu quickly corrected himself.
He had gotten too used to the title and almost forgot.
"What did you just call me? I didn't hear you clearly."
Qin Yu sat up straight, his tone serious.
But his occasional glances at the great leader betrayed his inner thoughts.
He wanted to hear it again.
Ei's lips curled slightly.
"Ei?"
"Yu."
"Ei?"
"Yu."
"…"
Qin Yu cleared his throat and quickly stopped.
This would go on forever.
"Ei, what I wanted to say was…"
He recounted his encounter with Sandrone and the Fatui's plan to create a god.
After all, this concerned the position of a god.
Qin Yu declared his firm intention to cling to the Raiden Shogun's coattails.
However, to his surprise.
"I know."
Ei simply nodded, showing no other reaction.
Qin Yu was left speechless.
That was about creating a god, and her reaction was too indifferent!
He felt a sudden sense of helplessness.
"…"
Ei glanced at Qin Yu's perplexed face and put down the light novel.
"Do you want to become a god?"
The simple words echoed in the hall, striking directly at his heart.
"I…"
Qin Yu opened his mouth, unsure how to answer.
"Whatever you decide to do, I will support your decision."
Ei said calmly, picking up the light novel again.
"…I understand." Qin Yu nodded.
"You don't understand."
"?"
Qin Yu gave a wry smile and offered her a sweet pastry.
He asked the great leader for clarification.
"What do you think a god is?"
Ei accepted the pastry with a contented air and continued to ask.
"Blessed by the sky, and exceptionally strong?"
Qin Yu pondered for a moment.
The blessing of the sky naturally referred to the Gnosis issued by the Celestial ?.
"…"
Ei sighed softly and shook her head.
She looked at Qin Yu, her eyes flashing.
"Use your current authority to defeat me."
Qin Yu gave a bitter laugh. How was that possible?
The life energy from the Great Sumeru Tree's consort was only enough for him to wield for a moment.
Suddenly, he froze.
Yes, even if he possessed god-like authority, he still couldn't defeat Ei.
But Sandrone had already said that the core was comparable to a Gnosis.
Was the problem in…
As Qin Yu was lost in thought.
"Clink."
A small, shiny object was casually tossed by Ei onto the table in front of Qin Yu.
Faintly, thunder rumbled.
"What is this?"
Qin Yu instinctively picked it up.
It was a chess piece.
"Electro Gnosis, take it."
Ei turned a page of her light novel and said indifferently.
"Oh."
Qin Yu agreed subconsciously, then suddenly realized.
"Huh?"
He looked at the Gnosis, then at Ei.
Qin Yu was utterly shocked.
Wait, what was this all about??
What was with that casual tone, as if it were a toy?
"Without it, I am still the Electro Archon of Inazuma."
Ei said plainly, popping a dango into her mouth.
"You still can't defeat me."
Qin Yu: …
He felt a touch of defiance.
If one day he could defeat the great leader…
Never mind, he'd better stick to Ei for now.
"You may go, go home and see them."
"As for matters of godhood, we will discuss them at length."
Ei suddenly said.
Qin Yu was taken aback. Was the great leader rushing him out?
This was strange.
He didn't notice the fleeting smile on Ei's face.
"So I'm really leaving?"
"Mhm."
…
Qin Yu walked out of Tenshukaku with the Gnosis, feeling bewildered.
As he strolled through the streets, he was filled with doubt.
Something was wrong; the great leader was hiding something from him.
However…
"Can I absorb the power of the Electro Gnosis?"
Qin Yu murmured to himself.
He recalled the still-undeveloped green leaves.
If his Electro abilities were strong enough…
Could the Catalyze reaction make Nahida's body more vibrant?
[Ding, I have to remind you]
[A large amount of Emotional Points have been received]
Qin Yu:?
He checked the records, his pupils contracting.
Keqing, Ayaka, and the other girls…
So many people, at the same time!
"It's over."
Qin Yu looked up at the sky and murmured.
Was it too late to run now?
[Ding, that's not important.]
How could it not be important when he was about to crash and burn??
Qin Yu gave a mental middle finger.
[Emotional points from Little Angel Nahida.]
The system prompted.
Qin Yu's gaze froze.
Sadness, loneliness, longing, resilience, gentleness…
And fear.
"…"
Qin Yu's eyes turned completely cold.
He had never experienced so many negative emotions from a girl before.
"What's going on?"
The simple words were filled with a chilling intensity on the verge of eruption.
Nahida was hiding something from him!