Chapter 11

In an instant, the fur on Yae Miko's tail stood up beneath her robes.

Sky Island!

Isn't Sky Island where the gods reside? No one knows how many gods dwell there.

Is this god the one who returned to Inazuma with Ei?

She had just called this god, who seemed to be even more powerful than Ei, "little brother"!

After two seconds of panic, her panic turned to respect, her weakness turned to helplessness.

"It turns out that you are a god from Sky Island. I didn't know your identity, Lord God. Please forgive my rudeness," Yae Miko said, her ears standing upright in fear. She had originally thought this was a newly recruited samurai under General Raiden, someone with a calm and courageous demeanor. How could she have guessed that he was a god from Sky Island?

He must have come to Inazuma because of its current chaos, supervising Ei's neglect towards her people.

She had called this god "little brother," a god who was potentially more powerful than Ei.

This was completely blasphemous—like a mortal calling Ei a child.

Yae Miko was about to cry, her eyes darting quickly to Ei.

Ei, you won't just let me suffer, will you?

Raiden Ei didn't know what to do at this moment, and she looked at Takumi nervously.

This new Lord Heavenly Principle was an entity far more powerful than the previous one.

If Miko were to be punished, there would be nothing Ei could do, even if she wanted to intervene.

For the first time, Yae Miko saw Ei so nervous. She didn't understand why, but this god from Sky Island was clearly someone that Ei herself wouldn't dare to offend—a being ranked even higher than Ei.

This is it. I'm finished, thought the little fox.

Takumi watched with amusement as Yae Miko's expressions shifted from shock to fear.

Although he admired many of the characters from the world of Teyvat, one of his favorites was the mischievous, flirtatious, and innocent Yae Miko.

The atmosphere seemed to grow more oppressive and solemn with every passing second that Takumi remained silent.

Not only were Yae Miko and Ei feeling the pressure, but even Kamisato Ayato, who wasn't directly involved, was starting to suffocate.

Why did the mood shift so drastically?

Am I about to be punished by some unknown god?

Yae Miko looked at the unfamiliar god, whose playful smile made her feel as though her soul was about to leave her body. Just when she was about to beg for mercy, the god spoke.

"Oh~ why did the atmosphere suddenly become so tense?" Takumi's smile gradually softened, becoming more cheerful.

If he hadn't spoken, Yae Miko might have been scared senseless, and that wouldn't have been ideal.

"It was just a comment. I'm not a petty god. How could I care about such a trivial matter? After all, a god should have a broad mind."

Originally, Yae Miko had started to relax a bit after hearing those initial words. But when she heard him emphasize "petty," "trivial," and "broad-minded," her whole body went numb instantly.

As a fox, Yae Miko could easily tell from his teasing smile that he was making fun of her.

"I am generous about everything. Otherwise, the people of the world would be punished every time they cursed a god. Would I do that?"

"Don't worry, I'll forget about it soon~"

Raiden Ei suddenly noticed that Lord Heavenly Principle's demeanor resembled that of the drunkard from Mondstadt. Her violet eyes widened slightly.

He seemed like an entirely different person from the dignified figure she had met on Sky Island.

"Oh dear, my shoulders suddenly feel sore~" Takumi said, feigning discomfort as he tapped his shoulder.

As a mischievous fox, Yae Miko knew exactly what he meant.

Her expression changed instantly. She realized the personality of this god, someone even higher than Ei.

She had encountered people like this hundreds of years ago, but back then, it was a woman.

"Lord God of Sky Island, this humble one has some experience in massages. May I...?" Yae Miko said, almost tearfully.

This strange god must have taken an interest in her appearance, and his personality was no better than that other person's.

And she had just offended him. If she didn't do as he wished, she would be teased and humiliated even if she weren't punished.

"That's fine. I think Ei has no objections," Takumi said, glancing at Ei.

"If Miko is willing, I have no objections," Raiden Ei nodded.

Yae Miko wanted to cry, but no tears came. I have objections, but do I dare voice them?

Having no choice, she nervously walked behind the strange god and began gently massaging his shoulders.

As the head shrine maiden of the Grand Narukami Shrine, she was skilled in divination, medicine, incantations, and rituals. Massage was just another medicinal technique.

"Not bad. This is my first time being massaged by a shrine maiden, and I'm very satisfied," Takumi said, clearly enjoying himself. Yae Miko's massage was indeed comfortable—she was, after all, a beautiful fox.

"Thank you for the compliment, as long as you are satisfied," Yae Miko said, though she wasn't exactly thrilled by the praise.

Even Ei and Lady Kitsune Saiguu had never made her massage their shoulders.

Meanwhile, she was contemplating the purpose of this god's visit from Sky Island.

Seeing Ei so nervous, it was likely he was here to oversee Ei's handling of Inazuma's troubles.

But it seemed like he wouldn't cause her any more difficulties.

Kamisato Ayato, the only human present, kept his head lowered, trying to minimize his presence.

"Lord Takumi, why do you say the punishment for them is too lenient?" Ei asked.

The title had changed from Lord Heavenly Principle to Lord Takumi. After all, Lord Heavenly Principle had claimed to be from Sky Island and obviously didn't want others to know his true identity.

She wasn't good at dealing with political matters, but she wasn't foolish.

At the same time, she thought, wouldn't it be too lenient to simply execute all those corrupt officials?

"Of course. Have you ever considered why they did these things?" Takumi asked, half-closing his eyes.

"As a god, you may not fully understand human selfishness and greed. While there are great humans, there are also those who are incredibly wicked. The potential for greatness is high, but the potential for evil is equally low."

"They exploit, enslave, and commit atrocities against their own kind to strengthen their families and pass on the fruits of their plunder to future generations."

"If you only kill the evildoers, their descendants will still enjoy the benefits of their misdeeds."

"If someone does evil for their entire life, should their descendants be rewarded for generations? That's absurd."

"Anyway, I'll leave it at that. After all, you are the ruler of Inazuma."

Takumi gave Ei enough face. If he acted directly, how could Ei, as the god of Inazuma, face her people?

Ei understood but still wasn't sure how to proceed. She looked at Miko, who was massaging Takumi.

"Miko, what do you think?"