Chapter 3: Yae Miko

Despite her inner complaints, Kujou Sara's expression remained unchanged. After some thought, she responded, "Hmm— if we're talking about significant decrees, there's only the Sakoku Decree that the General issued not long ago. Other than that, there aren't any major events."

"What? The Sakoku Decree?" Liam's expression shifted. Had the decree already been issued? It seemed the main storyline events weren't far off now.

"What's wrong? Is there a problem?" Kujou Sara frowned as she watched Liam's fluctuating expression.

"No, it's nothing. I just remembered something," Liam said, shaking his head. He wasn't about to share his concerns with her, knowing she was the General's staunch supporter. If he told her, she might turn around and betray him. How would he deal with that?

Kujou Sara gave Liam a look but didn't press further. The rest of the journey was silent, with Liam contemplating how to boost his strength as much as possible before the main storyline began. However, no matter how he thought about it, he was at a loss. Besides his explosive potential, he had no quick way to enhance his power. It seemed he would need to consult the system for answers.

Before long, Kujou Sara led Liam out of Tenshukaku. Liam curiously observed his surroundings. The real Inazuma City was much larger than in the game. The bustling streets and ancient architecture gave him a sense of awe. He took a deep breath, inhaling the fragrance of cherry blossoms. Teyvat's fresh air was incomparable to the polluted air of modern cities!

After following Kujou Sara for a bit longer, they arrived at a rather grand building.

"Where is this?" Liam asked, knowing it was a restaurant but unable to pinpoint its exact location due to differences between the real and game maps.

"This is Uyuu Restaurant," Kujou Sara said, pushing the door open and entering.

Liam understood. Uyuu Restaurant was well-known in Inazuma, featured in several quests. He hadn't expected to visit the real thing so soon. He followed Kujou Sara inside.

"Ah! Lady Kujou has come today!" The restaurant owner, Okazaki Rikutou, greeted them warmly. Kujou Sara was a high-ranking officer of the Tenryou Commission and known for her fairness.

"The usual, please," Kujou Sara said casually, then looked at Liam. "Take a look and order whatever you want."

Okazaki Rikutou noticed Liam and was surprised to see the usually stern Kujou Sara dining with a man.

"This must be Lady Kujou's friend! A new face here at Uyuu Restaurant! Let me introduce our specialties..." The owner enthusiastically described the dishes, and Liam ordered several classic Inazuman dishes from the game, including some fried tofu, curious to taste the favorite food of a certain fox.

"My, my! I didn't expect you to like fried tofu too! What a coincidence!" A teasing, sultry voice came from behind.

Liam recognized the voice without turning around. He spun around to see a woman with long cherry-pink hair, violet eyes, and a seductive smile, dressed in a white and red shrine maiden's outfit.

Yae Miko! Of course, it was that sly fox!

"Lady Yae..." Kujou Sara sighed, somewhat exasperated. She hadn't expected to run into Yae Miko here.

"Oh my! Isn't this the little tengu from the Kujou clan? Here to pester me with questions about the General again?" Yae Miko teased with a smile.

Kujou Sara: "..."

As she feared, this encounter had happened. She glanced at Liam, who wore a somewhat odd expression. Her earlobes burned with embarrassment. Being teased in front of the General's new disciple was mortifying.

"Hehe, not teasing you anymore! Aren't you going to introduce this young man to me?" Yae Miko asked, still smiling, curious about Liam's identity. She had recognized him but wondered why he was with Kujou Sara.

Kujou Sara composed herself and resumed her usual calm demeanor. "This is Liam, the General's new disciple."

"Oh! The General's new disciple? How interesting!" Yae Miko's eyes sparkled with interest. She hadn't expected Liam to be introduced as the General's disciple. She turned to Liam with a bright smile. "Hello, young man! I'm Yae Miko, the chief shrine maiden of the Grand Narukami Shrine and a friend of the General. By seniority, you should call me Auntie!"

Liam: "..."

As expected, this fox was adept at exploiting every opportunity.

"Lady Yae, you should ask my master about that. If she agrees, I have no objections," Liam replied, glancing at the smiling Yae Miko.

If you're so capable, go talk to the General yourself! And today's grudge? I'll remember it. When I get stronger, I'll make sure you call me daddy! But for now, I'll avoid confrontation.

Yae Miko continued to smile at Liam, her eyes twinkling with amusement, making him feel exposed under her gaze. "Oh my! Are you speaking ill of me?" she teased.

Liam: "..."

The game didn't mention this fox could read minds!

"No, Lady Yae, you must be mistaken," Liam denied, determined not to admit anything, regardless of whether she could read minds.

"Hehe, let's eat," Yae Miko said, noticing the food being served. Without hesitation, she picked up a piece of fried tofu that Liam had ordered and ate it.

"Mm! This fried tofu is as delicious as ever!" Yae Miko exclaimed, savoring the taste.

Liam: "..."

I'll remember this grudge too.

Liam quickly finished the remaining fried tofu, not giving Yae Miko another chance. She continued to smile at him, making him even more uneasy, unsure of what she was planning.

---

In the evening, inside Tenshukaku.

Although lunch had been somewhat awkward due to the encounter with Yae Miko, Liam didn't hold any grudges against that sly fox. Despite her crafty nature, Yae Miko genuinely cared about Inazuma.

Without that sly fox, given Ei's cluelessness about governance, who knows what Inazuma would have turned into?

"The sly fox's attitude towards me wasn't like someone meeting for the first time. Could it be that she was there that day but didn't intervene because the General was present? It's quite possible..." Liam pondered some issues silently, but he quickly dismissed them as unimportant.

"Hey, System!" Liam called out internally. To be honest, he hadn't really explored the system since it awakened. It was time to understand it better.

[What can I do for you, Master?] The system's cold voice echoed in Liam's mind.

"System, can you introduce yourself and explain your functions?" Liam asked.

[Ding~ As requested by the Master!]

[This system is the Tree Ocean System, bound to the master's soul. The main functions include: Check-in, Tasks, Lottery, and Shop.]

"Can you explain each of these functions?" Liam requested.

[Ding~! Check-in Function: You can check in once daily to receive random rewards, mainly imaginary points (used for lotteries). There is a small chance of obtaining various items such as Divine Keys, Herrscher Cores, Vision, Gnosis, Destiny's Revelation (used to open a path of destiny), etc.]

"Hiss—! I didn't expect it to have something as powerful as Destiny's Revelation that can open a path of destiny!" Liam exclaimed. He knew that opening a path of destiny could elevate someone to a Star God, a terrifying concept and a testament to the ultimate power of his system.

(Note: Star God = Aeon)

[Ding~ Lottery Function: 160 imaginary points per draw, with rewards similar to check-in but with increased chances of rare items. There will also be periodic rare up pools and super rare rewards not available through check-ins!]

"Are there rewards even more valuable than Destiny's Revelation? That's exciting, but 160 points per draw is quite steep, as expected!" Liam remarked.

[Ding~! Task Function: The system will issue various tasks randomly based on the master's situation. Rewards are random. Tasks can be declined, and failure carries no penalty!]

"This function is quite balanced. I'm surprised at how user-friendly it is, with no penalties for failure and the option to refuse. Love you, System!" Liam laughed.

[Ding~! The system has a materialization function. It can take form according to the master's most satisfying image and will become sentient. If the master desires, the system won't refuse!]

"Ahem! System, what are you saying! I see you as my benefactor! Where is this function located?" Liam replied, a bit embarrassed.

[Ding~! Shop Function: All rewards from the lottery and check-ins can be purchased directly using imaginary points. The system's materialization function is also located here!]

Liam browsed the system shop briefly and found an extensive inventory, albeit at high prices. The Fire of Execution was priced at 800,000 imaginary points, and each Herrscher Core was 1,600,000 points. The Destiny's Revelation was even more expensive at 8,000,000 points. There was another item similar to Destiny's Revelation, called Path of Destiny (allows you to choose and open one path of destiny!).

The items were impressive but incredibly expensive. The Path of Destiny was priced at 16,000,000 points. Liam couldn't afford it, but fortunately, it was available in the prize pool. Maybe he'd get lucky someday.

The only unique item in the system shop was the system materialization: the system would take form according to the master's ideal image and gain sentience. It cost 80,000 imaginary points.

"Hiss—! Though cheaper compared to those multi-zero items, it's still not cheap. That's enough for 500 lottery draws!" Liam was tempted by the system materialization but hesitant about the high cost.

He suddenly remembered he hadn't checked in today. So, he silently commanded, "System, check-in!"

[Ding~! Check-in successful! Congratulations, Master, you have obtained the End Gem! It has been automatically fused!]

[Ding~! First check-in successful, reward: Divine Key: Key of Judgment - Seven Thunders of Redemption! It has been added to the system inventory!]

Hearing his rewards, Liam could hardly believe his ears.

"System, did you say I fused with what?" Liam asked, stunned.

[Ding~! The End Gem!]

"Isn't it the End Cocoon? What is the End Gem?" Liam felt a sense of foreboding.

[Ding~! The End Gem is the core of the Herrscher of the End from Honkai Gakuen 2. Once fully activated, it allows the user to transform into the Herrscher of the End from Honkai Gakuen 2. This gem has been modified by the system, so the master will not be controlled!]

The Herrscher of the End from Honkai? The power was undeniable, but something felt off.

"System, explain everything about this End Gem!" Liam demanded.

[Ding~! The gem is fully fused with the master. Each use of its power will partially activate it. The master can choose to fully activate it at any time. Once fully activated, the master will become the complete Herrscher of the End.

However, since the Herrscher of the End from Honkai Gakuen 2 is a true civilization destroyer, even though the system has modified it to prevent control, upon full activation, it will spontaneously trigger the Honkai Infection, and all life in Teyvat will be exterminated by the master!]

Liam: "..."

Damn it, System! That's not fair!

"System, can I return this thing? Or can you recycle it?" Liam asked in pain, realizing he had just become Teyvat's biggest walking bomb.

[Ding~! System products are non-returnable! But rest assured, as long as the End Gem isn't fully activated, its activation level will decrease over time when not in use. The system can display the gem's activation level at any time if the master wishes!]

As the system finished speaking, a small screen appeared in front of Liam, showing the End Gem's status.

[End Gem: Activation Level: 0/100]

[Void Herrscher Core: Development Progress: 0/100]

"Another Void Herrscher Core and the End Gem. Should I dye my hair white?" Liam joked, seeing the two items on the screen.

[Ding~! If the master desires, the system can provide a free hair-dyeing service!]

"Forget it, I think my black hair looks pretty good!" Liam laughed.

[Ding~! Friendly reminder: if the master suffers life-threatening injuries or dies, the End Gem will forcefully activate to revive the master!]

Liam: "..." Well, thanks, I guess.

.

.

.

(Yai Miko)

.

.

.