chapter 46

When Takumi used his space power to appear at Narukami Taisha Shrine, he saw Yae Miko acting coquettishly, and he couldn't help but have a playful smile on his lips.

He spoke immediately.

"Oh~ So what kind of reward does the little fox want? If the reward you mentioned can make me laugh, maybe I can easily grant it~"

This startled Raiden Ei, and she quickly looked over nervously and said, "Lord Takumi!"

Yae Miko's ears almost stood up, and she quickly put away her small thoughts of wanting to get some benefits from Takumi, greeting him in a dignified manner: "It turns out that you are here, Master Takumi. I would like to send my regards to you, little fox."

Kamisato Ayato and Kamisato Ayaka lowered their heads respectfully. As well-educated nobles who knew etiquette, they could not participate in this level of conversation, otherwise they would appear rude.

Takumi said jokingly, "This is not like you, Miko. Why are you so reserved all of a sudden? This makes me lose the idea of having fun with you."

When he said this, his eyes were on her fox ears, which were twitching slightly.

Yae Miko's heart skipped a beat when she felt his gaze on her ears. She felt like crying. Did Master Takumi really treat her like a pet fox? Teasing her so unabashedly.

It's over, it's over. Raiden Ei has no objections at all, and here she is, the fox that belongs only to him!

Panicked, she quickly rolled her eyes and clapped her hands.

"Oh, Lord Takumi is here to reward everyone who has successfully completed the mission? I'm really looking forward to it."

In an instant, she diverted the attention pointed at her to everyone present.

Raiden Ei, who didn't have the highest emotional intelligence, was indeed fooled and looked at Takumi with curiosity and a little expectation. She was curious about what benefits this new Heavenly Principle would give her.

She had never received any benefit from the previous Heavenly Principle. As for the Heart of God and the throne of the Seven Rulers of the World, those were gifts from her sister, so they didn't count.

Even Kamisato Ayato and Kamisato Ayaka raised their heads and looked at Takumi.

"..." Takumi looked at Yae Miko, and with a hint of cunning in his eyes, the corners of his mouth trembled slightly. Clever fox indeed—deflecting his direct approach so skillfully.

Very well, you've completely p****d me off. I will tug on your ears hard later.

Takumi clapped his hands and put a smile on his face.

"The Demon Slayer World is just a baby step for Inazuma, but no matter how easy it may have seemed, it wouldn't have succeeded so quickly without your efforts."

"The situation in the world of Teyvat has improved by more than 60%, and there is no doubt about your contribution."

Listening to the god of Sky Island praising their achievements, Kamisato Ayato and Kamisato Ayaka couldn't help but feel proud.

Although most of the credit went to Yae Miko, the two siblings had contributed in their own way. They had done an unimaginable thing for the world of Teyvat.

Takumi then spoke with a mysterious smile on his face.

"So, you can tell me your wishes."

Yae Miko thought for a moment, a hint of slyness in her eyes: "Can any wish be granted?"

Takumi touched his chin: "As long as I can do it."

"Anything is fine, be as bold as you like."

In the world of Teyvat, although he couldn't grant some outrageous wishes, he had no problem fulfilling limited ones.

Yae Miko twisted her fingers around each other and thought for two seconds before asking, "Can I ask you a question?"

"Is this your wish?"

Yae Miko quickly said, "Of course not. I wouldn't waste a great god's power on a mere question. My real wish comes after this question."

"What is the question?"

Yae Miko took a deep breath, as if preparing to say something transgressive: "Are you... the Demon God of Time?"

Raiden Ei: "..."

She knew that Yae Miko had misunderstood. While she knew that the Heavenly Principles had four shadows, one of which was the ruler of time, she had never seen it.

Lord Takumi was an entity infinitely more powerful than Fanes.

Takumi said amusedly, "Just think of me that way."

He had never revealed his identity as "Heavenly Principle" to those below the Four Gods. He didn't want to be feared wherever he went—that would be too boring.

And revealing his identity to beings below gods would take away much of the fun. Besides, beings below gods couldn't truly help him anyway. Therefore, the identity of a high-ranking demon god was quite suitable.

It wouldn't diminish his status, and it would bring plenty of fun.

Yae Miko looked at the smiling god, and her heart beat faster: "Can the power of time bring the dead back to life?"

When Yae Miko said this, Takumi understood what her wish was, though it wasn't unexpected.

"Hehe, it turns out your wish is to bring someone from the past to the present. You are quite a daring little fox~"

Takumi looked from Yae Miko to Raiden Ei in an amused manner.

"If I were the previous ruler, hearing this would have felt like a nail dropping from the sky."

The expressions of Raiden Ei and Yae Miko changed drastically, but before they could speak, Takumi's next words filled them with both fear and ecstasy.

"However, the current world of Teyvat is enough to support this type of behavior that was once considered treasonous, and your accomplishments certainly justify this wish. I will grant it."

If Teyvat was still in the same state as before, Sky Island would never allow this to happen. Because bringing back the dead would only hasten Teyvat's decline.

The earth energy needed to resurrect someone—let alone a demon—was immense. The energy required would drain over 30% of a nation's ley line energy, accelerating Teyvat's collapse.

Takumi continued, "Yae Miko, Ei, tell me who you want to bring back."

He already knew who Yae Miko and Raiden Ei wanted to resurrect, but he wanted them to speak it aloud.

Raiden Ei couldn't help but clasp her hands, her purple eyes filled with excitement and anticipation: "Can the Demon God be brought back too?"

She feared hearing the answer "no" from Takumi.

If it was possible, then this Heavenly Principle, greater than Fanes, could certainly do it.

Takumi watched Raiden Ei's undisguised expression of nervousness and expectation, and he felt a bit touched.

"The Demon Gods do not truly die, as they are embodiments of primordial fragments. As long as those primordial fragments are not reclaimed, a Demon God will never truly die."

"Your sister, Raiden Makoto, still has consciousness left in her Heart of Dreams. As long as the primordial fragments are retrieved, she can regain her demonic form."

As he spoke, Takumi snapped his fingers, and a crack opened in the gate of Khaenri'ah, which had been sealed by Asmodeus under the Sumeru Desert.

A purple meteor flew out of the crack, breaking through the barrier of thick sand and flying towards the sky.