Genshin Impact: Villain Life Sim

As expected...

Honestly, this ending didn't come as much of a surprise to Lucas.

Sure, designated simulations could sometimes change history. In the Tower King simulation, for example, he had flipped the outcome, defeated Barbatos, and even challenged Celestia itself.

But in this simulation? It wasn't that the Vortex God Osial was too weak—it was simply that Morax was just too damn strong.

After all, the Geo Archon was officially recognized as the god of war among the Seven. Both her strength and seniority were top-tier.

In other regions, gods might at least manage a somewhat even match. But in Liyue, Morax had basically never encountered a real threat. If the Vortex God had shown up in Mondstadt instead, maybe he could've pulled off a comeback.

As for Inazuma?

Well, another "O"-named sea-dominating god had already been sliced clean in half by the Raiden Shogun.

[Please select one of the following talents as your innate ability:]

[Vortex God (Gold): As the Vortex God, you have a natural affinity for hydro power, able to stir tsunamis and summon whirlpools.]

[Sovereign of the Deep (Gold): In the depths of the sea, you are the undisputed ruler. Most aquatic creatures can communicate with you—and obey your commands.]

[Eternal Blue (Purple): In any environment that contains Hydro energy, you can absorb the elemental power to greatly enhance your regeneration.]

The purple one wasn't worth considering. But between the two golden talents, Lucas actually hesitated for a moment.

One was hydro element control—definitely tempting. But at the moment, Lucas already possessed Cryo, Dendro, Anemo, Pyro… and even hidden powers of Light and Void. Plus, Hydro was more of a support element, and with his absurd healing factor, it wasn't exactly essential.

The other talent let him become a king of the seas. Commanding sea creatures might sound a bit underwhelming—but it wasn't just fish and shrimp down there. There were powerful aquatic monsters, too. If he could bend those to his will, it could be a huge advantage.

Still, after thinking it over, Lucas ultimately chose [Vortex God]. Elemental power was elemental power—but the source mattered. And the power of a god was on a different level entirely.

Just like Pyro power from a divine beast was leagues above normal flames, Hydro power from a god was in a class of its own.

Besides, if he ever needed to use some water-elemental weapon or artifact in the future, at least he wouldn't be caught unprepared.

...

"Darling? Darling?" In a daze, Lucas felt someone gently patting his cheeks. When he opened his eyes, he realized he was resting on Beisht's lap. Seeing him wake up, she finally breathed a sigh of relief and said, "You're finally awake."

The girl before him… overlapped perfectly with the Beisht from the simulation.

And thanks to the simulation, Lucas could now "remember" the past between them.

"Are you okay?" Beisht still looked a little puzzled. "Just now, the moment I blew the conch, you suddenly passed out."

"I'm fine now," Lucas said softly, cupping her face in his hands. "I remember everything… now."

"R-Really?"

Beisht murmured, "Did the sound of the conch… actually work?"

In truth, the conch had already lost its power the very first time Beisht blew it. What truly awakened Lucas's "memories" was the experience inside the simulator—not the conch itself.

Still, he nodded and said, "Yeah… back then, it was that sound that called me to come for you… all of you, right?"

The moment he said "all of you," a flash of sorrow passed through Beisht's eyes.

Clearly, the loss of her daughter—or rather, her sister—was a wound that hadn't healed, even after all this time.

"If I hadn't been so stubborn back then, maybe none of it would've happened…" Beisht said, guilt welling in her voice. "Maybe right now, we'd still be living carefree in the Palace of the Sea God… with our sisters."

Of course, that was just a beautiful fantasy.

Even gods couldn't escape the fate of erosion. Sooner or later, the Vortex God Osial would've left the sea to battle the Geo Archon—it was only a matter of time.

"No… even if you hadn't acted, I still would have," Lucas said softly. Then, as if remembering something, he asked, "By the way… after I was sealed away, what happened to the others in the palace?"

Beisht let out a sigh. "The Palace of the Sea God was sustained by your divine power. After you were sealed, it began to decay. Morax extended a helping hand at the time—offering to bring the others back to land and make them her people."

"That's… good, at least…" Lucas breathed a small sigh of relief.

But Beisht shook her head. "They… all refused."

"Why?" Lucas asked, startled.

"They said… from the moment they were brought into the palace, they had already resolved to give everything to the Sea God. Even if he was sealed away, they would stay in the palace forever… Morax could only leave in silence," Beisht said, her voice heavy with grief. "They weren't like me. They were still human. And when the palace collapsed… they…"

She couldn't bring herself to finish. But Lucas understood what she meant.

In the deep sea, without a god's protection, there was only death.

"To prevent the lingering resentment of the drowned from affecting Liyue Harbor," Beisht suddenly recalled, "Morax crafted a Spirit-Suppressing Stele. She sealed their souls on a remote island, far from Liyue, where mortals could not easily reach…"

"That island… it was this one, wasn't it?" she exclaimed, realization dawning. "Because mortals couldn't approach it, Morax placed the stele here—to keep their souls from being disturbed."

"So… this is the place," Lucas murmured. "Let's go. I want to pay my respects."

Beisht nodded and walked with him into the depths of the island.

The island wasn't large and hadn't developed much of an ecosystem—there were almost no animals—but it was lush with dense vegetation.

Before long, they reached the center. Amid the thick forest stood an open clearing, and in its heart, a massive square stone stele towered. The area within a hundred feet around it was completely barren of grass.

It was clear that the stele still radiated remnants of the Geo Archon's divine power—strong enough to keep even plants from growing near it.

Lucas stepped up to the monument. The surface was caked in dust from years of erosion. He reached out and gently brushed his fingers across it—and the moment he did, the solemn stone stele began to tremble. Dust fell away like drifting snow.

And on the surface of the stele, glowing names began to appear—those of the brides who had stayed behind in the palace and followed Osial into death.

As if responding to Lucas's touch, countless faint soul-forms slowly rose from the names and drifted into view.

"It's… them!" Beisht gasped from beside him, stunned. "It's really them!"

They surrounded Lucas—embracing him, kissing him gently. Lucas closed his eyes, letting himself feel the love that had spanned a thousand years.

They had never refused to pass on out of hatred—but out of longing. They had been waiting all this time… for their Sea God to one day return, breaking free of his seal and coming back to their side.

And now that Lucas had appeared, carrying Osial's presence, they had finally awoken.

With every hug, another memory surfaced in Lucas's mind—each belonging to a different bride.

And after one last farewell to their beloved king and lover, their souls were at last set free. They dissolved into shimmering motes of light, scattering into the wind.

"Goodbye," Lucas whispered, "my brides."

But one soul did not drift toward him. Instead, it floated gently toward Beisht.

"Is that… you?" Her voice trembled, tears glimmering in her eyes. "You… were waiting for me too?"

The soul was that of Beisht's "daughter."

The girl nodded, her face glowing with a gentle smile. She leaned forward, resting her forehead lightly against Beisht's.

Then she rose, waved a final goodbye to her mother, and dissolved into light—disappearing into the sky.

Beisht wiped away her tears and smiled softly. "I'm… so glad."

But the moment those words left her lips, a deep crack suddenly split across the Spirit-Suppressing Stele. And then another. And another.

Chunks of stone began to fall. With a deafening rumble, the massive stele shattered—collapsing into rubble.

The monument's purpose had been fulfilled. It had housed the souls of those unwilling to pass on. And now, with those souls finally at peace, there was no longer any reason for it to remain.

At the same time, far away in Wangsheng Funeral Parlor in Liyue Harbor, Zhongli—who was quietly enjoying a cup of newly brewed tea—suddenly paused.

She set the cup down and murmured, "The stele… it shattered?"

Nearby, Hu Tao was flipping through a book. Upon hearing her speak, she jolted, trembling as she turned her head toward her with great caution.

"You… you already know?"

Zhongli narrowed his eyes slightly. "Hmm?"

To be honest, even Hu Tao couldn't read what was going through Zhongli's mind. The young girl simply bent forward, her twin pigtails drooping as she bowed in surrender.

"I-I'm sorry! That carved white jade cup really was me—I broke it by accident!" Hu Tao said pitifully. "I thought if I secretly replaced it with a fake, you wouldn't notice… but you figured it out anyway, huh?"

"So that's what happened," Zhongli replied calmly. "I'd already realized it was a fake. I just assumed you'd taken the original to play with."

"Huh?" Hu Tao looked up, confused. "Wait… weren't we talking about the carved white jade cup?"

"No,'" Zhongli said with a small shake of her head, rising from her seat. "Sitting this long has wearied me. I'm going for a walk."

Thinking she was letting the matter go, Hu Tao quickly waved her hand. "Go ahead, go ahead!"

"Oh, and one more thing," Zhongli added with a glance over her shoulder. "As for the carved jade ring cup… we'll have a proper chat about that when I return."

Watching her retreating back, Hu Tao let out a groan and muttered, "Please… let this be one of those walks where she doesn't come back anytime soon."

Little did she know that her offhand remark was about to become prophetic. Zhongli's "walk" this time was just half a step shy of crossing into Inazuman waters.

...

Elsewhere, Lucas and Beisht stood before the now-shattered Spirit-Suppressing Stele. The weight they'd both carried in their hearts had finally been lifted.

Especially Beisht—for her, seeing her daughter's soul freed had been a kind of redemption.

"I feel… oddly lighter," Beisht murmured, pressing a hand to her chest. "Darling, now that your memory has returned, doesn't it mean… it's time for you to reclaim your power too?"

Only then did Lucas recall: the reason Beisht blew the conch was to restore the memories sealed away before his transformation.

And that memory was necessary—for him to accept reclaiming the power that had been sealed inside her, power he once gave up to become a monster.

To be fair, Lucas now had the [Vortex God] talent. His mastery over Hydro surpassed even Vision holders. Crossing the vortex zone would be trivial.

But if he displayed that power now, the lie he'd told earlier would unravel.

So if he still wanted to keep the truth from Beisht, he had no choice—he'd have to "extract" his "power" from her.

Which… wasn't a bad thing. After all, even with the Vortex God's abilities, Lucas still wasn't used to controlling them. Getting back a portion of Osial's original strength might help him gain better mastery.

But most importantly—he couldn't say no to Beisht's expectant gaze.

After all, this moment… she'd been waiting for it deep under the sea for hundreds of years.

"In that case…" Lucas cupped her cheeks with a smile. "Let's finally finish what was left undone in our past life. Though… do you even know how?"

"O-Of course I do!" Beisht's crimson eyes flared as she huffed, "Who do you think you're talking to?!"

...Yeah, that tracks.

Even after resolving her emotional burdens, the three-personality thing clearly wasn't going anywhere.

"Alright then." Lucas lay down on a patch of soft grass and said, "Be my guest."

Beisht cracked her knuckles. "I—I've seen you and your other brides doing it before! It's not hard at all! All I need to do is… just…"

"Just what?" Lucas teased, watching the red-eyed girl with amusement. "I'm all ears."

"Never mind!" she huffed, shaking her head. "When the cart reaches the mountain, there'll be a road. When the boat gets to the bridge, it'll go straight. I'll figure it out as I go!"

And with that, several transparent tentacles emerged from behind her, gracefully unfurling as they wrapped tightly around Lucas.

Lucas knew these tentacles well—they were Osial's signature technique. Even the mighty Morax had once been caught off guard by them.

Since Beisht's power originated from him, it was only natural that she could wield the same skill.

The tentacles—elemental constructs—were soft and flexible, eerily lifelike, even coated in a slick, jelly-like mucus. As they wrapped around his body, they felt like cold serpents slithering across his skin, sending a shiver down his spine.

Back in the simulator, Lucas had no idea why Morax—a being as indestructible as bedrock—would react so strongly to something like this.

But now that he was the "victim," he finally understood. Once caught in these things, it felt like your bones turned to jelly—your strength just… vanished.

And Beisht wasn't wrong.

Some instincts didn't need to be taught. Any creature born into this world instinctively knew how to reproduce—like eating or sleeping, it was written into their very genes.

Really now… who could possibly resist a tentacle-wielding girl?

Because her emotions shifted so wildly, Beisht's personalities began switching mid-act. Her red eyes blazed with fiery passion, her blue ones turned gentle and tender, and when they shifted to gray, she grew shy and passive—struck by insecurity.

She was still one person—but to Lucas, it felt like he was talking to three completely different women at once.

[Effect Triggered: "First Glass of Red Wine"]

[Reward: Hydro Mastery increased by 90% (30% × 3)]

…Seriously? Even the system counted it as three targets?

If I ever meet someone with more split personalities, would the rewards keep multiplying…?

No. No. Stop. Dangerous thought. Lucas quickly shut that idea down.

Legally speaking, exploiting mental illness definitely crossed the line.

[You feel a sealed fragment of Osial's power transferring from Beisht's body into your own]

[Reward: Hydro Mastery increased by 100%]

Damn. Divine power was no joke. Even just a sliver of it produced an absurdly high boost.

With this bonus, combined with earlier rewards, Lucas's Hydro proficiency had just skyrocketed—over 200% now—second only to his Cryo control.

...Was the system trying to nudge him toward building a Permafreeze team?

"No time to waste," Lucas muttered, feeling refreshed and clear-headed. He was itching to swim a few kilometers and test out his new power. "Let's hit the road."

Beisht, now back in her blue-eyed personality, lay limp on the grass, her tentacles sprawled out weakly beside her.

"At least… let me rest a little first…" she groaned.

When Beisht was still a little girl, clueless about the world, she had once secretly watched the Sea God and his many wives in the secluded corners of the palace.

Back then, she had no idea what they were doing. All she knew was that the gentle sisters who always looked after her had strange expressions on their faces. She assumed the Sea God was bullying them.

Now that she had experienced it herself, she realized… her own face probably didn't look much better than theirs.

By all accounts, after being defeated by Lucas, burning through her energy, and summoning a whirlpool to devour him, Beisht should've been completely drained—too weak to even return to her true form.

Yet strangely, she felt full of power. Her body, though, was so tired she couldn't bring herself to move.

"I told you—I need to go to Inazuma immediately," Lucas said helplessly as Beisht whined beside him. "I really don't have time to delay."

He had to figure out a way to contact Beidou and the others. Otherwise, they'd definitely worry about him—and if Ganyu or Shenhe caught wind of what had happened, things would only spiral further out of control.

"Inazuma, huh…" Beisht's eyes wavered slightly. "But that god of Inazuma… she's terrifying…"

"Huh?" Lucas blinked. "You've seen the Raiden Shogun?"

"I've spent a lot of years drifting in the waters between Liyue and Inazuma," Beisht said uneasily. "A long time ago, I encountered her patrolling near the coast…"

Her tone darkened with lingering fear. "I could feel her aura—it wasn't as overwhelming as Morax's, but still terrifying in its own right. I was hiding beneath the waves, quietly watching… but she still sensed me."

"Seriously?" Lucas was genuinely surprised. "What happened after that?"

With Raiden Shogun's temperament, spotting a high-tier sea creature in her territory… he figured she'd cut it down without hesitation.

"She just… got on a boat and left," Beisht replied, her face paling. "But I could tell—her eyes were warning me. Telling me not to come near Inazuma again."

For someone with power nearing that of a divine familiar, to be scared off by just a look—it spoke volumes about the Raiden Shogun's strength.

Lucas glanced at the "Ring of Manipulation" on his wrist. Just the thought of having to cut this thing off, potentially in front of Ei herself, made him feel a little queasy.

"You're probably right. If you went anywhere near Inazuma, they'd notice," Lucas muttered, rubbing his chin. "In that case, you'd better stay behind."

The moment those words left his mouth, Beisht's eyes dimmed into gray. She slumped into a corner, squatting and drawing circles in the dirt.

"I'm being abandoned… I'm being abandoned…"

This gray-eyed personality really was a handful…

Lucas quickly moved to reassure her. "I'm not abandoning you, okay? Didn't I promise to take you somewhere nice?"

…

Within the Serenitea Pot.

Every time Lucas entered the realm within the Serenitea Pot, it changed just a little.

Now, the teapot city had grown to rival Liyue Harbor in size. Though the people walking its streets were merely puppets created by Raiden Mai, they were so realistic that unless you looked closely, you'd never know they weren't real.

"W-Where is this place?" Beisht asked nervously, her blue eyes darting around. "Is this… some kind of other dimension?"

"Think of it like… another version of the Palace of the Sea God," Lucas said, choosing an analogy that would click for her. "Only, it's not underwater—and it's way bigger."

Calling it the "Palace of the Sea God" was a stretch. It was more like a paradise detached from the world. But for Beisht, the comparison made sense.

"I get it now… So all of them are your brides too?" she asked, gesturing toward the passersby in realization. "As expected of the Vortex God. After all these years, your tastes haven't changed a bit."

"What? No" Lucas waved his hands frantically. "That's not it at all!"

"Oh please," came a familiar voice behind him. "If you wanted them to be, it'd just be a matter of rewriting some code. Though I can't promise they'd feel exactly like real people."

As expected, the purple-haired woman behind him was none other than… Raiden Mai. Or more accurately—Mai-Dream.exe.

"It's been a while, Mai…" Lucas said, a little exasperated. "Oh, right—this is—"

"Darling, watch out!"

Before he could finish, Beisht's voice rang out, and she lunged at Raiden Mai with glowing red eyes. Though Mai had combat functionality, she wasn't built for sudden brawls—and before she could react, Beisht tackled her to the ground and pinned her down completely.

"Run! I'll hold her off!" Beisht shouted, red light bursting from her body.

"Crap!" Lucas froze, realization finally dawning.

Raiden Mai and the Raiden Shogun looked almost identical.

Beisht had mistaken her for Ei.

And for two gods—or pseudo-gods—whose instincts leaned toward hostility, it made sense that Beisht would react this way. She feared the Raiden Shogun might hurt Lucas and lashed out without thinking.

The only problem was… if that really were Ei, then charging in like this would've just turned her into fried eel.

But at that moment, Raiden Mai's eyes flashed with violet light.

[Threat detected. Requesting host intervention.]

[Switching to external override.]

In the blink of an eye, the puppet's body control was handed over.

Raiden Ei received the signal—and without a second's hesitation, took over.

"It's a misunderstanding! Just a misunderstanding!" Lucas rushed to intervene—but before he could get close, Raiden Mai—no, Ei—kicked Beisht clean off her and leapt to her feet in one fluid motion.

Then she stepped forward and stomped hard on Beisht's chest, pinning her with absolute dominance.

Beisht tried to struggle, but her strength evaporated beneath Ei's overwhelming presence. She couldn't move an inch. A trace of killing intent flickered in Ei's gaze as she said coldly, "So… it's you. The sea serpent."

"Wait! Stop!" Lucas appeared behind her in a flash, grabbing Ei from behind in a bear hug. "She's not an enemy!"

"…I-I get it," Ei's body trembled slightly. "Now let go of me—you… you just touched my button."

No wonder it felt a little off...

Weirdly satisfying.

"S-Sorry"

Lucas quickly pulled his hands away, and only then did Raiden Ei lift her foot and extend a hand toward Beisht. "Hmph. Get up."

Beisht eyed her warily, getting to her feet and slipping behind Lucas. Her brows were furrowed tightly. "Why is the Raiden Shogun here?"

She had seen the Electro Archon from afar once before—of course she remembered that face. No wonder she reacted so strongly.

"She's not the real Raiden Shogun," Lucas quickly explained. "She's just... a puppet that looks a lot like her. Mai, hurry up—call me 'Master' to prove it."

Raiden Ei froze slightly. In Inazuma, she was a god who stood above all. The idea of calling anyone Master was unthinkable.

Especially after that bizarre dream where this guy had… done such outrageous things to her.

But the real Raiden Mai wouldn't hesitate—not for a second. She had to maintain the illusion, and more importantly, end this mess before it spiraled further.

So she forced out a slightly awkward, "M-Master…"

Lucas didn't notice the subtle change in her tone. He smiled and said, "See? The real Raiden Shogun would never say something like that, right?"

Still, Beisht, with her enhanced perception as a sea creature, remained on edge. "Don't be fooled. She could just be pretending—hiding in plain sight. Her aura's completely different from before…"

"That's just your imagination," Lucas said, exasperated. He reached out and gently pinched Raiden Ei's cheeks. "Look—if this were the real Shogun, I'd probably already be sliced in half by now."

A small vein popped on Raiden Ei's forehead. Honestly, if she did have a blade right now, she might not have resisted the urge.

"I still don't buy it," Beisht narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Unless... you kiss her. Then I'll believe you."

"Isn't that a bit much…" Lucas scratched his cheek awkwardly.

"Well, you said she's just a puppet, didn't you?" Beisht reasoned shrewdly. "I'm sure she wouldn't mind."

"You're impossible," Lucas sighed, placing a hand on Raiden Ei's shoulder. "Sorry about this—just to put her at ease."

If this were the real Raiden Mai, she wouldn't care about something as small as a kiss.

After all, back when he'd rebooted her system, they'd done… far more "invasive" things.

But Ei… Ei was one of the Seven Archons. A god. There was no way she'd let a mere mortal—

[If this is unacceptable, I can temporarily resume control for you.]

Raiden Mai's voice echoed in Ei's mind.

[Hmph. So what, are you saying something a puppet can do, I can't?]

[...I would never dare.]

Rejecting Raiden Mai's offer, Ei braced herself as Lucas leaned in.

She wanted to close her eyes, but then remembered—Raiden Mai wouldn't blink or shy away.

So she kept them wide open… and endured every second of the kiss.

"That's enough, that's enough!" Beisht finally stepped in and pulled the two apart, nodding thoughtfully. "That kiss was so stiff—even worse than mine. Yeah, definitely a puppet."

"You finally believe me?" Lucas let out a breath of relief. "Good. Now shake hands and make peace, okay? You'll be living here from now on. You'll need her help."

"I still don't totally believe you," Beisht said, half-convinced, as she extended her hand toward Raiden Ei. "But I'll be watching you closely… for my darling's sake."

Raiden Ei took her hand—but the moment their palms touched, a small jolt of electricity surged through Beisht's skin.

And then a voice, cold and sharp as a blade, rang in her mind.

[You guessed right. I am the Raiden Shogun.]

[But if you dare utter a single word, I'll slice you, this man, and this entire dimension clean in half.]

An overwhelming killing intent washed over Beisht, causing her to break into a cold sweat.

For someone of her power, there was no mistaking the suffocating presence of a true Archon.

Beisht's face went pale with panic. She yanked her hand back like she'd touched a live wire.

Lucas tilted his head in confusion. "What's with that look? You okay?"

She opened her mouth to reply—only to catch a deadly glare from Raiden Ei. Her whole body tensed.

"N-Nothing. Just… not used to the atmosphere here," she mumbled.

No matter what, she had to protect her darling.

If the Raiden Shogun had chosen to remain hidden, it meant she didn't intend to hurt him—for now. The best thing Beisht could do was keep her mouth shut… and not provoke her.

Because that warning in her mind? That hadn't felt like an idle threat.

"It's fine," Lucas said with a warm smile. "I already know where to place you. Mai, take us to the back garden."

The so-called "back garden" was a personal estate Lucas had previously asked Raiden Mai to build.

Its purpose? To create a peaceful, livable space for his companions.

Especially ones like Blue-Eyes White Dragon and Dvalin, who preferred their original forms over human ones. A cramped space simply wouldn't do.

The layout had been based on the design of the Jade Chamber—after all, Lucas had spent decades living there in the simulator. It wasn't hard to sketch it from memory.

And since the new estate didn't have to float, construction was much easier. With Raiden Mai's work efficiency, it had long since been completed.

The garden's centerpiece was an enormous, lake-sized hot spring.

For Beisht, a sea-dwelling creature, the sight of it instantly lifted her mood. Now that her strength had mostly recovered, she leapt into the spring. When she emerged…

She had returned to her three-headed sea serpent form.

Each of her three heads bore a different eye color: blue, red, and gray—mirroring her three distinct personalities.

Seeing her so relaxed, Lucas finally let himself breathe easy. He'd been a little worried that putting a sea creature in freshwater might cause problems.

"So? Do you like it here?" he asked.

"I love it," Beisht replied cheerfully. "But… why is the pool this big?"

"Well, because—"

Before Lucas could answer, the air above them suddenly filled with the sound of flapping wings.

Two dragons—one blue, one white—came roaring through the sky and landed in the hot spring with a thunderous splash, one on each side of Beisht.

Naturally, they were the Blue-Eyes White Dragon, Kisara, and Stormterror, Dvalin.

There was no need to introduce Kisara, but Dvalin was a bona fide Wind God's familiar—his status was definitely higher than Beisht's, whose strength still hadn't fully recovered.

Even just judging by size, Beisht looked small and frail between the two massive dragons.

"Hey, don't scare her!" Lucas quickly called out. "This is Beisht. From now on, she's going to be living here with you."

The two "dragon sisters" perked up with interest as they examined their new housemate.

Dvalin, in particular, kept circling Beisht with a look that said, "What's your deal, little guy?"

And Beisht? Was she touched by this warm welcome?

Not at all. She was just too scared to move.

"She seems… a bit afraid," Raiden Ei remarked dryly.

"It's normal to be uneasy in a new environment," Lucas replied, slipping into the tone of a teacher—probably a side effect of his time in the simulator. "But it's fine. They're all good kids."

Raiden Ei's thoughts drifted to that strange, lingering dream she'd had before, and she asked, testing the waters, "So what if they weren't? If one of them turned out to be a 'bad kid,' how would you handle it?"

"There's always a reason someone becomes 'bad,'" Lucas answered casually. "I believe people are good at heart. If a child turns out bad, it's probably because of their parents' poor guidance."

That answer stirred something in Ei. Her thoughts flashed to the puppet she had once "abandoned."

Could it be… that, deep down, it was actually my fault?

No. I am the Raiden Shogun, the one who walks the path of eternity. How could I possibly be wrong?

She didn't press further on that topic. Instead, she asked, "But how did you even meet her? According to my intel, she shouldn't have been anywhere near the waters around Liyue."

She recalled sensing Beisht's presence long ago while patrolling Inazuma's coastal waters. At the time, Beisht had just seemed like a lowly familiar of the Vortex God, Osial. And Ei didn't even take him seriously—let alone one of his minions.

"It's a long story," Lucas said with a chuckle. "I was actually on my way to Inazuma, but I ran into a bit of… trouble."

Okay, more than a bit.

"What?" Raiden Ei blinked. "You're going to Inazuma?"

Only then did Lucas remember—Raiden Mai had been created by Ei. To her, Inazuma was practically "home." It made sense that she'd react.

"That's right," he said with a hint of exasperation. "And chances are, I'll be running into your creator too. Don't worry—if you stay here, she shouldn't notice you."

Hmph. How bold—stealing something of mine and still daring to show his face in Inazuma? This man has some nerve.

Ei gave a cold, silent laugh. In fact, she was starting to look forward to the moment she met him as her true self.

Still, opportunities like this didn't come often. She'd spent years locked away in Tenshukaku, rarely stepping outside. Maybe this was a chance for a little incognito sightseeing in her homeland.

"Actually, I'm curious to see it with my own eyes," she said coolly. "This so-called 'homeland.' I wonder what kind of place it really is."

"You want to go to Inazuma?" Lucas frowned. "In theory, bringing you into the real world isn't that hard. But… you are modeled after the Raiden Shogun. If you show up in the middle of town, it'll definitely cause a stir."

Barbatos had been out of the public eye for ages, and Morax, too, was rarely seen in person. But the Raiden Shogun was different—she made regular appearances at important events. Most Inazumans knew her face well.

Not to mention… there were even shops that sold Raiden Shogun figurines.

"It's fine," Ei said, pulling out a strange-looking mask from seemingly nowhere. "Remember Lady Hundred Faces? With her help, I made this face-shifting mask compatible with my puppet body. It alters my appearance. Of course, since it's a force-loaded external plug-in, the compatibility isn't great. It can only change the face. But that should be enough."

As she spoke, she slipped the mask onto her face.

This wasn't a normal mask—it actually embedded itself into her skin, merging seamlessly with her body in just a few seconds.

In that instant, Raiden Ei had a completely new face.

Compared to her usual breathtaking beauty, this face was far more low-key—delicate and unassuming, the kind you'd pass on the street without a second glance. The only thing unchanged was the little teardrop-shaped mole by her eye.

Like a built-in anti-counterfeit mark.

Every detail—from her facial features to her expressions—was lifelike. There wasn't a single flaw.

"Amazing…" Lucas reached out and gently touched her cheek. Honestly, it didn't feel like a mask at all—just real skin. He mumbled, "Man, I wonder if I could get one too…"

The ability to change faces at will was undeniably useful.

"This is a puppet-compatible mask," Ei immediately shut him down. "If you're willing to turn your face into a puppet, maybe then you can wear one."

What am I, a science experiment…?

"Yeah… no thanks," Lucas muttered, shrinking back a bit. "I actually like my original face just fine."

"So," Ei narrowed her eyes slightly. "You're agreeing to my suggestion?"

"Well, if you can change your face, then it should be fine," Lucas said, stroking his chin. "But Inazuma's under lockdown right now. If your identity is suspicious, it'll raise red flags. I could disguise myself as a merchant doing business there, but how are you going to explain your presence?"

"That's easy," Ei said flatly. "Just say I'm your wife."

"…Who brings their wife along for business trips?" Lucas rolled his eyes. "No—how about you pretend to be my bodyguard?"

Sure, Lucas was strong enough not to need protection, but hey—Dwayne Johnson has bodyguards. No one would question it.

For some reason, when Lucas disagreed, Raiden Ei felt… vaguely annoyed.

But given that she was still maintaining her disguise, she could only nod and say, "No objections."

Lucas spent a bit more time settling Beisht into place before finally leaving the Serenitea Pot.

Now once again alone, he gazed out at the swirling sea below with none of the hesitation he'd shown before.

"Well then… let's give it a try."

Standing some ten meters from the water's edge, he broke into a short run and dove headfirst into the ocean.

Thanks to the Hydro control he'd inherited from the Vortex God, Osial, entering the sea felt as natural as a fish returning to water. He moved effortlessly through the currents.

The whirling vortexes beneath the surface posed no threat at all. Moving like a merman from legend, Lucas swiftly passed through the turbulent zone and began swimming straight toward Inazuma.

…

Not long after Lucas departed, a black-haired woman arrived from another direction, floating in silently.

The thunderclouds above the island seemed to recognize her presence—bolts of lightning erupted from the sky, crackling toward her. But just as they drew near, the lightning dispersed instantly, dissolved by some invisible force.

The woman, of course, was Zhongli.

Though she was the Geo Archon and speed was not her strong suit, traveling from Liyue to this place was little more than a casual stroll for her.

Of course, that was assuming the island wasn't part of Inazuma's territorial waters. Gods did not casually step into the domains of others without cause—too many complications could arise.

She descended directly to the heart of the island, the very spot where she had once erected a stone stele to lay the souls of Osial's wives to rest.

Now, the Spirit-Suppressing Stele had crumbled into dust. But Zhongli sensed no lingering resentment or malice in the area.

That could only mean the stele hadn't been destroyed by wrathful spirits.

And besides, with the strength of the Geo Lord himself behind it, there was no way the stele would've broken so easily.

Back then, she had made a contract: if those souls passed on peacefully, the stele would shatter on its own. But by her estimation, it should have taken thousands of years for them to let go of their obsession with Osial.

Yet here they were—suddenly released. Zhongli found that difficult to accept.

At that moment, something twitching on the ground caught her attention. A piece of tentacle—remnants of the one Beisht had accidentally torn off earlier in her emotional outburst during her conversation with Lucas.

Much like an octopus's limb, these tentacles possessed a certain "will" of their own. Even after being severed, they didn't immediately die.

And yet, calm and composed as she usually was, Zhongli instinctively took two steps back when she saw it.

Clearly, it triggered some rather unpleasant memories.

"Wait a moment…"

A thought surfaced.

"Could it be… Osial himself who helped them pass on…? No. That's impossible. His seal couldn't have loosened unless…"

Unless Osial willingly gave up his divine body and chose reincarnation—exchanging power for a shot at freedom.

"Osial… if you really have been reborn," Zhongli murmured, furrowing her brow for once, "does that mean… we're destined to be enemies again?"

…

"Achoo!"

Back in the sea, Lucas suddenly sneezed just as he broke the surface.

Had he stayed underwater too long and caught a cold?

Thanks to the power of a god, his swimming speed was ridiculously fast. Before long, he spotted an island in the distance—there were buildings and cooking smoke rising into the sky. He must have reached the waters of Inazuma.

If he was right, that island had to be Ritou—the necessary gateway for anyone entering Inazuma.

Even though he swam the whole way, Lucas's clothes were completely dry. Finding a quiet corner, he summoned his Serenitea Pot and said, "Summon: Raiden Mai."

A flash of violet light, and a purple-haired woman appeared before him—Raiden Mai.

To conceal her identity, she had already donned the puppet mask. Although she wasn't letting Raiden Ei directly possess her body, the real Ei was still observing everything remotely through Mai's eyes.

So this is Inazuma? ×2

The exact same thought popped into both Raiden Mai and Raiden Ei's minds at the same time.

But the meanings were entirely different.

Raiden Mai felt a faint melancholy toward this so-called homeland, while Raiden Ei felt something else—this land she once ruled now felt strangely unfamiliar.

"Ahem," Lucas waved a hand in front of Raiden Mai. "Let's go over the cover story again. Who am I, and what's my identity?"

"Lucas. Tianshu of the Liyue Qixing," Raiden Mai replied offhandedly.

"Technically true, but you can't say that now!" Lucas said with a laugh and a sigh. "Right now, I'm a Liyue merchant in the light novel licensing business."

That cover story had a purpose. He didn't have any actual cargo with him, so posing as any other kind of merchant would raise suspicion.

As for why not just tell the truth? Well, yes, he was the real Tianshu—but Liyue's government hadn't officially announced the appointment. Claiming that title now wouldn't just get him brushed off—it might get him accused of impersonating an official. That would be a nightmare.

"Understood," Raiden Mai nodded. "Don't worry. Everything's going to go smoothly."

"Let's hope so…" Lucas still felt a little uneasy. "Where do you even get that kind of confidence?"

Well, Raiden Ei was her confidence. Raiden Mai knew that no matter what kind of trouble they ran into, as long as the Shogun herself pulled a few strings behind the scenes, it would all work out.

"Hey there~"

Just then, a friendly voice called out from nearby.

Lucas turned to see a tall blond man with bright green eyes walking over, a warm smile on his face as if they were already friends.

"First time in Inazuma?" the man asked cheerfully. "Nice to meet you both. Just call me Thoma."

Among the crowd of Inazumans, this blond-haired, green-eyed foreigner already stood out—and the familiarity of his name made Lucas immediately recognize him.

Thoma, housekeeper of the Kamisato Clan under the Yashiro Commission, and a well-connected local fixture in Inazuma.

But why would someone like him go out of his way to greet them?

Before Lucas could decide how to respond, Raiden Mai suddenly stepped in front of him, her expression stern. "Don't come any closer."

She really was taking this "bodyguard" role seriously.

"No need to be so tense," Thoma waved a hand casually, smiling. "You two just gave off such a distinguished air—I thought I'd come introduce myself."

Lucas couldn't help thinking: This guy really has the social skills of a pro—he can just casually strike up a conversation with total strangers?

"I'm Lucas, a merchant from Liyue. And this is my bodyguard, Mai," Lucas said with a friendly tone. "Pleasure to meet you."

"I get it, I get it," Thoma rubbed his chin with a knowing grin. "I've known plenty of merchants who disguise their maids as bodyguards to keep things hush-hush from the wife back home. We're all men here—I understand."

Slick words, sure, but somehow not unpleasant.

"So…" Lucas asked, "Was there something you needed, Thoma?"

"Now, don't be fooled by my appearance," Thoma said with a smile. "Here on Ritou, I've got a decent network. You might even call me a 'local fixer,' as you folks say. And you probably already know—Inazuma's under the Sakoku Decree right now. If you're a merchant unfamiliar with the lay of the land, things can get… pretty tricky without help."

Lucas could tell right away—this was Thoma fishing for a "business opportunity." Still, he played along. "And?"

"Well, I'll get straight to the point." Thoma chuckled. "If Mr. Lucas would be kind enough to treat me to a meal, I can personally handle all your entry procedures in Inazuma."

Lucas smiled. "How much does this 'meal' cost, exactly?"

Thoma held up four fingers. "For the two of you—400,000 Mora will do."

Yep, just as expected.

Clearly, aside from his job as the Kamisato housekeeper, Thoma had some side hustles going on.

Not that there was anything wrong with that—honestly, without someone like Thoma acting as a middleman, clueless newcomers might end up getting charged even more by the officials.

400,000 Mora—neither a lot nor a little. For most merchants capable of crossing the sea, it wasn't a huge expense.

And for Lucas's current assets, it was barely a drop in the ocean.

As the saying goes: if money can solve it, it's not really a problem. Lucas had no intention of drawing attention, so he was ready to pay up.

But just then, Raiden Mai gave a cold snort, grabbed Lucas by the hand, and strode forward. "No need to trouble yourself. If there's an issue, we'll handle it ourselves."

Though she wasn't Raiden Ei herself, as the Shogun's puppet body, her personality naturally reflected some of Ei's traits—like a strong distaste for coercion.

Thoma, however, didn't seem even remotely offended. He simply smiled, as if used to this sort of thing. "You'll come to need my help eventually. Feel free to find me when that happens."

As expected, the moment they stepped off the pier, the pair was stopped by a woman at a nearby inspection booth.

Her nameplate read "Kageshima." Her face was impassive as she said, "Please stop. State your identities and your reason for entering the island."

"I'm here on business related to light novel licensing," Lucas replied smoothly with the line he'd prepared in advance. "I've come to discuss overseas publication for a few titles with Yae Publishing House."

"Oh, a partner of Yae Publishing?" Kageshima nodded. "In that case—do you have a publishing permit? Without one, I'm afraid I can't let you proceed."

No wonder Thoma was so confident. Without his assistance, most merchants probably couldn't even get past this first hurdle.

Still, Lucas wasn't just any random traveler. He casually pulled out a document and handed it over to Kageshima, subtly brushing his fingers against hers as he did so.

"Please take a look… Mirror Flower, Water Moon."

"There's no problem here. Welcome to Ritou." Kageshima blinked, her vision momentarily blurred. But when she looked down again, the document in her hands seemed perfectly in order. She handed it back with a polite tone. "Also, if you plan on staying long-term, please proceed to the Outlander Affairs Office to register your residency."

Thank the Archons...

Lucas finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Against an ordinary person like this, it wasn't hard to use a bit of mental manipulation to create such a minor illusion.

"How… did you do that just now?" Raiden Mai frowned as she examined the so-called "document" in his hand. "A Genius Invokation TCG Membership Card?"

"Just a little sleight of hand," Lucas said with a grin, putting the card away. "Come on, let's head to the Outlander Affairs Office."

Behind them, Thoma—who had been waiting for some drama—now wore an intrigued smile.

"They actually managed to get through? Looks like they've got some tricks up their sleeves. But the next step won't be so easy. If they pull that off too… someone like that might just catch the young lady's attention…"

Lucas and Raiden Mai made their way toward the Outlander Affairs Office. With the Inazuma map embedded in Mai's mind, she navigated like a living GPS. They soon arrived.

This office operated under the Kanjo Commission—one of the three major commissions—tasked with managing wealth and finances. The Kanjo Commission oversaw Inazuma's economy, while the Yashiro Commission and Tenryou Commission handled culture and military affairs, respectively.

Inside the office, a refined, dark-haired woman sat behind a desk. Her nameplate read: Inspector: Yuriha.

She gave the two foreigners a haughty look. "You've completed the landing procedure? So now you're here for residency registration?"

"That's right." Lucas nodded.

"Very well." Yuriha extended a hand. "That'll be two million Mora."

Two million?

Good grief—that was five times what Thoma had asked for. Made that so-called "fixer" seem downright generous.

"Two million?" Raiden Mai's tone turned cold. "I've never heard of such an outrageous processing fee."

"Hmph. One million per person—not a single Mora less," Yuriha sneered. "If you can't pay, then please leave. But without valid residency, you'll likely be deported soon anyway."

----

🔹 Read 100+ chapters ahead! → patreon.com/NiaXD