Jade Chamber
"996…?"
Keqing was still recovering from the trauma of being called 'Civil Engineering Big Sis', but when she saw this new term, her expression sharpened.
She began quietly analyzing it.
Ningguang set down her teacup with a soft laugh.
"Don't tell me you're actually considering implementing it."
"Of course not. It's unrealistic."
Keqing sighed and shook her head.
If it were in the past, she might have really tried.
In her eyes, humans were far weaker than the gods—shorter lives, limited abilities.
If mortals wished to surpass the gods and take the reins of their own future,
then laziness must be overcome; diligence must become the norm.
But after her previous proposal,
"Add one extra hour of work per day,"
was met with firm resistance…
and after seeing the endless cycle of assistants quitting due to exhaustion…
Keqing understood at last.
"No matter who they are, humans have limits."
She herself could maintain enthusiasm, push through sleepless nights, and work until exhaustion.
But she couldn't demand that from others.
Forcing it would only cause collapse—and backfire entirely.
And today's chat full of "I want to slack off" comments proved that clearly.
Ningguang raised an eyebrow.
"Seems you've finally figured it out."
Keqing only smiled faintly, took a sip of tea to calm her thoughts, and focused once more on the light-screen.
Blue Star – Villa
Arthur continued:
"Now that we've finished Keqing's first major trait, let's move on to the second—"
"Her irreverence toward the gods."
Mondstadt — The Good Hunter
Lumine had just eaten her fill and was relaxing in her chair.
But the moment she heard that line—
She snapped upright, chair nearly tipping over.
"Irreverent toward the gods?
Hold on—
does this mean someone else is like me?!"
In her own evaluation, one of her infamous traits was "disrespecting gods."
Lumine had honestly thought only she, and the troublemakers of Sumeru, were like that.
But now?
A Liyue Qixing was also on the list?!
Suddenly—
"At last… I am not alone."
Paimon panicked and tugged at her sleeve.
"Hey! Lumine! Keep your voice down!"
Lumine blinked and finally noticed the eyes around them—
several Mondstadt citizens were staring with complex, judgmental expressions.
In an instant—
she remembered.
Her "deeds" were now famous across all of Teyvat.
And Mondstadters were… overwhelmingly devout followers of Barbatos.
Crap.
She jumped to her feet and executed the most formal Knights of Favonius salute she could manage.
"Ahem! I—I am Mondstadt's Honorary Knight!
I stand firmly against anyone who disrespects the Anemo Archon!"
The onlookers slowly dispersed.
Actually, none of them disliked the Traveler.
After all, she did save Mondstadt recently.
They were just startled by hearing "disrespecting gods" spoken so boldly.
"Whew… saved."
Lumine slumped back into her seat and whispered,
"Gotta be more careful from now on…"
"No kidding!"
Paimon munched on meat with righteous confidence.
"I bet this is exactly why the Raiden Shogun chopped you in the old timeline!"
Lumine went silent.
Then quietly:
"…Actually, that does make some sense."
Why did she end up joining the resistance in the original future?
She wasn't paid…
She wasn't forced…
So why did she go pick a fight with a literal god?
She couldn't possibly have been tricked, right?
But that wasn't important anymore.
The future had already changed.
She shook off the thoughts and looked back at the screen.
Blue Star – Villa
Arthur continued:
"Keqing's 'irreverence toward the gods' is a little different from Lumine's."
"Lumine insulted the Anemo Archon, stole free meals from the Geo Archon, fought the Electro Archon, went to the bathroom with the Dendro Archon, and put the Hydro Archon on trial."
"That's all from a personal angle."
"And the Traveler's actual power is sealed—she isn't truly beneath the gods."
"So it can't fully be called 'irreverence.'"
"But Keqing's perspective is human. Entirely mortal."
"She acknowledges that Rex Lapis protects Liyue—
but what if one day he stops?
What then?"
"That's why, during that year's Rite of Descension, she said the famous line:"
'Rex Lapis has protected Liyue for a thousand years.
But the next thousand, the next ten thousand—
will it always be so?'"
"Yes—
Keqing desires human governance."
"But her ideals clash with the rest of Liyue."
"And many accused her of disrespecting the gods."
"This is normal," Arthur explained.
"Teyvat is ruled by the Seven Archons.
And the Geo Archon is one of the most responsible, benevolent gods to ever exist."
"Though whether her proposal is feasible is another matter—
her courage alone is extraordinary."
"Because in most worlds, saying something like this in front of a god?
You wouldn't live to finish the sentence."
Ordinary Chat Group
Liyue members weren't shocked—
they all knew the rumors.
But other regions?
They were stunned.
Lawrence: Hiss—Liyue's Yuheng Star wants human rule?
Victoria: And she said that right in front of the Geo Archon! Now I see why she's called irreverent!
Tepe: Even when we rebelled against the Shogunate, it was only because of the Vision Hunt and lockdown…
Grand Sage: Hmph. Foolish. Once you've mastered divine power, what difference is there between mortals and gods?
Uncle Tian: Liyue's Yuheng Star must have her reasons. It's Sumeru who's actually irreverent toward gods!
...
Adeptus Dwelling — Cloud Retainer
"Hmph!"
"If Geo Archon had not personally explained things, this immortal would have punished that girl for disrespect!"
Cloud Retainer snorted.
Openly doubting the Archon in public—
utterly outrageous!
But remembering Morax's words about stepping down, she sighed.
"If Geo Archon has grown weary…
then we can only support him."
[Transcendent Chat Group]
Paimon: So this is what you couldn't finish explaining earlier, @Yanfei?
Yanfei: Yes. Miss Keqing's ideals are well known in Liyue—though not exactly popular.
Barbara: Understandable. If someone questioned Barbatos like that in Mondstadt, we'd also be furious!
Lumine: Barbatos loves freedom—he'd probably be the first to agree, actually!
Paimon: Yeah! Right, @Venti?
Barbara: Why ask him? He's just a bard.
Venti: Ehe~
Zhongli: So… do you all think the Yuheng Star's ideals are wrong?
Alice: @Zhongli, careful now~ There are several Archons in this group.
If you make people answer that, you're asking them to get punished by their own god~
Zhongli: …My apologies.
Navia: Let's wait for the Light-Screen's conclusion. Considering how much he admires Keqing, he might actually support her.
Nahida: Not necessarily~
...
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