Jade Chamber
Keqing felt a warm sense of pride after receiving Arthur's praise.
But compared to that, there was something she cared about much more—
Is Liyue's human-governance dream actually possible?
She set down her teacup and picked up her pen again, posture straight, attention focused on the light-screen.
Her expression gradually tensed.
Blue Star — Villa
After a sip of water, Arthur began addressing the question everyone was waiting for:
"So—
Is human governance possible in Liyue?
Does it have any real chance of success in Teyvat?
Let's examine it from multiple angles."
"First—
External threats."
"If Liyue has no god, how does it defend against outside enemies?"
"Remember—Teyvat is NOT peaceful."
"First external danger:
Human factions, such as the Fatui."
"Their influence spans all of Teyvat.
The top three Harbingers possess power equal to the gods themselves."
"Second:
Former gods, like the Osial couple sealed in Guyun Stone Forest."
"In the future timeline, it took the combined effort of Liyue's people and the adepti to handle them."
"Relying on adepti—
is that still considered pure 'human governance'?
Keqing herself should know the answer."
"And finally—
Other nations' gods."
"In Teyvat, Archons love and protect their own people—
but toward other nations?
That's a different story entirely."
"These are all external threats human-governed Liyue must face."
"And trust me—
having a god on your side versus having no god…
is NOT the same concept."
Jade Chamber
Keqing had been taking notes seriously…
But slowly, her hand froze.
"Fatui… former gods… other Archons…"
"So many enemies…?"
Her lips tightened.
Her fingers gripped her pen harder without realizing it.
If Morax was present, she feared nothing.
But without him—
Could humans alone handle all of that?
The answer was painfully obvious.
Keqing's expression dimmed.
She finally realized—
She had oversimplified human governance far too much.
Blue Star — Villa
Arthur continued:
"Next—
Let's discuss internal issues."
"Today's Liyue Qixing are exceptional.
Ningguang—who rose from nothing.
Keqing—dedicated wholeheartedly to Liyue."
"But it's only this generation."
"Once there's no divine oversight,
who can guarantee that future Qixing will be just as diligent and upright?"
"To illustrate this point—
let's look at neighboring Mondstadt."
"Take the Lawrence Clan—
once heroes who helped found Mondstadt and vowed to protect it forever."
"But later?"
"They plunged into corruption and tyranny."
"Knights families like the Gunnhildrs and Ragnvindrs?
They were the exceptions—
not the rule."
"If the Anemo Archon and Vennessa hadn't intervened,
Mondstadt would've been doomed."
"And this isn't rare."
"The Inazuma Tri-Commission.
The Sumeru Akademiya."
"Never underestimate human greed."
"Liyue's lasting stability has been thanks to Morax's presence—
a deterrent preventing ambitious people from acting recklessly."
All across Teyvat, common citizens nodded vigorously.
Even the nations being called out…
couldn't deny it.
Ordinary Chat Group
Victoria: He's right! Without Lord Barbatos and Lady Vennessa, Mondstadt might not exist today.
Tepei: Even the Tri-Commission used to be loyal… things changed.
Afan: The Akademiya… they betrayed the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata!
Sedna: Thank goodness Fontaine is a land of justice! Praise Lady Furina! Praise Monsieur Neuvillette!
...
Meanwhile, the Transcendent Chat Group had gone quiet.
Everyone was deep in thought.
Outside Mondstadt
Amber and Eula were patrolling the outskirts.
Eula had fallen silent.
Amber hurried to comfort her.
"The Light-Screen was just giving examples.
That was the old Lawrence clan.
You're fighting for Mondstadt now!"
"Hmph. I'll remember this insult!"
Eula folded her arms dramatically.
Amber chuckled—she knew Eula wasn't truly upset.
Instead…
Eula's gaze grew firm.
She refused to let the sins of her ancestors define her.
If the Lawrence clan had once disgraced Mondstadt—
She would restore its honor herself.
Blue Star — Villa
Arthur continued:
"Let's step back for a moment."
"Even if external threats vanish—
even if all of Liyue's citizens stay honest—"
"What about other nations?"
"Look at Inazuma—
the Tri-Commission colluding with the Fatui, deceiving their own Archon."
Raiden Ei's expression darkened instantly.
"…colluding with the Fatui?"
"And look at Sumeru—
their obsession with knowledge turned into arrogance.
They imprisoned their own god.
Desecrated their own god."
Nahida quietly lowered her head.
"The Akademiya really did fall this far…"
A mix of sadness, guilt, and anger flickered in her eyes.
"In such circumstances,
if a major natural disaster or unsolvable crisis hits—"
"And an ambitious leader emerges—"
"It could ignite a war sweeping across all of Teyvat."
"And then…
It won't just be 'a few deaths.'"
"For example—
there exists a world called Blue Star."
"There, there are no gods."
"But because of human ambition and many other reasons—
it experienced two world-spanning wars."
"The total death toll exceeded 100 million."
"One hundred million lives."
"It is the most tragic calamity in human history."
Arthur's voice carried genuine heaviness.
His own nation had suffered greatly in one of those wars.
Jade Chamber
"What…?"
"One hundred million deaths…?"
Keqing's entire body trembled.
She unconsciously snapped the pen in her hand.
Ningguang and Ganyu both grew solemn.
Teyvat's entire population wasn't even one hundred million.
Yet that many died in just two wars?
The number alone was horrifying.
Wangsheng Funeral Parlor
Hu Tao originally watched just for fun.
But now—
Her smile vanished.
"100 million souls…?"
"How many spirits would wander, unable to rest…?"
For once, she wasn't thinking about business.
As a funeral director—
she felt something heavy tightening in her chest.
Zhongli remained silent.
But the hand holding his teacup paused—
a rare sign of genuine turmoil.
Across Mondstadt, Inazuma, Sumeru, Natlan, Snezhnaya—
everyone watching felt a chill.
Blue Star — Villa
After regaining his calm, Arthur concluded:
"Teyvat is far more fortunate than that world."
"Except for the Archon War and the Khaenri'ah disaster 500 years ago,
there have been no continent-wide catastrophes."
"Most conflicts are small and localized—
and manageable."
"And this stability exists thanks to the Seven Archons—
their protection
and their balance."
"So unless Liyue can overcome all these challenges…"
"Or accept the enormous cost of attempting human governance…"
"Then in Teyvat—
Liyue's dream of human governance
is destined to remain…"
"A beautiful illusion."
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