Blue Star — Villa
Arthur continued with a relaxed smile:
"These three—Ayato, Sara, and Miko—are all things that happened later in the story."
"Like Ayaka, Yae Miko also wanted to borrow the 'wind from another land' to blow away Inazuma's dark clouds."
"So she helped the Traveler."
"They first found evidence that the Tenryou Commission was colluding with the Fatui, then used that to persuade Kujou Sara to switch sides."
"With Sara's help, Traveler Aether finally met the Raiden Shogun."
"And that led to the 'slashing La Signora' scene I mentioned earlier."
"As for Kamisato Ayato…"
"The only reason the Resistance managed to break into Tenshukaku at all was because he secretly opened the way for them."
"Three Commissions. Their officers. Their retainers. EVERYONE rebelled."
"Ei, truly… you were so miserable~"
He added leisurely:
"Of course, these people are not the same as the other two Commissions."
"One group genuinely colluded with the Fatui, deceived the Shogun, and oppressed the citizens."
"The other group acted for the good of Inazuma."
"That's why Ayaka and Keqing's parts were placed in the Serious Review, while Aether's was placed in the Not-So-Serious Review."
He took another drink.
"When will I get a Hydro Vision…? Life would be easier."
Teyvat — Collective Reaction
HISSSS—
The moment the explanation ended, half of Teyvat inhaled sharply.
People knew the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions were shady.
But Kujou Sara?
She always defended the Shogun in the chat!
And the Kamisato Clan, the ceremonial pillar of Inazuma?
And worst of all—
The Guuji of Narukami Shrine—Yae Miko!
The Archon's oldest companion.
All "rebelled."
Even if their motivations were justified, the fact remained:
They rebelled.
Add in the Resistance…
And Raiden Ei became—
A true lonely god.
As Arthur said:
"Ei was so, so miserable."
Also…
this indirectly proved that something was very wrong with her concept of Eternity.
Many wanted to discuss this.
But this was a nation's god.
A god who had already beheaded the Traveler in the video.
A god who instantly killed La Signora.
Nobody dared.
The chat fell unnaturally quiet.
Mondstadt — Near Springvale
Aether muttered:
"So THAT'S the full picture."
She replayed everything in her mind:
"Ayaka → Resistance → Yae Miko → fight La Signora → fight Shogun…"
"And the whole time, I'm basically a tool used by others."
"How tragic."
Paimon, slightly tipsy, wobbled her head:
"Well… you did get to meet the Shogun, right?"
Aether: "…"
Point taken.
Inazuma — Kamisato Estate
Ayaka stared blankly.
"Brother… you also…"
Thoma looked pale.
"Lord Ayato… Lady Ayaka… me… Yoimiya… all involved…"
"W-We're done for… right?"
Kamisato Ayato, however, after a moment of silence, nodded thoughtfully.
"So I joined too…"
Thinking it over, it made sense.
His little sister was embroiled in this.
How could he stay out of it?
And ending the nation's suffering was indeed his duty.
"Brother…?"
Ayaka asked nervously.
"I'm fine."
Ayato regained composure.
"We now understand the full scope. Everything depends on the Shogun's response."
Ayaka and Thoma both nodded anxiously.
Sumeru — Sanctuary of Surasthana
Nahida whispered to herself:
"So the Raiden Shogun's subordinates rebelled…"
"Was Eternity misunderstood? Or was it inherently flawed?"
She recalled the Archon Quest footage.
No—
it was a misunderstanding of Eternity.
The Vision Hunt and isolation policies were mistakes.
"If even her closest people resisted… then the problem was real."
She figured it out.
Her expression brightened—
Then dimmed again when she thought of herself.
Even the Raiden Shogun had people who stood up for her.
But she…
was locked away for 500 years.
Alone.
She hugged her legs quietly.
Poor little dendro bean.
Fontaine — Palais Mermonia
Furina murmured:
"Three Commissions… Kujou Sara… the Guuji herself…"
"All rebelled…"
She couldn't help recalling her own 'trial.'
How ironic.
Neuvillette watched her quietly.
He wanted to say something—
but knew she wouldn't answer.
Celestia Knows Who — Zhongli & Venti
The two ancient Archons sighed in unison.
"That friend of ours suffered greatly…"
"She walked the wrong path… but at least things can still be corrected."
Inazuma — Tenshukaku
Silence.
Then—
Kujou Sara dropped to her knees.
"Shogun-sama… I have sinned!"
"Please punish me!"
She had just demanded Ayaka be arrested.
Now the video showed she herself was also a rebel.
Even if justified—
It was still defiance against her god.
She was ready to accept death.
Yae Miko blinked.
"Oh? So I also joined?"
After thinking, she nodded.
"Ah, makes sense. I also wouldn't want my dear friend locked in that dark plane forever."
Her gaze shifted to Ei.
Ei's heart was… complicated.
Angry?
Maybe.
Sad?
Definitely.
Confused?
Absolutely.
Everyone close to her turned against her.
There was no way to ignore this.
"One person telling you you're wrong may be false."
"But everyone around you telling you you're wrong…"
"Then perhaps… the mistake is real."
"Is my Eternity flawed…?"
"But I simply didn't want to lose more…"
The grief of 500 years weighed heavily.
Then she remembered the future shown—
She was defeated by Aether and Miko.
Her decrees were abolished.
That future Ei had been forced to confront reality.
And she… had not yet reached that point.
But she now understood—
Inazuma must change.
She opened her eyes.
Determination lit within them.
The puppet Shogun stirred violently—
but Ei suppressed it.
"Sara."
"You are loyal."
"The future has not occurred. Your 'crime' is forgiven."
"But the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions colluded with the Fatui. Their crimes are real."
"Take troops. Deal with them."
Sara trembled.
Then bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Shogun-sama! I shall carry out the order immediately!"
She hesitated.
"And the Vision Hunt Decree and the Sakoku Decree…?"
Ei closed her eyes.
"They cannot be lifted abruptly."
"Continue gradually easing them among the citizens."
Sara nodded vigorously and left.
Miko laughed softly.
"So you've finally thought it through?"
"Not fully," Ei murmured.
"But enough to begin."
Miko smiled knowingly.
"Then watch the light screen. When your own review comes—
you may truly understand."
Ei nodded.
Then, she decisively opened the chat.
[Supernatural Chat Group]
Ei: The Kamisato Clan has not disgraced Inazuma.
Ei: Kamisato Ayato, Kamisato Ayaka, Thoma, Yoimiya—though they acted rashly, their loyalty is proven. Their past mistakes are forgiven.
Ei: After the review ends, Kamisato Clan shall come to Tenshukaku to discuss matters.
Inazuma — Kamisato Estate
Ayaka exhaled deeply, relief flooding her face.
"Brother, Thoma—Shogun-sama has forgiven us."
Ayato's lips curved upward.
"It seems Inazuma is about to change."
Messages in the chat erupted from Yoimiya, Sayu, Kokomi, Gorou—
All grateful.
All relieved.
Inazuma… was saved.
Blue Star — Villa
Arthur skimmed the barrage and nodded.
"Good. Another bit of positive change."
"Time to continue."
He cleared his throat.
"As for Ei and the others, we'll revisit them in their own reviews."
"Today is Ayaka's spotlight."
"We've talked about her role after the Traveler arrived in Inazuma."
"We've seen her intellect, her duty, her heart."
"Now it's time for the final serious review."
A scene that should've belonged under 'Young Girl Ayaka'…
"But was too beautiful."
"So it gets its own category."
The chat exploded instantly.
Barbara: What could possibly be so amazing?!
Alice: Does it involve romance~?
Ayato: ??
Ayaka: ??
Lisa: If so, why didn't Jean get one? A pity~
Jean: …
Yoimiya: Probably a cute secret or something!
Aether: Oho? A secret? I'm interested!
Paimon: Oho? A secret? I'm interested!
Venti: Oho? A secret? I'm interested!
Furina: Oho? A secret? I'm interested!
Ayaka swallowed nervously.
"What… could surprise even the reviewer?"
Blue Star — Villa
Arthur smirked.
"Final Serious Review — The Dance of the White Heron."
He opened a video.
Ayaka's Story Quest: The Whispers of the Crane and the White Rabbit.
He had considered cutting straight to the dance.
But that would be wrong.
The dance was beautiful
because of everything leading up to it.
Her burdens.
Her responsibilities.
Her longing for friendship.
Her quiet, gentle heart.
Only with the full context
could the dance become the masterpiece it was.
The dance that made countless Travelers
swipe their credit cards at lightning speed.
The dance that made Aether draw her sword at a god.
But truly—
Can you blame her?
Ayaka's beauty was simply too powerful.
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