What kind of being was the Shogun?
Lin Mo pondered this question as he listened.
Although he had never interacted with the Shogun in his hundreds of lifetimes of reincarnation, he had a general understanding of this unique existence known as the Raiden Shogun.
After all, the true god of Inazuma, Ei, was just as unreliable as the gods of Mondstadt and Liyue.
The god of Liyue practiced a system of monarchical abdication, faking his death and stepping down from his role.
The god of Mondstadt practiced a system of monarchical negligence, simply neglecting his duties.
The god of Inazuma practiced a system of monarchical agency, with an AI managing affairs on her behalf.
This so-called "monarchical agency" referred to Raiden Ei creating the divine construct, the Raiden Shogun, to govern Inazuma in her stead.
From Lin Mo's perspective, as someone who had also created life, the Raiden Shogun was simply an artificial human crafted by Ei's own hands.
However, because Ei was a god, to be precise, the Raiden Shogun should be considered a divine construct.
Furthermore, since Ei had a failed case in creating the divine construct Kunikuzushi (Scaramouche), when she created her second divine construct, she suppressed and erased its independent personality.
This was precisely what puzzled Lin Mo.
If the Raiden Shogun had no independent personality, she should have been even more obedient to Ei's commands.
So why hadn't she properly protected the Sacred Sakura Tree on Narukami Island?
This question made Lin Mo ask with confusion, " Isn't the Raiden Shogun a divine construct you created yourself? Could it be... that she has another identity?
"
This made Lumine and Paimon turn their gazes toward Ei as well.
They saw Ei glance faintly toward the sea area around Inazuma.
A hint of gravity seemed to linger in her eyes as she spoke softly, " Back then, when I created the Shogun, in order to uphold the concept of eternity... all of the Shogun's actions were driven by the goal of maintaining Inazuma's eternity. "
" But... after Sasayuri returned, I denied the concept of 'eternity,' and the Shogun became inert. "
" After all, the Shogun was born for the sake of Inazuma's eternity. "
As Ei spoke, her gaze grew increasingly solemn.
This made little Paimon couldn't help but ask, " Then why didn't the Shogun protect the Sacred Sakura Tree? Could it be that protecting the Sacred Sakura Tree goes against eternity?
"
Ei shook her head but didn't say anything further.
However, Lin Mo could clearly sense a deep worry in Ei's eyes.
This immediately filled Lin Mo's heart with questions.
The Raiden Shogun was a life created by Ei herself; Ei knew everything about her. What was there to worry about?
Could it be that the Raiden Shogun wasn't simply a divine construct?
Lin Mo thought to himself.
His gaze remained fixed on Ei's worried expression.
Just then, Ei looked at the three of them and said calmly, " There's no time to lose. Let's head to Narukami Island first and deal with the Sacred Sakura Tree's crisis.
"
" Mm, okay. "
Lin Mo nodded.
He quickly went to the dock and arranged for a small merchant ship.
Soon, the four of them boarded the ship and set off toward Narukami Island.
Perhaps because they had been busy in Liyue for a day and a night, Lumine and Paimon seemed a bit sleepy and were resting in the cabin.
At that moment, only Lin Mo and Ei stood on the deck.
Lin Mo summoned the wind, controlling the merchant ship to speed toward Narukami Island.
Beside him, Ei's enchanting eyes still held a deep worry.
And just then.
Lin Mo spoke calmly, " Ei, the Shogun... she's not an ordinary divine construct, is she? "
At this question.
A flicker of panic instantly passed through Ei's eyes.
She then turned her head and looked at Lin Mo in surprise.
Although she didn't speak.
Her gaze seemed to ask: Could it be... that you already know?
Lin Mo didn't respond to Ei's gaze.
Instead, he stepped forward and tightly grasped Ei's hand in his palm.
" Sasayuri... you... "
Ei's eyes clearly showed a hint of panic.
But Lin Mo only furrowed his brow slightly.
He carefully felt the sensation of Ei's slender, fair hand in his palm.
" Ah... "
Lin Mo sighed and shook his head.
The next moment, he directly pulled Ei into his embrace.
Held in Lin Mo's arms, Ei could now be certain that Lin Mo already knew something.
" Ei, why did you give your divine body to the Shogun? "
Lin Mo immediately exposed the truth of the matter.
Gods possess divine bodies.
For example, the Lord of Geo in Liyue had the form of a true dragon as his divine body, the Exuviae.
Although the Ei held in Lin Mo's arms was still the Raiden Shogun, it was no longer the divine body from years ago.
Instead, like the current Zhongli, it was merely a mortal body.
Ei didn't regret the decision she had made back then.
Instead, she buried her head in Lin Mo's arms and said dejectedly, " The Shogun needs absolute power. "
" She needs the body of a demon god. "
" Only then can she bear the Gnosis, respond to the Celestia in my place, and govern Narukami Island properly. "
Although Ei spoke with conviction.
Lin Mo knew that this crisis was very serious.
Because if the Raiden Shogun had acted against her "settings," it meant only one thing—the Raiden Shogun had developed a personality.
She was no longer the puppet that obeyed orders without question.
A divine construct with an independent personality, now possessing a divine body, meant her power had reached the true demon-god level.
If she decided to defy Ei's will.
For Narukami Island, this could very well be an unprecedented disaster.
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T/N:
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