And just like that, Lumine spent an entire day helping the three people who had lost their Visions.
The three individuals stripped of their Visions were:
Tejima, the man endlessly waiting in Konda Village for the person tied to his promise.
Kurosawa Kyounosuke, a former soldier of the Shogunate army.
And Domon, the swordsman who once pursued the title of the strongest under heaven.
Throughout the process, Lumine and Paimon personally witnessed the flaws of the Vision Hunt Decree.
As well as the suffering and negative effects it had brought upon the people of Inazuma.
Meanwhile, Domon's two disciples had gone to seek out Inagi Hotomi, a shrine maiden from the Grand Narukami Shrine.
However, Inagi Hotomi admitted that even she could not determine what kind of evil presence was affecting Domon.
Because of that, she suggested that Lady Yae Miko might be interested in meeting their master.
Thus, Lumine and Paimon arranged with the senior and junior disciples to bring their master to meet Lady Yae early the next morning.
At the same time, night had already fallen.
Qiuqian stood quietly at the edge of the cliff near the Grand Narukami Shrine, his hands behind his back as he gazed down at the scenery below.
The breeze gently stirred his sleeves and long hair, giving him an ethereal appearance.
He looked almost detached from the mortal world.
Several shrine maidens nearby were sweeping fallen sakura petals while occasionally sneaking glances at Qiuqian's back.
After all, he was simply too pleasing to look at.
And they were all extremely curious about his identity.
This was the first time they had ever seen Lady Guuji treat someone this way.
Inviting him for tea, treating him to meals, even accompanying him down the mountain to eat at food stalls.
Combined with Qiuqian's handsome appearance and unique aura, their thoughts inevitably drifted toward gossip.
At night, the Grand Narukami Shrine glowed brightly beneath countless lanterns, carrying a serenity entirely different from the daytime atmosphere.
Just then, Yae Miko walked over to Qiuqian's side.
"I've already received word."
"Tomorrow morning, that traveler from another land will come here alongside someone who lost their Vision and appears to be possessed by some so-called evil spirit."
Gazing down the mountain, Yae Miko spoke softly beside him.
"Hehe…"
"Why are you telling me all this? I'm only here to admire the scenery."
Qiuqian let out a light laugh.
"But didn't Lord Guixu promise to do one thing for me?"
Yae Miko fell silent for a moment before looking at him seriously.
"I've already decided what I want."
"I want you to help me change Ei's will."
"Mm…"
Qiuqian's brows furrowed slightly, looking as though he were about to refuse.
"Then let me phrase it another way."
"That traveler from another world is your friend, isn't she?"
"And helping your friends shouldn't be wrong, right?"
"So the thing I want you to promise me… is to help that traveler."
"No matter… what choice she makes."
Yae Miko suddenly smiled slyly, smoothly changing her wording as though she had already anticipated his rejection.
"Haha…"
"Alright, I agree."
Qiuqian smiled and nodded.
To be fair, Yae Miko really was clever.
Even though both versions essentially meant the same thing, she merely changed the wording and turned what seemed like one request into two entirely different concepts.
By now, Lumine had most likely already encountered the three people who lost their Visions because of the Vision Hunt Decree.
Given her personality, she would definitely set aside her desire to meet the Raiden Shogun for the time being and choose to help those people oppose the decree instead.
And if Yae Miko asked him to help Lumine, wasn't that basically the same as asking him to oppose the Vision Hunt Decree as well?
Still, clever as she was, this little trick remained far too childish in front of him.
After living for so many years, combined with his godlike perspective, he could have easily refused Miko.
But as always—
He simply wanted to help, so he did.
Did helping someone really need a reason?
Just like when he had agreed to help the Fatui Harbinger Capitano.
Earlier, when he seemed about to refuse, he had merely wanted to see just how intelligent this seemingly cunning Yae Miko from the original storyline truly was.
And clearly, she had not disappointed him.
Her adaptability was excellent.
"So Sister Ganyu was right after all…"
"He truly is a gentle god…"
Yae Miko turned her head away, saying nothing aloud as emotions quietly stirred within her heart.
The so-called "one thing" he promised her was probably only meant for trivial matters in the first place.
After all, the person beside her was an ancient god.
And one with abilities so extraordinary that he could directly erase Abyssal power.
She had actually already prepared herself to be rejected.
Because something involving a clash between a nation and a god's ideals was not something anyone would casually agree to participate in.
Though the first time she asked, he looked ready to refuse.
Yet after she changed the wording slightly, he agreed.
Did he truly not understand the meaning behind her words?
Obviously not.
And yet he still agreed.
That could only mean one thing—
He had wanted to help from the very beginning.
Not for profit, not for gain.
He simply wanted to oppose the Vision Hunt Decree for the sake of Inazuma's people.
How gentle…
Yet how could someone so gentle have gained such a terrifying reputation during the Archon War?
"You really plan on helping?" Yae Miko asked softly while looking at the scenery below, still sounding somewhat uncertain.
"What else would I do?"
"I don't have a habit of taking back my promises."
"If I agreed to help you, then I'll do it."
"Besides, Lumine and Paimon are my friends. Helping your friends was never something wrong to begin with, right?"
Qiuqian looked up at the moon hanging high in the night sky and smiled lightly.
Hearing that, Yae Miko froze momentarily.
"Yes… helping your friends was never wrong."
"Just like… Ei and me."
Coming back to herself, Yae Miko smiled gently before lifting her gaze toward the moon as well.
"But…"
"I wonder if I count as Lord Guixu's friend now?"
Turning toward him, she rested one hand against her waist and asked teasingly.
"Of course you do."
Qiuqian smiled faintly at her.
A small smile appeared on Yae Miko's face after hearing his answer.
"As long as you stop randomly striking me with lightning."
Qiuqian suddenly added another sentence.
"Hahahahahahaha!"
The moment she heard that, Yae Miko burst into laughter on the spot.
Covering her mouth with one hand, she laughed so hard her eyes narrowed into crescents.
Guixu had lived for thousands of years.
Sometimes he was serious.
Sometimes he was utterly unserious.
Which made it strangely devastating whenever he suddenly decided to be humorous.
It perfectly hit Yae Miko's funny bone.
It had been a very, very long time since someone had made her laugh like this.
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