Genshin Impact: Strength Through Bonds

Inazuma City, Tenshukaku.

"?"

Ren's consciousness returned to reality, and he shivered involuntarily.

For some reason, ever since a moment ago, his back had felt inexplicably cold…

Could there be a draft in Tenshukaku?

No.

This familiar gut feeling—

Nothing should have gone wrong with Keqing, right?

Ren was starting to feel uneasy.

He shook his head slightly, brushing away the chaotic thoughts.

No need to scare himself over nothing.

"Are you feeling unwell?"

Just as Ren withdrew his gaze, a cool voice rang out.

Beside him, Ei turned her head slightly, frowning.

At the same time, a dangerous glint gathered in her violet eyes.

She had been watching Ren closely ever since he returned.

If the Fatui had caused any harm to him…

She wouldn't mind paying another visit to Snezhnaya.

"I'm fine, Shogun-sama."

Ren smiled, shaking his head before thumping his chest firmly.

Perfectly fine.

"Hm. If something feels wrong, tell me."

Ei's gaze flickered, as if recalling something.

The Cryo Archon's plan…

With that thought, she flipped open the light novel on the table and said no more.

Ren blinked, staring at the beautiful figure beside him.

The setting sun cast a dim glow over the sky, stars beginning to dot the heavens.

Inside the grand hall, the warm light of candles flickered to life.

It was as if a dreamy, hazy veil draped over Ei, rendering her quiet and beautiful.

Simply sitting here, quietly admiring the Shogun, was a kind of enjoyment in itself.

This warmth…

Ren found himself unable to suppress the corners of his lips from curling upward.

Cough. 

Stay calm.

There were things he needed to say.

With that in mind, Ren's expression grew more serious.

"Shogun-sama—"

After a brief moment of thought, he was just about to speak—

But this time, something unexpected happened.

"Again."

Ei let out a soft hum.

"I'm getting tired of that title."

She said this while casting him a sidelong glance.

In the flickering candlelight, ripples seemed to stir in her violet eyes.

"…"

Ren froze for a moment, and then—

His heartbeat suddenly sped up.

The Great Shogun suddenly saying something like this—what did she mean?

His mind raced. Time to test the waters.

It couldn't be that she wanted him to call her Her Most Honorable, Supreme Narukami Ogosho… right?

"Hurry up."

Seeing Ren's troubled expression, Ei urged impatiently.

"…Ei?"

In the grand hall, a voice called out.

The air suddenly fell silent.

Ren sat up straight, staring forward.

His thoughts began to spiral.

…That should be fine, right?

After a long silence—

"Hm."

Ei's gaze softened, and she gave a slight nod.

Only a name spoken with such natural closeness was worthy of the unique place Ren held in her eyes.

Ren clenched his fists.

She agreed.

The Shogun actually agreed!

A simple name, yet it felt as if it had opened the door to an entirely new world, making his eyes light up.

"If you have something to say, say it, Ren."

A calm voice, yet it made Ren freeze.

Wait.

What did he just hear?

His mouth opened slightly, and he murmured—

"Shogun-sama—no, Ei."

Sensing that Ei was about to grow sharp again, Ren quickly corrected himself.

He almost forgot—force of habit.

"What did you call me? I didn't quite hear."

Ren sat upright, maintaining a serious expression.

But his gaze frequently flicked toward Ei, completely betraying his thoughts.

He wanted to hear it again.

Ei's lips curved ever so slightly.

"Ren."

"Ei?"

"Ren."

"…"

Ren cleared his throat and hurriedly put a stop to it.

At this rate, it would never end.

"Ei, what I wanted to say is…"

He then recounted his encounter with Sandrone and the Fatui's plan to create gods.

After all, this was a matter concerning divine authority.

Ren was determined to cling tightly to the Raiden Shogun's side.

However, to his surprise—

"I see."

Ei simply nodded, showing no particular reaction.

Ren faltered.

That was about creating gods—wasn't she reacting a little too indifferently?!

He suddenly felt a bit helpless.

"…"

Ei glanced at Ren's exasperated expression, then set down her light novel.

"Do you want to become a god?"

The simple question echoed in the grand hall, striking directly at his core.

"I…"

Ren opened his mouth, unsure how to respond.

"No matter what you decide, I will support you."

Ei spoke calmly, picking up her book again.

"…I understand." Ren nodded.

"You don't."

"?"

Ren let out a helpless chuckle and handed her a dessert.

Perhaps the Shogun would be willing to clarify.

"What do you think a god truly is?"

Ei accepted the dessert without hesitation and continued questioning him.

"One blessed by Celestia… and exceptionally strong?"

Ren pondered for a moment.

Celestia's blessing, of course, referred to the Vision granted by the divine.

"…"

Ei sighed lightly, shaking her head.

Her gaze flickered as she looked at him.

"With your current power—defeat me."

Ren let out a wry laugh. As if that were possible.

The life energy granted by Greater Lord Rukkhadevata was only enough for a brief moment of power.

Then, he suddenly paused.

That's right—even with divine-like power, he still couldn't defeat Ei.

Yet, Sandrone had claimed that the artificial core could rival a Vision.

Could the real problem lie somewhere else…?

Just as Ren was deep in thought—

Clatter.

A small, glowing object was casually tossed in front of him.

A faint rumble of thunder echoed.

"This is?"

Ren instinctively picked it up.

It was… a chess piece.

"My Electro Gnosis. Take it."

Ei flipped a page in her light novel and spoke flatly.

"Oh."

Ren instinctively responded, but then—

Wait.

"…Huh?"

He looked at the Vision in his hand.

Then, at Ei.

Ren was utterly shocked.

Hold on. What was this thing??

And what was with that just take it and play with it tone?!

"Even without it, I am still the Raiden Shogun of Inazuma."

Ei's voice remained calm as she bit into another dango.

"And you still won't be able to defeat me."

Ren: …

He felt a little indignant.

If one day he could actually defeat the Shogun…

Forget it. Better to just cling to her for now.

"You should go. Check in at home."

"As for matters of divinity, we'll discuss them later."

Ei suddenly spoke.

Ren was taken aback.

The Shogun was… urging him to leave work?

Something wasn't right.

He failed to notice the fleeting smile in Ei's eyes.

"Then… I'll really go?"

"Hm."

…

Ren left Tenshukaku, holding the Gnosis, utterly perplexed.

As he strolled through the streets, his mind swirled with questions.

Something wasn't right—Ei was definitely hiding something from him.

But…

"Could I absorb the power of the Electro Gnosis?"

Ren muttered to himself.

Recalling that still-fragile green leaf—

If his Electro energy became strong enough…

Would an Aggravate reaction help Nahida's body regain some vitality?

[Ding! Just a friendly reminder.]

[A surge of emotional energy has been detected.]

Ren: ?

He checked the system log—his pupils contracted.

Keqing, Ayaka, and… several others?!

All at the same time?!

"…I'm doomed."

Ren looked up at the sky and murmured.

Would running away still be an option?

[Ding! That's not important.]

Not important?! When he was on the verge of disaster?!

Ren mentally flipped the system off.

[Nahida's emotional energy.]

The system prompted.

Ren's expression froze.

Sadness, loneliness, longing, resilience, gentleness…

And fear.

"…"

Ren's eyes turned ice-cold.

He had never felt such overwhelming negative emotions from Nahida before.

"What happened?"

A simple question, yet it brimmed with chilling fury.

He needed to get to Nahida.