The grand hall of Tenshukaku fell into utter silence.
Raiden Makoto sat quietly at the side, hands folded in her lap, watching patiently.
Gu Chen tidied the table before him, stacking the official documents neatly to one side. Once the surface was clear, he snapped his fingers with a soft click.
At that sound, blue light shimmered over the tabletop. The glow didn't fade; instead, it gathered—streams of luminous serpents slithering across the polished surface.
Makoto's eyes widened with curiosity.
The serpentine light lines slowly connected, forming a complex, intricate array that left her momentarily dazed.
She knew this was Gu Chen's magical craft—something she couldn't understand, yet she held her tongue.
When she turned back to look at him, Gu Chen already held a deck of cards in his hand.
Each card was thin, metallic, with sharp edges; every face bore a unique symbol, while the backs were marked by a five-pointed star enclosed in a circle, surrounded by strange runes.
Whish—
The cards flew from his hand, spinning through the air. Without touching them, Gu Chen performed a perfect shuffle midair, the cards landing neatly within the glowing array.
He gestured lightly with his chin.
"Draw one. Try it."
Makoto blinked, taken aback, then reached toward the center card.
When she flipped it over, her expression froze.
The image was of a bizarre creature—part octopus, part elephant, but not quite either. Its form seemed to fuse fragments of countless species, neither beautiful nor comforting.
"W–what is this thing?"
Gu Chen stared at the card, silent in thought.
He shook his head and collected the cards again. Then, from within his sleeve, he drew a tortoiseshell and a few ancient-looking copper coins.
He dropped the coins into the shell and began shaking it gently, murmuring under his breath in a language Makoto didn't recognize.
The faint clinking of metal filled the hall.
Moments later, he cast the coins upon the table. They landed in a peculiar pattern.
Makoto frowned slightly.
"Is… this another form of divination?"
Gu Chen didn't reply. He studied the result, face impassive. Then, with a wave, both shells and coins vanished.
He erased the glowing array, pinched his fingers together as though calculating something—and still remained silent.
Makoto, uneasy, finally asked softly:
"Is it… Ei's fate isn't good?"
Her voice trembled with worry.
"No." Gu Chen shook his head.
Makoto sighed in relief—but then, as a thought struck her, asked nervously:
"Then… is it my fate that's ill?"
"Neither."
Another shake of the head. Seeing her confusion, Gu Chen explained:
"Don't overthink it. Perhaps my skill is lacking. All three divination methods gave the same result—your fates, you and your sister's, show little change. There's nothing to fear."
"That's… impossible."
Makoto's brows furrowed. Did that mean she wouldn't achieve what she longed for in the future?
"It's impossible indeed," Gu Chen agreed. "Normally, three systems of divination should differ in detail even if they point to the same general truth. But when all three yield the same, unchanging result… that means either my technique failed—or your divine fate cannot be read. Perhaps your godhood interferes."
Makoto exhaled, patting her chest.
"Ah, I see! Then everything's still possible!"
Her mood swung from anxious to cheerful again.
"Then I won't bother you further," she said, standing. "I'll visit Narukami Shrine. Lady Saiguu said the youkai are planning a festival!"
"A youkai festival?"
Gu Chen paused, then nodded.
"Go ahead. If you need help, let me know."
"It should be fine. They want to organize it themselves. I just need to make sure the various tribes don't start fighting over who does what."
With that, Makoto turned and left.
Only after she was gone did Gu Chen slowly take a crystal pendant from his robe.
The gemstone glowed a deep, bloody red—the color spreading, creeping along the chain.
"My clever god… so you sensed something amiss and made an excuse to leave?" he murmured.
"Since you serve your people with loyalty, allow me to bear the fate you cannot escape."
He tucked the pendant away, his expression smoothing into calm once more as he resumed reviewing official papers—
as if nothing had happened at all.
[In-world Chat Reactions]
Kaeya: Holy crap, I thought he really failed the divination! 😱
Venti: Nah, he clearly did see something—and those other methods were just cross-checks! 😮
Ayaka: Does that mean Lady Makoto's in danger?! 😰
Raiden Ei: (silent)
Yae Miko: Since Gu Chen came to this world, his power's been steadily growing. Even if he hides it, Makoto must have felt that shift. She's not the type to leave for no reason.
Sara: So… an ancient secret, maybe? 😧
Heizou: Remember, to Inazuma's people, the Raiden Shogun has always been one and the same. There are too many things about that era we don't know… What could Baal be facing?
Zhongli: Some truths are not ours to speak.
Paimon: Ugh, another mystery man! 😤
Venti: Not this time—it really isn't something to discuss publicly. (shakes head)
Dainsleif: Hmph.
"Prince": Heh.
Lyney: Well, since we can't talk about that, let's discuss divination instead!
Mona: Don't ask me—I can't read a thing from it. 😩
Cyno: @GuChen That midair shuffle—you have to teach me! 🤩
Gu Chen: Want to learn? Send me 50 Mora. 😏
Cyno: (sends red packet)
Itto: (sends red packet) "Haha! Gonna look so cool doing that!"
Gu Chen: Uploaded the technique. "It's just a small trick. Whether you master it depends on your insight." 😎
Furina: Didn't you say you had no memories of your past life?! 😤
Venti: Caught red-handed, kid. 😏
Gu Chen: Don't twist it. It's a simple sleight of hand—anyone gifted can figure it out. Right, geniuses?
Albedo: Indeed.
Alhaitham: Indeed.
Lyney: Indeed.
Paimon: Huh?! You guys make it sound like I'm the dumb one! 😠
Furina: Hmph… Why can't I see the trick? I'm a god! I should've seen through it instantly!
Neuvillette: @Furina So… did you figure it out? 😏
Furina: Of course!
Gu Chen: Then… would you care to demonstrate? 😏
Venti: A round of applause for Lady Hydro Archon's performance! 👏😂
Kaeya: (clapping emoji)
Furina: Hmph! Anyway, shouldn't we be focusing on poor Baal instead of this?!
[Video Scene Continues]
After leaving Tenshukaku, Makoto's cheerful smile faded. A shadow lingered in her eyes.
She wasn't as strong as her sister—but precisely because of that, her senses were sharper.
She felt Gu Chen's emotional shift beneath his calm. It was slight, fleeting—but unmistakable.
He was always placid, a still lake no matter the storm.
But today… when the first divination ended, that stillness had rippled.
"So… was it me? Or Ei?"
She clenched her delicate hands and walked toward Narukami Shrine.
At Narukami Shrine—
After listening to her, Yae Saiguu exhaled a puff of smoke, thoughtful.
"You mean… our Regent saw a glimpse of something inauspicious in the future?"
Seeing the worry clouding Makoto's face, Saiguu smiled gently.
"Don't dwell on it. You know your sister's strength—perhaps not 'unrivaled under heaven,' but close. Very few beings could truly threaten her. You have nothing to fear."
"Then… does that mean I'm the one in danger?" Makoto asked softly, pointing to herself.
Saiguu hesitated, then sighed.
"If I must be honest… your chances are higher."
Makoto's hands tightened until her knuckles went white.
"But something feels off…" Saiguu muttered after a pause. "Gu Chen isn't weak. You're always by his side—nothing should happen to you… unless you're away from him."
Makoto froze slightly.
"My advice?" Saiguu said kindly. "Stay close to him. Endure it, even if it means less freedom. Better to be safe, my dear god."
Makoto nodded.
"You're right. I'll stick close to him—if danger comes, he can hold it off until Ei arrives."
"Good girl." Saiguu smiled, then added, "Anyway, the youkai are getting restless. The festival's approved, and you'd better not skip it. Bring that handsome regent of yours too."
"I'll convince him to come!" Makoto replied brightly.
"Oh, and one more thing," Saiguu warned. "I've heard strange movements from Orobashi in the west. Be cautious."
"Understood."
[Chat]
Heizou: So, maybe it's Orobashi who'll attack? 🤔
Kokomi: That can't be… right? 😰
Gorou: Impossible! Orobashi was slain by the Shogun herself—his death created the Musoujin Gorge! There's no way he'd strike first, especially not with both Gu Chen and Lady Makoto there!
Sara: Still… he could have the power. Don't rule it out. ⚡
Tighnari: Everyone, remember—this is the past life timeline. History will differ because Gu Chen's presence changes it. Don't rely on the current world's version.
Raiden Ei: True. Many things have… diverged.
Ei fell silent. She knew how her sister had died in this life—but in that past world, with Gu Chen there, perhaps the ending would be different.
When she recalled his words—"A fate you cannot escape, I shall bear it for you."—her heart clenched.
"If my sister can survive… if she can live safely…" Ei murmured, lowering her head.
"Then I'll gladly acknowledge him as my brother-in-law."
Yae Miko: Oh my~ So you would accept another brother-in-law, hm? 😏
Ei: "If she can live… why not?"
Her tone was calm, almost emotionless—but her eyes softened.
"The sister I know in this life is gone. But if the one from that past can live happily… then yes, I'll recognize him."
Yae Miko fell silent. Her teasing faded.
Because she knew Ei meant it.
Makoto's death had been the wound that drove Ei into isolation—a pain that never healed.
If this "past life" could change that ending… even as a vision of another world, it was enough.
"Maybe," Yae Miko said softly, "that's what these past-life videos are for—to mend what our hearts could never fix."
Ei looked at her in quiet surprise.
Then she smiled faintly.
"That… would be nice."
"Let's hope so," Yae said. "It's only my guess. But if Lady Makoto lives, perhaps the gods have granted us a small mercy."
Her gaze turned toward the screen—toward Gu Chen, who was now listening to a report from Sasa Hyuri.
"My lord, the Watatsumi forces have gathered near the border—but their posture seems defensive. It's strange."
"Where is Ei?" Gu Chen asked.
"She went south, to slay the thunderbird that destroyed a village," Hyuri replied.
Gu Chen tapped his fingers thoughtfully on the desk.
After a long pause, he said calmly—
"I see. Then I'll go meet Orobashi myself."
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