Luo Qing was just as stunned as everyone else.
Noticing the wide-eyed stares from the surrounding crowd, he quickly took a step back, slipping out of the Raiden Shogun’s grasp.
Ever since he discovered that Ei and the Raiden Shogun could bypass the restrictions of affection points, Luo Qing had resolved not to provoke them again until his strength surpassed theirs.
After all, his guardian angel ability was on cooldown, and his substitute puppet was a one-time use.
Without any life-saving tools left, behaving as recklessly as before would almost certainly result in him getting skewered again by their blades—a scenario he’d prefer to avoid at all costs.
It hurt too much last time.
“General, don’t you think this kind of behavior is a bit… inappropriate in front of so many people?” Luo Qing tactically retreated, maintaining a polite façade.
Since she had lost her memories of their previous encounters, he might as well pretend nothing had ever happened. He could start fresh once he became stronger.
“I…”
The Raiden Shogun instinctively wanted to follow him but stopped herself.
She wasn’t sure what came over her earlier. The moment she saw Luo Qing, an overwhelming impulse surged through her—a desire to kiss him.
Reasoning that her body was currently controlled by Ei, and any fallout from rumors would trouble Ei, not her, she had simply followed that impulse.
“I’m sorry… for what happened before.”
The Raiden Shogun lowered her head, her voice soft.
“There’s no need for that, General. It’s all in the past,” Luo Qing replied with a polite smile before deftly changing the subject.
“Do you have any other business with me? If not, I must ask you to disembark soon—the ship is about to set sail.”
“…”
The Raiden Shogun stared at Luo Qing, a strange unease stirring in her chest.
“You’re leaving?”
“Yes, I’ve received orders. I must return to Snezhnaya.”
As Luo Qing spoke, he glanced at Natalia, who was watching the scene with unabashed curiosity.
Catching his signal, she quickly dropped her “spectator” demeanor and nodded, rushing to the captain’s quarters.
Moments later, the ship’s horn blared, signaling its imminent departure.
“The whistle’s blown. What do you think, General?”
“…”
The Raiden Shogun remained silent, realizing Luo Qing was politely asking her to leave.
After a long pause, she finally muttered, “Couldn’t you… stay a little longer?”
“I’m afraid not,” Luo Qing said with a faint smile. “It’s a strict order. If I don’t return, I’d be considered a traitor.”
From the side of the deck came the sound of the anchor being raised. Seconds later, the ship began to sway as it slowly moved away from the port.
“…”
The Raiden Shogun glanced toward the docks, her eyes momentarily glazing over as though conversing with Ei.
“General, are you planning to join us on our journey to Snezhnaya?” Luo Qing asked with feigned casualness. “If so, I should probably inform Her Majesty the Tsaritsa in advance.”
“…”
The Raiden Shogun looked at Luo Qing, her voice soft as she said, “Luo Qing…
“If you ever wish to return, Inazuma—and this body—will always welcome you.”
With that, she extended her right hand, where a petal made of crackling violet lightning formed in her palm.
“This holds a fragment of my will. If you ever find yourself in mortal danger, crush it. No matter where you are, I will come to your aid immediately.”
“General, isn’t this… too valuable?” Luo Qing feigned reluctance.
“No…”
The Raiden Shogun shook her head slowly.
“This is something… I owe you.”
Without waiting for a response, she took Luo Qing’s hand, placing the petal gently in his palm.
“Farewell, Luo Qing… I will be waiting for you in Inazuma.”
With those words, the Raiden Shogun transformed into a bolt of lightning, vanishing from the deck.
The oppressive aura of divinity lifted, leaving the onlookers around the deck feeling as though a great weight had been removed from their chests.
“What is this thing?” Luo Qing muttered, examining the pale pink petal in his hand.
He turned to Makoto with a wary look. “It doesn’t have some kind of tracking function, does it?”
From behind her mask, Makoto’s muffled voice answered coldly, “You scumbag…”
It was clear she wasn’t pleased with how Luo Qing had pretended not to know the Raiden Shogun earlier.
“…”
“How am I a scumbag?” Luo Qing retorted righteously. “I’m just trying to avoid getting stabbed by those two again. How is that wrong?”
“…”
“Hmph…” Makoto scoffed lightly before explaining, “The petal only sends a location signal to Ei when it’s crushed. It’s not as complicated as you think.”
She turned to leave, muttering, “I’m seasick. I’m going to rest.”
With that, she disappeared into the ship’s cabin.
Wearing a hood and mask for so long had made it difficult for her to breathe, and the earlier encounter with Ei—where she couldn’t even reveal herself—had left her feeling emotionally drained.
“Alright then…” Luo Qing shrugged, unbothered.
With a flicker of thought, he stored the petal in his system inventory.
He doubted he’d ever need it, but since it was given to him, he saw no reason to refuse.
—
Meanwhile, the bolt of lightning carrying the Raiden Shogun streaked across the sky, eventually landing in Tenshukaku.
Alone in the uppermost room, she sat quietly, feeling a strange sense of familiarity within the space.
It was as though something significant had happened here with Luo Qing.
Closing her eyes, the Raiden Shogun’s consciousness returned to the Plane of Euthymia.
“I only asked you to say goodbye to him. I didn’t tell you to kiss him…” Ei’s voice carried a trace of reproach as she opened her eyes.
The port had been crowded, and many had witnessed the Raiden Shogun kissing Luo Qing.
While the Shogun could retreat into the Plane of Euthymia to escape any fallout, Ei would have to face the Inazuman public.
Their Archon kissing someone? That was unprecedented.
“It wasn’t just my impulse,” the Raiden Shogun replied calmly. “I was helping you act on yours as well. What’s wrong with that?”
“Nonsense! I never had such a ridiculous impulse!” Ei shot back, flustered.
“That’s your thought, not mine!”
“If that’s what you want to believe, so be it. I don’t mind,” the Raiden Shogun said, her voice indifferent.
She sat beside Ei, closed her eyes, and added softly, “You should go now.”
“…”
Ei fell silent, her gaze drifting to the rows of bookshelves lining the room.
Her eyes landed on a black, toilet-shaped object in the corner.
After her obsession with killing Luo Qing had taken hold, she had thrown all the light novels and that peculiar toilet out of the Plane of Euthymia.
Yet, since the Raiden Shogun had taken up residence here, she had brought them all back.
“Why do you still keep these things?” Ei asked.
“They belong to Luo Qing.”
“I know… but they don’t belong here.”
“They belong to Luo Qing.”
“…”
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