“You know where my brother is?”
Lumine’s expression grew serious as she stared intently at Luo Qing.
“Just that a few of my colleagues happened to cross paths with him,” Luo Qing replied nonchalantly.
“Help me retrieve the Electro Gnosis, and I’ll share the information with you. How does that sound?”
“What do you need the Electro Gnosis for?” Lumine asked skeptically.
“Why else? To present it to Her Majesty, of course,” Luo Qing said, as though it were the most natural thing in the world. “As the lowest-ranked Harbinger, I need some achievements to earn the Tsaritsa’s favor.”
His tone was so matter-of-fact it almost convinced them.
While presenting the Electro Gnosis to the Tsaritsa would indeed give Luo Qing a chance to meet her again, that wasn’t his real goal. His true intention was to use the Electro Gnosis and the Dendro Gnosis to open the sealed divine knowledge capsule before Nahida could.
If he succeeded, perhaps he could bring back Greater Lord Rukkhadevata and finally understand her connection to Nahida.
But those details weren’t something he was ready to share. Not yet.
“…”
Lumine exchanged a glance with Paimon, unsure of how to respond.
So this was what loyalty to the Tsaritsa looked like? Willing to steal credit from a colleague just to impress her?
“Of course, I’ll help you in return,” Luo Qing continued, his voice smooth and persuasive. “If you need information, I’ll provide it. Lumine, you’ve been wandering this world for so long—don’t you want to see your brother sooner rather than later?”
Lumine remained silent, her mind racing.
Her entire journey was about finding her brother. Now someone was offering her a lead—how could she not be tempted?
After a few moments, she exhaled and spoke.
“What do you need me to do?”
“Just keep following the leads you’re already investigating. When the time is right, I’ll tell you what to do,” Luo Qing said with a slight smile.
After a brief pause, he added, “And one more thing—don’t tell Nahida about this.”
“Why not?”
“She’s just a five-hundred-year-old little loli, isn’t she?” Luo Qing said with a light chuckle. “There are things she’s better off not knowing for now.”
In truth, he still wasn’t sure about Nahida’s origins. All he knew was that her name had been given by him, and according to Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, her existence was closely tied to him.
But the specifics? Rukkhadevata hadn’t explained them before the dream ended.
Was she born naturally? Or was it… something else?
Luo Qing didn’t want to entertain the thought that he had somehow fathered Nahida with Rukkhadevata in the past. But with thousands of years to account for, who could say for sure?
What if… future me went back in time and ended up having a child with a legendary white-haired Archon? And that child is Nahida?
The thought made him shudder.
Too terrifying. Best not to dwell on it.
Lumine broke the silence, her voice low but firm.
“Luo Qing, you won’t harm Sumeru, will you?”
“Do you think I would, given how I treat Nahida?” Luo Qing countered with a question of his own.
“…”
She hesitated.
It was true that Luo Qing’s demeanor toward Nahida practically radiated fatherly affection. The warmth in his gaze was enough to make anyone believe he’d never harm her or Sumeru.
Suddenly, a bold thought struck Lumine.
“Luo Qing… don’t tell me you plan to add Nahida to your…”
“To my what?” Luo Qing blinked, confused.
“To your… you know…”
“To my what exactly?”
“To your harem!” Lumine’s voice rose slightly, her cheeks flushing as she practically shouted the accusation.
“Shh!” Luo Qing quickly made a silencing gesture.
“And no, for the record, Raiden Ei isn’t even part of that!”
“Wait, what?” Lumine froze.
So… Makoto is already part of it? Does that mean Luo Qing, a Fatui Harbinger, actually hooked up with the former Raiden Shogun?!
And by the sound of it, Ei wasn’t far behind?
What kind of twisted world was this?!
“Also, who said I’d ever do that to Nahida?” Luo Qing frowned, feeling the need to clarify.
“But you…”
“No ‘buts.’”
He cut her off firmly. “My feelings for Nahida are pure. No forbidden thoughts involved. Got it?”
“…”
[Lumine’s Frustration +1]
Lumine wanted to argue but found herself at a loss for words.
“Alright then, no more nonsense,” Luo Qing said, redirecting the conversation. He extended his hand with a calm smile. “Let’s toast to a fruitful partnership, shall we?”
“…”
After a moment of hesitation, Lumine shook his hand.
As soon as their hands parted, Luo Qing stood and walked behind Lumine, gently pushing her toward the door.
“Well then, it’s late. You two should head back and rest. I won’t keep you any longer.”
“Huh?”
Before they realized it, Lumine and Paimon found themselves standing outside the door.
“Seriously, Luo Qing?! You’re not even offering us a place to stay for the night?” Paimon huffed, stomping her tiny feet.
“Of course, I want to,” Luo Qing replied with a sigh of mock regret. “But there aren’t any extra rooms. Once I move into my new house, you can stay over. Until then… goodnight!”
With that, he began closing the door.
But just as it was about to shut, a familiar voice called out from behind Lumine and Paimon.
“Huh? Lumine, Paimon, what are you doing here?”
“Hmm?”
They turned around to find Kamisato Ayaka standing nearby, dressed in a Sumeru-style dancer’s outfit.
“Ayaka… you live here too?” Lumine’s brain short-circuited.
Ayaka is living with Luo Qing too?! Just how many women is he hiding in this house?!
“I… um…” Ayaka’s cheeks turned pink as she lowered her gaze.
“Y-You could say that…”
“…”
[Lumine’s Frustration +1]
Lumine turned back toward the house, her gaze burning as she silently vowed to remember Luo Qing’s face.
This man… is too much.
“Alright, we’re leaving. Goodbye, Ayaka!”
Without giving her friend a chance to respond, Lumine grabbed Paimon and marched away, putting as much distance as possible between herself and Luo Qing.
She feared that if she lingered, she too might end up like the other women in his house.
“Huh?” Ayaka blinked in confusion, watching as Lumine fled.
“Luo Qing, what’s going on? Why did they leave so suddenly?”
“No idea,” Luo Qing replied with a chuckle. “Maybe they were just in a hurry to get some sleep.”
His gaze fell on Ayaka’s outfit, and he tilted his head. Something about it felt familiar.
“By the way, Ayaka, why are you back so late? And that outfit…”
“I…” Ayaka fidgeted, her blush deepening.
“I was at the Grand Bazaar… spending time with Nilou. She gave this to me as a gift…”
“Nilou, huh?” Luo Qing’s eyes lit up with recognition.
No wonder it looked familiar—it’s the same outfit Nilou wears, just in a different color.
“Come on, let’s head inside. It’s getting cold out here.”
“Mm…” Ayaka nodded shyly and followed him in.
—
This is a fan translation of 原神：这个见习执行官太屑了 by 何一乐. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!
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