Gacha Hell: Furina Edition

Tanizaki didn't dare voice one thought aloud.

If the card system had appeared in Liyue instead... given Inazuma's current state, if Shouta had set his story in Inazuma...

Damn.

Would people start accusing him of using the cards to mock the Shogun?

Kid, the Tenryou Commission would like to have a word with you!

But if you really wanted to find fault, excuses were easy to come by. So Tanizaki simply kept his mouth shut.

However, Yae Miko noticed.

With a faint smile, she asked, "What, does the Grand Narukami Shrine not have the power to protect someone?"

Tanizaki hesitated before replying, "Lady Guuji... please understand. We're just small people..."

Yae Miko's gaze lingered on him before she looked away.

Right.

They were just small people, forced to keep their heads down in the current climate. Even writing light novels was fraught with restrictions!

This nation shouldn't be like this.

After a moment of thought, Yae Miko asked, "Where is he?"

"He just got back, right? Now that he's seen the situation here, he'll probably have to revise his drafts... I'll go talk to him in person. As for the later plot, he can write whatever he wants."

Yae Miko recognized the value of this novel.

If it had potential, it shouldn't be shackled.

Yae Publishing House could earn more, and Shouta could afford a few extra meals.

Tanizaki gave Shouta's address to Yae Miko.

She handed the book back and said, "Prepare it for publication. Promote it heavily. Spare no expense."

With that, Yae Miko left.

Only after she was gone did Tanizaki sigh in admiration. "Shouta's got some luck."

Sometimes, meeting the right person could change your life.

Now, with Yae Miko's endorsement and Yae Publishing House's full support, Shouta's fame would skyrocket in no time!

Before long, Yae Miko arrived at Shouta's home.

Though his house was within the city, it was in a rather remote area.

There weren't many households around, and the walls were thin. Even without knocking, Yae Miko could hear the conversation inside—a fox's hearing was sharp.

"I only realized after coming back—Inazuma is just terrible!"

"Don't worry, Kaedehara, I won't mention the card system here. If it gets exposed, I'm screwed!"

"Right now, I just want to make money! Once I've got enough, I'm heading to Liyue to pull gacha! Maybe even settle down somewhere else?"

"What? Sail with Captain Beidou? Maybe later. For now, my main job is still writing light novels!"

Shouta was on the phone, updating Beidou's crew that he'd returned safely to Inazuma.

He also mentioned his upcoming book release.

But since Beidou's line was busy, he'd ended up talking to Hai Long instead.

"If things get bad, just call Captain Beidou. We'll come get you—just leave!"

"I'll manage for now!"

"Stay safe. We're almost near Watatsumi Island."

"Alright, that's it for now. I've still got to clean this place—it's covered in dust!"

After hanging up, Shouta sighed again.

"Is Inazuma really that bad?"

A soft, eerie voice whispered beside him.

Shouta froze.

His expression stiffened as he slowly turned his head.

Gulp.

His throat tightened, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead.

That voice...

He'd never forget it.

It was the same voice that had once critiqued his drafts face-to-face when he submitted them to Yae Publishing House.

Sure enough—

There she stood.

The pink-haired, fox-eared woman with an exquisite face.

I'm dead.

Shouta's legs went weak. He stuttered, "L-L-Lady Guuji, y-you... heard everything?"

"Better early than late."

Yae Miko smiled faintly, eyeing the phone in Shouta's hand. "Is that the communication device from your setting?"

Done for.

His career as a light novel author had barely begun before it was about to end.

Shouta had expected to panic, but instead, he found himself eerily calm.

Under Yae Miko's gaze, he slowly raised his phone.

Posted a status update:

[I'm dead.]

Oh?

Yae Miko's expression turned intrigued.

If the communication device was real... what about the cards?

The thought sent shockwaves through her mind.

Damn, the outside world has progressed this far, and Inazuma is still stuck in the past?!

In Yae Miko's eyes, the Vision Hunt Decree and Sakoku Decree were nothing but outdated policies.

Who still played these kinds of games?

If she could enter the Plane of Euthymia, she would've confronted Ei long ago.

She gestured at the phone.

Shouta sighed. "Lady Yae, should I turn myself in to the Tenryou Commission, or will you execute me here?"

"Not even calling me 'Editor-in-Chief' anymore?"

Yae Miko feigned hurt. "My dear author, do you really have so little trust in your publisher?"

Huh?

Shouta's mood shifted again.

Cautiously, he asked, "Lady Editor-in-Chief, you mean...?"

"Oh, I'm just visiting one of Yae Publishing House's authors. But what I see and hear depends entirely on your cooperation~"

Yae Miko's smile deepened. "Won't you bare your heart to your editor?"

Shouta scratched his head.

With a resigned expression, he said, "Lady Editor-in-Chief, whatever you say goes. Do I still have a chance?"

Then, without further hesitation, he activated his card's power and swiftly cleaned up the table and chairs.

"Lady Guuji, please have a seat!"

Once Yae Miko sat down, Shouta began explaining everything from his perspective.

"There is—there is~" Yae Miko's smile grew even more enchanting.

But now—

Starting from his departure from Inazuma.

Yae Miko listened patiently.

Yet, the more she heard, the more astonished she became—though her face betrayed nothing.

In Inazuma, it was common knowledge that the Raiden Shogun's Musou no Hitotachi was revered as an invincible divine strike.

But according to Shouta, with good luck, anyone could unleash power on par with that legendary blade?

Sure, the method might differ, but the destructive potential was the same!

"From what I know..."

Shouta racked his brain before continuing.

"It started in Fontaine. They have something called the 'Omniscope'—a device capable of monitoring the entire world!"

"I heard that if Neuvillette weren't so strict about rules, Fontaine could eavesdrop on any conversation in real time. The Omniscope can also fire terrifying energy beams—apparently, killing minor gods is child's play for it."

Yae Miko felt chills down her spine.

"Lady Furina and Monsieur Neuvillette also wield incredibly powerful cards. I don't know the specifics, though."

"Then there's that Fatui Harbinger—Tartaglia, or whatever his name is. I heard he's at least at the level of a mid-tier Archon now. If he goes all out, he could probably fight evenly with the Raiden Shogun for a while."

Last time?

Yae Miko's expression darkened.

Though her perception wasn't as keen as a god's, she could still sense the ripples of divine-level battles.

Especially over the open sea, where there were no obstructions!

"Next is Liyue. The Tianquan and Yuheng of the Qixing are both at Rex Lapis's level. And then there's that Mondstadt wine merchant—Diluc Ragnvindr?"

Shouta pulled out his phone and scrolled through something. "Lady Guuji, look at this Mondstadt news."

Yae Miko glanced at the screen.

Faith's Revival?

Rebuilding a second Barbatos?!

What kind of power was this?!

A nation with two Archons?!

Yae Miko was stunned.

If the outside world had progressed to this point... what did that make Inazuma?

Logically speaking, if any of the other nations wanted to, they could easily crush Inazuma with sheer numbers alone!

Was the Raiden Shogun strong?

Of course—during the Archon War, her martial prowess was unmatched.

Inazuma's survival so close to the Dark Sea was largely due to her overwhelming might!

But now?

Unlike the average Inazuman who blindly worshipped the Musou no Hitotachi, Yae Miko saw the harsh reality clearly.

Inazuma was nothing in this new era.

The pinnacle of the fifth tier was the limit of Teyvat's power.

The Raiden Shogun... at the very least, hadn't reached that peak!

Just look at the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing—Keqing had already attained the fifth-tier pinnacle.

Sword Intent Extreme—Severing Fate!

If she swung her blade and struck true, even a god's body would be split in two!

Then there was Mondstadt's Diluc and his Five Spirit Thunderform!

A physical transformation!

He already had the qualifications to contend for Electro's divine authority!

Compared to that...

Was the Raiden Shogun still invincible?

She remained mighty, but she was no longer unchallenged!

More and more individuals were rising to her level.

Some had even surpassed her!

"Can you guarantee the truth of all this?" Yae Miko's tone was grave.

Shouta nodded firmly, demonstrating the power of his own low-tier card.

It wasn't much, but it was proof enough.

Yae Miko fell silent for a moment before returning his phone.

"For now, just focus on your work. Nothing will happen to you."

With that, she left.

Shouta exhaled in relief, then posted another status update:

[I'm alive again!]

Ten Minutes Later.

Tenshukaku.

Seated upon her throne, the Raiden Shogun slowly opened her eyes and regarded Yae Miko with indifference.

"What is it?"

"The world outside is undergoing drastic changes. You need to understand this."

"I care not for what does not concern eternity."

This stubborn fool!

Yae Miko barely restrained her frustration.

"I don't have time to argue. Call Ei out."

"The inner self is in deep meditation. If you wish to see her, you may enter the Plane of Euthymia. But do not disturb me."

How could she reason with this emotionless puppet?

Normally, Yae Miko might've teased her, but today was different.

"Just summon her. This is urgent."

Yae Miko sighed, feigning sorrow. "This time... I may have to leave Inazuma. I might even die in a foreign land. At the very least... I should say goodbye."

"?"

The Raiden Shogun stared at her blankly before replying, "This is a lie."

Yae Miko: "..."

"I'm not joking!" Yae Miko snapped.

She grabbed the Shogun's shoulders, her expression deadly serious. "I have a proposal regarding eternity that I must discuss with her directly!"

The Raiden Shogun met her gaze.

Eternity was her purpose, her core directive.

Or perhaps... she was simply tired of Yae Miko's persistence.

She relayed the message to Ei.

Moments later, sensing the shift in the Shogun's demeanor, Yae Miko suppressed her nostalgia and quickly summarized the events unfolding beyond Inazuma.

"Is this a new light novel plot?" Ei nodded slightly. "Not a bad concept."

Yae Miko took a deep breath. "I'm not joking!"

"Nor do I have time for jokes."

Ei shook her head. "I came out only because it's been too long... and I missed you. But my pursuit of eternity has already shown progress."

With that, she vanished back into the Plane of Euthymia.

Yae Miko didn't even have time to stop her.

Left standing there, she felt utterly powerless.

Ei had become completely unreachable, lost in her obsession.

In Yae Miko's eyes, she was like a villain in a light novel—doomed to be defeated by the protagonist.

"You two are the kind of antagonists who get beaten in the third act!" she muttered in exasperation.

"Leave." The Raiden Shogun's voice was flat.

"Tch."

Yae Miko had no more patience for this.

If neither of them would listen, so be it!

"When someone forces open Inazuma's borders, don't say I didn't warn you!"

With that, she stormed out.

After visiting Shouta and confirming the Alcor's whereabouts, Yae Miko rushed back to Yae Publishing House.

If persuasion wouldn't work, she'd take matters into her own hands!

Yae Publishing House had amassed considerable wealth over the years, but Yae Miko deemed it insufficient.

She returned to the Grand Narukami Shrine.

The shrine's annual funds were substantial, and after deducting necessities, she took the rest.

Still not enough!

Next stop—the Kanjou Commission.

"Lady Guuji, fifty billion mora? We don't have that kind of money!"

Kamaji looked pained.

The Fatui's intelligence network was nothing to scoff at.

Yae Miko's movements hadn't been subtle, and while the Fatui didn't understand her motives, such large-scale actions had to be significant.

Regardless of her plans, they couldn't let her succeed!

"Kamaji, do my words carry no weight anymore?" Yae Miko's tone turned icy.

Had her inactivity made him forget she was the Narukami's familiar?

In Inazuma, the Raiden Shogun ruled supreme—but Yae Miko was second only to her.

When Ei first returned and reluctantly assumed the Shogunate, she knew nothing of governance.

Back then, a similarly inexperienced Yae Miko had stepped up.

Balancing her duties at the shrine with assisting Ei in politics, she had spent centuries building her influence.

Even now, her authority surpassed that of the Tri-Commission!

"You—"

Kamaji knew when to fold.

Today, he had to bleed.

"Forty billion," Yae Miko stated coolly.

"We don't have that either!"

Remembering the Fatui's warnings, Kamaji gritted his teeth.

"At most, one billion—and you must provide documentation for its use!"

"You dare question me?"

Though Yae Miko smiled, Kamaji felt the threat beneath it.

"Shall I inform the Shogun about your activities in Ritou?"

Had playing nice all these years made him think he could challenge the Narukami's familiar?

Kamaji sighed. "Ten billion. That's the absolute limit. The economy is in shambles—we can't spare more."

Yae Miko gave a noncommittal hum. "I want the cash by tonight."

"Understood."

Kamaji wasn't foolish. If Yae Miko was this determined, she would get her way.

The Fatui's interests weren't worth provoking her wrath.

Even if he did, he would be the one to suffer.

At most, the Shogun would give her a mild reprimand.

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T/N:

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