Chapter 20: I Will Help You

Words : 922 Updated : Sep 17th, 2025

"To think something so unexpected would happen..." Ye sighed as he dressed, while Sangonomiya Kokomi remained fully clothed—though her garments had shifted slightly during their encounter. After Ye rose from her, her attire naturally fell back into place. One had to admit: Kokomi's outfit was convenient. No wonder she frequently appeared in his dreams. Her design practically dared men to challenge their restraint. Kokomi lay half-dazed on the desk, her eyes barely open as she stared blankly at Ye's retreating figure. What's going on? Normally, the dream should have ended by now... "Given the... atmosphere, this isn't the time for serious discussion," Ye said calmly, straightening his clothes. "I'll return tomorrow. Miss Sangonomiya, I'll meet you here again at this hour." With that, the man vanished. "..." "..." "..." Kokomi lay in stunned silence. "...Huh?" A creeping sense of dread washed over her. When she still didn't wake, she pinched her thigh. "...Huh?" She pinched harder. "...Huh?" Wait—no! Huh?! Huh?! Huh?! Kokomi abruptly sat up and glanced down. A mess. Her body trembled. The lingering sensations felt all too real. She pinched herself again. And again. Still, the dream persisted. Finally, her mind went blank. Minutes passed. Then more minutes. And more. "...I must still be dreaming. If I sleep again, I'll wake up." Kokomi lay back down, surrendering to denial, and drifted off. ——— The next day, Kokomi awoke and inspected herself and the room. Still a mess. Her face impassive, she cleaned silently, bathed, changed clothes, and carried out her duties with robotic calm—her tone steady, her demeanor unchanged. By evening, she returned to her secret base. She waited for the Supreme Archbishop of Fontaine. He arrived shortly. Kokomi's lips parted—questions burned, but she held her tongue. What could she even ask? She had initiated everything last night. To demand, "Why were you in my dream? Did you tamper with me?" would only humiliate her further. Instinct told her this man wouldn't resort to such tricks. Even if he had... "You acted so boldly because you thought it was a dream? So you secretly desired this?"—how could she face such a rebuttal? Sangonomiya Kokomi was a strategist who could foresee outcomes ten steps ahead. Thus, the best course was to pretend nothing happened. Treat it as a misunderstanding. A fleeting encounter... ...I want to cry! "Miss Sangonomiya," Ye began, "I've come to discuss Fontaine's support for your rebellion." Kokomi's focus sharpened instantly. "I must decline," she said coolly. "This is an internal matter of Inazuma. Fontaine has no right to interfere. Moreover, I have no proof you are truly Fontaine's Supreme Archbishop. I've never seen his face." "What matters isn't my identity, but the aid I offer." "We don't need aid." "Stubbornness serves no one." "This isn't stubbornness. Our goal isn't to overthrow the Shogun—only to make our voices heard." "Yet that's precisely where your delusion lies." Ye met her gaze evenly. "The Raiden Shogun hears no one now—not even Yae Miko, her own familiar. If the Guuji could reach her, she'd have acted long ago." "...I don't understand," Kokomi frowned. "The Shogun resides in Tenshukaku. If Lady Yae wished to speak with her, she could. Yet she remains silent. That's why we march—to make the Shogun listen. As the rebellion's leader, I'll accept any punishment if she heeds us." "If communication were possible, Yae Miko would have acted. Do you truly believe she cares nothing for Inazuma's people?" Ye sighed. "Though she's cheekier than the Traveler, she's a dutiful priestess. She wouldn't ignore her role. The truth is... even Yae Miko hasn't met the true Raiden Shogun in centuries." ——— In Genshin Impact's narrative, each nation reflects cultural themes: Mondstadt's individualism, Liyue's unity, and Inazuma's exploration of the divine-priestess dynamic. In Japanese tradition, when gods bring calamity, priestesses mediate through rituals and dance. Yae Miko embodies this role. Mortals cannot defy gods, but collective will can sway them. In the game's story, Yae uses the Traveler to channel the people's wishes into the "Plane of Euthymia," defeating Ei (the true Raiden Shogun) and persuading her through dialogue—a quintessential priestess's duty. Yet without the Traveler, Yae cannot even reach Ei. She interacts only with the puppet Shogun, an unyielding entity fixated on "eternity." ——— "...The true Raiden Shogun?" Kokomi paled, dread pooling in her chest. "You mean the one in Tenshukaku is... fake?" "No. The puppet is the genuine Raiden Shogun—but it cannot be reasoned with. It obsessively enforces 'eternity,' deaf to all but its creator's will. To change this, you must reach the gentler Shogun: Ei." Unlike the tyrannical gods of old, Ei is compassionate. She wants to heed her people but fears her own vulnerability to change. To preserve her vision of eternity, she sealed herself away, letting the puppet rule. Even Yae cannot breach her isolation. Ei's self-awareness is brutal: she knows her path is flawed, yet persists, programming the puppet to destroy even her should she waver. But such fragility cannot last. Change will come. ——— "...So there's no hope?" Kokomi whispered, despair clawing at her. "That's why I'm here." Her head snapped up. "You can reach Ei?" "Inazuma's isolation harms Fontaine's trade. I, too, wish to sway her." Ye smiled—a smile he believed gentle. "Don't worry. I'll help you."

Chapter 20: I Will Help You

Comments (0)