LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 16: chapter 16
Chapter 16: The Eightfold Divine Son Who Laughs With You
The Tenshukaku, towering above Inazuma, was the residence of the gods and the seat of General Raiden's authority. From its highest room, one could see all of Inazuma, the vast lands stretching out like a tapestry.
Now, that very room housed Su Ran, the man who had brought the once-invincible General Raiden to ruin.
Scattered across the floor were the remains of General Raiden's puppet body. Her once-brilliant eyes were now dim, lifeless, and cold.
Su Ran gazed down at the disassembled pieces, holding her severed head in his hands. His expression showed neither remorse nor triumph, only a hint of dissatisfaction.
"I didn't expect her to be so fragile," he muttered. "I barely put in any effort, and she shattered like glass."
The Thunder God—fallen so easily.
Still, it wasn't a total loss. Su Ran's mind was already racing with ideas.
"I suppose I could repair her, maybe even upgrade her. That would be... compensation, I suppose."
With his expertise, restoring and enhancing the puppet body wouldn't be an issue. But first, he needed to understand its intricate structure.
As he examined her lifeless head, a sudden knock at the door interrupted him.
"…Come in," he said, his tone calm and indifferent.
The doors creaked open, revealing Yae Miko and Kamisato Ayaka.
The two women had steeled their nerves before entering, but the sight before them was worse than they imagined.
A man—calm, composed—stood amidst the ruins of what was unmistakably the body of General Raiden. He held her severed head like a piece of art, inspecting it with curiosity.
The scene was both surreal and horrifying.
Kamisato Ayaka's eyes darted to the scattered remains. Confusion filled her mind. The puppet's appearance mirrored that of the General, yet it couldn't be her—could it?
Unlike Ayaka, Yae Miko immediately understood. Her heart sank. She recognized the puppet body for what it was—the vessel of Raiden Ei, the Thunder God herself.
And now, that vessel was utterly destroyed.
Despair overwhelmed her, and she fell to her knees.
"It's all gone…" she whispered. "The General… and Ei…"
The puppet was more than a simple creation. It was Ei's connection to the physical world. With the puppet's destruction, Yae Miko knew the chances of Raiden Ei returning were slim.
Ayaka, seeing Yae Miko's reaction, felt a creeping dread. A possibility she had never considered began to take shape in her mind.
Could the remains on the ground truly be… the General?
Su Ran broke the heavy silence.
"Well, well. I didn't expect my visitors to be you two."
His voice was light, almost amused, as he looked at Yae Miko and Kamisato Ayaka.
He wasn't surprised by Yae Miko's presence—she was, after all, closely tied to Raiden Ei. But seeing Kamisato Ayaka? That was unexpected.
Yae Miko managed to compose herself, though her heart still raced.
"May I ask your name… Lord?" she asked carefully, suppressing her fear.
Su Ran smiled, setting Raiden's head gently on a table.
"Su Ran," he said simply. "An adventurer and current executive of the Fatui."
Both women stiffened.
"Fatui…?" Yae Miko and Ayaka exchanged shocked glances. The Fatui were powerful, but this? Could they truly have someone capable of defeating a god?
Su Ran chuckled at their reaction.
"What? Don't believe me?" he asked, his voice gentle but laced with an unsettling undertone.
He stepped closer, his smile calm yet unnerving.
"It's not that," Yae Miko replied, forcing a polite tone. "It's just… surprising that the Fatui could attract someone of your… caliber."
Su Ran's smile widened. He raised a hand to his chest in mock fear.
"I came to Inazuma as a guest, but your host was so hostile. My poor heart could hardly take it!"
His tone was playful, but the words carried a sinister edge.
"The General—such a beauty, but utterly useless. I didn't mean to destroy her, truly. It was an accident."
He laughed softly, and Yae Miko forced herself to laugh along, though her fists were clenched tightly.
"You!" Su Ran suddenly pointed at Kamisato Ayaka.
The unexpected gesture startled her, and she stiffened.
"M-Me?" she stammered, her voice trembling.
"You're quite pretty," Su Ran said with a smile.
Ayaka's breath caught. It wasn't flattery she felt—it was fear. The wreckage of the General's body was fresh in her mind.
Su Ran stretched, rolling his shoulders.
"I've been sitting here all day. My shoulders are a bit stiff. Be a dear and massage them for me, will you?"
Ayaka hesitated, but his tone left no room for refusal.
"O-Of course, my Lord," she replied, stepping forward cautiously.
Her delicate hands began to massage his shoulders, her movements stiff with fear.
As she stood close to him, a stray thought crossed her mind.
"He… smells pleasant?"
It was a fleeting thought, quickly drowned out by the weight of the situation.
Yae Miko, watching the scene, felt a pang of guilt and frustration. But she knew better than to act rashly.
"Inazuma is a beautiful place," Su Ran mused, his tone conversational. "Much better than Snezhnaya. Over there, it's nothing but white snow, and the girls dress like dumplings."
Yae Miko forced a smile.
"If you like it here, you're welcome to stay," she said, her tone light but cautious.
"I think I will," Su Ran replied. "By the way, do you still have materials for making the General's body?"
Yae Miko's heart skipped a beat.
"Yes. How much do you need?"
"Enough to repair her. Make sure you prepare more than necessary."
Yae Miko nodded quickly, her fear easing slightly. If he was willing to repair the General, perhaps all was not lost.
"I'll get it ready immediately," she said, bowing before turning to leave.
As she walked away, she felt a pang of guilt for leaving Ayaka behind. But she had no choice.
Inside, Ayaka continued her task, her hands trembling slightly. She watched as Yae Miko disappeared through the doors, leaving her alone with the terrifying man.
For the first time, she felt utterly abandoned.