"Alright, I'll add you to the guild now. Just relax and don't resist," Smith said, gently patting Nahida's head—well, more like her large head. As the God of Wisdom, Nahida certainly had a lot on her mind.
"Oh!" Nahida nodded thoughtfully. A guild? Was it something like the Adventurers' Association?
Ding! Welcome, Nahida, to the Dimension Guild.
Keqing: "Huh? No wonder you went out. Were you looking for someone to join the guild? I wonder who this new member is to make you so interested."
Keqing knew Smith's standards well. He was incredibly selective—he hadn't even invited Jean, the acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius, to join. Whoever this newcomer was, they must be extraordinary.
Zhongli: "Nahida? I see. Welcome!"
Nahida: "My wisdom cannot fully analyze this guild... It is such a mysterious and fascinating place.
Hello, everyone. I am Nahida!"
Ningguang: "Wisdom? Analyzing the guild? It can't be…"
Keqing: "She must be a formidable person."
Smith: "Well, Nahida is the Little Auspicious Grass King who was imprisoned by the Sumeru Akademiya. I just rescued her.
Ningguang, I want you to keep a close eye on the Akademiya. If possible, spread the news that they tricked the young Little Auspicious Grass King into the sanctuary of the previous Dendro Archon, the Great Compassion Tree King, and locked her away for their own power struggles. She was unable to leave because of them."
Ningguang: "The Little Auspicious Grass King? Goodness… Smith, you really went out and abducted Sumeru's Dendro Archon."
Still, Ningguang couldn't deny that this was a good development for the guild. Having Nahida as an ally would be beneficial to everyone.
Zhongli: "It seems you've made quite the commotion in Sumeru."
Smith: "It wasn't too bad. I just used the Great Compassion Tree King's 30-meter-tall wooden puppet to smash the Akademiya's Jingshan Palace to pieces. I wonder what the scholars will think of that."
Zhongli: "The Great Compassion Tree King was a gentle god… Isn't this a bit excessive?"
Smith: "If the Great Compassion Tree King knew what the Akademiya had done, she would be furious!
Not only did those scholars hoard knowledge as a means of control, refusing to share it, but they also conspired with the Fatui and even used Sumeru's children as test subjects."
Keqing: "Is Sumeru really that chaotic?"
Smith: "I've told you before—absolute rule by humans has severe limitations. Perhaps the current generation of the Liyue Qixing is good and can protect their ideals, but who can guarantee that future leaders won't become corrupt?
People have inherent selfishness. This is true in Sumeru, just as it was in Mondstadt's past, and even now.
Oh, and Inazuma? That's another country ruled by humans in disguise. While Raiden Shogun appears to have ultimate authority, most of Inazuma's affairs are actually managed by the Tri-Commission. In reality, the Kanjo Commission and the Tenryou Commission have sidelined her, filtering the information she receives. In her mind, Inazuma is at peace, and its people are happy."
Keqing: "Wait… That's possible?"
Keqing had always advocated for human rule, but was divine rule really the better option?
Smith: "Raiden Shogun wanted to resist erosion and preserve her power, so she created a puppet to govern Inazuma in her place. However, that puppet isn't cunning enough to outmaneuver those old foxes in the government. As long as they keep their misdeeds hidden, Inazuma remains 'stable.' Even if conflicts arise, the puppet Shogun won't know.
And if the day comes when the country is truly in ruins, they can just inform the real Raiden Shogun that the commoners were at fault for not being loyal enough. Then, she'll restore order through force."
Keqing: "That's basically manipulating the god!"
Smith: "That's exactly what the head of the Tenryou Commission thinks."
Zhongli: "..."
Nahida: "..."
Nahida had always admired Raiden Shogun, believing her to be one of the most powerful gods in Teyvat. But hearing this made her question her assumptions.
Was erosion truly that frightening? As a young Archon, Nahida had yet to experience its effects. Still, she couldn't help but feel disheartened by Raiden Shogun's situation.
Zhongli: "Inazuma's governance system once included youkai, who served as a counterbalance to human rulers. The two sides supervised each other.
However, since the Cataclysm five hundred years ago, that balance collapsed. The current Raiden Shogun, Baal's twin, chose not to restore it, which led to the situation we see today."
Ganyu: "If Lady Yae Miko intervened, she could probably fix the problem. But for some reason, she's chosen to stay on the sidelines. Perhaps her own situation isn't ideal."
Ningguang: "Recently, Inazuma has started its Sakoku Decree, closing its borders. Do you think that's also the work of the Kanjo and Tenryou Commissions?"
Smith: "I'd bet on it.
@Zhongli, would you be interested in teaching a young god how to properly manage their relationship with their people?"
After all, a five-hundred-year-old god was still a child in some ways.
Zhongli: "Are you referring to the Little Auspicious Grass King?
My path may not be suitable for Nahida. Every god has a different philosophy. She shouldn't simply imitate me."
Smith: "Because she was constantly treated like a mere figurehead, conditioned like a tamed beast, Nahida lacks confidence in herself. She doesn't even understand the concept of 'human evil.'
I hope you can teach her how to navigate the complex relationship between gods and mortals. As for governing Sumeru, she will have to decide that for herself."
Ningguang: "..."
Keqing: "..."
Was it really okay to say such things to Nahida, a god herself?
Nahida: "Mr. Zhongli, are you truly the Rock King Morax? Please, teach me how to build a proper relationship with my people.
I humbly ask for your guidance, senior!"
Zhongli: "If that is what you seek, you are welcome to visit me in Jueyun Karst.
However, I suggest you first integrate into human society. Experience life among them. You will see both the noble and the corrupt. That will be far more valuable than any lesson I can teach."
Nahida: "But I can already hear human thoughts!"
Smith smirked. "Hearing and understanding are two different things."
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