Genshin Impact : Joining the Genius Club

Chapter 45: The Thunder That Cannot Be Carried Away

A truth revealed itself before Kamisato Ayaka—a truth so baffling it left her standing there in stunned silence.

A real, a shadow, and a general.

Why do these three look exactly the same?

Her gaze shifted between the three figures, struggling to process the scene.

Are there no limits to the secrets of the Inazuma gods?

First, there was the puppet Raiden Shogun. Now, there were two identical individuals—both distinct in presence yet eerily alike.

"Then... the real one…" Ayaka muttered, looking at Raiden Zhen, who was currently engrossed in a game of chess with Su Ran.

"She's my sister," came the calm reply from Shadow, standing nearby.

"Your sister?" Ayaka's eyes widened.

Inazuma is truly extraordinary.

Three gods. First, there were the twin gods, and then one of the twins created the renowned puppet general. Now, Ayaka realized Inazuma had not two but three gods.

This is surely more impressive than the other six nations combined!

Meanwhile, Raiden Zhen continued her chess match with Su Ran. As the game progressed, her frown deepened.

Su Ran, noticing her frustration, deliberately left a flaw in his strategy. Yet Zhen didn't take the bait, making her next move without hesitation.

But even so, her defeat became inevitable.

Looking at the hopeless board, Zhen felt an uncharacteristic urge to flip the table.

How could this happen?

She was a demon god known for her intellect, someone who had lived for thousands of years. Losing so decisively in a simple game like this?

"One more round!" Zhen demanded, unwilling to accept defeat.

From the side, Ayaka couldn't help but recognize the same determined expression she herself had worn earlier. Zhen was falling into the same trap—wanting to win so desperately that it only made her losses more certain.

Shadow, who had seen many such scenes, watched silently. She was used to Zhen playing chess with Kitsunayori back at Narukami Shrine while she indulged in desserts on the sidelines.

But here, there were no desserts to distract her.

Shadow's gaze wandered to the two dango milk drinks Zhen had brought with her.

"What are you doing?" Zhen asked sharply, catching her sister's outstretched hand.

"I was just… looking," Shadow replied, quickly withdrawing her hand under Zhen's stern gaze.

Zhen wasn't usually one to get angry, but in that moment, her glare was enough to make Shadow reconsider her actions.

"That's not for you," Zhen warned before turning her focus back to the chessboard.

It wasn't just about the game anymore. Losing twice in a row to Su Ran would be unbearable.

In the meantime, Su Ran noticed Ayaka watching the game from a distance. Her curiosity was evident, but she hesitated to come closer, likely out of respect for Zhen's authority.

"If you can't see from there, why not sit beside me?" Su Ran offered, patting the cushion next to him.

Ayaka hesitated, glancing at Zhen.

Shadow, however, seized the opportunity to avoid her sister's glare. "I'll sit there."

"Really? No need…" Su Ran began, but Shadow had already moved to the seat next to him.

Zhen's sharp eyes followed her sister. Shadow's actions didn't escape her notice, but she said nothing, focusing on the game.

"There's still an empty seat on the other side," Su Ran added casually, smiling at Ayaka.

Not thinking much of it, Ayaka walked over and sat on his other side.

Zhen's lips pressed into a thin line. She cursed inwardly, Do I really have to fight for everything?

Whose child are we talking about here—mine or theirs?

"Miss Zhen, you shouldn't get distracted during the game," Su Ran teased, noticing her frustration.

Zhen snapped out of her thoughts, but her irritation grew. Was he really this oblivious?

To make matters worse, Su Ran's next comment threw her off entirely.

"Ying, why are you looking at me like that?"

"I wasn't…" Shadow began, but Su Ran interrupted.

"I think you look pretty," he said simply.

"Really?" Shadow blinked, touching her face. It was rare for anyone to compliment her appearance.

"Mr. Su Ran, you're the one who's distracted," Zhen retorted, her tone slightly sharper than before.

But inwardly, she relaxed. The interaction between Su Ran and Shadow reassured her. She had been worried that Su Ran might neglect her sister in favor of Ayaka, but his attention seemed genuine.

The game dragged on for another thirty minutes. By the end, Zhen was left staring at the chessboard, her expression grim.

"Miss Zhen, should I let you win this time?" Su Ran asked, his voice filled with playful arrogance.

Zhen, usually calm and composed, clenched her fists. Even the good-tempered Thunder God could only take so much provocation.

"No need," she said through gritted teeth, refusing to back down.

For Zhen, the game no longer felt like a simple pastime. It was beginning to resemble the brutal Demon God War—a battle she could not afford to lose.

But unlike the war, she didn't have Shadow to assist her this time.

Glancing at Shadow, who seemed utterly uninterested in the game, and Ayaka, who was busy feeding Su Ran pieces of fruit, Zhen felt a pang of frustration.

Why was helping her sister maintain happiness harder than surviving the Demon God War?

Finally, she broke the silence. "Mr. Su Ran, what do you think of Ying?"

Su Ran paused, taken aback by the sudden question. "What do I think of her?"

Zhen nodded. "Yes. What do you think of my sister?"

At first, Zhen had intended to use the chess match to send Su Ran a subtle warning. While she appreciated him saving her life, she wouldn't tolerate him neglecting Shadow for others.

But now, seeing their interactions, she felt more at ease. She just needed to ensure there were no misunderstandings between them.

It wasn't every day you found a sister-in-law who actively supported maintaining harmony in a harem, after all.