Genshin Impact: The Daily Life of Inazuma's Youkai

"Investigate Ritou thoroughly," Rhinedottir ordered the knight, seeing a prime opportunity. With Reisen Riou, Ritou's Shrine Guardian, absent, its defenses were weak. A quick probe could yield plenty of intel, she thought, squinting.

…

Oblivious, Reisen Riou pored over Khaenri'ah's Alchemy Journal Issue 72 in Inazuma. He didn't know his journal requests had involved the Endgame Squad, nor that "Gold" Rhinedottir had taken notice.

"Gold" was a titan in alchemy, having designed the Rifthound at LV7+ in theory and practice. Why's the Endgame Squad on foreign missions? he wondered.

(Kamisato head, sneezing: "Who forced us into overseas ops?")

"Is this how they verify the principle? No mathematical elegance, but it works," Reisen Riou muttered. "This Ley Line energy extraction formula feels off—such low efficiency?"

"No, it's optimized for versatility. Khaenri'ah sacrifices power for adaptability across Teyvat's regions, easing production. Clever."

"When will they release an export Field Tiller? Ritou's got barren lands. I might design one myself," he grumbled, praising Khaenri'ah's tech but irked by their isolationism. "No export Field Tillers and so secretive—what, planning to invade the world? Ridiculous."

He laughed. Teyvat wasn't his old world. Khaenri'ah's alchemy was impressive, but world conquest? Unlikely. The other Seven Nations would crush them first.

Celestia's Seven Archons, the Heavenly Principles' rulers, each governed a seventh of Teyvat. This was common knowledge, even in godless Khaenri'ah. Under Celestia, large-scale wars were impossible unless Archons clashed. Khaenri'ah, despite its strength, was scorned for lacking a god.

Having lived in Inazuma for decades—far longer than his twenty-something past life—Reisen Riou's mindset had aligned with Teyvat's. He finished the journal, planning to study its versatility.

Days later, his enforcers interrupted. "Lord, someone's investigating you," Amemuki Uji reported, handing over intel.

Both enforcers had hit LV29 in years, nearing bannerman status, thanks to Reisen Riou and the One System, Ten Thousand Divine Machines. Their loyalty deepened. Amemuki, from the blacksmith Amemuki clan tied to the Endgame Squad, had become a master smith, crafting custom weapons and gleaning minor intel from ninjas. This tip came from one such favor.

Even without Amemuki, Reisen Riou would've learned soon. As a Shogunate scribe, he was guarded by the Tenryou Commission and Okuzume, plus covertly by the Endgame Squad and Grand Narukami Shrine due to his youkai status. He knew he was untouchable.

"Interesting," he said, intrigued but unconcerned. He couldn't know who was probing, nor would they let him.

Two weeks later, after reporting to Makoto's clone, an Okuzume delivered details: Khaenri'ahn knights, not diplomats, had been snooping. The Okuzume, Endgame Squad, and Tenryou Commission "sunk them to the sea."

"Lord Scribe, how'd you cross Khaenri'ah?" the Okuzume asked.

"No clue. I've barely met any Khaenri'ahns," Reisen Riou said, rolling his eyes. Then it hit him. "Could it be the alchemy journals?"

The Okuzume, well-informed, hesitated. "Doubt it. They print plenty of those."

"But how'd they know it was me?"

"Oh, I wrote their publisher for subscriptions years back, and recently too, out of boredom. They never replied. Maybe they connected the dots," Reisen Riou mused.

"…"

"Watch yourself. Don't get chopped by Khaenri'ahns," the Okuzume said, leaving with a conflicted look.

Reisen Riou muttered, "Run? I'm second to none." He vanished, unnoticed except by Makoto's clone in Tenshukaku, who glanced up thoughtfully.

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