(Ray PoV)
Opening my eyes, it felt like a deja vu.
Familiar wooden ceiling.
Similar Japanese styled room and modest decorations.
The only difference would be a certain pair of round objects hanging above my head, partially blocking the view of the ceiling.
It felt nice unlike the previous thin futon I laid on. This time, it felt softer and warm. It made me want to sleep more as I shifted my body to reach a much more comfortable position.
"Hmn? Are you finally awake, Master?"
The soft hanging mound suddenly lowered and pressed on my face!
"Freya?"
I recognise her voice.
"You are suffocating me!"
"Ah~"
She instantly gasped when I pushed away her breast that she shamelessly shoved on my face and crawled out from her hold.
"Master! Thank goodness you are awake! I thought you would fall asleep for years again!"
Freya cried with tears of joy before suddenly pouncing at me again but I swiftly dodged.
"Muu! At least let me have a hug! I deserve a reward, Master!" She pouted when she couldn't get her hands on me with her head tilted up from the floor.
Deserve a reward? Pretty sure she had enough opportunities when I was unconscious.
Anyway, I sat in front of her face with several questions in my mind as memories of what happened prior to me falling unconscious started to surface in my mind.
"Tell me everything that happened from the end of the battle with the Sustainer to the present. Don't leave any details behind." I demanded.
Hearing my serious tone, Freya dismissed her playful demeanor and sat properly before answering exactly everything to every action she had taken for the past few years.
It took a while for Freya to answer. He even has to tell Freya to dismiss unnecessary details such as what food she ate and at what sun position, when she took a bath, when she went to sleep and the like.
When cross referencing with my own knowledge, I sort of deduced we are around the earlier time period of the Archon War. However, with my own personal involvement to defeat Fujin, the God of Storm. The proper history had already been derailed.
After all, the God of Storm is the great king, conqueror and tyrant that ruled Inazuma with his iron fist. He was intended to be the antagonist for Makoto's personal journey and to stir her desire to claim the throne of the Electro Archon. However, without him. The great power vacuum was created as Fujin's iron grip on Inazuma crumbled.
Naturally, Makoto, being the central figure in Fujin's defeat. Raised her fame and presence to the peak.
Not only does Makoto have three Gods, including myself under her group. I was the one that defeated Fujin and it was witnessed and spread widely by the subordinate Gods of Fujin that escaped the battle that day.
Like it or not. I have become involved and sooner or later, my presence will be known by Celestia. By then, staying here is no longer safe.
"Why are you sighing too much, Master?" Freya asked with an innocent looking face that leaned closer to mine.
"Why am I sighing, you ask? It's because of you! We should be hiding and trying to recover before booking this world! Not getting involved with it!"
I sighed again with a bubbling frustration in my stomach. Moving a paw to my face and massaging between my brow. I tried to assess and salvage the situation or at least figure out a solution.
But before I could, the door to the room slid open as a certain twin was wearing a short lavender coloured kimono with its long sleeve.
"Ah. So you are awake. Do you want to eat? I just finished making lunch and am about to invite Freya for a meal."
Makoto said with a polite smile and looked at me. Then on my face.
"My. What's with that irritated look? Did I offend you, Mr Ray?" She asked, face smiling mischievously like a fox.
"Quite frankly? Yes." I replied before continuing the conversation that we previously put on hold.
"I had told you before that I cannot fulfil your wish. I had neither the ability or time to do it. I have no intention to join your plan to interfere with this world or Celestia."
I admitted my intention to make it clear to Makoto that I will not be a part of whatever she had planned. I had my own priority and I will not sacrifice them for someone I have just met.
In the first place, my plan in this world is to lay low and recover as much as possible before going out from this world to track down the True Body before getting my revenge on the Hunters.
But, hearing what I had said. Makoto did not change her expression and kept smiling as if she already had me dancing in her palm.
"Do you know why you are safe from the Sustainer of Heavenly Principle when Celestia has sent out a decree to hunt you down?"
Hearing what she said, I fell into a brief silence and looked thoughtful.
"Why?" I asked as my curiosity was piqued.
Hearing my question, her smile widened too much for my comfort that my furs had stood up from this chilling sensation.
"Well, that's because I vouched for your identity." She stated.
"I might not be strong enough to be known for my strength. But I am a God that represented Justice to some extent and my words had its worth and weight amongst other Gods in Inazuma."
"Since I vouched for you, none suspected your origin and assumed you were a Youkai. Not like the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles could verify it herself when she was severely injured and was deeply asleep apparently. All that she left behind is a vague order to arrest a certain outsider."
Basically, in her own words.
'I can shield you from the eyes of Celestia. Which is better than living a life as a criminal on the run.'
In exchange for shielding me from the eyes of Celestia. She asks for my help to aid her.
Obviously, having an identity to disguise myself would have been better than living on the run hunted down by other Gods. I would be able to live free of worry about my safety and able to focus on my own objectives instead of constantly living with uncertainty of tomorrow.
This is indeed a very tempting offer, I had to admit. But… Her goal is something concerning.
To defy and overthrow the Celestia and the Heavenly Principles for their cruel and unreasonable methods to rule Teyvat.
The war of the divine seat of Archon itself is nothing more but a disguised culling none seems to have noticed but Makoto which is a method Celestia uses to tighten their grip on Teyvat.
By reducing the numbers of Gods, it would make rebellion difficult and near impossible. This way, the Celestia could also tighten their control better with a limited number of being capable of defying them.
It's like disarming the population to prevent them from being able to resist when the government imposes their tyranny.
After weighing the pros and cons of both options. I have to admit that accepting Makoto's offer would be the most beneficial one, especially when I noticed that when I killed Fujin, a small fraction of my power was restored from absorbing his power.
Her offer is simply too tempting to reject!
Lifting my head up to look at Makoto, she was smiling knowingly.
After all, I was dancing in her palm all along.
So much for my new humble beginning…
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