Genshin Impact: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable

With countless questions still lingering in his mind, Luo Qing glanced at the emerald-green branch quietly resting in his system inventory.

As he prepared to leave the Void, a soft voice called out behind him.

"Luo Qing, did you feel it just now?"

"Feel what?"

Feigning confusion, Luo Qing turned to look at Nahida's adorable, soft face. Her expression stirred a memory from earlier: the name Nahida… Wasn't that the name he had given her?

No way… Did she really turn out to be my daughter?

"I felt a familiar presence in the Void," Nahida murmured, her voice low. "But it disappeared before I could locate it."

She had been guiding Lumine and Paimon through the Endless Dream when she suddenly sensed an energy in the Void—an energy strikingly similar to her own. Yet, before she could investigate, it had vanished.

"Sorry, Nahida, but I didn't sense anything," Luo Qing replied after a moment's thought. He decided against telling Nahida about what had just happened.

At least not until Buer was resurrected and he had unraveled the truth about the past few millennia.

"I see…"

Nahida lowered her head, disappointment evident in her demeanor.

She had a hunch that the energy she sensed was left behind by the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata…

But she had failed to grasp it.

"Hey now."

Luo Qing gently ruffled her hair and said softly, "A girl frowning all the time won't look pretty, you know."

"Ugh…"

"By the way, how's Lumine doing?" he asked, smoothly changing the subject.

"They've figured out the truth of the dream and are searching for the person at the core of it."

"So soon?"

"Soon?" Nahida tilted her head, confused.

"It's almost dawn outside," she replied.

"Dawn already?!"

This time, it was Luo Qing's turn to be surprised.

Had that much time really passed while he was in Buer's dreamscape?

"Well then…"

"Nahida, I have some other matters to handle, so I'll be going now."

"Huh?"

Before she could say more, Luo Qing's figure vanished from the Void.

When he opened his eyes again, his consciousness returned to his body.

The lingering scent of Theresa's fragrance still clung to the bedding.

Luo Qing glanced toward the staircase, his mind already racing.

"That divine knowledge capsule needs two Gnosis to unlock…"

"There's no way Scaramouche will lend me his. Guess I'll have to play the double agent, huh…"

"And the new house… I need to hurry up and discuss it with Kaveh…"

"Ah, what a mess…"

Luo Qing had a sinking feeling.

When Buer finally returned, things at home would likely become even more… lively than usual.

But what could he do?

In the pure dream, Buer had confessed to him so openly.

There was no way he could stand by and do nothing.

Could any man really turn away a gentle, green-eyed older sister figure who had waited five hundred years for him?

Turning to look out the window, he saw the first rays of dawn breaking through the horizon.

Luo Qing got dressed and left the house, heading toward the Jade Purity Workshop.

---

At the Jade Purity Workshop

Thanks to contingency plans, the Akademiya and the Doctor's long-prepared God-Creation Project had not been disrupted by the anomaly in the Void.

Overnight, the Electro Gnosis had successfully fused with Scaramouche.

The scholars of the Akademiya were utterly drained, sprawled haphazardly across their workstations, their clothes disheveled.

As Luo Qing entered the workshop, he couldn't help but wonder:

Did these guys throw a party last night?

In the central plaza, the Doctor and Azar were in deep discussion. Nearby stood the fully assembled Mechanical God, now fused with the Gnosis.

Atop its towering form, Scaramouche's face was contorted in pain, seemingly enduring the agony of integrating the Gnosis's power.

"Well, well, Grand Sage," Luo Qing teased, eyeing Azar's conspicuously red cheek. "What's with the flushed face? Thinking happy thoughts?"

"…"

Azar shot a glare at Luo Qing but said nothing.

Just wait until I have control of this new god… Then we'll settle our score.

"Is it done?" Luo Qing asked nonchalantly, his gaze shifting to the massive purple giant.

He began to wonder how the Mechanical God would fare against his current Susanoo.

Not that he'd likely need to step in—Lumine and her team were still in Sumeru, after all.

Besides, didn't Scaramouche want to go back and settle the score with his mother?

Well, I've brought her here for you.

Helping a colleague out—it's the least I could do.

"It's nearly complete," the Doctor replied with a small nod. "Once he fully absorbs the power and authority of the Gnosis, he will become a true god."

The corner of the Doctor's lips curled into a faint smile, as though admiring his masterpiece.

"Looks impressive," Luo Qing remarked, glancing at the Mechanical God. "But the color scheme could use a little green to balance all that purple."

"By the way," Luo Qing turned to the Doctor, "you fused the Gnosis with him. Aren't you worried about reporting back to Her Majesty the Tsaritsa?"

"There's no need for concern."

The Doctor chuckled. "Everything is proceeding as planned."

"…"

Another one of those "it's all part of the plan" types, huh?

Luo Qing didn't bother responding, instead taking another look at the Mechanical God.

"So, it's up to Lumine after all…" he thought.

Acquiring the Dendro Gnosis would be straightforward—he could simply storm the Akademiya and take it. Their pitiful combat ability wouldn't require him to lift a finger.

At most, he'd need to console Nahida afterward.

But the Electro Gnosis… That was a different story.

Now fused with Scaramouche, it was unlikely the brat would lend it willingly.

Forcing it from him would mean burning bridges entirely—a move that would complicate Luo Qing's relationship with the Tsaritsa.

And since his usual emotional manipulation tactics didn't work on her, angering her could result in him being turned into an ice sculpture.

Better to tread carefully.

All things considered, Lumine was the perfect candidate for this task.

He could nudge her toward collecting the Gnosis for him and throw in some minor benefits for Paimon to help sway her decision.

It's what we Harbingers do, isn't it?

A little self-interest here and there was perfectly reasonable.

With his plan set, Luo Qing decided to track down Lumine and give her some subtle hints.

Just as he was about to leave the workshop, a thought occurred to him. Turning back, he addressed the Doctor.

"Oh, and when Scaramouche wakes up, be sure to pass along a message for me."

Luo Qing's lips curled into a sly smile as he added, "Tell him that to celebrate his ascension, I've prepared a little gift."

Hey, Kunikuzushi. Guess what? I brought your mom to Sumeru.

How's that for a surprise?

---

(morax transferred to scribble hub!)

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