Recap / Genshin Impact: Character Stories—Inazuma

Genshin Impact Main Recap Index
Archon Quests: Prologue | Chapter I | Chapter II | Chapter III | Chapter IV | Interludes
Character Stories: Mondstadt | Liyue | Inazuma | Sumeru | Snezhnaya
World Stories: Mondstadt | Liyue | Inazuma | Sumeru | Miscellaneous

Inazuma is an isolationist archipelago southeast of Liyue across the sea, governed by Beelzebul, the Electro Archon and goddess of lightning and eternity, known to her people as the Raiden Shogun. Throughout their quest to convince the Shogun to revoke a pair of repressive decrees she unwittingly ratified through a conspiracy between corrupt elements within her own government and the Fatui, the Traveler befriends Kaedehara Kazuha, a wandering samurai and poet currently aligned with the Crux Fleet; Kamisato Ayaka, a beautiful and demure senior official of the Yashiro Commission; Thoma, her Mondstadt-born right-hand man and troubleshooter; Naganohara Yoimiya, a cheerful artificier and associate of the Yashiro Commission, responsible for some of Inazuma's brightest festivals; Sangonomiya Kokomi, leader of Watatsumi Island and head priestess of Orobashi, the islanders' serpentine god whose death at the hands of the Shogun lay at the root of centuries-old tensions with the Shogunate; Gorou, Kokomi's right-hand man and general of her armies; Yae Miko, a kitsune and old friend of Beelzebul as well as her head priestess, who recruits the Traveler to help her convince the Shogun to change her mind; Sayu, a sleepy young ninja and agent of the Shuumatsuban, the Yashiro Commission's intelligence agency; Kujou Sara, the Shogun's right-hand woman and a fearsome general of the Tenryou Commission who the Traveler and Miko provoke into open revolt upon discovering the corruption of her immediate superiors; and the Raiden Shogun herself—or rather, Ei, the goddess behind the Raiden Shogun bionic puppet who has sealed herself away in despair following the death of her twin sister and predecessor Makoto/Baal during the Khaenri'ah Cataclysm half a millennium ago, and who they help come to terms with her grief and lead Inazuma to a brighter future.

Other Inazuman characters the Traveler befriends include Arataki Itto, a hot-blooded delinquent and leader of his eponymous gang of social misfits; Kuki Shinobu, deputy leader of the Arataki Gang and their long-suffering legal troubleshooter; Kamisato Ayato, Ayaka's older brother, head of the Yashiro Commission, and one of the most cunning men in Inazuma; Shikanoin Heizou, a detective under the employ of the Tenryou Commission known both for his work ethic and his unorthodox methods; and Kirara, a perky and constantly curious courier.

Story Quests

Grus Nivis (Ayaka)

Act I: The Whispers of the Crane and the White Rabbit

Released: v2.0 "The Immovable God and the Eternal Euthymia" (July 21, 2021)
Minimum Adventure Rank: 30

A Private Commission

Outside Komore Teahouse, the Traveler meets Ayaka again, who asks them to accompany her on a personal request: while perusing her late mother's belongings, she came across a notebook containing multiple references to "Tsubaki," who she presumes was a secret friend given her lack of mention among her late parents' acquaintances; wishing to meet her, Ayaka asks the Traveler to accompany her shopping for gifts, both because she wanted to keep the matter largely to herself and because her older brother Ayato is busy with work as Yashiro Commissioner.

Woven Wishes

The trio's first stop is Ogura Textiles & Kimonos, where Ayaka commissions a custom-made kimono. However, the family-run shop's proprietress, Mio, tells them that, due to the Sakoku Decree, imports of Silk Flowers from Liyue have been severely restricted, though they can buy the silk from the International Trade Association.

In Ritou, the trio runs into a troubled Kurisu, who alerts them that recently bandits stole a batch of silk the Association was hoping to sell amidst a surge in demand, but is also hesitant to seek the Kanjou Commission's help, given their reputation for corruption. Ayaka volunteers to help retrieve the silk, assuring Kurisu that she has lofty enough a position within her Commission to shield her from jurisdictional friction.

At a beach outside Ritou, the Traveler, Paimon, Ayaka, and Kurisu encounter the kairagi with the stolen goods, who mock the latter as a foreign worm and tries to extort money from him in exchange for the silk. Before Kurisu caves in, Ayaka intervenes and sends them fleeing empty-handed. After recovering his goods, Kurisu offers Ayaka the silk for free, though she insists on paying.

Upon returning to the City, Ayaka presents the silk to Mio for her to weave a kimono, and even offers to sew additional ones for the Traveler and Paimon, which the former humbly declines. In the meantime, Ayaka asks the duo to see her at Kiminami Restaurant, a favorite hangout of her and Ayato.

Food From Afar

While waiting for their order, Ayaka leaves the Traveler and Paimon for some business. The family-run diner's proprietress, Anna, confides to them that while Ayaka is highly revered, her social standing isolated her from her lowborn peers, and is happy that she has found friends of her age. The trio then hear an explosion and find Ayaka struggling to make an overseas cuisine for Tsubaki, so the Traveler offers to make her a Mushroom Pizza, a Mondstadter specialty; impressed, Ayaka hopes she can emulate their culinary skills. Anna sees the Traveler's dish, who then offers her the recipe, inspiring her to incorporate overseas dishes in the future.

As they eat, Ayaka is dismayed to learn that Anna already told the Traveler and Paimon of her friendless background. After the Traveler and Paimon cheer her up, Ayaka then wonders if Tsubaki is a fox envoy, given that neither she nor Ayato have heard of her. Afterwards, they return to Ogura Textiles & Kimonos, where Mio presents Ayaka the finished kimono, as well as a hairpiece made in the image of a white heron, which Ayaka gifts to the Traveler as a token of appreciation for their aid.

Lasting Promise

Resuming their search for Tsubaki, the Traveler, Paimon, and Ayaka are led by their notebook to a seaside cave below Tenshukaku. Upon unlocking a secret chamber per the notebook's description, Ayaka finds another notebook, where she learns that "Tsubaki" is but an alias her late mother, Kayo, would take whenever she goes outside incognito so she could enjoy some measure of freedom, away from the pressures of her duties to both Clan and Commission, and that, among other things, she wanted to try kimonos, eat foreign food, and visit festivals. Resonating with her late mother's experiences at taking on so much responsibility helping Ayato govern the Commission after their parents' deaths, Ayaka vows to live her life without regrets, and invites the Traveler to the small island of Amakane, between the City and Konda, where a festival is ongoing.

With You

The Traveler, Paimon, and Ayaka reach Amakane just as the festival is about to close. At the sight of the noblewoman, the shopkeepers happily extend their store hours to keep her entertained. After buying masks, picking fortune slips, and eating at a diner, the Traveler and Ayaka buy prayer plaques to hang before a sakura tree at the highest point of the island, upon which the latter inscribes her wish for happiness for the people of Inazuma, while the former inscribes their wish to be reunited with their sibling.

As they return home to the Kamisato Estate, the trio pass through Chinju Forest, where Ayaka treats the Traveler and Paimon to a dance, and thanks them for their companionship before she returns home.

Carassius Auratus (Yoimiya)

Act I: Dreamlike Timelessness

Released: v2.0 "The Immovable God and the Eternal Euthymia" (July 21, 2021)
Minimum Adventure Rank: 30

The Firework Girl's Strange Stories

On the beaches of Hanamizaka, the Traveler and Paimon encounter children looking for the "Great Mujina," a prankster youkai. A skeptical Traveler dismisses such notions, thinking it is but a bogeyman parents use to scare the children against staying out late. The children refuse to believe them, and run off to Yoimiya, who they claim even equipped them with hunting tools.

Further down the beach, the Traveler and Paimon follow the children being given paper slips by Yoimiya. After they leave, Yoimiya explains that, while she also thinks the Great Mujina is a bogeyman, she plays along with the children to help distract them from the hardships brought about by the Vision Hunt Decree, before inviting them to help prepare for the upcoming Naganohara Fireworks Show.

At Naganohara Fireworks, the trio meet Ryuunosuke, Yoimiya's father and previous proprietor of the shop, who begins rambling about their history before his daughter stops him, explaining to the Traveler that he is hearing-impaired following a workplace accident years ago. While Yoimiya checks the materials for the festivities, a man comes out of the shop's backdoor, who she introduces to the Traveler as Sakujirou, an old customer and returning expatriate with an arrest warrant, who now contemplates fleeing anew. Sympathizing with his plight and as a duty to long-time customers, who they identify through paper slips given to them with their purchased fireworks, Yoimiya agrees to help him escape, and ropes the Traveler in on her plan.

Expectations Not to Be Betrayed

Elsewhere in Hanamizaka, Yoimiya asks of the status of the escape boat from Kouichi, a carpenter and another patron of the shop, who admits to great difficulty getting past the Tenryou Commission's strictures on sea traffic. Yoimiya apologizes for dragging him into her troubles, which Kouichi dismisses, stating this is his payment for the fireworks her family supplied to him through the years. After explaining to the Traveler her penchant for helping anyone she comes across, Yoimiya returns to Inazuma City to pick up her purchased fireworks. Afterwards, while waiting for Kouichi to return, the Traveler tells Yoimiya of their adventures throughout Mondstadt and Liyue in search of their sibling. Sympathizing with them, Yoimiya offers them a safe haven in Inazuma, vowing to work to make it a pleasant place for the Traveler to return to whenever they needed some rest. After Kouichi returns, the trio are then shown Sakujirou's escape boat, with Yoimiya assuring Paimon that, should the Tenryou Commission hold her shop under suspicion, she can use her connections to the Yashiro Commission to protect themselves.

Back at Naganohara Fireworks, Sakujirou explains that he fled Inazuma to escape some troubles, then he grew homesick enough to return, only to find himself a wanted man. Yoimiya then remembers that she can ask for help from an elderly couple in Konda Village whose son is a Tenryou samurai, then allows him to stay longer while he decides what to do next, while leaving a note for her father to help sort out the fireworks.

A Sliver of Hope

At Konda, the trio meets the Imatani couple Saburou and Kaori to deliver their fireworks. After helping them clean up their front porch and deliver produce to a nearby food stall, Yoimiya asks them about Sakujirou, who they recognize as a former friend of their son Keisuke before they had a falling-out, with their son joining the Tenryou Commission and his ex-friend becoming a fugitive.

Upon returning to the shop, however, Yoimiya is alerted by her father that it had been raided by Tenryou samurai in search of Sakujirou, though he managed to escape. Worse still, Yoimiya learned from passersby that the squad was led by Keisuke. Fearing the worst, Yoimiya, the Traveler, and Paimon head out of Hanamizaka.

Together Under the Fireworks

Along the way the trio run into, and clear up, a Tenryou blockade, arriving just in time to witness Sakujirou being defeated in a duel by Keisuke, now a high-ranking Tenryou officer. Before Sakujirou surrenders, Yoimiya intervenes, reminding him that the reason he returned to Inazuma, as well as Keisuke's for challenging him to a duel instead of immediately arresting him, was to sort out their feelings. Despite his reluctance, Keisuke accepts another duel from Yoimiya, on the condition that she will accept responsibility for collaborating with Sakujirou if she loses, while she will ask them to continue talking if she wins, which she does, despite Keisuke being offered backup, which he refuses.

Once the situation calms down, Yoimiya explains to Keisuke that she has already learned of his and Sakujirou's situation from his parents, and that the latter bought a firework so they could watch it together like the old times. After sorting out their feelings, Keisuke allows Sakujirou to escape, and even offers to help him through the entrance process whenever he comes home, even at the expense of demotion. Once Sakujirou paddled away, Keisuke thanks Yoimiya for seeing through him, admitting that he confiscated Sakujirou's to lure him out. When he asks for the firework he and Sakujirou used to light as children, Yoimiya claims the slip issued in both their names was with the latter, but allows him to light it anyways. After Keisuke left, Yoimiya invites the Traveler and Paimon to watch the spectacle from Amakane. Sakujirou, from a distance, sees the fireworks and is overwhelmed with emotion at knowing Keisuke still thought the world of him.

Back at Amakane, after watching the fireworks, Yoimiya hands the Traveler a slip, marking them as a friend and a distinguished customer. Noting that the transient nature of fireworks runs counter to the Raiden Shogun's philosophy of eternity, Yoimiya nevertheless notes that the feelings of people on fireworks are themselves a form of eternity, and hopes the Traveler keep those memories in their future journeys.

Act II: Star-Pickers' Passage

Released: v3.7 "Duel! The Summoners' Summit!" (May 24, 2023)
Minimum Adventure Rank: 40

Imperatrix Umbrosa (Ei/Beelzebul and the Raiden Shogun)

Act I: Reflections of Mortality

Released: v2.1 "Floating World Under the Moonlight" (September 1, 2021)
Prerequisite Quest: "Omnipresence Over Mortals" (Archon Chapter II, Act III)

The Lonesome Euthymia

In front of the Statue of the Omnipresent God, the Traveler finds Thoma, Kujou Kamaji, and his retainer and childhood friend Ippei discussing the Tri-Commission having to run Inazuma on their own while the Raiden Shogun withdrew to have some private time following her repeal of the Vision Hunt Decree; in particular, they are discussing the growing thunderstorm around Inazuma, leading to rumors that either she is lashing out for being forced to repeal the Decree or she is ill, the latter fueled by news of the apparent death of Rex Lapis. With the previous Tenryou Commissioner and Kamaji's father, Takayuki, publicly disgraced and stripped of power after his collusion with the Fatui was exposed, the Tenryou Commission is in disarray and the Kujou Clan's position of authority compromised, forcing Kamaji to consult with one of his allies, Takatsukasa Susumu, to help him navigate the crisis. Paimon suggests that the Traveler visit Yae Miko at the Grand Narukami Shrine to ask her to help arrange a meeting with Ei and encourage her to personally settle matters. At the Shrine, after joking that the Shogun's health has declined and is in a foul mood after her defeat to the Traveler, Miko tells the Traveler that the storm may signify her wavering will; at the Traveler's insistence, she hands them a Pass Permit that will allow them to see Ei.

In Tenshukaku, the Traveler and Paimon find the Shogun puppet frantically walking to and fro. After a brief hostile response, she is taken over by Ei, who welcomes them into the Plane of Euthymia. Inside, Ei reveals that she temporarily disabled most of the puppet's functions while she tries to modify her centuries-old protocols, albeit with great difficulty due to the change-proofing measures she implemented long ago. When Paimon reports on the thunderstorm and the chaos in the Tenryou Commission, Ei assures her and the Traveler that she can easily modify the puppet's weather manipulation protocols, but that she is having trouble redefining her concept of eternity. The Traveler and Paimon then encourage to take a walk outside to seek inspiration and observe the changes in Inazuma in the five hundred years since she secluded herself.

To Traverse the Mortal Plane

As the trio descend to Inazuma City, the cityfolk are taken aback at the Raiden Shogun's impromptu appearance, more so with her mellower personality and childlike curiosity, unaware that it is Ei having taken over the puppet's body. When Paimon asks Ei if she has Mora, she admits that she never felt the need for money, and even then, she had the Tenryou Commission provide her needs, a situation Paimon compares to her fellow Archons Barbatos and Morax. The trio then visit a newly-established food stall, where Ei liked its Dango Milk so much it lifted the spirits of its shopkeeper Tomoki, who would have withdrawn it otherwise due to mediocre sales.

Next, Ei visits the Yae Publishing House, which is owned by Miko, where editor and shopkeeper Kuroda shows her the House's bestsellers, which happen to be works of fiction she can barely comprehend because they are not grounded in facts. Nevertheless, while she admits to being wary of change, she concedes that she is in no position to deny the people the opportunity to change their lives for the better, and thanks the Traveler for guiding her around.

The Fabric of Constancy

As a memento of their tour, the Traveler takes a photograph of Ei overlooking Mount Yougou, who has to be taught what a photograph is, as well as to be told to be more relaxed while her picture is being taken. Amazed at how technology has advanced such that it can replicate moments in time, Ei concedes that change is inevitable and that she may have been too severe in her pursuit of eternity.

Their tour is interrupted, however, when they hear Ippei looking for Kamaji, who has yet to return from negotiations with Susumu to hand over leadership of the Commission; while his lord and friend is no stranger to long walks, Ippei is more paranoid than usual given the ongoing turmoil within their Commission, what with his older brother Masahito still leading the Shogunate forces at Kannazuka and their father Takayuki having taken ill from the shame of his misconduct being exposed. He suspects that Kamaji may have been brought into a Takatsukasa base on the eastern face of Mount Yougou overlooking the Kamisato Estate.

To Hear Mortal Hearts

There, the Traveler, Paimon, and Ei are surprised that the base is well-hidden, more so that it is swarming with so much romin for what is supposed to be a Shogunate property. Inside, the trio find Kamaji surrounded by Susumu and his men, who complains to the Shogun that he is under duress to write a confession of his Clan's misconduct, albeit in such a manner that would also put a positive spin on the Takatsukasa Clan's otherwise nonexistent involvement in exposing Takayuki. Understanding that Susumu wanted to usurp the Kujou Clan's leadership of the Tenryou Commission, Ei challenges him to a duel to prove himself worthy of the post, much like the Kujou Clan's distant ancestor, the first Commissioner, did centuries ago. Susumu's bravado evaporates into fear of the Shogun's might, and he and his retainers back out. Kamaji takes up the challenge, despite knowing he stands little chance to the Shogun, if only so he can atone for his father's crimes and his inaction, even with his life if necessary. True to form, and despite putting up a fight, he is easily overpowered by Ei, who is nevertheless so impressed at Kamaji's courage that she decides to hold off the Kujou Clan's punishment for the time being, as well as orders Susumu and his men to assist with Kamaji's recovery, threatening them with death should they deceive her again like the Fatui did.

Outside the base, Ei expresses relief that the incident ended the way it did, knowing Kamaji would have surely died had the Shogun puppet been in control of the body. Despite what she perceives to be the Kujou Clan's moral decay, Kamaji's extraordinary display of honor and courage in the face of hopeless odds, not unlike his distant ancestor, has her reflecting that some things stay the same even as the world changes around them. As for the leniency she showed the Kujou Clan, she admits that she did so because she, too, made mistakes that would take time to atone for. Ei thanks them for helping her navigate through the new Inazuma, before returning to Tenshukaku to meditate on everything she learned.

Back at the Grand Narukami Shrine, the Traveler and Paimon report to Miko, who thinks that Ei's experience may inspire her to redefine her concept of eternity, telling them that the gods, too, indulge in wishful thinking, but that there are things even they cannot go against, such as the power of the human heart or the Heavenly Principles of Celestia. As the Traveler returns the Permit Pass to her, Miko informs them that they are free to borrow it from her any time they please because, as prideful as Ei can be, ultimately she needed company every now and then, especially such an otherworldly person as the Traveler.

Act II: Transient Dreams

Released: v2.5 "When the Sakura Bloom" (February 16, 2022)
Minimum Adventure Rank: 40
World Effects: Unlocks the "End of the Oneiric Euthymia" Trounce Domain (Magatsu Mitake Narukami no Mikoto [the Raiden Shogun puppet] as a weekly boss); removes the storm barrier around Inazuma

Clensing Light

Optional Prerequisite: "Sacred Sakura Cleansing Ritual" (World Quest series)

At the Inazuma Adventurers' Guild, Katheryne flags the Traveler and Paimon for an emergency job from the Yashiro Commission. Recently, rifthounds have been sighted in Narukami Island gnawing at the Sacred Sakura roots, and with the Tenryou Commission preoccupied with protecting civilians, the Traveler is being asked to directly deal with the rifthounds. If the Traveler has helped Hanachirusato cleanse the Sacred Sakura earlier, Paimon urges them to stop the rifthounds from undoing their efforts for which Hanachirusato sacrificed herself.

The Traveler and Paimon find and fight the rifthounds at the roots north of the Kamisato Estate, where they are later joined by the Raiden Shogun, who they recognize as Ei possessing the puppet body anew. The Electro Archon reveals that she has also sensed the attacks from within the Plane of Euthymia; while normally the Raiden Shogun would have left such matters to the Tri-Commission, their attacks on the Sacred Sakura reminded her of the Khaenri'ah Cataclysm five hundred years ago, when Inazuma was enshrouded in black fog and monsters, such as the rifthounds, ravaged the land and claimed countless lives; loath though she is to remember that time, Ei cannot turn a blind eye to a similar crisis, and agrees to join forces with the Traveler and Paimon, who are in turn curious to know more about Khaenri'ah from her.

Heading northwest to Araumi, the Traveler, Paimon, and Ei notice purple stains on the roots where the rifthounds attacked them; nevertheless, Ei judges the damage to be minimal enough that the Yashiro Commission can easily nurse it back to health. Upon touching the sap, the trio are enveloped in white light, from which manifests Kitamura, a footsoldier, who warns them of an onslaught of monsters, and with both the Shogun and Kitsune Saiguu gone, he and his men struggle to hold the line. Ei reveals herself to Kitamura, assuring him that the monsters are gone and Inazuma has returned to normal; assuming that Inazuma was saved, Kitamura thanks her for the deliverance and disappears in white light.

Afterwards, Ei reveals that the Sacred Sakura can absorb the filth of the land's Ley Lines, and when they purified it, the energies manifested in the form of Kitamura, who she believes is one of the soldiers who died defending Inazuma during the Cataclysm. In addition, she reveals that Saiguu was a close friend who died fighting the onslaught of monsters in Inazuma from that time. Recalling her previous excursus with the Traveler, she has realized that she can no longer fixate on the past and learn to move forward and honor the wishes of her people, before urging the Traveler to continue their inspection.

Elsewhere in Araumi, Ei continues fighting rifthounds; midway through the battle, however, she suddenly freezes up for a few seconds, which she attributes to a need to conserve energy. Again, the roots emit white light, from which manifests Furuyama, the blind, elderly tea master of the Raiden Shogun's retinue. He expresses surprise that the Shogun has returned from fighting at a distant land, and reveals that he has stayed behind instead of joining his colleagues' escape given that he is not long for the world, comforting himself with the Shogun's words that because noting stays forever, people must make the most of their lives so they leave no regrets, such as serving the Shogun tea one last time—notions the Traveler deem highly uncharacteristic of Ei, who then volunteers to obtain a set in his place.

The trio head east to the Kamisato Estate, to the surprise of Hirano, the Estate's bodyguard, who fetches a tea set for her. While waiting in the courtyard, Ei reveals to the Traveler that it was her late twin sister Makoto, the previous Electro Archon, who loved tea and appreciated the transience of life, as well as cherished the power of ambition; furthermore, she tells the Traveler that they reminded her of Makoto during their second duel in the Plane of Euthymia, especially when they were empowered with the ambitions of the people of Inazuma, leading her to realize that Makoto may have been correct all along in her belief that the human capacity to generate otherwise transient ambitions is in itself a form of eternity.

Upon procuring the tea set from Hirano, the Traveler, Paimon, and Ei return to find that Furuyama has disappeared, which the latter attributes to the Ley Lines being unable to sustain his manifestation. To cheer her up a dismayed Paimon, the Traveler proposes that Ei prepare tea in his honor. While enjoying the tea, Ei reveals that during the Khaenri'ah Cataclysm, Makoto left Inazuma unannounced to heed Celestia's call to keep the disaster at bay, despite being not as well-versed in combat as Ei. By the time Ei caught up to her sister, Makoto was already dead. Grief-stricken and now obsessed with eternity at all costs, Ei brought Makoto's realm of consciousness to Inazuma to give it a proper resting place, only to find that a great tree, now known as the Sacred Sakura, has grown atop Mount Yougou that helped cleanse much of the filth unleashed during the Cataclysm, which she believes may be a lingering remnant of Makoto's power.

Seeing that Ei is ready to come to terms with her past, the Traveler asks her if she has seen their sibling in Khaenri'ah; to their disappointment, Ei had no idea, admitting that she arrived once the worst of the conflict has ended and her mind was lost in both grief over the deaths of her loved ones and worry over the calamity back home.

Farewell to the Past

The Traveler, Paimon, and Ei continue their search, leading to a cave below southwestern Araumi. While fighting rifthounds, however, Ei freezes up again and her combat prowess suffers. Three Shogunate samurai and Vision holders then emerge amidst blinding light and lend a helping hand to Ei, their morale restored upon her seeming return. After the Traveler helps them defeat the rifthounds, the samurai ask the Traveler to help escort the Shogun to Tenshukaku to regroup with the rear guard, while they stay behind to cover their escape. Ei promises that she will keep her word to create a brighter future for Inazuma, which they take as words of encouragement as they disappear.

Afterwards, Ei explains to the Traveler that the promise was meant as much to herself as to the samurai, acknowledging that in her grief over the deaths around her she failed to observe that several of them died defending Inazuma, hence inadvertently dishonoring their sacrifice; feeling that she now owes it to everyone, past and present, to uphold the trust placed in her, Ei resolves to no longer hold back Inazuma's road to change and recovery, and instead lead the way, however imperfect she may be compared to Makoto.

Suddenly, Ei freezes up again; claiming someone is calling to her, she asks the Traveler to help bring her to a cave underneath the Grand Narukami Shrine, where she will sever her ties to the past. There, a torii, or ceremonial gate, manifests out of thin air, which Ei reveals is the final resting place of Makoto's realm of consciousness.

Inside, Ei comes face-to-face with the Raiden Shogun puppet, who reveals that not only is she an assistant to Ei, but a guardian of the rules she imposed. Having sensed that the Electro Archon is now deviating from those very rules, however, the puppet has also come to see Ei as an enemy of eternity, thinking she, too, suffers from erosion. Ei opts to engage her own puppet in a duel to prove otherwise, telling the Traveler and Paimon that the autonomous puppet has begun to reject her over the deviation, but now that they are inside Makoto's realm, Ei has a body of her own with which she will defeat the Raiden Shogun, the manifestation of her past ideals—but also her rigidity and fear of loss—were she to keep the promise she made to the people of Inazuma.

Despite Ei's best efforts, the Raiden Shogun keeps reviving every time she seems near defeat. After their third duel, Ei warns the Traveler that the puppet was made to resist erosion, and is thus blessed with a will stronger than any other living being, including herself; nevertheless, she is determined to prove to the puppet that her change of heart is of her own volition, no matter how long it takes; in the meantime, however, she will send the Traveler as a witness to her sacrifice, trusting the people of Inazuma to do the right thing even without her, before ejecting them from the realm. Afterwards, the Traveler and Paimon find themselves back in the cave. Unwilling to leave Ei at the mercy of the Raiden Shogun, they head back up to the Grand Narukami Shrine to alert Miko as to what has happened to the Electro Archon.

Radiant Sakura

After chiding Ei for her stubbornness, Miko warns the Traveler and Paimon that she has little idea as to how Makoto's realm of consciousness works, much less how to enter it, as it works differently from Ei's Plane of Euthymia; nevertheless, she joins the Traveler and Paimon into descending back to the cave. There, Miko tells the two that, while she cannot pinpoint where in the realm Ei was, she can at least sense her presence enough to help the two navigate it. She then advises the Traveler to focus on their heartfelt wishes to quicken their search, then sends them off with an uncharacteristically sincere plea to save Ei, both for her sake as well as Inazuma's.

Through their joint efforts with Miko, the Traveler and Paimon reach anew the plane where Ei has been fighting the Raiden Shogun puppet—one that has apparently went on for what seemed like half a millennium. With the Traveler and Paimon's arrival, both Ei and the Shogun agree that their next duel will be their very last.

After a long struggle, Ei, encouraged by the Traveler and Paimon, at last overcomes the Raiden Shogun puppet, who concedes defeat both in the battle and principles, acknowledging that a will that has not experienced erosion has no way to embrace the future, to which Ei replies that she triumphed because of her changed perspective on the world, as well as the Musou Isshin, the divine blade she inherited from Makoto, seemingly resonating to her resolve as though her sister is giving her approval. The Raiden Shogun, impressed at how much Ei has grown, consents to allow Ei to modify her programming, even as she expresses curiosity at the Traveler's might, hoping to cross swords with them one day.

Afterwards, an orb of light emerges from the Musou Isshin, revealing itself to be the lingering consciousness of Makoto, who expresses pride in how much her sister has grown. After explaining that she left a fragment of her will in the sword, which can only be released once Ei has tapped into its full strength, she apologizes for the suddenness with which responsibility for Inazuma fell on her sister's shoulders, admitting she and her fellow Archons went to Khaenri'ah over an emergency brewing there.

Makoto then bequeathes Ei a a seed, from which the Sacred Sakura shall grow through the harmony of eternity that transcends time and dreams that illuminate each moment in time, freeing Inazuma from the grip of the Heavenly Principles. Her wish fulfilled, Makoto feels that she has now repaid her debt to Ei for having protected her countless times, promising her that the Sacred Sakura will buy her enough time to grow into her new role, before the twin sisters bid each other farewell for good.

Back at the Grand Narukami Shrine, the Traveler, Paimon, and Ei report their experiences to Miko; together they summarize that Makoto understood eternity as a force which transcends the rules of time, hence Ei was able to plant the Sacred Sakura in the far distant past and into the people's consciousness such that they believe it has always stood atop Mount Yougou, as well as return to the present despite having dueled the Raiden Shogun for what seemed like half a millennium, even as Miko suspects the hand of an even higher power than the Archons. Ei, having learned a lot from her ordeal inside the realm, thanks the Traveler for coming to her side despite the odds, who in turn assures her that the recent events is a collective effort. Now that she knows what to do to create a better Inazuma, Ei swears to conduct extensive reforms on Inazuma, starting with abolishing the Sakoku Decree.

Should the Traveler linger on, they can ask Ei about where she is planning to lead Inazuma. She tells them that though abolishing the Sakoku Decree may create new problems, she hopes that challenge will breed opportunity. In the meantime, she will coordinate with the Tenryou and Yashiro Commissions to deal with the damage to the Sacred Sakura, while she will be on the lookout for whatever might escape from its boughs. And on a more personal note, she admits to having greatly suffered during her duel with the Raiden Shogun, and that she has now come to realize that Makoto saw her dealings with the people not so much as a duty as much as a source of joy.

Dracaena Somnolenta (Kokomi)

Act I: Warriors' Dreams Like Spring Grass Renewing

Released: v2.1 "Floating World Under the Moonlight" (September 1, 2021)
Prerequisite Quests: "Omnipresence Over Mortals" (Archon Chapter II, Act III); "Reflections of Mortality" (Imperatrix Umbrosa [Ei/Beelzebul and the Raiden Shogun] Story, Act I)

Watatsumi Sightseeing

With the end of the war with the Shogunate and the repeal of the Vision Hunt Decree, Kokomi has sent the Traveler an invitation to Watatsumi's Victory Feast. At the southeastern corner of the island, the duo meet Gorou, who alerts them to a recent sighting of a ship of Fatui stragglers. The Traveler helps him engage some stragglers as a distraction while Gorou and his men destroy the ship.

Afterwards, Gorou shows the Traveler and Paimon a hefty tome of Kokomi's strategies, to Paimon's surprise, before filling them in on the situation in Watatsumi, namely that its military is being restructured to help rebuild life on the island. He also informs them that Kokomi is at Bourou Village settling some troubles therein, even as he confides that lately some of his soldiers have been secretive to him. En route, the Traveler encounters Watatsumi soldiers with varying reactions to the abrupt end of hostilities with the Shogunate, ranging between relief at the end of the conflict, concern over the potential whiplash, and displeasure at the anticlimactic outcome as well as Kokomi's eagerness to engage in peace talks with the Tenryou Commission, which they speculate are still colluding with the Fatui, with the Traveler noticing that the latter group are also hiding something from them.

At Bourou, the Traveler and Paimon find Kokomi intervening on an attempted arrest of Naruse, a merchant affiliated with the Tenryou Commission suspected of supplying goods to them through making several purchases without selling a thing, who claims he is restocking after he lost his wares in a Fatui ambush. Noting Naruse's affiliations, Kokomi reveals that she is scheduled to conduct peace talks with his Commission, represented by Kujou Sara, at a neutral location arranged by the Kamisato Clan; while she doubts the veracity of rumors of the Commission colluding anew with the Fatui, given the efforts of Kamaji, Sara's younger brother and interim Tenryou Commissioner, at reform and atonement for his father Takayuki's crimes, she is not taking any chances, and so asks the Traveler to join her investigation on a nearby Fatui camp.

Rumors Abound

After ambushing the Fatui, the Traveler, Paimon, and Kokomi find Naruse's stolen goods alongside expired Fatui rations, bomb-making materials, and stolen paraphernalia from the Sangonomiya Shrine. Upon returning to Bourou, Kokomi clears Naruse of conspiracy, though she also charges him with stockpiling his wares until he can sell them for higher prices, then tasks his arresting officers with managing the redistribution of the remaining loot while she takes back the stolen shrine paraphernalia; in return, the officers ask Kokomi to keep her guard up during the negotiations, in light of the aforementioned rumors.

Afterwards, Kokomi invites the Traveler and Paimon on a tour across Watatsumi, leading them to the ruins of Mouun Shrine behind the Sangonomiya Shrine, which she explains used to be dedicated to the Raiden Shogun until it was abandoned amidst soured relations with the Shogunate after she slew Orobashi centuries ago. The trio descend back to Bourou, where Kokomi encounters villagers with various concerns, ranging between debating which stance she should take in negotiations to asking her to look after newly-appointed shrine maidens to presenting her with reports on the agricultural and textile industries. Overwhelmed, Kokomi parts ways with the Traveler, promising to meet them tomorrow at the Sangonomiya Shrine.

Her Secret

The following day, however, the Kokomi fails to show up. At the suggestion of a shrine guard, the Traveler and Paimon seek her next to a purple tree to the south. There, they find Kokomi sleeping in her private study inside a nearby cave; upon waking up, she apologizes to them for making them worry, admitting that she is not cut to be a leader, and that she would rather be a mere advisor but for her bloodline foisting onto her the position of Divine Priestess and de facto ruler of Watatsumi. To help regain her "energy levels," as she puts it, she has the Traveler read her books to psyche herself back up. In order, the Traveler brings Kokomi letters of petition; next, a logbook of fluctuations in Kokomi's "energy levels," of which the Traveler's return ranks as the highest gain, much to her embarrassment; and a book on military strategy that only puts her to sleep. After a short while, Kokomi wakes up, remembering that she still has the Victory Feast to attend.

Victory Banquet

The following night, the Victory Feast is celebrated on a beach west of Bourou, where, after announcing her intention to negotiate with the Tenryou Commission, Kokomi tells the Traveler that the people's euphoria over the end of hostilities can loosen them enough to express their true feelings, and asks them to survey the islanders. While most, soldiers and civilians alike, are content that peace has been restored, they notice one soldier, Kouzen, on an alcohol-fueled rant over the outcome. Even after the Traveler subdues him, Kouzen lets slip that the rumor about the Tenryou Commission colluding anew with the Fatui was a hoax, an excuse for war hawks like himself to continue fighting against Kokomi's will, simply because he, who saw many a friend die in battle, cannot countenance how all their sacrifices led to an abrupt, uneasy peace. The duo report back to Kokomi, who has anticipated that some war hawks may have already infiltrated the security detail sent in advance to the negotiations site. To counter this without creating more havoc, Kokomi devises a counter-strategy, asking the Traveler to meet her again at the beach some time later.

New Beginnings

After a few days, Kokomi presents the Traveler and Paimon papers detailing all possible outcomes to the negotiations before heading eastward to the venue, a small island southwest of Tatarasuna, where Kokomi and Sara discuss such matters as allowing the Shogunate to impose taxes on Watatsumi fishermen on its waters in exchange for the Tenryou Commission's protection, establishing trade connections through the Yashiro Commission, and integrating the Sangonomiya Resistance into the Tenryou Commission.

The latter point, however, causes the war hawks among Kokomi's guards to snap and create a tense standoff between both sides. To defuse the situation, Kokomi orders her men to stand down, and demands of Sara an explanation. The latter turns to a pair of her soldiers, Motosuke and Sue Yoshitaka, who were suspiciously calm through it all, who admit to having been approached by some Fatui with an offer of cooperation to restart the war, much to Sara's displeasure, moreso when they also reveal that said Fatui are stragglers out to avenge the death of Signora. She sternly warns them against any future rapproachment with the Fatui, reminding them of their crimes against Inazuma, and vows to hunt down every last straggler, then apologizes to Kokomi for her complacency and accedes to her declining to transfer her soldiers under Tenryou command until its corrupt elements have been completely rooted out. The crisis averted, the day's negotiations end with Kokomi suggesting Sara to wait for Fatui saboteurs within her Commission to also grow complacent enough to approach her so she can entrap them, which the latter takes to heart.

Back at Watatsumi, Kokomi confronts the war hawks, revealing that she is aware of their hoax; still, she chides them that, even if there is some accidental truth to it, that is still no excuse for them to sate their vendetta, and that in their pursuit of glory in war they failed to consider others who only saw the horrors. Instead of punishing them, however, Kokomi, taking some responsibility for failing to help them adjust to peacetime, assigns them to a secret corps so they can have a healthy outlet for their aggression and continue protecting Watatsumi from war hawks within the Shogunate, threatening to punish them for real should they try to deceive her anew. The soldiers, grateful for her mercy, accept her offer.

Returning to her hideout, Kokomi thanks the Traveler for helping resolve the crisis, which also helped restore her energy levels, so to speak, even as she admits to having trouble dealing with crowds, and contemplates sending Gorou in her stead in future negotiations. Still, she vows to improve herself to be able to better serve the people of Watatsumi, while asking the Traveler to keep her company and help with her growth as leader.

Taurus Iracundus (Itto)

Act I: Rise Up, Golden Soul

Released: v2.3 "Shadows Amidst Snowstorms" (November 24, 2021)
Minimum Adventure Rank: 40
Prerequisite Quests: "Omnipresence Over Mortals" (Archon Quest Chapter II, Act III); "Warriors' Dreams Like Spring Grass Renewing" (Dracaena Somnolenta [Kokomi] Story Quest, Act I)

The Oni's Evil

At the Inazuma Adventurers' Guild, Katheryne alerts the Traveler and Paimon to an emergency commission issued by the Tenryou Commission, requesting for assistance in the arrest of Arataki Itto, the oni leader of a gang of delinquents, who has been recently connected to a string of thefts and kidnappings, with the escalation neccesitated by the fact that he is also a Vision holder. Katheryne then suggests that the Traveler ask around the cityfolk for his whereabouts.

Despite failing to obtain such information, the duo nevertheless learn much about Itto from the cityfolk—based on the description of Furuya Noboru and Ogura Mio, Itto is a hotheaded layabout who spends his days getting into street brawls and playing with the local children, while according to Tenryou doushin Uesugi, Itto once admitted to a series of thefts and may have held a deep grudge against the Tenryou Commission after he fell victim to the Vision Hunt Decree.

The duo then turn to Bantan Sango. Before she fills them in on what she knew about Itto, she first recalls a fairy tale about a pair of oni friends, the crimson one friendly beneath his brutish façade, the blue one reclusive; to help the former befriend humans, the latter volunteered to attack them so the former can come in and save the day, allowing the crimson oni to integrate to human society, albeit at the cost of the blue oni leaving on a journey. Sango tells the Traveler that certain interpretations of the story suggest that Itto might be a descendant of the crimson oni, while the blue oni's descendants are likely extinct, and that Itto's recent behavior might be a sign of relapse into volatility inherent in onis. Finally, Sango tells them that, based on her investigations, Itto might have sought refuge in Yashiori; as it is under Sangonomiya jurisdiction, the Tenryou Commission is unwilling to enter there lest they risk renewed tension, hence the need to hire outsiders. Finally, Sango sends them off with a bag of beans, to which onis are allergic.

The Oni's Justice

Along the path south of Serpent's Head in Yashiori, the Traveler uses Elemental Sight to trace Itto's whereabouts, eventually finding him near the docks to the northwest, to whom they throw the bag of beans Sango gave them, triggering an allergic reaction. Once he recovered, the Traveler interrogates Itto to verify the charges leveled against him. The oni does not deny them, bragging that he and the Arataki Gang need all the provisions, as well as Mora from ransoms, even as the Traveler begins to see some holes in his reasoning, before stressing that he is not going without a fight.

Before the situation escalated, the three are approached by the two people he apparently kidnapped, Granny Oni and little Daisuke, the latter whom invites Itto to a beetle fighting match. Itto then forces the Traveler and Paimon to pretend to be his friends, then sends them off on the pretext that he is finding an Onikabuto for the game. Itto explains that the former raised him since childhood, while the latter looks up to him as an uncle figure, and that they voluntarily joined his escape given that, as his acquaintances, they would have been surely persons of interest with the Tenryou Commission. Itto then promises the Traveler that he would peacefully turn himself in should they win their duel, but not before playing with Daisuke. Thus, he invites the duo to find an Onikabuto, a species of beetle which thrives in environments rich in Electro energy; along the way, the Traveler and Paimon begin to learn about beetle fighting, in the process developing an unusual bond with the delinquent. Eventually the trio return to Daisuke and Granny Oni with their Onikabutos of choice. While Itto loses his seventh straight match to Daisuke, the Traveler, a newcomer, easily wins theirs. The Traveler then gives their Onikabuto to Daisuke as a parting gift before they and Itto resume their business.

At Granny Oni's urging, Itto tells the truth to the Traveler and Paimon that the fairy tale of the two onis Sango told them earlier was loosely based on historical fact: all onis are of a single race, whose horn colors were painted on to signify their attitude towards humans, with the "crimson" oni, such as Itto, preferring harmonious coexistence and voluntary submission to the Raiden Shogun, while the "blue" oni choose to continue their race's proud tradition of rugged isolationism. To settle the impasse, the leaders of both factions swore an oath where the blue oni will play villainous roles so the crimson oni can easily integrate into society, albeit on the condition that they exercise restraint over their volatile emotions and use their strength merely to win the respect of humans who otherwise fear onis as brutes. Over the centuries, blue onis dwindled in numbers such that people assumed they went extinct, until one day Itto received news from his underlings that they saw an oni with different horn colors at the scene of a kairagi attack; unwilling to accept that a kin would just cast aside their principles, and suspecting they may have been coerced into a life of crime, Itto took the blame and then resisted arrest so he could buy time to find the oni before the Tenryou Commission does; furthermore, Daisuke's parents were kidnapped by the kairagi, and he is helping the boy find them. Sympathizing with Itto's cause, the Traveler agrees to help him find the oni, starting with asking one of his contacts within the Sangonomiya Resistance who has also seen the oni.

The Oni's Pride

At Fort Fujitou, the Traveler, Paimon, and Itto meet the aforementioned contact, Masato, who while transporting goods was nearly killed by a violent group of kairagi but for the intervention of an oni who was with them; furthermore, based on their movements, Masato suspects that the band operates from Tatarasuna, encouraging Itto to start their search at Nazuchi Beach.

There, they encounter their person of interest, a blue oni named Takuya, who claims to have joined the kairagi out of resentment for the crimson oni seemingly forgetting the sacrifices of the blue oni. Despite Itto assuring him that he does remember, Takuya brushes him off as a nuisance to Inazuman society, and that by taking the blame for his crimes he risk further discrediting the oni. A group of Tenryou samurai led by Ishizaki arrive to arrest Itto, who decides to fight back while Takuya slips away. Before Itto gets overwhelmed, three of his underlings, Akira, Genta, and Mamoru, arrive to hold off the soldiers and buy Itto time to chase after the blue oni.

At Tatarasuna, the Traveler, Paimon, and Itto find footsteps belonging not just to Takuya, but also presumably the other kairagi. After defeating several along the way, the trio find their hideout at the south. Inside, after defeating more kairagi, they free all the hostages, including Daisuke's parents, Misuzu and Sugimoto, who reveal that Takuya has been protecting them from the kairagi as well as secretly bringing them food and water.

In the depths of the hideout, the trio run into Nogata, leader of Takuya's band, who threatens them that he has set up the hideout to collapse by tearing apart a paper charm in his possession. Before he can tear it, Takuya snatches it from him, warning him that he is betraying their agreement, before Itto sneaks from behind and knocks Nogata unconscious. Takuya, however, threatens Itto to keep his distance, intending to sacrifice himself to destroy the kairagi hideout by tearing the charm by himself as atonement for disgracing their race. Once Ishizaki's troops arrive, Takuya announces that he is to blame for the kidnappings and vouches for Itto's innocence, only for Itto to interject and take responsibility. The two onis get into another argument, before Itto warns him that sacrificing himself, far from solving anything, will only bring more hardship to the remaining blue oni, so he proposes that both sides start anew.

However, as soon as Itto leaves with the Traveler, Paimon, and the Shogunate troops, Nogata recovers and tries to snatch the paper charm from Takuya. Amidst the tussle, they tear the paper charm in half, triggering explosions around the hideout. As Nogata gets crushed to death by the falling debris, Itto refuses to leave Takuya to die, and after ordering the others to retreat, he comes to recover Takuya, even breaking a boulder about to fall onto him.

Outside the hideout, Takuya wonders why Itto chose to save him in spite of his failings, to which the latter answers that, as a fellow oni, they ought to help each other out as his way of repaying the sacrifices the blue oni made to help the crimson oni integrate into society, and that Takuya is welcome to join his gang of social misfits. Ishizaki and the Tenryou troops arrive, having rounded up the remaining kairagi, to arrest Takuya for the string of thefts and kidnappings, as well as Itto for resisting arrest. After he and Takuya turn themselves in, Itto asks the Traveler to tell Granny Oni of the situation of the blue oni.

Back at Yashiori, the Traveler informs Granny Oni, joined by Daisuke and his parents, of the situation, who assures the boy that Itto will be back soon after he has served his time, noting that he has a heart of gold beneath his brash façade. After Daisuke and his parents leave, Granny Oni, who claims to have gotten her nickname from having adopted Itto, assures the Traveler that she will take care of the surviving blue oni, with Itto as a helping hand once he is released.

Divina Vulpes (Miko)

Act I: The Great Narukami Offering

Released: v2.5 "When the Sakura Bloom" (February 16, 2022)
Minimum Adventure Rank: 40
Prerequisite Quests: "Omnipresence Over Mortals" (Archon Quest Chapter II, Act III); "Transient Dreams" (Imperatrix Umbrosa [Ei/Beelzebul and the Raiden Shogun] Story Quest, Act II)

Mysterious Urban Legend

While strolling in Hanamizaka, Paimon invites the Traveler to visit the Yae Publishing House, along the way overhearing passersby discussing incantations that can grant wishes. There, they find Junkichi trying one such incantation to get rid of another bout of writer's block, with Shigeru going along despite his skepticism; the former tells the duo that he learned of the incantation from a light novel titled A Firsthand Guide to Summoning Spirits, which rapidly became a bestseller despite being self-published, while the latter tries to warn him in vain about cases of strange behavior among some people who tried the incantations, whose veracity Paimon suggests the Traveler to inquire of Miko.

At the Grand Narukami Shrine, the duo find Miko being implored by Katou Youhei, an aspiring swordmaster from Konda Village, to help his older brother Shingo, who he believes may have been possesed for five days straight after winning a match against a top practitioner of the Meikyou Shisui school, partly as part of their plan to achieve their dream of opening their own dojo, but also to spite its master Domon for rejecting his application. Miko delegates the exorcism to the Traveler, assuring a skeptical Youhei that they, too, are an expert in the supernatural, as well as informing the Traveler that she wouldn't have given them such a job if she didn't knew that they have come for an urgent matter, even as Paimon notes Miko's seeming apathy.

The Traveler, Paimon, Miko, and Youhei reach Konda Village, only to fail to find Shingo, who the latter claims has lately taken to meditating underneath a tree and talking to himself. Miko then has Youhei search for his brother, as well as gather salt to be used for exorcism, while she invites the Traveler and Paimon to ask the villagers about the brothers. They are informed that, for all their talk of opening a dojo, Youhei and Shingo, orphaned since childhood, are little more than layabouts who bounce from one idea to the next without so much an ounce of dedication, that Shingo was briefly a student of Domon before he was expelled for lack of work ethic, and that instead of training hard to defeat Domon's top disciple, he spent most of his days sulking; Miko's attention was caught, however, by the account that Shingo seemed like a different person during and after that fateful duel, from his more graceful swordsmanship to his increased strength to his sudden aversion for tofu.

Afterwards, Youhei returns to inform the Traveler, Paimon, and Miko that he has found Shingo meditating underneath a nearby waterfall. There, the four find him talking as though there there was something possessing him, urging him to keep meditating even as he complains that he is freezing to death, before standing up to confront them. Realizing that Youhei is hiding something from her, Miko chides him for having not acted sooner and threatens to leave him and his brother to die, forcing Youhei to confess that he and his brother used an incantation from the Firsthand Guide to enhance Shingo's swordsmanship, and that despite his increasingly erratic behavior, Youhei refused to have him exorcised lest he lose his skills before they can set up a dojo and pay off their debts, until his behavior became the subject of rumors that he dabbled in the occult. Miko warns him that Shingo's newfound skills are not his own but that of the spirit possessing him, before ordering the Traveler to throw salt on Shingo, forcing the spirit of the ancient oni samurai Arakawa Kouji out of Shingo's body and into Youhei, who also partook of the ritual to summon him.

After the Traveler defeats the possessed Youhei, Kouji disappears, contented at having met his match. Afterwards, both brothers regain consciousness, with Shingo being vaguely aware of the events following Kouji's summoning and Youhei expressing regret over having done so. then lectures them on the dangers of summoning spirits before letting them go to recover. When Paimon asks them why she seemed so reluctant, Miko replies that their case was not that severe, and that she was teaching them a lesson on hard work; furthermore, far from being an evil spirit, Kouji was merely looking for a good fight, and that the Katou brothers are so weak he would be forced out of them before long.

Paimon then reminds Miko that she and the Traveler came to her to consult on the Firsthand Guide, only for her to dismiss their concerns about its effects on the people who are trying it out. Just then, Kuroda chases after Miko and alerts her that sales of the Yae Publishing House's books sharply fell behind that of the Firsthand Guide, which catches Miko's attention, who then leaves to prepare to declare war on the book, much to the Traveler and Paimon's confusion.

Friendship in Writing

At the Yae Publishing House, Miko rejects Paimon's proposal to write a negative review of the Firsthand Guide, lest it generate an opposite reaction from the people; having read the book herself, Miko concludes that apart from the incantations, she attributes its success to the writing style of its kaidan, or tales of the supernatural, so she instead proposes to counter with a kaidan of their own, starting with asking the Traveler to visit an ongoing writers' submission event and gauge current literary trends, before meeting her at Uyuu Restaurant. Outside the Publishing House, the Traveler learns from readers that the current trends for popular light novels include big fantasy worlds, high concepts, good storytelling, beautiful illustrations, and action.

Afterwards, the Traveler and Paimon report back to Miko at Uyuu Restaurant, where she introduces them to Junkichi and Shigeru, as well as Satomi, a rising in-house author, to work as a team. At Miko's encouragement, the Traveler draws inspiration from their past adventures in Mondstadt, Liyue, and then Inazuma, albeit with some artistic license meant to engage the audience, respectively edited by Junkichi, Satomi, and Miko herself, who in addition will incorporate incantations loosely based on those used by Narukami shrine maidens, hire a famous illustrator, and ask Kuroda to get "Miss Hina," an anonymous but popular columnist for the Publishing House's That's Life monthly magazine, to promote the work. After a few days, the team completes the manuscript, titled The Miraculous Adventures of the Traveler, which is then submitted to Nakano Shino, the event host, who then tells the Traveler to wait for three days before the sales reports come in.

After three days, Shino happily informs the Traveler that the Miraculous Adventures is a rousing success, having even won first place among the submissions; to assure them that the endeavor is worthwhile, Miko encourages the Traveler and Paimon to eavesdrop on the cityfolk, who now talk of the incantations within the Miraculous Adventures being more potent than those from the Firsthand Guide, with some claiming the incantations from the former are able to cure some of the ill effects from using those from the latter, even as Paimon is baffled to learn that some of the readers talk about conducting the "Secret Spells of the Lady Kitsune" on a moonless night, something that never came up during the brainstorming process, to which Miko promises her that this will soon come into play. In the meantime, Miko informs them that she has identified the author of the Firsthand Guide as Tomoyuki, a failed novelist, who claims to have no recollection that he ever wrote it, leading her to suspect that he, too, was possessed. As the spirit has long left Tomoyuki, Miko proposes using an incantation from the Firsthand Guide to summon it anew.

A Centuries-Long Dream

On a beach east of Inazuma City, the Traveler, Paimon, and Miko discover an abandoned shaft which the latter believes can better facilitate an audience with the spirit. Inside, they find a mural of a nighttime landscape, then a stool in front of a large, cloudy wall mirror in another room. Upon lighting four devices with Electro energy and using a series of lifts to bring them to the mirror room, the mural rotates to face the room. Miko explains that the mural, which depicts Inazuma from a bygone age, facilitates a faster summoning, and when it is reflected on the mirror, spirits will be stirred to life, before asking the Traveler to sit on the stool and serve as medium. Paimon is shocked to see the reflected mural seemingly moving as Miko encourages the Traveler to invoke the spirit by reciting the incantation and simulating the feeling of having writer's block.

After a short while, an ominous aura emerges from the mirror and possesses the Traveler, who Paimon recognizes as the spirit that possessed Tomoyuki. In turn, he taunts the two that he will use the Traveler's body to summon all the souls of the youkai from the dead and wreak havoc across Inazuma, only for Miko to laugh along with him, recognizing the spirit as Urakusai, another kitsune and an old friend and literary rival of hers; in turn, he compliments Miko for seeing through his little game and then teases Paimon for being scared. Miko informs Paimon that youkai such as Urakusai are able to continue to manifest long after their physical bodies have died, and he in particular was roused from slumber during recent incidents of rifthounds gnawing on the roots of the Sacred Sakura.

Urakusai recalls that, while wandering the Sacred Sakura, he chanced upon Tomoyuki begging for help with his writing and possessed him so he could write the Firsthand Guide, with which he will help his fellow youkai enjoy life one last time before moving on. He assures Paimon that he means no evil with the possessions, having come to admire the ability of humans to shape their fates, even as he considers such cases as that of the Katou brothers a warning for them not to take shortcuts in life, a point Miko agrees with. He then concedes defeat to Miko, who he last saw as a child long ago, upon seeing that she wrote a book that incorporated more potent incantations than his.

Knowing that he is not long for the world of the living, Urakusai informs Miko that his fellow deceased youkai are clamoring for the next "Hyakkiyakou," which Miko informs him is just a few nights away. When asked of her wellbeing, Miko tells Urakusai that not only is she doing well, but that she has made new friends in the form of the Traveler and Paimon, and even Ei herself has begun to open up, assuring him that he would have fitted right into modern Inazuma were he still alive. Assured that all is well, Urakusai lets out one last hearty laugh before leaving the Traveler's body. Afterwards, the Traveler wakes up, having a clear recollection of the conversation, who Miko asks to help with preparations for the Hyakkiyakou as well as bribes Paimon with monetary compensation after she has been scared from all that has happened.

Banquet of Parting

Back at the Grand Narukami Shrine, Miko explains to the Traveler and Paimon that the Hyakkiyakou is a banquet of youkai that ends with them flying in great numbers such that they block out the moon, hence the "moonless night" mentioned in the Miraculous Adventures, with her helping with the ascent of youkai too weak to fly on their own; furthermore, she reveals that the "Secret Spells of Lady Kitsune" were not so much meant for granting wishes as much as calming the spirits within the Ley Lines. She then orders the Traveler to ask the other shrine maidens to evacuate Mount Yougou to avoid accidental possessions, as well as guard the mountain against intruders that may get attracted to the energy welling up, such as hilichurls, slimes, and kairagi. By nightfall, having secured the perimeter of Mount Yougou, the Traveler and Paimon climb back up to join Miko.

True to her word, the spirits of the youkai congregate in mass numbers so as to block the moon; as Miko begins a ceremonial dance, she reassures Paimon that for all their boisterousness, the youkai are good and brave souls who never lost their zest for life even after many of them died defending Inazuma during the Cataclysm. At the wave of her gohei, or ceremonial wand, the Shrine emits a column of light that guides the youkai to the afterlife, before she encourages the Traveler and Paimon to recite the "Secret Spells of Lady Kitsune," with the people of Inazuma, unaware of the Spells' true nature, following suit, even as an uncharacteristically melancholy Miko confesses to Urakusai that she cannot help but feel a little lonely now that he and their fellow youkai are going for good. Afterwards, Paimon wonders if Miko is alright, who then assures them that she is, before asking them to treat her to a meal at Uyuu Restaurant the following day.

Outside the Restaurant, the Traveler overhears cityfolk starting to move on from the incantations-in-light-novels fad following the seeming anticlimax of last night's events, even as they continue to be fascinated with the Miraculous Adventures. Inside, the Traveler and Paimon find Miko having a feast to herself, before telling them that they are footing the bill, jokingly assuring them that their novel's sales are still more than enough to cover her expenses, causing Paimon to whine that she was merely leeching off of them. As no wishes were granted last night, Miko tells them that incantations are no longer in vogue, but not the Miraculous Adventures of the Traveler, the next issue of which she expects the Traveler to finish soon.

Cypressus Custos (Ayato)

Act I: The Firmiana Leaf Falls

Released: v2.6 "Zephyr of the Violet Garden" (March 30, 2022)
Minimum Adventure Rank: 40
Prerequisite Quests: "Omnipresence Over Mortals" (Archon Quest Chapter II, Act III); "Reflections of Mortality" (Imperatrix Umbrosa [Ei/Beelzebul and the Raiden Shogun] Story Quest, Act I); "Chisato's Letter" (World Quest)

New Shoots from Old Branches

At the Tenryou Commercial District of Inazuma City, the Traveler and Paimon meet Ippei and Shinnojou at Ogura Textiles & Kimonos, who ran into each other while on errands purchasing formal clothing for their respective lords, Kujou Kamaji and Hiiragi Chisato; Ippei presumes this may relate to rumors of the imminent wedding between the respective interim Tenryou and Kanjou Commissioners, to some dismay and skepticism from Shinnojou, who holds an unrequited crush on the latter. To ease his mind, the Traveler and Paimon decide to verify the authenticity of the rumors to the Yashiro Commission, whose remit includes public celebrations such as marriage between prominent members of the Tri-Commission.

While Ippei and Shinnojou wait outside, the Traveler and Paimon enter the Kamisato Estate, where they find Thoma playing a game of shogi with another man who he introduces as Kamisato Ayato, older brother of Ayaka and head of the Yashiro Commission. After an exchange of greetings, Ayato confirms the rumors that Kamaji and Chisato are to be married soon; as Ayaka, who normally handles public ceremonies, is away on other matters, Ayato agreed to take her place and personally visit both groom- and bride-to-be as part of Tri-Commission etiquette. Outside, the Traveler and Paimon introduce Ayato to Ippei and Shinnojou, both of whom the Yashiro Commissioner advises to keep the matter a secret until a public declaration has been made, before he suggests that they first visit the Kujou Estate, with a crestfallen Shinnojou parting ways.

There, Kamaji reports to Ayato on the gradual stabilization of the Tenryou Commission, with the latter remarking on the improved public opinion on his Commission following his reforms. When asked for his opinion on the wedding, however, Ayato warns that in contrast to the Tenryou Commission's relative stability, the Kanjou Commission is still on shaky ground, what with its previous Commissioner, Chisato's father Shinsuke, having been imprisoned for his crimes such as collusion with the Fatui and deceiving the Raiden Shogun into enacting repressive laws; moreover, announcing the wedding in such a time will only breed rumors that could prove detrimental to either Commission in the long run. Though Kamaji shares such concerns, he nevertheless agreed to the immediate marriage, believing this may be their only opportunity to tie the knot after years of Shinsuke forbidding them from meeting and thus forcing them to communicate through letters, after he was apparently sent another letter from Chisato which raised the issue, who nevertheless acted confused when they later met in person, which he attributed to her being coy.

After the meeting, Ayato begins to suspect something shady about the whole affair, given that he knew Chisato to be nowhere near as coy as the letter suggested. Nevertheless, given the dearth of information, compounded with the fact that he had to tread carefully lest he invite a backlash, Ayato decides to pay Chisato a visit to ask for her opinion on the wedding.

In the Hiiragi Estate, the Traveler, Paimon, and Ayato find Kanjou personnel busy with preparations for the wedding, coordinated by Matsuura, a senior official, who informs the trio that she is attending to other guests, and offers them tea and snacks, which the Yashiro Commissioner respectfully declines. Instead, the trio descend to Ritou to buy dango milk from Tomoki, who happily informs the Traveler that he has received his business license following a glowing review from the Raiden Shogun herself, and whose stall is a favorite hangout of Ayato, with both men exchanging ideas for creative drink combinations.

After enjoying their snacks, Ayato invites the Traveler and Paimon to a secluded corner of Ritou, where he takes note of the suspicious enthusiasm of Matsuura with wedding preparations, in contrast to the melancholy atmosphere of the Kanjou Commission in the wake of Shinsuke's fall from grace, before summoning Hisashi, a ninja of the Shuumatsuban, to spy on Matsuura, as well as give his milk concoction for Thoma to test.

After Hisashi left, the trio are invited by by a Kanjou footsoldier to see Chisato, who admits to having some difficulties in spite of her anticipation for the wedding, though she trusts that Kamaji will support her through the crisis surrounding her Commission. Furthermore, she reveals that rather than guests, she was instead talking to Shinnojou, who burst into the Hiiragi Estate warning her not to marry Kamaji; given how uncharacteristic it was for an otherwise soft-spoken man like him, Chisato began to have second thoughts over the timing of the wedding, realizing that as the sole remaining representative of her Clan, being married off into the Kujou will cut off the Hiiragi from the Commission. Furthermore, Chisato confesses that she did not write the letter, and that she was genuinely taken aback at Kamaji presenting it to her when they met, thinking he, too, was being coy. As much as he supports her and Kamaji, Ayato advises Chisato to consider her marriage carefully, before excusing himself, the Traveler, and Paimon to give Chisato time to herself.

Outside Ritou, Paimon notices the differing reactions by Chisato and Kamaji over their upcoming marriage. Ayato begins to suspect that someone in the Kanjou Commission must have been pushing Chisato off into marriage and sent the misleading letter to Kamaji, noting how a lowly footsoldier like Shinnojou openly objected while senior officials like Matsuura saw little issue. That said, he admits the execution was more clever than the one the Takatsukasa Clan tried to unseat Kamaji, noting that even had the letter failed in its purpose to mislead Chisato into a hasty marriage, hence leaving a power vacuum that could be filled by any of the subordinate clans, it was designed to be as untraceable as possible.

Hisashi returns to report that Shinnojou has apparently been kidnapped, with the Yashiro Commissioner suspecting that the conspirators must have dealt with him accordingly, as well as eavesdropped on his, the Traveler, and Paimon's earlier conversation with Chisato, lest they compromise their ability to exploit Chisato's passivity. As openly objecting to the marriage risks backlash, Ayato settles on lulling the conspirators into exposing themselves, but first he, the Traveler, and Paimon must save Shinnojou.

The Truth Is Also a Lie

In a cave below southwestern Araumi, the Traveler, Paimon, and Ayato find Shinnojou detained by several of his comrades, who they defeat, though Ayato lets them escape so they can lure out their superior. Recognizing that the situation has great consequences for the entire Tri-Commission, Ayato decides to forego of his neutrality and put a stop to the power plays, before advising Shinnojou to hide somewhere safe until after the crisis has been resolved.

After Shinnojou has escaped, Matsuura arrives with his men to berate the Yashiro Commissioner for the violence, claiming he is merely punishing Shinnojou for violating Chisato's privacy, and allaying his concerns about the interim Kanjou Commissioner by claiming that she will still be a respected figure in the Commission even after being married off into the Kujou Clan. In turn, Ayato pities him for having gone so low as to resort to political games, and warns that he has a witness to his iniquities in the form of the Traveler and Paimon. Matsuura claps back by warning him of overstepping his bounds, accusing him of perceiving the union between both the Tenryou and Kanjou Commissions as a threat to his power, revealing that he has already posted official announcements of the wedding all over Narukami. Again, Ayato mocks Matsuura for being more foolish than he thinks he is, warning him that the marriage may bear such unintended consequences as the Kanjou Commission further diminishing in power, taking Matsuura aback, before he, the Traveler, and Paimon excuse themselves.

Back at the Kujou Estate, the trio inform Kamaji of the situation. As much as he and Chisato truly love each other, Kamaji nevertheless has also come to have second thoughts over marrying her amidst political turmoil within her Commission, even as he fears that it is too late to reconsider, what with Matsuura having made a public announcement. To help both him and Chisato get out of their dilemma, Ayato suggests a risky counterattack: having already planted suggestions in Matsuura's head that marrying Chisato off might only bring more harm than good for the Kanjou Commission, he suggests that Kamaji act as though he has been secretly undermining the Kanjou Commission to regain its power, and has been conspiring with Ayato to take Chisato away, hence forcing the rest of the Commission to come to value her as an asset to retain their autonomy, as well as retract their support for the wedding. With Matsuura no doubt having grown paranoid enough to send informants into Inazuma City, Ayato suggests to the Traveler and Paimon that they stalk one such informant identified by the Shuumatsuban, while he tells Kamaji what to do on his end.

The trio stalk the aformentioned informant, Hideo, who overhears cityfolk discussing Kamaji leading several Tenryou soldiers, presumably to Ritou to fetch Chisato, and later learning from soldiers posted outside Hanamizaka that they are securing the road to Ritou as Kamaji wanted Chisato to live in Inazuma City ahead of their wedding, which he interprets as confirmation of Matsuura's fear of power play on the part of the Tenryou Commission. After the informant left, Ayato assures the Traveler and Paimon that it is only a matter of time until Matsuura is forced to keel, suggesting that they visit the Hiiragi Estate in a few days.

The Wind Settles

After a couple days, the Traveler and Paimon find Ritou in a state of confusion over the presence of dozens of Tenryou soldiers ostensibly sent as Chisato's escort, with cityfolk claiming that the Kanjou Commission has suddenly reversed their support for the marriage. While both Commissions are locked in a stalemate, the duo visit Chisato to put her up to speed on the situation, but not before the Traveler made sure no one is eavesdropping, with the latter admitting to still having mixed feelings on the whole affair. A frantic Matsuura barges in and accuses the Traveler of taking Chisato away; to his shock, Chisato takes umbrage at the insult to her friends, having already learned of his plot, and demands of him an explanation. After briefly convening with his allies, during which the Traveler and Paimon compliment Chisato for finally finding her voice of authority, a contrite Matsuura apologizes to the interim Kanjou Commissioner for his duplicity, with the Traveler demanding that he also apologize to Ayato and convince him to intercede with Kamaji on behalf of the Kanjou Commission.

At the Kamisato Estate, Matsuura, escorted by the Traveler, Paimon, and Chisato, beseeches Ayato to convince Kamaji to withdraw his soldiers in Ritou and halt the wedding. The Yashiro Commissioner, however, warns that such an action will impinge on the Tri-Commission's standing, both in the eyes of the public and the Raiden Shogun, forcing Matsuura and the rest of the Kanjou Commission to take responsibility and explain away the news of the imminent marriage as a great misunderstanding, with Ayato assuring him that he will intercede with Kamaji on his behalf, even as he warns him that there could have been fatal consequences had the affair went on for too long.

After Matsuura left to begin work with calming the situation in Ritou by declaring the wedding delayed until further notice, Ayato defuses the tense atmosphere by sharing a personal story: as a youth, he inherited the position of Yashiro Commissioner after his and Ayaka's father died from overwork trying to rehabilitate the Kamisato Clan's standing with the Shogun following a series of grave errors that tarnished their name long ago, with their mother Kayo following suit shortly thereafter, and even then he had to weather years of intrigue and coup attempts before he could stabilize both Clan and Commission, a situation Paimon compares to that of the Kanjou Commission in the present. Chisato realizes that the reason she was confused over the whole affair is because she was yet to be tested; understanding that Kamaji's confidence in their married life stemmed from the courage he mustered when he challenged the Raiden Shogun to a duel to earn her blessing to be appointed interim Tenryou Commissioner, Chisato now resolves to learn to stand up for herself and be more assertive as interim Kanjou Commissioner.

After Chisato left, Ayato notes that, for all its seeming complexity, Matsuura's plot is ultimately easy to unravel, as well as admits to Paimon that his actions were just as much for the sake of the Tri-Commission's stability as it was for Chisato—on one hand, he seeks equilibrium between the three Commissions as well as between their component clans; on the other, he is also helping Chisato grow into her new role. As the Traveler and Paimon leave, Ayato promises to host them anew once Ayaka is available again; afterwards, Thoma comes to talk with him about the matter of Chisato and Kamaji's premature wedding, even as he also takes note of the strange milk Ayato made.

Acer Palmatum (Kazuha)

Act I: A Strange and Friendless Road

Released: v2.8 "Summer Fantasia" (July 13, 2022)
Minimum Adventure Rank: 40
Prerequisite Quests: "Omnipresence Over Mortals" (Archon Quest Chapter II, Act III); "Reflections of Mortality" (Imperatrix Umbrosa [Ei/Beelzebul and the Raiden Shogun] Story Quest, Act I)

Upon the Plain, a Purple Shadow

At Byakko Plain, the Traveler and Paimon are waylaid by a swordsman; upon being defeated, he relents when he realizes that the Traveler has no Vision, having briefly mistaken them for Kazuha, before leaving them be. As the Traveler and Paimon process the strange encounter, the former suspects that he may have a connection to Kazuha, given similarities in their swordsmanship. With the Crux Fleet currently anchored in Ritou for replenishing supplies, the duo decide to pay them a visit and alert Kazuha of the attack.

At Ritou, Chao, deckhand of the Alcor, tells the Traveler and Paimon of Kazuha's newfound fame among Inazumans, in particular for having been one of the few known individuals to not only survive the Raiden Shogun's Musou no Hitotachi technique, but for also parrying it. Furthermore, Chao notes that Kazuha has an audience with the Tenryou Commission, which had a far friendlier tone compared to before, spurring the duo to visit him at Inazuma City.

In the Kujou Estate, the Traveler and Paimon find Kazuha conversing with Kamaji, who extends his goodwill to the latter on behalf of the Shogunate for his help with ending the tyrannical conspiracy between the Fatui and corrupt elements within the Tri-Commission. Furthermore, Kamaji informs the duo that he has summoned Kazuha to tell him of the rehabilitation of the Kaedara Clan as part of the Tri-Commission's reforms, a century after they, once part of a group of bladesmiths handpicked by the Raiden Shogun to help develop Inazuman swordsmanship, were disgraced alongside the Kamisato when several smiths revolted and fled to Snezhnaya in a coup only recently discovered to have been orchestrated by the Fatui.

Sensing that Kazuha is hesitant to accept the gesture of goodwill lest he be tied down to Inazuma City due to having grown accustomed to wandering Teyvat, Kamaji urges him to accept it to help quell rumors that he used a Delusion when he deflected the Musou no Hitotachi. Kazuha asks for time to consider the offer, but not before entertaining the Traveler and Paimon, who alert him to the earlier attack. Concerned that someone with identical swordsmanship as he has attacked his friends, and fearing he may attack more innocen people, Kazuha decides prioritize finding the assailant.

Through the Mist, a Name Unveiled

Optional Prerequisite: "Hues of the Violet Garden" (limited-time event)

The Traveler, Paimon, and Kazuha begin their investigation by visiting the Bantan Sango Private Agency. To their dismay, Ryuuji admits that he has litle information to go by on the assault, though he notes that recently a couple people disappeared around the time of the first attacks: Nagato, a collector of curiosities, and Amenoma Yuuya, scion of a famed samurai clan and nephew of Tougo, proprietor of the Amenoma Smithy in Hanamizaka. As Yuuya is himself a capable swordsman, Kazuha suspects that he may be the assailant, though he, the Traveler, and Paimon decide to further investigate the matter.

At the Smithy, the trio meet Tougo, who recognizes Kazuha as a scion of a clan that, alongside his Amenoma Clan, were once part of the Raiden Gokaden, a group of five swordsmithing families that went into decline a hundred years ago until only the Amenoma were left; if the Traveler participated in the Irodori Festival, they will remember Ayato's revelation that the Raiden Gokaden was sabotaged by the Fatui, Scaramouche in particular. Kazuha informs him of his search for Yuuya, which he believes may also be connected to Nagato. According to Tougo, a few days ago his nephew promised an exquisite gift to him; however, on the day he was supposed to pick up the gift from Nagato, the warehouse where it was stored caught fire and both men disappeared. Moreover, Tougo is incredulous to Kazuha's suspicions that Yuuya may be the man who attacked the Traveler and Paimon, having known him as a humble man who is not so much interested in forging blades as much as testing them, though given his erratic actions as of late, he allows the trio to continue investigating, with Kazuha suggesting they also visit Nagato's home in a corner of the Tenryou Commercial District.

There, the trio find his wife Sachiko. After briefly mistaking them for debt collectors, she tells them that her husband is an avid collector whose obsession slowly ruined their family's finances until he had to resort to borrowing money, more so after he began collecting swords which he refused to sell and which he spent days staring at, as though he were on a trance; moreover, on the day he disappeared, she threatened to divorce him and take their children away, seemingly causing him to come to his senses and decide to sell his belongings, only for the warehouse to catch fire, even as she disproves Kazuha's suspicions that Nagato may have had an argument with her and Yuuya, claiming he is a soft-spoken man who never haggled for prices. Kazuha begins to suspect something strange about their case, and in a corner of the house he, the Traveler, and Paimon theorize that the abortive sales meeting may have been the catalyst for their disappearance, though they also agree that they are still missing crucial information; while Nagato, being heavily in debt, may have good reason to burn the warehouse and hide from collectors, Yuuya is a stranger case, given that the Amenoma Art specialized in blade-testing compared to the combat-oriented Isshin Art, of which Kazuha and the Kamisato siblings specialize, spurring them to continue investigating.

Using his innate ability to sense the flow of the wind, Kazuha finds the warehouse underneath a trapdoor on the outskirts of Hanamizaka, now caved in following the fire, where he detects traces of Tatarigami; as the miasma was known to exacerbate the obsessions of its victims, Kazuha theorizes that it may have influenced Nagato's hoarding tendencies. Nearby, the trio find hilichurls also affected by the miasma. After defeating them, Kazuha finds a red piece of fabric with writing by Nagato, claiming that Yuuya attacked him, burnt the warehouse, and made off with the blade despite the fact that it is already being sold to him, as well as expressing his regret over his hoarding and apologizing to Sachiko as well as their young sons Yuuichi and Yuuji. With Kazuha suspecting that Nagato may have already ran afoul of the hilichurls, he fears that Yuuya, too, may have been affected by the Tatarigami by exacerbating his need to test blades, and resolves to stop him before more innocents are put to harm.

Again using Kazuha's affinity to the winds, the trio make their way to an uninhabited island southwest of Narukami, where they find Yuuya with the stolen blade, which Kazuha notes was brimming with Tatarigami. The spirit of the blade reveals that he was the prized creation of a former Isshin swordmaster who fled for Snezhnaya after running afoul of the Raiden Shogun a hundred years ago; following his creator's death, the blade, taking advantage of the fact that most people are incredulous to the idea of a sentient weapon, influenced countless people into bringing him back to Inazuma to fulfill his goal of fighting the Shogun and prove the might of the Isshin Art, uncaring for the fate of his hosts, who he abandons whenever they are wounded, tired, or dead, until he reached Nagato's warehouse, where he waited for years until the blade was sold to Yuuya; having heard of Kazuha's feat of defying the Shogun, he then spurred Yuuya to find Kazuha, defeat him, and then use his body.

Despite being defeated, the cursed blade threatens to kill Yuuya's body, even as Kazuha continues to call his bluff, noting that, as the Isshin Art reflects its practitioner's emotions, he sensed the feelings of arrogance and despair in the spirit of the blade over the fact that he has grown so weak he can no longer tap into his full potential without a human host; furthermore, the spirit is driven by little more than an obsession with fulfilling his creator's wish to prove the might of the Isshin Art, which he has ironically trampled upon by his lack of concern for his hosts. Seeing that the spirit is undeterred, Kazuha strikes a deal with him, where he will allow him to temporarily possess him and test his worth in actual combat, on the condition that he shall be brought to Tenshukaku if he passes the test, or release Yuuya otherwise. Kazuha allays the Traveler and Paimon's fears by noting that he senses a hesitation from the spirit, whose obsession is exacerbated by the Tatarigami, and as a man free of obsessions he is immune to its effects. At Paimon's suggestion, Kazuha decides to test the blade's power on the Takatsukasa Clan's abandoned secret base on the eastern slope of Mount Yougou, now apparently overrun with kairagi, with Yuuya trailing behind the trio.

Ere the End, a Glance Back

Inside, Kazuha tests cursed sword against the kairagi, even as he notices that, rather than control him, the sword was instead trying to match his swordsmanship. As he progressed into the lair, however, the blade began waning in power until he can barely make a dent. After several battles, the sword's glamour dissipates to reveal its true form, a rusted, badly nicked blade hardly battle-worthy. After warning the spirit of the blade that his decline is so severe he will not be worthy of facing the Raiden Shogun, he comes to understand that the blade tried to reach out to him in the hopes of using him as a crutch, only to struggle even at that. As more kairagi arrive, Kazuha opts to take them on with his own sword.

After Kazuha easily dispatched the kairagi, the spirit of the blade at last concedes defeat, realizing that he failed to achieve harmony with Kazuha the way he did with his creator and admitting to his failing faculties. In turn, Kazuha admits that the sword he used when he fought the Shogun was a common weapon he picked up in Liyue, with which he honed his skills for several years, that he was aided by the willpower of his late friend in that moment, and that mastering the Isshin Art demands the synergy of skill and heart. Furthermore, he reveals to the blade that, unbeknownst to his master, the Tatarigami with which he was forged was a malevolent force that had been forcing him to try to take over Kazuha's body, and while Kazuha managed to resist the malevolence, he also sensed the blade's regret that his creator can no longer be with him on his return to Inazuma.

After allowing the spirit of the blade time to contemplate on his errors, Kazuha tells the Traveler and Paimon that, at the moment he touched the cursed blade, he saw a vision of his creator on his deathbed, the blade by his side, having learned too late that the Fatui orchestrated the bladesmiths' revolt that forced the survivors, himself included, to flee to Snezhnaya, and has spent the rest of his life trying to atone for his mistake, having forged the blade to have sentience and to fulfill his dying wish for him to return to Inazuma, not so much in defiance to the Raiden Shogun as much as to prove his loyalty to her, only for the Tatarigami with which he was forged to warp him into committing atrocities without his creator to guide him.

Upon returning to the blade, he confesses to having forgotten his purpose in life and defiling his late creator's wishes, and decides to start his atonement by freeing Yuuya from his possession, as well as asks Kazuha to help fulfill his and his creator's wishes one last time by using him in a friendly duel with Yuuya. Upon waking up, the Amenoma swordsman, though displeased with the sword forcing him to commit crimes, nevertheless agrees to a duel with Kazuha wielding the sword to give himself closure, with Paimon assuring him that she, the Traveler, and Kazuha will vouch for his innocence before the Tenryou Commission.

On the outskirts of Hanamizaka, Kazuha and Yuuya, as representatives of the Isshin and Amenoma Arts, respectively, engage in a friendly duel, both to fulfill the wish of the blade and his creator and to help the latter avenge his disgrace, which was eventually won by Kazuha and the cursed blade, with Yuuya noting how Kazuha fought well despite the sword's sorry state, the blade hoping that his sins do not impinge on the Isshin Art's good standing, and Kazuha mentioning that the blade also wanted to visit the Amenoma Smithy.

There, Tougo is relieved to find his nephew alive, as well as informs him, the Traveler, Paimon, and Kazuha that Nagato has been found by Ryuuji, wounded but not fatally so, meaning all's well that ends well, but not before the cursed blade asks for Kazuha's permission to possess him one last time. With the spirit of the sword in control, Kazuha reforges the blade, even at the cost of the sword's consciousness ceasing to exist. As he slowly ebbs away, the spirit of the sword assures Kazuha that his sacrifice will help revive the Isshin Art, bequeathing onto the wandering samurai the reborn sword as well as its long-lost name, "Kagotsurube Isshin."

After leaving the Amenoma Smithy, Kazuha reveals to the Traveler and Paimon that the sword must have hidden his true name out of subconscious shame for the crimes he has committed in the past, even as he wishes the spirit of the sword had lived longer so he can actively atone for it, a notion Paimon deems dangerous given the negative effects of Tatarigami; Kazuha admits to a fascination for grand ambitions, such as seeing the rebels against the Vision Hunt Decree, the Traveler's journey to find heir siblings, and the sword's determination to return to Inazuma, before the trio decide to report back to Kamaji.

Back at the Kujou Estate, Kamaji informs the trio that the Tenryou Commission has finished investigating the fire at the warehouse, with Yuuya likely to be cleared of any wrongdoing due to circumstances beyond his control. Kazuha presents Kamaji the Kagotsurube Isshin, with whose late spirit he promised to continue studying the Isshin Art, hence he declines Kamaji's offer of public reinstatement lest he be embroiled in the Shogunate's tense relations with Watatsumi despite the recent ceasefire, though Kamaji assures him that will not be the case; nevertheless, the interim Tenryou Commissioner assures him that he will not hesitate to send the Shogunate's assistance shold Kazuha need it, an arrangement he accepts, before bidding farewell to the Traveler, Paimon, and Kamaji as he prepares to board the Alcor anew and keep following where the wind will lead.

Hangout Events

Sayu

Act I: Yoohoo Art: Seichou no Jutsu

Released: v2.2 "Into the Perilous Labyrinth of Fog" (October 13, 2021)
Minimum Adventure Rank: 30
Prerequisite Quest: "Omnipresence Over Mortals" (Archon Quest Chapter II, Act III)

[Start] A Mysterious Order

[A Mysterious Gaze] In Inazuma City, the Traveler spots Sayu walking around before disappearing; after looking for clues, they eventually find her disguised as a barrel, to the disappointment of the little ninja, more so upon realizing the tail of her mujina outfit was exposed. Asked of her purpose in the City, Sayu makes up a hurricane of excuses, such as loitering around and finding a good place to sleep, before begging the Traveler not to report on her to either the shrine maidens or Ayaka, forcing her to admit that she was apparently given orders from someone in the Yashiro Commission to assassinate the Traveler, which she is not too enthusiastic about. Sayu remembers that they can ask for information from a Narukami shrine maiden who was also her handler, while she hides away for fear of said shrine maiden.

[Shuumatsuban Visitation?] At the Grand Narukami Shrine, the Traveler finds the aforementioned handler, Kano Nana, asking for Sayu's whereabouts, which the Traveler denies knowing before informing her on the apparent hit on them, indirectly referencing Sayu as an example; Nana assures the Traveler that, despite her penchant for slacking away, Sayu is a kind girl with a strong sense of morals.

If the Traveler allows Nana to relay the matter to the Yashiro Commission, the latter notices Sayu hiding in a corner and forces her to show up; she then affirms that she did not send the hit, even as she forces Sayu to resume training in Chinju Forest, with the reluctant ninja asking the Traveler to join her down in the Forest.

Alternatively, the Traveler can volunteer to investigate the hit and make Nana's job easier. After Nana left, Sayu comes out of hiding and thanks the Traveler for helping her hide, before both began brainstorming for clues about the culprit. Sayu posits that her most likely suspect is a Yashiro official who was responsible for delivering orders to the Shuumatsuban; to make him drop his guard, the Traveler cuts off a lock of their hair and yields some other belongings to give the impression that Sayu has done her job, which she then delivers to the mail box where she usually receives her orders. After a few days, Sayu returns to inform the Traveler that the official has immediately responded and asks Sayu to meet him outside the City, giving her and the Traveler ample opportunity to demand an explanation from him.

[Branch A] Give It Up!

[Give It Up!] If the Traveler opted to accompany Sayu's training at Chinju Forest, Nana leaves them there to discuss the matter of the apparent hit on the Traveler. Once her handler is gone, Sayu complains to the Traveler about Nana's terrifying tracking skills and strict training regimen, which she believes is detrimental to her goal of growing taller by sleeping more often.

If the Traveler sympathizes with her, they can either suggest that sleep is not enough, leading Sayu to suggest that she find a place to dine, or that she needed quality sleep, in which case she will propose finding new places to do so. On the other hand, if the Traveler reminds her that she has training to do, a reluctant Sayu admits that her line of work is generally limited to such mundane tasks as transporting documents and organizing tools, before asking the Traveler to help with her duties so she can immediately resume sleep, offering them in exchange ninja training which could prove useful to their adventures. After a while, Nana returns to inform them that she has confirmed that the hit was not authorized by the Yashiro Commission, which will will then investigate the matter, before resuming Sayu's training, with the Traveler joining in.

[Branch A-A] Bottleneck Breaking

[Recharge Plan] If the Traveler suggested that sleeping alone is not enough for Sayu to grow taller, she suggests dining at Kiminami Restaurant, where she orders a lot of dishes for someone as small as her to hasten her growth, which she tries to consume all at once, leaving her feeling unwell even with the Traveler helping with the leftovers.

[Hard Work Pays Off] If the Traveler asks if Sayu is alright, she will insist so, though she opines that next time she will only order one at a time, before moving on to Shimura's, where she continues her eating spree in spite of the Traveler's skepticism that the food will always go to her growth, until she is caught by Nana, who picks up Sayu, who is too full to escape [Ending A: Everything in Moderation].
[Exercise Follows Eating] On the other hand, if the Traveler suggests alternatives to eating, Sayu realizes that she needed to strike a balance between sleep, food, and work; after the Traveler suggests visiting the Inazuma Adventurers' Guild for commissions, Anna requests them to deal with a group of Treasure Hoarders that have lately taken to attacking her staff while they are picking ingredients. The Traveler and Sayu find one such Hoarder camp north of Hanamizaka and easily chase them away, only for the latter to panic after one Hoarder accidentally touched her head, fearing that this will stunt her growth despite the Traveler's skepticism. To cheer her up, they suggest bringing her to high places so she can emulate the feeling of being a grownup. [Not as Planned] The Traveler then brings Sayu on the slopes of Mount Yougou, where Sayu, her spirits revived, explains her wish to grow up so she could do things she has difficulty doing in her current, diminutive state, before the Traveler carries her on their shoulders to enjoy the vista [Ending B: Like Soaring Through the Skies].

[Branch A-B] Sleep Alone Can't Wait

[Sleep Alone Can't Wait] If Sayu is encouraged by the Traveler to find better places to sleep, she goes to one of her usual sleeping spots, only to find it overrun with Pyro Slimes, and despite dispatching them, Sayu is dismayed that the spot has become too messy for her to sleep in, before deciding to find a new sleeping spot secluded enough where Nana cannot find her.

[The Enigmatic Shrine Maiden] On one prospective spot, however, Sayu finds a caltrop, suspecting that Nana has already discovered it and turned it into a Shuumatsuban training ground to keep her from using it; nevertheless, she decides to clear the area first lest the caltrops hurt the local wildlife, even at the risk of being caught by Nana. Upon clearing the area, the Traveler and Sayu are approached by a skulk of kitsune, as if to thank them. Returning to the issue of her sleeping spots, Sayu settles for the one place Nana would least expect her to be in: right behind the Sacred Sakura Tree at the Grand Narukami Shrine.

[For Sweeter Dreams] Upon returning to the Shrine, Sayu finds it crawling with Yashiro footsoldiers, so she has to sneak past them so she can rest behind the Sacred Sakura. Just as Sayu begins her nap, Nana arrives, still looking for her, telling the Traveler that she followed several traces that led to the Shrine, and that the Yashiro soldiers were helping with the investigation on the hit. Unfortunately for Sayu, Nana finds the skulk of kitsune around the tree; realizing that they must have followed her and thus unintentionally blew her cover, she is forced to roll to flee anew [Ending C: Definitely No Work Today!].

[Branch A-C] Operation Substitution

[Twinjutsu] If the Traveler opines that Sayu simply continue her training, Nana instructs the Traveler to clear an obstacle course across the stream in Chinju Forest. Afterwards, the Traveler notices Sayu being more serious about her training than what her words suggest; Sayu admits that she is only working to fulfill a promise she made to her former teacher, who has left a few years ago, to grow into a ninja worthy of admiration, though Nana casts doubt on her success given her work ethic, or rather the lack thereof, before assigning the Traveler and Sayu with live-combat training against a gang of slimes.

[Live Combat Observation] After clearing the combat training, Sayu offers to teach the Traveler her rolling attack, which the latter declines, though Sayu ultimately defers the training due to fatigue. In the meantime, Sayu describes her sensei, who taught her the rolling attack, as a strong and kind type who never pushed her to overwork, even though she can no longer remember their identity or name, let alone whether or not they were a ninja. Sayu then asks Nana to allow her breaktime, per their agreement to allow one every two exercises, which she reluctantly grants.

[Break Time!] Sayu brings the Traveler to another corner of Chinju Forest, where she shows them a tree with a rope tied around its trunk, with which her sensei used to measure her height, complaining that not only has she barely grown an inch ever since, but the tree seems to grow faster than her. The Traveler assures her that all trees grow and bloom until they can cast a shade over those they protect, which Sayu thinks may be an allegory for her sensei's wish for her to grow into someone the people can look up to. After gathering fruits for them to eat, Sayu admits that she has grown so obsessed with growing tall, and that the ever-understanding Traveler reminds her of her sensei, before they and the Traveler rest away the day in the company of the kitsune [Ending D: With the Trees].

[Branch B] Shuumatsuban Suspicions

[Two Can Play This Game] If the Traveler decides to personally investigate the culprit behind the apparent hit on them, Sayu meets the suspect, Ogawa, in Byakko Plain, who is surprised that the normally lazy ninja has apparently did her job. At Sayu's cue, the Traveler corners Ogawa, warning him that Nana has determined that the hit was not sanctioned by the Yashiro Commission.

[Face-Off] If the Traveler decides to bring him to the Kamisato Estate, Ayaka later informs them and Sayu that Ogawa was in truth being coerced by the kairagi, that he never truly intended to bring harm to the Traveler, and that she will look into the matter, even as she reminds Sayu to be attentive to her duties and not continue being a source of worry for Nana, noting that if she wanted to, she can perform as admirably as the adults in the Shuumatsuban. After Sayu, dejected at having been reprimanded by Ayaka, left, the latter reveals to the Traveler that Sayu was left to her care by her sensei before they left, which she later delegated to Nana due to her duties, and that the little ninja's lethargy is rooted in her insecurities stemming from her sensei's abrupt departure. At Ayaka's encouragement, the Traveler talks to Sayu, who admits to having difficulty living up to the expectations of her sensei, Ayaka, and Nana, before thanking the Traveler for lending a sympathetic ear [Ending F: Little Sayu's Troubles].

[The Truth Behind the Order] On the other hand, if the Traveler decides to get into the heart of the matter, Ogawa confesses that a group of kairagi have kidnapped his young daughter last night and are blackmailing him with her life into issuing the fraudulent hit, with the Traveler intuiting that they must be out for revenge for all the kairagi they defeated; as Ogawa is reluctant to harm such a distinguished ally of the Yashiro Commission as the Traveler, he delegated the order to Sayu, knowing she will be too harmless to succeed, and nearly regrets having done so when she apparently succeeded while he secretly met Tenryou Commission officers to help find his daughter. With Ogawa's conscience cleared upon seeing the Traveler alive, the three brainstorm a plan to rescue his daughter, whereupon he will meet with the kairagi to report on the apparent success of the hit and at the same time inform Tenryou soldiers of the progress of the negotiations, while the Traveler and Sayu lie in wait.

On a beach near Konda Village, Ogawa meets with Inou, leader of the kairagi band that kidnapped his daughter Kotomi. Despite Ogawa presenting him the lock of the Traveler's hair and a shred of their clothing, Inou refuses to return his daughter, instead keeping her as leverage to force him to conduct hits on Tenryou forces. Sayu and the Traveler then emerge from the shadows and ambush the kairagi, only until Inou is left, who pulls a sword on Kotomi, only to realize that he was holding a decoy, and that Sayu has already secured the girl, while Tenryou soldiers arrive and stop Inou from escaping.

After the kairagi band was arrested, Kotomi and Ogawa thank the Traveler and Sayu reuniting them, with the father complimenting Sayu's growth as a ninja. After Ogawa and left with his daughter to report the good news to his wife, Sayu admits to the Traveler that this was not the first time the kairagi took hostages to blackmail people into doing their bidding, and while she would normally delegate such cases to her seniors, seeing a little girl in distress spurred her into action. Sayu deflects the Traveler's praise for her hard work, before falling asleep from exhaustion, with the Traveler carrying her on their back while she takes a well-deserved rest [Ending E: The Best Rest].

Thoma

Act I: A Housekeeper's Daily Chores

Released: v2.2 "Into the Perilous Labyrinth of Fog" (October 13, 2021)
Minimum Adventure Rank: 30
Prerequisite Quest: "Omnipresence Over Mortals" (Archon Quest Chapter II, Act III)

[Start] Behind His Back

[Behind His Back] In the Kamisato Estate, the Traveler hears a couple guards, Kazumasa and Furusawa, talking dismissively of Thoma and his focus on housekeeping instead of combat, even noting his half-Mondstadter heritage, wondering what Ayaka saw in him. Before they can intervene, Thoma arrives, forcing the two guards to retreat on the pretext of resuming their duties, with the Traveler deducing that he may have already heard the conversation, which he takes in stride. The Traveler can either agree with him to let bygones be bygones or air their grievance.

If the Traveler agrees with Thoma to ignore his critics, he invites them to join him as he takes a break after days of working to make up for lost time while he hid away in Komore Teahouse following the foiled confiscation of his Vision, with him hosting the Traveler as gratitude for their assistance during that time.

Alternatively, should the Traveler take umbrage at the slights to Thoma, they offer to work with him in the household to prove to the skeptics his value and ask around other household staff.

[Branch A] Host's Invitation

[Itinerary] If the Traveler agrees with Thoma to ignore his critics and instead allow him to host them, the Traveler can choose to either let him serve them within the Estate grounds, or head elsewhere, with Thoma suggesting that they either see the stray cats and dogs of Hanamizaka, or revisit Ritou, where they first met.

[Branch A-A] Thanks for Your Hospitality!

[Thanks for Your Hospitality!] If the Traveler opts to let Thoma host them within the Kamisato Estate grounds, they travel to Komore Teahouse to collect a tea set as well as eat a dish Thoma prepared for them, while he sews a damaged part of their cape. Impressed at his skills, the Traveler suggests that they conduct a housekeeping class to the Yashiro Commission staff to earn the respect of his doubters, despite some skepticism from Thoma that it could work. The Traveler can then decide whether to limit the scope of his class within the Commission or expand it and invite cityfolk.

[Branch A-A-A] Small-Scale Changes

[Small-Scale Changes] If the Traveler opts to limit Thoma's housekeeping class within the Yashiro Commission staff, they start with advertising to Hirano; though he declines, citing his schedule, he then refers them to Furuta, the elderly senior housekeeper, who in turn suggests that Thoma and the Traveler set an example through an extensive cleaning of the Kamisato Estate. Hoping that their feat would get the attention of the household staff, Thoma adjourns for the day and invites the Traveler to the class the following morning.

On the day of the class, however, the Traveler finds, to their dismay, that only a handful of the staff came, which Thoma takes in stride, understanding that changing hearts takes time and effort, so he settles down on teaching the Traveler knitting [Ending B: Alone Time].

[Branch A-A-B] Start Spreadin' the News

[Start Spreadin' the News] If the Traveler suggests that Thoma broaden the scope of his class, they begin with collecting ingredients for food to be served to attendees, before Thoma invites them to spread the news to cityfolk.

At Inazuma City, the duo start by asking Ogura Mio for anyone interested in housekeeping among her customers; she refers them to one such customer, Yuuko, who the duo find discussing housekeeping with another woman, Yuuri, and invite them to the class with the offer of their first few classes being taught for free, with an option to continue learning at a reasonable enrollment fee, which the two women accept, promising to bring their husbands with them; in addition, at Yuuri's suggestion, the duo visit Nagano, and elderly man who not only agrees to join the class, but also offers to be a part-time tutor.

[Housekeeping Chores, Begin!] Upon returning to the Kamisato Estate after a successful recruitment drive, Thoma admits to some nervousness given that this is the first time he will be a teacher, and hoping for the best, adjourns for the day and invites the Traveler to meet him the following morning.

The next day, to the Traveler's delight, the class is a success, with several people, including Mio, Yuuko, Yuuri, and Nagano in attendance, including, to Thoma's surprise and their chagrin, Kazumasa and Furusawa, who happen to be the respective husbands of Yuuko and Yuuri. [Ending A: Popular Class]

[Branch A-B] Under the Same Shade

[Under the Same Shade] Underneath a tree in Hanamizaka, the Traveler and Thoma find a group of stray cats and dogs, who he regularly brings leftovers from Komore Teahouse, with the latter inviting the former to also feed them, assuring them that he trained the animals to not attack humans.

[Hungry?] After the Traveler fed the animals, Thoma recalls reports of a ninken hanging around a beach north of Konda Village, which he finds unusual considering they are usually trained to be loyal to their human partners, and are adopted either by their partners or someone else in the Yashiro Commission upon retirement; furthermore, it has proven stubborn in its habits, at one point having even bitten Thoma when he tried bringing it to the Commission.

[Branch A-B-A] Bits and Bobs for Cats and Dogs

If the Traveler suggests to leave the ninken be until it calms down, Thoma takes notes of the falling temperature; concerned for the animals' wellbeing, but also noting that they are averse to being touched while measurements are taken of them, he suggests that the Traveler take photographs from various angles to intuit their measurments.

[Special Care] After taking photographs, the Traveler hands them to Thoma. Before returning home to sew the sweaters, he confides to the Traveler how he befriended the local strays, having shared an onigiri with a dog with whom he sheltered from heavy rain underneath the tree following a failed attempt to convince an obstinate senior official to support Ayato's reforms. Over time, he took to resting underneath its branches whenever he felt pressure from his duties, and has also come to appreciate the animals for their simpler lives.

The following morning, Thoma brings the sweaters for the animals and ask the Traveler to help him, starting with the more docile of the lot, hoping the sweaters should be enough for them to be able to survive the coming winter. [Ending D: New Clothes!]

[Branch A-B-B] Ninken by the Shore

[Warning! Dangerous Dog Outside Premises!] If the Traveler decides to join Thoma in finding the ninken, the duo find the attack dog in its usual spot, more docile than usual but still unwilling to eat food Thoma gave it, who the Traveler intuits might be on edge over nearby hilichurl activity. Despite defeating them, the ninken refuses to budge, leading Thoma to resort to bending some rules against directly asking for intel from the Shuumatsuban and, using some of his privileges as a direct subordinate of the Kamisato siblings, directly ask one of them.

[Those Who Can Never Return] At the Kamisato Estate, the aforementioned contact, Kazuaki, identifies the ninken as Inu Shoushou, whose master, who he declines to identify, died at sea on a dangerous mission after leaving him ashore, meaning he will keep his vigil for the rest of his life. Out of sympathy and concern for Inu Shoushou, Kazuaki agrees to let them take a kunai once used by his late master to be able to establish rapport with him.

Back at the beach, Thoma hands the kunai to Inu Shoushou and calls him by name, as well as promises not to take him away, making him more responsive. Thoma tells the ninken that he also used to gaze over the sea when he first arrived in Inazuma, assuring him that he will always accompany him in his endless vigil in memory of his late master, before asking the Traveler to help him build a kennel and knit a sweater for Inu Shoushou. [Ending C: The Sea Breeze Carries Memories]

[Branch A-C] A Trip for Two in Ritou

NOTE: Some dialogue will change depending on whether or not the player has completed "Transient Dreams" (Imperatrix Umbrosa [Ei/Beelzebul and the Raiden Shogun] Story Quest, Act II)

[Leisure Time] While sauntering around in Ritou, Thoma inquires the Traveler about Mondstadt, where he was born and raised, before heading for Inazuma in search of his Inazuman father to bring him wine, only to be caught in a severe storm, though he managed to wash ashore. After Thoma buys a bracelet and a necklace for the Traveler from Liyue-based Chuyu Trading Company, Thoma brings them to Sailing Breeze, an importer of Mondstadter wine, where he expreses his dream of one day drinking together with his father. If the Traveler has yet to convince Ei to abolish the Sakoku Decree, Thoma notes the city's decline due to the strictures, which he notes is an opportunity for him to thrive and was the reason the International Trade Association was established; otherwise, he thanks the Traveler for their indirect role in restoring the city's prosperity.

The duo then reach the Association's offices, where they reminisce about Kurisu, who must be busy at work, helping it either weather the Sakoku Decree if it has yet to be abolished or navigate changes to Ritou if it already was, as well as that time they intervened against an extortion scheme by corrupt Kanjou Commission officers. The duo are then approached by Keiichi, an employee at Yumeno Tennenan, to give them confectionaries as gratitude for helping Kurisu, who in turn helped his company during some troubles not so long ago.

Afterwards, the duo head for the docks, where Thoma expresses his hope either for the abolition of the Sakoku Decree if it has yet to or Ritou's rejuvenation if it already was, noting that he wanted to revisit Mondstadt and would have asked of Ayaka a sabbatical but for his duties. To repay his kindness as well as out of sympathy, the Traveler presents Thoma a bouquet of Windwheel Asters; in turn, Thoma gifts them the omamori once gifted by his father to his wife, who in turn gave it to him before he sailed to Inazuma and to which he attributes his survival from the storm. [Ending E: A Lingering Fragance]

[Branch B] Unforeseen Circumstances

[To Change the Winds] If the Traveler opted to work in the Kamisato Estate to prove Thoma's critics wrong, they start with consulting Takashi and Masanobu, two other footsoldiers; in contrast to Kazumasa and Furusawa, they speak more highly of Thoma and his work ethic, and are genuinely surprised that some would dare speak ill of him. They then learn from Kiyoe, a maid, that recently a shipment of implements to be used for a festival next month were lost at sea following a violent storm, and with little time to spare, the Yashiro Commission are forced to buy them anew from Yuusaku, a merchant who took advantage of the emergency to sell his wares for exorbitant prices out of spite after they exposed him selling them wares of inferior quality during an earlier transaction. Knowing such matters fall to such a master negotiator as Thoma, the Traveler approaches him to find a way to deal with Yuusaku as part of their plan to help prove his worth to his remaining doubters.

In Inazuma City, the duo find Kazumasa and Furusawa having trouble trying to negotiate with Yuusaku, who remains obstinate with his demands. After the two soldiers leave empty-handed, Thoma and the Traveler try their hand with Yuusaku, who not only blames the Yashiro Commission for having their Tenryou counterparts imprison him after exposing his fraud, but tries to justify his sale by claiming he is more concerned with making a quick buck, before storming off. Seeing that they are making little headway with Yuusaku, Thoma proposes that they meet an acquaintance who could help force his hand.

[A Friend] Elsewhere in the City, the Traveler and Thoma meet Yasutake, quartermaster for the Tenryou Commission, who reveals that recently his Commission received a sizable supply of iron ore thanks to Thoma giving him some business advice during a time of shortage, which they recently auctioned off with high enough bidding prices that some prospective buyers took loans, with the surplus to be shipped off for free to a select few merchants; Thoma volunteers to join a Tenryou detachment to escort the goods to Konda Village, along the way repelling hilichurls led by an Abyss Mage. After the duo report back to Yasutake, Thoma assures a skeptical Traveler that this will somehow help with the Yashiro Commission's issues, before bringing them to meet another acquaintance.

[A Comeback's Always on the Cards] In Ritou, the duo meet Sakai, a merchant, who admits to having lent money to one of the bidders for the Tenryou Commission's iron ore auction, though he was allowed a lengthier payment period due to his ties with the Yashiro Commission even to his own detriment as a small-time merchant. Out of sympathy, Thoma has the Traveler procure for him some Nocticulous Jade, again assuring them that this, too, will figure into Yashiro's issues before they return to the Kamisato Estate.

Almost as soon as they arrive, to the surprise of Kazumasa and Furusawa, Yuusaku rushes in apologizing to Thoma and promising to sell the much-needed wares for more reasonable prices and guaranteed to be of good quality lest he lose his business. Afterwards, Thoma returns to sweeping the hallways while he tells the Traveler that he forced Yuusaku's hand by threatening to cut off his main line of business, implying that he took a loan from Sakai to be able to partake of the iron ore auction, then tried to extort the Yashiro Commission after he failed to profit off of the ores due to market oversaturation, and that Thoma bribed Sakai with Noctilucous Jade into demanding of Yuusaku hastier payment on the pretext that he is recouping his expenditures. That said, Thoma admits to the Traveler that he cares not so much for people's opinion on him, positive or otherwise, as much as his loved ones knowing the real him, before thanking them for helping avert a potential embarrassment of the Yashiro Commission. [Ending F: The Housekeeper's Other Side]

Gorou

Act I: The Canine General's Special Operations

Released: v2.3 "Shadows Amidst Snowstorms" (November 24, 2021)
Minimum Adventure Rank: 40
Prerequisite Quests: "Omnipresence Over Mortals" (Archon Quest Chapter II, Act III); "Warriors' Dreams Like Spring Grass Renewing" (Dracaena Somnolenta [Kokomi] Story Quest, Act I]

[Start] Accidental Encounter

[Accidental Encounter] At the Yae Publishing House, the Traveler intervenes at Miko ogling Gorou's tail, much to the latter's relief, more so after Aratani, the Publishing House's events manager, fetches Miko to handle their recruitment drive for new in-house artists. [Countermeasure Conference] With Miko gone, Gorou admits to the Traveler that he is in Narukami to purchase books for Kokomi as part of normalization of relations between Watatsumi and the Shogunate, as well as to experience life on the latter side, even as he expresses discomfort with Miko and her penchant for teasing him. The Traveler can offer to either help him overcome his fear of Miko or steer clear of her for the time being.

With the former option, the Traveler can either propose that Gorou study how to overcome his fears, with him suggesting to return to Watatsumi to ask for advice from his fellow islanders, or help him practice his skills by role-playing as a difficult person, with Gorou taking for reference his memory of some merchants from Ritou.

With the latter option, the Traveler can suggest that they either steer clear of the Yae Publishing House for the time being, with Gorou remembering that he is also in Narukami to visit the Inazuma Adventurers' Guild to collect a box they retrieved after he left it during a retreat from fighting Shogunate forces at Nazuchi Beach some time ago, or linger on in the Publishing House, where he reveals that he also works part-time as columnist for its monthly magazine, That's Life.

[The Secret Behind the Letters] If the Traveler opted to help Gorou reply to his readers on That's Life, Gorou proceeds to start writing in a corner of the City in the hopes of avoiding Miko. The Traveler can opt to either keep watch at the Publishing House for Miko, or keep him company and help him write his correspondences. At the latter option, the Traveler and Gorou take interest in a letter from a Narukami islander who joined the Sangonomiya Resistance out of righteous indignation over the injustices of the Vision Hunt Decree, but has since grown homesick. Gorou responds by encouraging him to revisit Narukami now that much has changed since the abolition of the Decree, before asking the Traveler to help him take the correspondences to the Publishing House.

[Branch A] What Shall We Do?

[Asking Around] If the Traveler encouraged Gorou to study how to muster his courage to face Miko, the duo visit Watatsumi to consult locals for advice on the pretext of doing so on behalf of a friend dealing with difficult people. From Shuuhei, a Sangonomiya samurai stationed at Bourou, they learn not to give their full undivided attention; from Miwa, a Sangonomiya shrine maiden responsible for booking Kokomi's guests, that they keep their cool and their thoughts to themselves; and from reading Kokomi's General Operational Directives, that they ought to know their rival.

Gorou and the Traveler return to the Yae Publishing House and ask Kuroda about Miko, who he describes as elusive despite her impeccable work ethic. Realizing he is making little headway, Gorou settles for reading the Publishing House's novels to get some insight into Miko's character, and though he also fails to glean anything, he nevertheless learns valuable insights about strategy and sacrifice, which he decides to put to the test by visiting the Grand Narukami Shrine.

[Praying for Fortune] At the Shrine, which Gorou admits is his first time seeing in person, he is invited by Maki, a shrine maiden, to take a Fortune Slip; regardless of results, Gorou will be fired up to confront Miko anew. [Shrine Showdown] After a while, the duo meet Miko anew, who claims to have already anticipated Gorou and proceeds to mentally disarm him by professing to do a reading about him and the Traveler and claiming he wanted the Traveler to touch his tail and ears; desperate for a comeback, Gorou claims that, like him, she also likes to hug her own tail when asleep, only for Miko to reveal that she has none. Thus comically defeated, Gorou sees no choice but retreat from the formidable Yae Miko [Ending A: Tactical Retreat].

[Branch B] Special Training

[Professional Imitator] If the Traveler proposes role-playing to help Gorou deal with difficult people, the duo visit Ritou, where the Traveler role-plays as a vendor selling their wares to Gorou for exorbitant prices, and poorly at that. With the two agreeing that it failed to work as planned, the Traveler opts for role-playing such familiar adversaries as the Fatui.

In the wilds outside Ritou, the Traveler role-plays as a Fatuus, only for Gorou to realize that there are actual Fatui lying in wait. Despite defeating them, Gorou's mood is ruined by the interruption, reminding himself of the Fatui's crimes in Watatsumi. With little options remaining, the Traveler suggests that they cut to the chase and impersonate Miko herself.

[That Didn't Work?] Try as they might, however, Gorou still finds the Traveler's Miko impression wanting, given that they lack her aura of omniscience, and that he feels more comfortable around the Traveler. To cheer him up, the Traveler buys him cake to get his mind off of his frustrations, and they spend the rest of the day enjoying their snacks. [Ending B: Desserts Are the Best!]

[Branch C] Secret Identity

[The Mysterious Pamphlet] If the Traveler volunteered to be on the lookout for Miko while Gorou writes his replies for That's Life, they overhear a couple customers fawning over Ms. Hina for her words of wisdom, who then hand them a flyer of Ms. Hina, whose appearance and job description made the Traveler intuit that she is but a gender-flipped identity for a largely unaware Gorou.

The Traveler returns to Gorou to report that Miko has not come. In turn, Gorou admits that he has come to enjoy his tenure as writer for That's Life because he is able to help a lot of people, whose positive feedback helps him get his mind off his fear of Miko as well as a breath of fresh air from his soldiers being less communicative to him out of deference to his ranking. Hearing this, the Traveler grows hesitant to break the news that he was given a gender-flipped alter-ego, and when Gorou readies to submit his replies, the Traveler tries in vain to stop him.

[(Temporary) Secret-Keeper] The Traveler and Gorou find the Yae Publishing House unusually abuzz with activity, overhearing admirers of Ms. Hina organizing a fan club and setting up its rules. Upon seeing Gorou, the fans take note of his resemblance to Ms. Hina and proceed to take pictures with him. Kuroda then brings out a life-sized billboard of Ms. Hina; Gorou tries to see it, but the Traveler, out of second-hand embarrassment, dissuades him with a lie that Miko is about to return [Ending C: That's, Uh...].

[Branch D] A Friend's Path

[A Friend's Path] If the Traveler and Gorou take interest in the letter from a Narukami-born Resistance soldier, the duo return to Watatsumi and visit the soldiers after submitting the correspondences to Kuroda. There, some Resistance soldiers tell of a massive restructuring of the Sangonomiya Resistance such that long-time comrades-in-arms are often reassigned to different duties, though they also express hope that this does not affect their camaraderie, before another soldier asks Gorou to meet with one of his soldiers in the camp.

[Those Who Depart] There, the Traveler and Gorou meet the aforementioned soldier, Hiroaki, who requests for an honorable dismissal so he can return to his native Narukami, admitting that found the courage to do so from his correspondences with Ms. Hina despite his melancholy over leaving behind his comrades-in-arms. Gorou assures him that, in light of thawing relations between Watatsumi and Narukami, he can always revisit his old comrades any time, before formally approving his request, as well as personally sending him off on a boat, with Gorou giving him a parting smile [Ending D: The Smiling Send-Off].

[Branch E] Ordinary Memorial

[Treasure Rumors] If the Traveler decides to assist Gorou in retrieving the box he lost at Nazuchi Beach and found by the Inazuma Adventurers' Guild, Katheryne informs them that they cannot retrieve it for the time being, as it is currently connected to a recent theft by Treasure Hoarders at Komore Teahouse, which according to their intel were buried at Nazuchi Beach; as the loot found there were completely different from those stolen from the Teahouse, the Guild has decided to keep the loot for the time being until the Hoarder group responsible for the theft is caught for interrogation. Gorou and the Traveler volunteer to find the Hoarders, starting with Komore Teahouse, where Kozue claims the Hoarders stole Taroumaru's reserve fund, and though the staff managed to retrieve the fund, the Hoarders slipped away. Gorou, seemingly understanding Taroumaru, claims that the ninken last saw the Hoarders at the seaside cave below Tenshukaku.

[Goods Returned] Upon finding the Hoarders, they easily defeat the Hoarders, who Gorou chastise for resorting to crime despite having better-off lives than the people of Watatsumi, before handing them over to the Guild. [Reminiscence] There, as a reward for their efforts, and after having extracted a confession from the Hoarders, Katheryne allows the duo to retrieve the box, which Gorou opts to open in Bourou.

Back at Watatsumi, Gorou opens the box to reveal personal items from his fallen soldiers, deliberately left behind for their loved ones to remember them by, but also a bitter reminder for Gorou of a bruising defeat that cost them their lives, and asks the Traveler to let him mourn his fallen brothers-in-arms for a little while longer [Ending E: Final Remembrance].

Shinobu

Act I: The Gang's Daily Deeds

Released: v2.7 "Hidden Dreams in the Depths" (May 31, 2022)
Minimum Adventure Rank: 40
Prerequisite Quests: "Perilous Trail" (Archon Quest Interlude, Act II); "Rise Up, Golden Soul" (Taurus Iracundus [Itto] Story Quest, Act I)

[Start] Ways and Means

[The Arataki Support Group...?] At Inazuma City's police station, the Traveler finds Shinobu apologizing to Uesugi on behalf of the Arataki Gang for their antics, attributing them to Itto's mental instability, even claiming the Gang is in truth a support group. Upon sighting the Traveler, she ropes them in to play along with her and vouch for Mamoru, Akira, and Genta, who have recently been arrested for illegally posting flyers all over the City, with Shinobu promising to clean up after them, even as Uesugi wonders why such an expert on the law like her would associate with ne'er-do-wells. [Ways and Means] With the trio freed, Shinobu resolves to impose order within the Gang lest they keep running afoul of the law with their shenanigans, but not before she administers punishment, with the Traveler opting to either intercede on their behalf or leave them be to Shinobu's mercy.

At the former option, the Traveler can suggest that she settle for making them apologize to the cityfolk. The trio then confess that they also posted flyers as far as the Grand Narukami Shrine only to be caught by Miko, further angering Shinobu, even as neither side wanted to revisit the Shrine, the trio for fear of Miko, Shinobu for reasons the Traveler intuits may be related to her refusal to continue her family's business as a shrine maiden, as they learned during their stay in the Chasm's Bed in Liyue. Alternatively, the Traveler volunteers to impose discipline through a set of bylaws, taking advantage of Shinobu's expertise, only for the trio to escape while she brainstorms ideas for her rules.

[Branch A] To the Shrine

[To the Shrine] If the Traveler and Shinobu opt to visit the Grand Narukami Shrine and apologize for the vandalism, they meet Miko, who warns them that what the Gang did is tantamount to disrespecting the Raiden Shogun; as she is short on staff while a shrine maiden is assigned to clean the flyers, she demands compensation by having Shinobu substitute for the day, to her chagrin.

The Traveler can tell her to just indulge Miko, knowing how terrifying she can be otherwise; Shinobu concedes, albeit on the condition that she will never wear a shrine maiden outfit, to some dismay from Miko, who also ropes in the Traveler on the job with the promise of a special reward. Alternatively, they can urge Shinobu to stand her ground, knowing the Guuji is up to her antics again; Miko concedes and allows her to merely help the aforementioned shrine maiden, Miyuki, clean up the flyers, again to the dismay of Shinobu, who reveals that the latter is her older sister.

[Branch A-A] Shrine Maiden for a Day

[Shrine Maiden Suggestion] If the Traveler convinces Shinobu to concede to Miko's request that she work as shrine maiden for a day, the two begin work by attending to visitors seeking advice, such as Takuma, a businessman planning to invest on overseas merchant ships, to whom Shinobu suggests discretion and scrutiny lest he fall for a scam, and Hayato, a writer at the Yae Publishing House seeking inspiration, to whom Shinobu suggests that he travel the world, even as she denies having met him before.

[Omamori Memento] Next, the duo help Hotomi procure an omamori for elderly Asami to give to her granddaughter who is going abroad. While Asami prays, Shinobu remarks on her lack of tolerance for people who supplicate to the gods for problems they could have easily solved themselves, reserving her sympathy for those undergoing experiences beyond their control. Afterwards, Asami thanks her for her assistance, even as she seems to recognize her, which Hotomi attributes to the elderly lady's poor eyesight, to Shinobu's relief.

[The Day's Wages] At the end of the day, the Traveler and Shinobu receive their wages from Miko, even as they flatly decline her offer to continue working under her. Upon descending from the Shrine, the two open their bags; Shinobu finds hers full of Mora, even as she reaffirms her refusal to keep indulging Miko, while the Traveler's finds, to their amusement, nothing but a photograph of Shinobu in her younger years, dressed as a shrine maiden [Ending A: Unexpected Wages].

[Branch A-B] In the Aftermath

[Sisterly Reunion] If the Traveler and Shinobu stand their ground and settle on helping clean the flyers, the two meet Miyuki elsewhere on the Shrine grounds. The sisters share an awkward reunion, with Miyuki trying to convine her younger sister to return to the family business; in turn, Shinobu claims that the Arataki Gang is a "legitimate international organization" with the Traveler as chief advisor, that she traveled to Liyue to build overseas contacts, and that the flyers were a misguided advertising stunt meant to expand its Inazuman branch. Miyuki insists on helping them clean the flyers and get to know the Gang better, much to her younger sister's discomfort.

[Hearsay] With each flyer collected by the trio, Shinobu's concerns about her older sister learning the truth about the Arataki Gang only grows and thus has to make up lies as they go along, such as explaining the flyers' poor art quality as a hybrid of the abstract style currently popular in Mondstadt and Liyue's ink-wash style, downplaying rumors of Itto's troublemaking attitude as a smear campaign by rivals, and that Mamoru, Genta, and Akira, their other members from the Inazuma branch, are away discussing the debacle with their "marketing team."

[Uninvited Guests] After a while, Shinobu discovers, to her alarm, that Mamoru, Genta, and Akira have climbed up the Shrine to personally apologize to Miyuki for the vandalism. Worse still, the trio confess that it was their idea to have Itto design the Gang's flyers, which they in turn were responsible for posting all over Inazuma City and even the Shrine. Her cover blown, Shinobu confesses that all the rumors about the Arataki Gang and their misdeeds are true, but that she also has no regrets joining the Gang. To her surprise, Miyuki is understanding of her situation and promises to keep her activity secret from the rest of their family in exchange for promising her to steer the Gang away from delinquency. Afterwards, Shinobu presses the Traveler to keep playing "chief advisor" for longer to keep their charade going [Ending B: Time For Some Secret Dealings...].

[Branch B] Gang Bylaws

[Gang Bylaws] If the Traveler and Shinobu accidentally allow Mamoru, Genta, and Akira to escape while they brainstorm the Gang's rules and regulations, the duo give chase. First, they catch Mamoru atop the roof of Aisa Bathhouse, with Shinobu apologizing to its proprietor Aikawa Susumu and promising to cover the expenses and repairs in the event of property damage, before implementing a rule prescribing stiff penalties for future such incidents. Next, based on Mamoru's tips, they catch Genta hiding underneath a bridge in Hanamizaka for which he chased off a group of children; put off by Genta's attitude, they decide to resume doing their homework, while Shinobu writes a new rule forbidding the Gang from bullying children. Finally, based on Genta's tips, the duo try to find Akira outside Hanamizaka, even as Shinobu worries for his safety given reports about a recent surge in kairagi activity outside the City, so she has the Traveler head further north while she goes the opposite direction to quicken the search. [All the Way North] There, the Traveler finds Akira hiding in a box, even as he pleads for the Traveler not to sell him out to Shinobu.

At this point, the Traveler can urge him to come clean and apologize to Shinobu, while the Traveler will intercede for her lenience on his behalf; to his surprise, Shinobu opts not to punish him, instead using the opportunity to establish discipline through her bylaws, and has him join Mamoru and Genta in Hanamizaka, threatening him with a new rule prescribing forced recital of all the bylaws as punishment for insubordination. Alternatively, the Traveler can opt to help Akira hide for a little longer, while he asks the Traveler to monitor Shinobu, waiting for her to calm down.

[Branch B-A] That'll Learn Them!

[Truancy Forbidden] If the Traveler urged Akira to come to Shinobu's disciplinary class, they later listen to Shinobu quizzing the trio on the kind of violations present in her case study of an adult man stealing a child's Genius Invokation TCG cards after losing a match. The trio give incomplete answers, with Shinobu explaining that the hypothetical adult violated her first two bylaws forbidding, respectively, property damage and bullying children; as punishment, she forces the trio to write out all the relevant rules in full, much to their dismay [Ending C: Official Business!].

[Branch B-B] Temporary Escape

[Temporary Escape] If the Traveler opts to help Akira hide from Shinobu, they return to her and lie about his whereabouts. Shinobu then reports that she learned from a Tenryou doushin that recently the kairagi have been smuggling supplies around Hanamizaka in large wooden boxes. Realizing that Akira walked into a trap, they urge Shinobu to rush to where they last saw Akira. [Overly Obvious Clues] There, they find that the boxes are gone; fortunately, they also find a Gang flyer one the ground alongside several footprints.

[Gang Bylaws, Article 3] After following the flyer and the footsteps, the reach the kairagi stopover, where they overhear the kairagi threatening to punish Akira over having removed the box's original contents to fit himself and his Gang's flyers, ruining their business deal with a certain client. Shinobu and the Traveler intervent and wipe out the band, and later the client, a Fatuus. In the aftermath, Shinobu proposes that she can report to the Tenryou Commission about having foiled a business deal between the kairagi and the Fatui to make up for the Gang's past misdeeds. She then contemplates training Akira in combat, to his dismay [Ending D: Doom Arrives Just the Same].

[Branch C] Key Decision

[Back to Business] If the Traveler opts to let Shinobu punish the trio, the latter, having administered physical discipline, decides to adjourn for the day and suspend further punishment until tomorrow while she is out on a personal business. Afterwards, after the Traveler justifies their inaction to the trio with the fact that sooner or later they will have to own up to their antics and that they are better off facing it immediately rather than let her wrath fester for too long, the trio try to concoct a plan to keep her too busy tomorrow, starting with stalking her at Uyuu Restaurant, where she is conducting her aforementioned business.

[Eavesdroppers] Inside, the quartet eavesdrop on Shinobu conversing with Kujou Sara on the second floor, who, having heard of the former's talents from her subordinates, offers a proposal to work together. Interpreting the conversation as the Tenryou Commission poaching Shinobu away, the trio report to Itto, who is also in the City looking for Onikabuto. Despite the Traveler trying to reason that they have yet to learn the matter in full from Shinobu, Itto, already deeming Sara a rival ever since she personally took his Vision at the height of the Vision Hunt Decree, thinks she may have been planning days ahead and has already offered Shinobu a better wage, while the trio fear that the whole affair with the flyers may have been Shinobu's last straw after after having to bail them one too many times. Itto proposes removing all the flyers on their own, as well as for the Traveler to pose as applicant to the Gang.

[Not Quite Your Daily Deeds] Back at Uyuu Restaurant, after Sara and her retinue has left, the Traveler approaches Shinobu and offers their application to the Gang. After the initial surprise, she proposes that they start with helping her apologize to locals over the disturbances caused by the Gang. To their surprise, they learn that the rest of the Gang have already made amends beforehand, such as cleaning Shimura Kanbei's shop and Tsukumomono Groceries, as well as returning the snacks they confiscated from a young boy named Shouta.

[Key Decision] Later, the Traveler and Shinobu find Itto and the rest of the Gang explaining to Tenryou doushin Amano that they are cleaning up their flyers. Norika, a businesswoman who was with Shinobu and Sara earlier at Uyuu Restaurant, intervenes and vouches for Shinobu, who explains the Gang's actions. After Amano apologizes for the misunderstanding and leaves, the Gang, under the impression that Shinobu has decided to leave for good, settles for giving her a Naku Weed bracelet and apologizing for all their misdeeds against her. Shinobu clarifies, however, that she is not leaving, while Norika introduces herself as a merchant who is seeking to open a trade in medical supplies from Bubu Pharmacy in Liyue, and that Shinobu was recommended to her for a part-time partnership by Sara on account of her expertise in both Liyuan and Inazuman law, and even offers the Gang some of her supplies as a gift. Embarrassed at making such a spectacle in front of a guest, Itto claims he will return the bracelet, only for Shinobu to remember the Gang's antics against her and threaten to make them test out their medical supplies, with the Traveler trying to restrain her [Ending E: The Arataki Gang Community Service Chronicle].

Heizou

Act I: Trap 'Em by Storm

Released: v2.8 "Summer Fantasia" (July 13, 2022)
Minimum Adventure Rank: 40
Prerequisite Quests: "Omnipresence Over Mortals" (Archon Quest Chapter II, Act III; "Transient Dreams" (Imperatrix Umbrosa [Ei/Beelzebul and the Raiden Shogun] Archon Quest, Act II); "Rise Up, Golden Soul" (Taurus Iracundus [Itto] Story Quest, Act I)

[Start] The Missing Person

[The Detective's Disappearance] At the Bantan Sango Detective Agency in Hanamizaka, the Traveler is flagged by Ryuuji, who has accepted a commission to help with the search for Shikanoin Heizou, a doushin of the Tenryou Commission and ace detective, despite Sango's refusal to have anything to do with a business rival. According to Ryuuji's intel, Heizou was last seen in Watatsumi, to which he was first sent on a mission at the height of the civil war and has since taken to frequently visiting following the ceasefire; with the Traveler being a friend of the islanders, they are naturally his first choice to help with the search.

At Watatsumi, following leads from Sangonomiya samurai Shibata, who was initially assigned by Kokomi to spy on Heizou, the Traveler heads east, where they overhear a young man being inconvenienced by kairagi. After the Traveler defeats them, the young man seems to recognize them, having heard of their exploits even before the Sakoku Decree was lifted, and introduces himself as Heizou, who correctly intuits that they are on a commission from the Tenryou police station judging from the letter held by Paimon, who he thinks is a "Voice," an external voice box, much to her annoyance. Asked by the Traveler about his purpose in the island, Heizou reveals that, during the civil war, Takayuki sent him on an espionage mission on Sangonomiya forces, but has since abandoned it out of disdain for the then-Tenryou Commissioner and lingered on to savor its sights. [The Intuitive Commission] In addition, he also has a recurring hunch that something is missing from the island; for this purpose he allowed himself to be captured by the kairagi, and could have just fought his way out but for the Traveler's intervention, who can then either join his investigation or urge him to report back to the Tenryou Commission.

[Branch A] The Missing Thing

[The Camp's Secret] If the Traveler chooses to help Heizou with investigating his hunch over a missing something from Watatsumi, they and Paimon start scouring for stolen loot from the kairagi camp and find Sango Pearls and Crystal Marrows presumably stolen from the Sangonomiya Shrine, where the island's most precious resources are stored, so he decides to visit there. With the loot in tow, they report back to Shibata, and later Gorou, who confirms that there has been a series of thefts kept confidential lest the news undermine confidence in Watatsumi's recovering economy, and that according to his intel the loot was meant for a smuggling ring operating out of Ritou. Heizou then agrees to help investigate the thefts.

[A Time for Whispers] Just outside the Shrine, Heizou confides to the Traveler and Paimon his suspicions about Gorou's motives given the convenient timing of his arrival, noting that he has been under surveillance since he first arrived, and that the request to investigate the ring in Ritou may be a distraction. Convinced, the Traveler agrees to help with his investigations, starting with Todoroki, leader of a merchant caravan.

[An Unexpected Discovery] Later that night in Bourou, the Traveler, Paimon, and Heizou stalk Todoroki and find him meeting some Sangonomiya soldiers, who present him his goods recovered from a group of bandits, which they credit with the improvement of life in Watatsumi. After Todoroki left, Heizou, noting that Todoroki takes orders from Gorou, inspects the goods, only to find Glaze Lilies and Qingxin flowers, all medicinal herbs from Liyue. [Middleman] Gorou concludes that these may have been smuggled to avoid the Kanjou Commission's prohibitive tariffs had it passed through Ritou. His investigation is interrupted when Tokuda and Masashi, the soldiers from earlier, return to the supplies, though they stand down upon recognizing the Traveler from their brief stint as Resistance captain, more specifically the time they helped treat their wounds. They explain that they have been assigned under Todoroki, who is among the first to join Kokomi's summons for a caravan.

At the two soldiers' direction, Heizou heads to a camp north of Bourou where the bandits are being held to interrogate them. There, they confess that they stole the goods from a small merchant ship only to be immediately arrested, as well as recalling a time when their loot of Sango Pearls and Crystal Marrows were stolen by a group of pirates led by a woman with an eyepatch. Intuiting that the bandits may have ran afoul of Beidou and the Crux Fleet, Paimon nearly lets slip, before she catches herself and, together with the Traveler, denies knowing any pirate. Heizou suspects that Todoroki is in cahoots with the pirates while Gorou covers up the dealings, and resolves to confront them tomorrow.

[Confrontation] The following morning at Sangonomiya Shrine, Heizou confronts Todoroki and accuses him of illegal trade, which Todoroki denies and threatens to call Tokuda and Masashi on him and the Traveler. Before the situation escalated, Gorou intervenes and admits to concealing the truth to Heizou, as well as introduces the Traveler to Todoroki as a trusted ally. Todoroki, however, is unmoved, revealing himself to be a broken man embittered both by the island's dire agricultural state, citing his past work as farmer, and the deaths of his two sons, both Resistance soldiers, the elder in battle and the younger to injuries, and even urges to keep the two detained until the Kanjou Commission passes a commodity tax bill in a few months' time to normalize trade relations between the Shogunate and Watatsumi.

Having understood the situation, and to Todoroki's surprise, Heizou volunteers to stay in Watatsumi for a while longer, claiming he also wanted to enjoy its serene atmosphere while it lasts before the tourists come in, as well as requests Gorou to exempt the Traveler, which he accepts, before inviting the Traveler to a private conversation. Should the Traveler linger on for a bit, they learn from Gorou that the commodity bill may have been negotiated upon by both Kokomi and Miko with the Kanjou Commission around the same time as the Irodori Festival.

At a vista overlooking the rest of Watatsumi, Heizou thanks the Traveler for helping him find his direction. As for the thing he was looking for, Heizou realized that what he has been searching for is the vitality and courage of the people of Watatsumi in the face of hardship [Ending A: Memories Do Not Evaporate].

[Branch B] Report Back

[The Police Station Register] If the Traveler convinces Heizou to report back to the Tenryou Commission, they and Paimon return to the police station, where Heizou is confronted by Kujou Sara herself, both for his truancy and his elusiveness such that his co-workers had to resort to outsourcing the search. At Heizou's cue, the Traveler and Paimon claim that he is conducting a personal investigation, an excuse Sara accepts; in exchange, she asks that the Traveler supervise Heizou for the day, before handing him a complaint letter, to the puzzlement of his co-workers, who know Heizou as a man of impeccable work ethic in spite of his quirky personality.

[The Three Case Files] At Heizou's request, the Traveler peruses the police station's dossiers. Amidst such trivial cases as a missing dog and complaints about Itto's antics, the Traveler is intrigued with a letter approving Heizou's request to host an anti-fraud public awareness event, the speed with which it was approved Heizou attributes to the Tenryou Commission's increased efficiency since Kamaji's ascent as interim Commissioner; despite his doubts about the effectiveness of his campaign, he decides to press on and invites the Traveler to start scouting for actors. Alternatively, had the Traveler presented him the two other case files or at their encouragement, Heizou will concentrate instead on the complaint letter; they learn that it was filed by Sango, with whom he had a fraught relationship, accusing him of abusing his power and covering up details about a criminal case involving Ryuuji a few years ago.

[Branch B-A] Heizou Talks Fraud

[The Shrewd Lady of the Grand Narukami Shrine] If the Traveler and Paimon opt to help Heizou organize his anti-fraud campaign, they start scouting for actors at the Grand Narukami Shrine, where the trio meet Kano Nana, who is revealed to be Heizou's cousin; intuiting his purpose for visiting, she brings forth Etsu, a woman undertaking community service at the Shrine as alternative to prison time for fraud, who alternates between firty and mildly vitriolic words with Heizou over his role in her arrest before the latter offers her to participate in his event in exchange for shaving three days off of her community service.

[The Cunning One of Inazuma] Next, the trio descend onto Inazuma City to recruit Iba, an elderly ex-businessman also convicted of fraud, to which he turned after his old mercantile guild was upstaged by the International Trade Association, but whose sentence was also commuted by Heizou to a fine, forcing the obstinate man's participation by claiming that his granddaughter Kazumi has been informed of the event, as well as offering him enough Mora to fund her overseas travels.

["The Prince of Mischief in Hanamizaka"] With Etsu and Iba set to role-play as scammers, Heizou now needs to find someone to play the victim. At the Traveler and Paimon's recommendation, he settles for Itto, who they find having just won an Onikabuto from a child. Itto recognizes Heizou as the one who frequently brought him Lavender Melon in prison at Shinobu's behest; in turn, Heizou bribes him with a rare Onikabuto species into abandoning his plans to participate in a beetle-battle tournament occuring at the same time as his event.

[The Curtain Rises] The following night at Hanamizaka, Heizou begins his anti-fraud awareness event, narrating a stage play where Itto, portraying a Tenryou doushin, is approached by Etsu and Iba, playing a granddaughter-grandfather pair of scammers, to report on the latter having thrice fallen for mail-money scams: the first, from someone claiming to be the Raiden Shogun begging for ransom after she was kidnapped by the Crux Fleet, with the promise of promoting her savior to general; the second, from Ms. Hina, who is raising funds to publish a photobook, promising donors with a limited-edition signed photograph; and the third, from Itto himself, who needs bail money after he was imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. Each time, Itto identifies them as obvious scams, but then Etsu claims that the money was meant to expand Iba's Onikabuto farm for a lucrative business contract, and begs half a million Mora from Itto in exchange for partial ownership of the farm. His fondness for Onikabuto appealed to, Itto agrees to help, before breaking character to ask Heizou of his salary; in turn, Heizou improvises his script to indicate that Itto has just received his salary, which is exactly half a million Mora, which Itto notes is well beyond a doushin's regular salary. With Itto struggling to stick to the script, Heizou motions to the Traveler to help him out.

If the Traveler warns Itto that his character is falling for an obvious scam, he relents, intuits that Etsu and Iba are trying to defraud him with an offer that is too good to be true, and has them arrested. In the aftermath, after Heizou imparts a lesson about how scammers need only a few foolish victims to get their way, he gifts Itto the limited-edition Onikabuto, only for Itto to realize that it is but a woodcarving and angrily chases after Heizou, who blames him for not noticing so based on a photograph he showed earlier, dragging away the Traveler while Paimon tries to restrain Itto [Ending B: Free Onikabuto Lunch].

On the other hand, if they tell Itto to follow his heart, he goes completely off-script and introduces a plot twist where he reveals himself to also be a scammer who, having heeded his conscience, apologize to Etsu and Iba for nearly defrauding them with a fake check and promises to raise the funds. In the aftermath, Itto learns that his character was supposed to be the one being defrauded, though Heizou reinterprets it as Itto protecting his salary in a roundabout fashion, before admitting that he, too, had been conned. He then presents Itto the limited-edition Onikabuto promised to him, who then realizes it was but a woodcarving, which Heizou claims he got conned into purchasing for a hefty sum. Rather than get angry at Heizou, Itto sympathizes at his plight and strikes a friendship with the young doushin [Ending C: The Three Undeceivables].

[Branch B-B] Long-Sealed Mystery]

[Sango's Complaint Letter] If the Traveler encourages Heizou to address Sango's complaints against him, they and Paimon head to the Bantan Sango Detective Agency, where Heizou gets a cold reception from the private eye, who demands that he disclose the truth about a years-old case involving Ryuuji on pain of writing more complaint letters despite Heizou claiming the case was closed long ago. Ryuuji explains to the Traveler and Paimon that several years ago, he, a former Tenryou doushin, was named prime suspect in the murder of the then-chief, and though Sango cleared his name, her friendship with Heizou, with whom she co-founded the Detective Agency, became strained after the latter joined the Tenryou Commission, even believing he is helping with the coverup given the suspicious speed with which she solved the case, despite Heizou claiming he only joined long afterward, that he only reopened the case much later, and confirmed that the suspect Sango identified was indeed the murderer. To appease Sango, he allows the Traveler access to the Tenryou Commission's case files and conduct an independent investigation, with the latter declining monetary compensation as proof of their trustworthiness.

[Ryuuji's Curious Case] At the police station, while waiting for Heizou to collect files related to Ryuuji's case, the Traveler talks with Owada, a yoriki and former senior of Ryuuji who also worked on his case. According to him, it involved the assassination of Takatsukasa Isamu, then-police chief and younger brother of Takatsukasa Clan head Susumu, well-loved for his keen intellect and courage; furthermore, none in the station believe Ryuuji guilty, given his loyalty to Isamu, who was also his adoptive father. Uesugi interjects and adds that Ryuuji may have been scapegoated by Kujou Takayuki, who sought to eliminate such a potential threat to his clan's hegemony as Isamu, at the time widely tipped to succeed him as Tenryou Commissioner, and thus has Sara hastily imprison Ryuuji. Both men also identify the assassin as Shiroyama, the station's forensic expert, who made Ryuuji a suspect by placing the poison he used on Isamu in his place, though he was later identified by Sango after also finding the poison in his office and charged with murder, albeit posthumously after he hung himself in his office. Uesugi believes Sango may have been hired by the Takatsukasa and that Shiroyama was under orders from Takayuki, who then abandoned him as her investigations closed in on him, which Owada dismisses as conspiracy theory. After a while, Heizou returns with the files and warns the Traveler and Paimon not to believe hearsay, instead encouraging them to cross-reference all available evidence before coming to their own conclusions.

[The Motive?] Inside the police station, the Traveler reads the files Heizou brought out: Isamu's autopsy report; Ryuuji's account of Isamu's final days; Shiroyama's suicide note; Isamu's letter to Shiroyama; Ryuuji and Shiroyama's conviction papers; the toxicology report on the poison used on Isamu; and a research log from Shiroyama's office with a few pages torn.

The Traveler then starts piecing together the truth, starting with Shiroyama's motive. According to his suicide note, Shiroyama poisoned Isamu as revenge for threatening his family unless he concocts for him a poison to use against his political enemies; in this light, they interpret Isamu's letter to Shiroyama, which on paper is him asking for an update on a task assigned to the latter, as well as informing him that he has recently visited his then-pregnant wife and helped replenish her health supplements, as an implicit death threat. [The Modus Operandi?] Next, based on Isamu's autopsy report, Shiroyama's suicide note, and the toxicology report, the Traveler concludes that Shiroyama used a synthetic poison, which are normally imported through the International Trade Association, usually appears as white powder, and dissolves in liquid substances, such as the cold medicine Isamu was taking at the time. [Things Clear Up] Furthermore, regarding Ryuuji and Shiroyama's convictions, both signed by Sara, the Traveler noticed that the former was sentenced to prison, and the latter with death, despite both being accused of the same crime; Heizou reveals that at the time Sara, already under pressure from all sides to immediately deliver on the case, nevertheless found irregularities in Ryuuji's case and thus commuted his sentence from death to temporary incarceration, thus disproving rumors that she was solely under pressure from Takayuki and vouching for her integrity.

With most of the evidence gathered, the Traveler nevertheless notices that something is still amiss, and correctly concludes that there are still pieces of evidence missing from the police record, namely the soluble toxin and the missing pages from Shiroyama's research log.

[The Final Clue] Outside the police station, Heizou reveals that all this time he has the missing pages from the research log. Reading its contents, the Traveler concludes that the poison was not introduced into the cold medicine, but naturally generated by a combination of Isamu's herbal cold medicine and fish-liver paste Shiroyama asked Ryuuji to bring to Isamu as an immunity booster, both of which are otherwise harmless when taken separately. Heizou then reveals that he found the missing pages underneath a stockpile of fish-liver paste from Takayuki's secret warehouse, to which he was given access by Sara to help him build her case against her own adoptive father following his fall from grace.

With all pieces of evidence gathered, Heizou reconstructs the history of the crime. Isamu took notice of the poison-making skills of Shiroyama, a former personal aide of Takayuki who continued his research through secret funding from the then-Tenryou Commissioner even after he was assigned to the police staton, and tried to convince him to make some for himself, before resorting to veiled threats to his family when Shiroyama proved inflexible. Having caught wind of Isamu's threats, Takayuki ordered Shiroyama to poison the police station chief before scapegoating Ryuuji by taking advantage of the fact that he was an unwitting accomplice by having brought Shiroyama fish-liver paste on his orders. However, when Sango began her independent investigation, Takayuki threw Shiroyama to the wolves, thus leaving him with little recourse but suicide, even as he stole the recipe so he can replicate it any time at his pleasure. Paimon, after fuming over the breadth of Takayuki's crimes, realizes that Heizou hid the truth and left Bantan Sango's agency to protect Ryuuji both from potential litigation as well as the anguish of realizing he unwittingly helped kill his adoptive father; in turn, Heizou admits that he is unsure whether he did the right thing by concealing the truth from Ryuuji, and asks the Traveler to join him back at the Agency to help him decide.

[Your Answer] If the Traveler decides to simply corroborate Heizou's conclusion that Shiroyama was indeed the assassin, an annoyed Sango accuses Heizou of misleading the Traveler, with Ryuuji trying to come between her and Heizou, the Traveler, and Paimon [Ending D: There's One Secret].

On the other hand, if the Traveler admits that Heizou did hide some evidence, albeit related to the whole, awful truth of Isamu's death, both Sango and Ryuuji are shocked at the revelations as well as the roles they played in the way the case unfolded; Ryuuji, feeling physically ill, excused himself, while Sango asks Heizou, the Traveler, and Paimon to leave her be for the day while both of them process their thoughts.

The following morning, the trio meet Sango again, who has come to understand why Heizou left, and informs them that Ryuuji has also returned to work and is currently buying something from Netsuke no Gen Crafts. There, they find Ryuuji buying a toy for a little girl who he introduces as Chika, Isamu's posthumous daughter and hence his adoptive little sister; in turn, he introduces Heizou, the Traveler, and Paimon as good friends of Isamu, promising her to tell her everything about him once she comes of age, with the trio understanding that he wants to protect her innocence for as long as he can [Ending E: The Famous Detective's Principles].