Turned Into Gacha?! - 551 - 560
Turned Into Gacha?! - 551
--+--
"Sushang, what do you think?"
Just as the girl was pondering how to bring Focalors over to their side as well, Furina's voice rang out beside her, calling her name.
"Huh?"
Lost in thought, she was momentarily startled by the question.
And that only made her already somewhat unreliable appearance seem even more... concerning.
However, Furina didn't mind that aspect much; after all, it was precisely this personality of hers that made Furina feel more at ease and relaxed.
Besides, since Sushang had handed over the plans and arrangements for their upcoming life to her, she could easily make up for any shortcomings in that department.
"Just now, this Miss Syr mentioned that we might want to consider the Freya Familia," Furina explained.
"The Freya Familia is currently the strongest in Orario. According to Miss Syr, their deity doesn't manage her followers with a heavy hand; she is a god who attracts others through her personal charisma."
"As for how to join, it seems you just need to go to the Familia's entrance and apply, and someone will review your request."
Huh? Personal charisma?
While Sushang wasn't acquainted with the Freya of this world, that didn't mean she was ignorant of the Freya from mythology.
To speak of personal charisma... she supposed she couldn't exactly deny that?
The girl’s strange expression drew a look of confusion from Furina.
Of course, she wouldn't take Syr's word as absolute gospel, but the look on Sushang's face... it seemed she had quite a bit of resistance toward that Freya Familia?
Syr was naturally keeping a close eye on their expressions. Noticing Sushang's reaction, she tightened her grip on her plate, her knuckles whitening, and her body tensed up slightly.
She knew Freya better than anyone, and she was well aware that, in the eyes of some, Freya’s reputation was less than stellar.
Could it be that Sushang just happened to be one of those people who disliked Freya?
That was truly... a detail that made her want to possess her even more.
"Thank you for the recommendation, Syr, but Furina and I have only just arrived. Rather than rushing toward a single Familia with a fixed target, we’d prefer to get a better understanding of the situation here before making any plans."
Sushang didn't want to let down the girl’s kindness, so she offered a tactful deflection.
It seems some things only reveal their potential when you put a little pressure on them.
Furina mentally noted Sushang's response. The girl had looked so dim-witted earlier, yet now, just to avoid making someone feel uncomfortable, she had suddenly become quick-witted and sharp.
Regarding the situation, her own view wasn't much different. Although they said you could leave a Familia to join another, Furina was certain that such a departure couldn't possibly be without cost.
If possible, she also hoped to join a Familia that truly suited their hearts' desires.
But another problem remained stuck in the back of Furina's mind.
While they didn't need to worry about expenses for the time being, she had come here to grow stronger.
The longer they waited to join a Familia, the more time they would waste, which was certainly not a good thing.
Still... it was also a fact that some things couldn't be rushed.
The three of them finished the topic of Familias with their own varied thoughts. Syr wondered how to create an opportunity to bring the two into the Freya Familia—even if they didn't join right away, it didn't matter; she could afford to wait.
Furina was contemplating how to strike a balance between efficiency and personal preference.
As for Sushang... she was busy devouring her meal while furiously spamming the Herrscher of Sentience.
[Herrscher of Sentience: It’s rare for you to ask this old Immortal for a favor, and this is such a trivial matter?]
[Herrscher of Sentience: Still, you came to the right person. Separating consciousness and reshaping a physical body is something I can do in my sleep. Just wait for word from me!]
[Herrscher of Sentience: Don’t you worry about the rest; the great Lady Herrscher of Sentience will solve it for you.]
[Herrscher of Sentience: Though... I'm glad this old Immortal can't see your identity card this time, otherwise I’d have to test how your progress with the Edge of Taixuan is coming along.]
[Sushang: ...But Senti, this Sushang isn't that Li Sushang.]
There was no reply.
Having just swiped a pot of tea from the Marshal, the Herrscher of Sentience followed the coordinates and arrived directly at a gorgeously decorated palace.
Before anyone around could sense that something was wrong, she easily concealed herself.
As an expert in consciousness, such a task was child's play for her. Even if she walked right past people, they would simply ignore her.
After effortlessly gleaning information about the Opera House and the Oratrice from the minds of others, she shifted her form and appeared before the Oratrice.
Focalors: ?!
How did this person suddenly appear here? Who was she?
"So you're Focalors? Secluding yourself in here all day—even this old Immortal hasn't seen many as 'pure' as you." The Herrscher of Sentience peered at the machine, her tone light and carefree, yet it sent cold sweat running down Focalors' back.
What the...!
Although that wasn't exactly what she thought, the sentiment was much the same.
She didn't know who this person was. Could she be one of the Shades from the side of Heavenly Principles? Had her actions been discovered?
But 'this old Immortal'? It sounded like something from Liyue. Looking closer, her attire seemed to follow a Liyue-esque style as well.
"Alright, quit the act. This old Immortal is here to send you to a place." The Herrscher of Sentience was merely acting as a messenger, so she couldn't be bothered with small talk.
"A disciple of an 'old fossil' I’m—well, let's call it 'acquainted' with—is currently with the person you're looking for. See the details for yourself."
With that, she directly transmitted the memories Sushang had received from Herta and passed them on to Focalors.
It sounded abstract, but for entities like them, memory was far from a mere concept; if they wished, they could even manifest memories into physical form.
After finishing the contents, Focalors stood stunned...
She certainly didn't possess intelligence equal to that of the great Herta, but she possessed something Herta did not: a deep understanding of Furina.
Therefore, the conclusions Herta had drawn, Focalors could see just as clearly.
The fact that Furina viewed herself as the 'mastermind behind the scenes' was not unexpected, yet seeing it from this perspective was undeniably difficult to watch.
Difficult to watch, but beyond that, she did indeed see more. That girl named Sushang, and this so-called Immortal before her, could be safely confirmed as not being native to the Teyvat continent.
People from beyond the sky... Descenders, then?
So why was that girl named Sushang helping Furina return? Did this have anything to do with her master, the one called an 'old fossil'?
What was the relationship between that 'old fossil' and the Immortal before her? What was their relationship with the Heavenly Principles? What benefit was there for them in helping Furina return?
Or, perhaps, what benefit was there for them in Furina's return and her breaking of the prophecy?
"You don't need to overthink benefits or conspiracies; that's just borrowing trouble." As the Herrscher of Consciousness, there was no one who understood the human heart better than her.
"She does these things simply because she wants to, or to put it bluntly, she and that 'old fossil' don't have the talent for playing mind games."
Her voice remained light and casual, yet there was a faint signal of displeasure mixed in.
Was it because she was annoyed by the questioning of their motives? Or was it because... she cared deeply about the image of those two people she mentioned?
Focalors didn't want to dig deeper. She knew exactly what kind of monsters and deities these Descenders were.
Her goal had never been to play a game of chess against them, but rather to find a way to survive within the tidal waves they created.
"Then... what should I do?"
--+--
Turned Into Gacha?! - 552
--+--
"This is simple enough."
Seeing her grasp the situation and agree to cooperate so quickly, the Herrscher of Sentience nodded with satisfaction.
On the other side, after bidding farewell to Syr, Sushang and Furina began to ponder their living arrangements.
Although Furina was far more concerned about matters regarding the Familia, Sushang felt completely at ease with Senti handling things.
Once Focalors arrived, the two of them wouldn't need to worry about such trifles.
What did require concern, however, was Focalors' identity and the establishment of the Familia itself.
According to the situation Syr had explained to them, the divine blessing that gods carved onto people manifested externally as unique runes and divine blood—two things Focalors would never possess.
The runes were one thing, but divine blood was something entirely unrelated to Focalors.
Still... for her, the former was actually the more difficult hurdle.
Since identity cards were designed precisely for situations like this, as long as Focalors was given a local resident registration, there would naturally be no need to worry about the lack of divine blood.
Besides, Syr was merely a mortal; what exactly a god’s blessing entailed remained uncertain. The reason it was described as an external manifestation was simply because the information had come from Syr’s own account.
There was no point in overthinking it for now.
Regarding a place to stay, Sushang asked for the opinion of Furina, who had already been through this experience. Furina’s reply was blunt.
"I just found a random inn and settled in."
She continued, "That inn isn’t bad. We can stay there before joining a Familia. Although the lodging fee isn't exactly cheap, as long as it's only for a short time, our current operating funds will be just fine."
In truth, if she were on her own, she might have already started looking for somewhere more affordable.
After all, her income today had seen a sharp decline, something far beyond what the word 'fluctuation' could describe.
Until she found her next source of income, she naturally had to pinch pennies where she could.
But now there were two of them, and Sushang had come specifically to protect her. Even if it meant stretching her resources, she wanted to provide a decent place for Sushang to stay.
Moreover, the gold Sushang had produced was more than enough to serve as a cushion once the money earned from her street performances ran dry.
"But let's leave that for later. The most pressing matter is to gather more information about the various Familias."
Furina added, "Although I came here early and learned a few things about the situation, as you know, I haven't exactly been collecting intelligence on the Familias."
"According to Miss Syr, we can go to the Guild to inquire about matters regarding them."
The Guild, huh.
Sushang had no objections to this. Even though she had already decided to have Focalors serve as their Familia’s deity, it wouldn't hurt to understand the situation with other Familias, as they would be dealing with each other eventually.
The destination wasn't far; it was the very same northwest main street Sushang had entered upon arriving in Orario, home to the most magnificent building nearest to the outer walls.
The Pantheon—or rather, the headquarters of the Guild—stood right there.
Sushang had been captivated by the architecture when she first entered the city; she hadn't realized it was actually the Guild.
Compared to Sushang, Furina didn't feel much awe. Her mind was entirely consumed by what her future Familia should look like.
What if there wasn't one that suited her preferences? Should she endure a place she disliked for the sake of resources and her future?
The responsibility she shouldered made her afraid to slack off in her own development, but to join a disliked Familia solely for resources...
As the two entered the Guild's lobby, they attracted quite a few gazes. There was no need to mention Furina; although she hadn't joined a Familia yet, she had gained considerable fame due to her beautiful singing voice and appearance.
The sight of major gods fighting over her was a piece of gossip that could be considered 'scandalous' even in Orario.
As for why Sushang attracted attention, it was simple.
She was striking and unique—those two reasons were more than enough.
Of course, the two didn't take the onlookers' stares to heart. Furina walked straight toward the front desk with her head held high. There were quite a few people in the lobby, but for adventurers, the Guild usually served only one purpose: selling magic stones.
Even those who needed to sign contracts under the Guild's supervision rarely lingered at the front desk.
As a result, the two arrived unimpeded before a staff member with long, golden hair.
"Hello. We are both new to this city and would like to inquire about matters regarding the Familias." Furina’s demeanor was composed and elegant; she seemed less like an adventurer about to join a Familia and more like a young lady out on a leisurely excursion.
However, as a receptionist, the staff member had seen it all. She maintained a smile, keeping her tone professional.
"If you wish to learn about the Familias, you may fill out your personal information on the second floor. Your profile will then be available for various Familias to review. Should a Familia take an interest and send you an invitation, the Guild will forward it to your registered address."
"And if we want to know about the Familias before joining? Such as information about their gods or the overall atmosphere of the group?"
Furina nodded; she understood the process the staff member described, but it hadn't fully answered her question.
Seeing her persist, the staff member subtly observed the surroundings before leaning in.
"Normally, you would need to find out such things through your own means... but since no one else is waiting for service, I can give you a brief introduction..."
She was only halfway through her sentence when a much louder voice from behind them interrupted: "What are you curious about? You can just ask us, Furina~"
Sushang hadn't heard this voice before, but Furina recognized it.
She turned around toward the sound and saw a girl with messy, short hair and tanned skin—an Amazon.
"You are... from the Loki Familia..."
Furina carefully recalled the girl's name. In her memory, she had been with three other members of the Loki Familia. It started because one of them, an elf girl, had been moved by her performance and had come over to talk.
That encounter had conveniently helped her extricate herself from others trying to recruit her.
At the time, she didn't want to seem like she was misunderstanding their kindness for a demand for repayment, so despite their friendly interaction, they hadn't maintained close contact.
"Tiona! That's my name." The Amazon girl didn't mind the hesitation in Furina's reaction; she hadn't introduced herself at the time, so it was perfectly normal for her not to remember.
She grinned, looked at Furina, and then shifted her gaze to Sushang, her eyes lighting up.
Though she couldn't say why, she felt a strange affinity for this brown-haired girl, as if they were kindred spirits.
"My apologies back then..."
"No need to apologize! Forget that, are you finally planning on joining a Familia?" Tiona wasn't one for stiff social niceties. She didn't know much about art, but she had a pretty good impression of Furina.
Seeing them bump into each other again, she felt it must be fate.
Recalling that Loki had also mentioned wanting to recruit her, Tiona, who hadn't paid much attention to it before, suddenly felt her interest pique.
The two of them seemed to be together. If Furina joined, would this girl join as well?
--+--
Turned Into Gacha?! - 553
--+--
"I hadn’t planned on staying here for long, so I never really thought about joining a Familia."
Fearing that her companion might think she had been playing hard to get, Furina explained, "Now that Sushang is here, I’ve changed my mind."
"If Miss Tiona is willing to tell me more about the various Familias, I’m happy to offer what I can in return."
Her phrasing carried a certain sense of distance. Tiona, being an Amazon, wasn't particularly fond of such formal, guarded speech, but she was used to it by now; she had long since trained herself to translate such talk into the straightforward language she preferred.
"Hahaha, don't worry about any returns! Let’s just chat like normal people. I was just sitting here waiting for someone anyway, and I was getting bored!"
The Amazon girl waved her hand with a grin and pointed toward a nearby seat. "Let’s go over there and talk!"
Off to the side, the staff member's expression darkened as they watched Tiona whisk the two of them away.
That person from the Loki Familia definitely won’t say anything good about the Freya Familia... But if I speak up now, it’ll seem too deliberate.
As it turned out, the staff member’s intuition was spot on.
Once they were seated, Tiona bluntly asked for Sushang’s name.
Her directness didn't quite match the social etiquette Furina was accustomed to, but far from feeling offended, Furina found herself quite taken by it.
"My name is Li Sushang. You can just call me Sushang!" Sushang, who had left the decision-making to Furina, was surprised to find herself being addressed directly.
This girl with the bronze skin seems to have taken an immediate liking to me, doesn't she?
"Li Sushang? What a strange name."
Tiona tried her best to tame her tongue and adjust her tone, but she ended up butchering it with a clunky "Su-shang."
The awkward pronunciation made Furina smile. Names from Liyue were indeed difficult for outsiders; they followed naming conventions and phonetic patterns quite different from other nations.
While the naming style in Inazuma was somewhat similar to Liyue's, the pronunciation was significantly simpler.
Sushang scratched the back of her head, feeling a bit embarrassed. "It’s fine! Just call me whatever you’re comfortable with!"
"I really like you!" Seeing her attitude, Tiona immediately stopped worrying about the pronunciation and laughed. "The moment I saw you, I just knew our personalities would click!"
"Huh?"
The two girls exchanged a puzzled look.
If this were between two people of the opposite sex, one might call it love at first sight, but what exactly was this situation?
"I like your straightforward way of speaking, Miss Tiona! You know what they say—a chance meeting is like reconnecting with an old friend!" Though she wasn't entirely sure how to describe it, Sushang responded with equal kindness to the girl’s warmth.
"A chance meeting... is like an old friend?"
Tiona wasn't sure where that saying came from, as she had no idea where Sushang was from, but she liked the sentiment.
It was true! She had looked at Sushang and just felt that they shared a common spark—wasn't that just like being friends?
Furina: "..."
Don't you mean, "Meeting by chance is like finding a long-lost friend"?
She studied Sushang’s expression carefully and realized she wasn't hiding her identity by deliberately misquoting—she truly believed that was the phrase, and she even looked quite proud of it.
Isn't that an old Liyue saying? Are you sure you’re not from Teyvat?
No... could it be that because the two worlds are similar but distinct, the language has shifted? Perhaps in Sushang’s homeland, that is exactly how the saying goes?
While Furina was still deep in thought, Sushang had already moved the conversation forward.
"It’s so lucky that we’ve met a reliable local right after arriving! We were just wondering where we could learn as much as possible about the various Familias."
Touched by the word "reliable," Tiona patted her flat chest and grinned.
"Leave it to me! I don't usually pay much attention to the other Familias, but I pick things up when I'm chatting. Which ones are you interested in? Actually, why not just join the Loki Familia?"
"Our atmosphere is great! And aside from the mandatory monthly activity requirements, there aren't any complicated rules!"
Isn't this "dating" phase moving a bit too fast?
Furina composed herself, finally returning to her calm state.
"Miss Tiona, could you perhaps share your own perspective and tell us about the Familias that left an impression on you?"
"Familias that left an impression?" Tiona thought for a moment and then rattled off a list like a machine gun. Furina processed the information, synthesizing it into her own understanding:
Ganesha Familia: Commissioned by the Guild to maintain order in Orario, often hosting entertainment events.
Hephaestus Familia: The most famous smithing Familia in Orario, with four branches in Babel. According to Tiona, weapons are arguably the city's greatest consumable—and luxury—item.
Dian Cecht Familia: The most famous healing Familia in Orario, selling medicine and providing treatment to adventurers.
Demeter Familia: The largest agricultural Familia, responsible for the city’s vegetable and fruit supply.
Ishtar Familia: Known for controlling all the brothels in the Pleasure Quarter.
The volume of information was substantial.
At the very least, Furina now understood that while the Guild held significant power in this city, it didn't manage every aspect of urban life—in fact, it seemed to take a hands-off approach to many things.
Is that really the case, or is it just the surface appearance?
As a god of a nation, Furina wasn't used to a city lacking a central, official authority. Even in Fontaine, there were places beyond the reach of the Court, but everyone knew where the authority lay, and everyone knew whom to go to for justice if something went wrong.
Even in free-spirited Mondstadt, there were still the Knights of Favonius and the Church.
This Guild is even more... "free" than the Knights and the Church?
Furina couldn't find the right words to express her thoughts.
But she didn't need to dwell on it; after all, she didn't need to worry about how to manage a city outside of Fontaine.
Among all of Tiona’s descriptions, two Familias stood out to Furina. One was, naturally, the Loki Familia—the one Tiona was so passionately recommending.
It was a powerful, top-tier organization, well-funded, low-stress, with close-knit members and a down-to-earth deity. It seemed like an excellent choice.
The other was the Freya Familia, which Syr had recommended earlier.
Compared to the Loki Familia, Tiona didn't have many positive things to say about Freya’s. That was understandable, given they were competitors.
Yet, from Tiona’s brief remarks, Furina gleaned a key detail: although the Freya Familia was hailed as the strongest, it didn't seem particularly unified or harmonious—it sounded as though its members were all pursuing their own interests and agendas.
So far, Furina couldn't tell if this was just a biased opinion from Tiona, the generally accepted truth, or simply how things actually were.
However, based on the information gathered, and observing how the four members of the Loki Familia (Tiona included) interacted with one another, she couldn't help but feel that perhaps the Loki Familia was, indeed, her best choice.
--+--
Turned Into Gacha?! - 554
--+--
With a rough idea of what she wanted to know, Furina skillfully and naturally steered the conversation, shifting from her general impressions of the Familia to the members within it, and eventually to Tiona's daily life.
She was essentially fishing for information from Tiona, hoping to gain a deeper insight into the inner workings of the Loki Familia.
Tiona, who always acted on her intuition and disliked reading between the lines or overthinking things, openly answered each of Furina's questions.
Having sensed no malice from Furina—and receiving no warning signals from her intuition—she felt perfectly comfortable speaking her mind.
After their engaging and easy-going conversation, the trio noticed an Amazon with sleek, long hair enter the Guild hall. She scanned the room before locking eyes on their group.
Although Furina and Sushang were newcomers, even with their preconceived notions, they could tell this Amazon woman was different.
Whatever other Amazons were like, she was certainly a far cry from Tiona.
"Oh? Tione! Over here!"
"Didn't you say you wanted to find some suitable quests to earn money...? Hmm? Ms. Furina?" The Amazon woman, significantly more mature in both height and physique than Tiona, looked at the white-haired girl with surprise.
"It’s a pleasure to see you again, Ms. Tiona." Furina offered a polite, graceful smile.
"Oh... I’m happy to see you again, too."
Her elegant manners and composed posture made her seem like the very template of a 'lady' stepping off an opera stage. Tione found herself subconsciously straightening her back, wishing to align her own demeanor with that of a 'lady.'
"I didn't expect to see you here, Ms. Furina. And this is..."
"Li Sushang! Just call me Sushang!"
The brown-haired girl’s smile differed from Furina’s; it was casual, hearty, and displayed a set of white teeth, looking altogether warm and straightforward. "Are you Tiona’s sister? Tiona was just mentioning you to us!"
"Mentioning me...?"
Tione darted a glance at the Amazon girl on the sofa, certain that she hadn't said anything flattering.
Tiona, meanwhile, scooted over with enthusiasm to make room, smiling, "I’m trying to convince Sushang and Furina to join the Loki Familia! Loki has been pestering everyone about wanting Furina to join, hasn't she?"
That was true enough, but since when had Tione become so attentive to Loki’s antics?
Tione looked at the pair opposite her once more, then let her gaze settle on Sushang’s face. That explained it.
However...
"Do you plan on joining a Familia, Ms. Furina?" Tione asked, looking at her with some surprise.
"Yes. I hadn't planned on staying here long, so I never considered joining a Familia, but now..." Furina trailed off, looking as though there was some sensitive reason she couldn't disclose.
"I see."
In Orario, there were too many things that people had no control over—that was true both inside and outside the city—and there was an unspoken understanding among everyone not to pry too deeply into another person's past.
"I won't tell you that the Loki Familia is your best option; everyone has different reasons for joining a Familia. I just hope you can find one that suits you... Of course, that doesn't mean you aren't welcome here. If you do join, both Tiona and Loki would be delighted."
This Amazon woman, the elder sister, exuded an air of intellect that defied the typical Amazon stereotype.
Though her words sounded like mere pleasantries, both Sushang and Furina could sense the sincerity behind them.
"Alright, stop bothering Ms. Sushang and Ms. Furina with your chatter."
Tione turned back to Tiona, who had given up her seat, and gave her a deadpan look. "I'm here now, which means we don't exactly have time to kill, do we?"
"I wasn't slacking off!" Tiona complained. "I've already accepted a request!"
"Then let's get going immediately." Tione nodded, then waved at the two of them. "Well then, excuse us."
Both sides had made a fairly good first impression on the other, but they weren't exactly close, so they exchanged simple farewells.
Next up was heading upstairs to fill out their forms—this was the registration to obtain adventurer status.
Although they weren't in a Familia yet, they could register in advance and simply update their information later once they joined one.
Compared to the rather noisy atmosphere on the first floor, the second floor was undoubtedly much quieter, especially at the registration office.
They had expected quite a few people to be there, but in reality, there were fewer than ten people in the entire room.
After explaining their intent to register to the staff, they received standardized parchment forms. The characters on them were naturally not Teyvat script, but fortunately, the differences weren't drastic.
After a brief period of study, Furina could roughly understand the writing, though she would struggle if asked to write it herself. Or so she thought.
Upon actually holding the parchment, Furina was surprised to find that she could read the text fluently, as smoothly as her native tongue.
The staff member in the room then explained, "The parchment is imbued with a god's blessing. Even if you haven't joined a Familia, the blessing will assist you in filling out the form."
People from all over the world gathered in Orario, so languages were naturally diverse; the existence of such a blessing was quite necessary.
A god's blessing could do things like this? If one were to extrapolate, did that mean gaining a god's blessing allowed one to instantly comprehend languages they had never studied?
Though she found it surprising and magical, Furina quickly set aside her unnecessary thoughts and focused on the form. Sushang, naturally, did the same.
She had expected there to be a lot to fill out, but in reality, the content required was quite minimal: Name, Gender, Age, Place of Birth, Familia, and Adventurer Level.
There was absolutely nothing about 'Skills' or 'Magic,' nor was there any display of achievements like 'Number of Requests Completed.'
This seemed normal enough; an adventurer's status board didn't appear to be public information here. While the specific reason wasn't clear, it was likely an unspoken rule to protect the adventurers.
After quickly filling out her information, Furina looked over at Sushang, who had also finished.
The two stepped forward to hand the parchment to the staff member. The employee didn't speak immediately; they scrutinized the forms, then glanced at the two girls individually. Moments later, their 'ID photos' appeared in the blank space at the bottom of the parchment.
"Registration is complete." Only then did the staff member signal that they could leave, setting the parchment back on the table.
Furina, who had been wondering how a form like this would distinguish one person from another for the Familia, finally understood. So, it was all about the face.
--+--
Turned Into Gacha?! - 555
--+--
"First this, then this, after that this, and finally this!"
With the survival, sightseeing, and vacation guide dictated by the self-proclaimed Herrscher of Sentience still echoing in her mind, Focalors sighed softly as she looked down the street before her.
She assessed her current state.
She possessed little power, and this body had been crafted in a way she could not comprehend—according to that Herrscher, it was a "puppet" vessel.
It could house a human consciousness, and from the outside, it was indistinguishable from a normal person.
This particular puppet vessel was one she had crafted specifically for herself.
Focalors didn't know how far the Herrscher of Sentience had delved into such arts, but she still offered a few flattering compliments to appease the other's pride. After all, the woman had come to help her and Furina, and regardless of her actual capability, Focalors felt a sincere sense of gratitude.
She then turned her gaze to the silver card in her hand.
It was a card the Herrscher of Sentience had pressed into her palm before she arrived in this world. Based on what she had been told, this card would grant her recognition within this reality.
In other words, it would transform her from an "outworlder" into a "local."
Focalors felt a surge of curiosity about the person who could create such an object, as well as the card itself, but knowing they were not exactly close, she was forced to suppress those questions in her heart.
Just mentally recite "Use," I suppose.
As a burst of light flared from the card, a flood of knowledge and awareness—memories that had never existed before—rushed into her mind.
For an ordinary person, processing so much new information might have been overwhelming, but to a god like her, it was trivial.
Gods, Familias, Dungeons, Adventurers—a completely different worldview, entirely different deities, an entirely different world.
Once she had digested the memories, Focalors knew exactly what she had to do.
Honestly, upon learning that Furina had placed the weight of everything on her shoulders, Focalors felt a pang of heartache that overshadowed her own helplessness.
Furina had already endured too much pain, more than any human should ever have to bear, and the root of that suffering was her.
The torment, the sorrow, the endless days, the endless trials—if she could, Focalors did not want to add any more pressure or worry to Furina's life.
Even though Furina had likely pushed this situation onto her out of a subconscious need for self-preservation, she was more than willing to turn that assumption into reality.
With no known path ahead and no end in sight, Focalors hoped that in this strange world, so different from Teyvat, Furina might be able to live a little more freely and easily.
The day was already growing late. Taking a deep breath, Focalors set off toward the Guild.
--+--
Meanwhile.
Furina had spent the entire afternoon at the Guild with Sushang.
Conversations between people often revealed startling news—one could even gauge market trends, the integrity or corruption of officials, and social undercurrents. For Furina, this habit of gleaning insights from the smallest details had long since become an instinct, etched into her very marrow.
Quietly absorbing the various scraps of information, she checked the time as the crowd of adventurers began to thin.
Is it already dinner time...? Though both my body and mind are exhausted, it was well worth it.
The young girl was quite satisfied with the intelligence she had gathered. Even though the adventurers' exchanges were often colored by subjective emotions and biases, rationally filtering and processing that information was her specialty.
Pulling her thoughts back from their constant, rapid-fire calculations, Furina looked at the girl sitting across from her, only to discover that at some point, she had slumped onto the sofa with no regard for her image.
She was even wearing a ridiculous white eye mask, featuring a hand-drawn cartoon of wide, staring eyes—a piece of art that made Furina suspect the girl had drawn it herself.
"..."
Is this really the proper state for a bodyguard...?
No... now that I think about it, she isn't a professional bodyguard at all, just someone recruited by my "other self" to help...
Thinking of the girl's straightforward and lively nature, Furina let out a small sigh.
It was only natural that the previous situation had made her uncomfortable, but she herself had been so immersed in her own world that she hadn't considered Sushang's feelings.
Even if she was doing "important work," it was still only her work.
"Sushang." She called the girl's name. Seeing no reaction, she called a few more times.
Sleeping this soundly? In a crowded place like this?
There was nothing for it. Furina stood up, walked over to Sushang, and gently shook her shoulder: "Sushang, it's time for us to go."
“...”
Still no reaction.
This quality of sleep was so extreme that Furina didn't know whether to feel frustrated or envious. To be able to drift off so easily and sleep so soundly—perhaps that was a sign of a truly carefree spirit.
She pondered how to wake the girl up properly. Looking at her light snoring and the trace of drool at the corner of her mouth, a mischievous thought suddenly crossed her mind.
Leaning down until her face was right beside the brown-haired girl's ear, Furina whispered, "Class is dismissed, Sushang."
"Ah...?! Class is dismissed?!"
The girl, who had been sleeping soundly, jolted upright at the keywords, her posture awkward because she was still half-slumped on the sofa.
As her consciousness returned, Sushang finally relaxed and lifted the eye mask.
Seeing the smiling, pretty face in front of her, Sushang couldn't help but make a bitter face: "Furina, you scared the life out of me! I thought I’d been sent back to the academy to repeat a grade!"
"Is returning to the academy really that unbearable for you?" Furina laughed.
When they first met, she had seemed every bit the Liyue swordswoman, but after only half a day together, that filter had been thoroughly shattered in Furina's mind.
"Ugh, you have no idea what I went through back then. Training with the sword, studying books—how could any normal person handle that kind of grind?"
Sushang pouted, looking deeply aggrieved.
"Apologies~ I didn't mean to stir up your painful past. But I didn't expect your sleep quality to be so good. I couldn't wake you no matter how hard I tried, so I had to resort to that." Despite finding it amusing, Furina didn't dwell on the topic.
"It's fine, I was just complaining. It's all in the past anyway. I’m happy not to see my teacher, and I'm sure my teacher is happy not to see me."
Sushang scratched her head and brushed the topic aside: "Did you finish gathering your intel? Shall we go now?"
"Yes, we've been here all afternoon... but the results are quite encouraging. I have a general impression of most of the Familias now, so the time wasn't wasted."
Actually, it was still a bit of a waste, Sushang thought to herself.
The truth was, she hadn't been genuinely asleep; she had been waiting for an opportunity for their paths to cross.
Watching a figure walk into the Guild hall, the brown-haired girl’s eyes widened in surprise: "Furina! Look! Over there—there’s someone who looks exactly like you!?"
--+--
Turned Into Gacha?! - 556
--+--
"Someone who looks exactly like me?"
Hearing this, Furina, who had been glowing with the pride of someone who had just successfully gathered intelligence, froze for a moment.
But then, a thought struck her, and she whipped her head toward the guild’s main entrance.
Sushang’s voice hadn't been loud, but Focalors possessed heightened senses; even being watched from the shadows would have been enough to alert her, let alone being stared at directly and pointed out by a finger.
Furthermore, the name "Furina" was, for her, something of a keyword, so she naturally followed the gaze toward the two of them.
As their eyes met, the ones who froze became two.
'Another me... No, Focalors?'
Even though the two of them looked exactly alike, their temperaments, hairstyles, and outfits were vastly different.
If Furina was like a lady of elegant and effortless grace, Focalors was more like the head of a household—radiating nobility while carrying a hint of gentle warmth.
Though, admittedly, this head of household looked a bit young.
Focalors truly hadn't expected that the moment she arrived here, she would run straight into Furina and that disciple of the Herrscher of Sentience—Li Sushang, if she remembered correctly.
She had come here simply to inform the Guild—or rather, the gods behind the Guild—of the situation in the lower world.
Under normal circumstances, the qualifications for a deity to descend were extremely scarce and required a long wait; it wasn't something one could do on a whim.
However, her identification card had made this endeavor seem perfectly reasonable.
Technically, her descent this time was due to winning a lottery, granting her early access to the lower world, but there was naturally some behind-the-scenes maneuvering involved.
Astraea’s departure hadn't just left a vacancy for a Goddess of Justice in Orario; it had also allowed the Ganesha Familia to consolidate complete control over the city’s security.
The Ganesha Familia was well-liked and widely recognized, but… well, Ganesha himself, the patron god of the Familia… those who knew, knew.
A monopoly was never a good thing. While it was unavoidable in many areas, one always had to try to break it up. Besides, for a god, trying such things was harmless, and one might even get a laugh out of seeing the two sides at each other’s throats (like Ishtar and Freya).
Although her memories weren't truly her own and felt fragmented, the lingering regret and the plea on Astraea’s face in those memories still moved her.
As a fellow Goddess of Justice, she did hold a certain concern for Astraea.
But that was drifting off-topic.
Focalors pulled herself back from her thoughts, offered a smile, and walked toward Furina. "We meet again, Furina."
"Another me... or should I say, is calling you Focalors more appropriate?" After countless days and nights of longing, after thinking a thousand times about how this reunion might go, she had expected she would know exactly how to complain about the last hundred years.
Yet, in this moment, Furina didn't know how to begin.
"Just call me Focalors."
Seemingly aware of the complex emotions in Furina’s heart, Focalors’ tone grew even gentler, layered with a comforting reassurance: "I am truly sorry for forcing you to face an unknown situation without any preparation again."
"So it really was you who sent me here..."
Furina didn't look relieved. When it was just a suspicion, she had desperately tried to believe it, but now that it was reality, she couldn't help but voice her doubts.
"But... if you intended to come here yourself, why hide the identity of the so-called 'client'? That hardly counts as a surprise, does it?"
As expected, she wasn't so easy to fool.
That was only natural. After all, Focalors had been watching Furina’s every move; she knew exactly how sharp the mind was behind that seemingly careless, outgoing facade.
Sushang, standing to the side, scratched the back of her head, looking as if she wanted to say something, but observing the atmosphere between the two, she ultimately held her tongue.
Focalors, noticing this out of the corner of her eye, felt a surge of surprise at the girl's restraint.
She had assumed this simple, transparent girl would have blurted something out by now.
But if that was the case, things would be much simpler. She could just get her stories straight with this young girl later... and as it happened, she had a few questions of her own for her.
"Because I couldn't be certain that I would be able to arrive here without being noticed," Focalors explained. "At the start, I didn't even dare to hope that I could make it here at all."
Hearing that, Furina understood.
Although she didn't know what Focalors' plan was, she had spent five hundred years gathering information in Teyvat; naturally, she could piece together that "whatever the plan is, it must not be noticed by the Unspeakable Ones."
It must have been a long, grueling process of concealment. Everything Focalors had experienced and endured was likely no easier than her own trials.
Having understood this, the resentment in Furina’s heart softened considerably.
"So, is this current situation also part of the plan?" Furina asked.
"Yes."
It wasn't, but Focalors nodded anyway.
"Am I allowed to know what the plan is this time?"
Focalors didn't answer; she only smiled.
Furina didn't feel particularly surprised.
"We have so much to say to one another, but this is hardly the appropriate place for such a conversation," Focalors noted.
Only then did Furina notice that the surrounding gazes had gathered toward them—or rather, toward her and Focalors.
It was only natural. They looked identical, yet their temperaments were worlds apart, like sisters or twins.
They possessed a rare, breathtaking beauty, and their unique attire only added to the spectacle. It was no wonder they had attracted so much attention.
"I have only just arrived, and I was planning on joining a Familia."
Seeing that Furina’s emotions had leveled out, Focalors continued: "Could I ask you to wait here for a moment? Sushang and I will be back shortly."
The girl nodded, guessing that perhaps they had some intelligence to exchange that she, as a pawn in this game, wasn't meant to hear yet.
With that, Focalors walked over to Sushang, using her own body to block Furina’s view, sparing her from seeing the utter confusion on the brown-haired girl's face.
Then, she smiled and said, "Let's go, Sushang."
"Oh... okay."
Though still puzzled, Sushang was cooperative enough to stand up, leaving a trace of her divine essence on Furina just in case any accidents occurred while they were gone.
The two soon disappeared toward the stairwell.
Knowing the girl before her must be completely lost, Focalors briefly explained the situation regarding her meeting with the Herrscher of Sentience and expressed her hope that Sushang would cooperate with her for the time being.
Watching the brown-haired girl’s expression shift from bewilderment to a natural understanding, before she agreed to the request without the slightest hesitation, Focalors finally offered a genuinely relieved smile.
No wonder the Herrscher of Sentience had been unhappy back then; having interacted with her—even if only for a short time—she could feel the girl’s straightforwardness and kindness.
Perhaps everything she had done to help Furina truly wasn't for the sake of benefit, but simply because she wanted to, much like the righteous and warm-hearted wandering heroines in the novels of Liyue.
--+--
Turned Into Gacha?! - 557
--+--
A new god registering a familia is hardly a rare occurrence in the Pantheon.
The two of them simply signed the papers, received a curt "registration complete" in return, and walked away. The complete lack of fanfare left Sushang feeling a bit dazed.
She’d had the thought before, but this Guild... did it always feel so casual? Or perhaps, in this world, Familia and gods don't really require such a formal touch?
Unable to wrap her head around it, Sushang decided to stop overthinking. The familia was registered, and that meant she and Furina were officially part of the fold.
However...
"Um... Lady Focalors? Will the Falna be alright?"
Walking down the corridor, Sushang couldn't help but ask.
"No need for the 'Lady' title—just Focalors is fine." The other party wasn't her subject, or even from Teyvat, so the honorific felt entirely unnecessary.
Besides, it was she who was currently receiving the grace of their sect; she certainly didn't feel entitled to such deference.
"As for the Falna, you needn't worry. Your master's martial sister gifted me an artifact. Once I used it, I was no longer ignorant of how this world functions. Everything I need to know, including how to bestow a Falna, is already in my head."
She explained.
So that was it. She’d been overthinking things—to think a simple identity card could solve it all. Though, it probably wasn't the most basic entry-level card, but that hardly mattered now.
At the moment, they really didn't lack for that kind of validation.
"Oh, I see! That’s a relief! Hehe, adventuring in another world! It's not every day we get an opportunity like this! It’d be great if little Gui were here; if she were streaming this, she’d definitely rack up a ton of fans!"
Little Gui? Streaming?
Focalors blinked. That was the friend she’d mentioned to Furina earlier, right?
Though the girl seemed blunt and spoke without a filter, she didn't seem to be hiding anything unspeakable, but Focalors felt it was best not to pry too deeply into that topic.
"When it comes to gaining followers, Furina might be able to offer some decent advice. In return, I hope you can provide some hands-on guidance for Furina regarding how to get stronger."
"Hehe, even if you give me advice, I doubt I’d remember it for long! But when it comes to getting stronger, I can definitely help with that!"
Focalors smiled. "I can write it down for you, but since our worlds are different, it’s best if Furina applies your advice in a way that suits her reality. Regarding growing stronger, I want to thank you on her behalf, Sushang."
"It's nothing!"
Whether it was something or nothing, wasn't that for her to decide?
Focalors didn't dwell on it; to her, it seemed like a polite pleasantry. She had no idea, however, just what kind of grand gift Sushang would eventually bestow upon Furina.
Upon returning to the first floor, they saw Furina sitting back on the sofa, standing up the moment she caught sight of them.
The three of them gathered together and headed toward the door.
"Is our familia registered?" Furina naturally grouped the three of them together as one unit.
"Yes, the Focalors Familia."
The gentle and dignified god nodded.
"We're registered, but it doesn't look like we were assigned any... uh... base of operations?" Sushang scratched the back of her head. Were they going to be stuck sleeping in an inn from here on out?
"If it were just me, I could reside in Babel temporarily," Focalors noted.
Babel, located in the very heart of Orario, was the city’s most iconic landmark.
The first underground floor was the entrance to the Dungeon, the ground floor served as the lobby, the second floor housed medical facilities and a casual eatery, the third was the exchange bureau, and floors four through eight housed the Hephaestus Familia branches.
Everything above the 20th floor was closed to the public—the residence of the gods—though only the most prominent of deities could reside there.
This "prominence," of course, referred not to their standing in the Heavens, but to their status within Orario.
Focalors could indeed stay there for a time, but long-term residence required the familia to have established a reputation.
Ironically, once a familia achieved a brilliant track record, the god had no need to reside in Babel anyway.
"Naturally, I have no intention of going there yet." If she were to go, she would do so with her head held high; she had no desire to be a god living off of charity.
She offered a faint smile. "That said, I don't actually have any of this world's currency. Did either of you bring any money?"
Sushang: ...Classic Hydro, classic god.
"I have some savings," Furina said. "Enough for us to stay here for a short while. Once we receive our Falna, we should be able to earn Valis in the Dungeon."
After saying this, she looked toward Focalors. She wasn't entirely sure if Focalors possessed the means of the gods in this world to bestow a 'Falna.'
While Furina felt it unlikely that Focalors would fail to deliver, it was better to confirm it now.
Seeing Focalors' face... how to put it? It was like looking into a mirror. Though she wasn't identical to the reflection, the matching features made Furina feel a bit uncomfortable for a moment.
"Constrained by the rules of this world, I cannot help you in that regard, but while you are away in the Dungeon, I will find ways to do my part."
Focalors’ smile never wavered, which set Furina at ease.
The three of them finished dinner on the first floor of the inn and booked a room large enough for the three of them.
Their presence drew many eyes—gazes that lingered on the door even after they had entered their room.
Focalors could only imagine the stir it would cause if others discovered that someone with the same face as Furina was a god.
Fortunately, no one yet knew she was the god of a Familia.
Furthermore, they had learned that the process of bestowing a Falna and the revelation of one's ability stats were best kept hidden. The current environment wasn't exactly secure, which only strengthened the three of them in their resolve to purchase a proper residence of their own.
Even though Sushang assured them that she had already set up some measures around the room to prevent prying eyes, that resolve remained unshakable.
"Are you ready?"
Watching the two of them lying on the bed with their backs exposed, Focalors asked with a smile.
"We’re ready when you are!"
Furina took a deep breath. She wasn't sure if she was more anxious or excited.
Strength surpassing that of an ordinary person—this was a dream she had long coveted.
Yet, she worried about her own potential. Based on the intelligence they had gathered throughout the afternoon, the vast majority of adventurers in this city couldn't even reach Level 2.
What if she was the same...
Focalors, unaware of Furina's internal struggle, knelt on the bed. She drew a small incision on her fingertip, and a few beads of blood began to well up.
Even if she was an artificial construct, it seemed that, just like her own intuition had suggested, she possessed real blood after all.
She had been prepared to try another method if that hadn't worked.
Furina shared a supernatural connection with her, so using Furina's blood wasn't out of the question—thankfully, there had been no complications.
As the blood dripped onto their backs, a scale-like pattern appeared upon Furina’s skin, and her status began to manifest.
--+--
Turned Into Gacha?! - 558
--+--
Furina de Fontaine
--+--
Level 1
--+--
Strength: I(0)
Endurance: I(0)
Dexterity: I(0)
Agility: I(0)
Magic: I(0)
--+--
[Magic]
[Blessing of Pure Water]
- Enchant‑Type Magic, ultra-short chant magic.
- Manifests phantoms using the water element, allowing for various shape-shifting depending on the battlefield.
- Chants: [Shower me with praise!], [The show begins.].
--+--
The divine markings bloomed across the subject's back, etched by the blood and blessing of a deity.
Focalors studied the characters carefully; while she possessed the common knowledge of this world, her understanding was rooted deeply in the lore of the higher realms.
Even so, she could sense that Furina’s potential was far from ordinary. This "Enchant‑Type Magic" was an incredibly rare and powerful ability, and Furina had acquired it the moment she became an adventurer.
That it was specifically a water-based Enchant‑Type Magic made Focalors’ heart flutter with genuine joy.
Furina, meanwhile, felt a strange sensation stirring within. As something indescribable flowed through her body, she felt a sudden surge of vigor. Her exhaustion vanished in an instant, replaced by a peculiar, newfound energy.
Without keeping her in suspense, Focalors pressed the parchment against the divine script to imprint the stats, then retreated to the bedside.
"It’s done. Do you feel any different?"
Furina pulled her clothes back into place and took the parchment, musing, "I feel like a completely different person. It’s as if I have an endless supply of energy now."
"Even a Level 1 adventurer feels many times stronger than an ordinary person once they receive a Falna." Focalors wasn't surprised. "Your talent is likely top-tier among adventurers. Perhaps we’ll be able to head back sooner than we thought."
The latter part of that sentence was pure nonsense, spoken only to keep up the charade.
She didn't elaborate, instead walking over to the adjacent bed to let Furina inspect her own status and adjust to the changes.
Sushang was sprawled across the bed, her arms tucked under her head as a makeshift pillow.
She watched the two of them with her head tilted, her soft cheeks squishing against her arms. With that eager, wide-eyed look, she appeared endearingly ditzy.
"Now, for you, Sushang."
Focalors nearly choked on a laugh—no, she was definitely amused.
"What about Furina’s stats? Are they high?" The girl looked on with curious eyes.
Normally, such information wasn't shared so casually, but neither Furina nor Focalors felt the slightest bit of distrust toward her.
"They’re all at zero, but I suppose that’s to be expected," Furina said after a quick glance, pulling her gaze back and holding the parchment out to Sushang. "Still, this 'Blessing of Pure Water' magic might be the real highlight here."
"Whoa! That clearly isn't just some ordinary skill! 'Enchant‑Type Magic—that sounds like an incredibly rare trait. Plus, being able to shift forms based on the battlefield... it sounds super versatile! It’s both an offensive and defensive skill, right?!"
Sushang gave such an enthusiastic, supportive reaction that her eyes practically sparkled.
Seeing her like that, Furina couldn't help but chuckle.
"I’ve heard that many adventurers’ skills come with heavy restrictions. I’ve never even heard of magic that allows for form-shifting with such short chants and so few limitations."
She didn't mention that it was probably normal not to have heard of it—after all, it wasn't the sort of thing people went around advertising.
"Compared to Furina, Sushang, your stats are even more exaggerated."
Focalors, having quietly finished imprinting Sushang’s status, wore an expression of genuine astonishment.
"Really? But I don't feel any different," Sushang said, rising from the bed in confusion.
She understood the concept of 'dilution,' but the fact that Furina had gained so many changes while she hadn't felt a thing was, in the end, a bit disappointing.
It seemed this divine blessing couldn't actually unlock and expand everyone’s potential; beyond a certain threshold, it appeared to have little effect... What a shame. But then again, that was the norm; it wasn't like everyone was an Elder of Namek.
Normally, it would only be expected that one person stimulating another's potential could only go as far as that person's innate limit...
Still, this Falna system had many merits. For instance... what would happen if Amber were the one receiving this blessing?
Lost in thought, Sushang took the parchment from Focalors.
She didn't even care about her disheveled clothes as she took a giant leap onto Furina’s bed, the two of them huddling shoulder-to-shoulder to take a look.
Furina, unbothered by such casual and intimate behavior, felt a sense of novelty and delight. Though she wasn't quite used to it, this was her first time interacting with someone with such complete, unreserved ease.
A smile crept across her face, but she said nothing, quietly turning her eyes to the parchment.
--+--
Li Sushang
--+--
Level 1
--+--
Strength: I(0)
Endurance: I(0)
Dexterity: I(0)
Agility: I(0)
Magic: I(0)
--+--
[Skill]
[Edge of Taixuan]
- Significantly elevates mental resistance.
- Significantly elevates sensory perception.
- Significantly elevates martial arts prowess.
- Significantly elevates physical fitness.
- Can draw magic directly from the atmosphere without using personal reserves.
- Possesses the ability to strike directly at [All Things].
--+--
Sushang’s information panel was just as full as Furina's, but unlike Furina’s, it wasn't magic—it was a skill.
Furthermore, this skill looked vastly rarer than Furina’s magic. Not only was the description longer, but the sheer volume of information was staggering.
It wasn't just a laundry list of stat boosts; it didn't require magic, didn't require chanting, and most importantly—what on earth was that 'ability to strike directly at [All Things]'?
"Did it count Edge of Taixuan as a skill? Uh... I guess it is a 'skill' in the end, isn't it?" Sushang mumbled.
Furina understood immediately that this wasn't an ability granted by the Falna, but something belonging to Sushang herself... and that made sense.
Sushang was different from her; she wasn't some ordinary person starting from scratch.
"Is the Edge of Taixuan the... martial art you’ve been practicing? Or is it a cultivation technique?" Furina asked, full of curiosity.
"Hmm... call it a technique, call it a martial art, either works. It’s a supreme skill my master passed down to me," Sushang replied.
Though to 'Sushang,' Fu Hua should technically be her grandmaster, Amber was already a generation below the Herrscher of Sentience, and she couldn't afford to lower her standing any further—so sticking to Amber's generation it was.
"If you’re interested, I can teach you."
--+--
Turned Into Gacha?! - 559
--+--
...?
"Teach me?"
Setting aside Furina’s reaction, even Focalors couldn't help but look stunned.
While they didn't share the "outsider-as-deity" complex prevalent in some worlds, the high-status aura surrounding "Descenders" was deeply ingrained in everyone's minds.
Just by looking at the interface of her Falna, it was clear that this "Edge of Taixuan" was no simple technique. To think Sushang would just offer to teach it, right out of the gate?
"Isn't this... an incredibly important legacy of your school?"
Furina, defaulting to the traditions and perceptions of Liyue, voiced her doubt.
"Hmm... is it important? I suppose it is, but then again, perhaps it isn't?" Sushang mused.
"At the very least, I’m certain my Master wouldn't have any objections if I taught it to you, Furina. Besides, I believe I’ve already completed my training and graduated, haven't I?"
Graduated?
Furina couldn't help but think of Sushang’s intense fear of academic schools. So, is she actually some kind of martial arts prodigy? Did she dump all her potential points into combat instead of books?
It must be said that even though the description written on the Falna parchment consisted of only a few lines, Furina was genuinely tempted by the Edge of Taixuan.
Much like how Furina’s own magic was obviously powerful at a single glance, the Edge of Taixuan felt like one of those "over-tuned" abilities that just screamed strength.
Besides, she had always wanted to become stronger.
"Is it... really okay?" she asked, struggling to believe it.
"Of course it is. But, to be fair, the Edge of Taixuan isn't easy to master. Honestly, it’s a martial art that relies heavily on natural talent and intuition. Even if you learn it, the gap between the ceiling and the floor of one's ability is massive."
Sushang pointed to the final line on the parchment and explained simply:
"The Edge of Taixuan consists of five levels: Mantra, Form, Sanction, Ascension, and Eminence. If you want to reach that level, you must master the Blade Mantra."
"Eminence is the pinnacle of change. To have a sword without holding a blade, to manifest a sword through the sheer force of one's spirit—that is when the blade's energy forms on its own, and you have attained the Blade Mantra."
"Blade Mantra..."
Furina tasted the words, whispering them to herself.
So, this "Eminence" isn't referring to a god or deity, but that elusive, ethereal "Eminence" the people of Liyue always talk about?
She shook her head. Thinking about that was far too premature. Regardless of whether she could reach the level of "Eminence," she had to seize this opportunity and honor Sushang's goodwill.
"I want to learn! Master Sushang!" Furina said, mimicking the etiquette of Liyue.
"Ah, no need for the 'Master' bit! I’m not planning on taking any disciples yet. Just call me Sushang. Think of it as me teaching you on behalf of my Martial Aunt!"
Why on behalf of the Martial Aunt? Why not the Master?
(The main reason was that Senti was easier to talk to, and teaching in her name caused Sushang less psychological stress.)
Furina and Focalors exchanged a look of confusion, but regardless, they could tell that Sushang didn't want their relationship to become complicated because of this.
It made sense. Although Sushang wasn't from Liyue, her every action carried the subtle scent of that land; her homeland must have shared similar cultural customs.
In Liyue, the title of "Master" was a heavy, solemn responsibility—just like the saying, "A teacher for a day is a father for a lifetime."
Respecting one's master and valuing the path was a deeply rooted tradition.
Seeing how young and lively Sushang was, it was only natural she wouldn't want to be tied down by such formalities.
"Alright, then should I call you Senior Sister Sushang instead?"
Having figured out the core of the issue, Furina smiled.
"Haha, just call me Sushang. Even if we are like sisters, let’s just keep it casual as friends!" Sushang said, looking a bit awkward.
"Then, I’ll leave Furina in your care, Sushang."
Focalors gave the girl a playful wink. While Furina possessed a youthful spirit, Sushang had never received such a gesture from her before, and it caught her off guard.
Seeing the two of them with identical faces but completely different temperaments, she finally understood why some people had a "thing" for twins.
The night before an adventure is always filled with excitement and anticipation for the unknown. Furina tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
Fortunately, Sushang felt the same, and the two began chatting idly, with Sushang sharing more details about the Edge of Taixuan.
Focalors pretended to be fast asleep, listening to them talk for a long while without a word, until drowsiness finally overcame Furina and their conversation drifted to a close.
The next morning, the sun rose once more.
Even though they had slept late, the constitution of an adventurer ensured that when Furina woke up, she was full of energy.
There were no favorite little cakes for breakfast, nor the tea that usually brought joy to a new day. The discomfort of the past few days had become a thing of the past; Furina wanted to head into the Dungeon immediately!
Sushang, who had only been moderately interested at first, found her own expectations rising under Furina’s infectious enthusiasm.
While the monsters might be effortless for her to defeat, she was more than capable of holding back and keeping things under control.
Enjoying the adventure—perhaps that was the most important thing she could do, aside from protecting Furina.
Focalors watched them with a smile, seeing the eagerness in their eyes. Since she couldn't openly enter the Dungeon, she personally helped them arrange their gear and appearance, waving as she watched them leave the inn.
Furina and Sushang headed straight toward Babel.
For an adventurer, weapons and armor were the most important preparations, but unfortunately, Furina didn't have the coin for top-tier gear.
Sushang had originally offered to lend Furina one of her Xuanyuan Swords, but after trying to swing it a few times in the inn, they realized that the weight was simply too much for the current Furina to handle effectively.
It would be fine as a training tool, but since they were going on a real adventure, it was better to use something more balanced.
Sushang offered to lend her the money to buy a proper sword, but Furina politely declined.
In the end, she used her remaining savings to buy a relatively standard longsword from the Hephaestus branch on the fifth floor of Babel.
To be honest, wearing such a magnificent formal outfit while carrying a cheap piece of steel would normally be incredibly jarring, creating a massive sense of discord for most people.
But Furina, through sheer elegance and beauty, carried that longsword as if it belonged to a much higher tier of weaponry.
With the basic gear secured, the two entered the Dungeon.
It wasn't quite the adventure opening they had imagined. Once they descended into the lower levels, they saw many other figures, and every few steps, they could see someone else fighting.
The Dungeon was structured like a cone, growing wider as it descended.
Conversely, the first floor was rather cramped. With the vast majority of adventurers being Level 1, the upper floors were essentially the main activity area.
The lack of available monsters to fight left them feeling a bit gloomy. However, just as they were about to head down to the next floor, they saw the wall suddenly ripple and crack.
Moments later, a few ugly, stunted Goblins and monsters burst from the cracks, baring their hideous faces toward them.
Finally!
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Turned Into Gacha?! - 560
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As the most abundant monsters in the first through fifth floors, Goblins and Kobolds could easily be called a novice's best friends.
"I'll hold off the other monsters; you take a moment to get a feel for the atmosphere of combat."
Sushang walked forward, sword in hand. After tossing these words back to Furina, she dashed into the thick of the monsters.
With a gentle flick of the Xuanyuan Sword in her hand, she carved out the battlefield.
Four or five monsters were sent flying back over ten meters, leaving only a lone goblin standing blankly before Furina.
Goblin: Is this still the first floor? Where the hell did you drag me?
It stood there, stunned, but Furina was anything but.
Though she had never fought in a real skirmish, she had certainly watched plenty of them. Even without stepping onto the stage herself, she knew exactly what choice she had to make.
Without a shred of hesitation, Furina swung the longsword she had just purchased in a diagonal arc toward the goblin’s neck. She had feared that her lack of practice might lead to a mishap, yet to her surprise, the simple strike sliced through as smoothly as a blade through butter.
Without even a hint of resistance, the goblin was cleaved into two, dissipating into a patch of black mist and leaving only a magic stone behind.
"Huh? Furina, have you practiced this before?" Sushang asked, clearly taken aback.
"This is my first time using a real sword on... well, a living thing—though I suppose you couldn't call it a person." Furina exhaled and explained, "Back when I was on stage, I underwent some training for the sake of the performance, though I never really had a professional teacher."
I see. That was unexpected, but it makes sense; many actors pick up all sorts of skills on the job.
"Self-taught, then?"
Sushang effortlessly parried a goblin’s attack to the side and chuckled, "In that case, let’s dial up the difficulty. Remember what I said yesterday? Don't just mindlessly vent your mana; you have to perceive and borrow the energy from the surroundings as well."
With that, she let a Kobold and a Goblin loose in Furina's direction.
There is a world of difference between hitting a monster that is already stunned and hitting one that is charging straight at you. The psychological pressure is simply not on the same level.
Furina gritted her teeth, still unwilling to use her [Enchant-Type Magic].
In her eyes, both the Kobold and the Goblin were moving far too slowly compared to Clorinde. Monsters of this caliber were not yet enough to force her to play her trump cards.
Blocking the claw swipe from the incoming Kobold, Furina immediately adjusted her footing, aligning herself, the Kobold, and the Goblin into a single line.
After all, these two monsters were [Novice's Best Friends]. They weren't fast, they weren't particularly strong, and they both charged head-on. Even with her lack of combat experience, Furina handled the encounter with ease.
One, two, three.
As Furina cleared them out one by one, Sushang gradually increased the number of monsters sent her way, and soon, every monster in front of them had been wiped clean.
Furina was panting slightly after the cleanup. Even for "novice's best friends," the sheer volume of monsters was truly exhausting.
"For your first real fight, you were amazing, Furina!"
Watching the silver-haired girl catch her breath, Sushang gave her a thumbs-up.
"When I had my first fight, my sword got stuck in the enemy's torso and I couldn't pull it out. In the end, I had no choice but to smash its upper body to pieces just to get my blade back."
...What do you mean by "smash its upper body to get the sword back"?
Did you really need that sword that badly?
For a moment, Furina didn't know if she should take that as a compliment.
"In that last fight, I tried to call upon the magic in the surroundings," Furina said, dropping the issue to focus on her own progress. "But just like back at the inn, I could barely control it."
"That's perfectly normal. The Edge of Taixuan isn't something one masters easily." Sushang nodded as if it were a matter of course. "Actually, compared to others who have some martial foundation, you're doing quite well. At least you haven't formed bad habits yet."
"You mean the habit of relying on internal mana?" Furina remembered what Sushang had told her.
"Exactly! Every martial art in the world has its own method of cultivation. Guiding your internal power is fundamental to almost all of them—it's part of 'cultivating the self,' after all. The Edge of Taixuan doesn't forbid the use of one's internal power entirely, but once that habit takes root, it becomes incredibly difficult to attain that pristine, unblemished 'Qi.'"
Sushang nodded. "That is why the Edge of Taixuan must be learned from childhood."
With that, she flicked her sword, and a breeze swept through the area, gently lifting Furina’s hair.
Furina felt the power Sushang had released.
"Your five senses are sharper during combat, and since living things release their own 'Qi' when they fight, that is when it's easiest to perceive these 'external forces.'"
"Back then, my Master also had me fight constantly—and she'd beat me up for no reason at all whenever she felt like it."
Thinking back to when she first met Fu Hua in Mesopotamia, Sushang’s tone was filled with a mix of sentiment and nostalgia.
Back then, she was nothing more than a novice who would lose her temper and unleash her ultimate moves in the middle of a spar.
"Beat you up...?"
Furina imagined Sushang being thrashed by an elderly woman she’d never met, then shifted her thoughts to the prospect of being thrashed by Sushang herself.
"....Does that mean, you'll be beating me up later too?"
"Well, it's not going to come to that... My situation was special back then; she only did that to force me to improve rapidly." Sushang scratched the back of her head, feeling the embarrassment of having a dark history revealed, and promptly changed the subject.
"Come to think of it, calling you 'Furina' all the time feels a bit distant, and it doesn't really roll off the tongue. How about we pick a nickname that's easier to say?"
"An easier nickname?"
Furina paused. Thinking of the cultural customs of the Liyue people—which were similar to Sushang's—she supposed it was natural for her to find her name difficult to pronounce.
Come to think of it, don't good friends always have special nicknames? No, not just friends—family members share such names as well.
With that thought, Furina found herself genuinely looking forward to what Sushang might call her.
Although they had only known each other for a single day, Furina had the strange illusion that they had been acquaintances for a long time.
Surely that couldn't be entirely credited to the other girl's straightforward and cheerful personality, right?
"Alright, let's pick a nickname for each other that sounds a bit more intimate," she said, though she quickly found herself at a loss.
Li Sushang... what kind of nickname would go with that? If it were a Fontaine name, she could think of a dozen instantly, but for a Liyue name... she was genuinely stuck.
"Then I'll just call you Fufu!"
While she was still struggling, the other girl gave an immediate answer. Seeing how fast that came out, it was clear she hadn't just thought of it on the spot.
But... Fufu? What kind of name was that? It felt a bit like she was calling out to a puppy or a kitten...
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Overhaul Rebirth Batch 1/3.