I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit

"Why would a muscle-brained fool like him even get a Vision...?"

Sara gritted her teeth in frustration, clearly perplexed.

"Well… maybe…" Kiichi Hougen crossed her arms and murmured, "because his hair is white?"

"…There's no way a god would grant a Vision just because someone's hair is white."

Kiichi Hougen initially wanted to retort, If gods were that predictable, they wouldn't be gods. But then she remembered—this wasn't the Nasuverse but Teyvat. Compared to the whimsical and often temperamental deities of myth, Teyvat's Archons were far kinder and more considerate. Sure, their power might be a bit underwhelming, but their character more than made up for it.

Teyvat's gods were benevolent, caring for their people and nations.

She decided not to malign them further. After all, Sara tended to take her words at face value. If her comments caused Sara to misunderstand the Archons, it could lead to unnecessary trouble. While the Archons themselves likely wouldn't care about a stray comment or two, their followers certainly would. In Mondstadt, the first thing out of a local's mouth was, "May the Anemo Archon bless you." Speaking ill of Barbatos in their presence could easily end in disaster—perhaps even getting beaten into a pulp.

"Alright, alright, no need to sulk. My Sara is the best, after all." Kiichi Hougen floated closer, her tone as soothing as a soft cloud as she gently patted Sara's head. She spoke with the comforting cadence one might use to console a child. "Oni are born with incredible strength. Losing to one in terms of sheer power isn't shameful. Besides, you're a girl. As your teacher, I'm very proud of you."

"…I wasn't sulking."

Sara's face turned red, embarrassed by her master's childlike tone. "And, Master, I'm not a kid anymore…"

"In a teacher's eyes, their disciple is always a little child needing care and attention," Kiichi Hougen declared with unyielding authority. "So, don't move! Let me pat you."

Not content with just one hand, Kiichi Hougen used both hands to squish Sara's cheeks, which still carried a hint of baby fat.

Hmm… so soft, like hugging a plush toy when sleeping as a child.

Watching Sara's flushed face twist into various shapes under her kneading fingers, Kiichi Hougen felt a growing sense of satisfaction.

She suddenly understood why her elder sister, Ai, had enjoyed pinching her cheeks so much.

The texture was part of it, but more so was the sense of triumph. The sight of someone's reluctant yet submissive expression brought undeniable pleasure.

"Mm… Master…"

Sara was taken aback by the unexpected intimacy but couldn't bring herself to resist. Despite the mild discomfort, her respect and admiration for her master kept her from pushing back.

A wise person once said: If you can't resist, you might as well enjoy it.

And so, as Sara closed her eyes to embrace the moment… Kiichi Hougen abruptly let go.

The abrupt loss left Sara feeling inexplicably empty. But too embarrassed to admit it, she remained silent, her cheeks flushed as she glanced at Kiichi Hougen.

Kiichi Hougen, however, now wore a strange expression, as though grappling with some internal dilemma.

"Master, what's wrong?" Sara asked, forcing herself to suppress her turbulent emotions.

"Well… how should I put this…" Kiichi Hougen stroked her chin, casting an odd glance at Sara before finally saying, "Forget it. See for yourself."

See for myself?

Before Sara could fully grasp her master's words, Kiichi Hougen extended a slender finger and lightly tapped her forehead.

In that instant, an extraordinary sensation enveloped Sara.

Her body felt weightless, as though she were soaring through the skies.

Her vision stretched outward, revealing distant scenes she couldn't normally perceive.

And then, she spotted him—a figure that instantly gave her a headache.

Even though she could only see his back, Sara felt an uncontrollable urge to massage her temples. The moment his voice rang out, the throbbing in her head intensified.

"Hey, little tengu! Get out here! I know you're nearby! If you had the guts to beat me, you'd better have the guts to face me again! You can't just run after one victory and expect me to take that lying down! How else am I supposed to call myself the greatest?!"

"Oh! He dares to call himself the greatest? Gahahaha! What a spirited brat!" Kiichi Hougen laughed, slapping her knee in amusement.

Sara, meanwhile, looked as though she'd swallowed a particularly bitter pill, her expression dark as storm clouds.

"But how did he even find this place? I distinctly set up a perception-blocking barrier," Kiichi Hougen mused, tilting her head in genuine confusion. "Could it be… dumb luck or some kind of intuition?"

Well, whatever the reason, he was here now. But that was a trivial matter compared to what lay ahead.

"What will you do, my dear disciple?" Kiichi Hougen turned to Sara, who was more frustrated than she'd ever been. "Will you accept his challenge? Or will you simply ignore him? The barrier's still working. At most, he can sense that you're nearby, but finding the exact location is practically impossible. You could just sit here and wait for him to tire himself out."

"…"

Sara's gaze dropped as she seemed to weigh her options.

Kiichi Hougen didn't press her, simply resting her chin in her hands as she waited patiently for her disciple's answer.

If it were Kiichi Hougen herself, a commotion at the gate would hardly have warranted her attention. In fact, there were few things in this world capable of truly intriguing her. Even events that seemed to catch her interest were merely momentary distractions, not something she'd lament losing. At most, she'd respond with an indifferent, "Oh, well, so be it."

Even when the legendary Minamoto no Yoshitsune disobeyed her and read the Six Secret Teachings, Kiichi Hougen's so-called wrath wasn't born from anger but because Yoshitsune had deceived her daughter.

Yet, Sara was different. She possessed something Kiichi Hougen lacked—the core of humanity. That essence—humanity—was what allowed people to live under the sun, believing in and holding onto something.

And so, Sara raised her head, meeting her master's gaze, and delivered the answer Kiichi Hougen had expected all along.

"I'll accept his challenge."

"Because I am your disciple. I take pride in this identity, and I want you to take pride in me as well. I refuse to let this title be tarnished in any way."

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