I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit

"Hmm~~~ The weather's really nice today."

Stretching her arms out, Kiichi Hougen luxuriated in a full-body stretch, her graceful figure on full display.

She had just woken up—not in the morning, but well past noon. In other words, she had just finished her afternoon nap.

Though Kiichi Hougen didn't need sleep, much like eating, she maintained it as a habit, especially her midday naps.

The sky above was clear, with clouds diffusing the sunlight to a gentle glow. The air of Teyvat was crisp and invigorating, putting her in an excellent mood.

Smiling, she muttered, "It looks like today will be another peaceful day…"

"You idiot, Itto!"

…Well, that hope didn't last long.

Scratching the back of her head awkwardly, Kiichi Hougen strolled leisurely toward the source of the shouting.

It wasn't far—just the courtyard. The silhouettes of Sara and Arataki Itto were unmistakable.

As she arrived, Sara's sharp reprimands rang loud and clear.

"Itto! Go stand in the sun more often! Maybe if you tan darker, people won't mistake you for a fool!"

"…"

Kiichi Hougen paused, blinking. Where did she learn that line?

She certainly didn't remember teaching Sara such a biting retort. Did Sara come up with it herself? Or was this something unique to Inazuma culture?

The two combatants noticed her presence and simultaneously turned to greet her.

"Master!" they chorused.

"When did you get here, Master?" Sara asked.

"Just now… So, what happened?"

Though Sara and Itto often squabbled, there was always a reason—a spark that ignited the conflict. And more often than not, the spark was Itto.

Kiichi Hougen had mediated such situations countless times. It was almost routine: figure out the issue, then diffuse the tension.

Is this what it's like having too many kids? she mused. If I ever raise children, one will be enough. More than that, and it's just asking for trouble.

"Master! This time, it's not my fault! I did something amazing—a huge, huge good deed!"

At least Itto was self-aware enough to know he was usually the cause of trouble. But Kiichi Hougen was intrigued by this so-called "good deed."

"Oh? Let's hear it."

As it turned out, while passing by a village, Itto had noticed a group of hilichurls causing trouble nearby.

Though the villagers were skilled enough to fend off most of the hilichurls, this particular group included a Stonehide Lawachurl, which they were powerless against.

Witnessing the scene, the ever-enthusiastic Itto had rushed in with his weapon, easily smashing through the Lawachurl's armor and defeating it. Together with the villagers, he drove off the remaining hilichurls.

The villagers were grateful for Itto's help, so much so that they even overlooked his Oni heritage.

This filled Itto with immense pride—not just because he had helped people, but because he had found a way to improve how others perceived the Oni.

"Well, that's a wonderful thing to do," Kiichi Hougen said with a smile. She truly believed Itto had done well and was happy for him.

After all, she understood how much Itto cared about changing people's perception of the Oni, and Sara and Gorou did as well.

So… what exactly had made Sara so angry?

Kiichi Hougen turned her questioning gaze to Sara, who was glaring daggers at Itto.

"Go on, Itto. Tell her what you did next," Sara snapped.

"There's more?" Kiichi Hougen asked, glancing back at Itto.

"Uh… I think I did everything right?"

Itto faltered under the familiar pressure. He had been in this scenario countless times—Sara glaring at him in fury while Kiichi Hougen awaited his explanation. It was practically muscle memory by now.

But as he thought back on his actions, he genuinely couldn't pinpoint what he had done wrong. Puffing out his chest, he attempted to project confidence, only to deflate under Sara's intensifying glare.

"Well… after the fight, some buildings in the village were damaged, so I stayed to help with the repairs," he explained hesitantly. "I'm not very smart, so I stuck to simple physical tasks. Then, before leaving, I told them my name."

Kiichi Hougen nodded approvingly. She admired his decision to help with the repairs.

"So… why is Sara angry?" Kiichi Hougen asked.

"Uh… When I told them my name, I also mentioned yours."

It turned out that in the heat of the villagers' gratitude, Itto had gotten carried away. He proudly introduced himself with an array of ridiculous titles, such as "Arataki the Peerless," "The Great Arataki, King of Oni," "Arataki Faster-than-Tengu," and even "Arataki Never-Loses-But-Sometimes-Concedes!"

But amidst the slew of embarrassing names, he had also declared himself "the most incredible disciple of the millennia-old great yokai, Kiichi Hougen."

…So that was it. Sara wasn't upset about her master's name being mentioned; she was upset because she believed she was Kiichi Hougen's best disciple, not Itto.

"What's wrong with that?" Itto protested. "Our master is amazing, but hardly anyone knows about her. It's not fair! And if no one knows her, I can't show off that I'm her disciple!"

"Master is absolutely incredible! She's the best in the world!"

For once, Sara didn't argue with Itto. She even nodded in agreement.

Her expression seemed to say: As long as you share my admiration for Master, we're allies for life.

"Honestly, I feel the same way," Sara said fervently. "It's so unfair. I want to shout Master's name from the rooftops so all of Inazuma—and the world—will know how amazing she is!"

Her fervent, almost fanatical tone left Kiichi Hougen feeling slightly unsettled.

"However… that's not what Master wants."

---

Oh! Readeri! ahem Wise-senpai told me to give you a message!

Attention, everyone! The latest chapters of Morax the Geo Archon: Billionaire in the Chat Group are now live! This story continues to showcase the Geo Archon's incredible wisdom and his unexpectedly charming presence in a modern chat group. Who would have thought Zhongli-san would actually have money for once?

Senpai (that's Wise-senpai!) has been working diligently to bring this adventure to you, and the results are absolutely worth the wait. Please take a moment to explore these new chapters and let yourself be drawn into the rich world of Liyue and beyond.

Remember, the strength of a great Archon isn't just in their strength, but in their ability to bring people together—even in a chat group! Enjoy the journey!

Thank you for reading this chapter!

If you'd like to support Wise-Senpai, you can visit:

[patreon.com/WiseTL].

Every contribution strengthens our resolve, paving the way for the stories yet to come!

Let's continue to explore these worlds together!

-Mash Kyrielight 💜