I Don’t Want to Be a Heroic Spirit

The moonlight wove a misty veil as the evening breeze hummed a gentle tune, its silver glow spilling across garments like a blessing from the heavens.

The stars above Teyvat sparkled brilliantly as ever, even if their light was artificial. The emotions they inspired in those gazing upward, however, were undeniably real.

The familiar and the strangers.

The fated and the yet-to-be-connected.

The malevolent and the virtuous.

Those chained to the past and those yearning for the future.

All were united beneath this same vast expanse.

It was rare for Kiichi Hougen to lose herself in the sight of the night sky, but tonight, she found her thoughts adrift.

The time is drawing near for me to leave… The journey must continue, after all.

Her disciples—Sara, Gorou, and Arataki Itto—had been learning under her guidance for quite some time. Kiichi Hougen felt that they had grown enough and mastered the skills they needed to forge their own paths.

Of course, she could continue teaching them if she wished. After all, she was the "Master of Eternity." But that wasn't what she wanted.

She hoped for Sara, Gorou, and Itto to chart their own courses, not to simply follow the trail she laid before them.

With her help, they might travel farther, but life's true value didn't lie in how far one could go.

What made people remarkable was their unpredictable futures, their ability to accomplish feats that even gods might find unimaginable.

In this way, Kiichi Hougen was much like Merlin—a being outside the human realm, loving humanity and eagerly anticipating the extraordinary stories they could create.

---

"Sara, what do you think about your future?"

The modest room was lit by the warm glow of a single hanging lamp.

Kiichi Hougen and Sara sat on the floor, a chessboard placed between them.

Yes, they were playing chess.

Kiichi Hougen had taught Sara the rules, and they'd played several games over time. Gorou had joined in on occasion, but Itto had never participated—his personality simply wasn't suited to sitting still for a game like this.

"The future…?"

Sara repeated the word, her tone carrying an unmistakable mix of emotions.

"To be honest… I'd rather stay by your side, Master."

With a soft click, Sara moved a chess piece two spaces forward.

"But that's not possible… You know that."

With a decisive snap, Kiichi Hougen captured Sara's piece.

"Yes… I know."

Her long bangs cast shadows over her face, obscuring her expression.

Sara's hair had grown past her waist, a glossy black waterfall that framed her figure. In the past, she had admired Kiichi Hougen's silky white hair, and that admiration had inspired her to grow her own hair long.

"I think… I still want to go to Inazuma City and join the government as a military officer."

"I want to meet our Archon face to face."

Sara clutched her purple Vision tightly in her hand.

"It's not just because of the gaze she cast upon me back then. I want to understand what kind of being inspired such unwavering faith in Chika's village and formed such close bonds with people like Mikoshi Chiyo."

"I want to see her with my own eyes."

Sara moved another piece, this time capturing one of Kiichi Hougen's.

"And… I want to use the skills you've taught me to become the best general Inazuma has ever known."

As Kiichi Hougen's disciple, Sara wanted to prove her worth. She couldn't allow herself to be anything less than exceptional.

"I see…"

A gentle smile spread across Kiichi Hougen's face.

"Since you've already decided, all I can do is offer you my blessing."

"Walk boldly on the path before you, Sara."

"You are ready to graduate."

---

"Huh? What now?"

Sitting on a tree branch, a plump and juicy lavender melon in hand, Arataki Itto froze mid-bite.

"Your plans for the future, Itto. Do you even have any?"

Kiichi Hougen stood below the tree, looking up at him with an amused smile.

"Also, the melon tree you're sitting on is one Sara and I planted together. If you crush it, Sara might chase you down with a sword."

"Yikes! Got it, I'm coming down… And for the record, it's not because I'm scared of that Tengu! I'm just… showing mercy to this poor tree, that's all."

Grumbling, Itto leapt lightly from the branch, landing without a sound.

"Plans for the future? I haven't thought about stuff like that." He scratched his head, frowning in thought. "If I weren't here, I guess I'd still be with Granny Oni. I can't leave her alone, after all. Beyond that… I'll just go with the flow."

"You really lack ambition. Sara wants to join the shogunate and become a great general," Kiichi Hougen said. Her tone was playful, not the least bit disappointed, as her lips curved into a faint smile.

"Sara, huh? Yeah, that sounds like her."

Itto scratched the back of his head, unsurprised.

Though the two argued constantly, like true frenemies, they understood each other well.

"I'm not some bigshot. If the people around me are happy, and I can prove to the world that the Oni aren't bad, that's enough for me. Joining the shogunate? No thanks. That's not my thing, and I hate being tied down."

"But… I do have this idea. I want to start a group—a crew of like-minded friends. We'd do all the things we've always wanted to but didn't have the guts for. Nothing bad, though—I promise that much."

"I've even thought of a name. Since I'm the founder, it'll be called the Arataki Gang! Pretty cool, huh? What do you think, Master? Doesn't it sound super impressive and badass?"

Itto laughed heartily, planting his hands on his hips.

"As the Master of the gang's boss, you'd get a high-ranking position if you joined. Of course, I'd still be the boss, though, since, y'know, it's my gang."

"Oh, bold of you to think you can outrank your Master," Kiichi Hougen said with a laugh, thoroughly entertained by Itto's antics.

---

T/N: NOOOOOO I KNOW THIS ARC HAS BEEN LONG BUT UR LEAVING THEM RAHRAHFAHFHAFH ˚‧º·(˚ ˃̣̣̥᷄⌓˂̣̣̥᷅ )‧º·˚

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