[Lumine: Hands on hips! Errand runner!]
[Xiangling: Hands on hips! Errand runner!]
[Yoimiya: Hands on hips! Errand runner!]
[Paimon was frantically stamping her feet]
"Countdown: three, two, one. Buzz in now."
"Ding-Kaedehara Kazuha buzzed in."
[Ningguang: What a shame. I didn't get it.]
[Keqing: After chopping beef offal for days, my hands have no strength left.]
[Kamisato Ayaka: A fifty percent chance.]
"Kaedehara Kazuha has made his choice."
[Beidou: @Kaedehara Kazuha, what did you pick? Two or four?]
[Arataki Itto: Huh? What do you mean, two or four? Shouldn't it be one or three? I used to look for the Great Bake-Danuki with the kids, too!]
[Kamisato Ayato: ...]
[Kujou Sara: ...]
[Thoma: The Great Bake-Danuki is a character in a story adults made up to keep children from wandering off, whereas Miss Paimon is very practical, so it should be either two or four.]
[Arataki Itto: Ah! I've always believed the Great Bake-Danuki existed!]
[Yanfei: ...]
[Kuki Shinobu: ...I'm too ashamed to show my face.]
[Yoimiya: Hahahaha! Right, right, the Great Bake-Danuki exists.]
[Kaedehara Kazuha: I... I thought Miss Paimon would be polite, too. I picked three.]
"Kaedehara Kazuha chose 3. Incorrect answer. Penalty performance: I'm Ye the Heavenly Emperor, damn it."
[Beidou: Hahaha! You actually managed to pick the wrong one. That's hilarious.]
On the regular livestream, two-thirds of the viewers had still guessed wrong and were teleported to the Haunted Mine.
"What's there to be afraid of? It's just a gloomy mine."
"Exactly! We Millelith aren't scared at all!"
"We Knights of Favonius aren't afraid of ghosts, either!"
"Neither is the Shogunate Army!"
Among the twenty people, the three wearing armor stood out the most.
Knight Huffman of the Knights of Favonius was a seasoned veteran, on par with a squad captain.
The other two were Tieshan, a Millelith guard stationed at Yujing Terrace, and Naoe Hisamasa, a hatamoto officer of the Shogunate Army.
The three took the lead and strode inside with their heads held high.
Haunted? What was there to be afraid of?
Only thirty seconds passed.
"Aaaah-Lady Barbara, save me!" It was Hoffman.
[Barbara: ???]
"M-M-Millelith... stop chasing me!" It was Tieshan.
[Keqing covered her face]
[Kujou Sara: At least Naoe Hisamasa is doing well.]
On-screen, amid the dark green surroundings, Naoe Hisamasa was already lying on the ground, foaming at the mouth.
With three tough men scared into such a state, who among the seventeen behind them would dare go inside?
"Resistance from penalty recipients detected. Enforcing penalty."
The seventeen lost control of their bodies and were forced to walk inside.
It sounded like a mass pig slaughter.
Kujou Takayuki said, "I'm done! I'm done! I don't want to go in!"
Everyone from the Tenryou Commission covered their faces. This was the current head of the Kujou Clan.
"I'm scared of ghosts! I was wrong! I was wrong!"
"I don't want to go in!"
"Aaaah..."
Even the spectators across Teyvat now felt an icy chill down their backs. Wasn't this Haunted Mine a little too terrifying?
"Will the next question have the same penalty?"
"Old Tian, don't jinx it!"
"Old Tian, aren't you looking for new material? Go give it a try."
"No, no, no. After you, Chef Mao."
In the Elite Livestream Room, Kaedehara Kazuha swallowed.
[Kaedehara Kazuha: This... what sort of penalty is Ye the Heavenly Emperor?]
The Elite Livestream Room switched its view to Kazuha, who stood at the bow of the Alcor as it sailed across the sea.
The port of Jingfu Harbor was visible in the distance.
"Kaedehara Kazuha's penalty begins now. If he does not begin performing within ten seconds, the livestream will forcibly control his actions."
Everyone in the Crux Fleet backed away.
Beidou stood on deck. "Make way, make way! Ye the Heavenly Emperor is about to perform!"
Kaedehara Kazuha said, "Captain Beidou, what are you talking about? I have no idea how to..."
The ten seconds elapsed, and his body began moving.
"I can't control myself!"
Kaedehara Kazuha faced the sea and assumed a fighting stance. His eyes grew solemn as the performance began.
First, he demonstrated the five strikes of his Garyuu Bladework, then his Soumon Swordsmanship. "Amid the drifting wind and rain, familiar sights make me long for home. This blade is my only connection to my homeland!"
Chihayaburu! A fierce wind rose!
[Kaeya: Nice swordsmanship.]
[Jean: He uses the power of wind very well.]
Then Kaedehara Kazuha pointed toward Mondstadt. "Barbatos, listen up! From now on, the Anemo Archon is me-Ye the Heavenly Emperor!"
[Amber: Pfft-]
[Zhongli: Challenging the Anemo Archon with an Anemo Vision. Not bad.]
He rode the wind.
He landed with a swirling field of wind. "Return to nature!"
Kaedehara Kazuha said, "From now on, Barbatos, your nickname will be Little Kazuha, and I, Kazuha, will be the new Anemo Archon."
His movements froze. Kazuha's face was now bright red.
That was disrespectful to Lord Barbatos, the Anemo Archon!
[Venti: A pretty good performance! Sure, sure, you're the Anemo Archon from now on.]
[Barbara: Even if it's a penalty, you can't disrespect Lord Barbatos! @Venti, and you, busker, all you know how to do is egg people on!]
[Barbara: Lord Barbatos, please forgive their disrespect.]
[Kamisato Ayato: It's over. Kaedehara Kazuha probably won't be able to visit Mondstadt anymore.]
[Kaeya: It's fine. Everyone knows it's a penalty. The people in the tavern are laughing themselves silly right now. Mondstadt is a free nation.]
[Jean: Respect for Lord Barbatos comes from the heart, not merely from words. Still... Kaedehara Kazuha should be careful, especially about going near the Church.]
Kaedehara Kazuha wanted to cry. In one fell swoop, he had offended everyone who worshipped Barbatos.
Kaedehara Kazuha said, "Wait! Why haven't I regained control of my body yet?"
Kazuha's expression changed again. This time, he pointed toward Inazuma. "Shogun, listen up! There will always be those on the ground who dare to brave the lightning's glow! Remember this! My name is Ye the Heavenly Emperor!"
Before you continue