Genshin Impact: What, the one we need to save is Focalors?

The early summer sunlight gently sprinkled upon the fertile land of Narukami Island. Flowers bloomed in vibrant colors, grass and trees were lush and green, full of life.

Yae Miko walked slowly along the country paths of Konda Village with light steps, her beautiful brows slightly furrowed.

This village, once bustling and full of vitality, was now filled with decline.

She looked around. Wherever her gaze fell, there were almost only elderly people.

They sat quietly in front of their homes, their faces gaunt, their figures thin and weak. Their eyes revealed a deep fatigue and helplessness, as if silently waiting for the end of their lives.

Yae Miko slowly walked up to the village chief's house.

As soon as Village Chief Konda Densuke saw her, despite his aged body, he immediately struggled to stand up and greeted her with the utmost respect.

"Village Chief Konda, why are there only elderly people in the village? Where have the young people gone?" Yae Miko couldn't help but ask.

Hearing this, Konda Densuke showed a bitter smile on his face, then sighed a long sigh. "Ah, not long ago, people from the Tenryou Commission and the Kanjou Commission came here to collect taxes. Those villagers who couldn't pay were forced into labor service.

However, the harshness of that labor service was simply unbearable for a human being. Out of ten people sent to labor service, at most two or three would return alive.

We heard that over on Yashiori Island, they aren't collecting agricultural taxes right now. So, the young people from the village have all fled there."

As he said this, a trace of helplessness and sorrow flashed in Konda Densuke's eyes.

After hearing this, Yae Miko's heart was also filled with mixed emotions.

If it were me, I would probably also make the choice to leave my home, just like these young people.

Carrying concern and worry, she asked, "Then how are the elderly people in the village supposed to live?"

Konda Densuke replied, "We all have the Yashiro Commission's esteemed personnel to thank. Their public servants come to the village regularly to distribute relief grain to us elderly.

It is precisely these timely aid that allows us to barely make a living, so we don't have to struggle bitterly in hunger."

Just as they were speaking, shouting could be heard from the village. "The Yashiro Commission is here to distribute grain! Everyone, come quickly to receive it!"

Yae Miko turned and looked towards the source of the sound. She saw two Yashiro Commission public servants dressed in simple uniforms, strenuously pushing a small cart filled with burlap sacks towards the center of the village.

The public servants opened the burlap sacks one by one, preparing to distribute the relief grain to the long-awaiting villagers.

When Yae Miko's gaze fell upon the grain, her expression suddenly changed.

Mixed in with the grain, unbelievably, was sand!

The Mora used to buy the relief grain was all that she had fought for from Lin Yide. As a result, the Kamisato family had failed her expectations like this!

She strode quickly towards the two public servants and asked in an icy tone, "Tell me, why is there sand mixed in with all this grain?"

One of the public servants immediately replied nervously and respectfully, "Lady Yae Guuji, this was specifically requested by Lord Kamisato Ayato.

If the grain is mixed with sand, the people from the Tenryou Commission and the Kanjou Commission won't deem it worthy. This way, they won't come to rob it.

Furthermore, although grain like this tastes worse, at least it ensures more people have something to eat."

Hearing these words, anger and sorrow intertwined in Yae Miko's heart.

The state's governing bodies, the Tenryou Commission and the Kanjou Commission, were actually greedy and corrupt to such an extent, forcing the Yashiro Commission to resort to such a last resort measure to cope.

In her mind, the words Lin Yide spoke last night echoed.

In this moment, she intensely agreed with his words: Inazuma's nobility, except for the Kamisato family, should all be abolished.

....

At Fudé Port's construction site.

Scaramouche and Imai Jiro, wearing brand new worker's uniforms, were building a wall together. Since they had just joined the work, their quality and work efficiency were not high.

However, no one ever criticized or rushed them. Instead, experienced workers would occasionally come over voluntarily to patiently offer them guidance and help.

Especially the team leader with a pair of dog ears, who would often come over to check on them. Sometimes, he would even tell them to rest aside while he himself diligently worked away.

This made the two of them very uncomfortable, especially Scaramouche. He had never been looked after like this even when he was forging in Tatarasuna.

At noon, Scaramouche and Imai Jiro went to the mess hall together for a meal.

At the serving window, the staff, seeing how young Scaramouche was, always specifically gave him much more food.

Imai Jiro had originally intended to give some of his meat to Scaramouche, but after seeing the generous amount of food on Scaramouche's plate, he dismissed that thought.

The moment they received their wages each night was the happiest time of the day for Scaramouche and Imai Jiro.

After receiving their wages, they liked to wander along the newly opened Fontaine Commercial Street, admiring the dazzling array of goods.

Although most of the goods were expensive for them and hard to afford, this didn't prevent them from admiring them.

In a shop, Imai Jiro took a liking to a limited edition Furina cute figure, priced at two hundred thousand Mora.

He calculated roughly that he could probably bring this figure home in about half a year's time.

Scaramouche scoffed at this idol-chasing behavior, thinking that he was merely being exploited by the merchants.

But Imai Jiro didn't mind, thinking, "What's wrong with paying a bit for my idol?"

After browsing the Fontaine Commercial Street, Scaramouche and Imai Jiro would usually turn towards another commercial area with a vastly different style—a simple yet incredibly lively commoner's commercial street.

This place was completely different from the former. There were no fancy storefronts, only various stalls closely arranged.

The stalls had both daily necessities and tempting snacks, and so on.

While wandering, Scaramouche and Imai Jiro would occasionally stop to pick out some practical or tasty small items.

When night fell, they would end this pleasant exploration and return to the dormitory.

After washing up in a spacious communal bathing area, carrying the day's fatigue and satisfaction, they would climb into their beds.

Scaramouche lay quietly on his bed, his gaze falling upon Imai Jiro, who was already fast asleep on another bed. He felt an unprecedented sense of peace.

No worries, no anxieties, living a stable and peaceful life every day.

For a moment, he even wanted to live like this forever, far away from the shadows of the past, enjoying this rare tranquility.

But he knew this was an unattainable wish.

Because on his shoulders, he carried sins that could never be washed away.

If I were to die, would no one curse me anymore?