"Lord Akio, although Yoimiya is enthusiastic, she can still distinguish between friendship and love. You should believe in her! She won't do anything inappropriate," Kamisato Ayaka nodded and said.
"I understand," Akio nodded. He had indeed been overthinking things before. He should have known that a sensitive girl like Yoimiya would be even more attuned to her partner's feelings.
"Since Lord Akio has agreed, I'll take my leave now! Yoimiya is still anxiously waiting," Kamisato Ayaka said happily.
"Alright," Akio said, watching as Kamisato Ayaka left.
"Akio, how do you feel? Surprised, aren't you?" Yae Miko said with a grin.
"Indeed," Akio replied, then suddenly asked, "Miko, do you have the Electro Gnosis?"
"The Electro Gnosis?" Yae Miko thought for a moment, then transformed into her human form. In her hand appeared a magnificent chess piece glowing with a purple light.
"Since Ei doesn't want it anymore, why not give it to me?" Akio said.
"Sure, Ei gave it to me anyway," Yae Miko nodded without hesitation and handed the Gnosis to Akio.
"Hmm~ it's such a beautiful chess piece," Akio said, holding the Gnosis up to the sunlight. Under the sun's rays, the Gnosis became even more radiant and exquisite.
"Do you think the power contained in this thing could turn a mortal into a god?" Akio squinted at the Gnosis and asked softly.
"No," Raiden Ei's voice came from beside him. She couldn't sleep, so she had gotten up.
"The Gnosis does contain immense power, but it only serves as a slight enhancement to our existing strength," Raiden Ei explained. "The reason the Seven Archons became Archons isn't because of the Gnosis, but because of their own formidable power, which allowed them to stand out in the Archon War."
"The true purpose of the Gnosis is to communicate with Celestia," Raiden Ei said. "Even if someone could borrow the power of the Gnosis, at best, they would become a false god—surpassing mortals but no match for a true Archon."
"If someone wants to use the Gnosis to become a god, they're just delusional," Raiden Ei shook her head.
"Hahaha!" Akio laughed. "Then there might really be such a fool."
"Oh?" Raiden Ei became curious and looked at Akio. "Who?"
"You should be very familiar with this person," Akio said. "Kunikuzushi."
"Oh? It's him?" Raiden Ei was momentarily stunned. Kunikuzushi? She remembered now. He was the first prototype puppet she had created, originally designed as a vessel to contain the Gnosis.
"That kid was a byproduct of when I was making the Shogun. I didn't destroy him because I felt a bit guilty toward him," Raiden Ei sighed.
"Hmph, I originally wanted to secretly dispose of him without telling you. If I had done that, none of this would have happened," Yae Miko snorted.
"What does it matter? He wants to use the Gnosis to become a god, but that's impossible," Raiden Ei shook her head. "He's too fragile to withstand the power of the Gnosis."
"But what if someone helps him? Helps him create a 'divine body' capable of bearing the Gnosis? With the power of the Gnosis, perhaps he could experience a moment of ascension," Akio asked.
"Create a god? Who would dare to be so bold?" Raiden Ei frowned. This would be a great blasphemy against the gods.
"Perhaps one nation could do it," Yae Miko said after a moment of thought. "Sumeru, the nation of wisdom."
"Huh? Aren't they led by the God of Wisdom?" Raiden Ei frowned. Although Greater Lord Rukkhadevata had died, she knew there was a second Dendro Archon.
"I've heard recently that since Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's passing, the second Dendro Archon, Lesser Lord Kusanali, hasn't been seen for a long time," Yae Miko shook her head. "This is very unusual."
"Sumeru is different from us. They are a nation guided by wisdom. Logically, the God of Wisdom shouldn't be as hands-off as you are," Yae Miko said seriously. "I've also heard rumors that the Akademiya might have imprisoned Lesser Lord Kusanali."
"Imprison a god?" Raiden Ei was shocked. How could they dare? This is a great disrespect to the gods!
If the Tenryou Commission treated her like that, she would cut them down from top to bottom! Not a single one would survive!
"As expected of Miko, you guessed right," Akio said, tossing the Gnosis in his hand. He smiled. "Perhaps Kunikuzushi is trying every means to get his hands on this Gnosis, then go to Sumeru and use its power to ascend to godhood."
"And then he might come before Ei and shout: 'Beelzebul, I have become a god!'" Akio said with a laugh.
"Hahaha~" Hearing Akio's words, Yae Miko almost laughed herself to tears. If this really happened, it would be quite a scene.
"Hmph! If he dares to come before me, I'll just cut him down with one strike," Raiden Ei snorted. "If I encounter Kunikuzushi and he really wants this Gnosis, I'll give it to him. Let's see if he has the courage to come before me and act so arrogantly."
"I agree, this will be very interesting," Yae Miko, ever the troublemaker, quickly nodded.
"Oh, by the way, Ei, take this," Yae Miko pulled out a large purple sandal from who knows where.
"What's this?" Raiden Ei looked at Yae Miko, puzzled.
"When you defeat him, use this to give him a good beating," Yae Miko said with a grin.
"...How childish," Raiden Ei rolled her eyes but still took the sandal.
"Perhaps he won't even get the chance to be beaten," Akio smiled. "I'll give him the Gnosis, give him hope, let him become a god, let him act recklessly, let him become arrogant and self-important."
"Let him think he has the power to challenge the gods," Akio said calmly. "Then I'll crush him, making him understand that the greatest tragedy in life is the despair that comes after hope."
"The Everlasting Lord of Arcane Wisdom? Just a joke," Akio snorted.
"By the way, Rosalyne should be arriving soon, right? This will be interesting—the Tenryou Commission, the Kanjou Commission, the Fatui, and Scaramouche. The stage is set for a good show," Akio looked at Raiden Ei and said. "Let Makoto thoroughly investigate the Tenryou Commission and the Kanjou Commission. I believe the results will shock her."
"I understand," Raiden Ei nodded. She no longer trusted the Kanjou Commission, and while she didn't yet know what the Tenryou Commission had been up to, since Akio mentioned it, she would investigate them thoroughly.