SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 62 out, this is Chapter 63 of this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?
Pairings: Albedo/Sucrose, Zhongli/Mitsuko/Kazuha, One-sided Diluc/Mitsuko, One-sided Diluc/Jean
Disclaimers: Genshin Impact and Sailor Moon belong to miHoYo and Takeuchi Naoko-sensei respectively. Me, on the other hand, own absolutely nothing, except the plot, I hope.
Chapter 63: Teyvat Arc: Omnipresence Over Mortals, Part Two
In the Fort Fujitou Resistance camp field hospital...
"Mitsuko-sensei!" Masashi shouted, a graying soldier was being carried into the medical tent. "We have a serious problem!"
"I have another one here, too!" Tokuda hollered, lying the heavily coughing soldier onto a nearby cot.
"Mitsuko-sensei, we have two more causalities here!" Shouji and Hisahiko brought two more weakened soldiers.
"What's going on?" Kazuha inquired, seeing Mitsuko encase her first patient in a Hydro hemisphere, activating a basic diagnostic technique.
"That's what I want to know, too." Mitsuko remarked, running her diagnosis. "What in the world..." she frowned, the results from the diagnostic technique were not what she had expected. "Masashi-san," she turned to the still recovering solider. "Did Iwao-san have anything in his personal effects that he didn't have before?"
"Let me check." Masashi rifled through Iwao's pack. "Is this it?" he retrieved an unlit Delusion.
"That's..." Mitsuko's eyes widened. "Katsuo-san," she snapped her head sharply at the still awakened soldier Shouji brought in. "How many of you have weapons like this and for how long?"
"I got mine just..." Katsuo coughed. "Two days ago, from our sponsor..."
"Quite a number of us have used them and gotten stronger..." Kiyoshi, the soldier Tokuda brought in, revealed.
"Idiots, all of you!" Mitsuko raged. "Is gaining a small shiver of power worth throwing your lives away!? Hisahiko-san, get Gorou." she ordered. "Now! Tell him it's a Code Black!"
"What...?" Tokuda breathed in shock after Hisahiko rushed off. "Mitsuko-sensei?"
"Serene Healing Waters." Mitsuko formed a Hydro sphere in her open palm and pressed it into Iwao. "I can only slow down the corruption within their bodies for the time being." she informed the others.
"Mitsuko!" Gorou dashed into the medical tent. "What in the world..." he was taken aback by the various aging soldiers. "How...?"
"Gorou, outside." Mitsuko spoke. "I know who our 'mysterious' sponsor is." she revealed. "The Fatui."
"Are you serious?" Gorou gasped.
"Very." Mitsuko nodded. "We need to confiscate every Fatui Delusion our soldiers received. I absolutely refuse to let anyone throw away their lives just to attain a small silver of power."
"Right." Gorou nodded. "I'll get right to it."
"Damnit!" Mitsuko slammed a fist on her work table, Kazuha was watching her silently. "If this keeps up... it'll be the same..."
"Cry, songbird." Kazuha pulled the desolate women into a hug.
"It'll be exactly the same as what happened to Uncle Crepus..." Mitsuko sobbed.
At the Fort Mumei ruins...
"This should be the place." Paimon noted. "But Sangonomiya was right, it doesn't look like anything suspicious is going on. Could they be hiding? Traveler, let's see what we can find. These Electro Monuments look a little suspicious. Yikes!" she squeaked when an Electro Lawachurl appeared after the Traveler lit up the three monuments. "A huge lawachurl! Was it drawn out by the Electro energy? Phew... glad that's over." she heaved in relief after the Traveler took out the Electro Lawachurl. "As monsters go, that one was pretty tough. But what's such a huge Thunderhelm Lawachurl doing here in the first place? It doesn't make any sense. Also, the atmosphere here gives Paimon the creeps. Anyway, the good thing is that it's over now. We should probably get going. Huh, Teppei? What are you doing here?"
"Wow, this is a surprise." Teppei coughed. "Didn't know you were the ones investigating here. I just got back from delivering some supplies to the front line. I figured I'd stop by and clear any threats in this area on the way back."
"Are you alright there, buddy?" Paimon was worried. "You're looking slightly the worse for wear."
"I'm fine, it's nothing." Teppei assured. "I must've caught a cold a couple days ago while I was out at sea. On my way past, I heard that someone had just arrived on the island to investigate, so I thought I'd come and take a look. If there'd been some real danger, I might've had the chance to be the hero. Shame it was just you guys. Guess I came here for nothing."
"Teppei, don't you think there's something strange about this place?" Paimon asked.
"Now that you mention it, there is something a little off about it." Teppei pondered. "It could be that the Tatarigami is more palpable here, I guess. We're not that far away from Orobaxi's remains. Look, there's the corpse over there." he pointed to the skeleton in the distance. "Orobaxi was the one who brought our ancestors from Enkanomiya up to the surface. That's the origin of the Watatsumi Island you know today. Our ancestors regarded it as a guardian deity, but during the Archon War, Orobaxi invaded Yashiori Island. The Raiden Shogun came out in person and slew Orobaxi with the Musou no Hitotachi. That same slash also formed what later became known as Musoujin Gorge. But the Archon War was brutal and Yashiori Island was completely destroyed during that battle. They say the shogun lost something very dear to her along the way too. Since Orobaxi's death, there has always been some animosity between Watatsumi Island and the Shogunate. But our different beliefs have nothing to do with why the resistance was formed. We only rose up to fight against the Vision Hunt Decree. When Orobaxi attacked civilization, the shogun stood up and put a stop to it. But now that the shogun is stripping people of their ambitions with the Vision Hunt Decree, it's time for someone to stand up and stop the shogun. Alright, I'm heading back. I was just dealing with some of the Shogun's elite samurai, so I think I'm gonna take a quick breather, then it's onto my next assignment. You should report back to Sangonomiya as soon as possible. Don't stay here longer than you need to — being around the Tatarigami too long won't do your health any good."
"Take care of yourself." the Traveler warned the coughing Teppei.
"Don't worry about me." Teppei assured. "Peak condition."
"Teppei's sure made some big progress if he's already dealing with Shogunate Samurai." Paimon noted after Teppei walked off. "Paimon can hardly believe it. Let's report back to Kokomi, Traveler."
At the Sangonomiya Shrine...
"Kokomi, we're back." Paimon called. "Oh, look, Gorou's here too.: What happened? They look so serious. Kokomi, Gorou, what's going on?"
"Recently, Traveler, some of our soldiers started showing symptoms of accelerated aging." Gorou explained. "When the first couple of victims were brought into the field hospital, Mitsuko identified the cause as Fatui Delusion usage. Most of the users are highly ambitious types, vehemently opposed to the Vision Hunt Decree. We managed to confiscate a number of them but more have been turning up."
"But why would the Fatui do this?" Kokomi wondered. "Forget that, there's no time. Right now, we need to inform the whole army to cease using their Delusions immediately. All soldiers who have shown symptoms are to be taken to Mitsuko for treatment. I just hope we'll be in time to save them."
"Wait a second..." Paimon suddenly recalled something. "Traveler, speaking of soldiers with symptoms..."
"Teppei..." the Traveler realized.
"No, s—surely he can't have..." Paimon gasped. "Let's go check on him!"
Outside Teppei's residence...
"Teppei!" Paimon cried out, finding the weakened Teppei slumped against the wall.
"Hey, guys." Teppei peered his eyes open "What're you doing here? Just a moment, lemme get up... it's weird, I don't know where all my strength's gone." he sank back on his butt.
"What's been going on with you?" the Traveler asked.
"I haven't had time to give you the full details." Teppei realized. "Well, I've made a lot of great contributions to the war effort lately. Fighting the Shogun's Army at sea, taking on Shogunate Samurai all by myself, rescuing my comrades from an ambush... things I never would have dreamed I could do when you first met me. If only I were stronger still. The stronger I am, the more I can do for the resistance. Wait a sec, where's my secret weapon gone?"
"When did you start using it?" the Traveler pressed.
"It wasn't long after you were made captain of Swordfish II." Teppei replied. "I met these mysterious people, said they were with our supporters. They gave it to me and said that as long as I have the will to become stronger, this secret weapon will answer my call. It's just like a Vision, isn't it? Of course, I've never used a Vision, so I wouldn't know the difference."
"This is... a Delusion." the Traveler revealed.
"Delusion?" Teppei echoed. "Oh god, that doesn't sound very good. So, what's the difference between a Delusion and a Vision?"
"A Delusion drains the user's life force." the Traveler answered.
"I suppose it's not too surprising that a mysterious weapon of unknown origins would come with its risks." Teppei sighed. "I've been getting more and more tired over the past few days, and I have this... strange sense of dread. At first, I find I'd was a little more beat than usual after a battle. Didn't think anything of it. But today, I got back and suddenly my vision was going blurry. This is a real shame. There I was, thinking I was catching up with ya. Guess I didn't receive the favor of the gods, after all. Traveler, would you do something for me? When our uniforms are ready, grab mine for me... bring it back here, and we can change together. What's that look for? Don't worry, partner. Soon as I've rested up, I'll be right as rain. Right as rain, I tell ya... soon as I've... rested up..."
"Teppei..." Paimon whispered.
"The Fatui..." the Traveler growled.
"Hey Traveler, where are you going?" Paimon was puzzled when the Traveler stormed off.
SailorStar9: Any OOC-ness is regretted. *Grins* Don't you just love plot bunnies sometimes? Reviews are much appreciated.