Genshin Impact: Strength Through Bonds

"Look over there! A scumbag's dumping his fiancée in public!"

"Where? Where?"

The stares of the onlookers burned into Ren as if trying to see straight through him.

Completely mortified, Ren covered his face and let out a long, silent sigh.

For a fleeting moment, he truly considered leaving Inazuma for good.

All of this chaos stemmed from a careless promise made in his grandfather's time.

Once upon a time, Ren's family had indeed prospered, reaching the heights of prestige.

Back then, they were even connected to the Hiiragi Clan, one of the Tri-Commissions.

When Ren first learned that he was engaged to the Hiiragi Clan's eldest daughter, he had been utterly dumbfounded.

This wasn't in the game's storyline! How are you any different from those scheming opportunists?

The two families had maintained cordial relations for a time, but no one could have foreseen how quickly Ren's family would fall from grace.

By the time Ren was left all alone, the Hiiragi Clan came knocking, demanding to annul the engagement.

Having someone forcefully break off an engagement at your doorstep—who wouldn't be furious?

Though he didn't deliver a dramatic line straight out of a soap opera, Ren had agreed to end the engagement.

Fine. Go ahead, old foxes. The Hiiragi Clan will get thrown into the Raiden Shogun's dungeons sooner or later.

When that happens, who will care about your daughter?

But what Ren didn't anticipate was how vehemently she opposed the annulment. She insisted on fulfilling the engagement no matter what...

Blackmail-worthy history, he thought grimly.

Back in the present, the murmurs of the crowd around them only grew louder, their words dripping with judgment.

"Scumbag!"

"Give him a good beating!"

Meanwhile, his so-called fiancée, visibly flustered, waved her delicate hands in a panic, her cheeks turning a deep red.

"N-no! That's not what I meant! Renny didn't do anything to wrong me!"

"We're very close!"

Ren sighed again, facepalming.

Don't go around saying things that can be easily misunderstood!

Forget it, explaining won't help. Let's just get out of here.

After much effort, Ren finally managed to drag her away from the scene.

The girl followed obediently, her head lowered shyly as she allowed him to hold her hand.

H-he's holding my hand!

His hand was so warm and comforting that she couldn't help but wish she could hold onto it forever...

But before she could let her thoughts wander further, the warmth disappeared.

Ren let go and placed his hands on his hips, glaring at her as she lowered her head in embarrassment.

This girl was nothing but trouble, always testing his patience.

"Explain. How did you manage to sneak out despite being under house arrest by the Hiiragi Clan?"

"Ugh... I'm sorry, Renny."

Ren's stern expression made her pause in her tracks. He gestured for her to stay put and not come closer.

"And stop calling me Renny."

"Okay, Renny."

"..."

Ren's blood pressure spiked, but the corner of her lips tugged upward into a faint smile.

To her, just seeing Ren was the happiest part of her day.

Sometimes, a girl's feelings were that simple.

"I actually fought for this chance to leave," she said, puffing up her chest with a hint of pride.

"You?" Ren asked, incredulous.

"Of course!" She beamed. "Recently, the villages outside Inazuma City have been struggling economically. I wanted to visit them to learn more and see how I could help. But I was scared to go alone..."

As she spoke, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she sneaked a glance at Ren.

His face darkened. "And those old fools didn't even assign you a bodyguard?"

"You're insane. Traveling alone from Ritou to here—what were you thinking?"

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. Without realizing it, he raised his hand.

"Eek..."

She instinctively covered her forehead, looking hurt.

As the Hiiragi Clan's eldest daughter, she had never been treated with much care or attention.

In her cold and indifferent family, Ren was her only source of warmth.

Remembering that, a faint, pure smile appeared on her otherwise crestfallen face.

Ren felt his eye twitch. She's really not the sharpest tool in the shed.

With this level of naivety, how are you going to manage the Hiiragi Clan in the future?

Seeing her helpless expression, he sighed and gave in. He couldn't just leave her alone.

"Fine. I was heading toward Mt. Yougou anyway. You can tag along."

"Renny, you're the best!"

"Hey, don't jump on me!"

---

Outside Inazuma City

As night fell, villagers wrapped up their work and returned to their homes.

"Renny, I bought your favorite Tri-Colored Dango!"

She cheerfully hummed a tune as she handed Ren a stick of dango.

Ren didn't hold back. He accepted it—wasting food wasn't his style.

"Yay! Renny, you're not mad anymore?"

Her watery eyes sparkled like autumn lakes, full of hope.

Wait, is this what people call a date? Her heart raced, thumping like a drum.

Ren gave her a sidelong glance and said flatly, "Finish your business quickly. I'll escort you back to Ritou after."

Her hopeful expression crumbled. "Nooo! Let's go to the Grand Narukami Shrine together instead!"

Having finally gotten out of the house, all she wanted was to stay by his side.

Before Ren could respond, a commotion from a nearby field caught his attention.

A crowd of people had gathered, their voices rising in anger.

A child suddenly bolted out from the crowd, crying in panic and nearly crashing into Ren.

"Renny, what's wrong?"

She clutched his sleeve anxiously, her voice trembling. "If it's dangerous, maybe we should call the Tenryou Commission first..."

Then she realized something.

Wait, isn't Renny part of the Tenryou Commission?

She panicked and shook her head frantically, signaling Ren not to get involved.

Her timid nature instinctively made her want to keep him away from danger.

Ren shook his head lightly. "If you're scared, stay here. I'll be right back."

Her lips parted, but no sound came out as she watched him walk away.

Her heart clenched as she recalled how the elders in her family had always dismissed her.

I came out here to prove myself. How can I just hide now?

Determined, she balled her fists and whispered to herself, "I-I'm not afraid. I'm going to help too!"

With renewed resolve, she chased after Ren's retreating figure.

---

The tension was palpable as villagers surrounded a group of outsiders, their faces filled with rage.

"We won't let you take our land!"

"Get out of here!"

Angry shouts rang out, escalating with each passing moment.

At the center of the crowd stood a middle-aged man dressed as a Snezhnayan merchant, wearing a calm smile.

"So noisy."

His words, like a crack of thunder, silenced the villagers.

Behind him were several soldiers, their icy gazes exuding an aura of blood and steel.

They were Fatui operatives—Snezhnaya's forces.

The villagers, unarmed and unprepared, froze in fear, their defiance extinguished like a candle in the wind.

The merchant smirked in satisfaction, turning to the trembling village elder.

"This land can be developed with our help. It's a win-win for you."

The elder's frail body shook as he broke into a cold sweat.

"You... you've polluted the surrounding rivers, causing illness among our people!" the elder stammered. "And now you want to take the land we rely on to survive? Where is the justice in that?"