Genshin Impact: Towards Godhood

Nahida seriously reflected on her behavior and finally found the key to the problem.

"But it was you who brought it up," she said, hands on her hips. "From beginning to end, it was you who led me to think in this direction, wasn't it?"

"If you understand it that way, I can only say yes, but not entirely."

Rama replied, feigning profundity.

Nahida, of course, couldn't understand. "What does 'yes, but not entirely' mean? Are you saying my understanding is correct but also partly wrong?"

But what part could she possibly be wrong about?

"You need to acknowledge your own ambition," Rama said with a smile. "I don't mind, but you want too many things."

"You have nothing, yet you want everything. Isn't that your problem?"

"You can't blame me for everything just because of a few words I said. I never forced you to make any choices. Unlike others, you have complete freedom to choose."

Rama's words were leisurely.

Having the freedom to choose doesn't mean one will choose freely.

The former is a power Rama grants her. Nahida is special, so Rama is willing to give her more freedom and options.

The latter is a matter of personal ability. Different choices require different costs, which Nahida understands well.

She wants it, but she can't achieve it.

So she shouldn't want it.

But what if she really, really wants it?

The young god lifted her head, eyes full of longing.

"Of course, if you want it, I'll definitely make concessions."

Someone will always step forward at the right time and push others in the direction you want.

The Fatui stepped forward at the right time, escalating the issue and intensifying the conflict, ultimately leaving the god concerned about Sumeru bewildered and troubled.

They stepped forward to intensify the conflict, so I have to step forward to solve the problem.

"How could I refuse my god's request?"

Rama smiled and extended his hand.

"I know you're not well-intentioned," Nahida sighed.

"Go on," Rama didn't withdraw his right hand.

"You tell me what to do for the benefit of the people of Sumeru, but you know I can't do it, so I can only keep relying on you."

"I've explained this principle before. Repeating the same principle makes me feel bored," Rama's smile didn't waver. "But for you, I can explain it tirelessly."

"If you're forced to compromise for anything you want to do, you should know before compromising that you have the freedom to give it up."

"For example, when you know you can't save a sick relative, you have the freedom to choose not to continue paying for their treatment, even though this freedom causes you pain—every choice has a cost, and everyone must bear the cost of their choices."

"Knowing you can't achieve something yet refusing to give it up will inevitably bring many troubles into your life. I have a cruel saying about trouble: it's the blessing you deserve."

He knelt on one knee, cupping the god's face. "Do you understand me a bit more when I say this?"

"Do you need my understanding?" Nahida asked seriously.

"Supposedly, I will use my own methods to get everything I want," Rama replied just as seriously. "Since I can achieve everything on my own, I don't need to care about anyone else's opinion."

"But you're special."

"In what way am I special?" Nahida pressed. "Do you know your answer is very cold?"

Rama wanted to speak, but Nahida placed her hand over his mouth.

It seemed she only wanted to speak without expecting any answer.

So Rama waited for the answer.

"In our interactions, it's always me making requests first, and you fulfilling them, then asking for your deserved reward."

"Many people in this world can call you cold and cruel, but I cannot, because I am the one who induced you to make these choices."

Nahida was puzzled. "But why... why do you choose to slowly contest my sovereignty through transactions when you know I'm weak?"

"Sovereignty... are you some valuable commodity?" Rama laughed.

How to explain it? Because I wanted something, I did bad things, but it's not solely my problem; it also involves the thing I wanted.

The thing is the cause of everything... Tsk, there's no such logic.

Nahida thinking this way only shows she truly is a saint.

But Rama doesn't agree with this logic.

When things are pushed to the extreme, the logic becomes clear.

You like someone, but they already have a lover, so you remove their lover.

Afterward, you say it's not just your problem but also the problem of the person you like because it was your liking that caused these events.

It doesn't work that way; this logic is flawed everywhere.

"Why do you always like to take responsibility on yourself?" Rama was a bit helpless.

No wonder she chose to sacrifice herself without hesitation in the archon quest. She already had a strong sense of responsibility, which was further enhanced by the events of the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's disappearance and the transfer of experience and legends.

She feels like every death in Sumeru is her fault for not governing the country well.

It's really unnecessary.

"But you are like this," Nahida said earnestly. "You only care about your own interests and are unreasonable."

"I don't want to comfort you anymore." Rama slapped his own face. "Learning to be silent when you can't speak well is also good."

He rolled his eyes.

"I'm saying, you're clearly not the kind of person who cares about others' feelings."

"If you want something, you go and take it; that's the character you show."

"But why waste your effort on me?"

It's a rather uninteresting question. Rama thought for a moment, "Are you saying you're not worth the price?"

Nahida's face tensed, trying to stay serious. "If we must talk about value, my only use now is divine authority and legitimacy."

"But the Akademiya is also using those. You could completely emulate their approach."

Trouble.

The ideas instilled in the child are too extreme. Although she still has a saintly personality, she now knows to think from the perspective of others' interests.

A god who knows the dark corners of the human heart yet remains warm and gentle.

Hmm, liked even more.

"This question..." Rama drew out his tone, watching Nahida's increasingly serious expression.

"I like you."

How to act is my freedom. I want to do it this way, so I did it.

I like this god, so I did it.

Two answers, one sentence is enough.

(End of Chapter)