Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue [504]

After a brief moment to adjust, or more accurately, to let Albedo construct some alchemical instruments for reconnaissance, they got to work.

Considering Alice’s legendary penchant for chaos, even Gu Sanqiu had no objections to Albedo’s extra precautions.

What if there was some mother-customized love bomb buried somewhere, ready to go off without anyone realizing?

Could they even withstand such an explosion?

After all, this was the same woman who had turned Stormterror’s Lair into Stormterror’s Ruins.

There was no such thing as too cautious.

No one wanted the Golden Apple Archipelago to become the Golden Apple Wasteland.

...

"Alright, the standard scan is complete. So far, I haven’t detected any particularly powerful enemies," Albedo reported.

He gestured toward the center of the island. "However, my instruments have picked up a rather significant energy fluctuation in that direction. I recommend we investigate."

"A significant energy fluctuation? Is it alive?"

"No, just pure energy."

Albedo shook his head. "Other than that, I don’t have enough distinguishing characteristics to draw a definitive conclusion."

"Alright. Either way, we came here to give them a surprise."

Gu Sanqiu casually set up a few non-lethal traps along the way.

"Alice, a warrior returning from beyond this world… Albedo, does that interest you?"

"Honestly? Very much."

Albedo adjusted one of his devices. "I’ve had a few research projects involving materials from beyond this world—plant seeds, for example.

"But studying them in an entirely unrelated environment? That’s a fundamental taboo in alchemy. The progress has been… less than ideal."

Albedo’s voice took on a wistful tone. "I’d love to see for myself what the world beyond is like."

"By the way," Gu Sanqiu suddenly remembered something. "Given your relationship with Klee, Lady Alice should technically count as your godmother. But you never seem to call her that."

"Logically speaking, based on standard familial relations, I could address Lady Alice as ‘godmother.’"

Albedo set up another trap—a crossbow rigged to trigger from ground vibrations.

"But Lady Alice specifically forbade me from calling her that. She said that hearing someone my age say it would make her feel… old."

Ah.

Well, that was a reasonable enough sentiment.

Klee was still the best, though.

At least she hadn’t grown into her mother’s unique thought process—or her world-ending level of destructiveness.

"We’re almost there. The energy fluctuation is just up ahead," Albedo noted.

Gu Sanqiu took a step forward, pausing as something caught his eye. He nudged aside a patch of dirt and grass with his foot, revealing an ancient, weathered stone slab.

A stone slab?

Wait a minute…

Why did that pattern look so familiar?

"Sanqiu, it’s just up ahead. My readings show the energy fluctuation is right underneath this thing," Albedo called out.

Gu Sanqiu looked up—

And immediately locked eyes with a very familiar puppet.

It clicked.

No wonder the stone slab seemed so recognizable.

This was the Maguu Kenki from the Golden Apple Archipelago!

"So it actually exists here, too…"

Gu Sanqiu unsheathed his weapon.

If this was the same Maguu Kenki as the one in Inazuma, then what was the deal? Was it just another advanced automation, similar to the Ruin Graders buried deep underground?

Although, let’s be real—Maguu Kenki was nowhere near as mass-producible as those Ruin Graders.

"It looks like a highly advanced mechanical construct," Albedo observed, drawing his sword. "Think of it as an elite-level automaton."

He glanced over the puppet’s frame. "Its ability to channel energy is quite sophisticated. Judging by its form, it likely possesses a high level of swordsmanship."

As they spoke, Maguu Kenki stirred. Its body shifted, gripping its blade and charging up a fusion of Anemo and Cryo energy, an impending storm swirling around it.

Not the worst opponent. Nothing they couldn’t handle.

Gu Sanqiu and Albedo exchanged glances, the same thought crossing their minds.

Gu Sanqiu asked, "You think you can hijack it?"

Albedo nodded. "Technically, yes. If nothing else, I could always dismantle its core and rebuild a new one."

"So… this is the one, then?"

"A fine choice."

If Maguu Kenki had some kind of danger premonition module, it would have surely been screaming at that moment.

Because the two figures before it were radiating the unmistakable aura of thieves eyeing a prize.

"[Solar Isotoma]."

Albedo deployed his alchemical construct in an instant.

Gu Sanqiu stomped his foot, hoisting up a jagged rock pillar surging with resonance energy—

And swung it at Maguu Kenki with full force.

Boom!

Even though the puppet managed to block with its massive oni mask, the sheer impact sent it crashing into the ground. The mask shattered into scattered fragments.

"A miscalculation," Gu Sanqiu noted, pressing the rock pillar against Maguu Kenki’s chest. "Its weapons and components are already deteriorating pretty badly."

"If we want to use this thing as the final boss of our little operation, it might take some extra work."

"As long as it’s functional, the rest can be dealt with."

Albedo approached, inspecting the automaton’s elemental circuitry and joint mechanisms.

"If it’s a problem that alchemy can solve, then it’s not really a problem at all."

He studied the puppet’s face thoughtfully. "Although… tell me, doesn’t this thing seem a little unfitting as the ultimate weapon of a mysterious organization?"

Gu Sanqiu frowned. "What do you mean? It already looks menacing enough. I mean, Klee would take one look and instantly label it as a villain."

"No, I have no complaints about its ugly exterior," Albedo clarified. "I mean, it lacks any distinct, defining symbols."

He gestured at the still-struggling Maguu Kenki.

"Before we strip it down completely, should we… add some decorative patterns or something?"

…Skins? Accessories?

Gu Sanqiu nodded. "That makes sense. So when they finally put the pieces together, they’ll have that ‘Ah, so this is what it was supposed to look like’ moment?"

"Exactly."

Albedo pulled out a palette and brush. "I’ll design it according to Lady Alice’s preferred aesthetic. That way, when the truth is finally revealed, we’ll have a backup plan."

…?

Gu Sanqiu squinted. "Why do we need a backup plan? Explain."

Albedo shot his friend a knowing look.

"Later, we still have to set up more traps across the other islands. When everyone realizes this was just a gift from a mother to her child, do you really think they’ll believe the traps were originally here?"

…Damn.

Gu Sanqiu clapped his hands together. "You have a point. Should we leave behind some scattered notes in random corners, just to make our innocence even more convincing?"

"No need. Too many ‘convenient’ clues would just be suspicious."

Albedo handed him a sheet of paper. "Here. It’s a reference for Lady Alice’s artistic style. Touch up the traps and crossbows with similar motifs. Also, make sure to scatter a few ‘broken’ traps around. We need to repeat this process for every island."

Gu Sanqiu gave him a thumbs-up.

Honestly, as much as he wanted to smash Maguu Kenki into scrap just for the hell of it, setting up this blameless bystander act was the smarter move.

Albedo, you genius.

Who else would come up with something like this?

---

This is a fan translation of 原神之璃月奉香人 by 淡白蛋清. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!