Genshin Impact: Towards Godhood

In the future, when Nahida finally breaks free from her shackles and formally rules all of Sumeru, her stance leans towards the rainforest.

Ruling requires the right tools and the right people. Nahida's chosen tool for governance is the Akademiya. Even though Azar and the current generation of the Six Sages have fallen, the influence of their policies cannot vanish overnight.

The policies established by them and their predecessors have long been solidified, accepted by every scholar. Their scholar system and their attitude towards the desert have taken root in all scholars' minds, shaping their approach.

By choosing a tool biased towards the rainforest, Nahida's stance unavoidably leans towards the rainforest. Even if Nahida intends to change everything, she can only proceed gradually.

However, this doesn't mean Nahida herself is biased towards the rainforest. As an individual, everyone has their biases.

Take Zhongli for example; he wouldn't value an ordinary Liyue citizen the same as the Qixing, nor would he place Ganyu on par with the Qixing. Each generation of Qixing comes and goes, but Ganyu and Xiao have been working tirelessly for him since the Archon War.

Similarly, Nahida likely has people she favors, but she has no reason to favor either the desert or the rainforest. Both are parts of Sumeru and currently have no significant impact on her. In fact, due to the actions of the Six Sages, Nahida might even hold more goodwill towards the desert. Although the desert hasn't brought her any surprises in the past five hundred years, they also haven't committed any errors.

The desert people did the right thing by doing nothing wrong.

"You wish to gain my support, but I am not in a good position right now," the distant god in the Sanctuary of Surasthana said, casting a glance. "I fear I can't help you much."

"I don't need your help, god," Rama said calmly. "I just need a small acknowledgement from you."

That would be enough.

"I don't think I'll fail in achieving victory."

If failure isn't an option, then a significant amount of support isn't necessary. It's great to have it, but it's not essential.

"I can provide you with information about the Akademiya," Nahida said, pressing her lips together.

She had things she wanted to strive for.

"So, what's the price?" Rama guessed the answer. "Are you using your compromise as a bargaining chip to get something from me?"

Giving something means wanting something in return, which is reasonable.

"Consider it a trial. If you really manage to govern both the desert and the rainforest, I hope you can give the rainforest people a relatively fair life."

This benevolent god still made an attempt.

"Of course, that can be done," Rama's smile grew more sincere.

When someone has desires, you can consider exchanging things with them.

"But I have a question. If you are to restrain a potential victor like me, how do you plan to restrain the Akademiya?"

Rama asked curiously, "I believe in the Akademiya's efficiency. Once the news of my intention to govern the desert spreads, the Akademiya will surely respond."

Judging from the main storyline, the Six Sages seem somewhat out of their minds. They dared to cooperate with enemies to create a god despite not having a god themselves.

And then? How can they ensure the outcome will be theirs and not the Fatui's?

However, based on Rama's personal experience, the Akademiya's actions in dealing with the desert are quite swift.

"Whether it's my inclination or the Akademiya's intolerance of rebellion, the result is the same: war is inevitable."

"My dear god, I am willing to accept your terms and ensure to avoid oppressing the majority after the war."

Oppressive governance typically stems from fear of rebellion or the desire to extract maximum benefits from the people.

But Rama sees no need for this.

He aims to become a god. In Teyvat's history, gods have shown mercy to humans, not feared their rebellion.

A god with great power doesn't worry about the people's resistance.

As for extracting benefits through oppression, Rama prefers technological development. Advancing the tech tree would yield far greater productivity than oppressing ordinary people.

"I can do it, but if you want me to do it, there are conditions."

"But this is unfair, isn't it?"

"Being able to do something and having to do it are different. I can show mercy, but clearly, you cannot ensure the Akademiya will do the same."

"The whole matter isn't about fairness. The Akademiya oppresses us, which I understand. Being weak means getting beaten."

"In turn, when we become strong and strike back at the Akademiya and the rainforest, they can't argue it's unfair."

"We're just doing what they did."

This has nothing to do with fairness. The struggle between two regimes is about strength, not fairness.

"Indeed," Nahida said calmly. "I can only try to restrain you, but the Six Sages will not accept my restraint."

"If you accept my restraint, then my request is unfair to you."

"What do you want in exchange to compensate for this unfairness?"

War isn't about fairness. Nahida isn't intervening in the war itself. She's intervening in how the victor governs the defeated.

But fairness does come into play here. Rama accepts the intervention, but the Akademiya doesn't, which is unfair to Rama.

If you want to intervene in this unfairness, you must pay a price.

Nahida acknowledges this logic and is willing to pay the price for the rainforest.

Rama fell into thought.

This approach seemed somewhat similar to Inazuma's.

[Miss Nahida, you don't want the rainforest people to suffer harsh treatment, do you? So you know what to do, right?]

A bit awkward.

But not too awkward, since Nahida's value far exceeds Faruzan's.

Rama didn't plan to leverage his life-saving grace to get Faruzan's help, because she's not very valuable.

But Nahida is different.

This god of wisdom is worth every bargaining chip.

"Then, I want you," Rama named his price. "I have no interest in becoming the God of Grass, but I will become the god of Sumeru."

"Sumeru can have only one god ruling the heavens."

"So, you must become mine."

(End of chapter)