Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Seizing the Doctor’s Seat

For this new Harbinger, everyone present harbored different thoughts.

But judging from his earlier words, he seemed more suited to logistics than to the battlefield.

“Have you considered what codename you’ll take?”

At last, Pierro spoke.

Every Harbinger bore a codename.

He was the very first— thus, The Jester.

“Let me think… How about The Genius? After all, there’s no one in this world smarter than me.”

It was not arrogance without proof.

To attract the gaze of Nous, to become a Messenger of Erudition, and to enter the Genius Society— these things alone proved his brilliance went far beyond what this small world of Teyvat could contain.

“You mean to say everyone on Teyvat is dumber than you?”

Il Dottore’s tone was slow, almost casual— yet it carried a trace of provocation.

So this new colleague… was he arrogant?

“Isn’t that the truth? A planet bound rabble who can’t even step beyond their own world?”

Su Ran walked up to the Doctor.

He had no fondness for him.

Even with his new understanding of science-above-all philosophy, he could never approve of this man.

The Doctor’s problem wasn’t ruthlessness.

It was waste.

So much cruelty, so many atrocities— yet the results were meager.

The price paid never matched the harvest.

And why settle for sacrificing human lives to briefly wield a god’s power— when you could simply control the god outright

?

Was it because he didn’t want to?

Or because he couldn’t?

“A fool like you doesn’t even qualify to enter the Genius Society. What—do you still dream of standing beside a real genius like me?”

Su Ran reached out, and with the barest effort, plucked off the Doctor’s head.

He tossed it aside as though it were trash.

The Harbingers: “!!”

So easily?

Even if it was only one of Dottore’s segments, his power ranked among the very top.

Tartaglia himself wouldn’t claim victory in a straight fight with any of the Doctor’s segments.

“You… weren’t you supposed to be bad at fighting?”

At last, the silence broke.

Tartaglia’s face was full of shock.

Second seat Dottore, slain so quickly?

And this was someone not good at fighting?

“I see! You might not excel in combat, but you excel in killing, right?”

Tartaglia thought he had uncovered the truth.

And Arlecchino, at least, agreed— killing and fighting were not the same.

“Is your brain oxygen-starved? Talking nonsense already?”

Su Ran shook his head.

“Compared to my wisdom, my talents, my creative potential— my martial strength isn’t even worth mentioning.”

He pointed at the fallen Doctor’s head.

“This seat is mine now. Any objections?”

Objections?

Of course not.

Both the Captain and the Tsaritsa knew how strong he was.

He had just killed Dottore’s segment as though it were nothing.

And earlier, he had nearly crushed the Captain’s skull in his hand.

In sheer violence alone, he already outstripped all the other Harbingers.

Even the mighty Captain had been utterly suppressed.

What hope did the lower seats have?

“Terrifying… Such overwhelming strength. And I’ve lost one of my valuable segments because of it.”

In another laboratory deep within Snezhnaya, a different Dottore segment received the news.

So the Fatui had gained a powerful new Harbinger— one whose role even overlapped with his own.

“Still… I hope this new colleague creates something that might interest me.”

He didn’t particularly care if his rank was lowered.

On the contrary— as a man of science, he longed for a peer with whom he could share meaningful discourse.

Sandrone was a passable substitute, but her methods often clashed with his.

She couldn’t keep up with his pace.

So perhaps this newcomer would.

Perhaps this “Genius” would surprise him.

News spread quickly:

“A new Harbinger has joined. Codename: The Genius, Su Ran. He defeated the Doctor and claimed Second Seat. From this day forth, all Harbingers ranked below are shifted down one.”

The pitiful “Maiden,” who hadn’t even shown her face yet, was already squeezed out of the top three.

Columbina: “…”

“Hey! Friend!”

After leaving the Tsaritsa’s palace, Tartaglia called out.

Su Ran stopped, turning to face the young Harbinger.

Though in truth, the two were close in age.

“Can you tell me how you met the Captain? I saw his helmet—it looked like it was about to crack. Did something happen?”

Tartaglia didn’t bother to hide his curiosity.

This man was undeniably powerful.

Unfortunately, Tartaglia himself wasn’t yet qualified to challenge him.

Not while higher-ranked Harbingers stood in his way.

“He intruded on my dwelling. I nearly crushed his head. In the end, your Tsaritsa begged me to spare him. Only then did he get the chance to bring me here. That’s all.”

Since he asked, Su Ran answered plainly.

Unlike with Dottore, he didn’t dislike Tartaglia.

The boy wasn’t a scientist.

And Su Ran wasn’t the kind of “science-above-all” madman who despised every other profession.

With non-scientists, he was content to treat them as equals.

And so, this Harbinger held no special weight in his eyes— neither disdain nor admiration.

“…You’re joking, right?”

Tartaglia couldn’t believe it.

The Captain, defeated?

Impossible!

And the Tsaritsa begging for mercy?

That sounded like pure boasting.

Even Arlecchino, passing nearby, paused mid-step.

Could that be true?

The Captain’s strength was known to all— a human standing at the very pinnacle.

“He’s right there. Don’t believe me? Ask him.”

Su Ran pointed at the Captain, walking nearby.

The Captain stopped.

“…It’s true. The Second Seat’s strength is far above mine.”

“…Huh?”

Tartaglia was dumbfounded.

So, to even stand a chance at fighting Su Ran,

he would first need to surpass the Captain?

——————-

(Author’s Notes: In my setup, the Captain is First Seat. His very codename is “The Captain,” so placing him at the top feels natural. Pierro, The Jester, serves as Overseer and isn’t counted in the ranking. In terms of strength, the Captain represents the peak of humanity—on par with godlike power. Meanwhile, Dottore, though dangerous, is still human, once a student of Sumeru’s Akademiya. So it makes sense that the Captain outstrips him. As for the Tenth Seat… I lean toward it being reserved, either for the protagonist or as a memorial for a fallen Harbinger, much like how La Signora’s seat went unfilled, or how Scaramouche’s alteration of Irminsul left the Sixth Seat vacant for centuries. These are just my personal guesses. Don’t take them too seriously. If canon later contradicts me, just treat it as fanfic fun!)

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