At the rear courtyard of the Grand Narukami Shrine.
Miko leaned leisurely against the Sacred Sakura, sipping tea with a relaxed air.
Across from her, Ayaka sat properly in a kneeling position—after all, the one before her was a direct retainer of the Raiden Shogun.
In Liyue's terms, she was on the same level as an adeptus.
The proper respect had to be shown.
Lumine, however, was extremely uncomfortable.
Formal kneeling was something she just couldn't handle; she kept fidgeting and shifting about, as if she had a bad case of restlessness.
Her eyes wandered enviously toward Paimon.
That little floating companion didn't have this problem at all.
Right now, Paimon was lazily propping her cheek with one hand, half-dozing while hovering in midair.
Lumine still couldn't figure out how Paimon could even sleep while floating in the air.
Seeing Lumine so restless, Miko chuckled softly and teased:
"Looks like our little guest isn't used to Inazuman customs. No need to force yourself—sit however you like."
Lumine's face lit up with joy.
She had been waiting for those words!
In an instant, she reached into her Serenitea Pot and pulled out a lazy recliner. With great satisfaction, she set it up on the spot, flopped right into it, and half-sank into its cushions.
"Ahhh… comfortable…"
Miko blinked in surprise.
She had thought Lumine would at most sit cross-legged on the ground—she hadn't expected her to just pull out a whole sofa.
This one really knew how to enjoy herself.
Miko shook her head with an amused smile.
"What an interesting little one. But that's a good thing."
"In this world, only interesting people and interesting events can add color to it."
Lumine scratched her head with a grin.
"Really? Then I must be a very interesting person!"
Miko covered her mouth with a soft laugh, glancing at Ayaka who seemed a bit tense, and shook her head.
"See? Even though you're both friends, little Ayaka here is far too serious. You've only been sitting for a short while, yet she's already straining to endure it."
Ayaka's expression turned awkward, and she lowered her voice:
"Guuji Yae, we came to you to seek a solution for Inazuma's current chaos…"
"I know." Miko replied calmly.
Miko nodded casually, then teased with a smile:
"But when asking someone for help, shouldn't you offer a little gift? Something like… fried tofu, perhaps."
"Fried tofu?!"
The moment food was mentioned, Paimon, who had been half-dozing, instantly perked up.
She wiped her mouth and rubbed her little hands together in anticipation.
"Where, where! Where's the fried tofu? Is it yummy, is it yummy?!"
Miko nodded seriously.
"Of course it's delicious! Fried tofu is the most delicious food in this world!
I've eaten it for hundreds of years and never once gotten tired of it!"
Paimon's eyes widened.
"Really?! Lumine! I want fried tofu!"
Lumine, sprawled lazily across her recliner, waved a hand dismissively.
"Go buy it yourself!"
"Lumine, come with meee! I don't know my way around here, and I'm really scared! What if someone kidnaps me?"
At that, Lumine rolled her eyes and snorted:
"What would anyone even do kidnapping you? Cook you for dinner?"
"Besides, you're carrying more stuff on you than I am, and you've even got Zhongli's divine power with you. The moment anything happens, Ryen would rush over instantly."
"What's there to be afraid of?"
Paimon puffed her chest proudly.
"That just proves Ryen spoils me the most! Lumine, you're jealous of me!"
Lumine clicked her tongue.
"Fine, fine, I'm jealous! So jealous I could die!"
"Jealous you get to be kept like some flying pet by Ryen!"
Miko watched the two banter with an amused smile, saying nothing.
But inwardly, she carefully took note of every name they dropped.
Zhongli, divine power…
Clearly, Zhongli was the vessel of Morax.
And the reason he granted Paimon divine power was obviously tied to this Ryen as well.
Paimon carrying many items on her?
Likely the same kind of weapons Lumine had pulled from her Serenitea Pot earlier.
Which meant—Ryen was the true center of all these whirlpools.
How interesting…
Miko's eyes grew deeper, her interest shifting faintly toward Paimon.
It seemed this little companion, so unassuming on the surface, actually carried an incredibly solid background.
Ayaka looked worriedly at Lumine and gave her a small glance.
Understanding the hint, Lumine reluctantly abandoned her lazy enjoyment.
"Guuji Yae…"
"If you called me Sister Miko instead, I'd be much happier, you know."
Miko interrupted her with a laugh. Lumine scratched her cheek awkwardly, muttering:
"Isn't just 'Miko' enough? Calling you Sister Miko would be disloyal to Ningguang! I'm a proud Traveler—how could I betray her like that?"
"Unless… you pay me extra!"
After all, Ningguang was her financial backer. Lumine had to show some loyalty.
Miko's smile deepened.
"What an amusing child… You came from Liyue, didn't you? Then have you met Ganyu? How is she doing?"
Lumine blinked in surprise.
"You know Ganyu?"
"Of course."
Miko nodded.
"Back when I went to Liyue to study adeptal arts, it was Ganyu who took me around and played with me."
With that connection revealed, Lumine suddenly felt much closer to Miko.
"Ganyu is doing very well. She's with Ryen now—she's really happy."
Miko's brows lifted slightly.
"Ganyu has a boyfriend now? Ryen, was it? How curious… what kind of man could possibly win Ganyu's heart?"
Before Lumine could answer, Paimon immediately lit up with excitement.
Hovering in the air, she flailed her little arms and legs animatedly.
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