A tic mark popped up on Hu Tao's forehead. "Are you asking for a beating? And why are you talking like Zhongli, that guy?!"
Paimon huffed, "Hmph! Mondstadt is a free city! There's no such thing as forcing people to get married or have kids here!"
"Oh?"
Sure enough, the mother they had overheard earlier smiled and said, "Is that so? Then Mom won't pressure you anymore. This is Mondstadt, after all—
the freest city in the world. Just live the life you want. If you ever feel like having a child, it won't be too late then."
Hu Tao was genuinely shocked. She actually managed to convince her mother?
Zephyr commented, "As expected from Mondstadt. It really is different."
Hu Tao asked, "But why? In Liyue, having children is tradition—the more, the better. Liyue places great importance on heritage and tradition."
Paimon chimed in, "That's exactly the difference between Liyue and Mondstadt."
"You heard that girl, didn't you? She said having a child is a huge responsibility."
"Responsibility?" Hu Tao looked confused.
"Giving birth isn't just about bringing a child into the world. What matters even more is raising them.
Having a baby is easy, but raising them well? That's the hard part."
Hu Tao replied, "Hmm… I don't quite get it. In Liyue, once young people have children, the elders in the family usually help raise them.
So young people can still focus on their careers. I never thought raising kids was particularly difficult. Besides, kids are really cute."
"You see—that's the difference in mindset between the people of two cities.
Sure, kids are cute. But behind that cuteness lies an enormous responsibility—one that could take decades of your life to shoulder.
They're not like cats or dogs that can take care of themselves.
Children need your constant attention. Becoming a parent is one of the most serious decisions anyone can make.
So never decide to have a child just because they seem adorable.
Wait until you're truly ready to carry the weight of that responsibility—because giving birth is just the beginning. What comes after is raising them, guiding them, and bearing the lifelong duty that follows."
Paimon blinked. "Wow… Didn't expect the Traveler to say something so reasonable for once."
"Oh? And what did you think of me before?"
"Uh… Trash? A shady onmyouji?"
"You're not getting dinner."
"Waaah nooo sorry sorry! Paimon was wrong!"
"You say you're wrong every time, and you're quick to admit it, but you never change. Guess what? You're not getting breakfast tomorrow either."
"Waaah…"
Hu Tao fell into thought. "Just a few words, yet more valuable than ten years of reading.
This trip to Mondstadt really was worth it—I've seen and learned so much."
…
After everyone gave their blessings and finished the banquet, the wedding ceremony came to an end.
Lumine had tears in her eyes, visibly moved by the whole event.
Zephyr couldn't help but think: Seriously? That's all it takes to make you cry?
But both Paimon and Hu Tao also looked pretty touched.
He thought for a moment and decided to keep his sarcastic remarks to himself. No need to be branded a heartless jerk.
"Heyyy! Isn't that the Animal Lady?! Chloris missed you so much!"
A cheerful little girl came running over.
"Yo, if it isn't Chloris."
"It's been sooo long, Animal Lady!"
"We literally saw each other just a few days ago, didn't we? And can you please stop calling me that?"
Botanist Chloris greeted them. "Hihi, Sister Lumine! And hello to the Plant Monster too!"
"Paimon is not a plant monster! Paimon is a little sprite—no wait, a human! Paimon is a human!"
"Oh, you're human? Got it! From now on, I'll call you... Plant! Life! Form!"
"Don't call me that!"
And deep down, Zephyr thought: "Paimon, you totally had that one coming."
Chloris blinked and looked at Hu Tao. "This Animal Lady is someone I don't know. Are you friends?"
"Rawr~ I'm not the Animal Lady, I'm a ghost!" Hu Tao said dramatically, pretending to scare her.
"I'm not afraid of ghosts! Flora will protect me!" Chloris declared—but her legs were visibly trembling.
Hu Tao chuckled. "Hehe~ Zephyr, who's this little one?"
"Chloris isn't a little one! Chloris is Mondstadt's famously renowned botanist!"
"Oh, is that so? Hello there, Mondstadt's famously renowned botanist.
I'm Hu Tao, the 77th Master of the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, and soon to be Mondstadt's famously renowned funeral scholar."
"Hello~"
"Hmm, that's odd. Little one, you don't seem to have any bias against our line of work. Or... do you not know what a funeral is?"
"You're underestimating Chloris! Of course I know. I'm just used to it. Studying plants in the wild, I run into dead bodies from time to time."
Paimon muttered, "Can a kid not say something that terrifying, please?"
"Oh right, Animal Lady," Chloris said suddenly, "I heard you've gotten a new nickname in Mondstadt. Something like... Holy Demon?"
Lumine quickly waved her hands. "Rumors! Total rumors!"
"Yeah, I thought so too. So I came up with a new nickname for you instead! Want to hear it?"
Lumine was speechless. What kind of logic is that? Don't like one nickname, just give me another?
"No."
But Chloris took her silence as agreement. "Paimon, what do you think we should call her?"
"Lemme think… How about… DeMon Girl!"
"Ooh, that's a good one!"
Chloris's eyes sparkled. "And that other sister over there?"
"Hmm… let's go with GhoSt Girl!"
Lumine growled, "You just lost your voucher for the five-star meal."
Rip! The ticket tore in half with a loud snip.
"Ah! My voucher! Waaaah, why would you do that?!"
Paimon collapsed on the ground, sobbing as she stared at the two halves of her precious ticket. She had been looking forward to that feast for so long...
Yeah… you could tell Lumine was really mad.
Chloris didn't quite understand Paimon's devastation. "It's just a meal voucher… Sister, do you all have time? I was about to head to Floral Whisper to see my sister. Wanna come?"
"Your sister… Flora, huh? Ugh, don't get me started on her.
Last time she tried to scam me—tried to sell me a Sweet Flower for 200 Mora!"
"What?! Seriously?! Sister, don't be mad! That brat Flora… I'll make sure to give her a proper scolding for you!"
"What do you think, Hu Tao?" Zephyr asked.
"This Hall Master thinks we should definitely check out Floral Whisper. It already looks like a fun place."
...Wait, weren't we supposed to be renovating a shop?
"Paimon, let's go."
"Voucher… voucher… Paimon's meal voucher…"
Hu Tao let out a giggle. "Paimon, take another look. Was that really your voucher?"
"Eh?"
Paimon squatted down and inspected the torn paper carefully.
"Fifty percent off… all apparel in store… everything half off…"
//END
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