Alright, so check it out: after the whole camp drama, we finally hauled the Village Keepers back like some kind of tragic parade. Everyone in Aaru Village rushed over to help, and suddenly I felt like we were in a really depressing festival—no fireworks, just lots of tears, and me standing there like an unpaid intern with a lizard on my shoulder.
I clapped my hands together. "Aight, team! Mission complete. We got our cool Village Keepers here safe and sound. Time to go back, sit down, and let Candace interrogate us or something, yeah?"
Lumine's glare could've cut glass. She said flatly, "You wouldn't want that."
Nilou nodded quickly, her expression unusually serious. "I wouldn't wish that on even my worst enemies."
I raised a finger like a scholar about to drop wisdom. "Correction: if it's Azar, then yes. I would absolutely wish it on him. In fact, give him the deluxe interrogation package. Throw in some background music, maybe a lizard tongue flick every few seconds. Right, Greg?"
Greg flicked his tongue twice. Certified approval.
Nilou crossed her arms lightly, pouting a little. "You shouldn't joke about interrogation... but if it's Azar, then, um, maybe it's fine. Just don't make it too scary, okay?"
I gave her a thumbs-up. "Don't worry, Nilou, my version of scary is just bad singing at maximum volume."
Greg slapped his tail against my shoulder. Translation: that IS terrifying.
When we got back, Candace was already waiting like the village mom who knew we'd been out doing something stupid. She crossed her arms, calm but firm. "The Village Keepers you found have all been returned to their homes, and each one has a dedicated caregiver to look after them. The two new scholars are being kept under close supervision, too. Really great work, everyone."
Paimon, of course, ruined the moment with her tiny squeaky voice. "Uh... the atmosphere's so heavy..."
I squatted down to her height and whispered loudly, "That's because you keep announcing the mood like a narrator in a soap opera."
Nilou tried to smile, but her voice was quiet. "It's true though... everyone's so tense. I guess it's because so much has happened all at once."
Lumine wasn't even listening. She had that faraway anime-protagonist stare. She murmured, "It's hard not to feel weighed down by what we just learned. Despite everything Lesser Lord Kusanali has done for her people, the Akademiya has abandoned her in the Sanctuary of Surasthana like a lost cause... Even those she's protected have never realized there's such a small and childlike god in the world."
Paimon flailed her arms. "Hey, say something! Stop spacing out!"
I waved my hands around dramatically. "She's in her tragic monologue mode, let her cook!"
Greg crawled up to the top of my head and perched there like a crown. Translation: your dramatic hands add nothing to the conversation.
Dehya sighed and shook her head. "C'mon, is there... nothing left to talk about? In that case, let's all get some water and try to think about something else."
Candace, ever the responsible one, raised a hand. "Or, I can go fetch some snacks..."
Paimon immediately shot up like she'd been electrocuted. "Oh, Paimon's so coming with you!"
Greg flicked his tongue in Paimon's direction. Translation: glutton detected.
Dehya smirked. "That little mascot is powered by food alone, huh?"
Meanwhile Cyno, because of course, just had to bring the mood back to Serious Business. He looked at Lumine and asked, "Do you have any plans?"
Dehya groaned and rubbed her forehead. "Gods above, you're not talking about work, are you..."
Lumine straightened, looking at all of us. "I want to share everything I know with all of you."
Alhaitham arched a brow, his eyes sharp. "Hm. So you were still withholding some information?"
I quickly raised my hands in surrender. "In our defense, withholding is a strong word. We prefer the term 'narrative pacing.'"
Nilou tilted her head. "Narrative... pacing? What does that mean?"
I leaned closer, whispering like it was a grand secret. "It means we forgot but make it sound cool."
Greg flicked his tongue once. Which, in Greg-language, means: lies detected.
Lumine shot me a look. "Yes, I'm sorry. We had our reasons." She tilted her head at me pointedly.
I puffed my chest. "Absolutely! Very important reasons! Definitely not because I forgot or because Greg ate half my notes. Nope. Pure tactical genius."
Greg's tail smacked me in the chin. Translation: don't drag me into your excuses.
Nilou giggled softly, the tension easing just a little. "You two are funny together. Like a mismatched comedy duo."
"Correction," I said proudly. "We are an iconic mismatched comedy duo. Someday, someone will write about our adventures and sell plushies of Greg."
Greg flicked his tongue twice, clearly fine with this arrangement. Merch money.
Lumine softened her expression. "But now I know we're all in this together."
At that moment, Candace and Paimon came back balancing trays of snacks and tea. Candace moved gracefully, like she was serving royalty. Paimon, meanwhile, looked like she'd stolen half the food already.
"Paimon!" Lumine snapped, catching her in the act.
Paimon froze mid-bite, cheeks puffed like a squirrel. "W-What? I'm just... taste-testing! For poison! Totally necessary!"
Greg flicked his tongue toward Paimon's plate. Translation: poison detected: gluttony.
Dehya leaned back with a grin, munching on a cracker. Her mood seemed untouched by the heavy conversation. Cyno, however, was sitting like a statue, eyes sharp, as if his entire sense of justice had just been reforged in fire. Alhaitham had that look he always had, like he was judging our IQ from orbit, but at least he leaned in, clearly interested.
And me? I sat cross-legged, stuffed a snack in my mouth, and pointed dramatically with my free hand. "Alright, squad, gather round. It's storytime with Uncle Shigeru! And yes, I will absolutely make myself sound cooler than I actually was."
Greg slapped me in the cheek with his tail. Translation: You were never cool.
Nilou leaned forward, eyes bright. "I want to hear it! Even if you exaggerate, it'll still help us understand."
Paimon threw her arms up. "Fine, but don't make it sound like you did all the work!"
I gasped loudly. "Paimon! I would never!"
Greg flicked his tongue once. He would.
So yeah, we spilled everything. All the experiences, all the secrets, every bit of lore—except with me telling it in my personal flavor of stupidity. By the end, everyone looked equal parts horrified and exhausted, and I just leaned back with a grin like, "Well, at least we're all allies now, right? Allies in trauma!"
And from that moment on, it was official: from today, everyone was fighting for the same goal. Or at least, everyone was fighting while I made bad jokes with a lizard on my shoulder.
***
Alright, so we're all sitting in this little circle of conspirators like some kind of underground book club for people who hate sages. Lumine had just finished giving the world's most depressing recap, and honestly, if she ever decided to become a history teacher, half her class would probably drop out before the midterms. That's not her fault though—Sumeru itself is just that much of a mess.
Paimon floated around with her hands on her hips. "Even though we lived through all of this firsthand, it still feels super surreal to hear you guys talk about it again."
I gave a slow clap. "Bravo, storyteller Lumine. You didn't even exaggerate. If it were me telling it, I'd make us look ten times cooler. Like, 'Shigeru punched the desert into obedience' kind of cooler."
Greg on my shoulder flicked his tail like he was saying no, you didn't. Traitor.
Lumine ignored me like a pro. "That's everything we've experienced so far in Sumeru."
Nilou folded her hands together, her brows creasing. "Hearing it all at once... it's so overwhelming. I never realized how much you've all been carrying."
I pointed at Lumine. "Yeah, exactly. She carries the weight of the world. I just carry Greg and my poor life choices."
Greg flicked his tongue once. Translation: heavy burden confirmed.
Dehya whistled low. "What a whirlwind of a story! I felt like I was holding my breath the whole time."
Alhaitham, who was basically allergic to emotions, crossed his arms. "It seems like there will be more issues to face in the days ahead than I had anticipated."
Cyno stood there looking like someone who just learned a joke existed but wasn't sure how to process it. Silence. Pure, stoic silence.
I leaned toward Nilou, whispering loudly enough for everyone to hear. "Do you think he's buffering? Like, the desert Wi-Fi is too slow to load his response."
Nilou covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. Her shoulders shook anyway. "Shigeru, don't be mean."
"Not mean," I corrected. "Observational science."
Greg climbed up on my head and stood there like some kind of lizard crown. Translation: the scientist has spoken.
Dehya, trying to ignore us, said, "Still, now's a good time to make our next move. Now that Rahman's joined us, we'll be an even stronger team."
Cyno finally rebooted. "It's time to make a plan."
"Whoa!" I clapped again. "Look at that! Our walking eyeliner pharaoh speaks!"
Alhaitham's eye twitched so hard I thought it might fall out. "Indeed. These events are a flagrant transgression of the rules in every sense. We cannot allow it to continue."
I nodded sagely. "Exactly. If we let the sages keep doing this, soon they'll be charging people for breathing rights. Trust me, I've seen this before. It starts with taxes, ends with—boom—pay-to-win breathing."
Nilou blinked in concern. "Is... that really possible?"
I wagged a finger. "Nilou, with enough greed, everything is possible. That's why Greg and I only charge people with compliments. It's an honest economy."
Greg flicked his tongue twice. Translation: and snacks.
Candace folded her arms, looking around at all of us. "So, everyone, are we on the same page?"
Cyno: "Crush the sages, and rescue our god... that is our ultimate goal."
Lumine straightened up, her voice steady. "No matter what lies ahead, we will do our utmost, right?"
She turned her eyes at me, and for once I didn't crack a joke right away. I gave her a thumbs-up. "Of course! You're stuck with me, and Greg, and my poor decision-making skills."
Nilou raised her hand like a student. "Me too!"
She even nodded enthusiastically, which made me do the same until Greg nearly slid off my shoulder. He smacked me in the cheek with his tail on purpose. Probably jealous I didn't say us three.
"Fine," I told him quietly. "Yes, you're in the motivational squad too, Greg."
Paimon puffed her cheeks. "Don't forget Paimon!"
"Oh, right." I gasped. "The team mascot-slash-glutton."
"HEY!" She zoomed up and bopped me on the head. "Take that back!"
Nilou giggled behind her hands, and even Lumine's lips curved slightly like she was fighting a smile. That made me feel accomplished. Mission: Annoy Paimon, amuse Nilou, and slightly charm Lumine—success.
Alhaitham cleared his throat, clearly wishing we'd all evaporate. "Well, let's brainstorm a little more about what other resources we can draw on."
Dehya slammed her fist into her palm. "The next time we gather here, we must have a solid plan."
"Or at least a less solid Shigeru," I added. "Because if you keep making me climb rocks and run into ruins, I'm gonna break into pieces before the plan does."
Greg lazily flicked his tongue, glaring at me sideways. Translation: you're already in pieces.
Paimon zipped over to bop me again. "Shigeru, you're such a pain! Just focus!"
"Ow! That's harassment, floating snack!"
Paimon puffed up, her tiny fists shaking. "WHO are you calling snack?!"
Nilou shook her head, still smiling. "Don't fight, you two. We need everyone to get along."
"See?" I leaned back like a smug fortune teller. "If Paimon believes in us, then either we're truly blessed... or we're doomed. Fifty-fifty odds. Perfect."
Greg, ever the realist, slowly blinked at me. I swear he was thinking probably doomed.
_______________
End of Chapter 131
Quests Completed:
*Escorted the Village Keepers back to Aaru Village. The villagers rushed to care for them, creating a mournful scene that felt more like a festival of grief than a victory march.
*Stood around like unpaid emotional support while Greg stole the spotlight by perching like a crown.
*Proposed Azar's punishment should involve background music, bad singing, and occasional lizard tongue flicks. Nilou reluctantly agreed.
*Got praised by Candace in the calm-yet-firm tone of a mom who already knew you'd done something dumb.
*Tried (and failed) to silence Paimon's constant narration of the mood.
*Defended withholding information as a tactical move. Greg exposed your lies with a single tongue flick.
*Nilou lightened the tension by giggling at your antics, officially declaring you and Greg a "comedy duo."
*Formed an unofficial circle of conspirators united by trauma, snacks, and Greg's tail smacks.
Rewards:
*Adventure EXP +7,400
*+29,000 Mora
*Candace's Tray of Snacks – Restores +20 Morale. Comes with bonus glare if you steal too many.
*Narrative Pacing™ Excuse – Consumable dialogue excuse. Success rate: 0%.
*Nilou's Giggle Buff – Reduces team tension, restores 5 Sanity to allies.
*Greg's Comedy Crown – When worn (voluntarily or not), grants +10 Charisma, –10 Dignity.
*Paimon's Poison-Tasting Excuse – Unlimited use, always unbelievable.
*Alhaitham's Judging Silence – +5 Intelligence, –15 Self-Esteem (Shigeru only).
*Rahman's Loyalty (Bound) – Increases desert navigation efficiency, but may trigger random existential dialogue.
*Cyno.exe Buffer Glitch – Applies dramatic pause to all party conversations. Can silence Paimon (rare).
*Dehya's Crackling Energy – Buff: group stress lowered, personal stress doubled.
*Greg's Tail Flick of Judgment – Passive auto-correct system. Stacks up to 5, each lowers Shigeru's ego by 1%.
*Keyword Learned: "Forbidden Knowledge" – Sounds epic. Actually just unreadable homework.
Achievements Unlocked:
"Snack-Fueled Conspirators"
—Survive your first underground strategy circle powered mostly by tea, trauma, and Greg's judgment.