With the holy sword in hand, the group opened the path downward.
The height was so great that even the two little ones who could fly felt afraid looking at it.
However, a true adventure is not only full of challenges but also full of unknowns.
Emerging from the challenges of the unknown and gaining something is what matters most.
If one doesn't even have the courage to move forward, how can it still be called an adventure?
"Ann said it, right? Princess Lyris is just ahead. Now we can only continue forward."
Ann was encouraged. "I believe in you. You have a lot of wisdom, very strong power, and you are all very good people."
Paimon put her hands on her hips. "Hmph hmph, correct judgment. Then let's go!"
She pointed her finger at the downward opening. "Just like Katheryne often says—toward the stars and the abyss!"
Thus, Lumine stopped everyone, and they all jumped together toward the 'abyss'…
[Alright, now start recalling]
[The one upstairs is mocking the Sea King O?]
[Hahaha, the anime Judicial Island jump directly jumped for several weeks]
Of course, in Teyvat, nothing as ridiculous as what the barrage said happened.
After the group passed through the blue magic array,
they arrived at the center of the Narcissus Cross Kingdom.
Looking around here, they could only see a thin layer of water mist.
Behind this mist, there was faintly an 'evil' figure.
Ann and Paimon immediately hid behind Lumine in fear.
Mu Yang and Lumine entered the field at the same time.
Yes, the evil dragon in the story was resting here.
Its name was [Narcissus]!
Facing the Hydro elemental evil dragon, Mu Yang drew Withering Glory: Snow Burial Over a Thousand Peaks, letting it experience a real dragon.
Unfortunately, after the water was frozen into ice and dissipated, it immediately condensed back together.
At this moment, Ann reminded them that the Narcissus Cross holy sword was glowing.
Lumine used the mobility of Electro to dodge Narcissus's water cannon attacks, intending to take it down in one move.
Unexpectedly, Narcissus instantly split into a duck, a Finch, a frog, a squirrel, and a wild boar…
"What a cunning evil dragon! It actually turned into the forms of Al and the others!"
Ann worried that Lumine couldn't handle it.
Fortunately, Mu Yang was there too. Even without the holy sword, he could damage the dispersed power.
The two quickly defeated the five clones in a few moves.
The recombined Narcissus, unwilling to accept defeat, used its last strength to condense a water laser, attacking toward Lumine.
"Careful!" Ann loudly chanted a spell, protecting Lumine with a water bubble.
But this was not a long-term solution after all.
Ann was not skilled in combat, and the water bubble soon burst.
Lumine raised the holy sword in her hand and faced the laser.
The power of the holy sword erupted, bending the laser's direction.
In the moment Narcissus was stunned, Lumine thrust the holy sword into its body…
[Beating a pure water spirit with such fanfare, even with animated CG]
[This is a world-destroying demonic dragon—understand?]
[You're too immersed, huh]
[Main focus is an immersive experience]
After the matter was resolved, Ann fell into contradiction again.
The princess was sleeping in the high tower, at the end of the adventure.
So this should be the high tower.
But how could Narcissus be inside the high tower?
Lumine told her that they had gone through many teleports just now, so this was very likely outside the high tower.
"...No, it shouldn't be like this! Princess Lyris should be in the high tower, right? Our Narcissus Cross Adventure Team, our only wish for existing in this dark world…"
"Otherwise, our adventure, all the meaning… Al, and Little Cabbage and the others…"
Mu Yang comforted her. "At least, the demonic dragon threatening the Narcissus Cross Kingdom has been eliminated."
"...Yeah. You're right. Thank you."
Lumine pointed her sword at the last door in front. "And our adventure isn't over yet, is it?"
"That's right—let's continue forward!"
The group passed through that door and arrived at a library room with water up to their ankles.
"This place looks like it has a lot of materials—there should be clues, right?"
The group split up to search. On the player's side, they clicked a few glowing points and obtained some useful information.
— — — — — —
[...decided to formally incorporate the orphanage and criminal instruction institute into the public welfare system, named based on the pre-civilization ruins where it is located…]
[In gratitude to the Hydro Archon, one dean position is established. Served by a gentle-natured Pure Water Spirit. One executive vice dean, served by a person outstanding in character and execution ability.]
After reading these two entries, Guinaifen was one hundred percent certain.
This place—the Narcissus Cross Kingdom.
It turned out to be a former welfare institute, specifically for taking in orphans or criminals to help them reform.
"No wonder Ann mentioned people of different sizes earlier—that's what it meant."
[All the storytelling to kids and stuff—I already guessed]
[Didn't it say the dean is a gentle-natured Pure Water Spirit? How did it become the image of an evil dragon?]
[Who isn't afraid of the principal? If he smiles at you, would you think he's easy to approach?]
[It really is]
Guinaifen found another old appointment letter.
It recorded that the vice dean position was taken by former naval commander Bess Elthon.
The higher-ups' intent was to hope that her fierce and untamed temperament could be softened by the innocent children and the familial bonds formed later…
[What are you thinking, you bastards—whatever, fine. Just treat it as a pastime after retirement.]
Immediately after, the next glowing point.
It was an old journal.
The name [Guillotin] mentioned in it made Guinaifen pay extra attention.
Because Alain had the same surname.
Looking at the journal's content, during this time period, the welfare institute was to be demolished.
The journal writer hoped that friends Ingold and Guillotin could help think of a way.
From her words, this former naval commander had indeed softened a lot.
She would even personally make cakes for the children.
Hoping that outside the welfare institute, they could find better lives.
Hoping her skills wouldn't rust too quickly—she wanted to watch the children grow up…
[True fragrance law never expires]
Though these books mentioned quite a bit of information, it was still too fragmented.
It was hard to connect to more.
At that moment, Ann found an illustrated fairy tale book.
Seeing this book, she had a very strange feeling.
Mischievous Lumine came online. "I feel like this kind of picture book is very suitable for Paimon."
"Hmph! That's because… um, because I'm more sentimental, so I can better understand books with illustrations!"
Hard-mouthed Paimon opened this fairy tale story.
The opening was:
[A long, long time ago, in a very far away place, there was a kind and beautiful princess. Her name was Lyris …]
[Yeah, she's the protagonist of the story!]