New Fic Posted:
Genshin Impact: My Novels Made All Seven Archons Cry
Wuthering Waves: Transmigrating with the Ten Shadows Technique
Wuthering Waves: I Don't Really Want to Be the Villain
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The conversation between the two gave the impression that Dunyarzad was offering money to get Dehya to leave her "daughter," while Dehya insisted theirs was true love.
Though Dehya claimed she would never go against her principles, the truth was that a mercenary's principle is simply to side with whoever pays more.
Right now, Dehya was acting purely out of personal attachment to Dunyarzad—she didn't care about the money and only wanted Dunyarzad to stop wandering outside because it wasn't safe.
Dunyarzad couldn't sway Dehya with money; she needed emotion.
Honestly, with that kind of money she might as well give it to the Traveler—instead of one bodyguard, the Traveler could hold off the entire Gilded Brigade.
Fortunately Dunyarzad was clever. Seeing the financial approach fail, she immediately switched to playing the emotional card.
[Dunyarzad: "Dehya, I know Mom and Dad have it hard, and I'm truly grateful for everything they've done for me, but in this world there is one other person I want to thank."]
["Because she 'saved' me. In my heart, my reverence for her is equal to what I feel for Mom and Dad."]
It was a good thing Nahida wasn't some little yellow-haired homewrecker—otherwise Dunyarzad's parents watching this scene would have had their hearts turn cold.
[Dunyarzad's tone grew firm: "This is my life, and it's my last chance—so I want to do something meaningful!"]
The moment she mentioned "last chance," Dunyarzad's parents clenched their teeth.
Would the prophecy book really have a way to cure Eleazar? Please, let there be one!
These words were more than enough to convince not just Dehya but even her parents.
So Dehya immediately switched sides and declared her full support for Dunyarzad.
[Dehya: "You definitely won't just come out this once. Before your next trip, we should at least secure the area around your room, and while you're out someone needs to look after you."]
Her emphasis was on "won't just come out this once"—because Dehya believed this would not be Dunyarzad's final chance at life.
In the future she would be fine; she would be able to continue living and keep going out like this!
[Dehya: "Miss, why not hire me to help you? That would be best for everyone."]
'I like money, but I absolutely won't do anything that goes against my principles.'
Now Dehya had chosen a "self-service raise" to profit from both sides—whether that violated her principles was hard to say.
Perhaps she wasn't violating them at all, for a very simple reason: Dunyarzad's parents had hired her to protect and care for Dunyarzad.
So as long as Dehya made Dunyarzad happy, that was her principle.
In reality, this was exactly why Dehya repeatedly brought prophecy books for Dunyarzad to read.
Dunyarzad would cry while reading them, yet she was also happy—truly experiencing pain and joy together.
When she heard the animated short was related to the Dendro Archon, Dunyarzad had Dehya take her and run away from home.
Everything Dehya did was simply to make Dunyarzad happy, so she would not feel sorrow for her life.
In the story, the tavern owner knew Dehya and explicitly stated she disliked bodyguard work—she had once said it was boring.
Dehya truly disliked bodyguard jobs, except when it was for Dunyarzad.
Since the tavern owner recognized Dehya, he naturally guessed Dunyarzad's identity and planned to serve expensive, delicious dishes, but Dunyarzad refused.
["Boss, thank you, but no need. I really need money right now and am not well-off—I hope to save as much as possible."]
Dunyarzad's parents were on the verge of tears: my poor daughter can't even have the best food!
Waaah, which tavern is this? Should we just buy it? Then when our daughter runs away and comes here, she can eat well.
[Dunyarzad continued: "Oh, but for these two guests—please serve them the very best dishes. They are friends I just made; as host I should treat them properly."]
Yae Miko!!! Look at her!!!
You use the Traveler's manuscript fees to treat yourself to feasts—don't you feel any shame!!
No, Miko not only feels no shame, she finds it refreshing and wants to do it again next time.
Setting aside the scummy Yae, in the story the group ate and chatted. Dunyarzad spoke about how she came to know Kusanali.
Because of her illness she couldn't go out or make friends; even the Akasha rejected her—she couldn't read the stories inside.
One day she was very sick. When she woke, she was alone in the room—little Dunyarzad was terrified.
It felt like taking a nap, waking to find it dark, lights off, no messages—a loneliness like being abandoned by the world.
The illustration showed Dunyarzad as a child, curled up as if seeking safety.
This scene broke the hearts not just of Dunyarzad's parents but of ordinary readers too.
[???: "Dunyarzad, don't be afraid. Don't cry."]
A mysterious yet gentle voice spoke, comforting Dunyarzad though she didn't know who it was.
She seemed to know Dunyarzad and many things about her—like a close friend.
["I know you're afraid of thunder, hate taking morning medicine, and always love counting the petals on Mommy's skirt."]
The illustrations showed Dunyarzad huddled under blankets covering her ears during a thunderstorm, Dunyarzad grimacing yet forcing down bitter medicine, Dunyarzad propping her chin and smiling as she watched her mother.
This completely broke Dunyarzad's parents, especially her mother—tears fell with every blink.
Dunyarzad had almost never left home. She was just a child—how could a child stay cooped up?
What hurt them even more was that the Lord Kusanali comforting Dunyarzad was herself a god imprisoned since childhood, unable to leave.
Having been soaked by rain herself, she wanted to hold an umbrella for others—so Nahida asked:
["Dunyarzad, do you have a wish?"]
Dunyarzad let go of her fear; she stopped curling up, but she didn't know what she wished for—she had no wishes.
Dunyarzad never thought she would live long, so naturally she had no expectations for the future.
Perhaps the only thing that could be called a wish was for her illness to get better?
Unfortunately Kusanali could not grant that—if she could cure Eleazar, Nahida would not watch her people suffer.
So Dunyarzad changed her wish.
["Then… can you be my friend?"]
[Dunyarzad: "After that, I heard the voice say: 'Yes, I'll be your friend.'"]
In the days that followed, Nahida was always with Dunyarzad.
The outside world was mysterious; Dunyarzad had never seen it, but Nahida would describe it to her.
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice · Lucian: About the Sumeru Boss
"I thought Dunyarzad would be my boss, but it turned out to be Nahida!?"
"Whatever—it's fine. As long as I have a place to eat, after all it's the Palace of Meals."