The Traveler's segment here wasn't rehearsed in advance either—it was truly an improv performance that stunned everyone.
Furina's evaluation: This is what an old pro looks like.
Traveler, I want to see you do a one-take right now. Isn't that bold enough? Just this story, one take!
Unfortunately, Lucian didn't allow it. He gave up on the one-take idea. The Sumeru story still has follow-ups and won't be finished in this book.
In the story of this book, Setaria got a break. The Traveler exposing this matter was truly a wake-up call for Setaria.
[Setaria: "…Qishan, you wouldn't also be a believer in the Scarlet King, right?"]
Upon hearing this, even Zhongli would have a question mark. Isn't she one of my people?
Suddenly, Liyue people felt the same sense of dissonance that Sumeru people had felt before.
This was even worse than saying faith in the God of Salt—at least the pronunciation is similar.
Speaking of which, Sumeru is truly a magical place. There are people who believe in all kinds of gods. Although Qishan "no longer believes" in the Geo Archon, there are still those who believe in Rex Lapis—and that's Dori.
Mora loves me, and I love Mora~!
[The Traveler replied: "What a strange way to ask, as if there's something wrong with being a believer in the Scarlet King."]
["When it should be you, who helps the Akademiya treat the city's people as experimental subjects… that's the one who can't see the light, right?"]
This sentence was truly a defense-breaking blow. Setaria had always been ashamed of her own actions—this hit right at her core.
Especially since she didn't have many friends to begin with. Being questioned like this by friends made her doubt herself even more.
[Setaria's voice trembled: "Don't... don't say any more!"]
Setaria ran away. She really couldn't bear this chain of breaking damage. This superbreak team was just too overpowered.
One can only say three people make a tiger—Setaria's defenses were broken.
But it wasn't enough. After breaking, there was even an extra superbreak waiting for Setaria.
In the story, Setaria found a mercenary from the "Corps of Thirty" and told her to quickly notify a Corps of Thirty officer—there's danger in the city!
Yes, how could it not be dangerous? Sumeru City was about to become the stronghold of Scarlet King believers. Everyone was saying "Long live the Scarlet King."
Setaria anxiously told this mercenary named Rima to immediately find a Corps of Thirty officer—there are heretics preaching in the city!
[Rima (Traveler): "Heretics? May I ask what kind of heresy?"]
Yes, the Traveler made a grand appearance again.
Perhaps it was acting in character this time. It was truly without any rehearsal, yet it still felt like little sister Lumine was playing the role effortlessly.
[Setaria panicked: "It's the Scarlet King! Many people I know have suddenly become followers of the Scarlet King, but the Scarlet King has been dead for a very long time. This is something that can't possibly exist…"]
One can only say Setaria's defenses were truly broken—she was so anxious that she went to a mercenary to report this.
[Rima (Traveler): "Nothing is impossible… Miss Setaria."]
The Traveler was starting again. This possession was completely improvised without any rehearsal. The previous ones at least had a meeting to understand the character.
[Rima (Traveler) continued: "The Scarlet King is immortal. Those who act recklessly will surely pay the price."]
["Stop running away, Setaria. Right now, you're like someone stuck in quicksand. Even if you close your eyes, the Akademiya is still dragging your ankles, pulling you deeper and deeper."]
["The desert that belongs to you isn't here, child of the Scarlet King."]
Truly worthy of an old pro. The readers watching wanted to say: "How about checking the Traveler?"
With the Traveler's eloquence and skills, no one would believe she has no experience preaching.
"Right now, you're like someone stuck in quicksand," "The desert that belongs to you isn't here"—these don't sound like words from a non-believer.
Speaking of which, if you put yourself in Setaria's perspective, this experience would be a bit too terrifying.
It was supposed to be just an ordinary day. She didn't have many close people to begin with, and suddenly today, they all started questioning her.
Unable to bear the psychological pressure, she broke down, lost her composure, and went to a guard to report it—this was the last straw!
Only for the other party to also be a Scarlet King believer. What kind of "Truman Show" Setaria edition is this?
All of Sumeru is speaking Scarlet King words, and Scarlet King words are becoming more and more Sumeru-ized.
Even slightly putting yourself in her shoes makes your scalp tingle—it's too eerie. The problem is that you clearly know it's eerie but can't find the eerie point, can't find a breakthrough.
It's simply like being in a nightmare—clearly feeling many unusual things in the dream but unable to wake up no matter what, leaving only despair.
The readers asked themselves: if they were Setaria, they wouldn't hold up either. If someone had excess mental fortitude, they might even obtain a Vision.
In the illustration, Setaria's vision gradually blurred. The people appearing before her eyes were actually Akin and the others.
[Akin: "Is it strange to believe in the wise Lord Scarlet King? If anything, the strange one is you yourself, with your wavering stance."]
[Qishan: "What a strange way to ask, as if there's something wrong with being a believer in the Scarlet King."]
[Nabiya: "'Setaria, why haven't you gone home yet?'"]
In the illustration, these three surrounded Setaria, with a blood-red background.
Setaria hugged her head and crouched in defense. She couldn't tell—she really couldn't tell anymore!
As a desert person who came to the rainforest, Setaria originally had no family or friends.
She got to know Nabiya because she really wanted to understand her love fortune. She wanted someone she could talk to about anything, someone to accompany her.
She got to know Akin because Akin didn't discriminate against her.
She got to know Qishan because Qishan, like her, felt out of place in Sumeru.
But in this moment, these people close to her were all complaining and accusing in her ears. She felt like she was going crazy.
No, perhaps she was already crazy? That's why she was seeing these things?
She had always been running—running from the desert, running from guilt, running from shame. Escaping doesn't solve problems, but it's very useful.
But now she knew—she couldn't escape. No matter where she ran, it was the same. This was her life, so Setaria accepted her fate.
Perhaps it was time to face the problems she had been avoiding head-on.
[Setaria's tone was low: "I actually don't believe in gods, but I've always believed in 'fate.' Your appearances to me must be the opportunity to escape my current situation."]
Setaria was convinced. Readers didn't find it strange at all that she was convinced.
With the eeriness of everything she experienced, it would rank high. Not being driven insane already counted as good mental fortitude.
One can only say being "deceived" is normal. A person thinking they won't be deceived just means they haven't encountered the "scam" carefully set up for them.
And this one for Setaria was privately customized just for her.
From this, it's clear that those unspeakable private customizations online are not credible.