That afternoon, Jack said farewell to the Fatui squad.
Marina, the Ice-Glow Cicin Mage girl, gave him her first kiss.
But she did not choose to remain at his side.
Girls from Snezhnaya love fiercely and hate just as fiercely, yet they carry their own duties and ideals. Marina had to bring her sister's remains back home for burial, and she had to answer for her role as a Cicin Mage.
Still, she made a promise with Jack: when they met again, she hoped he would give her a chance—her chance to pursue him in return.
Ironically, the love the Cryo Archon sought and never obtained had instead been won by a mere Cicin Mage, one of her own subordinates.
"Tsk, tsk. Girls from Snezhnaya are really proactive," Traveler teased, putting on a graceful imitation of Marina. "'I hope that when the time comes, Big Brother Traveler will give me a chance… a chance to pursue you and make you fall for me. For that, I'll become someone worthy of you!'"
"Wow, how touching~~"
Jack looked at her antics with a blank expression.
"If you don't want Dragon's Bane anymore, you can return it. Same with the Primordial Jade Cutter."
"No way!" Traveler instantly hugged the Jade Cutter to her chest. "A gift is a gift—you can't take it back! A Qu, you scoundrel, you've got no jianghu ethics!"
"Heh. Who told a certain someone to eat my food, live in my home, use my things, and come crying to me whenever she's lonely—only to turn around and criticize me?"
That jab left Traveler slightly embarrassed. She quickly rubbed her chest against him, eyes sparkling with mischief.
"Oh, hubby Don't be so stingy. Your cute wife was just joking with you"
Paimon and Mona exchanged a glance, both wearing awkward expressions.
"…Is Traveler always like this?" Mona whispered.
Paimon gave an exaggerated sigh. "Traveler… Ai, I won't say more. Even if I explained, you wouldn't get it. You'll understand later."
"???" Mona blinked in confusion.
Jack pinched Traveler's dainty nose, and she tilted her head back, looking ridiculously cute.
"Forget it. If you stopped clowning around, you wouldn't be Traveler. Do as you like."
Traveler immediately planted a kiss on his cheek. "Mwah~ Hubby, you're the best!"
Then she noticed Mona's downcast look. Without hesitation, Traveler took Mona's hand and pressed it together with Jack's.
"Since Keqing isn't here, I'm the boss of the harem. And I say Mona's a good girl. A Qu, you should take her in!"
"H-harem?! W-wait! Shouldn't you ask me first?!"
Mona's voice trembled, but her hand didn't let go. More than anything, it was shyness that bound her in place.
Jack, on the other hand, was a little stunned. Was Traveler really trying to hand-pick mistresses for him? Or did she just find this whole game amusing?
Knowing Traveler, the latter was far more likely.
So Jack spoke plainly: "As you can see, I'm not the kind of man a normal girl should entrust herself to. In the future, more people like you may appear. I do like you, Mona—but what's your choice?"
Her tall witch's hat shadowed her face, hiding her expression.
"…Are you underestimating a great Water Seer?"
Her voice was calm, but firm. "From the moment I came looking for you, I already knew where this road would lead. My destiny has been tied to yours since the very first moment we met."
It was no different from a confession.
Traveler beamed with an "auntie smile" and gave Mona a little push into Jack's arms.
"Oh my, Paimon and I still have fishing to do. We'll leave the snow mountain quest to you two. Bye-bye, hubby! Bye-bye, little sister Mona~"
Dragging Paimon along, she vanished into the Serenitea Pot.
Two minutes later.
Mona still hadn't moved.
Jack could feel the emotions rolling off her—an entire screen filled with "shyness." His mouth twitched.
He reached up and lifted the brim of her oversized witch's hat.
A face red as a boiled shrimp peeked out.
"If you're this shy, you shouldn't say such cool lines. Sigh… let me help you out."
"Help me—?"
Before Mona could finish, her vision went dark. A tall figure leaned in close.
Smooch~
Her eyes widened as their lips met. Her mind went blank.
Jack winked at her, then skillfully guided the novice witch through the "basic etiquette" of lovers' greetings.
By the end, Mona was panting in his arms, face still scarlet.
"…That… didn't help at all…"
Jack sighed. "Guess it backfired."
"You—you're way too skilled!" Mona snapped, teeth gritted.
——
The next day.
Xingying Cave.
A remote corner of Dragonspine, rarely visited. Monsters lurked everywhere, and danger was constant. Even seasoned adventurers avoided this place.
But what the world didn't know was that even in such a harsh land, miracles of nature could still be found.
Inside a certain cavern, warm spring water bubbled up, surrounded by several glowing Seelies—forming a natural open-air hot spring.
"When people think of Dragonspine, the first thing that comes to mind is hot springs," Jack said with a smile. "Mm, this trip was definitely worth it."
He glanced at Mona. "Want to soak together? We've been pushing ourselves pretty hard these last two days."
"J-Just the two of us?!" Her voice cracked.
"What else? Should I head back to the Serenitea Pot and drag Traveler and Paimon over too?"
The image flashed in Mona's mind at once—Traveler clinging to her, shamelessly touching everywhere, then pulling Jack in, turning a simple soak into complete chaos.
Her cheeks flushed scarlet. She frantically waved her hands. "N-No need! Just the two of us is fine!"
Jack chuckled, tipping up her witch's hat to steal a kiss.
"Such a cute reaction. Looks like you already understand Traveler's… style."
After checking the temperature of the water, he slipped away into the MC World to fetch towels.
Mona waited alone, heart racing, until at last Jack returned, hopping out of the Serenitea Pot with two neatly folded white bath towels in his hands.
Mona accepted one, her eyes shimmering with embarrassment, then bolted like a startled rabbit.
"Heh. Really cute, little Mona." Jack couldn't help but smile. Among all the girls he knew, she was still the shyest. Even Amber, egged on by Eula, could be bold at times.
But speaking of Amber and Eula—weren't they supposed to be on a mission in Dragonspine? Could they be somewhere nearby, maybe even in Xingying Cave?
His thoughts were interrupted when Mona emerged again, wrapped in the bath towel.
Her skin was pale from long hours indoors; her petite frame looked even smaller without her usual hat, and her crystal-clear bare feet stepped hesitantly on the snow, like a timid white rabbit walking into the wolf's den.
Jack's eyes softened. "So this is the first time I've seen you without your hat or headband… Long hair draped over your shoulders suits you, Miss Mona."
Her gaze flicked aside. "I-I'll take that as a compliment. Oh, I'm going in first!"
His stare was too much for her to bear. Hugging the towel tight, Mona dove straight into the steaming water with a splash.
--+--
T/N: While I am an inexperienced Translator, I have a Patreon! While it may seem empty as of now, webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
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