Keqing took a half-step forward, sword lowered in greeting.
"I'm Keqing, the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing. It's an honor to fight by your side."
Ling Shu blinked.
He didn't expect full-blown roleplay mode.
"Wait, you can talk?"
"Of course I can. Why wouldn't I?"
She tilted her head slightly. Her tone was polite, but curious.
So she really does have her own personality...
This wasn't just a character skin or NPC.
Keqing was real in this world — or at least, the system had given her an autonomous consciousness.
That meant—
"You remember Liyue?"
"…Vaguely. More like a dream I once had."
"Do you know me?"
She looked at him again.
"No. But the moment I arrived, I knew I belonged by your side."
"So... you're basically a servant?"
"More like a retainer."
Fair enough.
Keqing turned to observe her surroundings. The ornate furnishings, the velvet throne, the woman sipping wine at the head of the room.
"Is this… the place you rule?"
Ling Shu almost choked.
"Nah, I don't rule anything here. That's her throne, not mine."
Freya watched with a faint smile.
Her eyes flicked to Keqing. She was clearly evaluating.
"You summoned a godlike beauty from thin air. How fascinating."
Keqing instantly stepped in front of Ling Shu — sword raised slightly.
A protective gesture.
Freya laughed.
"No need to be so tense. I won't steal him… yet."
Ling Shu:
"…That 'yet' was unnecessary."