Ruola thought of something fun and couldn't help but laugh.
Paimon and Lumine were completely bewildered.
"Ruola, what are you laughing about?"
Ruola quickly came back to her senses, didn't explain, but instead pulled out a silk scarf and moved it towards Lumine's small face.
Lumine's face had several smudges of black ash, perhaps from a Hilichurl's torch, and combined with Lumine's current expression, it looked quite amusing!
Lumine's pretty face flushed slightly, but she didn't dodge, quietly waiting for Ruola to help her wipe her face clean.
While wiping, Ruola said, "Oh right, are you two hungry? I brought a lot of delicious food!"
"Delicious food!"
Triggering the keyword, Paimon wrapped her arms around herself, then did a backflip: "Ruola, thank you! You knew Paimon was hungry and specifically brought delicious food. Paimon is so touched!"
"Haha, actually, I just have a habit of carrying a bunch of food with me."
Ruola remembered that Traveler's cooking skills were excellent, and wondered if she would have a chance to try them.
Under this big tree, Ruola first laid out a cloth, then took out many food items from her Vision space.
There were Potato Pancakes, Mora Meat, Pile 'Em Up, Mondstadt Grilled Fish, Sweet Madame, Stir-Fried Filet, plus several Onigiri.
Ruola had wrapped each item carefully in lotus leaves, and the Vision space also had some preservation effect, so the food was still warm.
"Wow, Ruola, you're so kind! Then Paimon won't be shy!"
Lumine also expressed her thanks. Along the way, Ruola had helped her and Paimon so much; they owed her so many favors that Lumine felt a little embarrassed.
After all, Ruola was so kind and guileless, unlike the people she had met before.
"This is fruit juice. I brought several bottles. Paimon, be careful not to choke. Drinking some fruit juice will be even more enjoyable."
"Mm-hmm..."
After the meal, Ruola was a little stunned. The dishes she had brought out were all very large portions, and she had expected a lot to be left over, but she didn't expect it to all be eaten!
How did Paimon's little stomach manage to hold so much food?
"So satisfying!"
Paimon rubbed her little stomach, a satisfied expression on her face.
Ruola and Lumine were also full. After tidying up their things, and for the reason that strenuous exercise is not advisable after a meal, the three sat in place to rest.
Lumine carefully organized the loot she had just acquired and put it into her space. Ruola noticed that the place Lumine stored it was in the accessory she wore, which was a gem sparkling with the Anemo element.
In another time and space.
When Guozhi logged into Genshin Impact today, he discovered that Genshin Impact had actually updated. Upon logging in, he found that the update was for Ruola's Hangout Event.
Generally speaking, if a quest is released, a character is sure to follow!
Guozhi was excited and immediately started a live stream.
After greeting the audience, he said, "Family, Ruola's Hangout Event has started! Today, we're going to do this Hangout Event!"
"[The stream started so early today?!]"
"[Did Guozhi change his schedule?]
"[What! Ruola's cute little quest has started?! Get up immediately, let's grind, let's grind!]"
Guozhi saw the bullet comments in the live stream and explained:
"Didn't I say before that my progress was too slow? I checked, and Genshin Impact updates are always in the morning. So, if Genshin Impact updates, I'll stream in the morning. If there's no update, it'll be the same as before, at 6 PM."
"[Mm-hmm, this change is pretty good. Genshin Impact is so fun, when it updates, you can't wait until night!]
"[The quest is out, does that mean Ruola will be in the gacha soon?!]"
"[It should still be possible to save up Intertwined Fates from now. All the Intertwined Fates I've saved up these days I used to pull for Venti, and I still haven't gotten him, isn't that infuriating!]
"[Ugh... I wish I hadn't pulled for Venti. Actually, compared to Xiaonanniang, I prefer Ruola... The leaks said Ruola uses a polearm, streamer, hurry and check it out.]"
"[Hehe, I'm different. I want both Venti and Ruola!]"
Guozhi glanced at the bullet comments, surprised that so many people were watching even in the morning. He immediately clicked on the quest guide and started Ruola's quest.
Hehe, a pyro polearm girl, I like it... "Lumine, what are we doing later?"
"Ruola, do you know where there are any ore deposits? I took a commission from Wagner yesterday and haven't been able to find any."
"Of course I do. Come on, I'll take you there right now."
Ruola stood up, stretched a bit, and seemed eager.
Having just slept well and eaten, Ruola was now full of energy.
Paimon: "Okay, then let's go!"
There were many mineral deposits in Mondstadt City, and Ruola remembered the most concentrated ones. Several of them had already been mined.
Ruola had seen one when she went out with Noelle last time. She hadn't paid attention then, and after that came the Mondstadt dragon disaster, so no one should have gone to mine it.
Ruola led the way, taking Paimon and Lumine towards that mining spot.
The mining spot was to the right of Dawn Winery, to the left of Dadaupa Gorge, just a little past the foot of the snowy mountains.
The distance was a bit far, but thankfully, the three traveled together, chatting about this and that along the way, so it wasn't boring or tedious.
"Lumine, the Anemo Archon said you are a Traveler from beyond this world, and I've learned so, so much by being with you. C-can I ask you for some guidance?"
"Of course you can!"
Ruola's praise made Lumine feel very pleased. She put her hands on her hips and tilted her head back.
Paimon also flew to Lumine's side, striking the same pose as Lumine.
Ruola held back a laugh: "We've taken the Knights of Favonius assessment many times, but we haven't passed any of them. I think the initial assessments were fine, but the problem is the content of the later assessments; I just can't pass them."
Paimon rubbed her chin: "What's the content of the later assessments?"
"Hmm, they're some questions asked by the senior Knights of Favonius, and we have to answer them. For example, what do you do if you encounter a Hilichurl on the road, how do you handle a stranger claiming to be a merchant, what do you do if you encounter someone injured..."
Lumine asked, "Then how did you answer, Ruola?!"
Ruola thought for a moment and told Lumine the answers she had submitted at the time.
"If I encounter a Hilichurl, I'll rush forward and clear them out to prevent them from harming others."
"If I encounter a stranger claiming to be a merchant, I'll ask them if they need help according to the Knights of Favonius guidance manual, and then offer them assistance."
"If I encounter someone injured, I'll provide help immediately and send them to Mondstadt City..."
Paimon scratched her head: "That doesn't seem to be a problem, does it...?"
Lumine disagreed with Paimon's view. Having traveled through many worlds, she understood more diverse aspects of human nature.
Ruola's way of thinking seemed correct on the surface, but as Amber had said at the time, people like her weren't very good at protecting themselves and could easily be exploited by those with ulterior motives.
The reason the Knights of Favonius didn't let her pass must have been this.
But everyone was helpless about these things. Not even Diluc had changed Ruola's mind, let alone anyone else.
Perhaps everyone not letting her pass the Knights of Favonius assessment was also a way of protecting her, and that little maid named Noelle was the same!
After thinking for a moment, Lumine asked, "Ruola, if someone's life is threatened by a Ruin Guard, and you are injured and unable to save that person, but only you can save him, would you go to save him?"
"Yes!" Ruola answered with almost no hesitation.
Paimon understood then, and she asked in surprise, "Why?"
"If I don't save him, won't he lose his life?"
"But Ruola, you're injured! You can't save him at all, and you might even put yourself in danger."
Ruola struggled a bit: "B-but, I can't just stand by and watch him die. I-I should be able to, I should be able to save him. I'm very strong!"
Lumine, Paimon: "..."
They finally understood why Ruola couldn't pass the assessment.
If they were the examiners, they wouldn't let her pass either.