"..."
Lin Mo sighed helplessly, finally taking the two brand new pairs of stockings.
He sat on a nearby stone, motioning for Fischl to sit down as well.
Then, he reached out and took hold of Fischl's calf.
After removing her shoes, a pair of beautiful, fair feet wrapped in garter stockings were revealed.
It was evident that the ten toes within the garter stockings were nervously curling.
Fischl herself froze completely.
The once confident Prinzessin was, in that moment, completely petrified.
Lin Mo's palm was warm, and the instant he held her ankle, her entire face flushed crimson.
"Thou... Thou...!"
She instinctively tried to stand, but her leg was held by Lin Mo, making it impossible to move.
She could only blush, biting her lip tightly, her eyes darting around in a panic: "This, this is merely post-battle recuperation! I, I shall certainly... face it calmly... Ugh..."
Oz: "..."
"My Prinzessin means she's about to faint."
"..."
Lin Mo, with a helpless expression, removed Fischl's garter stockings, revealing a pair of fair feet with soft, evenly slender lines.
The two snow-white feet were like spring bamboo shoots, smooth and delicate. Held in Lin Mo's hands, they tried to protest but were powerless to struggle, only turning a delicate pink, looking exquisitely beautiful.
This fellow could be so chuunibyou at other times, but when it came to moments like this, her reaction was even shyer than most people's.
And it wasn't just once or twice.
Shaking his head, Lin Mo helped Fischl get dressed.
As soon as the new stockings were on, Fischl immediately sprang back half a step, like a bird released from a cage.
"Thou, thou's actions... I, I shall reluctantly approve..."
Oz: "My Prinzessin means she's so shy she's about to faint."
Lin Mo stood up, looking at Fischl's appearance, and couldn't help but chuckle, his tone teasing: "So shy? Weren't you quite matter-of-fact just now?"
"Thou, thou shalt not speak nonsense!"
Fischl stomped her foot fiercely, waving her arms in embarrassment, like a ruffled kitten.
She suddenly turned around, pretending to walk nonchalantly: "Our mission has been successfully completed, let us return to Mondstadt swiftly!"
Oz shook his head helplessly and sighed: "My Prinzessin means, let's go back quickly."
Lin Mo smiled, and in the end, didn't tease her further, but stepped to follow.
The afterglow of the setting sun shone on them, stretching their two silhouettes walking side-by-side long, reflecting on the forest Path of the Whispering Woods.
A gentle breeze swept through, rustling golden leaves that fell at their feet, creating a serene and warm atmosphere.
Fischl crossed her arms, her lips slightly curved, her golden eyes glinting with a hint of rebelliousness under the setting sun, carrying a confident and arrogant chuunibyou aura.
"Hmph hmph... It seems the script of fate is indeed arranged thus..."
She gently lifted her chin, raised a hand to touch a strand of her golden twin tails, her tone quite proud: "Thy existence, like a meteor in the night sky, pierces the darkness, illuminating This Prinzessin's Path forward."
Oz: "Her Prinzessin means, are you free lately?"
Lin Mo: "..."
Lin Mo paused his steps slightly, raised an eyebrow, and squinted at the girl immersed in her chuunibyou aura.
Fischl didn't notice his gaze, still engrossed in her own words, her voice growing more spirited: "Thy power of destruction is a rare and mighty force in this world, truly the ultimate judgment of condemnation!"
"Therefore, This Prinzessin bestows upon thee this honor!"
"From today onwards, thou shalt accompany me to the battlefield, overcome obstacles, and eradicate the evil and injustice lurking on this land!"
Oz calmly translated: "My Prinzessin means, are you free in the next few days? Let's team up. She thinks your 'power of destruction' is very effective."
Lin Mo's mouth twitched slightly.
Can this fellow not speak in normal human language?
"You want me to team up with you?"
Lin Mo asked casually, his tone flat.
Fischl gently curved her lips, her eyes flickering slightly, stubbornly saying: "Hmph! Thou must not misunderstand, This Prinzessin's abilities are sufficient to suppress all evil in the world alone! Thou art merely..."
At this, Fischl paused, secretly glancing at Lin Mo, a hint of guilt flashing deep within her golden eyes.
She then cleared her throat, forcefully adopting a noble and aloof posture, her tone still confident: "...An existence permitted by This Prinzessin to join the battlefield!"
Oz: "My Prinzessin means, if you don't go, she'll be very upset."
Lin Mo: "..."
Lin Mo was silent for a moment, suddenly feeling like laughing.
This fellow, she talks such a grand game, but what she actually means is "if you're free, come join me."
Yet she insists on spouting such a long chuunibyou speech, truly... both tsundere and adorable.
Lin Mo narrowed his eyes, his lips slightly curved, looking at Fischl with a hint of playfulness.
"Oh? But you were just saying that you alone are enough to suppress evil in the world, so what do you need me for?"
Fischl's steps halted, and she was instantly stunned, as if her thoughts had been exposed on the spot, her expression adorably subtle.
Fischl's cheeks flushed slightly, her lips moved, as if she wanted to retort, but didn't know how.
She could only stomp her foot fiercely, lift her chin, and turn her head away haughtily: "Hmph! This Prinzessin is merely magnanimous, willing to let thee witness our great deeds together, yet thou art so unappreciative!"
Oz continued to translate: "My Prinzessin means, if you keep talking like that, she'll get angry out of embarrassment."
Lin Mo chuckled, finding this chuunibyou girl truly amusing.
Just then, a virtual panel suddenly appeared before Lin Mo.
Lines of text emerged.
[Facing Seele's invitation, you chose to accept. After a day of gathering supplies, the sense of familiarity between you and Seele has been rekindled, making your long-lost connection even closer. You have received the reward for Option Two: Seele's Power of the Path branch skill — [Ripple]. After use, it can increase the movement speed of any living being by 25%)]
The moment this line of text fully appeared, a peculiar power suddenly surged into his body!
Lin Mo suddenly trembled.
His entire body's blood seemed to boil at that moment. Muscles, bones, nerves, every cell felt as if it had been cleansed, and an extremely light sensation rapidly spread.
That feeling was as if he was being lifted by an invisible wind!
"...!"
The next second, Lin Mo's mind stirred, and he tried to use [Ripple].
In just an instant, he could clearly feel that the burden on his body seemed to have greatly reduced, and his movements became more fluid and natural.
He subconsciously took a step.
— Whoosh!
In that instant, his pace was actually a noticeable amount faster than usual!
It even stirred a faint current of air, as if his body was being propelled by an invisible force, no longer bound by inertia.
"...Interesting."
Lin Mo murmured softly, a flicker of surprise passing through his brows.
This feeling was more powerful than a general speed boost.
It wasn't just a simple increase in speed.
Instead, it enhanced the overall coordination and lightness of his entire body.
It was as if his whole being had broken through some kind of restraint, capable of moving at a faster speed at any moment.
"A 25% speed increase is already so impressive. If it were 100%, wouldn't I take flight?"
Lin Mo's eyes flickered slightly, and he quickly pondered the practical value of this skill in his mind.
A 25% movement speed bonus.
It's not a lot, but it's not a little either.
But in terms of combat, escape, pursuit, etc., it is definitely a crucial improvement!
"If this power were bestowed upon others..."
Lin Mo narrowed his eyes.
This meant that he could, at critical moments, allow others to also gain this amplification!
This was undoubtedly an extremely powerful support skill!
Thinking of this, Lin Mo's lips curved slightly upwards, and the joy in his eyes grew more intense.
This reward was definitely a huge gain!
"This 25% speed boost, can it also be applied to…"
Suddenly, Lin Mo's expression became a bit strange.
It should be possible, right?