Listening to the storyteller, time slipped by without anyone noticing.
By the time the tea house began to empty and night deepened, Kairo, Ying, and Paimon finally came back to their senses and decided to return to the inn.
The night wind was gentle, carrying a faint osmanthus fragrance along Liyue's stone streets.
Kairo and Ying walked side by side on the bluestone road.
Paimon drifted between them, lazily yawning.
"Haaa… what a packed day… We ate so much good food, listened to fun stories… I'm sooo satisfied…" she mumbled.
Ying chuckled and nodded.
"Yeah. Liyue really is a city with its own charm."
Kairo's gaze swept forward toward the inn's entrance—
And just as he was about to push the door open, he spotted two very familiar figures waiting outside.
Fischl and Barbara.
They stood at the door as if they'd been waiting quite some time.
Fischl had her arms crossed, brows slightly knitted in impatience.
Barbara, by contrast, looked a bit worried, glancing around as if afraid she'd missed him.
"..."
Kairo raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised to see them here.
At the same time, Fischl also saw him.
Her violet eyes lit up at once.
The irritation on her face instantly dissolved into surprise and delight.
Her cheeks puffed up as she stomped lightly in mock anger, then strode quickly toward him.
"Hmph! At last, thou deignest to appear! The wheels of destiny have at length guided us to this crossroads—knowest thou how long we have awaited thee?!"
She approached, golden hair swaying under the moonlight, her violet eyes full of emotion—part annoyance, part joy.
"This torture of waiting is a trial of the dark royal bloodline itself!
And now that the wheel of fate has spun once more—know this, sinner: dost thou realize what grievous crime thou hast committed?!"
Hearing that familiar chuunibyou cadence, Kairo could only sigh inwardly.
Looking at the obvious pout on her face, he pretty much understood what she meant.
Just then—
Lines of text appeared in front of his vision, visible only to him:
[You've been away from Belobog for some time. After helping Bronya finish handling affairs, Seele decides to use the train pass gifted by the Express to temporarily board the Astral Express to visit you.]
[Thanks to the Trailblaze power, Seele can descend to the Express—but she cannot leave it. Her activity range is limited to the train itself.]
[After a reminder from Pom-Pom, you return to the Astral Express and meet Seele, who has been waiting for you.]
[The girl is overjoyed to see you and is surprised you've already reached the Luofu.]
[Faced with her joy, you decide to…]
Option 1 – Warm Hospitality:
Seeing a familiar comrade, you enthusiastically welcome Seele, show her around the train, prepare food and drinks, chat about recent events, and help her forget Belobog's burdens for a while. You let her fully enjoy this rare, brief trip and your warmth.
(Reward: Seele's Fate-path branch skill —[Butterfly Dance]. Activating it makes your movements like a dancing butterfly, leaving afterimages as you move and increasing your speed by 15%.)
Option 2 – Test Her Motives:
Seele rarely comes looking for you on her own. You can't help suspecting there might be more to this visit than a simple reunion: information, warnings, or hidden purposes. You decide to gently probe for her real intentions.
(Reward: Guardian's Regret — a relic that lets a Preservation-path Trailblazer advance further along Preservation. The mask shattered together with a guardian's twisted wish: she sought to blaze a path for her people at the end of eternal winter, but became a puppet of a greater will.)
Option 3 – Quiet Companionship:
You don't ask, you don't pry. You simply sit with Seele in comfortable silence, sharing this short but familiar moment. You know what she's been through; perhaps what she needs isn't questions or teasing, but a presence she can lean on.
(Reward: Bronze Resolve — an old bronze hammer-shield, crude but durable. Legend says that in ancient times, people wielded such primitive arms to follow their god against unstoppable beasts. This shield is a witness to that war.)
"Options… again?"
Kairo narrowed his eyes slightly.
This wasn't the first time Seele had come looking for him.
So why now did the system decide to trigger a choice?
Does this thing just… turn on and off whenever it feels like it?
Still, he could draw one conclusion:
Seele visiting him = free rewards.
Just like in the original Star Rail world, whenever Seele boarded the train, she'd bring a little gift.
This felt oddly similar.
Maybe the trigger depends on the "Seele boards the train" condition, he wondered. Not every visit counts?
He thought for a moment, then focused on the rewards.
Option 1's Butterfly Dance was clearly the most universally useful.
The shield wasn't his style, and the Preservation-boost item was too niche for his current paths.
He decided quickly—
He'd pick Option 1.
Back in front of the inn, Barbara jogged up, slightly out of breath, with a mix of shyness and relief on her face.
"Kairo… sir…"
She paused to catch her breath, blinking as she smiled sheepishly.
"Sorry to bother you again…"
"It's fine," Kairo replied with a small smile. "Have you two had dinner?"
Growl—
Barbara's stomach answered for her.
On the quiet night streets of Liyue Harbor, that little sound was especially clear.
Barbara froze stiff on the spot, hands flying to her stomach as her cheeks flushed bright red.
"U-um…"
Her eyes went wide and helpless.
Her fingers tangled in her skirt, her face and even ears turning pink as she wished the stone pavement would open up and swallow her.
"Barbara," Fischl chuckled, eyes full of mischief as she raised a hand over her lips.
"Thy mortal vessel hath made its hunger known."
"I-I'm fine!" Barbara protested, frantically shaking her head—
only for her traitorous stomach to complain again, a bit softer this time.
"Guu…"
Her expression collapsed entirely.
Kairo simply smiled gently, without teasing her.
"Perfect, then," he said. "Let's go get some late-night snacks."
Barbara blinked and looked up at him.
Under his steady, warm gaze, her embarrassment slowly faded.
She nodded shyly.
Liyue at Midnight
Liyue — at midnight — was still bustling.
Barbara and Fischl followed Kairo through the streets, their eyes constantly drawn left and right.
Though it was late, the lanterns burned as bright as evening.
Glazed lamps painted the stone road in warm colors.
Shops and stalls still flickered with activity; silhouettes moving behind counters, pots steaming, woks clanging.
Food smells wafted through the air—fried, grilled, stewed, spiced—making even a full stomach react.
It couldn't be more different from Mondstadt.
In Mondstadt, night meant quiet.
Outside of the tavern, most of the city slept.
But Liyue?
Even at this hour, the city still thrummed with life.
"Liyue… really is this lively at night?" Barbara murmured, eyes wide as she watched everything, astonished.
"Hmph, this is but the surface of Liyue's nocturnal splendor," Fischl declared, arms folded.
"Even with the curtain of night drawn, the lights do not dim. 'Tis truly a city of radiance within the abyss."
Kairo smiled lightly.
"Liyue's commerce runs on a different rhythm than Mondstadt's," he explained.
"Many vendors here operate primarily at night, and rest during the day."
Paimon puffed out her chest proudly.
"And the night market only really starts thinning out around… three or four in the morning!" she said.
Barbara nearly choked.
"Three or four?! That's almost dawn!"
Paimon nodded.
"Yep! And once it hits five or six, the morning market starts," she added.
"Shopkeepers have their time down to a science. Night vendors rest by day; day vendors close early at night."
Barbara stared, stunned.
"Even their time management is that organized…"
So this is the commercial capital… she thought.
Fischl tapped her cloak and nodded with rare seriousness.
"'Tis no wonder such splendor flourishes here," she said softly.
Eventually, they stopped at a street-side stall.
The owner expertly tossed food in a wok over lively coals.
Fire leapt, oil sizzled, and a rich aroma rolled out in waves.
Kairo ordered a few simple late-night dishes.
Soon, steaming plates and bowls were placed before them.
Barbara swallowed.
She lifted her chopsticks carefully and tried a piece of tender fish.
The delicate texture and savory sauce melted on her tongue.
"This is… really good…" she murmured, eyes brightening with delight.
Fischl sampled a bite as well, eyelids drooping in satisfaction.
"Liyue's night fare… worthy of praise," she agreed quietly.
Paimon, already hugging a skewer, devoured it happily.
"That's what makes Liyue's night market great—no matter how late it is, you can still find food!"
"You can still eat?!" Ying stared at her in disbelief.
Paimon laughed guiltily—then kept chewing.
Ying: "..."
Barbara, meanwhile, felt her heart warm.
This Liyue trip… was already far better than she'd imagined.
Time passed again unnoticed.
They ate, drank, and eventually made their way back toward the inn under the slowly thinning crowds and ever-burning lamps.
On the way, Barbara stretched lazily.
"Liyue… is such a special place," she sighed.
"Hmph. What thou hast seen today is but the tip of the iceberg," Fischl replied, cloak swirling.
Paimon yawned.
"Okaaay, okay… let's go sleep. We've got more Liyue to explore tomorrow…"
They split up to rest in their rooms.
Shortly after Barbara entered her room, she noticed a familiar scene—
A sneaky silhouette passed in front of her paper window, quietly heading to the right.
Barbara: "..."
Her cheeks reddened.
Again…?
Of course it was Fischl.
Barbara remembered what Fischl had said the previous night, and her face turned even redder as she ducked under her blanket like a startled kitten.
Night Visit
In Kairo's room—
Clack.
The window rattled lightly.
A familiar silhouette hopped through.
The night breeze flowed in behind her; her purple cloak traced an arc in the air before she landed softly on the wooden floor.
Kairo's eyelids twitched.
He stared at the girl who refused to use the door.
"…Can't you come in normally?" he asked.
Fischl lifted her chin, eyes glittering with pride.
"Hmph. The dark royal line does not follow mundane paths," she declared.
"To more swiftly reunite with thee, this princess naturally chose the shortest route."
"..."
Kairo massaged his temple.
Two floors. And you still insist on climbing through the window…
"Hehe."
Fischl flicked her cloak lightly and walked closer, violet eyes shining with expectation.
"But indeed, my judgment was correct. Thou wert already sunk in slumber, and my arrival has drawn thee back from the dreamscape."
Kairo sighed and sat at the edge of the bed, pouring himself some tea.
"Don't talk like you actually control fate…"
"How dare thee doubt this princess's insight!" Fischl snapped theatrically—
Then suddenly noticed something in the corner of the room.
Her gaze snapped sideways.
"Wait."
She pointed, eyes widening.
"What… what manner of creature is that?!"
A massive snow-white lion lay curled in the corner, fur glossy and luminous even in the dim light.
It lay peacefully by the bed, eyes half-shut, uninterested in the intruder.
Fischl was instantly mesmerized.
She crept over and knelt by its side, stretching out her hand carefully.
"Amazing… such a magnificent lion!"
"Its fur, its form—this must surely be a beast of legend!"
Her fingers sank into its warm, soft coat.
It felt like stroking the finest silk.
"Here… and here…"
She happily buried both hands in its fur, completely lost in the sensation.
"Just tamed it recently," Kairo commented, amused.
"What?!"
Fischl whirled on him, golden eyes sparkling in shock.
"Thou… thou canst tame such a sacred being…?"
Kairo just smiled.
From there, the scene drifted into clearly adult territory in the original text.
I'm going to skip over the explicit bedroom content, but the important plot beats are:
Fischl is overjoyed to finally find him.
She clings to him, vents how long she's searched around Liyue.
She hints that she's brought him a "gift," but teases that she'll reveal it later.
The two share an intimate night together (fade to black).
One line later, we pick up at:
"One night passes. The next day, Kairo wakes up late; Fischl is already gone."
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