Ei asked, "You mean... leave the Plane of Euthymia?"
Lumine nodded. "It might be beneficial for everyone. Besides, it's been a long time since you've been outside, hasn't it?"
[Ei: Now that I think about it, it really has been a very, very long time.]
[Furina: Then think of all the delicious food and fun things you've missed!]
[Ei: Food and fun? I have no need for those.]
[Zhongli: Gods cannot starve to death.]
[Furina: Once you get out, you should eat, drink, and enjoy yourself!]
[Lumine: You just stay home eating macaroni since you retired.]
[Furina: Sometimes I really don't want to go out.]
[Paimon: If you don't need to eat, you'd save so much Mora! Half my expenses go to food every day.]
[Zhongli: Mm. Mora should indeed be saved.]
[Lumine: Zhongli only saves Mora when he's the one treating others to meals.]
[Paimon: That's because that's the only time he has to pay out of his own pocket.]
[Qiqi: Coconut milk... delicious.]
Ei thought for a moment. "This is not a necessity for me. But with your invitation, a change of mood might not be bad."
"Very well. Let's go out for a stroll."
"Since it's about changing my mood, you may call me Ei. I'm not fond of rigid titles."
Paimon put a finger to her lips, curious. "But wait—the one before me now is Ei's consciousness, right? Can consciousness leave this place?"
Ei replied, "I have my ways. I wouldn't imprison myself willingly."
Paimon cheered up. "Great! Then I won't worry. From now on, we're your tour guides."
Ei looked puzzled. "Tour guides? What are those?"
Paimon explained, "We'll introduce you to Inazuma as it is now—tell you about all the delicious food and all the fun things to do! Alright, let's go!"
[Yae Miko: How amusing. Inazuma's own deity needs travelers to show her around Inazuma.]
[Paimon: Miko can come too!]
[Yae Miko: Three traveling together inevitably leaves one person feeling left out. I'd better not.]
[Paimon: Three? If you join, that makes four!]
[Furina: Hahaha, Paimon, you're not a person. You're Lumine's external vocal organ.]
[Paimon: How dare you! I am... I am... I am Paimon!]
[Lumine: Paimon, you are my companion.]
Lumine and Paimon led Ei straight to the busiest part of the city.
Ei looked around. "This is the current marketplace? Quite different from how I remember it. The storefronts along the streets, the merchants—none are as they once were."
Shopkeepers and customers alike were stunned to see the Shogun!
"Her Excellency the Shogun!"
"Why is Her Excellency here?"
"Wasn't the Shogun ill? Why is she suddenly..."
Ei turned helplessly to Lumine. "It seems I've frightened the people here."
[Yae Miko: Haha, just walk around a few more times and they'll get used to it. When I stay up on the mountain for long periods and then come down, the same thing happens. But if I descend frequently, it stops immediately.]
[Kamisato Ayaka: They'll grow accustomed to it with time.]
Paimon observed, "Well, the Shogun suddenly appearing would naturally startle everyone."
Lumine asked, "But I didn't expect such a strong reaction. Doesn't the Shogun usually patrol here?"
Ei replied calmly, "Patrolling the streets is the Tenryou Commission's duty. The Shogun has much information to process and many orders to issue. There's no time to do everything personally."
"The Shogun also requires no rest, so there's naturally no need to pass the time or relax."
[Ningguang: Ganyu and Keqing also never rest.]
[Ganyu: There's simply too much work.]