Hmph! Don't get the wrong idea!"
Diona puffed up her cheeks.
"I'm not saying this because I want to be petted! This is just… your reward!"
Cael froze.
He genuinely hadn't expected her to say that.
…Did that mean she actually enjoyed it?
Looking at Diona's tsundere expression, Cael felt his heart take critical damage.
Cat girls are amazing.
[Heh. Host, you really are a hopeless pervert—plotting against a minor.]
"Watch your words!" Cael snapped.
"That's slander! I'll sue you! You're slandering me!"
He, Cael, was absolutely not a lolicon!!
"Hey! Are you going to do it or not?!" Diona urged impatiently.
"If you don't pet me now, I won't let you ever again!"
"Of course I will!!"
Cael instantly switched gears, reaching out with a grin.
"Hehe…"
...
...
After leaving Cat's Tail, Cael immediately spotted the Traveler and Paimon preparing to leave the city.
"Huh? Sugar daddy?" Lumine noticed him and stopped.
Cael could already guess what was going on.
Venti was probably trying to lure them out again.
Looks like Lumine was sharp—she'd noticed something off and followed him to Windrise to investigate.
Then—
Paimon, who had just caught up, locked eyes with Cael like she'd seen salvation itself.
She dove toward him.
"Brother Cael!! Do you still have sunflower seeds?!"
Seeing Paimon flying at him with tears and snot still on her face, Cael frowned deeply.
He took one step back—
And delivered a perfect spinning kick.
Whoosh!
Paimon smashed into the nearby wall.
Her eyes instantly turned into spirals.
Lumine walked over, took one look—
And gave Cael a thumbs-up.
Thus, a world where only Paimon was hurt was born.
...
Even though he already knew the answer, Cael still asked,
"Where are you heading in such a hurry?"
"Windrise," Lumine replied.
"I think we'll find some clues there."
She glanced at Paimon, who was already back to munching sunflower seeds.
"…Are they really that good? She's completely addicted."
Paimon looked exactly like an addict from Cael's previous life.
Cael shook his head.
"They're not addictive. She just has terrible self-control."
"People like that tend to become liabilities on adventures. Why don't you give her to me? I'll train her into a good kid."
Crack.
Paimon's hand trembled.
"…Train?"
What kind of monster is he?!
She hurriedly chewed another seed to calm herself.
Lumine, knowing Cael was joking, still shook her head firmly.
"Paimon is my eternal companion."
"I don't care if she holds me back. She's what makes this journey meaningful."
"So no—I'll never give her away."
"Lumine…!"
Paimon burst into tears.
"I'm so touched!! I didn't know I meant that much to you!"
Cael smiled with satisfaction.
This…
was the bond between the Traveler and Paimon.
Then—
He raised a single finger.
"1,600 Primogems."
Flash!
In the blink of an eye, Paimon was dragged right in front of him.
"Godfather, please accept me!!"
Paimon: ⊙▽⊙
Cael: As expected.
Paimon struggled desperately in Lumine's grip.
"Lumine! I misjudged you!! Am I really worth less than 1,600 Primogems?! After everything we've been through—you'd abandon me for a man?!"
The next second—
Five full bags of sunflower seeds appeared before her.
"Extra."
Instantly, Paimon switched expressions.
"Hehehe… I was just kidding…"
...
...
After the chaos settled, Cael had his fun.
He even curiously poked Paimon's tiny hand once before returning her to Lumine.
As for the 1,600 Primogems, Cael said she could pay him later—
whenever she helped Wangsheng Funeral Parlor get a new client.
Lumine agreed without hesitation.
"Alright," Cael laughed.
"You're heading to Windrise anyway, right? I'll come along. I'm curious too."
Lumine gladly welcomed him.
And Paimon walked away with five bags of sunflower seeds.
A small sacrifice—but a massive profit.
...
...
Windrise, of course, meant Venti.
At that moment, Venti was drinking beneath the great tree.
Though he drank freely, his eyes carried unmistakable nostalgia.
"Ha… Agarest has returned," he murmured.
"But the others never will."
"Now it's just me."
"That old man in Liyue still has people to look after him… meanwhile, mine have all grown rebellious."
He sighed, gazing up at the towering tree.
Then—
He sensed something.
Venti immediately hid his wine, adopted a mysterious pose, and began playing his lyre.
Just then, Cael and the others arrived.
Venti turned as if he'd only just noticed them.
"Oh? What brings you here?"
Cael's fist tightened.
How is he this good at acting?! Who taught him this?!
Venti glanced at Cael and stiffened internally.
Why is the big boss here too?!
I can't show off like this!!
Scratching his head, Venti forced himself to continue.
He turned to Lumine.
"Traveler, did you need something?"
Cael watched with interest.
Because of his presence, things had already diverged from the original game.
He was curious—
Would Lumine say something legendary?
Something like:
I'm curious whether you're male or female, so let me check!
...
Lumine spoke calmly.
"You're the Anemo Archon, aren't you?"
"…Huh?"
Venti froze.
So did Cael.
So did Paimon.
Paimon stared in disbelief.
"Lumine, what are you saying?! This drunkard who only thinks about alcohol—this 'ehe monster'—how could he be Barbatos?!"
Cael was just as shocked.
In the game, Lumine only suspected Venti's identity at first. She didn't confirm it until Dvalin exposed the truth.
But now—
Her tone was absolute.
What changed?
Venti wavered for a fraction of a second—but with 3,000 years of experience, he quickly recovered.
"What nonsense," he laughed lightly.
"As little Paimon said, I'm just a slightly talented drunk poet."
"Even if you exaggerate, I couldn't possibly be the Anemo Archon."
"Besides, Lord Barbatos hasn't appeared for centuries."
"So no matter how you look at it—I'm not a god."
Cael couldn't help admiring the speed of Venti's reaction.
Though his explanation was still riddled with holes, it did introduce enough uncertainty.
After all—
Venti was simply too mysterious.
And coupled with how he'd spoken with Dvalin earlier, suspicion was unavoidable.
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