The truth was finally out.
Earlier, Lumine had been wondering why Paimon had suddenly hired the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Liyue's number one assassin organization, to deal with her.
Now she knew.
So she'd found a new love.
She was getting rid of her old flame... To make room for the new one.
Listening to Xiangling and Paimon's conversation, Lumine's eyes turned cold.
'I admit I misjudged you.'
'Who would've thought, Xiangling? You look so honest and straightforward, but you're actually that kind of person.'
Paimon probably only managed to contact the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor because Xiangling, being a local, introduced her.
Maybe...
The whole plan to get rid of her had been Xiangling's idea from the start, and she'd even encouraged Paimon to find someone to carry it out.
Looking at it this way...
All the warmth Xiangling had shown along the journey had to be an act, just to lower her guard.
So she could secretly get close to Paimon.
Thinking of this, Lumine let out another cold laugh.
'Paimon, Paimon... you're really stupid. You actually trust someone with a heart as poisonous as hers?'
'Walk with a tiger, and you'll end up in its stomach.'
'Just you wait!'
'Once I confirm the identity of that Geo Archon, I'm getting out of here.'
'I'll run to another nation.'
'I refuse to believe Liyue's number one assassin organization can keep hunting me down in another country.'
'When the "future full of promise" version of me has gathered enough strength, I'll come back for revenge!'
'I forgot the beginning, I forgot the end, but anyway, don't underestimate a poor young girl!'
'You picked a fight with me, the Traveler Lumine. You've kicked an iron plate this time!'
Lumine sneered and looked away.
She had no intention of asking Levi to help. Although that was the fastest solution...
Revenge was something she wanted to do herself.
After all, her future was full of promise.
"Hm?"
Paimon seemed to sense something. She suddenly looked around, scanning the people beside her, ahead of her, and behind her one by one.
"What's wrong?" Xiangling noticed and asked kindly.
"That's strange." Paimon looked back, scratched her head, and said in confusion, "I think I just saw Lumine. She should be nearby."
She hadn't really seen her.
It was more of a feeling.
She felt Lumine was nearby, so she kept searching.
Unfortunately, she couldn't find anyone who looked like her.
She didn't even see anyone with the same hair color.
That was normal. A hair color like Lumine's was extremely rare in Liyue.
If someone like that showed up, they were probably a traveler from another nation.
"Lumine's nearby?"
Hearing that, Xiangling stood on tiptoe and searched the crowd.
Just like Paimon, she found nothing.
After searching several more times, Paimon even flew into the air to look.
Still nothing.
Judging by Paimon's condition, Xiangling finally concluded that she was so overcome with grief that she was hallucinating.
After confirming Lumine really wasn't nearby, the two of them could only follow the crowd and continue toward the Rite of Descension.
Meanwhile, Levi had already arrived and found a spot closest to the ceremony.
He looked at the items on the table with interest.
They were filled with dense Geo elemental energy.
That was probably because Rex Lapis was the Geo Archon, or perhaps because Ningguang, who was in charge of this Rite of Descension, possessed a Geo Vision.
The gemstones displayed there had come from her.
As time passed, more and more people gathered. The once spacious venue gradually became crowded.
But that had nothing to do with Levi.
Standing at the very front, whenever he felt squeezed, he'd simply step forward a little.
The Millelith would naturally come over to maintain order.
Besides, he'd deliberately picked a spot surrounded by beautiful young women.
The more crowded it became, the more he enjoyed it.
'Did I give you this body so you could cop a feel?'
While Levi was happily enjoying the soft cushions pressing against him, Lumine's voice sounded.
Seeing the look of enjoyment on his face, Lumine gritted her teeth in indignation.
'Damn it! If not for what Paimon did, the one enjoying this should've been me!'
Unable to share her body's sense of touch, Lumine shed tears of envy.
Even while envying him, she didn't forget to strongly condemn Levi's behavior.
And declare that she refused to sink to his level.
"I'll let you experience it too."
'Really?!'
The moment Levi said he'd let her enjoy it too, Lumine instantly dropped her condemning tone. Her voice was full of anticipation.
Levi replied, "I'm kidding."
He couldn't just end this state whenever he wanted.
It could only be removed after the commission was completed.
So he was simply teasing an idiot.
———
Lla... ma. That's the name of a means of transportation. I was worried you wouldn't know and think I was insulting you.
"Hm? Llama?"
Lumine smiled and echoed him, repeating the same word.
[Ding!]
[Elysia: @Levi, I've got good news for you!
[Levi: Llama?]
[Lumine: Llama.]
[Elysia: ?]
'What did I do? Why are you cursing me the moment I show up?'
Elysia felt terribly wronged.
She was so upset she was about to cry.
She wiped at her eyes with a tissue.
"Darn it! This onion is making my eyes sting!"
[Levi: Llama? A kind of tool.]
[Lumine: That's right. Llama.]
Hiding in her room, Stelle couldn't help laughing.
She joined the group chat as well.
[Stelle: What's a Llama?]
[Levi: Llama isn't a thing.]
The smile on Stelle's face froze.
[Lumine: Llama is humanity's best friend.]
[Stelle: ...]
[Stelle: Damn!]
Kiana noticed the commotion in the chat and took a look.
Seeing Stelle getting roasted by the two of them, she couldn't help laughing.
Serves you right for butting in.
Now you've activated both of them and become everyone's entertainment.
"Are you ready?"
Guinaifen's voice came from overhead.
Hearing it, Kiana, lying on the ground, took a deep breath.
"I'm ready! Bring it on!"
Looking at the raised sledgehammer, Kiana instinctively tightened her grip on the rock and tensed every muscle in her body.
Bang!
Sirin: 'That idiot...'
'...is kind of embarrassing."
———
In the group chat, while Levi and Lumine were enthusiastically explaining what "Llama" was...
Asta spoke up and kindly asked Elysia about what she hadn't finished saying earlier.
She was quite curious about the good news Elysia wanted to tell Levi.
[Stelle: Does anyone care about how I feel?]
After all, the two of them were clearly talking about her.
And the facts proved...
No one cared.
Tears welled up in Stelle's eyes. She curled up under her blanket and sniffled.
Then... she went right back to joining Levi and Lumine's discussion about "Llama."
After all...
She was invincible.
Ignoring the three of them, Levi, Lumine, and Stelle, Elysia finished eating the onion while wiping away tears, then continued what she'd been saying.
[Elysia: It's about what I mentioned a few days ago, I'm going to visit the Xianzhou Luofu.]
[Stelle: Going there to prepare for pregnancy?]
[Levi: Llama is?]
[Lumine: Right, Llama is?]
[Elysia: ...]
Asta couldn't help sighing.
"So this is what you're really like, Stelle."
"..."