"Why has Su Bai not arrived yet? Lumine, hurry him up."
"Paimon, do you not have a phone? Why do you not message him?"
"Speaking of which, little Paimon, how exactly do you use the phone to send messages? I cannot sense a single trace of elemental energy on you."
As if recalling something, Lumine pinched Paimon's chubby little face in confusion. According to Albedo's explanation, only those who can manipulate elements should be able to use the phone. So how could Paimon use it? Could it really be as Albedo speculated, that Paimon is her external elemental device?
Paimon struggled to break free from Lumine's clutches and then scratched her head in confusion. She did not understand why either. The moment she picked up the phone, she could easily send messages.
"Why did you not go inside to wait for me? Did the festival not start a long time ago?"
Unable to figure it out, Lumine's train of thought was interrupted by Su Bai's words, so she simply stopped dwelling on the problem. Anyway, the silly Paimon could not possibly harm her. Rather than wasting brain cells here, it was better to go to the festival and relax properly. Seeing Su Bai walk over, Lumine returned to her usual shameless self. She put her hands on her hips and spoke cheekily.
"Ayaka said she wanted to wait for you here. Paimon and I were worried she would get bored, so we stayed to keep her company. Making two beautiful young ladies wait for you for so long, Su Bai, should you not be treating us?"
"Haha, I would love to treat you, but I have no Mora. Besides, Lumine, did you not say earlier that you would treat me?"
Su Bai spread his hands to show he did not have a single Mora on him. Lumine felt a slight headache looking at Su Bai's nonchalant demeanor. She really did not know who had enabled this habit in him. If this continued, Su Bai would basically become a second Zhongli.
"Alright, alright. The expenses for today's festival will be covered by the Kamisato Clan."
Seeing Su Bai and Lumine bickering, Ayaka generously offered to cover all the expenses. The Kamisato Clan did not care about such small amounts of money. Moreover, since she was planning to distract Lumine and Paimon later, Ayaka felt she owed Lumine some compensation.
"Really? Ayaka, you are truly too generous! Unlike Lumine, who is so stingy. When we ate Tricolor Dango this morning, she only gave Paimon one skewer while she ate two herself."
"Paimon, shut up. I do not know who ate three bowls of udon noodles plus a serving of Butter Crab this morning."
After glaring at Paimon, Lumine looked at Ayaka and felt a bit embarrassed. Over the past few days, she had accepted quite a few simple but highly rewarding commissions from Ayaka. Now Ayaka was treating her to food again, and Lumine felt it was quite an expense for her.
"Hmph, if you will not talk, then fine. Su Bai, let us go. I have already scouted all the various foods being sold at the festival. Paimon's festival tour is fully planned."
"Little Paimon, you really did use all your brainpower on food. Let us go, let me see how well Paimon's festival tour is actually planned."
After teasing Paimon, Su Bai followed her to a nearby vendor selling Tricolor Dango. Although he did not have much Mora in his pocket, it was enough to treat Ayaka and the others to some Tricolor Dango.
Seeing Su Bai and Paimon eagerly go to buy Tricolor Dango, Ayaka smiled and explained a few things to Lumine.
"It is alright, Traveler. The food sold at the festival is not expensive. Moreover, you have completed so many commissions for the Kamisato Clan recently. Treating you to a meal is nothing."
After hearing Ayaka's explanation, Lumine's fondness for her skyrocketed. Just listen to how gracefully Ayaka spoke. Then look at those two over there who were already eating Tricolor Dango. The way they spoke was more infuriating by the minute.
"Hehe, it seems Su Bai and Paimon have a very good relationship."
"The two of them certainly get along well. Sometimes even I find it strange why these two have such a good relationship."
Lumine rubbed her hair. Maybe their stars just aligned. She always felt the bond between Su Bai and Paimon was incredibly strong. Sometimes she felt it was even stronger than her own bond with Su Bai.
"Ayaka, Lumine, hurry up and come over! Su Bai bought Tricolor Dango for you. If you do not come soon, I will eat it for you."
"Coming, coming~"
Paimon's shout from a short distance away made Lumine smile knowingly. After being busy for so many days, it was time to relax. As for Ayaka beside her, she had long been itching to enter the festival and execute her plan. However, she could not show it right now. Ayaka suppressed her excitement and spoke to Lumine.
"Let us also go stroll around the festival. If we do not leave now, Su Bai and Paimon will get too far ahead."
"Then we will be relying on Miss Ayaka's generosity today."
...
Watching Ayaka and the group of four finally walk into the festival, Thoma, who was disguised as a diner observing from the side, suddenly retched and threw up. This startled the udon noodle vendor nearby.
"Young man, are you alright? You ate way too much."
"I am fine, boss. Your udon noodles are just too delicious. I could not help but eat a little more, and I did not expect to overeat. I left the Mora on the table. Ugh, I will take my leave first."
With that said, Thoma dry heaved a few more times, ignored the vendor's attempts to stop him, and walked toward the festival. Having eaten so much udon, Thoma now only wanted to leave this place as quickly as possible. For this week, no, this entire month, he did not want to see udon noodles ever again.
As for the udon noodle vendor, he still did not understand why his udon noodles had suddenly become so delicious. He had prepared them no differently than usual.
After thinking for a while and still being unable to figure it out, the vendor shook his head and collected the Mora left on the table.
This is too much Mora. Forget it. Next time he saw this young man, he would just add some extra noodles for him.
Entering the festival grounds, Thoma first found a beverage vendor and ordered a cup of sour berry juice to aid digestion. Sitting on a stool, Thoma pondered for a moment. The Traveler had just entered the festival, so if he appeared immediately, it might seem a bit forced. It was better to check the group chat to kill some time first.
[Hu Tao: Wah, wah, wah! I did not expect so many people to be discussing the Inazuman festival. I was walking on the street and saw so many people heading in the direction of the festival. Since we came back early today, let us go join the fun too.]
[Zhongli: To still present such a lively scene under the Vision Hunt Decree, it seems there are still some loyal and capable individuals in Inazuma.]
[Yae Miko, Embodiment of Wisdom and Beauty: It truly makes a fool of us in front of Mr. Zhongli. If possible, I really hope Mr. Zhongli can persuade my old friend.]
[Yae Miko, Embodiment of Wisdom and Beauty: Ever since that guy showed up, my old friend locks herself in her small room all day eating sweets and reading light novels. If this continues, I am afraid even I could sit in the Shogun's position for a few days.]
[Kujou Sara: Guuji, please do not slander the Shogun in front of delegations from other nations. Also, Miss Hu Tao, as a representative of Liyue, even if you do not consider your own safety, I must. Therefore, I hope you will not go to Tsurumi Island to take risks anymore.]
[Hu Tao: What did you say? The signal is bad here, I cannot see clearly.]
[Kujou Sara: ...]