After stocking up on food, Cao Ye prepared to head into the Dungeon.
Today he had brought along a "flying mobile storage unit," so he didn't have to worry about collecting drops or magic stones himself.
Exploring the Dungeon with a flying emergency food companion actually sounded pretty interesting.
"Alright, we've eaten enough. Time to get to work."
"Work? Is there another commission?"
Paimon asked instinctively.
In her understanding, the Traveler earned money by completing quests—big quests and small quests—with varying rewards.
"We're going to the Dungeon. This isn't Teyvat—this is Orario."
"Oh right, Orario, not Teyvat."
Paimon nodded in realization.
Even though she was a cursed corpse created from memory, much of her cognition was still strongly tied to Genshin Impact.
That wasn't because she was truly alive.
It was simply because Cao Ye had poured all that information into her while creating her.
Originally he had only wanted to faithfully recreate the adorable mascot.
He never expected to accidentally produce a mutated cursed corpse.
"Can I go to the Dungeon with you?"
"Uh…"
Just as Cao Ye and Paimon were talking, Ais, who had been quietly standing nearby, suddenly spoke up.
She was curious about Cao Ye.
And she liked Paimon.
So she wanted to join them—especially because she was curious how Cao Ye could be so strong despite having a low level.
"You're going to the Dungeon too?"
"Yes. I usually go alone."
"I see… then come with us."
"We're friends, right?"
Paimon turned to look at Cao Ye with watery eyes.
It was impossible to refuse that expression.
Even Ais copied Paimon and stared at Cao Ye as well.
But unlike Paimon's cute pleading face, Ais's expression looked more like someone awkwardly forcing a request.
"Fine, fine. You can come."
"Yay!"
Paimon cheered happily and raised her hand toward Ais.
It was their victory.
But Ais didn't understand.
She stared at Paimon's raised hand in confusion.
"Yay…?"
She looked at her own hand and slowly raised it as well.
Then she gently tapped Paimon's hand.
"No, Ais, that's not how you do it. We need coordination."
"Oh…"
"Let's try again!"
"Yay!"
"Yay!"
Their hands slapped together.
Paimon looked delighted.
Ais stared at her own hand again.
This was the first time she had done something like that.
But it felt… surprisingly nice.
"Young people sure have fun."
Takemikazuchi sighed with emotion and returned to frying potato balls.
For him, selling snacks was the most important thing.
After all, his financial situation was quite poor.
And just like that, a strange three-person team was formed.
A kept pretty boy supported by a goddessA Familia princessAnd a flying emergency food
The trio entered the Dungeon together.
The moment they stepped inside, Ais seemed to become a completely different person.
In Orario she was a quiet, expressionless girl.
But in the Dungeon she transformed into a powerful warrior.
With the Desperate Sword in hand, every monster was cut down instantly.
At Level 5, Ais could easily slaughter monsters on the upper floors.
"Cao Ye, what's this?"
"Magic stones. You can exchange them at the Guild for valis—money."
"They can be sold for money?!"
Paimon's eyes instantly sparkled.
She immediately flew over and began picking up all the magic stones scattered around.
Then she stuffed them into her tiny pouch.
Those pouches were specially designed by Cao Ye.
They were connected directly to the Imaginary Space.
Paimon had Imaginary Magic engraved into her body, allowing her to freely open the space.
She was basically the perfect portable storage assistant.
And because of Paimon's greedy personality, she didn't even need instructions.
She worked enthusiastically on her own.
"Wow! So many magic stones! How much money can these be worth?"
"You don't need to worry about money. I'm rich."
"Hmph! Paimon doesn't want to starve again. Paimon is keeping all of these!"
Ignoring Cao Ye, she continued gathering stones from the monsters Ais killed.
The scene looked oddly peaceful.
A beautiful girl slaughtering monsters in frontA floating mascot collecting drops behind herAnd Cao Ye strolling leisurely at the back
It looked like a retired old man casually taking a walk.
Suddenly—
CRACK!
A fissure opened in the ground.
A small green monster crawled out.
"WAAAH! MONSTER! TRAVELER!!!"
Startled, Paimon immediately flew back to Cao Ye for safety.
"Gyaaa!"
It was a goblin.
But not an ordinary one.
Its skin was dark green, nearly black.
Unlike the skinny goblins usually seen, this one had a muscular body and stood nearly 1.7 meters tall.
In goblin terms, it was practically a giant.
"A black goblin… a variant?"
Variant monsters were a rare anomaly in the Dungeon.
They had stronger growth potential and higher intelligence.
Some dangerous variants even appeared on the Guild's bounty lists.
And a goblin variant was extremely rare.
Low-level monsters rarely evolved like that.
"GYAAAH!"
The black goblin roared and charged at Cao Ye.
Driven by the Dungeon's instincts to destroy all life.
"Traveler… that monster looks scary."
"Maybe we should run?"
Paimon immediately suggested retreating.
But before Cao Ye could answer—
WHOOSH!
A black sword shot out from a crack in space.
It pierced straight through the goblin's chest.
The rare variant monster died instantly.
Cao Ye calmly said,
"Didn't I tell you, Paimon?"
"I'm very strong."
Paimon stared with wide eyes.
"Traveler… you're amazing!"
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