[Paimon retorts: "Do you have some kind of fetish for getting beaten?!"]
Readers think the same: what's wrong with this guy? Why does he keep talking about wanting the Traveler to beat him?
In the story, the Traveler doesn't say much and already starts rolling up her sleeves.
Readers widen their eyes: no way—she's really going to reward... I mean, beat him?
[Enjou hurriedly says: "Hey hey hey, wait wait wait. You're joking, right? I'm really afraid of pain!"]
Paimon also stops the Traveler: after all, the two of us can't understand this—if you beat him, who will lift the barrier for us?
No fighting, no fighting—what are the benefits of the "Reins"? If you guess right, give it to him.
Enjou understands the function of the "Reins," but this is his first time trying, so he first gives Lumine a heads-up.
["This is my first time doing something like this; if something happens the moment it's lifted, it would be bad."]
["For example, the impact the instant it's lifted knocks you into the bottomless abyss, or stale air suddenly makes it hard to breathe, or a guardian giant dragon suddenly appears..."]
["Or maybe I suddenly get cursed and turn into a monster that manipulates Pyro."]
At this point, people haven't taken this sentence seriously yet; later they realize this kid is putting the cart before the horse.
Enjou smirks cheaply: as expected of me—I can even think of such a humorous way to hint.
When Enjou lifts the barrier, the three enter the interior of Dainichi Mikoshi together and use mechanisms to switch between day and night.
After switching from daytime to nighttime, a figure suddenly appears beside the three.
[Enjou: "Eek—gh-ghost!"]
Arataki Itto shudders all over: why ghosts again? Why are recent stories all like this? If it continues, I'm not reading anymore!
After calming down a bit, Enjou explains to the Traveler: these are lingering regrets from the past left by the people of Byakuyakoku due to strong emotions, called "Sins of Tokoyo" or "Spirits of Tokoyo."
[???: "...So my appearance like this will be seen by heroes of later generations, right?"]
["Ah, it seems the heroes have arrived. Hello, my Watatsumi name is Aru; my original Byakuyakoku name is Argos."]
He tells the Traveler that he is in charge of the next trial; the rules of the trial are very simple~ just find three fragments.
Got it? Whether you got it or not, just find them!
As the boundary of the three realms, finding three fragments makes sense, so compared to the fragments, Paimon is more curious why these names and place names don't sound like Inazuma at all?
Enjou explains that Watatsumi Island was established during the Archon War, while Byakuyakoku was before that—at that time, there were many -lak, -dak, various -k here.
[Enjou: "Is this the cultural style that the Heavenly Chronicler didn't interfere much with..."]
Venti scratches his cheek: is this something that can be said?
Oh well, whether it can be said or not, you've already said it—it's fine if it doesn't affect His eternity. Drink, drink!
In any case, the following segment of the story is the Traveler searching for the fragments. Although only intelligence-8, the Traveler is very good at puzzles and easily finds all the hidden fragments.
After collecting the fragments, Aru says the final step is to go underground in Dainichi Mikoshi to obtain the Bloodbranch Coral—the combat part is right in the Traveler's comfort zone.
Aru doesn't know the Traveler's strength and casually encourages her.
Paimon activates her insight and refutes Aru's blind encouragement.
[Aru: "Eh, clearly looks like the head isn't very big—how is she smarter than our Watatsumi warriors?"]
Readers are shocked: it's rare to hear someone call Paimon smart.
[Paimon: "Then the people of Watatsumi Island must be too stupid!"]
See, just said she's not smart—she's ruthless enough to curse herself.
In any case, the Traveler and Paimon plan to head underground to face the dragon lizards directly. At this time, they discover that Enjou, who has been chattering beside them, has disappeared at some point.
Aru tells them that Enjou is not of Watatsumi bloodline, but he seems to have a secret method to disrupt the ritual and expel him, so Aru didn't point it out at the time.
While the Traveler was searching for fragments, Enjou investigated the interior of Dainichi Mikoshi and then left.
Not mentioning Enjou, Aru reminds the Traveler: if you complete the trial and leave Enkanomiya, do not mention this to others—the trial must be kept secret!
Readers laugh: now it's good—you don't need to keep it secret; all of Teyvat knows.
The Traveler descends to the depths, facing two enhanced version dragon lizards charging over—Lumine is not panicked at all; it's just a matter of a few black flashes.
But after the Traveler defeats the dragon lizards, Enjou surprisingly pops up again.
[Enjou: "Traveler, you're amazing. You really defeated these Bathysmal Vishaps all by yourself."]
["Can I touch them?"]
Readers frown: who do you want to touch?
Enjou doesn't care if the Traveler agrees or not and already rushes up to touch the dragon lizards.
Enjou's "En" radical is the "Ah" of Ah San.
After he touches enough, he turns back to talk to Lumine.
[Enjou: "Ah, right—you're very curious, aren't you? But I don't even know where to start explaining."]
Enjou confesses to the Traveler: he didn't come to help; he came to find a book called "Before Sun and Moon."
Venti almost spits out a mouthful of wine, coughing twice with an embarrassed expression.
Lucian, oh Lucian—is this something that can be written???
Although Venti doesn't know exactly what is written in this book, just from the name he can guess what it's about—isn't this a forbidden book?
But oh well, you've already written it—and fortunately, you didn't write the content of the book, just the name; it's fine, it won't affect His eternity. Drink, drink.
"Before Sun and Moon? What is it?" Ei looks puzzled, wanting to go ask Lucian.
Makoto strokes Ei's hair: "It's better not to know."
Ei wants to know why she shouldn't know—just then, the book provides the explanation.
Before Sun and Moon tells stories from the time when gods had not yet walked the earth, so no wonder Ei doesn't know—the child originally doesn't like reading.
[Paimon: "Was there an era of ancient existences? 'The time when gods walked the earth' is already the most ancient time in the mouths of bards."]
The bard in her mouth is naturally Venti—this old guy is a living fossil.
Enjou tells the Traveler that they in the Abyss have already discovered that the gods and the Heavenly Principles are outsiders.
The great serpent Orobashi was sentenced to death by the Heavenly Principles precisely because it read this book, forcing it to relocate the entire nation, seal the oceanic abyss, and invade the east seeking death.
Raiden Ei widens her eyes: it was because of this? Orobashi's invasion was actually because it read a book!? Sasayuri and the people of Inazuma died for this...
Raiden Ei clenches her fist; Makoto places her hand on Ei's: "Relax, Ei."
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice-Over · Venti: About the Heavenly Chronicler
"That time... I was still young; I don't remember."