"Waaah, that hurts so bad… Layla, help me check—did my head swell up?"
Paimon clutched her head, two huge bumps sticking out, and complained pitifully to Lumine.
At the same time, she shot an aggrieved glare at the culprit behind all this — Elric!
He had bonked both of them just now!
Absolutely no sense of cherishing delicate girls at all!
This was clearly Lumine's fault — what did it have to do with her, Paimon?!
"This is a small lesson for you. This time the organizers didn't mind — but what about next time? And the time after that?"
Elric said irritably. This was really bizarre.
In games, rummaging around everywhere without consequences was normal.
But now in reality, it was the same?!
It seriously made him question his worldview.
"Wuu… got it…"
Lumine and Paimon replied pitifully, each still sporting their swollen bumps.
Honestly, they wanted to say that no one ever blamed them when they did this before…
Maybe that was because of some mysterious world-will enabling their behavior.
"Good. Just don't do it again. It's really rude."
Elric said earnestly, sounding exactly like a nagging mom.
"Layla, was Elric always like this before?"
While Elric was still lecturing Lumine, Paimon quietly floated over to Layla and whispered.
"Umm… maybe it's because Senior Brother cares more about you now?"
Layla thought for a moment and replied uncertainly.
When she recalled how Elric used to be, he did take care of people — but he wasn't this overly concerned.
Maybe the Traveler's strange behavior really pushed him past his tolerance.
"Wait — Lumine, what are you doing now?!"
Suddenly, Elric's voice interrupted their thoughts.
They turned their heads and saw Lumine surrounded by a faint green glow — clearly activating her Anemo power.
She leapt forward and swiftly plucked Sweet Flowers from the roadside.
Then she instantly stuffed them into her pocket, moving so fast that only afterimages could be seen.
By the time Lumine had completely cleared the Sweet Flowers and Mint from the roadside, she returned with satisfaction.
Her face was radiant with joy, as if she had collected priceless treasures.
Only then did she realize that everyone around her was staring at her strangely.
Especially Elric.
His already crimson eyes now looked like burning flames, ready to erupt at any second.
Lumine stiffened and cautiously explained,
"Uh… it's just… a habit."
Then she stuck out her tongue at Elric, trying to pass it off with cuteness.
The passersby in Port Ormos all found this group incredibly strange.
They'd seen people steal Mora.
They'd seen people steal men.
They'd even seen people steal women.
But they had never seen anyone stealing roadside Sweet Flowers.
Could this be some legendary Sweet Flower King?
Like that novel published by Yae Publishing House — the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring Sweet Flower King, Ruler of All Flowers?!
Nah. They'd rather believe Kaveh was broke than believe something like that.
"Sigh…"
Elric looked at the Sweet Flowers in Lumine's hand and let out a helpless sigh.
Is hyperactivity in children still curable?
Forget it. Might as well wait for fate.
"Elric… I swear I'll change all these bad habits Paimon influenced me with!"
Lumine said guiltily.
She didn't even know why — whenever she saw unattended chests, roadside Sweet Flowers, or Mint…
She just couldn't help herself from collecting them and stuffing them into her inventory.
But seeing Elric, whom she had only just met yet who cared so much about her…
She resolved not to disappoint him!
"Huh?!!"
Paimon stomped in midair angrily.
How did this suddenly become her fault?!
"Good."
Elric nodded. Knowing one's mistakes and correcting them was the greatest virtue.
"I'm dying laughing — Lumine's pitiful expression is way too cute!"
Tuji propped her chin in her hands, wearing a full auntie-smile while watching the cutscene.
[Oh no, Lumine the Demon Lord just got hard-countered by personality.]
[What kind of big-brother character is this? He captured Lumine without even realizing it! Let go — let me do it!]
[The other game lets you rummage trash cans — why can't I open a chest here?]
"Hurry up already! When is he coming out? I'm pulling him to C6 the moment he drops!"
Tuji clenched her delicate fists, barely restraining her excitement.
She loved this character so much she was about to lose it.
"Alhaitham is great and all… but Elric is the real one."
[What nonsense is this old aunt thinking about?]
[Auntie, one cappuccino please.]
[Hurry up auntie, the flowers are wilting waiting for you.]
"Hey! I can't skip the story anyway — why are you rushing me?!"
Tuji snapped at the chat, eyebrows twitching.
You want to watch the story.
You also want to skip it.
So no matter what she does, she's wrong?!
Screw it. Might as well quit streaming and go inherit billions.
After the commotion settled down, Elric spoke:
"Let's first get the Wisdom Orb to tame the fungi. Otherwise, we won't even qualify to compete."
"Huh?" Layla looked puzzled. "Senior Brother, are you joining the competition too?"
"What, you think Mora falls from the sky? You really think there's a subsidy? I'm not Morax."
Elric rolled his eyes at her.
What kind of image did he have in Layla's mind? Some rich sugar daddy?
He'd already spent a ton of Mora just establishing himself in Sumeru.
"Heehee, clumsy Layla is kinda cute too."
Paimon teased mischievously.
"D-Don't tease me…"
Layla turned away shyly.
Even after the earlier misunderstanding, Layla held no ill will toward Lumine and Paimon.
In fact, she even liked them a little — they seemed strong enough to protect Senior Brother.
But then a thought suddenly struck Elric.
Technically speaking… wasn't he now an NPC in Genshin?
Couldn't he issue quests to Lumine and let her earn Primogems?
Uncle Liben was massively popular for exactly that reason.
Click once, free Primogems.
If Liben could do it, why couldn't Elric?!
Just wait — he'd prove it!
"Whoosh—!"
But before he could celebrate, trouble struck again.
A wind-element arrow suddenly shot straight toward him!
Elric's expression froze. He instinctively drew the Dull Blade and slashed the arrow apart.
Anger surged inside him.
What the hell was today?!
Is Lumine seriously a walking disaster magnet?
Every time he meets her, something bad happens!
You think I'm some soft target you can squeeze?!
"You wanna mess with me?!"
"Hm?"
Lumine frowned, gripping the Skyward Blade and scanning the surroundings.
Enemies were getting bolder — attacking openly in a crowded place like Port Ormos.
But then again, Port Ormos was chaotic — anyone could be hiding here.
So… who was it this time?
"Not bad. Looks like those students weren't lying — you really did obtain a Vision."
A voice sounded from afar.
Then a twin-tailed sweet-looking girl stepped out gracefully.
A strange smile rested on her face — especially when her gaze landed on Layla beside Elric.
Advance Chapters available on Patreon
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