Hearing Lumine say that, Ryen couldn't help but chuckle and shook his head.
"Don't worry too much. If you want to solve everything within half a month, we can help you."
"Help me?"
Lumine scratched her cheek and muttered,
"What are you planning to do, go punch the Akademiya again yourself? Or have Sister Ningguang send people?"
"Even if Ningguang and the others step in, the problem would be solved easily, but wouldn't that change the nature of things?"
Ryen shook his head with an amused smile.
"Don't be so rigid. Just because we don't act directly doesn't mean there's no way."
"Setting aside their official identities, Ningguang and the others are still your friends. If things really can't be handled, what's wrong with calling for help?"
"In short, go take a look first. If it doesn't work out, we'll talk again. I won't let you stay there for too long."
"Before the Sabzeruz Festival, everything will definitely be resolved. I still want to properly celebrate my Nahida's birthday."
At those words, Nahida's face immediately lit up. She jumped up and threw herself into Ryen's arms.
"Thank you, Ryen!"
As she spoke, Nahida gave Ryen a quick kiss on the cheek.
She felt secretly pleased.
After all this time, she had finally managed to take advantage of Ryen, even if it was just a kiss on the cheek.
But once the cheek had been kissed, there was no reason she couldn't kiss somewhere else next time.
She, Nahida, would definitely make Ryen realize that she, too, was a girl who had lived for over five hundred years, charming, radiant, and… a perfectly legal "loli."
"Shouldn't you be thanking me too?"
Lumine pouted and complained,
"I'm the one doing all the running around, you know!"
Nahida turned her head and nodded seriously.
"Yes! Thank you, Lumine!"
"..."
With such a casual expression of gratitude, Lumine couldn't help but feel like she'd been tricked.
Shaking her head, she said softly,
"Anyway, even if you all go to the Twilight Forest, you have to keep thinking about me!"
"If any new mod appears, make sure someone comes to notify me!"
"Even if I'm in the middle of a fight, I'll run back immediately!"
Ryen raised an eyebrow and teased,
"Then maybe we should wait until you finish fighting before telling you."
As he spoke, Ryen waved his hand. Paimon let out a little "hup" and hopped off the sofa, toddling over on her short legs.
Ryen scooped Paimon up and hugged her tightly, giving her a big sniff like someone cuddling a cat, then started kneading her cheeks.
"My Paimon has to go running around with Lumine again. It really breaks my heart."
"Since you haven't left yet, let me cuddle you a bit first."
Seeing Ryen completely absorbed in doting on Paimon, Lumine understood that he wasn't planning to arrange anything else.
She pouted slightly. Although she felt a little annoyed at having to rush off again, to be honest, she wasn't particularly worried about dealing with the so-called Grand Sage.
During this time, Lumine had recovered a great deal of her strength. Even if she wasn't on the same level as Zhongli and the others, she was already close to a mid-tier god.
Taking ten thousand steps back, even if Azar actually succeeded in creating a god, a man-made pseudo-god like that wouldn't take much effort for Lumine to dismantle.
After all, she was carrying three staves on her.
And besides, she still had Paimon, her ultimate trump card.
The number of treasures hidden inside Paimon was simply countless.
As far as Lumine knew, the heavy weapons Paimon carried alone were more than enough to flatten an entire area.
What's more, Paimon currently held divine power from five Archons, plus the residual power left behind by Guizhong and Ei.
On top of that, Azhdaha and Zhongli, at Ryen's repeated insistence, had personally placed an indestructible shield on Paimon.
Even if Venti and the others tried to attack her, they wouldn't be able to break through the shield in a short time.
And that short time would be more than enough for Zhongli and the others to notice, inform Ryen, and then,
Ryen would simply erase everything.
She, the Traveler,
Her true ultimate weapon… was Paimon!
If things truly became impossible to handle, she could just throw Paimon out, and Ryen and the others would arrive shortly after.
Still…
"Even though I feel confident, I can't shake the feeling that it won't be that simple…"
Lumine rested her cheek on her hand, looking troubled.
"That Doctor guy, he should still be in Sumeru, right? Isn't he said to have power comparable to an Archon?"
"Even if he's weaker than Zhongli and Ei, he should still be at least mid-tier, maybe even high-tier god-level in combat."
"Can I really defeat him?"
At the mention of "Doctor," the people of Mondstadt once again radiated killing intent.
Diluc's previously calm expression instantly turned cold.
"If you encounter the Doctor, or need to deal with him, contact me. I'll come help you."
"Ehe~ I'll come too."
Venti smiled as he blinked, but his eyes were filled with fury.
"That guy dared to do something so unforgivable to Mondstadt. If I don't tear him apart piece by piece, I'll never be at ease."
Lumine pouted and muttered,
"But he has so many segments, doesn't he? Even if we kill the Sumeru segment, that wouldn't eliminate all versions of him, right?"
"All the better."
Diluc let out a cold laugh.
"We cut off one of his arms first and let him know, this grudge will be repaid slowly."
"I want him to watch himself get completely eradicated, step by step."
"I've put a lot of effort into researching various methods of torture just for him."
"Letting him die cleanly would be a pity."
Lumine scratched her cheek and muttered,
"Alright. I'll tell you when it's time to deal with the Doctor."
"That way, with your help, I should be able to resolve Sumeru's turmoil in a short time."
Outside the window, the sky gradually darkened.
Today's journey through the MC world had come to an end.
The personnel stationed at the major bases of the four nations had all returned, chatting and laughing about the day's events.
Even the Inazuman new troops, who had worked hard all day, were brimming with energy.
In this magical world, no matter how exhausting the work was, it never truly drained their spirits.
For them, working here actually felt even more enjoyable.
In the current MC world, once night fell, no one would leave their base unless absolutely necessary.
With the addition of heavy-weapon mods, monsters outside had grown far stronger and more numerous.
Leading teams out late at night could easily result in unnecessary losses.
Ryen and the others chatted for a while longer, then crossed the teleportation gate and returned to Teyvat.
Since Lumine would be departing for Sumeru the next day, Ningguang hosted a banquet on the Jade Chamber, bringing everyone along.
It was meant as a farewell dinner for Lumine.
At the same time, Nilou and Dehya were also invited.
This was the first time the two of them had stepped onto the Jade Chamber since arriving in Liyue.
During their stay, they had often heard about how the Jade Chamber, once merely the residence symbolizing the Tianquan, had become a strategic weapon representing Liyue's very foundation.
Now that they were seeing it for themselves, they were genuinely stunned.
Strange devices were arranged everywhere, and square-shaped resources were stacked in every direction.
Iron blocks, gold blocks, diamond blocks…
At first glance, the only thought that came to mind was that Ningguang was unimaginably wealthy.
Just the gold on the Jade Chamber alone could probably buy half of Sumeru City.
But they didn't dwell on it for long.
Compared to everything they had heard about Liyue's changes during this period, the gold here no longer seemed that shocking.
Following Baiwen, they quickly arrived at the central plaza, where the banquet was already prepared.
Nilou and Dehya greeted everyone and took their seats beside Lumine.
They had spent quite some time together recently and could now be considered close friends.
"Everyone's here,"
Ryen said with a light smile, then continued,
"We invited you all up today because Lumine plans to leave for Sumeru with you tomorrow."
Hearing this, Dehya and Nilou felt a surge of joy and immediately turned toward Lumine.
For some reason, Lumine looked a little gloomy, but she still nodded.
"That's right. I've delayed long enough, it's time to head out and resolve things."
"As for a detailed plan, I don't really have one. We'll figure it out when we get there."
Dehya crossed her arms and chuckled.
"We don't have much of a plan either. Coming to find you was Alhaitham's idea. After that, we'll take you to meet him and see what he's planning."
Lumine didn't reply, but Ryen added calmly,
"There's less than half a month left until the Sabzeruz Festival."
"When you meet Alhaitham, tell him this, Sumeru's problems must be resolved quickly. Everything needs to be settled before the festival."
"I still want to properly celebrate Nahida's birthday."
Nilou nodded earnestly.
"No problem, Mr. Ryen!"
"Alhaitham's plan is also to deal with Azar before the Sabzeruz Festival. It won't delay the celebration."
Ryen nodded slightly, gently pinching Nahida's cheek as he smiled.
"What about you, Nahida? Do you have any thoughts?"
At that, Nilou and Dehya also turned to look at Nahida seriously.
No matter what, after the Akademiya issue was resolved, Nahida would be the Archon actually governing Sumeru.
Her opinion carried significant weight.
Nahida pressed her lips together, thought for a moment, then spoke softly,
"I'm already very grateful that everyone is willing to help me put Sumeru in order."
"I've been staying in Liyue, staying by Ryen's side. I haven't been able to help much, so I don't feel qualified to make demands."
Nilou shook her head firmly.
"But no matter what, Lady Nahida is Sumeru's Archon and will be in charge of Sumeru afterward."
"Your opinion is very important to us."
Nahida looked at Ryen somewhat helplessly.
He replied with a teasing tone,
"As long as you don't say you want to spare those sages, anything's negotiable."
"Those sages, I fully intend to have a lot of fun ruining them."
Nahida pursed her lips again, thought for a moment, then said softly,
"I… I only have one request…"
She looked at Lumine, her gaze sincere.
"If possible, Lumine, I'd like you to help me look for fragments of the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's soul… or her consciousness…"
"I want to revive her."
Hearing this, Ryen and the others remained calm.
Ryen had long guessed what Nahida was thinking.
This little one had always felt she couldn't compare to the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata.
After seeing Makoto revived and Ei stepping back, it was only natural that Nahida would think of reviving the former Dendro Archon, and then stepping aside herself to stay by Ryen's side.
To be honest, Ryen thought that idea was wonderful.
Let the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata manage Sumeru, while Nahida stayed with him as his well-behaved little daughter.
But, Nahida's dream was to become a great god like the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata.
Ryen truly wanted to help her achieve that dream.
Still, if Nahida asked to revive the Greater Lord, Ryen would never refuse.
Not only because it was Nahida's request, but because the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata truly was a gentle and great deity.
With complicated feelings swirling in his heart, Ryen ultimately nodded toward Lumine, signaling her to agree.
At worst…
The Greater Lord could assist Nahida afterward.
Looking at it another way…
The Greater Lord Rukkhadevata and Nahida…
Mother and daughter? Or sisters?
Ryen felt strangely fired up.
~~----------------------
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