Episode 185: The Lion of the Scorching Lineage - Dehya makes an appearance!
『 However, Lumine quickly dismissed the idea.
"But he himself said that the Sumeru people don't dream."
Ever since they stepped into Sumeru, they had known the fact that Sumeru adults no longer had dreams.
Thus, this assumption was clearly untenable.
Moreover, how could they possibly run into someone else's dream? This was too incredible. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Oyama Mahiro (Onimai): "If they don't dream, that's pretty strange. Time loop feels way too bizarre." ]
[ Xingqiu (Genshin Impact): "The Sumeru people themselves said that they don't dream." ]
[ Eriri Spencer Sawamura (Saekano): "Suddenly feeling a bit creepy." ]
[ Tartaglia (Genshin Impact): "Could it be that someone is preventing them from dreaming?" ]
[ Tartaglia (Genshin Impact): "Or, who stole their dreams?" ]
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "You Fatui shouldn't speak so ill of people. Who has that kind of power?" ]
[ Tartaglia (Genshin Impact): "Haha, I've walked in the dark too much, so I overthink. Don't mind my words." ]
[ .....]
『 If this were just a dream, they should have woken up from it long ago. They wouldn't have become so strange, nor would they have repeated such experiences again and again.
Paimon listened to this rather reasonable analysis and nodded involuntarily.
"Oh, you're right. Sumeru people don't dream; this is indeed amazing. What could be the reason for it?"
"Speaking of which, if it were just an ordinary dream, we should have woken up by now." Helpless, Paimon could only sigh:
"Forget it, let's go ask someone else."
So, the two once again went to the second place in their memory—the alchemy divination stall.
The stall owner, Kimiya, saw Lumine and Paimon approaching, her face full of surprise.
"Oh, hello, two! Could it be that my divination was too accurate, and you specifically came back to praise me?" 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "A half-baked diviner…" ]
[ Kimiya (Genshin Impact): "..." ]
[ Akiko Narumi (Kamen Rider): "Half-baked, isn't that referring to Shotaro?" ]
[ Shotaro Hidari (Kamen Rider): "???" ]
[ Shotaro Hidari (Kamen Rider): "Hey, I'm a hard-boiled detective, not some half-baked amateur." ]
[ .....]
『 Looking at the half-baked diviner in front of them, Paimon complained speechlessly.
"Actually, we've encountered a situation and aren't sure if it's related to your divination."
"Oooh, I knew it! I told you, the gods' divination is highly accurate. You just hadn't fully understood its significance yet. Hahaha..." The young stall owner, Kimiya, nodded proudly again and again.
This action made Paimon put her hands on her hips and question:
"You're really excited about this, huh... That's exactly why we came back. Help us better understand it!"
Kimiya's excited expression instantly froze.
"Er... Help you better understand it...? W—Well, that isn't exactly what I excel at..."
"So you're admitting that you don't have a clue?" Little Paimon hugged her arms in dissatisfaction, staring at Kimiya.
After a moment of awkwardness, the young stall owner adopted a serious attitude and began to inquire about their purpose.
"Anyway, what kind of situation did you get into?"
"We're trapped on the day of the Sabzeruz Festival, and we must have come to you for divination countless times." Paimon calmly stated this fact.
Evidently, this shocking question made the young stall owner's eyes widen.
"Mm-hmm, hmm? Wait, I thought you just lost your wallet or got scammed or something."
"So, what you're saying is true? Can such a thing really happen in reality?"
"I knew it, you wouldn't believe it either." Paimon looked at the young stall owner with an expression that said, 'I expected this. '
Just as they were about to leave in disappointment, the young stall owner said something that surprised them.
"No, no, no, this is too incredible! I believe you! Think back to the content of the divination I gave you—the moon, illusion, and lies, it's like an omen, isn't it?" 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Kimiya (Genshin Impact): "This divination must be a hint given to us by the gods, foretelling that we will fall into this crisis." ]
[ Kimiya (Genshin Impact): "Oh, Lesser Lord Kusanali, this must be the wisdom of the gods guiding us like a bright lamp on our path forward." ]
[ Nahida (Genshin Impact): "…" ]
[ .....]
『 "Oh! Now that you mention it, it really does seem to connect. Can you interpret anything else?" Little Paimon suddenly realized, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
The divination result, which was ordinary in her memory, now seemed like a piece of driftwood in a desperate situation, suddenly becoming crucial.
Their encounters along the way seemed to perfectly align with the clues from the divination, making one wonder if it was all a coincidence or destiny.
Truth and falsehood are often tangled together, making it hard to understand the deeper meaning behind them.
So, Paimon perked up, ready to hear what other mysteries this young stall owner could reveal.
"Wait, wait, let me ponder it some more. The revelations of the gods are always vague, and to fully understand them, one probably needs the mind of a god."
The young man said this, then waved his hand helplessly, and then changed the subject.
"The books only say if you trust your instincts and overcome your fears, the sun will surely rise."
After some discussion, when it was confirmed that there was no more information to be gleaned, the flame of hope in their hearts dimmed a little further.
"That's it? It seems divination can only go so far. We'll have to find another way to solve the practical problem."
Paimon turned to Lumine, her tone unable to hide her disappointment.
"There really aren't any discoveries. So, who else should we ask?" Lumine heard this and quickly recalled the faces of those she had met in Sumeru City.
Finally, the image of a bronze-skinned, distinguished woman leaped into her mind. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Dehya (Genshin Impact): "Me?" ]
[ Dehya (Genshin Impact): "I'm just a mercenary, I don't have such powerful abilities to know such things." ]
[ Dunyarzad Homayani (Genshin Impact): "It's okay, Dehya, you're also very amazing." ]
[ Dehya (Genshin Impact): "Hehehe." ]
[ Chika Fujiwara (Love Is War): "Since we don't know what happened, why not give it a good try?" ]
[ .....]
『 "How about we try our luck with Dehya? Maybe she can provide some clues." Lumine suggested, a glimmer of hope rekindling in her eyes.
"Mm-hmm, I remember now. In previous loops, we also tried to talk to Dehya a few times about Dunyarzad, but she always thought we were teasing her. Will it be the same this time?" Paimon recalled the experience with some uncertainty.
"Dehya cares so much about Dunyarzad. Can we try to bring her to see the real Dunyarzad with her own eyes?" Lumine suggested, her eyes sparkling with a desire to try.
To make someone believe it's not a joke, the most direct and effective way is obviously to take her to witness the truth herself.
And the truth they held was Dunyarzad sleeping under Nahida's protection in that nameless hut, which was the most powerful proof.
"Good idea!" Paimon clapped her hands excitedly, "Oh, right, by current time, Dehya should have just driven off those kidnappers. We need to hurry and find them both!"
So, the two immediately set off on their journey to find Dunyarzad.
According to their calculations, Dunyarzad should be returning to the hut to retrieve forgotten items.
But when she arrived at the hut, she was suddenly ambushed by a group of bandits.
Lumine was ready to fight, but Dehya's timely appearance changed everything.
Under Dehya's arrangements, Lumine quickly evacuated with Dunyarzad and found a hidden safe place to hide.
Based on this, Dehya should be fiercely fighting the bandits at this moment.
If they hurried, they might still find her before she finished the battle.
…The two hurried on their way…
The two quickly rushed to the place where the battle had taken place, just in time to see Dehya escorting Dunyarzad rapidly evacuating from above.
"Hehe! Perfect timing, you really are here!" When the two found Dehya and Dunyarzad, they had just dealt with the previous group of kidnappers and were planning to move to a safe area.
"Paimon, Traveler, you've come at just the right time." Dehya immediately greeted Lumine and Paimon, even as she was still looking after Dunyarzad: "Listen to me, it was really a close call just now."
But before she finished speaking, Paimon quickly blurted out what had just happened: "Were there kidnappers ambushing at the door, and you chased them away?"
"Huh?" Dehya looked at the two in surprise: "So you both saw it, huh? If I had known you were here, I should have shown up earlier to help."
Upon hearing that the two already knew about the recent encounter, Dehya's expression couldn't help but slightly darken, and her words revealed a hint of blame.
"If someone had been guarding Miss closely just now, I could have fought without any worries. By the way, can you help me now?"
As always, before Dehya could elaborate, Paimon quickly guessed her thoughts:
"You want to check the surroundings for any remaining accomplices, and at the same time, have the Traveler take Dunyarzad to rest nearby, right?" 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Dehya (Genshin Impact): "This, it seems, can really make me believe your words." ]
[ Kaeya (Genshin Impact): "The Traveler is still the best, delivering the killing blow." ]
[ Lumine (Genshin Impact): "As expected of me." ]
[ .....]
『 "You, how did you know?" Dehya felt a strange sensation in her heart as Paimon repeatedly preempted her thoughts.
The first time, it could be said that they were watching her actions from nearby.
The second time, it could also be said that they understood her personality better.
But this one thing, she hadn't mentioned it herself.
This was truly incredible.
Paimon's eyes curved into crescent moons as she smiled, looking at Lumine and saying, "Alright, now all that's left is the crucial sentence to seal the deal."
Lumine pondered for a moment, her gaze slowly falling on Dehya's gleaming new greatsword.
"The reason you're injured isn't that the new sword doesn't fit your hand, but because you sold your old sword."
"All the money from selling the sword was used to support this Sabzeruz Festival."
"Exactly, exactly, that's it!" Paimon nodded eagerly again and again, her little head bobbing like a pounding garlic.
Dehya stared blankly at her greatsword, her mind full of questions: "I haven't told anyone about this, not even Miss. How do you know? Also, how do you know everything I'm about to say? What exactly is going on?"
Dehya was completely bewildered, unable to understand the situation.
Why did things become so bizarre as soon as these two appeared?
Seeing that the atmosphere was just right, Lumine gave Paimon a knowing look.
Paimon understood, and with a whoosh, she flew in front of Dehya and revealed the whole story.
"All of this today, it's actually like this…"
…After a detailed explanation…
After listening to this series of unbelievable truths, Dehya's expression solidified, as if hardened by the scorching desert sun.
Miss Dunyarzad, is she not the Dunyarzad we know?
How many times have these bizarre events replayed?
These two standing before me have they experienced all of this again and again?
What kind of mystery is all of this?
"This is truly unbelievable." Dehya pondered for a long time, then began to express her confusion, "We need to first clarify your experience, it is indeed…"
"Although not all of us desert children are well-read, we still understand basic principles."
Dehya didn't fully explain, as the matter was too bizarre.
Time loop?
This simply defied common sense, not to mention how she could repeatedly live each day without realizing it.
"Have you noticed anything different about Dunyarzad today compared to before?" Lumine gestured for Dehya to pay attention to Dunyarzad. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "Dunyarzad looks weaker at this time. Could she be related to the Dunyarzad on the bed?" ]
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "The sicker that Dunyarzad gets, the weaker this Dunyarzad becomes." ]
[ .....]
『 Meanwhile, Paimon, floating in the air, quickly added, "She's quiet, not interested in anything, always looking downcast."
Dehya carefully examined the calm Dunyarzad behind her, silently comparing her to the image in her memory.
"You're right, Miss is indeed a bit different from usual, but I heard her parents mention that she was like this initially."
"Eh? What? Initially?" Paimon was speechless. According to her memory, the former Dunyarzad was nothing like this.
But at this moment, Dunyarzad, next to them, suddenly turned around and walked towards a nearby bench, interrupting their discussion.
"I don't understand what you're talking about. Anyway, I'm tired and going to rest on that bench."
This action made Dehya's heart skip a beat.
"Miss, you're not angry, are you?"
But Dunyarzad seemed not to hear, and slowly walked to the bench and sat down, leaving Dehya alone in bewilderment.
Lumine and Paimon knew that this Dunyarzad was not the real one, so they didn't pay much attention and instead turned to Dehya with an invitation:
"You come with us first, and we'll show you the evidence."
They decided to take Dehya to find the real Dunyarzad, so they would have more strength to solve the current problem.
Facing their sincere gazes, Dehya looked at the figure on the distant bench and finally nodded.
"Alright, since you even know about this greatsword in my hand, perhaps what you said is true."
"Then let's hurry there and back; that young lady isn't safe right now."
So, the group set off towards the hut's entrance.
Upon arriving at the hut, everyone found Nahida still guarding the fake Dunyarzad.
"Nahida! We brought a friend! Are you busy right now?" Paimon flew forward first to greet her.
"Didn't I tell you?" Nahida looked helplessly at Dehya, who was closely following Lumine and Paimon, "Bringing people here is meaningless."
"But, we just want her to see Dunyarzad's true condition." Paimon directly stated their plan.
"Wait, the real Dunyarzad? Where?" Dehya looked around in confusion. "Also, who are you talking to?"
"????" Paimon looked back at Dehya in astonishment.
Nahida and Dunyarzad were clearly in front of everyone, so why couldn't Dehya see them?
This sudden change was baffling. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Dehya (Genshin Impact): "I can't see them? But they're right in front of me?" ]
[ Dehya (Genshin Impact): "Indeed, I'm not special, and I can't feel any déjà vu." ]
[ Umaru Doma (Himouto): "Exactly, why can't she see the person who's clearly right there?" ]
[ Chika Fujiwara (Love Is War): "Could it be that what we see is all fake?" ]
[ Shinomiya Kaguya (Love Is War): "Probably not, right?" ]
[ Nahida (Genshin Impact): "Perhaps, the Traveler and Paimon are special, and others can't see them." ]
[ Venti (Genshin Impact): "Indeed, the two Travelers are very special people." ]
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "Hehehe, not at all~" ]
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "But, in that case, didn't we search for nothing?" ]
[ Dehya (Genshin Impact): "I'm really sorry that I can't see them." ]
[ .....]