"Swimsuit!"
Lumine's eyes lit up, and she looked at Venti with admiration.
It's really you, to be able to come up with such a brilliant idea. You're truly amazing.
"Aren't you planning to come with us this time?"
Compared to Lumine's focus, Miss Durandal was more concerned that Venti wasn't planning to go to the Golden Apple Archipelago with them this time? She had thought Venti would proactively offer to join.
"Oh~ I really do want to join, but I have some matters to attend to during this time, so I can only reluctantly miss this trip."
If he could, Venti also wanted to participate in this trip to properly admire Miss Durandal in a swimsuit, but he unfortunately had urgent matters to handle, so he could only reluctantly miss this great opportunity.
"However, it's not without any gains. Lumine, remember to take some good-looking swimsuit photos. I'm planning to keep those photos well and appreciate them later."
"Don't worry, mission accomplished."
To record every bit of their journey, Lumine's photography skills were already quite advanced, so Venti would certainly not be disappointed.
"Wait a minute, I haven't agreed to your request yet. Don't just talk strange things to yourselves here."
Miss Durandal didn't have much of a reaction to Venti's request. She, of course, knew what a swimsuit was, but most of those participating in the operation were girls, so it wouldn't matter if others saw them.
However, agreeing to Venti's request so easily felt a bit strange, so she wanted to resist a little.
"Eh? You're not going to agree? That won't do. If you don't agree, I won't let Dvalin take you there."
"Do you think he has the guts to refuse this request? Don't forget how I helped him clear the Abyssal energy from his body back then. Have you forgotten his screams?"
"Uh (⊙o⊙)..."
Dvalin's screams? Venti gradually recalled that memory. She clearly remembered Dvalin questioning her why she was just watching when he was undergoing "treatment."
It was precisely because of that treatment that Dvalin developed a slight psychological shadow towards Miss Durandal.
If it was Miss Durandal's command, Dvalin would most likely not dare to disobey, even if he was the legendary Dragon of the East Wind, he wouldn't like being pressed to the ground and rubbed, right?
"Oh, come on~ Don't be like that. Actually, my asking you to change into a swimsuit is also for your own good."
Since the hard approach wouldn't work, they would try the soft approach, slowly dismantling Miss Durandal's defenses. They all knew that Miss Durandal was actually very soft-hearted.
"For my good? Tell me, let me see what twisted logic you have now."
Miss Durandal crossed her arms, striking a "please begin your performance" pose, wanting to see how Venti planned to trick her into changing into a swimsuit.
"Oh dear~ How can you call it twisted logic? You've seen the map and know that the archipelago we're going to is by the sea, right? Do you think the clothes you're wearing are suitable for activities by the sea?"
Miss Durandal's Gothic Lolita-style dress, if not for her unique abilities, would get covered in dust easily during outdoor activities. Now, if she went to the beach, even a small wave would drench her.
So, wearing a swimsuit was a very useful choice; it would prevent her from getting wet. Surely Miss Durandal didn't like the feeling of being soaked, right?
"Hmm, that makes some sense. But did you forget that if I can clear dust from my body, I can also clear water?"
"...I, I certainly remember, but that doesn't stop you from changing into a swimsuit for better movement, does it? We're finally going to the seaside, so why not treat it as a change of mood, and change into a swimsuit, okay?"
"A change of mood... huh?"
Miss Durandal thought of the things the Heavenly Principles had told her in a dream not long ago.
During this time, those secrets had kept her from living as peacefully as before; she always felt like something big was about to happen at any moment.
The reason she agreed to help Klee this time, besides it being Klee's request, was also to find something to do and temporarily forget those matters.
"Although I don't know what connection changing into a swimsuit has with your 'change of mood,' I will consider it."
Since she said she would consider it, that basically meant she agreed; she would just wait until they reached the Golden Apple Archipelago to change her clothes.
Because it was inconvenient for Dvalin to descend directly into Mondstadt City, Venti would wait for everyone at Windrise. He would summon Dvalin there to lead everyone to the Golden Apple Archipelago.
The night passed uneventfully... or rather, things continued as usual. The next day arrived quickly, and in the afternoon, everyone gathered at the agreed time in the plaza, where they indeed found Barbara, Acting Grand Master Jean, and Klee.
"Yo, Barbara, Jean, little Klee, we're here."
Paimon was the first to greet them. Klee and the other two, who were conversing, heard the sound and immediately responded.
"It's big sisters and little Paimon, you're here."
Klee happily ran up to Miss Durandal, took her hand, and smiled broadly.
"Big Sister Durandal, Acting Grand Master Jean finally approved Klee's travel application! Klee can go to the Golden Apple Archipelago to find Great Demon King Dodoco!"
"Mm, that's great."
Patting Klee's little head, Miss Durandal looked at Jean.
Jean politely nodded to Miss Durandal and said, "Yesterday, Barbara and Lisa told me a lot. Afterwards, I also thought about it and realized that just as they thought, even if I didn't approve Klee's travel application, with her personality, she would definitely go there in the end."
This troublesome Children was not as obedient as she appeared on the surface; otherwise, she wouldn't have been confined to the solitary room so many times by Jean.
Klee, whose little trick had been exposed, shyly scratched her head. She indeed had this plan; if Jean didn't agree, she would go find Brother Albedo, or Brother Kaeya and others, believing they would find a way to get her there.
"In the past, Klee's activities were always within the bounds of Mondstadt. Although she occasionally ran a bit farther, it was always within Klee's acceptable range. My reluctance this time was simply because I was uneasy about Klee being too far from me."
Even when Klee was left in Liyue Harbor last time, it was because Liyue Harbor was a place where humans lived, and with Lumine, a reliable person, accompanying Klee, she could relax and let her stay there.
But on an unknown island, Jean couldn't take that risk.
"So, I accepted Barbara's suggestion. I will go to the Golden Apple Archipelago with you. Not just me, Barbara will also be coming along this time."
"Yes, Sister... Acting Grand Master Jean said that if anyone gets injured on this trip, I can help if I go along. Although I kept saying that with Miss Durandal by our side, it would be the same even without me, she insisted on this."
Miss Durandal's powerful healing abilities were evident to all. Although Barbara's healing abilities were also strong, she didn't believe she could surpass Miss Durandal.
Barbara was very smart; she knew that Jean wanted to take her along to experience the island trip.
Perhaps she also realized that her suggestion for Jean to go to the island was also to allow her to escape from her heavy duties and get some good rest for a few days.
"There's nothing to it, the more healers, the safer, isn't it? If healing is needed and Miss Durandal happens not to be around, then Barbara would be a lifesaver."
"I..."
Paimon clapped her hand over Miss Durandal's mouth. Miss Durandal silently watched the increasingly brazen Paimon. This emergency food actually had the guts to cover her mouth now.
Miss Durandal actually wanted to say that she could rush out anytime she was needed, but to allow Barbara to go to the island with peace of mind, she decided not to say anything superfluous.
"Cough! Cough! Well then, Klee of the Knights of Favonius, your travel permit is approved."
"Yay ヾ(≧▽≦*)ノ! This is truly wonderful!"
Klee happily raised her hands; nothing could be more exciting than this.
Everyone smiled. Paimon suddenly realized a crucial problem: what would happen to the Knights of Favonius's affairs if they left?
"Regarding that, I've already entrusted Kaeya with temporarily handling it. If he gets too busy, Lisa will also help."
"Leaving Kaeya to handle this? That guy who likes to slack off at work really should work some overtime."
Paimon nodded. Kaeya often went to Angel's Share for a drink during work hours. Entrusting this matter to him was indeed a good choice.
Hmm? You said Lisa would also help him? Do you think Lisa would help if the situation was still under control?
Perhaps when Kaeya asked Lisa for help, she would directly say, "I believe you can do it," and then return to her library to slack off.
One could only say that good and evil eventually get their due; Kaeya was finally going to pay the price for his slacking.
"Regarding that, I usually give Kaeya feedback. However, he always completes the tasks I assign him very well, so..."
"So I'll arrange some more work for him. Besides his usual duties, you can also assign him to mining. He's usually so free, I'm sure he'd be happy to take on this task."
"...I'll try."
Why does Paimon seem to dislike Kaeya? Did something happen between them before? Or is it just that Paimon simply dislikes Kaeya's usual slacking off?
However, mining... the Knights of Favonius haven't specifically assigned anyone to do this. Since Paimon recommended it, let's give it a try. With Kaeya's intellect, he'll surely complete it well.
"Then, let's head to Windrise. The busker is already waiting for us there, and we can't keep him waiting."
"Alright, let's go."
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