"So, you want to help the Teyvat people?"
Lisa asked curiously.
"In a way, yes; after all, I quite like the Teyvat continent. Likewise, I quite like some of the people here."
Takagi gave Lisa a meaningful look. At least, he was quite fond of characters like Lisa, who had accompanied him during his time playing Genshin Impact and brought him many good memories.
"Of course, I will only help those who are fated to cross paths with me," Takagi smiled. "Miss Lisa, you might not believe what I'm saying right now, but that's alright. Coincidentally, the place I'm going to take everyone next is a world currently facing the risk of total destruction. Just use your eyes to confirm whether Teyvat could survive if it faced the same threat Belobog is facing."
"A place facing the risk of world destruction? Then, if we travel there, will we be safe?" Lisa asked.
"With me here, everyone will naturally be safe," Takagi smiled.
After hearing what Takagi said, Lisa's beautiful brows furrowed tightly, as if she had fallen into deep thought. By the time Lisa came back to her senses and wanted to continue questioning Takagi, he had already walked several meters away. Seeing this, Lisa quickly sped up and came to Takagi's side, grabbing one of his hands.
Lisa: "Takagi, I still have some questions."
Takagi: "Let's stop talking about this topic here, Miss Lisa."
Lisa smiled: "Don't say that; we still have plenty of time, don't we?"
Takagi: "But right now, I'd rather focus on touring Mondstadt."
"Really not?" Lisa asked with a look of seeking knowledge.
"Even if you look at me with those watery eyes, my answer will be the same. If you want to know more, go to the stars, Miss Lisa. If you can obtain knowledge from the universe—if you can embark on the Path of Erudition—perhaps your questions can be answered." Takagi paused, then smiled mysteriously at her: "If you can step onto the Path of Erudition, perhaps you can not only answer questions about the universe, but also those regarding the Vision, the Irminsul, and the gods of Teyvat."
Upon hearing this, Lisa's heart suddenly raced, feeling as though Takagi had seen right through her. As a rare top student from Sumeru in two hundred years, Lisa had acquired a vast amount of knowledge. But the more she learned, the more she worried. After witnessing the scholars who babbled madly in the Sumeru rainforest and the council members who seemed to possess great wisdom, Lisa deeply understood the price one had to pay for seeking knowledge from the Irminsul.
After learning about the hidden mysteries behind the Vision, Lisa also gradually felt fear toward the truth behind it. These matters, hidden deep within her heart, should not have been known to outsiders. But Takagi clearly pointed them out. This couldn't help but make Lisa concerned. She even temporarily overlooked the new Aeon, the "Erudition," that Takagi had mentioned.
"I've said a bit too much unnecessary stuff today. Next, I'll trouble our guide, Lisa, to show me around Mondstadt properly. Oh, and please don't reveal what we talked about today to others—at least, not yet," Takagi said to Lisa meaningfully.
"Alright, if that's what you request, Takagi, I will comply," Lisa said with a smile. "By the way, are you hungry? How about I take you to the Good Hunter to try some of Mondstadt's delicious food?"
With that, Lisa took Takagi's hand and headed towards the restaurant.
Time returns to the present. Mondstadt.
'If the price required to step onto a Path is truly just giving Takagi some Mora and satisfying his interests, then this price is not unacceptable. But everything, perhaps, still needs to wait until I truly meet an Aeon to be confirmed. However, even if Takagi is hiding something, he shouldn't have any ill intentions, right?'
Lisa looked at Takagi's performance in the live stream, a relieved smile appearing on her face. 'Before I meet an Aeon, I can chat with Barbara and the others about the Aeon of Abundance first. And the Aeon of Erudition... I forgot to ask last time; I must ask Takagi about it properly next time,' Lisa thought.
Belobog Underworld.
Jean watched Natasha disciplining Hook and couldn't help but look at Klee. In Natasha, she somehow saw a reflection of herself. And Klee, seeing the wronged Hook, also seemed to see a reflection of herself being caught by Jean for bombing fish. A feeling of mutual sympathy instantly surged into Klee's heart.
She came to Hook's side, raised her head, and said to Natasha: "Sister Natasha, please don't blame Hook. Hook joined the fight to help us."
Jean also stepped forward and said: "Indeed, we owe Hook thanks for the help earlier. Otherwise, we wouldn't have gotten out of trouble so easily." A woman who could easily shatter three Incineration Shadows and was so close to Takagi—Jean dared not be negligent.
"So that's how it is; then let's let it go this time," Natasha said. She hadn't intended to blame Hook much anyway. Since someone was speaking up for her now, she took the opportunity to cancel the punishment.
"Speaking of which, who are these people?" Natasha looked at Lumine and the others curiously and asked.
"These are the people I brought. They are my guests," Takagi said at the right time.
"Since you are Takagi's guests, you are also my guests. I am Natasha, and I own a clinic in the Underworld. If any of you need anything, you can come to me for help." After hearing Takagi's words, Natasha's face immediately showed a warm smile. Then, she even cast a healing spell on the group.
Although none of them had any injuries thanks to Barbara's healing, under the abundant power of Natasha, everyone's bodies instantly felt much lighter. Especially Barbara, who was also a Pathstrider of the Path of Abundance; she even felt that the power within her seemed to have recovered somewhat. Jean, Barbara, and the others quickly thanked Natasha.
"Natasha is not only a doctor but also possesses considerable combat power. Although she is on the Path of Abundance, in terms of combat power alone, she is even slightly stronger than you, Barbara," Takagi said.
"Indeed. Is Miss Natasha also a Pathstrider?" Jean sighed with emotion.
Paimon: "And she's an Abundance Pathstrider just as amazing as Barbara!"
Lumine: "Being able to easily take care of those Incineration Shadows... it makes me want to step onto a Path even more."