After the two people left, Paimon and the others quickly caught up to Dina.
“Paimon: Dina, so you’re here! I thought you had already run far away.”
“Dina: Whoa, you startled me! So it’s you guys.”
“Paimon: Don’t worry, the people chasing you have been led away by us.”
“Dina: Really? Thank you so much! But I think there shouldn’t be just a few people trying to catch me. Ah, someone’s coming from that direction too…”
“Paimon: Eh? Are there more pursuers? Then let’s run quickly!”
“Dina: Please wait a moment. I… actually don’t feel too well. Running would be a bit difficult.”
“Qixuan: Then let’s find a place to hide first.”
“Dina: Hmm, that makes sense. Towards the port, there’s a tavern. Let’s go there. They probably won’t expect me to hide inside a shop.”
“Lumine: (A bit strange).”
“Paimon: Okay, let’s go! You follow behind us, and we’ll cover you.”
………Inside the tavern………
“Dina: Phew, now that we’re here, they shouldn’t be able to find us… Stop! Dehya!”
Dehya was seen raising a greatsword and slashing towards Paimon and the others. In that instant, Qixuan grabbed Dehya’s sword with one hand, then threw him and the sword away.
“Paimon: Ah…”
“Dehya: Cough, cough… Good moves…”
“Dina: I’m really sorry… everyone. Dehya didn’t do it on purpose.”
“Qixuan: I know. From the very beginning, Demoiselle Dina had a purpose in bringing us to this tavern, right? Don’t worry, he wasn’t seriously hurt, but…”
Qixuan looked at Dina and said, “Demoiselle Dina, tell us your purpose… You don’t want anything to happen to Dehya, do you?”
“Dehya: Cough, cough… You!”
“Lumine: Qixuan-jie, how did you become a villain?”
“Qixuan: What villain! (Cat’s fur bristling) This is a reasonable question, hmph!”
“Dina: Everyone, I’m truly sorry. Dehya, they are foreign travelers I just met on the road. They just happened to find you looking for me and helped me evade you, that’s all.”
Dehya tidied his clothes and then stood beside Dina.
“Dina: Dehya means no harm. I apologize for the trouble.”
“Lumine: It’s fine.”
“Dehya: Since you are just travelers, there’s nothing for you here. You should leave quickly.”
“Paimon: Wait a minute, who are you? Why are you chasing us away?”
“Dehya: I am Demoiselle Dina’s bodyguard, here to safely bring the Demoiselle home.”
“Lumine: Is this all a bodyguard is capable of?”
“Dehya: ……I don’t want to talk to you anymore. Demoiselle, please come back with me. You’ve been sneaking out for so long; your parents are very worried.”
“Dina: What if I said I don’t want to go back with you?”
“Qixuan: Is this the runaway Demoiselle trope? Interesting.”
“Lumine: Hmm, indeed.”
“Paimon: You two!”
Dehya ignored the commotion and continued to speak to Dina: “Of course, I still hope the Demoiselle can cooperate; it would be more convenient for both of us. But if you insist on not coming, I can only try to carry you back.”
“Lumine: Is it coming! ‘The Overbearing Bodyguard and the Tsundere Demoiselle’.”
“Qixuan: Where did you find that book?”
“Lumine: Yae Miko gave it to me.”
“Paimon: You two, that’s enough! But, Dina has already said he doesn’t want to go back, why are you still forcing him?”
“Dehya: Don’t interrupt. Things aren’t as you imagine. Demoiselle, I apologize, but although I am your bodyguard, I was hired by your parents after all. I must be responsible to my employers.”
“Dina: How much?”
“Dehya: What, Demoiselle?”
“Dina: How much do I need to pay to hire you? To make you stop listening to my parents? Double… triple? Just give me a little time, and I’ll definitely gather it!”
“Dehya: Demoiselle, this isn’t about money,”
(Zhongli: Disgusted by too little money? V me fifty million Mora, and I’ll let you be the God of Geo.)
“Dehya: Sigh, I don’t know how you view us Eremites, but I have to say: although I like money, I would never do anything against my principles.”
(Principle: I’m about to perform, but then again)
“Dehya: The reason I came out to find you, besides my employer’s request, is also because my conscience tells me I should. Your health isn’t good, and wandering around outside like this can cause significant DMG to your health. So, for the sake of those who love you, please, Demoiselle, don’t be willful anymore.”
“Dina: No, you’re wrong. I know my situation very well, and I know what I’m doing. In fact, in my opinion, it’s my parents who are being willful right now.”
“They know very well that whether I stay at home or not, nothing will change, yet they are still unwilling to accept reality. Even every time I proactively talk to them about this, they just keep avoiding it.”
“Dehya, you’ve been at home for so long; you should know all of this.”
“Dehya: ……”
“Dina: Dehya, I know my parents have it tough, and I’m very grateful for everything they’ve done for me. But in this world, there’s another person I want to thank.”
“Because it was him who 【saved】 me. In my heart, my reverence for him is as great as for my parents. This is my life, and this is my last chance, so I want to do something meaningful!”
“Dehya: Demoiselle, are you sure what you are doing is meaningful?”
“Dina: I’m sure. At least… it is to me.”
“Dehya: Phew… Alright, Demoiselle, I won’t ask you to come home with me anymore.”
(Principle: See, women, huh.)
“Dina: Eh?”
“Dehya: But then again, I’m doing this not because I agree with your actions, but because I respect this determination.”
“Dina: Thank you, Dehya! I’m sorry, I was too anxious just now, and my attitude towards you wasn’t good. I also offended you by mentioning money…”
“Dehya: It’s alright, Demoiselle. I told you, I like money, and we should indeed have a good talk about this. After all, things got so big today that all the bodyguards from home were dispatched. Covering for you with the master won’t be easy.”
“Besides, you definitely won’t just come out this one time. Before your next departure, at least the area around your room needs to be settled, and someone needs to look after you while you’re out. Demoiselle, how about hiring me to help you? It would be good for everyone. As for the Reward… half of what the master gives is enough. You can pay when you return home.”
“Dina: Hmm, no problem!”
“Qixuan: Sigh… I thought it would be a different kind of Reward.”
“Lumine: Same, disappointed.”
“Paimon: What exactly are you two disappointed about! But, this counts as reaching a consensus, right?”
“Dina: Hmm…”
“Lumine: Dina, are you alright?”
“Dina: Haha… I’m fine, I’m fine. It’s just that I suddenly felt relieved and a bit weak…”
“Dehya: Demoiselle, don’t push yourself. Let’s rest here in this shop for a while and eat something.”
“Dina: I’m sorry to have worried you all. If you don’t mind, please come and eat with us.”
“Paimon: Okay! Once you feel better, we also want to hear you continue telling us about Lesser Lord Kusanali.”
While eating………
“Lambad (Hotel Owner): Ho, isn’t this Dehya? I haven’t seen you much this past half-year. I heard you became a bodyguard for the Humai family. Didn’t you used to dislike bodyguard work, saying it was boring?”
“Dehya: I guess I got used to it, boss. Show us the menu.”
Lambad agreed, then noticed something. Hmm? Could this be the Demoiselle of the Humai family? It’s rare for the Demoiselle to grace us with his presence; I must prepare the best dishes in the shop for you!
Dina: "Boss, thank you, but no need. I really need money right now and am not well-off, so I hope to save as much as possible. Oh, but for these guests, please serve them the best dishes. They are my new friends, and I should be a good host."
Qixuan-jie: "Since Demoiselle Dina is not well-off, how about we treat her to this meal?"
Dina: "How can that be? You are guests..."
Paimon: "We treat her to a meal, and Demoiselle Dina tells us about Lesser Lord Kusanali. It's a fair trade."
Lumine: "Hmm, let's use Paimon's 【little piggy bank】."
Qixuan-jie: "Agreed."
Paimon: "I don't agree!"
Dina: "Let's go with something more practical. I can't let you spend too much."
Lambad: "In that case, how about some Coconut Charcoal Cakes for you all? They're our signature snack and very affordable. Look, those people over there are eating them."
Paimon's appetite immediately waned as he looked in the direction the boss pointed.
Paimon: "Ugh, they look not only pitch black but also dry... I don't want to eat that."
Lumine: "So Paimon is picky too."
Paimon: "What's wrong? I have my own likes and dislikes!"
Qixuan-jie: "Alright, alright, I'll pay for this meal. No need for Paimon's little piggy bank. Boss, bring out all your best dishes."
Dehya: "Demoiselle, since he said so, then I won't be polite."
Lambad: "Alright, please wait a moment."
After Dehya ordered, everyone chatted with Dina about Lesser Lord Kusanali again...
Paimon: "Dina, we asked many people in Sumeru City before, and everyone wasn't very interested in Lesser Lord Kusanali. How did you become her worshipper, anyway?"
Dina: "Paimon, you asked me before if I knew how to meet Grass God. Although I don't know how, I feel like I have 【met】 Grass God before."
Paimon: "Really?!"
Dina: "Yes, it was when I was little. Because I was sick, I spent almost all year lying in my room. Although my parents were constantly trying to cure me, in my condition, I couldn't make friends, and I couldn't even access any knowledge through Akasha."
"When I was little, I had no dreams, no expectations. Once, I had a very severe episode and was in a semi-conscious state for many days. One night, I woke up, and there was no one in the room. I was really scared, but I couldn't move, and I couldn't even cry out."
Lumine: "How scary."
Dina: "Very scary, right? At that moment, an incredible voice suddenly appeared in my mind. That voice said to me: 【Dina, don't be afraid, and don't cry anymore.】"
Dina began to recall her childhood dream...
Nahida: "【Dina, don't be afraid, and don't cry anymore.】"
Dina: "Who are you? How do you know my name? (Crying)"
(But little Dina was really cute!)
Nahida: "Hmm, how should I explain it? I don't think you'll understand much, but I know everything about you."
Dina: "Really?"
Nahida: "Of course! I know you're afraid of thunder, dislike taking your morning medicine the most, and always count the petals on your mother's skirt."
Dina: "Wow, so you really do know everything."
Nahida: "Dina, do you have any wishes?"
Dina: "Wishes? I don't... because I can't go anywhere or do anything."
Nahida: "Huh? But you're still a child! Children all have wishes. Tell me your wish, maybe I can make it come true."
Dina: "Then... can you make me well?"
Nahida: "I'm sorry, with my current power, I can't do that..." (I can't do anything again!)
Dina: "Then... can you be my friend?"
Back to the present...
Dina: "After that, I heard that voice say: 【Okay, I'll be your friend.】"
"During those days of sickness, although my body was in great discomfort, that voice often appeared to encourage me and told me many interesting things. It turns out that outside my window was the bustling Sumeru City, outside Sumeru City was the dense rainforest, and outside the rainforest, there were also the Sand Barrier, the Desert, and the entire Teyvat..."
Dehya: "Demoiselle..."
Dina: "Later, I finally pulled through that episode, but that voice disappeared. I told my mother about it, but she said it must have been because I was dreaming. But I know that voice was definitely not my imagination! Because before that, I had never heard of 【Teyvat】."
Qixuan-jie: "Case closed."
Lumine: "So... that voice was Lesser Lord Kusanali?"
Dina: "Yes, it must be! If it weren't for that voice, I would never have become curious about this world, nor would I have learned to read and read all sorts of books. That voice allowed me to access 【wisdom】; she must be Grass God."
"I have always hoped to repay her kindness, and in fact, I came out today precisely to prepare for her 【Flower God's Festival】!"
Paimon: "Hey! We've heard of that too!"
Dina: "Right? The 【Flower God's Festival】 is Lesser Lord Kusanali's birthday, the day the Sages discovered her. Actually, it's a very ancient festival, originally celebrated for Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's birthday. After Greater Lord Rukkhadevata passed away, it was continued, and the date was changed to Lesser Lord Kusanali's birthday."
"But gradually, under the influence of the Akademiya, people stopped celebrating this festival much. Sumeru has quite a few festivals related to Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, and the Akademiya participates in their preparations, but for the 【Flower God's Festival】, they don't even show any interest, let alone contribute money."
Qixuan-jie: "(I suddenly thought of something funny.)"
Dina: "Perhaps for such a day, they simply don't care."
Paimon: "Ugh, that's too much!"
Dina: "Yes, it's too much! Although Greater Lord Rukkhadevata established the entire nation, hasn't Lesser Lord Kusanali also silently protected Sumeru these past few hundred years?"
Dehya: "Hey, there are other people around, keep your voice down, Demoiselle."
Dina: "Ugh... I know some residents in the Grand Bazaar still hold 【The Sabzeruz Festival】 to this day, but I didn't know them before, so I couldn't do anything. But recently, I met a friend who lives there, and she is also a follower of Lesser Lord Kusanali!"
"So I gave her all my savings, hoping she could organize it well. This is all I can do for Lesser Lord Kusanali for this festival."
(Greater Lord Rukkhadevata: Child, how about I appoint you as a companion sage for my daughter?)
(Lumine: What about me?)
Dehya: "Wait, Demoiselle, that friend you mentioned wouldn't happen to be Nilou, who delivers flowers to the house, would she?"
Dina: "Yes, it's her!"
Dehya: "A few days ago, I saw her leaving the mansion with a flustered expression, seemingly clutching something in her arms. Did you give her something?"
Dina: "Yes, it was me... Because the money I initially prepared wasn't quite enough, I asked Nilou to sell one of my dresses. Actually, I made plans with Nilou today to go to the Grand Bazaar to take a look. Dehya, can you come with me?"
Dehya: "Alright, the Grand Bazaar is still a bit far from here. I'll carry you."
Dina: "No need, that would be too much trouble for you."
Lumine: "Can we come along too?"
Dina: "Of course! Nilou will be very happy to know that you are also followers of Lesser Lord Kusanali."
Qixuan-jie: "Then let's go."
Paimon: "Huh? I haven't finished eating yet!"
...