"You're not even sick—why are you talking nonsense~?"
While Paimon was distracted, Aether suddenly reached out and grabbed her, checking her forehead. The temperature was normal… then why was she spouting dream talk?
"Ugh! So annoying!"
Paimon finally struggled free, flying behind Aether and landing on his shoulders. She yanked furiously at his hair.
"Alright, alright! I'll make it up to you!"
"Make it up how?"
"One."
"Not enough!"
"Then how many do you want? Let's talk once you calm down, okay?"
"Hmph… five! No, ten!"
"Deal. But first, help me with something."
Paimon was clearly in a terrible mood—probably because she'd been rudely woken up from a food-filled dream. No wonder she was so cranky…
"Hmph!"
Seeing Aether give in, Paimon stopped attacking. She puffed out her chest and sat triumphantly on his shoulders like a victorious little rooster.
"Can you help me figure out what it's trying to say?"
Aether pointed to the trembling lion beside them and asked.
"Huh? Who, that stinky lion?"
Paimon glanced at the Flame-Maned Lion. The beast was so terrified it looked like it wanted to bury its head in the ground.
It had thought this guy was already the scariest being it had ever encountered—but now, there was a creature sitting on his shoulders?! And he didn't even mind?!
Clearly, it had misjudged the hierarchy. Now it knew who was really dangerous.
Mess with the big one and you might get reasoned with. Mess with the little one on his shoulders? You might not even know how you died…
"Yeah, it seems like it's trying to say something. I don't understand it."
"Hehe? And how do you know I can understand it?"
"You're so amazing. It's only natural you'd be able to."
Aether praised her just enough. Instantly, Paimon's mood did a complete 180.
"Hehe~ You think I'm amazing too~"
"So, what are you trying to say? You can speak now."
Aether turned toward the Flame-Maned Lion.
"Roar…"
The lion let out a tentative growl.
"…"
"…"
"What did it say?"
Aether looked up at his "translator" who had gone silent.
"What?" Paimon blinked innocently.
"You said you could understand it!"
"I never said that."
"…Didn't you argue with it earlier?"
"You mean when it roared at us?"
"Yeah."
"I read the situation. It looked mean, so I cursed it out."
"…And now?"
"Totally clueless~"
Paimon said with all the sincerity of a toddler, then suddenly perked up as she saw Aether pull a massive pot out of thin air.
"Traveler, what are you doing with our big pot? Are you making something tasty?"
"Yep. Emergency food's just sitting around—I figured I'd eat her."
"Eh?! What?! You can't eat me!"
Paimon immediately protested. Then, realizing something, she quickly tried to redeem herself.
"You just wanna understand what it's saying, right? That's easy!"
"Oh? You have a way?"
"Give me our teapot."
She held out her little hand, eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Here."
Aether summoned the Serenitea Pot from his inventory. Paimon dove in through the spout.
Moments later, she reappeared, opening her hand to reveal three objects that looked like wireless earbuds.
"Just use these~" she huffed.
"…Aren't these the Akasha Terminals from Sumeru?"
Aether looked at the pale green devices, recalling a gentle yet resilient little god—and the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, who chose to erase her own existence for the good of her people.
Let the world forget me…
To remove the forbidden knowledge that plagued her people, the first god of Sumeru had sacrificed herself and made the world forget she ever existed. Even the new Dendro Archon…
Even now, just thinking about it made Aether's chest tighten.
Maybe… this too was part of the journey's meaning.
Shaking off the thought, Aether asked, "We're not in Teyvat anymore. Will this even work?"
"Just try it! It can set up a temporary link. If it's just for communication, it should be fine."
Paimon said confidently, like a seasoned scholar.
Aether took one terminal and placed it in his ear. Another floated over to the Flame-Maned Lion, enlarging to match its size and sticking to its ear.
Paimon wore the third herself.
"Testing~ This is Paimon. Do you copy? Over!"
"…"
Aether twitched at the voice and glanced at her. Sometimes she was sharp… other times, hopelessly silly.
"Hel… lo…"
"Hm?"
Just as Aether started doubting her plan, a young, timid voice came through the terminal.
"Is that you speaking?"
He looked at the lion, mentally sending his words through the device.
"Yes… s-sir…"
The Flame-Maned Lion realized it could actually speak to this powerful human. Its respect only grew deeper.
Although it had already developed sentience, it hadn't yet reached the hundred-thousand-year threshold, so this kind of communication was still new to it.
Is Paimon actually a genius?
Aether looked at the lion, then back at Paimon.
"What do you want to say to it?"
Paimon, now curious, tilted her head.
Waking her up in the middle of the night—there had to be something important going on.
"I think… it needs help."
Aether frowned slightly as he glanced at the soul beast.
"Y-yes… sir… I need help…"
"Huh? Stinky lion, you did try to eat us earlier. Why should we help you?"
Paimon crossed her arms, pretending to be furious.
"I… deserve death… It was them… They drove me out… Please… punish them…"
The lion's expression was almost human, yet the childlike voice coming from such a huge head made for a strange contrast.
"Drove you out? You mean your territory got stolen?"
Paimon wasn't heartless. Despite her words, she was clearly thinking about it seriously.
"Yes…"
The lion nodded vigorously, the air around them picking up with the movement.
"So what do you want us to do? Help you take it back?"
"No… please… let me stay…"
The Flame-Maned Lion shook its head and finally revealed its true wish.
"Huh? Traveler, is this stinky lion asking us to adopt it? It's huge—how are we supposed to feed it?"
Paimon's first thought was practical: this soul beast looked like it could eat a mountain a day.
"I'll… find my own food… please… let me stay…"
The lion quickly clarified, desperate not to be rejected.
_
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