Dehya ordered a few of Lambad Tavern's signature dishes, then gestured for him to go prepare them.
Shao Yun turned his head toward Miss Dunyarzad, who was sitting beside him, and said, "Alright then, Miss Dunyarzad, let's continue the conversation that was interrupted earlier."
He was referring to Dunyarzad's promise to tell Lumine and Paimon stories about the Lesser Lord Kusanali.
When Dunyarzad heard Shao Yun's words, she recalled what they had been discussing before and quickly nodded in agreement, replying apologetically, "Oh, I'm so sorry, I ran off in such a hurry earlier. We can continue now."
Shao Yun picked up the thread of their earlier topic and continued, "The two of them went adventuring at Vimara Village earlier today, but they're expected to return by dinnertime. So, I was thinking we could plan to have dinner here tonight…"
At this point, Shao Yun gestured toward the Lambad Tavern around them and added, "Right here at Lambad Tavern, you can tell them the story of the Lesser Lord Kusanali."
Hearing Shao Yun's suggestion, Dunyarzad thought for a moment. She found the idea quite reasonable and that the timing worked out perfectly, so she gladly agreed.
"Alright then, it's settled. We'll meet here at Lambad Tavern for dinner."
There was still some time before the food would be ready.
Shao Yun seized the moment and, looking at Dunyarzad who sat opposite him, asked about her Withering illness.
"I've always had a question in mind, and I'd like to take this chance to ask you. Why is it that, despite being afflicted by the Withering illness, you still seem so spirited and full of life?"
As soon as he finished speaking, a fleeting trace of sorrow flashed across Dunyarzad's smiling face, but it was quickly replaced by a look of quiet gratitude.
She let out a soft sigh and replied, "Well, that's… quite a long story."
After pausing briefly to gather her thoughts, Dunyarzad began recalling her battle with the illness.
"It all started with that sudden, large-scale outbreak of the Withering several months ago."
As she spoke, her gaze grew solemn.
At that moment, Dehya couldn't help but interject, unable to suppress her own emotions. "Now that's a topic I can speak on! Whether it was the terrifying sight of the Withering's eruption or the miraculous recovery of my lady afterward, I saw it all with my own eyes!"
Seeing this, Shao Yun quickly assumed a polite expression and said with a smile, "In that case, could you tell me what happened? Of course, only if it's convenient."
Dehya nodded and began to recall that unforgettable day in vivid detail.
"Let me think… That day, I was pushing my lady's wheelchair while we were taking a leisurely stroll just outside Sumeru City."
When Shao Yun heard Dehya mention pushing Dunyarzad, he couldn't help but ask curiously, "Pushing?"
Dunyarzad immediately clarified his doubt.
"At that time, my Withering illness had become extremely severe. I couldn't take care of myself, not even eat properly, let alone walk. I had to rely entirely on a wheelchair to get around."
"At that moment, I truly felt that my life was nearing its end. My last wish was simply to go outside—just once more—to see the sunset."
As soon as she finished, Dehya took over the story.
"When I pushed my lady out to the outskirts of Sumeru City, we had only been admiring the scenery for maybe half an hour when, all of a sudden, the Withering appeared without any warning."
Even as she recalled it, Dehya couldn't help but shudder at the memory.
"I swear, from the day I was born until now, I've never seen anything as terrifying as that Withering outbreak. Trees withered at an alarming rate, living creatures died before our eyes—it was like the end of the world had come."
"Immediately, I grabbed my lady and ran toward Sumeru City as fast as I could, but the Withering spread faster than we could imagine. In no time, we were completely surrounded. Being trapped in the Withering felt a thousand times worse than sinking into quicksand in the desert!"
Dunyarzad furrowed her brows slightly, her mind replaying the heart-stopping scene.
"That's right. Just when both Dehya and I thought we were doomed, a figure suddenly appeared—like dawn breaking through the darkness—to save us." She smiled faintly, the expression of someone who had narrowly escaped death.
But when Shao Yun heard the words mysterious man, his heart skipped a beat.
After all, the last person to encounter such a situation had been Collei! And he knew exactly how she had been cured.
At that thought, Shao Yun's face darkened.
"A mysterious man came to your rescue?"
Before Dunyarzad could answer, Dehya jumped in first.
"Mm-hmm. That gentleman had a well-groomed mustache and wore a tall black top hat—he looked every bit the gentleman. Only…"
She paused, then corrected herself, "Actually, to be precise, it wasn't as simple as him saving us. The truth is, my lady, that stranger, and I were all trapped inside the Withering together."
As Shao Yun listened, the tension in his chest tightened even more.
Based on those descriptions, he could already tell—this so-called mysterious man was that devil!
Of course, it was—if there was profit to be gained, that devil never failed to act. What a calculated offering—he really knew how to pick his introductions.
Dunyarzad went on vividly describing the perilous scene.
"Just when Dehya and I thought it was over, that mysterious man suddenly turned to us and asked, 'If you could pray to a god for salvation, would you call upon the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, or the Lesser Lord Kusanali?'"
By now, Shao Yun already understood how Dunyarzad's illness had been "cured."
Still, he decided to play along. "And how did you answer?"
Dunyarzad took a deep breath, steadied herself, and spoke with renewed passion.
"At that moment, even though I was so weak I could barely breathe, I summoned all the strength I had left and shouted with all my heart: 'Of course, the Lesser Lord Kusanali!'"
"Then I screamed at the top of my lungs: 'Lesser Lord Kusanali, please save us!' And right after that—there was a miracle! Dehya and I escaped safely!"
By the end of her story, Dunyarzad was visibly emotional.
Her hands clenched together involuntarily, her face glowing with heartfelt devotion.
Seeing this, Dehya covered her mouth with a soft laugh.
Shaking her head gently, she teased, "My lady, you really shouldn't make it sound that mystical."
"In truth, there was no divine miracle—it was that mustached gentleman's quick action that saved us."
"But still, that man was incredible. I remember, he stretched out his hands, and the Withering around us split apart, forming a safe path straight to Sumeru City. It was just like something out of a fairy tale."
"Though I suppose he must have used elemental power to clear the path."
Shao Yun thought, that devil was really putting in work helping Nahida, the "Shepherd," care for her flock—her believers. Parting the Withering like Moses parting the sea, indeed.
"Did you tell anyone about what happened?" he asked, because Dunyarzad clearly believed that being saved by the devil was a manifestation of the Lesser Lord Kusanali.
Knowing how devout she was, she'd surely spread the story.
Dunyarzad nodded repeatedly. "Yes, we told the sages who were maintaining order in Sumeru City at the time."
But then she sighed, her tone tinged with disappointment. "They didn't believe us. They said the Withering had affected our minds and that we were hallucinating. They even sent us to the House of Healing."
Seeing her lady fall into sadness again, Dehya tried to comfort her kindly. "I think the real reason the sages didn't believe you is because you kept insisting it was the Lesser Lord Kusanali's divine miracle that saved us. The Akademiya isn't exactly fond of Her right now."
Dunyarzad argued, "But that mysterious man asked us if we'd call upon the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata or the Lesser Lord Kusanali, and when I said Kusanali, he saved us! That can't be coincidence."
Dehya sighed again. "My lady, I hate to say it, but even if the Lesser Lord Kusanali did save us, those Akademiya scholars still wouldn't believe it. Don't let it upset you, alright?"
Shao Yun joined in gently, "People only believe what they want to believe. So, there's no need to be angry about it."
Besides, it really hadn't been Nahida's miracle at all.
Dehya nodded in agreement. "That's true, well said. Honestly, if we'd claimed it was the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's miracle instead, those scholars would've investigated every little detail."
Still, Dunyarzad couldn't help but feel indignant. "The Lesser Lord Kusanali saved us during the Withering outbreak, and yet so few are willing to believe it. It's so unfair!"
Shao Yun looked at the fuming Dunyarzad and thought, Don't argue anymore, Dunyarzad. The one who saved you wasn't the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, nor the Lesser Lord Kusanali Nahida—it was the devil.
But he didn't voice that thought. He knew it would be impossible to explain, so he quickly steered the topic away.
"It seems we've gone off-topic, Miss Dunyarzad. Please, continue with what happened next."
Dunyarzad collected herself and continued softly, "Ah, yes… After we were rescued, the Akademiya insisted that Dehya and I stay at the Bimarstan for extended observation and treatment, since we'd been trapped in the Withering."
She paused briefly.
"Then, on the second night after being admitted, something miraculous happened. I was half-asleep, feeling the urge to get up and use the restroom. And when I did, I realized—I could stand up on my own! There was no pain, no weakness. It was as if I'd never been sick at all."
Dehya nodded in confirmation. "That's right. When I saw you get out of bed by yourself that night, I was so shocked!"
Shao Yun listened quietly, brows furrowed in thought.
After they finished, he pressed further, "So, you just… recovered? Out of nowhere? There were no prior signs?"
"Nothing strange happened around that time? No unusual events?"
Like, say, someone delivering a painting, for example.
Dunyarzad thought for a while, then shook her head. "Nothing special! It was so sudden, even I could hardly believe it."
Then, a thought struck Dehya, and she exclaimed, "Wait a second, my lady—you forgot about that strange oil painting your father received!"
Dunyarzad blinked in surprise. She opened her mouth to respond, then hesitated, frowning slightly. "But… what does that painting have to do with my illness?"
Hearing that, even Dehya looked doubtful. "Yeah, if paintings could cure the Withering, then the Akademiya scholars would all be taking art lessons by now."
Shao Yun thought to himself—if it were just a normal painting, then no.
But if it was one like Collei's, depicting that devil, then that changed everything.
Just then, Lambad approached, carrying a tray of food. "Your order's ready—eat it while it's hot."
The aroma of the dishes filled the air, and Dehya immediately dropped the topic, waving everyone over. "Enough talking for now, let's eat. Come on, my lady, try this."
…
After the meal, Dehya leaned back comfortably in her chair, a satisfied smile spreading across her face. She took a deep breath and said with genuine approval, "Lambad's cooking really is top-notch."
Meanwhile, Dunyarzad sat back in a relaxed posture and brought up where she wanted to go next.
"Well then, would you both come with me to the Grand Bazaar?"
As she spoke, she looked especially toward Shao Yun.
Shao Yun didn't mind the suggestion at all. Since Lumine and Paimon were still at Vimara Village, and he wasn't needed there, a stroll through the Grand Bazaar didn't sound bad. He nodded.
"No problem, a little walk through the Grand Bazaar sounds nice."
Dehya had no objection either, though she reminded cautiously, "We can go, but my lady, didn't we promise to stop by home first and let your parents know you're alright? They're probably still waiting."
Hearing that, Dunyarzad smacked her forehead lightly.
"Oh right! I nearly forgot something that important. Let's stop by home first to reassure my parents before heading to the Grand Bazaar!"