…So obviously, you have to pay extra.**
[Transcendent Chat Group]
[Kaeya:Ah, understood. So that's what it means! Once someone's desire becomes strong enough, and they prepare the appropriate reward… the Executor appears to help.]
[Yae Miko:Amazing, little Traveler. That's like… an alternative Vision.]
[Keqing:Why does this feel suspiciously similar to the Adventurers' Guild system?]
[Bennett:Wait—is it real? A blue exclamation mark actually appears above your head!?]
[Paimon:Hmph! Yep!
If it doesn't appear, it means your desire isn't strong enough—or your payment isn't good enough!
So…(rubs little hands)]
[Jean:I see. Very well, Traveler. We'll prepare proper compensation.]
[Klee:Traveler big sis is amazing! Klee wants to go fish-blasting! Blue exclamation mark, hurry and appear!]
[Navia:Partner, help me find the culprit behind the "Chain Disappearance of Young Ladies." Don't worry—Spina di Rosula has funds!]
[Sayu:I… I want to grow taller…]
And so, Teyvat suddenly discovered the "correct" way to use the Traveler.
Sure, the Executor caused chaos—
but her competence was undeniable!
You don't trigger five nations' crises by being weak.
And now?
With a bit of Mora and Primogems, she'd fulfill your wishes.
Honestly…
This was better than a Vision.
A bargain!
One by one, people began @ing Lumine.
Outside Mondstadt
Lumine watched the flood of requests and her mouth twitched violently.
A yellow-haired idiot?
A tool person?
A mercenary who works for Mora and Primogems??
Where was the "positive evaluation" she was promised!?
[Traveler Lumine:Slander! This is all SLANDER!]
[Paimon:B-But we could make a LOT of money…]
[Traveler Lumine:Hmph! I—future Honorary Knight!
Friend of All Adepti!
Captain of Swordfish II!
The First Sage!
Fontaine Academy's Honorary Senior Researcher!
How could I be someone who works for money!?]
[Amber:Truly admirable, Traveler!]
[Ayaka:Yes, such integrity is worthy of respect.]
[Traveler Lumine:Which is why… prices go UP.]
[Amber:...]
[Ayaka:...]
["Amber has withdrawn a message."]
["Kamisato Ayaka has withdrawn a message."]
Everyone:...
So that was the real face of the Executor.
Hilichurl Camp
"Ahhh that's the good stuff!"
Lumine placed her hands on her hips, radiant with triumph.
"So many job opportunities!
I won't starve anymore!
No more feast-today-famine-tomorrow!"
Paimon rolled her eyes so hard she almost took off.
"And here I thought you had integrity!
It was all just bargaining!?"
"Making money isn't shameful~"
Lumine shrugged—
then turned to Paimon, raising a brow.
"But you…"
"You're Paimon the Righteous.
Paimon, who's above worldly possessions.
Which means Grandpa Lumine clearly can't afford to keep you."
"When you get hungry later, don't come begging me."
"W-Wahh! Lumine, I'm sorry!!"
The moment food was threatened, Paimon panicked.
She hugged Lumine's leg like a child about to be abandoned.
Seeing Lumine unmoved, her little eyes spun.
Then—
Flattery blast.
The greatest traveler in all Teyvat~
The magnificent Honorary Knight~
The unrivaled champion of the continent~
So beautiful, so mighty, so dazzling—
Lumine's expression softened bit by bit.
"Ahem…
Grandpa Lumine does appreciate honesty.
No need to flatter me that much."
"But since you're reflecting sincerely… fine. I'll forgive you."
"Hehehe! Lumine you're the best~"
Integrity? Honor? Dignity?
Paimon: Food first, everything else second.
Amber watched the two of them—amused and helpless.
No wonder Lumine could stir so much chaos in Teyvat.
This personality… with her strength…
Trouble was inevitable.
Teyvat's New Business Model
People lined up to offer commissions.
Lumine accepted—at higher prices.
A win-win.
And if the blue exclamation mark didn't appear?
Then pay more.
When the pay was right, Grandpa Lumine would surely "see" it.
Even the comedic reviews in the projection were starting to feel suspiciously accurate.
Back to Arthur's Stream
The projection shimmered.
Arthur spoke again:
"Next is the fifth and final unserious evaluation."
"This one is about personality."
"It's something that runs through the Traveler's entire journey."
"Many of her questionable actions are rooted in this."
"And it is—"
"Being a gremlin."
"Yes, Lumine is beautiful like a painting—
but when she acts like a gremlin, that's her true essence."
"Gremlin Lumine, Gremlin Lumine… that's the real Grandpa Lumine~"
"And in this category, only one person in all of Inazuma can surpass her."
"A certain pink-haired fox."
He projected a series of in-game screenshots—
faces so mischievous that the word "gremlin" felt like an understatement.
Abyss Base
Lumine slammed the table, ecstatic.
"YES!
YES, FINALLY!"
Someone had finally said it aloud.
Her disaster-causing was one thing—
but her gremlin tendencies?
Perfectly described.
You think he runs faster than her because he's cautious?
No.
He runs because he's traumatized.
Anyone who has lived with Gremlin Lumine would understand.
He wiped a tear.
Ah… justice, at last.
[Transcendent Chat Group]
[Traveler Lumine:SLANDER! COMPLETE SLANDER!
How could I ever be a gremlin!?]
[Paimon:Exactly! Lumine is the future Honorary Knight! She's full of glory! She can't possibly be a gremlin!]
The earlier threat of starvation had clearly put Paimon firmly on Lumine's side.
Amber silently looked away.
That "pay extra" earlier?
If that wasn't gremlin behavior, nothing was.
Most others didn't know Lumine well enough to judge—
so they remained quiet.
Until a certain fox spoke:
[Yae Miko:Exactly! I, the elegant and wise Guuji of Narukami Shrine, would never be a gremlin.
How could anyone accuse a refined lady like me?]
[Arataki Itto:Traveler I'm not sure… but FOX LADY YOU ARE DEFINITELY TOP-TIER GREMLIN! EVERYONE IN INAZUMA KNOWS IT!]
[Kujou Sara:For once… I agree with this idiot.]
[Ei:Sigh… you used to be such a well-behaved little fox. How did you grow crooked?]
[Ganyu:U-Um… Guuji Yae's personality is indeed… special.]
[Kokomi:I've heard… certain things about Guuji Yae's reputation on Watatsumi Island as well.]
[Gorou:S-She's more terrifying than the Shogun in some ways!]
[Sayu:M-Me too… ah, uh—I'm going back to sleep!]
Miko: "(smiling) …Good.
Very good."
She opened a tiny notebook.
Everyone who badmouthed her?
Their names were being written down—
with extra hearts around Itto and Gorou.
Right as she prepared to retaliate—
The projection flickered again.
Arthur:
"Of course, pictures alone can't fully convey Lumine's gremlin essence."
"So here's a video."
"After watching it… you'll understand."
He played the legendary "Paimon's backpack" voice clip—
the iconic gremlin moment known across the fandom.
Lumine: "......"
To read advanced Chapters, head over to p@treon:
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