"Hey, are you really okay? You can't even control your expression."
Paimon waved her hand in front of Ye Luo's face, worrying tugging at her voice.
From their perspective, Ye Luo looked like someone whose nerves had shorted out — suddenly grinning while everyone else stared.
Were they sure he wasn't actually losing his mind? After that massive misunderstanding that had led the gods to hand him a Vision out of pity, and he could still smile?
Paimon had to respect the man. In optimism, Ye Luo was unmatched. Maybe Cryo gave people that kind of stoic resilience.
Layla, however, is still worried. She tugged Ye Luo's sleeve with small, anxious fingers and peered up at him.
"Ahem— I just thought of something funny," Ye Luo coughed lightly, forcing his face back to normal. He patted Layla's hand to reassure her.
His fingers couldn't help but give the soft little hand a few extra squeezes — cool, soft. Layla's cheeks flushed; she snatched her hand back and bowed her head, all pink warmth.
"Senior… you're so mean," she muttered, half-annoyed, half-embarrassed.
"Uh—sorry about earlier. We thought you were running a pyramid scheme and chased after you," Paimon said, breathing easier now Ye Luo seemed fine.
Lumine rolled her eyes at that. If they were going to script an excuse, could they at least embellish it with something better? Like, "We were on a Matra assignment to arrest suspicious characters," or some heroic nonsense. But Paimon did what Paimon does.
"Did I really look like a pyramid seller?" Ye Luo scratched his head, baffled. He'd been trying to help those scholars for free—how did it end up as shady sales tactics?
Both women nodded in agreement, as if the difference were negligible.
"I warned you, Senior, don't do things that invite misunderstanding," Layla chimed in, giving a sly little jab.
"Okay, okay. But truly, it was with good intentions," Ye Luo spread his hands, helpless. People in Sumeru were weird—so different from modern folk. If someone in Sumeru had opened a proper consultation institute, they'd be filthy rich. Ten times better than a university career center.
"Anyway, I'm fine now." Ye Luo stretched; his muscles still ached from the fight.
Darn it — Lumine's strength was no joke; his hands still throbbed. So the Traveler could switch elements at will in the field, and wasn't the weak one from cutscenes.
"Nope. We were wrong. You need compensation," Lumine declared, shaking her head. Paimon joined in.
"Yep! Anything you want, just say it. Lumine and I are legendary travelers — our Mora and treasures are endless!" Paimon puffed her chest like a prideful flower.
Lumine's expression stiffened for a moment but she didn't correct Paimon.
We'll take more commissions later, she thought silently. Don't assume I'm rolling in Mora. Paimon ate like a small mob, and weapon upkeep, travel expenses, gifts for festivals—Mora adds up. Lumine only binges on commissions when she's short.
Ye Luo's face lit up. "You two are the legendary travelers who saved Sumeru? No way would I ask you for compensation. You're Sumeru's benefactors!"
"Hehe, if you need anything, just say the word," Paimon chirped, eyes closed in a smile.
"Well… actually, I use a one-handed sword but I've never had a proper trusty blade," Ye Luo said, scratching his head shyly. "I heard rumors about your adventures—surely you have that legendary Drachenbox sword, right?"
He leaned in, eyes shining like little stars. He really, truly wanted a proper weapon. Elements condensed into ephemeral blades were fragile. Mid-adventure was no time to be using fragile constructs. Lumine had been through four nations—she must have some pocket savings, right?
"We don't have that," Paimon blinked, stunned, like, you actually asked? If they had the sword, Lumine wouldn't still be using a blunt training blade.
"Then… the Celestial Shadow Katana?" Ye Luo tried another guess.
Paimon's smile faltered and she quietly regretted bragging earlier.
"You—use no weapon at all?" Ye Luo turned to Lumine, who'd absentmindedly been staring at the sky.
He'd never paid much attention to the world's weapons before—no Vision, no reason to. In the game, even a mutt can get a four-star weapon after enough grinding. Real life's different.
Lumine pursed her lips, and then reached into her pocket domain.
"Here—take this," she said, producing the dull, edge-less blade she'd been using. She offered it to him.
Where would Lumine get a real sword? Most signature blades were priceless—Dawnblade, Corrosion, Skyward Blade—gifts from comrades, keepsakes.
"What? You're giving me your blunt blade? Then what do you use?" Ye Luo took it, perplexed.
"I'll use this," Lumine smiled and elegantly drew a shining Skyward Blade from her pocket space, cutting a few artistic arcs in the air.
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