Lumine could only nod and hand over the money.
Paimon tried to comfort her. "At least we found out where the relief supplies came from, and about that sword Kuroda always carries."
"Let's go ask Kuroda now, see if it jogs his memory."
Lumine gave a firm nod.
Returning to the village, they found only Kuroda left, standing by the fence corner lost in thought.
Paimon asked curiously, "Why are you the only one here? Where did those two go?"
Kuroda replied, "I told them I'd draw my blade if they didn't leave, so they left."
[Navia: Drawing a sword is quite realistic. Those two Treasure Hoarders dared speak to him in that tone precisely because they thought Kuroda was easy to bully!]
[Lumine: That's right. Kuroda must have been a very kind, gentle person before, to have done such things.]
[Furina: Sounds a lot like me. I'm also a very kind, gentle person.]
[Ningguang: A kind and tsundere person.]
[Lumine: That's true.]
[Keqing: Honestly, I'm still a bit angry. Mr. Kuroda shouldn't be treated this way.]
[Arataki Itto: Me too.]
"It's definitely more effective than trying to persuade them with words. Maybe I should just... from now on..."
"Did you investigate the Treasure Hoarder business? I wasn't lying, was I?"
Paimon waved her little hands, recounting what they'd learned.
"That's basically it. You actually were distributing relief supplies, but you bought all the food with your own money."
Kuroda was stunned. "How can that be? Was I that kind of person before? I have no memory of it at all. Even if you tell me, I still can't remember."
Kuroda crossed his arms, thinking. "Why would my past self do such a thing? Wasn't that just asking for trouble? It's really hard to understand."
"However... just now, when I held this sword and threatened those two, I did feel my body's instincts resisting it."
[Furina: The ambition is gone, but... muscle memory remains?]
[Paimon: Just like Furina, your mouth is tough, but you still secretly follow along.]
[Zhongli: That's quite realistic.]
Lumine asked cautiously, "Could we take a look at this sword?"
Kuroda explained, "This sword used to be my father's. I remember when I was little, I once stole it from him to show off to the neighbor's kids. I got a good scolding for it."
As he spoke, Kuroda frowned. "What did he say to me then? That's strange, I can't remember that either."
"After my Vision was taken, I seem to have forgotten a lot of important things. There are huge blank spaces in my memory. No matter how hard I try, I can't recall. I just remember that my father said this sword held the creed of his life. Before he left this world, he placed the sword in my hands himself."
[Navia: So... it was about inheriting his father's ideals?]
[Paimon: I remember, Navia, you're like that too.]
[Navia: That's right. I've always wanted to become a great person like my father and have worked hard for it.]
[Furina: You succeeded.]
[Navia: No, not yet. There's still so much I need to learn.]
[Lumine: Ningguang's ideals will also be passed down.]
[Keqing: Yes, I also want to pass on my philosophy to the younger generation.]
[Zhongli: The spirit of the Qixing, passed down through the ages. In this way, Liyue will also shine ever brighter.]
"He also said to me, holding this sword, one should..."
Paimon rested her chin on her hand. "Hmm... If you look closely, there seem to be characters carved on the hilt? Traveler, can you see what they say?"
Lumine glanced at it and read the characters. "'Benevolence and Righteousness'..."
Kuroda: "'Benevolence and Righteousness'?"
"If that's the case... it might explain things."
"Going into deep debt just so others could be happy... That was my greatest ambition, wasn't it? But what's the use of 'Benevolence and Righteousness'? I walked this path, using my own money to buy food and help them. And the result?"
"The Tenryou Commission took my Vision, and the people I helped refuse to understand me. The most ironic part is that I still feel heartache when I draw my sword against them. I can't be a good person, and I can't even be a bad person. What... what am I supposed to do?"
[Ningguang: I have agonized over the answer to this question, yet found none.]
[Zhongli: Should those who show no gratitude receive help?]
[Nahida: Sumeru has an old tale called 'The Scholar Who Saved a Wolf'. That story taught me that helping the ungrateful only invites trouble upon oneself.]
[Paimon: The people of Poisson really adore Navia.]
[Furina: The people of Fontaine adore me as well.]
[Zhongli: Generally speaking, the people of Liyue also hold me in affection.]
[Paimon: But in Inazuma, the Yashiro Commission and Lady Yae seem to be thinking of opposing the Raiden Shogun?]
[Kamisato Ayaka: That's not it. We also respect and adore Her Excellency. It's just... we also hope Her Excellency would listen to the people's voices.]
[Yae Miko: I am a familiar of the Electro Archon, the one closest to Ei. For an old friend, my intentions are more about offering help.]
Paimon sighed. "Another pitiful soul. About his debts, we should mention it to Thoma and the others when we have time. The Yashiro Commission will probably support him, right? They can't just let him sell his treasured sword."
Lumine said, "Losing a Vision really does seem terrifying."
Paimon clutched her chest. "Yeah, losing your ambition is such a scary thing. But... luckily, you don't have a Vision, right, Lumine?"
"Let's go find the next person who lost their Vision."
The third person who lost their Vision was a famous swordsmanship master nearby, the current head of the Still-Water Sword style.
Outside the dojo, two people were talking.
A man in brown clothes named Junya was comforting a girl. "Junior sister, don't be too sad. Master will surely be fine."
"All those challengers who came before, no matter how strong, weren't they all driven away by Master in the end?"
[Arataki Itto: Sounds like a very powerful swordsman. I wonder who's stronger, him or me?]
[Paimon: Is Arataki Itto strong?]
[Arataki Itto: Of course! I'm the strongest in the Arataki Gang!]
[Kujou Sara: Hmm. Marginally better than 'completely useless'.]
[Furina: Hahaha, 'marginally better than completely useless'.]
[Paimon: In short, he has some skill, but not much, right?]
[Yae Miko: The Arataki Gang... I've heard of them. They stole away my most talented shrine maiden.]
[Paimon: They managed to steal someone from Lady Yae? Is Arataki Itto that powerful?]
[Kuki Shinobu: I am that shrine maiden. I didn't enjoy life at the Grand Narukami Shrine and joined the Arataki Gang, becoming their strategist.]
[Yae Miko: Miss Kuki Shinobu is truly excellent. I originally wanted to persuade her, but when she decided to leave, a Vision appeared on her person. I stopped trying after that.]
[Paimon: She got her Vision when she left the shrine? Miss Shinobu, what was your wish?]
[Kuki Shinobu: I don't really know. I just knew the life of a shrine maiden wasn't for me. Or rather, I didn't like the life my parents arranged. And now, I'm happy.]
[Yae Miko: The status of a shrine maiden at the Grand Shrine is very high in Inazuma, a job many girls dream of. Everyone has the life they want; I couldn't force it.]
The female disciple, Nanaeko, said, "But... I'm still worried. Because no matter how dangerous the situation was before, Master never wavered. But now..."
Junya: "That's because Master is possessed by an evil spirit. After tonight's exorcism ritual, Master will surely recover."
Paimon spoke up. "Um, what's going on here?"
Junya, thinking Lumine and Paimon were troublemakers, showed great hostility.
Lumine reacted quickly, finding an excuse. "Actually, we're here to become disciples."
Junya looked them up and down. "Become disciples?"
Paimon nodded. "That's right! We heard the Still-Water Sword style is incredibly powerful and came from far away to learn. But just as we arrived, we heard you talking about possession and such."
[Arataki Itto: Speaking of which, how strong is the Traveler?]
[Lumine: The me of the past was very powerful, but the me of now has lost my strength.]
[Nahida: Lumine's identity is the Fourth Descender of Teyvat. But not every outsider who enters Teyvat can be called a Descender. Only those whose stature is sufficient to rival the world itself can be called Descenders.]
[Furina: 'Sufficient to rival the world itself'! The Traveler is that powerful? Wait, the Gnoses... the Gnoses are the remains of the Third Descender.]
[Paimon: So that means... no one in all of Teyvat could possibly be the Traveler's master.]
[Lumine: There's still much I don't understand.]
Junya said, "Your attire indeed doesn't look local. My apologies. With so many people coming to cause trouble recently, we've had to be cautious."
"You've come at an unfortunate time. Master... he accidentally became possessed recently and hasn't recovered yet. He can't accept disciples for now."
Lumine answered firmly. "I won't leave until I successfully become his disciple."
Junya: "It seems your desire to learn is sincere. Alright then, let my junior sister and I explain Master's situation first. Whether you stay or leave will be up to you afterwards."
"Our Master's name is Touma. Since mastering the sword, he has defeated many famous swordsmen in consecutive matches, never tasting defeat."
"Master once said his goal was to become the world's greatest swordsman. While training us, he continued to hone his own swordsmanship without pause. We were all inspired by his passion and strove to catch up. But..."
Nanaeko said painfully, "But... some time ago, Master's Vision was taken, and his whole personality suddenly changed. He not only often mutters strange things but also forbids us from practicing..."
"After discussing it with my senior brother, we felt Master must be possessed by an evil spirit. We specially invited a shrine maiden from the Grand Narukami Shrine to perform an exorcism. But honestly... I'm not sure if Master can recover."
[Furina: A great swordsman who defeated many masters, goes mad after losing his Vision. Strange.]
[Ningguang: Was his Vision tied to his wish to become the world's greatest swordsman? If I lost my Vision, would I become like that too?]
[Paimon: Ningguang's wish was to become the world's greatest merchant.]
[Yae Miko: Your situations are somewhat different. Let's continue watching.]
Paimon shrugged. "The Grand Narukami Shrine? What's that?"
Junya: "You don't know the Grand Narukami Shrine? It's the largest shrine on Narukami Island. The head shrine maiden in charge is said to have a close relationship with the Raiden Shogun herself. Although we couldn't invite that great lady to personally intervene, even an ordinary member of the Grand Narukami Shrine holds absolute authority in matters of exorcism."
He then looked at the girl. "So, junior sister, rest assured. Master will definitely be alright."
After the girl nodded, Junya turned back to Lumine. "The exorcism ritual will be held tonight. If you two are interested, you can come and observe."
Paimon: "Spirit possession, losing a Vision... can it cause problems like that? Let's come back tonight."
That evening, Lumine and Paimon returned to the shrine, but the exorcism ritual had already concluded.
Junya sighed. "It's a good thing you came late and didn't see Master's crazed state earlier."
"Earlier, when junior sister was supporting Master, she overheard him softly repeating some names. When she asked who they were, Master looked terrified, shoved her away, and seemed in great pain. His eyes were bloodshot, constantly darting around."
[Paimon: This great swordsman... is he afraid?]
[Ningguang: From the description, it does seem like fear.]
[Keqing: Having lost the conviction to be the world's best... what is he afraid of?]
[Nahida: Having lost the will to advance, shouldn't one just become dejected?]
"He kept calling out names, some we recognized, some we didn't. They all seemed to be swordsmen Master had defeated before. One named Seian was Master's former senior brother. After being defeated by Master years ago, he's been wandering without a fixed home."
"Master called his name several times just now. Sigh... Luckily, the shrine maiden knocked Master unconscious so the exorcism could proceed. The ritual is underway now. Let's wait patiently for the result. I hope Master is alright. You wait here for a bit; I'll go fetch some water. If Master wakes up, he'll need water."
[Paimon: Knocked him out?]
[Yae Miko: A shrine maiden with exorcism abilities needs some martial prowess too, you know.]
[Lumine: I see.]
Lumine, with her keen senses, noticed a gaze and spotted an old man observing from a distance.
Paimon noticed too. "It looked like a sneaky guy just ran past over there. Is he trying to sabotage the exorcism?"
"We can't let him succeed. Lumine, let's go check it out."
Lumine nodded and gave chase.
The suspicious person, chased by Lumine, was exhausted. "You... how are you so fast? Are you really Touma's disciples? You feel faster than even Touman! Or has his footwork improved so much in the years since I last saw him?"