Khaenri'ah's Path

The person who stayed behind, just waited in a corner, silently. How polite of him~, to give me enough time to send everyone else home first. I waved as I walked towards the patient knight.

"Old man, You probably expected it but... I need to talk to you about something." Dainsleif seemed to have had a hard time deciding whether to say it in a roundabout way, or in a straightforward one. 

(Am I that weird for you to act awkwardly?!!!)

"Sure. Shall I pick a fitting place for the conversation?" I questioned if I should go on with my teleporting trick.

"Do what you want, ...but bring Lumine too. She needs to be included in this chat." He snorted at my party trick. He probably had enough with it... it's not like there are any side effects to it, though.

"But still, you could have told me about it earlier. That way, I won't need to make an effort guide her back home, earlier." I complained to him. Not to say that I don't understand why he did it.

"A meeting between two foreign travelers and the new deity of Inazuma is too suspicious. And I also want to give you the chance to have fun, as compensation for everything you've done for my stay." He retorted with a smirk.

(You really do understand me, my boy!)

"Then! I am pleased for this opportunity you gave me!" Chime* I immediately got to work and teleported not only us, but the duo who I found with my peekin- observing trick.

Lumine and Paimon were having a lively chat about what happened at our gathering, and where they would adventure next.

(Awww~ What a adorable sight! It would be unfortunate if someone were to... RUIN IT!)

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...And so here we were, with the duo nagging me about the sudden blinks... again.

"I swear to any deity except you, that I would wipe off that smug look of yours whenever you do this! Do you even know how it feels like getting dragged into somewhere without warning over and over?!!!" I say both of them, but it's mostly the irritated little creature doing it. 

Lumine was currently acting weird, being so close to me, what happened last time was most likely, still in her mind. Me sitting next to her coincidentally definitely wasn't helping.

"Now now, don't be like that... It's not my fault that sometimes my hands, move on its own." I said with my usual smile, as I put my hand on the flustered Lumine's closest shoulder. To which I therefore got the reaction I wanted.

She jerked up a little bit, then remained still in her seat. If we were not around the same age, I would definitely look like a creep- No... She could have stopped me a called me one, and such an action would still be justified. But she didn't... in which case-

"Ehem! I won't beat around the bush and proceed with the important topic I mulled over just after what happened. Depending on your answer... I might request your help for it." Dainsleif interrupted my plan, then started at his own pace. 

I admit I was being too hasty with this one. As someone well known for his fishing skills, I am familiar that the most important part of it is not the person's skills nor equipment, but patience. I stopped whatever I was about to do and waited for Dainsleif to continue.

"After witnessing what you did earlier, I feel like I should at least try one more time for a better solution with what happened in Khaenri'ah." He said with a solemn yet hopeful tone.

"You didn't help me much with the healing during our encounter..., but you were able to remove the curse, weren't you?" He questioned it with almost complete certainty.

"Wait! Is it really gone Dainsleif?!" Lumine exclaimed in shock.

"Ehh?! B-But... But scum god here only tried to heal you for a while didn't he?! How is that possible?!" Paimon added to Lumine's words as usual.

(But still... What a terrible nickname for someone as good-natured as me!)

"The curse is completely gone. I know myself and the curse more than anyone." The cursed knight, no more confirmed before looking at me.

"The abyssal energy in Inazuma is also almost completely gone, adding to that was the performance you did in the Yashiori Island that I heard around here. There is no way this was merely coincidental." He continued with his long deductions. The duo just stared at me with shock.

"Haha! You got me there handsome detective. Now, what can I do for you?" I said with a smirk, then went straight to the point. He went for a long silence, and all of us waited for his next words.

"...Is it possible to enact it? Purifiyin- No,... A massive healing ritual that covers the whole world to get rid of the abyss? And maybe, just maybe, revert the former citizens of Khaenri'ah, the Abyss Order, back to normal?" It took really slow for him to say it, but he was able to say it nonetheless, with a surprising bright look.

(I want to say 'You seem lively, Did something good happened?' so bad! But I'll save it for another time.)

"I am glad you asked. And the answer for that issss..." I stalled for as long as I could. The three were of course, annoyed with it, but they put up with me since this seemed important to Dainsleif.

"It is possible..., but naturally it would not be an easy thing to do." I finished with a serious look. And I was surprised with the kid's reaction. 

He gave me a genuine smile before hugging me tightly for a while. The last time I saw that... was when I got him drunk during a visit of his in Inazuma a long time ago, the long bygone, peaceful times...

"I understand that what happened was important but can someone explain to me what's going on?!!!" Lumine shouted at the two of us. I can't believe you ruined my future teasing material. I still got enough, though. I then shook the knight off me.

"Dainsleif, I choose yo- I mean, clarify things with Lumine first. I will give you both enough time to calm down too, I'll come back to explain the plan for such an enormous project." Chime* I then left in a blink to leave the three to themselves.

I then decided to take a stroll in the streets of Inazuma for a nice, change of pace. 

And... I might as well check if Shuten was doing well gathering the onis.

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(Author's Note)

...Well this is awkward. Just after I said I would be more active than ever too. 

Sorry for being gone for three days. I was searching around webnovel when I thought I should read something since it has been a while.

And my bad habit on reading kicked in... I think I read around 100 chapters during my free time per day.

Does that happen to you too? No? I'm just being weird?

Aight, I'll go cry in my corner.