Mr. Zhongli, we can't slack off anymore!

To avoid that suffocating embarrassment, the traveler chose to bury himself in his food.

However, this ostrich-like strategy not only failed to alleviate the situation, but instead made the embarrassment level soar to a new level.

She almost buried her face in the ceramic bowl, but even so, the feeling of being pricked on the back was still very clear, as if several gazes were silently focused on her.

In fact, this is indeed the case.

El-Heisen's probing gaze seemed not to have left his side, Seno's eyes were scrutinizing, Tinari seemed thoughtful, and Kavi looked both curious and worried.

Although the skirmisher was sitting behind the traveler, he kept a close eye on what was happening behind him.

Would you like to eat separately?

Elhesen's voice was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake.

He seemed to completely block out the stagnant air around him and the gazes of others, taking the awkward atmosphere he had created to its extreme.

"No, no need to trouble yourself..." the traveler hurriedly waved his hand in refusal.

Don't be so fond of serving food separately! Al-Hysen!

An even more despairing silence descended.

The air seemed to have solidified, so heavy that it was hard to breathe.

Only Kavi, unconsciously, was forcefully sucking the last bit of drink left at the bottom of his cup.

Snoring—snoring—

The unusually loud and comical sound of the straw and the drink at the bottom of the cup continued incessantly.

Kavi himself seemed completely absorbed in his own world, or perhaps just awkwardly lost in thought, oblivious to the unpleasant sound, and continued to breathe intently.

So embarrassing...

The traveler felt he was being driven mad by this silent gaze.

Every second feels like a century.

Even if I wanted to break the awkward silence, I didn't know what to talk about... Demons? Riddles? Or should I ask Elhesen why he keeps staring at me?

Damn Reincarnation Demon! It's all your fault! Give us back our memories!

If everyone remembered how they got along before, perhaps things wouldn't be so awkward!

*

The grueling dinner finally came to an end, and the traveler quickly rose.

"I'm leaving now! I have something to do!" She spoke rapidly, almost as if she were fleeing.

Before everyone's (especially Elhesen's) eyes would refocus on her, she grabbed the arm of the impatient skirmisher sitting at the next table and forcibly dragged him away from the battlefield that was driving her crazy.

I have a feeling...

Escape the warm lights of the tavern and step into the cool night.

After I leave, they'll definitely start talking about me like crazy! Talking about Elhesen's strange attitude! Talking about my relationship with the skirmishers!

Ah!

Can't think about it!

*

As night falls in Sumeru City, the daytime heat fades away.

The twinkling lights along the winding streets outline the unique silhouette of this smart city.

The two walked silently at the crossroads leading to the inn and the "Flower Without Fruit" flower shop.

The traveler stopped, took a deep breath of the slightly cool air, and tried to calm the lingering awkwardness and racing heartbeat in the tavern.

"I have things to do." She turned around, trying to make her tone sound natural. "Why don't you go back first?"

"Where to?" The soldier turned around almost immediately, his tone questioning.

His posture and tone were exactly like those of an elderly father worried that his daughter might run off to a dangerous place alone, full of vigilance and a desire to control.

"Go to the flower shop and find the pretty lady." The traveler didn't choose to lie and told him his destination directly.

Hiding things from him would only lead to more troublesome consequences.

“If you don’t come back within an hour, I’ll come looking for you,” he said coldly.

"It takes more than ten minutes to walk there from here!" the traveler protested, dissatisfied. What can you talk about in a flower shop in forty minutes? Just a few pleasantries and the time is gone!

"Forty minutes isn't enough?" the skirmisher asked, his tone full of confusion. "What do you have to talk about?"

"Of course not! I have a lot..." The traveler stopped mid-sentence, looking at the skirmisher's face, which was filled with "waste of time" and "meaninglessness," and suddenly deflated.

In this world, there are very few people who can make him patiently talk for forty minutes.

"Got it." The soldier walked towards the inn, thinking, "Anyway... I'll come looking for you if it's late. You figure it out yourself."

"Do you have the answer to today's riddle?" the traveler asked, raising his voice towards the stragglers who were getting further and further away.

"No," he replied, as if in a fit of pique.

This guy is really...

The traveler watched his figure disappear around the corner and shook his head helplessly.

Ok?

The atmosphere with Elhesen was so strange that I almost didn't realize what was happening...

Isn't the way I interact with the stragglers a bit strange?

Why did he get to move into my room so easily?

Doesn't he have a place to live?

Isn't the dungeon of the Dalit House quite spacious? (No.)

Why should he care where I go, who I meet, or how long it takes?

Even Zhongli has never treated me like this!

hateful!

After this is all over, I'm going to grab him by the scruff of his neck and throw him out the window like a kitten!

*

The "Flower Without Fruit" flower shop appears exceptionally tranquil in the night.

After the business hours have passed, the flowers placed outside have been carefully moved inside.

Only a few shade-tolerant green plants remained in the shop window, their leaves unfurling under the warm yellow light emanating from inside the store.

The traveler stood before the tightly closed wooden door, took a deep breath, and was about to raise his hand to knock—

Rustling... soft rustling...

A faint sound suddenly came from the low bushes nearby.

The traveler paused, turning his head in confusion.

Amidst the rustling of the dense green leaves, a tiny head cautiously peeked out.

That face... was like a meticulously sewn doll, round and adorable, carrying a purity that seemed otherworldly.

However, its body exhibits a strange, vine-like or root-like wood texture, full of natural vitality.

The most peculiar thing is its top, where a bright green blade structure that looks just like a tiny propeller is constantly spinning with a light, whirring sound.

"It's Nara!" The tiny life form uttered a soft, surprised childlike voice the moment it saw the traveler.

Immediately afterward, like a startled little animal, it swiftly withdrew its head and disappeared deep into the dense bushes, leaving only its leaves still trembling slightly.

Lanaro?

The traveler's eyes widened instantly.

Like discovering a new continent, she held her breath, tiptoed, and slowly, little by little, approached the still slightly trembling bushes, cautiously reaching out to part the branches and leaves to see what was inside...

shhh-

Just then, the carved wooden window of the flower shop facing the small garden was pushed open from the inside without warning!

The traveler was startled and instinctively looked up...

Warm yellow light poured out of the window, illuminating the smiling face on the other side.

Hator leaned lazily against the window, her thick black curly hair casually draped over her shoulders, and her eyes, like the finest emeralds, shimmered with a deep and captivating glow under the lamplight.

Her gaze precisely caught the traveler who was crouching awkwardly beside the bushes.

“Miss Traveler,” Hator’s voice carried a languid laugh, as light as a feather brushing through the night, “Have you come to see me?”

“That…” The traveler froze instantly, hurriedly stood up, and tried to explain that she was not doing anything suspicious. She subconsciously turned her head to point out the “culprit” Lanalo.

However, the bushes were empty, with only a few leaves still swaying gently.

That tiny, magical creature had vanished without a trace, as if it had never existed.

Now... even jumping into the Yellow River won't clear my name...

The traveler inwardly groaned, feeling like a pervert caught red-handed.

"Please come in." Hator seemed unconcerned about her embarrassment, still smiling brightly, her voice carrying a gentle, indulgent tone: "Shall I open the door for you, or...would you prefer to come in through the window?"

"I...I...I'm not..." The traveler was even more flustered by the half-joking suggestion: "I'll just go in through the door...thank you..." She sighed resignedly, gave up her feeble explanation, and obediently walked towards the main entrance of the flower shop, waiting to be greeted by this unexpected and awkward visit.