Chapter 593: Arriving at the House of Vitality

The Traveler didn't dare make promises to Shani, but at the very least, the Traveler dared to say they were working hard to make Sumeru better.

The Traveler isn't from Sumeru, but her friends are.

This segment of the plot didn't resonate as deeply with foreigners, but for Sumeru people, it was truly relatable—they could completely understand Shani's worries, after all, this concerned their own lives.

Fortunately, the ones in power now—Alhaitham and Nahida—are very good people and a very good god; otherwise, Sumeru really couldn't withstand more turmoil.

Inazuma appears fragile, but in reality, as long as Ei is there, Inazuma won't shatter.

Sumeru is different—they lack absolute power or absolute faith; they're the type that could shatter at any moment.

It could only be said that it was because the Scarlet King's demise was too sudden—sudden enough that neither the desert nor the rainforest had time to leave contingencies.

Greater Lord Rukkhadevata did leave behind Nahida, but time was too rushed; there was no opportunity to leave protective measures for Nahida, resulting in Nahida being captured right after her birth.

In comparison, the neighboring Focalors found Neuvillette—this flexible dragon in the water.

It ensured both Fontaine's stability and Furina's safety, while also securing a successor—her methods were truly masterful.

Greater Lord Rukkhadevata's methods certainly wouldn't lose to others; it was just that the incident happened too suddenly—she didn't have time like Focalors to ponder in the water for years.

As for Shani in the story, she thought a lot; after listening to the Traveler's words, she fell silent for a while, as if pondering, and finally opened the door and stepped out.

[Shani: "I… want to believe what you said."]

She wanted to believe—in fact, Shani's rationality still told her to be cautious, but her worry for the village guardians made her willing to try believing the Traveler.

She is of mixed desert and rainforest blood—the desert worships the Scarlet King, the rainforest worships the Dendro God, and she belongs to neither side, unwelcome anywhere.

So she can't enter the rainforest, and in the desert, no matter what she says, others see it as having ulterior motives—so she has always lived very cautiously. This time, she wanted to be bold.

Seeing this, foreign readers thought—doesn't Sumeru have three gods? If you don't believe in the Scarlet King or the Dendro God, then worship the Flower God.

Unfortunately, this isn't a problem that can simply be solved by switching faith—in others' eyes, 'loyalty that isn't absolute is absolutely disloyal.'

Having suffered discrimination and suspicion, she gradually became someone who said nothing and did nothing.

But this time was different—because the missing village guardians had once helped her, and the intelligence she knew might be able to help them in return.

[Shani: "Actually, my hearing is better than ordinary people's, so occasionally at night I hear strange crying sounds."]

["The crying sounds were more obvious before, and more frequent too, but since you entered the village, the sounds have gotten much quieter and less frequent—I have to concentrate to faintly hear them."]

At this point, readers seeing this still didn't know what the crying sounds were; many agreed with Paimon's guess—could this be ghosts?

Only after seeing later did they learn it was sounds coming from the House of Vitality.

But when everyone learned this intelligence, they instead felt even more like it was ghosts—though this time the ghost was Shani.

You can hear sounds from the House of Vitality even in your own room? Your hearing isn't just 'good' anymore, is it?

Could it be that you also have some 'ninja super hearing' ability or something?

[Shani continued: "There's nothing noteworthy around here… except, not far from the village there's a hospital."]

The hospital she mentioned is the one treating Eleazar, named: House of Vitality.

She said it's not far, but in reality it's quite distant—at least not within earshot.

The Traveler and Alhaitham went to investigate the abandoned hospital but found nothing; no rush though—the crying shouts Shani mentioned happen at night; wait until evening to check.

During the waiting time, Alhaitham took out a book to read.

[Paimon: "What are you reading—let me see too!"]

Alhaitham naturally wouldn't refuse Paimon's request to read; he actively tilted the book toward Paimon for her to see.

["Uh… uh… 'Natural position,' that is, 'natural motion' relative to 'forced motion'… hm? The position toward which… every object… can only naturally tend toward…"]

Clearly, though Paimon could read the characters, when put together she couldn't understand them.

Don't think Paimon not understanding seems low—actually, among readers, not many could understand it either.

Though everyone keeps saying to send Paimon to school, truthfully, Paimon's knowledge might be a bit stronger than Collei's.

[Paimon: "I give up—you read slowly… bye!"]

Paimon turned and left, as if having made some determination.

But through this small interaction, readers discovered something: Paimon and Alhaitham's relationship seems pretty good.

Though along the way Alhaitham hasn't held back on 'attacking' Paimon, thinking carefully—Alhaitham actually pampers Paimon quite a bit; his voice is also gentle when speaking to her.

Alhaitham and Paimon bicker a lot, but in reality Alhaitham quite likes interacting with simple people like Paimon.

Perhaps this is why he gets along so 'harmoniously' with Kaveh?

Readers felt they might be ill—why does it feel a bit shippable?

And after Paimon's 'regretful exit,' the Traveler also spoke.

["Perhaps you should grow up and study too."]

[Paimon grumbled aggrievedly: "What good does that do you! How did you become one of those bad adults pushing for school too!"]

[Lumine said matter-of-factly: "You learn more knowledge, earn money to support me."]

[Paimon whined tearfully: "Woo… how can you be like this—isn't it supposed to be you earning money to support me?!"]

Readers were stunned—oh no, this time they really shipped it.

As expected, the Traveler and Paimon's interactions are the cutest—love it so much!

Paimon telling the Traveler to support her—the issue is, it really is the Traveler supporting her. Realizing this, Paimon also thanked sister Lumine.

["Th-then thank you, for always working hard, earning money everywhere to support me… if not for you, I might still be drifting in the river now."]

["…Okay, thank you!"]

Cute! Too cute!

As expected, Paimon and the Traveler are the best!

The real-life Paimon and Traveler naturally saw this segment too; the two girls looked at each other and actually felt a bit shy.

Two people too familiar with each other seeing such a scene would indeed blush a little.

But the real-life Paimon is also very grateful to the Traveler—that's why she helps the Traveler guide—I mean, acts as a guide.

Paimon helps guide the Traveler's upcoming routes, though many times she doesn't know the way either.

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Character Voice Lines · Alhaitham: About Paimon

"Tell her to study? I'd be happy to recommend a tutor for her."