Traveler's Burden
Lumine waved her hand casually.
"Ah, it's fine."
"But this kind of thing…"
She sat cross-legged on the floor and sighed.
"Even though I didn't personally experience that future…"
"The feeling of being the only one in the world who knows the truth…"
"It's really painful."
"And Nahida… you're my friend."
"There must have been times when I wanted to tell you the truth."
"But I couldn't."
Nahida fell silent.
Lumine was right.
Her own experience was tragic—
But in the end she forgot everything.
The pain disappeared with the memory.
Only the Traveler remembered.
And yet—
She couldn't share it with anyone.
That kind of loneliness would crush anyone.
Paimon Feels Guilty
Paimon looked miserable.
She was supposed to be the Traveler's best companion.
But in that situation—
She couldn't help at all.
Because she too belonged to Teyvat.
Irminsul would rewrite her memories.
The Traveler had to carry everything alone.
Lumine's Doubt
Lumine looked toward the screen.
Her voice became complicated.
"Witnesses exist to witness."
"Recorders exist to remember."
"The screen says that's the meaning of my journey."
She shook her head.
"But that responsibility is way too heavy."
"I can't carry the fate of an entire world."
"I'm just a normal girl."
"I only came here to find my brother."
That had always been her goal.
Find Aether.
But somehow—
She had become entangled in the fate of Teyvat itself.
And knowing that made everything feel strange.
It was as if an invisible force was pushing her to witness events.
Even when talking to friends—
Jean
Xiangling
Kamisato Ayaka
Nahida
She sometimes felt like an outsider observing them.
Lumine didn't like that feeling.
Nahida Encourages Her
Nahida smiled gently.
"Lumine, you're not a normal girl."
"What normal girl earns titles like—"
Honorary Knight of Mondstadt
Friend of the Adepti in Liyue
Captain of Swordfish II in Inazuma
First Sage of Sumeru
Honorary Senior Researcher of Fontaine
Paimon excitedly added more.
"Exactly!"
"What other girl can do things like—"
Talk badly about the Anemo Archon
Eat the Geo Archon's food for free
Fight the Electro Archon
Go to the bathroom with the Dendro Archon
Put the Hydro Archon on trial
"You're the legendary Traveler of Teyvat!"
Lumine blinked.
Then slowly placed her hands on her hips.
"…Wait."
"…That actually sounds amazing."
She raised her chin proudly.
"Wow."
"I'm awesome."
Nahida and Paimon exchanged amused smiles.
The familiar "Gremlin Lumine" had returned.
The Coconut Milk Shop
Lumine suddenly snapped her fingers.
"Wait!"
"In that future I had to be the witness."
"But now we have the screen."
"That thing is way more reliable than me."
"So I don't have to carry that responsibility anymore."
"I'll just find Aether."
"And then go back to Liyue and open my coconut milk shop."
Paimon cheered.
"Yes!"
"Start in Liyue!"
"Then expand across all nations!"
"Build a coconut milk empire!"
Nahida laughed softly.
"If you open one in Sumeru…"
"I'll reserve the best location in Sumeru City for you."
Lumine and Paimon immediately hugged her.
"Nahida!"
"You're the best!"
The atmosphere in the Sanctuary of Surasthana finally became cheerful again.
Chat Discussion
After some time, people in the chat also calmed down.
Alice suddenly spoke.
"I once heard that living beings experience three kinds of death."
"First — physical death."
"Second — the body disappears."
"Third — when the world forgets you."
"And Rukkhadevata experienced all three."
Keqing nodded.
"When no one remembers you…"
"That's true death."
Collei spoke quietly.
"As a child I often blamed the gods."
"I asked why I had to suffer so much."
"But now I understand."
"Even gods carry unbearable burdens."
"I don't deserve the sacrifice Rukkhadevata made."
Many Sumeru citizens agreed.
But then Alhaitham spoke calmly.
"Stop blaming yourselves."
"We should be proud to have such a god."
"And we must honor her sacrifice."
"By restoring Sumeru to the path she wanted."
The Sumeru members immediately felt energized.
Yes.
The first step—
Overthrow the corrupt Akademiya.
Archons Pay Their Respect
Then something rare happened.
The Archons themselves spoke.
Zhongli:
"Rukkhadevata saved the World Tree."
"That means she saved all of Teyvat."
"Every living being owes her gratitude."
Venti:
"On behalf of Mondstadt, I thank her."
Raiden Makoto:
"On behalf of Inazuma, I thank her."
Nahida:
"On behalf of Sumeru… thank you."
Furina:
"Fontaine thanks her as well."
Even Lumine spoke.
"I'm not from Teyvat."
"But I still offer my deepest respect."
For the first time—
All Archons together thanked another god.
Nahida's Plan
Nahida then spoke seriously.
"In the original future…"
"Sumeru was saved by erasing Rukkhadevata."
"But now we have the screen."
"That method will not work anymore."
"And even if it did…"
"I refuse to use it again."
"Sumeru cannot forget such a god."
She then turned to two people.
Venti
Neuvillette
"If your random rewards produce useful wine or water…"
"Please trade them to Sumeru."
"We will pay any price."
Venti laughed.
"If I get something useful—"
"I'll give it to you for free."
Neuvillette nodded.
"The same applies to me."
Now Sumeru had three possible solutions:
Screen rewards
Venti's special wine
Neuvillette's special water
Hope returned.
Alice's Terrifying Theory
Then Alice suddenly posted something.
"Wait."
"I just thought of something."
"This is just speculation."
"Don't take it seriously."
She continued.
"In the rewritten history…"
"There is only one Dendro Archon."
"She became small after losing power during the catastrophe."
"And the Traveler is no longer the First Sage."
"So…"
"What if the one erased wasn't Rukkhadevata…"
"But Nahida?"
The chat froze.
Then everyone felt chills.
That theory was horrifying.
Nilou immediately objected.
"That's impossible!"
"Rukkhadevata would never do that!"
Lumine rolled her eyes.
"The screen clearly said Rukkhadevata was erased."
"You're overthinking."
Zhongli explained calmly.
"When Irminsul deletes memories…"
"People's recollections develop gaps."
"To fill those gaps, Irminsul transfers Rukkhadevata's achievements to Nahida."
"That is why history changed."
Everyone agreed.
Alice quickly apologized.
"Sorry, Nahida."
"I was just speculating."
Nahida smiled gently.
"It's fine."
"But honestly…"
"If sacrificing myself could save Rukkhadevata…"
"I would accept it."
Then she looked at the screen.
"But the best outcome…"
"Is for both of us to live."
Before, that would have been impossible.
Now—
Anything was possible.
Luo Chen's Thoughts
Inside the villa, Luo Chen read the comments.
"Ah… that old theory again."
Back during the Genshin 3.2–3.3 updates, players had debated it endlessly.
People said:
Nahida's personality changed
Her tone toward the Traveler changed
She became slightly mischievous
All kinds of conspiracy theories appeared.
Luo Chen shook his head.
"Honestly…"
"That's just over-analysis."
"This is still a 12+ game."
"The story isn't that dark."
Of course—
Some plot inconsistencies from the developers didn't help either.
"But still."
"The simplest answer is usually the right one."
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