"Heh, feeling discouraged?"
Beidou snickered from the side. She had already guessed Ningguang wouldn't recruit Keqing. That woman would rather mock them than help them—there was no way she would actually team up with them.
"Aren't you going to try?" Keqing asked.
"Me?" Beidou pointed at herself, then shook her head. "Forget it. She won't recruit me."
She understood the situation clearly. Ningguang held significant influence over Paimon. If Ningguang wanted to recruit someone, Paimon would probably agree.
But she and Ningguang didn't get along.
There was no way Ningguang would choose her.
Just as she was thinking that, Ningguang suddenly noticed her.
"Oh? Captain Beidou. Want to join the team?"
"…What?"
Beidou was stunned.
No matter how she thought about it, she never expected Ningguang to approach her.
You rejected Keqing, but you want me instead?
What kind of logic is that? Just to embarrass Keqing?
"I'm only level 19. Are you sure?"
"Level isn't the issue," Ningguang replied calmly. "I can help you grind experience."
"Why me?"
"We're old acquaintances. You know what I mean."
Ningguang gave her a meaningful look.
Inside, however, she was shouting—
Come on, join the team.
If I'm going to eliminate someone, I'll start with the person who's always opposing me.
Being eliminated meant punishment.
Last time Beidou had laughed at her misfortune.
This time, she would return the favor.
Beidou glanced between Ningguang and Keqing before giving Keqing an apologetic smile.
"Let's go."
Paimon was already over level thirty.
Obviously Ningguang and Black Swan had carried her.
There was no way Paimon had leveled herself.
Meanwhile, Paimon had already chosen another teammate.
Diluc.
Level 24 Warrior.
And so the Paimon Party was officially formed.
Paimon — Hero, Level 37
Diluc — Warrior, Level 24
Beidou — Pirate, Level 19
Ningguang — Illusionist, Level 80
Black Swan — Memory Thief, Level 80
Of course, Ningguang and Black Swan publicly claimed they were level 40 Mage and Priest.
After resting in the city for a while, the Paimon Party set off toward the distant Bloody Castle.
They had gathered information beforehand.
Inside the castle lived a boss called the Vampire Bride, along with valuable treasures.
With their team, capturing it should be easy.
"Ugh… those jerks."
Watching them leave, Keqing was furious.
She felt certain that Ningguang had deliberately rejected her.
"Just wait."
"I'll form an even stronger team."
She refused to accept it.
Her class wasn't weak at all.
Why recruit Beidou instead?
Both Beidou and Diluc were physical attackers.
Their roles overlapped completely.
Under the moonlight, the party stared at the looming castle.
"Everyone," Ningguang said, pointing toward the structure, "this is the territory of the Bloody Lord."
"According to our investigation, there's only one boss inside right now—the Vampire Bride."
"Defeat her and we'll gain plenty of experience. The treasure inside should also be excellent."
"Good. Let's go."
Paimon waved her hand dramatically and led the group forward.
She felt extremely comfortable now.
Diluc and Beidou handled the front line.
Ningguang provided magic.
Black Swan handled healing.
Paimon didn't need to fight at all.
She could simply collect experience points.
This was exactly the kind of team Paimon deserved.
The only unfortunate thing was that Lumine wasn't here.
Paimon had already made up her mind.
She would keep this team for now.
But once she found Lumine, she would kick Diluc out and recruit Lumine instead.
Although that would be unfair to Diluc, what choice did she have?
She certainly couldn't kick Beidou out.
Beidou had been recommended by Ningguang.
Offending the team's strongest member would be a terrible idea.
They entered the castle.
Soon, countless monsters rushed toward them.
Beidou and Diluc immediately stepped forward to block them.
BOOM!
Suddenly, a massive burst of fire erupted behind them.
Every monster was instantly annihilated.
Experience points surged upward.
The two front-liners were stunned.
Wasn't this a little too easy?
Was Ningguang really this powerful?
"Keep moving."
Paimon glanced at the two inexperienced fighters with mild disdain.
This was nothing.
Her teammates were far stronger than that.
As they continued deeper into the castle, every monster that appeared was instantly destroyed by Ningguang's spells.
There was no resistance whatsoever.
Watching her level rise to 23, Beidou grew excited.
This was amazing.
She quietly considered flattering Ningguang later.
If Ningguang was pleased, maybe she would carry her through even more levels.
Inside the castle's main hall—
Silver Wolf sat casually on the throne, waiting for players to arrive.
BANG!
The doors swung open as the group entered.
"Oh? You're the Vampire Bride?"
Seeing Silver Wolf, Paimon looked surprised.
How did she end up with such a strange role?
"That's the Vampire Bride," Silver Wolf said lazily, snapping her fingers.
A pale woman immediately appeared beside her.
"You mean her?"
"…What?"
Paimon's eyes widened.
So she wasn't the boss?
Then what was she?
"Be careful," Black Swan suddenly said, stepping forward.
"That person is a Demon General."
"Everyone stay alert."
"A Demon General?!"
Paimon immediately slipped behind the group and hid behind Ningguang, peeking out from the side.
"…Uh."
"…Huh."
"…What."
Both sides froze.
"Paimon, you're the Hero," Ningguang reminded her.
You're supposed to lead.
Why are you hiding?
"Oh… right!"
"I'm the Hero!"
Paimon remembered.
She stepped forward again and faced Silver Wolf bravely.
"Don't be scared!"
"Attack!"
She cast several buffs on her teammates before drawing her small sword.
"Oh? You even know how to buff."
Silver Wolf laughed.
A Hero who hadn't grown yet was nothing to fear.
She waved her hand.
A red flash shot out.
Beidou and Diluc were instantly sent flying and slammed onto the ground.
Their health bars dropped into single digits.
"She's too strong!"
"We can't win!"
"Protect Paimon and retreat!"
Ningguang shouted urgently, then gave Black Swan a meaningful glance.
Black Swan immediately understood.
Raising her staff, she chanted,
"Rile—Mit!"
A teleportation spell activated.
In an instant, Paimon was transported to the castle entrance.
Beidou and Diluc were stunned.
What just happened?
Why was only Paimon teleported?
If they remembered correctly, that spell should teleport the entire party out of the dungeon.
But now only Paimon was gone.
They had no time to question it.
Both quickly stood up and grabbed their weapons.
"Heal us! We'll hold them off!"
"…But I don't know healing magic."
Black Swan spread her hands innocently.
"You're the Priest! How can you not know healing spells?!"
"Who said I was a Priest?"
The two were horrified.
So those earlier claims were lies?
Diluc had already realized something was terribly wrong.
"…What exactly are your identities?"
"Demon Generals, of course."
"Level eighty."
Ningguang spoke casually.
Diluc's mouth twitched.
Seriously?
Deception and sneak attacks?
Now it all made sense.
"So that's why you recruited me."
Beidou rolled her eyes at Ningguang.
"You just wanted someone to betray."
"Hehe."
Ningguang stepped closer to Beidou with a playful smile.
"No one has been eliminated yet."
"If you two get eliminated now… you'll have to accept punishment."
"…Great."
Diluc's face darkened completely.
Was he really going to suffer punishment again?
"Don't celebrate too early," Diluc said coldly.
"Paimon is the Hero. She'll come back and take revenge for us."
"Hehe."
Ningguang's smile grew even wider.
She pointed toward Black Swan.
"She's a level eighty Memory Thief."
"She can interfere with people's memories."
"What do you think Paimon will remember right now?"
Diluc and Beidou felt their vision go dark.
They were doomed.
It looked like Paimon would soon lead them straight into the abyss.
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