“My Lord, what is it you wish for me to do?”
Ganyu quietly lowered her head as Morax stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the sunset.
Golden light overflowed across the amber rocks, blending with the crimson dusk. To anyone who knew Morax, it was a sight both mystical and grand.
“I believe there is a vacancy at the Golden House.”
“Yes. The human previously in that position could not overcome his own greed and ended up manipulating the Mora circulated to the outside. Did you wish to discuss his punishment?”
“No. I have someone to recommend for that position.”
“Who might that be?”
“Winter.”
At her Lord’s words, Ganyu closed her eyes for a moment. No matter how much she searched her memory, the name 'Winter' only referred to the season; no specific person came to mind.
She wondered if the great Lord’s words were a metaphor or if there was another meaning. She continued to ponder 'Winter' and any related concepts.
But no matter how much she thought, she couldn't find an answer.
“Could you tell me who this 'Winter' is?”
“The one you saw yesterday. He asked to be called that.”
Ganyu’s shoulders trembled slightly.
The image of a blade flying before her eyes, the sensation of encroaching death, and the snap of her bowstring against her fingertips flashed back.
Her clasped hands flinched, but reminding herself she was in the presence of her Lord, she pressed them together firmly.
There were many things she wanted to ask, but she remained silent, believing that this, too, was part of her Lord’s infinitely deep wisdom.
Often, some believed that asking a superior about something they didn't know was a display of their own incompetence.
“I have made a contract.”
“What... kind of contract do you mean?”
“Even that is part of the contract.”
“Ah...”
Though she couldn't know the details, she understood that her Lord and that Demon God, who had vanished somewhere yesterday, had entered into some sort of agreement.
She was incredibly curious about the nature of the contract, but it was impossible for the God of Contracts himself to break one.
“His energy will no longer leak out to create calamities. His personality is originally quite mild, and he has no greed for money whatsoever.”
“...”
Ganyu listened in silence as Morax continued for quite some time.
That he would live a bit away from Liyue Harbor, that he would become the supervisor of the Golden House—Teyvat’s only mint—and that as long as nothing unusual happened, those otherworldly anomalies would not appear again.
They were all logical reasons.
If the person in question were ordinary.
However, the subject of her Lord’s words was that inscrutable Demon God.
Why would a Demon God without his own territory choose to live in Liyue?
Why would a Demon God who supposedly didn't need money enter the Golden House?
Where did those anomalies come from, and why?
Questions followed questions, but as Morax finished speaking, Ganyu bowed her head.
“I understand.”
Gods are not perfect. Gods can make mistakes.
But Ganyu had never seen her God make a mistake.
Watching her Lord's figure vanish into the distance, Ganyu closed her eyes.
What could she do? What should she do?
Slowly opening her eyes, she looked down the mountain. Someone with black hair and black eyes was being guided into the Golden House.
#
“It is here.”
With a click, the door opened smoothly, and Winter slowly stepped inside the house.
The floors were spotless, the living room was spacious, and the furniture was elegant.
It seemed far too large for one—no, two people—but since there was no downstairs neighbor, he thought it would be a great place for Nahida to run around.
“Over there is the kitchen, that door is the bathroom, and inside that room is another room that can be used for storage...”
The official, who stood at the entrance without coming inside, spoke so fast it was hard to understand.
As Winter listened quietly, the explanation seemed to end, and the official handed him a piece of paper.
“This is the building’s layout. Someone else will arrive shortly to discuss other matters.”
‘There’s a basement, too.’
While he was looking at the layout on the paper, he heard the door open and looked up slightly. He saw the official who had guided him closing the door as he left.
Well, fine. He was going to tell him to leave quickly anyway, so it was easier if he left on his own.
Winter carefully placed the small box he had been holding against his chest onto the floor. A tiny life form, as delicate as a flower in a garden, was revealed.
Climbing out of the box, Nahida looked around before looking up at me.
“This is the house where we’re going to live.”
“?”
Seeing Nahida tilt her head, I gently stroked her hair. At the soft touch, the questioning look on Nahida’s face vanished, replaced by a blooming smile.
I smiled back and stroked her a bit more as I looked out the window. A peaceful landscape of green fields and high mountain peaks swayed in the distance.
I let out a small sigh of relief, as the black aura and the Fatui or wolves that used to pop up were nowhere to be seen.
I reached into my pocket and pulled something out. It was a cubic object that looked like a miniature Planet Befall, with patterns like rings surrounding the cube.
‘The strange phenomenon you saw earlier was caused by your power leaking out and affecting the surroundings.’
This lock was made to prevent that.
Since I was the one who manifested it, the lock would disappear if I moved too far from it, and my energy would leak out again. But as long as I didn't leave it behind, it wouldn't vanish.
While Nahida looked out the window, I explored the house.
Finding a large bed, I threw myself onto it. As I lay down, the mattress sank deeply.
Buried in the blankets, I organized my thoughts in the darkness.
Liyue, a place with no territory to protect and a strong connection like Morax. A job to earn the money necessary to live in this world. And I’ve even blocked the byproducts of my ability's side effects.
It was a satisfying day.
Knock, knock, knock.
A sound at the door.
I got up from the bed and headed back to the living room. Opening the door, I found a bearded, middle-aged man who cleared his throat upon seeing me.
“Ahem. I am Singan from the Finance Department. Are you Han Gyeoul?”
“That’s right.”
While I spoke casually and calmly, the middle-aged man who introduced himself as Singan had a stiff face and was dripping with cold sweat.
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