The first memory was fire.
On a humid day—weather that certainly shouldn't have allowed it—a forest fire broke out.
Fortunately, it was discovered early and didn't spread far, but Ganyu, who received the report, felt something was off.
And the next day, another strange report arrived.
—A person using elemental power without a Vision has appeared.
However, when they captured him, they found a strange being who couldn't speak and leaked an eerie energy, like a phantom that only appeared in nightmares.
[Even while restrained, he struggled incessantly, injuring many, so we had no choice but to end his life. However, what was contained within that body was not blood and bone, but something black. It continues to leak out even now.]
A postscript was attached, mentioning a repulsive and chilling sensation crawling down the spine, like snakes slithering over skin.
After that, reports came in from various places simultaneously, and Ganyu realized that something was at the center of it all.
She immediately reported the facts to Rex Lapis and left Liyue Harbor herself, armed and ready.
And the Demon God she first encountered was different from what she had imagined.
How should she put it? The Demon God she expected to have nine heads and twenty-two arms, dripping black saliva, instead had the appearance of a human.
And even now, the Demon God before her eyes was different from her expectations.
“Alright, try reading this part now.”
“In living, for a wise solution, it is important to infer and fully accept choices and their consequences. This is because we live in reality, not an ideal, and we must find a compromise between justification and utility rather than an endless, perfect justice.”
“Good job. But is this really a book for kids…?”
A scene of him stroking the head of a child who looked about three or four years old, flipping through a thin book with a slight frown as if inspecting it.
Ganyu could not understand why a Demon God would act like that.
Was that appearance a fabrication? For what purpose?
But soon, Ganyu shook her head.
It didn't matter. Whether it was the Demon God’s amusement or a lie, whatever it was, it wasn't her concern.
She simply followed, believing that Rex Lapis had a purpose.
Yet, despite that, what she saw was consideration and care.
The calm voice without any emotional fluctuation and the hand gently stroking the child's head made it look as if he truly cherished her.
“Bubbubububu.”
“You look ugly.”
“Uuuuuuuu.”
‘Maybe not.’
The sight of the Demon God laughing while pulling the child's cheeks, and the child looking up at him with a pouting expression. Ganyu thought the scene was incredibly awkward, yet somehow, it looked nice.
#
Time flowed on until evening. As the sun dipped into the west, an orange sunset began to blanket the sky.
Seeing the scenery through the window, Gyeoul stood up from his seat.
‘I haven't done my dailies.’
[Give a Special Flower (0/1) - 2m]
[Say "I Love You" (0/1) - 2m]
[Sleep Together (0/1) - 2m]
He hadn't done anything other than the head-patting mission earlier, but seeing the tasks that didn't look too difficult, Gyeoul figured he could finish them quickly and left the house.
Grabbing the stem of a Sweet Flower right in front of the house, Gyeoul suddenly fell into thought.
‘Is this really enough?’
He waved his finger in the air and clicked on the mission.
[Give a Special Flower (0/1) - 8m]
The Lesser Lord Kusanali seems to want to receive a special flower…
Unlike usual, the mission now had the word 'Special' attached. Clearing the translucent window, Gyeoul looked down at the Sweet Flower in his hand.
White petals and a green calyx with a plump yellow bud rising above.
He looked up and saw that the area was covered in Sweet Flowers and Mint.
After glancing back and forth between the house and the direction of Liyue Harbor, Gyeoul opened his map and warped to the Teleport Waypoint he had placed behind the city.
Coming down the mountain, Liyue Harbor was full of the sounds of people, as always.
“Get your fine Noctilucous Jade here! If you don't buy it now, someone else will!”
“High-quality Iron Chunks!”
Passing by the merchants, Gyeoul found a flower stall near the sea in a corner of the market.
“Welcome.”
“Which one is the best?”
It wasn't the most polite way to start a conversation, but the grandmother with deep wrinkles around her eyes chuckled softly.
“Are you off to propose to some lovely lady?”
“No, it's for my daughter.”
“A daughter, I see… Take your pick from these.”
Following the elderly woman into the stall, he saw dozens of varieties of colorful flowers. After a quick look, Gyeoul couldn't tell which was the best.
“Do you have any special flowers?”
“Special? Special… Do you want a flower that eats people if you plant it?”
“That sounds entertaining, but I’d prefer something harmless to humans.”
“This is your first time giving someone flowers, isn't it?”
“…Not exactly.”
He’d had missions to give flowers a few times before. But this was the first time it specified a 'special' flower.
Seeing Gyeoul like that, the old woman gave a small laugh.
“Does your daughter like gold and jewels?”
“No.”
“Does she insist the lamps always be lit at home, and does she like bluish-silver ceramics with archaeological value?”
“No.”
“If she's that kind of child, she'll find any flower you give her special. Just pick whatever your heart desires.”
When the old woman said that, Gyeoul pointed to one of the flowers in the stall.
Picking up the flower Gyeoul pointed to, the woman trimmed the slightly withered tips of the leaves, brushed a bit of dirt off the roots, and carefully wrapped it before handing it over.
“What was the name of this again… My memory is going as I get older…”
“Padisarah.”
“Ah, right. That was the name. How do you know it?”
“I've seen it many times.”
The Padisarah, its roots held in a fist-sized pot, gave off a fragrant floral scent. After paying, Gyeoul warped back home.
He thought he had only been gone for a moment, but Nahida had come out to the yard and was looking around. Gyeoul hurried toward her.
“Here, sweetie.”
“What is this?”
Watching Nahida take the Padisarah, Gyeoul frowned slightly. The translucent window that usually appeared before his eyes didn't pop up.
‘What's going on?’
[Give a Special Flower (0/1) - 8m]
The Lesser Lord Kusanali seems to want to receive a special gift…
‘Does it mean this isn't special?’
“Nahida.”
“…”
“My daughter.”
“Yes!”
Lately, she had developed a strange habit of not answering when called by her name.
“How's the flower?”
“It's pretty!”
No matter how long he waited, the 'Mission Complete' window didn't appear.
“Is it not special?”
“Nope.”
It wasn't even a conversation like 'What do you mean by that?'; it was an immediate reaction. Gyeoul fell into thought at Nahida's response.
Looking up at him, Nahida stared at the Padisarah for a moment before speaking.
“Dad.”
“Yeah?”
“Where did you get this?”
“From right in front…”
Gyeoul fell silent as he looked into the eyes staring up at him.
She was a smart child. Even if she wasn't, she'd probably know that there were no flowers like this around the house.
“I went to Liyue Harbor and bought it.”
“There are lots of flowers in front of the house, so why did you go all the way there to get this one?”
“I don't know. Just… I wanted to give you something prettier and better… how should I put it? A special flower that's different from the usual ones.”
As Gyeoul struggled to get the words out, Nahida's face broke into a bright smile.
“I'm happy.”
“Huh?”
“It's not because this flower is pretty or good.”
It was a thought he had often—no, quite a lot. Who would believe that until just recently, this girl could only say the word 'Dad'?
Her jade eyes sparkled clearly as she closed them, bringing the Padisarah close to her nose to catch its scent.
“Dad, why did you try to bring me a better and prettier flower out of all the flowers?”
Gyeoul couldn't easily open his lips. He didn't know what Nahida was thinking when she said this.
It could be a young child's curiosity, or a question to draw a parent's attention and affection.
But Nahida's words made Gyeoul sink into thought.
The vast amount of knowledge and feelings he possessed. The knowledge and emotions he had seen, heard, and felt since entering this world derived from the game Genshin Impact.
Though it had been a short time, many layers had piled up within the deep and intense situations he had faced.
The little girl looking up at him.
Gyeoul couldn't express it in words. He didn't know exactly how much emotion was mixed in, or exactly how much of it he should express. It wasn't easy to distinguish them within those complexly intertwined layers.
Then, an old memory came back to him. A scene of people failing to understand each other's hearts and shifting responsibility to one another. Though the context was different, Gyeoul didn't want to repeat the same thing.
“Because I love you.”
[Mission Complete – Give a Special Flower]
[Mission Complete – Say "I Love You"]
At those heartfelt words, Nahida dropped the Padisarah as if throwing it to the ground and burrowed into Gyeoul's arms.
“I love Dad more than the flower, too.”
A devoted heart that wants to give something precious rather than just something expensive.
Nahida melted at Gyeoul's heart, which wanted to give her something of high value more than the value the flower itself held.
Gyeoul didn't care that the Padisarah he had gone to such lengths to buy was lying on the ground; he simply patted the back of the Nahida he was holding.
Only after a long while did Gyeoul look at Nahida as she pulled away from his embrace and gently took hold of her cheeks.
“My daughter, how old are you?”
“I'm zero (A-ji-o-sa)!”
“Then how can you speak so well? Tell me the truth. You've lived for over five hundred years, haven't you?”
“I haven't even had my first birthday yet (A-ji-du-ju-bu-du-mu-hu-su)!”
“Who would believe that…?”
At Nahida's muffled words, Gyeoul let go of her cheeks and picked her up.
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