When Ryen did not respond immediately, only standing there with a furrowed brow in thought, Scaramouche felt a flicker of panic.
For some reason, he had the uneasy feeling that even such a humble request might be rejected.
He believed he had already lowered himself enough.
He was willing to work without compensation, to obey the commands of ordinary soldiers, to charge into the Twilight Forest alongside them.
He did not even ask for much in return, only that after the expedition, when the spoils were tallied, he be granted a single advanced-tier staff.
He had no particular demands regarding spells either.
For someone of his strength, he felt that was a modest request.
As he had spent more time in this world, learning its systems and rules, his priorities had grown clear.
The block-world architecture that stunned Dehya and Nilou meant little to him.
What he cared about,
Were the staves.
He had personally witnessed Hu Tao and the others wielding them with dazzling creativity.
He had seen Lisa holding a Master-tier Thunderous Staff, majestic and commanding, rivaling the Electro Archon herself.
Summoning. Destruction. Control. Healing. Invulnerability.
So far, Scaramouche had not seen a single field of combat that Witchery did not touch.
Powerful. Versatile. Elegant.
He coveted it day and night.
Yet the Witchery mod had stalled. The only craftable staff at present was the basic Novice Staff.
Frankly, it was inferior even to a simple enchanted iron sword.
But Ryen had once said,
What self-respecting wizard crafts his own staff?
You take one from another wizard.
Scaramouche found that logic highly agreeable.
Unfortunately, the wizards in Wizard Towers were not to be attacked, and the Twilight Forest was off-limits for now.
He, a newcomer unfamiliar even with the Nether or the End, certainly would not be permitted to venture there alone.
Thus, staves, which for others were commonplace, even abundant,
Remained a distant dream for him.
He already possessed many Slash Blades.
Add one staff,
And his ambitions would feel complete.
Now the army was heading to the Twilight Forest.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
They had guides. Missions. Structured exploration routes.
Though he disliked admitting it, he knew the truth:
In this world, any four or five ordinary soldiers could probably pin him down with ease.
Accompanying them would be safer than acting alone.
But everything depended on Ryen's decision.
Seeing no answer forthcoming, Scaramouche grew anxious.
He glanced at Makoto with a pleading look.
Makoto sighed softly and stepped forward.
"Let him go," she said gently. "Kunikuzushi's strength is sufficient to handle many dangers. He may even prove helpful."
Ryen shrugged.
"Raw strength isn't the deciding factor. A thousand soldiers following protocol can handle nearly every threat."
"If they fail despite the guide, Scaramouche alone won't change the outcome."
Everyone nodded.
In the Minecraft world, power alone meant little.
Understanding mechanics was the true weapon.
"The issue," Ryen continued, "is that he knows nothing about this world. Nothing about the Twilight Forest."
"The soldiers at least understand monster mechanics. He doesn't."
"If he becomes a burden, "
"I won't," Scaramouche cut in immediately. "I'll study the monsters' traits and weaknesses."
Ryen considered.
Leaving him in the Overworld carried risks. Though guarded, Scaramouche had a talent for trouble.
Perhaps better to send him into the Twilight Forest under strict supervision.
With a thousand reinforced troops and Dashii commanding, even a rebellious child could be disciplined.
After some thought, Ryen nodded.
"Since Makoto speaks for you, go."
Scaramouche nearly rushed for the portal,
"But," Ryen added calmly.
Scaramouche froze.
"Your safety is your own responsibility. Do not trouble the soldiers. Do not interfere with resource acquisition."
"Follow Dashi's command."
"If he reports that you hindered the expedition, you will never set foot in that world again."
Scaramouche nodded solemnly, eyes shining faintly.
He looked at Makoto with unmistakable gratitude.
No matter what, he could always trust his aunt.
In his heart, he swore before the sun,
If he ever prospered in that world and built a city of his own, he would erect Makoto's statue at its very center.
Grand. Tall. Impossible to ignore.
(Though how reliable such oaths were remained questionable. His previous vow before the sun had involved annihilating anyone who dared call him "Kunikuzushi", yet now he answered happily when Makoto did so.)
Watching him charge through the portal with two blades in hand and six strapped to his back, Ryen's expression turned strange.
"What's that look?" Guizhong poked his arm cautiously. "Don't tell me you're thinking impure thoughts again."
Ryen shook his head slowly.
"No… he reminded me of someone."
"Someone?" Yae Miko grinned mischievously. "An ex-girlfriend?"
Ryen rolled his eyes.
"Do I look like someone with ex-girlfriends?"
"Yes."
"And several."
This time even Lisa and the others nodded seriously.
Ryen sighed.
"The person I remembered also carried countless blades."
"He roamed the world, famed as the master of swordsmen."
'Blade cuts flesh. Heart cuts soul.'
"His name was… GSD."
Ei's eyes lit up.
"'Blade cuts flesh. Heart cuts soul.' Profound words."
"Where is this master now? I would learn from him."
Ryen paused.
"In a game."
"???"
He laughed.
"My previous world had no magic. Don't overthink it."
"Come on. We're heading to Sumeru!"
With a wave, Ryen scooped up Nahida and Klee, Paimon perched on his shoulder, and strode toward the waiting dragons.
Lisa hurried after him.
"Game aside, how many ex-girlfriends did you have?"
"Is that question necessary?"
"Of course it is," Ningguang joined in. "As your partners, are we not entitled to your romantic history? We won't be angry."
Ryen remained silent, mounted his dragon, and called out,
"Depart! Let's celebrate Nahida's birthday!"
The dragons roared and took flight, storm winds spiraling as they soared toward Sumeru.
Behind him, Ningguang and the others exchanged looks.
"He was definitely a romantic rogue in his old world," Hu Tao muttered.
"On that point," Ningguang shrugged, "I agree."
She turned to Ganyu.
"You were with him first. What was he like?"
Ganyu reflected.
When she thought carefully…
He had taught her everything.
How to kiss.
How to love.
How to…
Which meant,
He absolutely was not inexperienced.
Her cheeks puffed slightly.
"Hmph!"
She glared at Ryen's silhouette in the sky and folded her arms.
The others shared a knowing look.
If anyone felt wronged, it would be Ganyu most of all.
"Ryen's in trouble," Venti whispered gleefully to Zhongli.
Zhongli calmly sipped tea atop his dragon.
"By universal principle, no. Ganyu adores him. Such moods pass quickly."
Venti sighed in disappointment.
"I was hoping to collect some blackmail material."
Zhongli glanced at him.
"By universal principle… if you attempt that, you may soon encounter the Sword of Dominance of the Universe."
Venti stiffened.
"Understood."
Under the night sky, dragons of every color streaked toward Sumeru.
This was perhaps the first large-scale collective movement across Teyvat.
But for Nahida's birthday,
It was understandable.
Rex Lapis. Barbatos. The Tsaritsa. The Raiden Twins. Guizhong. Azhdaha. The Adepti. The Yakshas.
Leaders of Mondstadt, Liyue, Inazuma, and Snezhnaya.
And Ryen.
This Sabzeruz Festival would be no ordinary celebration.
It would be the grandest in history.
And if anyone dared cause trouble during it,
Well.
That would truly be unfortunate.