The fleeting scene in the illustration was the moment Halfdan and Dainsleif made their pinky promise.
Dainsleif: "Tell all the Knights, no matter what, protect the people of Khaenri'ah."
Halfdan's body pressed against the device, interrupting its power transmission. The pain would no longer affect others, as he bore it all alone.
Protect the people of Khaenri'ah—he had done it.
In the final illustration, Halfdan lay on the device. Though he had fallen, he still used his body to suppress it.
Readers sighed. Indeed, no matter the nation, there were such great individuals.
Before they could dwell on their emotions, the plot drew their attention. The Abyss Chanter who activated the device returned.
[Abyss Lector: "Get out of the way, you nuisance!"]
This Thunder Abyss Chanter was furious and wanted to throw Halfdan aside.
The Traveler and Dainsleif naturally wouldn't allow it, delivering a barrage of punches. However, even after dealing with this Abyss Chanter, the device still didn't stop.
Halfdan was using his body to block the device, reducing the pain for others. But if Halfdan were moved, the impact would resume.
The Traveler hurriedly searched for the power mechanisms, destroying them all, finally stopping the device.
Everything was over. Dainsleif approached Halfdan. Halfdan was already dead—he knew that—but even he had moments when he couldn't accept reality, staring blankly.
[Dainsleif: "…"]
[After a long pause, Dainsleif said: "…Let's go."]
Just then, a dazzling light caught Dainsleif's attention.
An illustration depicted Halfdan as he was in his human form, looking at Dainsleif and instinctively raising a hand to wave.
But in the next illustration, he seemed to realize something was wrong, retracting his raised hand and placing it over his chest, giving a salute.
[Halfdan: "I'm sorry, Lord Dainsleif, 'Twilight Sword.' Back then… I failed you. I couldn't protect the citizens."]
He was filled with guilt, believing he hadn't fulfilled his promise to Dainsleif, as the citizens had all become monsters.
Dainsleif froze for a moment. He hadn't expected to see Halfdan again or have a chance to speak with him.
[Dainsleif pursed his lips, clenched his fist, and refuted firmly: "No, for these five hundred years, you fulfilled your duty."]
[Dainsleif placed his clenched fist over his chest, returning the salute: "To this day, I am proud of you all."]
Hearing this, Halfdan was deeply moved but too shy to show it, scratching his head to mask his emotions.
[Halfdan: "Khaenri'ah hasn't fallen, has it? After all, you're still standing here."]
A close-up focused on Dainsleif, his eyes trembling before a faint smile appeared, nodding gently.
[Dainsleif: "Mm."]
Receiving this affirmation, Halfdan seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, closing his eyes to quietly embrace "death."
[Dainsleif: "So, there's no need to restore the nation."]
Because Khaenri'ah had not yet fallen.
Halfdan vanished. Dainsleif let out a breath, his feigned composure relaxing as he coughed lightly.
The device had caused him significant harm, and Dainsleif was now very frail, needing time to recover.
With Dainsleif's departure, this journey to the Chasm came to an end.
But everyone should remember, this adventure began with a miner's commission, so the Traveler still had to report back.
This story concluded, leaving readers deeply moved. But beyond the emotions, the story's information was substantial, revealing much about Khaenri'ah and the Abyss.
The higher-ups of various nations took it seriously, including those in Sumeru.
A few "higher-ups" were joking around in a tavern, including Lucian and "Katheryne."
"Lucian, are you here for a trip this time?" Kaveh asked.
"I might stay for a while, who knows," Lucian said with a smile.
Alhaitham's expression tightened. Lucian staying long-term was not good news.
Look at what happened in Liyue and Inazuma—he went wherever there was trouble.
Tighnari also realized this issue, asking Lucian with some concern about potential events in Sumeru.
To this, Lucian replied, "The Buddha says: It cannot be spoken."
As for what they would encounter, Lucian hadn't even told Nahida. Some things they needed to resolve themselves.
This wasn't like Inazuma, where Lucian could just go beat up Ei and call it a day.
Oh, this time it wasn't Ei getting beaten, but Scaramouche Number One, made by Ei.
No matter who got beaten, it wouldn't help, because Scaramouche was merely a tool in this case. Unlike Ei, he wasn't the key to this crisis.
If someone had to be beaten, it'd be the Doctor. But not only was the one here just a segment, beating him to death wouldn't do much.
Even if it did, it wouldn't work, because this event was a growth opportunity for Sumeru, one they couldn't avoid.
"The next story, will it be about Sumeru?" "Katheryne" asked.
Her voice was indeed Katheryne's, but her tone was much softer.
For now, no one except Lucian had noticed Nahida's disguise, as no one knew the Dendro Archon had such abilities.
"The next story? Still the Chasm," Lucian said with a laugh. He was excited about the next story because it would make others unhappy.
Shifting from Lucian's side, let's talk about Lumine and Dainsleif, who were currently investigating in the Chasm.
Thanks to Lucian's book spoiling the plot, they quickly arrived at the inverted pool and saw the device.
They thought they had come quickly enough to destroy the device first, but they arrived too early—the Abyss hadn't even finished building it.
Lumine didn't care, dismantling the completed parts completely.
The brother builds, the sister destroys—what a heartwarming family scene.
When Lumine and Dainsleif arrived, there were no traces of the Abyss. It seemed Aether, after reading the story, had withdrawn his subordinates.
The Order abandoned this plan, and Halfdan and the Hilichurls would be safe.
A few days later, when Lucian's new book was released.
It hadn't been long since the end of the Lantern Rite, and the festive atmosphere lingered. Everyone was joyfully reading the new story.
The chapter title of the book: "Interlude: Perilous Trail"
This time, Lucian had returned to Liyue and even invited Xiao, Arataki Itto, and others to his home.
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice · Nahida: About Lucian's Visit to Sumeru
"He asked about the World Tree. Hmm… from the angle of his questions, it seems he's looking for a way to save someone?"