Everyone was still chatting idly, and the conversation gradually shifted to topics about the forest. Sumeru people really care for the forest, and Rana also told the Traveler the reason.
[Rana: "In the end, the forest will remember everything."]
["...Even if later, when you grow up and forget, it's okay. The forest will remember everything."]
At this point, Rana froze—she seemed to have remembered something, but couldn't quite recall it. The thought was just a wisp; she could see it but couldn't grasp it.
Rana's metaphor for this was: It's as frustrating as wanting to sneeze but not being able to.
To this, Paimon had some unique advice:
["Some things, if you force yourself to think about them, the more you think, the more clueless you get!"]
["If you ignore it, after some time, maybe while doing something else, it'll suddenly 'whoosh' come to you!"]
Plagiarism! Copying!
The evil Paimon copied Captain Qin's turtle-finding technique without citing the source!
Fortunately, Captain Qin didn't hold it against Paimon; she just silently read the story.
In the book, Rana told the Traveler that those round cabbages are called Aranara, the familiars of the Dendro Archon, but that's just a legendary story.
As for the information only the children know, Rana didn't know either—the kids were hiding it from the adults.
[Rana: "It's normal for kids to have secrets they don't want to tell adults. As long as they grow up healthy, becoming strong, kind, and upright adults..."]
Readers were stunned—she's so gentle. Suddenly understood why Sudabeh wanted to marry her so badly.
Question Sudabeh, understand Sudabeh, surpass Sudabeh!
We've seen this script before—isn't this Arnold and Mona?
We've heard this line before—on Yoimiya!
Both women are such gentle big sisters; they're truly charming. Readers also really want to marry Yoimiya.
Not to mention ordinary readers—even The Knave once had the idea of pulling Yoimiya into the House of the Hearth. Yoimiya would be a good parent.
However, Peruere hasn't invited Yoimiya to join the House of the Hearth yet. Instead, Rana was inviting the Traveler to join the forest rangers.
Naturally, the Traveler wouldn't agree, because she still had her purpose for traveling.
The Traveler told Rana that she was traveling to find her brother, the one with the same golden hair as her.
When it came to the golden-haired boy, Rana actually had some impression—someone seemed to have mentioned it to her.
This really shocked the readers—Rana actually had information about the Traveler's brother? So impressive?
You know, even Ei the god was completely clueless when asked. No one expected to learn about the "brother" from an ordinary forest ranger like Rana. Everyone listened attentively.
[Rana said: "The story of the golden-haired boy... like gold... it seems his name was something like Nara..."]
Rana couldn't remember, only recalling that the name was something like Nara—this actually made readers breathe a sigh of relief.
No, the Traveler's brother is named "Aether," not something Nara. It seems it was someone else.
If real information was obtained here, Ei would lose too much face.
One of the original gods knowing less than a forest ranger.
In the story, the two women fell into a deep sleep. The next day, on the way back to Vimara Village, they saw Udan—he seemed to have run into the forest.
This made Rana panic—he was clearly told not to go into the forest!
Rana hurried to follow but was blocked by the Gilded Brigade. They were hired by a patron and seemed to be deliberately luring Udan into the forest.
For this kind of thing, the Traveler would just slap them once—Fatui get two slaps.
That's right, there were also Fatui involved. The two women chased Udan deeper into a cave, where Fatui actually appeared!
Readers were greatly surprised—if the Fatui were the patrons, what did they want with capturing Udan?
Who in the Fatui captures kids? The Doctor, who else?
After the Traveler defeated the Fatui and entered the cave, it was covered in the Withering, and Udan was inside it.
This scared everyone—the Withering is fatal to those without a Vision!
Originally, seeing Udan disobey made some blood pressure rise, but now seeing this scene, anger was forgotten—only worry remained.
Rana also disregarded her own safety and rushed straight into the Withering.
She knew leaving the Withering to the Traveler was the best choice, but in this situation, how could she stay calm?
Even if it cost her life, she had to save Udan!
But her rushing in scared everyone badly. Although Rana had some strength, she was just an ordinary person! In the Withering, she was no different from Udan!
They had just opened up to each other and become good friends—don't let anything happen!
The Traveler thought the same, so Lumine was anxious—she had never cleared the Withering so urgently, only hoping to be a bit faster, to minimize the Withering's effect on Rana, even just a little.
The good news was that Udan was protected by a green energy shield and was fine; the bad news was that Rana, who rushed to save him, was in trouble.
Rana kept holding her head, saying she was fine, but anyone could see she was on the verge of collapsing.
This isn't right—this isn't right! Readers felt more and more wrong—where's the heartwarming part? Doing this again? We can't take it!
Earlier, Dunyarzad had "spent time" with everyone for so long; reading along felt like gaining a new friend.
So when Dunyarzad was in trouble, everyone was truly anxious.
Now it's the same with Rana—after spending so much time together, we can't bear if something happens!
For this incident, everyone just wanted to say: Udan, you better have a sufficient reason!
Just now, worry filled the heart; now that he's fine, blood pressure is rising again.
Although rushing into the Withering was because Rana was too anxious, how could Rana not be anxious seeing a child trapped in the Withering?
Even if the Traveler and Rana said not to rush, it wouldn't help—if she could stay calm in this moment, she wouldn't be the big sister Rana everyone loves.
Yoimiya watched with a heavy heart, because she and Rana are really similar—if it were her in this situation, she would also rush in without hesitation.
She could get hurt, but she couldn't watch a child get hurt right in front of her.
So let hero-mode big sister Yoimiya appear!
No one becomes a sacrifice; they just choose to become a hero.
Itto also likes kids, but he's more "strict," so now Itto was a bit angry.
Itto: "How is he just like Takuya, not listening!"
Takuya: "...?"
Takuya wanted to retort, but couldn't—it seems he really was.
But his "disobedience" at least had a reason—so what was Udan's reason?
===✧✦✧===
Character Voice Lines · Yoimiya: About Rana
"Feels like we could become good friends. I really want to visit Sumeru."