"You guys... what's wrong?" Yuna asked, even more puzzled by their silence. Her hands stilled.
Paimon's little mouth trembled. "Waaah, Yuna, the Abyss's bad guys killed Qingge! Waaah!"
Lumine gently placed her hand on Paimon's back, comforting the little sprite.
Paimon's words left Yuna, Itto, and Kuki Shinobu stunned.
Itto's voice boomed the loudest:
"What?! You're saying the Kaiyang of Liyue—the person we rescued from that hellhole—is gone?!"
Kuki Shinobu's expression darkened. Though she and Itto had only known Qingge for a short time, they considered her a friend. Hearing this devastating news naturally filled her with sorrow.
People who suffer together forge the strongest bonds.
Kuki Shinobu: "Traveler, what... what happened exactly?"
Yuna had never met Qingge in person, but Lumine and Paimon had mentioned her several times. Moreover, after returning from Liyue, her sister and Itto had recounted their experiences beneath The Chasm. Yuna felt she knew Qingge well enough, and hearing of her death left her utterly dazed.
Mamoru and the others, though clueless about the situation, understood the gravity of the moment and wisely kept their mouths shut.
Lumine and Paimon immediately recounted the events of the Lantern Rite in Liyue. After hearing the full account, even the usually composed Kuki Shinobu was shocked into standing up.
Three Great God-level combatants, Abyss Monsters from the depths of The Chasm, and two Gods unleashing their full power...
It's hard to imagine how dire the situation must have been.
If such a battle had erupted in Inazuma...
Just the thought made Kuki Shinobu's hair stand on end. If it had truly happened, could their Raiden Shogun have resolved it alone?
Though she trusted the Shogun's martial prowess, still...
Wasn't Liyue's Geo Archon hailed as the War God?
And Liyue also had the support of the Anemo Archon and numerous Adepti. Even so, the Kaiyang had fallen in battle, and many Millelith soldiers had perished.
Thankfully, the mastermind—that Abyss creature—was ultimately slain by the combined might of the two Archons. Otherwise, if it had escaped to Inazuma, its terrifying abilities and elusive movements would have plunged the nation into mortal danger!
Even Itto fell uncharacteristically silent. He was confident, but not foolish; he knew an ordinary person like him couldn't alter a situation of this magnitude.
"So, the Kaiyang led the Millelith in defending The Chasm before falling in battle?"
Lumine nodded. Itto's expression turned serious. "She's a true hero—even more heroic than yours truly!"
Paimon immediately chimed in, "Qingge is the greatest, most awesome hero ever!"
After saying this, Paimon turned to Yuna. "Yuna, can you make that delicious cookie for us again? I promised Qingge I'd bring her favorite cookie when we visit her next time."
Yuna stepped forward and gently touched Paimon's cheek. "You can have that cookie whenever you want, Paimon. I'm always happy to make it for you. You're welcome anytime."
"Waaah, Yuna, you're so kind..."
Yuna tenderly hugged little Paimon. The little darling had been deeply scarred by her two alternate identities, and her usual lively spirit seemed dimmed.
Even Lumine wasn't as vibrant as when Yuna first met her as Rola.
Let's take things slower from now on, Yuna thought. We need to nurture their hearts properly.
As for Qingge and Rola's families, Yuna felt powerless to help them for now. She could only hope that after completing the main quest, she could use the System's power to bring them all together for a happy reunion.
After all, the System had promised, and they had even signed a contract.
The silence didn't last long. Yuna brought out the miniature cakes she had just finished making.
Delicious food could lift anyone's spirits, and her creations doubled the joy.
Sure enough, the sight of the delicacies immediately captured Paimon's attention.
"Yuna, is that... the Raiden Shogun?"
Looking at the miniature Shogun, Paimon wouldn't have recognized it as food if not for the sweet, cake-like aroma filling the air.
"These are 'Raiden Shogun' mini-cakes, a new item I'm launching today! Come on, try them!"
Yuna handed Lumine a small cake knife.
Lumine gazed at the mini-cake, a veritable work of art, and hesitated for a long moment, unsure where to make the first cut.
Paimon, impatient, urged her on, and Lumine simply passed the knife to Paimon.
Paimon took the knife, then froze as well.
"Ugh... I feel so guilty cutting into this. It's too beautiful! And cutting into the Shogun's head..."
Surprisingly, even the gluttonous Paimon's first thought wasn't about eating.
Yuna smiled gently. "Don't worry, I made five of them. I was originally planning to sell them today, but I suddenly changed my mind. With so many friends around, I might as well give them away. This one's for you guys."
The Arataki Gang hadn't been short on funds lately.
Yuna had been "kidnapped" by Yae Miko several times recently, and she'd grown quite familiar with Ei.
Whenever Yae Miko teased her, Yuna would stop calling her "Lady Guuji" and simply call her "Yae Miko."
Of course, official errands came with pay—she wasn't going to work for free. Yae Miko was a wealthy woman, and even the scraps she let slip through her fingers could keep the Arataki Gang afloat for quite a while.
Itto and the others were also envious, but not of the cake itself—they coveted the cake-made statues. Wooden statues were far less rare and desirable than those made of cake.
Besides, they had already devoured plenty of scraps while Yuna was baking, stuffing themselves to the brim.
In the end, Paimon couldn't resist the allure of the miniature cake. Closing her eyes, she plunged her knife into the Raiden Shogun-shaped cake.
"Wow, this is so delicious!"
Paimon's face lit up with delight after tasting the cake.
Lumine nodded in agreement; the flavor was indeed exceptional.
After finishing the mini-cakes, Lumine and Paimon's spirits lifted considerably.
They stayed to help Yuna make more mini-cakes, all Raiden Shogun-themed.
Yuna baked four more, bringing the total to eight.
One was for Boss, who had been watching them the whole time, and another for Sis. Mamoru and the others would share Boss's portion.
"Lumine, you're fast—could you deliver these to Ayaka, Yoimiya, and Sayu for me?" Yuna asked, carefully packing the mini-cakes.
Lumine readily agreed.
"After you're done, come to Tenshukaku," Yuna added. "I've arranged a grand feast there with Yae Miko today. You'll be just in time!"
Second Sister and Boss wouldn't be attending; it wouldn't be appropriate for them. But Lumine and Paimon were different.
"Tenshukaku?" Paimon asked, wondering if she had misheard. "A grand feast at Tenshukaku?"
Yuna grinned mischievously. "Didn't expect that, did you? You'll find out soon enough!"
After Lumine and Paimon left, Yuna prepared to depart as well. Before leaving, she promised Itto several times that she would definitely make ramen for him tomorrow, finally stopping him from giving her those resentful looks.
"Second Sister, I won't be back tonight!"
Clutching three individually wrapped cakes, Yuna hurried away, heading first to the Kujou Clan's estate.
She remembered Sara's intense devotion to the Raiden Shogun. If I give her these cakes, will she eat them or just keep them forever?
Even though they were just cakes, they looked far more appealing than those wooden offerings.