"Haha~ Well, the most exciting part is here! Since we're enjoying the holiday, everyone should change into clothes suitable for the beach!"
Lumine excitedly raised her hands, looking at the beautiful scenery in front of her, her eyes shining.
She hadn't expected that besides them, Barbara and Jean would also come wearing beach-appropriate attire.
Jean wore a light, breezy summer dress. Compared to her usual clothes, she gave off a completely different vibe.
Barbara's pure white nun's habit was also replaced by a blue summer outfit... or was it? Although Barbara said it was a summer outfit, Lumine couldn't help but think it looked like a school swimsuit.
Klee also found the swimsuit Alice had specially left for him. This little elf had no worries at all after changing into his swimsuit.
He usually went bombing fish often, and with Jean accompanying him, he didn't need to be as cautious as usual. He could boldly throw out jumpy dumptys, blowing up innocent fish in the water.
Shenhe's figure was even better than Acting Grand Master Jean's. Already dressed a bit boldly on normal days, she also changed into a bikini this time.
Fortunately, only these girls were on the Golden Apple Archipelago. If there were other males here, they would definitely not be able to tear their eyes away.
Paimon, having no suitable swimsuit, was still in her usual clothes, while Lumine changed into a pure white bikini.
Now... only Durandal was left. She was Lumine's target this time, and Lumine wondered what kind of swimsuit she would prepare.
"Roughly... this kind of feeling, I guess? It feels a bit strange. Is too much skin showing like this?"
Hmm? Skin showing? Haha~ Durandal really changed into a swimsuit. Let me see what kind of swimsuit you've changed into.
Lumine took out the Kamera she had prepared, ready to capture the best moment, but when she saw Durandal, Lumine froze, not even pressing the shutter.
Durandal was wearing a black bikini, and she also wore a transparent sheer shawl, holding a parasol to block the sun.
Although Durandal's figure made it difficult to perfectly carry off a bikini, her unique temperament gave off a feeling that was not inferior to Jean and Shenhe.
Durandal came in front of Lumine, holding her parasol, looked at the Kamera in her hand, twirled the parasol, and said.
"Didn't we agree to take pictures of me in a swimsuit? While I'm in the mood, hurry up and take them."
"Ugh! Ca... can I?"
"Strange question. Haven't you always been looking forward to this moment? Why are you still asking such a question?"
Durandal tilted her head in confusion. Soon, she thought of Lumine's hidden personality, a slight curve appearing on her lips. She slowly stepped forward to Lumine, extended her index finger to gently hook Lumine's chin, pulling them closer.
"Hey, Lumine. Do you... like my swimsuit right now?"
"Li... like it."
She can't even take her eyes off, how could she not like it?
"Then, would you like to see me wear these clothes on a regular basis?"
"Can I?"
"Are you satisfied so easily? I thought you'd want to see me in more different outfits."
More different... clothes? Various outfits instantly appeared in Lumine's mind: sailor uniforms, miniskirts, maid outfits, catgirl outfits, bunny-eared girl outfits, and more. She wanted to see Durandal wear them all.
This was very easy for Durandal. With just a thought, she could conjure any clothes she wanted.
Her current swimsuit was created through her abilities. If she was really willing to be her dress-up doll, then... "Whoa ah~ The Traveler is completely under Durandal's control."
Paimon, who was eating watermelon, noticed the situation with Durandal and couldn't help but complain.
"So... so that's the relationship between Miss honorary knight and Miss Durandal."
Barbara blushed, watching the interaction between Durandal and Lumine. She occasionally went to the confessional to listen to others' troubles, and there she learned many things, including the feelings between girls.
She hadn't expected Durandal and Lumine's relationship to be like this. Thinking about it, they had been traveling together all this time. After spending so much time together, it was inevitable for feelings to develop.
However... when she saw Shenhe join them, Barbara wasn't so sure if her guess was correct anymore.
"Oh dear~ Don't think too much, Barbara. The Traveler and Durandal aren't in that kind of relationship yet. The scene you're imagining won't happen to them."
"Not now, so that means they might become that kind of relationship in the future, right?"
"Uh (⊙o⊙)... I, I guess so, Paimon isn't very sure either."
As an observer, Paimon was very clear about the relationships among the group. Originally, Lumine, Durandal, and Shenhe had similar relationships, but during the Lantern Rite Festival, Durandal and Shenhe's relationship grew closer, leaving Lumine still at a standstill.
It was expected that Lumine would become more intimate with Durandal, but the catalyst for the change was unclear.
Barbara nodded, her eyes constantly scrutinizing Lumine and Durandal. She didn't know what she was thinking, not even hearing Paimon call her.
------
"This will be our boat from now on! I'm going to sail this boat from Mondstadt to Liyue!"
"Don't be silly, Traveler. A small boat like this would probably be struck by lightning from nearby thunderstorms as soon as it approached the waters near Liyue. This boat can't withstand lightning DMG."
Lumine had a great harvest. By activating the beacons set up near the archipelago, she obtained a very small Waverider.
This Waverider could accommodate three people perfectly. Although it was a bit crowded, it wasn't unacceptable.
Lumine sat in the middle, steering the Waverider, with Durandal on her left, Shenhe on her right, and Paimon sitting in Durandal's arms.
Every now and then, the Waverider's turns would cause the people on both sides to lean closer. Their thinly clad swimsuit-covered bodies pressed tightly against Lumine's, making Lumine's mood grow more and more excited.
How long has it been? How long has it been since she felt completely victorious?
Since the last Lantern Rite Festival, she hadn't been this happy. Before, she could only watch Durandal get close to others, but now it was finally her turn.
"Haha~"
Excited, Lumine intentionally drove the boat very fast to create more opportunities for physical contact, then changed direction while moving, causing Shenhe and Durandal to lean against her.
When Durandal leaned over, Lumine fully felt her soft body. Shenhe, on the other hand, had a figure that even Jean couldn't quite match.
Is this... is this paradise? If possible, she hoped this situation could continue forever.
Durandal, sitting next to her, watched Lumine, who was frantically looking for opportunities to take advantage of them, and connected it to the crisis their two siblings brought to this world. For a moment, she wondered if the Heavenly Principles was lying to her.
Would such a person truly bring destructive danger to the world? Could it be that she actually wanted to eliminate herself, the biggest threat to the world, and thus fabricated those claims?
In the future, she and her brother would have an unavoidable battle with the Heavenly Principles. The outcome of that battle would determine the direction of this world.
If the Heavenly Principles were defeated, the seal of the [Honkai] would be broken, the Sea of Quantum would once again notice this world, and the disaster of the [Honkai] would descend upon this world again.
If the Heavenly Principles won, the best outcome would be for Lumine or Aether to be sealed again by the Heavenly Principles, or... or for them to be killed by the Heavenly Principles simultaneously, to eliminate future troubles.
The Heavenly Principles, in order not to let Khaenri'ah research the [Honkai], could force the other Seven Archons to assist in destroying Khaenri'ah. So, to protect this world, eliminating Lumine and Aether, these two dangerous individuals, is also something that can be done, isn't it?
She had promised the Heavenly Principles not to intervene in this battle, but after the battle, whether she would intervene or not was hard to say.
She had said she would witness the end of Lumine's journey, she had promised to stay by Lumine's side, and she had promised to protect Lumine's safety.
Aether's situation could be ignored, but Lumine, she absolutely had to protect.
[No one can harm you, including me.]
Durandal looked at Lumine's profile, thinking firmly.
[Slap!]
A crisp sound rang out on Lumine's fair forehead. The intense pain brought Lumine back from her excited state.
"Ouch! That hurts!"
"Have you calmed down? Was what you did just now fun?"
Durandal looked coldly at Lumine, who was clutching her forehead, and said faintly: "How did my and Shenhe's bodies feel? Are you still planning to continue feeling them?"
"Uh... Hehehe~ I didn't, I was just too excited because I encountered something fun and couldn't control myself."
Lumine chuckled softly, changed the subject, and looked at Durandal with teary eyes, saying: "It hurts so much, Durandal. I feel like my head is going to split open from that hit."
"Serves you right, for doing strange things."
Though she said 'serves you right,' Durandal didn't ignore Lumine as her thoughts suggested. She reached out and stroked her forehead, absorbing all the pain from it.
Honestly, why can't she be more firm? This only makes her more reckless.
[Would such a person truly endanger this world?]
Durandal once again doubted the Heavenly Principles' conjecture. Sure enough, that guy actually wanted to deal with her, understanding that she only cared about the people around her, so she used Lumine, this person from another world, to add persuasiveness.
"Hehehe~ It doesn't hurt at all now. Sure enough, Durandal cares about me the most."
"You, what would you do if one day I wasn't by your side?"
"Then just stay by my side, wouldn't that be fine? Are you planning to leave me, Durandal?"
"No, I said that unless you don't need me and drive me away from your side, I will always stay by your side."
But... can I really stay with you forever? You are not from this world; in the future, you will definitely leave with Aether.
At that time, no matter how reluctant, they would have to part, right?
At that time, could she accept this silly person's departure?
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