Looking at Zhongli, who seemed steady and calm as always, but with a slight tension between his brows, Takumi smiled and said, "It's been a long time, Zhongli. I just finished some things and made the family situation better. Now I can't wait to go out and see the scenery. I'm planning to start from Liyue and walk to Fontaine."
Zhongli breathed a sigh of relief. "Then I must give Lord Takumi a good reception. Liyue's landscape is quite elegant among the Seven Nations."
It occurred to Zhongli that Lord Takumi had just arrived in Teyvat and revitalized the world. It was understandable that he would want to explore its scenery. Whatever Takumi's reasons, Zhongli knew it was important to show him respect.
Lan, the branch president of the Adventurers' Guild, looked at Takumi with curiosity. "Mr. Zhongli, is this Master Takumi some big figure from Inazuma?"
She knew Inazuma's god was a goddess, and this visitor was clearly someone with high standing.
Zhongli hesitated, looking at Takumi, who was smiling. He knew Takumi probably didn't want his true identity as Tianli revealed during his travels through Teyvat.
"This Lord Takumi is..."
Just when Zhongli was about to make up an identity, a shadow bumped into Paimon, who floated beside Lumine.
Paimon let out a small scream as she fell to the ground. "Oops!"
Lumine turned quickly and looked over, momentarily stunned.
Not only Lumine but even Lan was surprised. Zhongli's pupils trembled slightly. This aura... although it was faint, it resembled the presence of the most mysterious of the Four Shadows.
As one of the oldest of the Seven, Zhongli knew some of Phanes' plans. Not only him—Barbatos likely knew as well. Originally, Zhongli had planned to step down as Archon after Phanes appointed a successor. However, the emergence of Takumi, the new Tianli, had altered all those plans.
Unexpectedly, one of the Four Shadows appeared in Liyue.
Lumine looked at the scene with wide, golden eyes, her mouth agape. "Paimon… turned into two?"
Paimon, who was on the ground rubbing her forehead, said groggily, "Ouch! My head... who hit me?"
The other figure, who looked just like Paimon—but whose colors had a pinkish hue—floated up, mimicking Paimon's actions. "Ouch! Who bumped into me?"
"Ah! Who are you? Why is there another me?" Pink Paimon exclaimed.
Paimon finally recovered from her daze and looked at the figure that looked exactly like her, clearly dumbfounded. "You! Why do you look just like me? Who are you?!"
The pink one floated beside Lumine and said, "I'm Paimon, Lumine's best friend!"
Paimon was stunned. "Your name is Paimon? Then what's my name?!"
The pink one put her hands on her hips and retorted, "How should I know your name? Who are you, and why do you look like me? You even bumped into me!"
With matching expressions, the two Paimons argued.
Paimon turned to Lumine, panic etched on her face. "Lumine, I'm the real Paimon! This one's pretending to be me!"
The pink one stomped her feet in the air. "You liar! You're the one pretending to be me!"
"Lumine, I'm the real Paimon, she's fake!"
"No, Lumine, she's the fake one, I'm the real Paimon!"
Lumine, caught between the two identical Paimons, looked bewildered. She glanced from one to the other.
"Are you really Paimon?" she asked.
Paimon nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes! I'm Paimon, you believe me, right?"
Lumine turned to the other. "Are you Paimon too?"
The pink Paimon also nodded energetically. "Yes, I'm Paimon!"
Lumine sighed, rubbing her temples. "I can't tell which one of you is the real Paimon…"
Both Paimons were indignant. "Why is this happening?!"
Yae Miko watched the scene unfold, then glanced at Takumi, who was smiling warmly. She immediately understood the kind of "fun" Takumi intended to have at Liyue Harbor. Clearly, this was a prank on the blonde traveler, Lumine. A sly grin appeared on her face.
"I have a way to tell who the real one is," Yae Miko offered.
Both Paimons turned toward her, their eyes wide. "What is it?!"
Yae Miko smiled mischievously. "Why don't you both tell us things that only you and Lumine know? That way, it'll be easier to tell who's telling the truth."
Paimon clapped her hands in excitement. "Great idea! Hmph! This fake is about to be exposed!"
The pink Paimon put her hands on her hips and stamped her feet. "That's exactly what I was going to say, you imposter!"
Lumine nodded. "Alright, let's do that. I'll ask some questions."
Lumine looked at the two Paimons, feeling rather strange. Why were there suddenly two Paimons? One must be fake—someone must be playing a prank on her. Whoever it was, Lumine swore that if she found out, she wouldn't forgive them easily.
"First question, where did I meet Paimon for the first time?"
The pink Paimon raised her hand instantly. "Guyun Stone Forest! You found me there, and you fished me out of the sea! I would have drowned if it weren't for you!"
Paimon opened her mouth to answer, but stopped, stunned. The other Paimon—the fake—had answered correctly. She looked at Lumine, who was now looking at her skeptically.
"Wait, wait! I'll definitely answer the next question correctly!"
Lumine continued. "Second question. What dish did Amber treat Paimon and me to the first time?"
The pink Paimon again raised her hand immediately. "Sticky Honey Roast!"
Paimon opened her mouth again, but her answer came too late—the fake had beaten her to it. Lumine's gaze grew even more doubtful, and Paimon began to panic.
"No, no, no! I'll definitely answer the third question!" she cried.
The pink Paimon puffed out her chest. "Hmph! You're clearly the fake, just admit it."
Paimon gritted her teeth, her small hands balled into fists. "No! You're the fake! How do you know so much about Lumine and me?!"
Lumine, studying Paimon closely, said, "Alright, this is the last question, and only the real Paimon would know the answer."
Paimon took a deep breath and nodded. "I'll answer it for sure!"
The pink Paimon patted her chest confidently. "Of course, I'll answer it—I'm the real Paimon."
Lumine smiled slightly. "Alright, the third question: Who is the 'Darknight Hero' of Mondstadt?"
The pink Paimon shot her hand up immediately. "That's easy! It's Diluc!"
Paimon also raised her hand, but she was a second too late, and as the pink Paimon gave the correct answer, Paimon felt her heart sink.
Her face turned pale as she stared at Lumine, who seemed more convinced than ever.