The sky was already dim.
Nolan had been busy for a long while, traveling to Mondstadt, Inazuma, and Sumeru to invite many girls over to Liyue so they could join in the festive atmosphere of the Lantern Rite.
Those who possessed the ability of "Interstellar Travel" could teleport directly to Ningguang's side, but for those who did not, Nolan personally went to fetch them.
Like Rosaria and Kamisato Ayaka, for example.
Everyone who received his invitation developed some degree of affection toward him. Even girls like Layla, who didn't come because they disliked crowded places, still felt warmth from his effort.
After all, being invited with such enthusiasm made them feel valued as friends, and that was heartwarming.
After informing everyone, Nolan's last stop was Yuehai Pavilion, where he went to invite Ganyu and Shenhe. By now, their workday should have been over.
---
Yuehai Pavilion
When Nolan arrived, he saw the staff leaving work with lighthearted expressions—naturally, everyone was cheerful at the start of a holiday.
He stepped into Ganyu's office and found her there with Shenhe.
"Huh? Why are you here? Are you looking for Shenhe?" Ganyu rubbed her eyes and yawned, still a little dazed.
"Not only her. I came for both of you. Mainly, I want to invite you to a Lantern Rite banquet at the Jade Chamber." Nolan explained.
"Eh… is that so…" Ganyu hesitated slightly, clearly torn because she wanted to accompany her master during the festival.
After all, Cloud Retainer rarely visited Liyue Harbor.
Seeing her hesitation, Nolan smiled and added: "Cloud Retainer is there too."
"If Master is there, then we should go have a look," Shenhe said while glancing at her senior sister.
"Yes… thank you for specially coming to invite us," Ganyu nodded, showing her gratitude.
[Ganyu Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You, Obtained 320 Affection Points. Current Affection Level Lv.8 (660/800).]
Watching the notification flash across the character panel, Nolan felt a surge of delight. Today, he had already gained much affection from many girls.
Several of them were nearing max affection, and he couldn't help but wonder what kind of "affection skills" they would grant him.
"The time is about right. Please, take my hands—I'll bring you there."
Nolan stretched out his hands toward them.
Shenhe blinked her silver eyes and, without much hesitation, placed her hand in his.
Ganyu widened her eyes slightly in surprise.
Eh? She didn't hesitate at all… Ganyu thought. But when she saw her junior sister so calmly take his hand, she felt it inappropriate to fuss over it too much. So, she too extended her hand and rested it in his palm.
As soon as her hand was clasped, warmth spread from his grasp, causing a faint blush to appear on her fair cheeks.
[Ganyu Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You, Obtained 340 Affection Points. Current Affection Level Lv.9 (200/900).]
The notification popped up again, and Nolan glanced at Ganyu with a bit of surprise.
So she's just shy… He chuckled silently, then activated the power of "Interstellar Travel," teleporting them straight to Ningguang's side in the Jade Chamber.
In the blink of an eye, the scene shifted from Ganyu's office to Ningguang's office.
Besides Ningguang, Jean, Yae Miko, and Kamisato Ayaka were also present. By sheer chance, they had all gathered here, seemingly discussing some potential cultural cooperation.
Nolan didn't disturb them. Instead, he led Ganyu and Shenhe out of the office.
Outside, he noticed Baiwen, Baixiao, and Baishi guiding Sucrose, Yoimiya, and many other girls around the Jade Chamber.
"So many people… I've never seen the Jade Chamber this lively before." Ganyu was slightly amazed, then asked, "Speaking of which, where is Master Cloud Retainer?"
"She should be outside," Nolan replied.
Soon after, they stepped onto the outer platform of the Jade Chamber. Several round tables were already set up in the center.
On the side, large cooking pots had been arranged. Xiangling from Wanmin Restaurant and her companion Guoba were leading the preparations, with Noelle, Lumine, and Paimon eagerly helping.
Elsewhere, Collei, Amber, Fischl, and other girls surrounded a massive lantern at the front of the platform, marveling at it with gasps of wonder.
Standing before the lantern, Cloud Retainer couldn't help but curve her lips upward, clearly proud to receive such praise.
"Master, what are you doing?"
Hearing her name called, Cloud Retainer turned to find her disciples Ganyu and Shenhe standing there with Nolan.
"Have you seen this?" Cloud Retainer gestured toward the enormous lantern behind her, then continued,
"Look at Liyue Harbor. Every household hangs lanterns, everyone holds lanterns—how could my disciples fall behind?"
By now, night had fully descended, and countless lanterns floated in the skies above Liyue Harbor.
Some drifted higher and higher, while others hovered steadily at a set height. Their collective crimson glow illuminated the entire night sky.
Cloud Retainer patted the massive lantern.
"This is the Lantern Rite gift I prepared for you and Shenhe. Ahem, of course, Nolan helped a little as well. What do you think—are you satisfied?"
"Eh… for us? Master, you didn't need to go to such trouble…" Ganyu lowered her gaze, embarrassed.
She remembered how Cloud Retainer used to be—if Ganyu so much as glanced at a toy on the street, Master would always create an even better one for her afterward.
Even now, that hadn't changed… Ah, but she wasn't a child anymore, and to have such a toy-like gift prepared in front of everyone was a little embarrassing.
But at the same time, her heart felt touched, and she also grew a little fonder of Nolan, who had helped.
[Ganyu Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You, Obtained 360 Affection Points. Current Affection Level Lv.9 (560/900).]
"Thank you, Master," Shenhe said more straightforwardly.
"Alright then, since the myriad lanterns of Liyue Harbor have already risen, ours cannot fall behind. I'll leave the final task—the installation of the Floating Stone and the lighting of the candle—to you two."
With her adeptal magic, Cloud Retainer produced a large candle and the floating stone, handing them to Ganyu and Shenhe respectively.
The two girls exchanged a glance, nodded lightly, and under everyone's watchful eyes, began setting them in place one after another.
As expected, once the final Floating Stone was installed, the lantern—large as a pavilion—slowly rose into the sky.
Its crimson glow looked as if it carried the people's wishes and blessings up into the heavens.
Happy Lantern Rite!
Everyone gazed at the colossal lantern, while down in Liyue Harbor the time for releasing lanterns had also arrived.
Tens of thousands of lanterns drifted upward like countless stars.
From the Jade Chamber, the sight was especially clear.
Ningguang and the others, who had been discussing matters inside, as well as the girls touring the chamber, all came outside. Beidou and Rosaria were already seated on a table, drinking together.
But everyone's eyes turned toward the sea of lights over Liyue Harbor. Such a wondrous scene could only be seen once a year, making it feel more than worth the trip.
Soon, lanterns filled the night sky, and the banquet was ready. Everyone sat down at the tables.
A wonderful time passed quietly, swift as a fleeting steed.
When the banquet ended, naturally everyone wanted to stroll around Liyue Harbor. The Lantern Rite was, after all, the liveliest time of year.
And the quickest way to get there was, of course, Interstellar Travel.
Nolan only needed to send Hu Tao back to the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, then everyone else could teleport directly to her side.
But before that, a few of the girls at the Jade Chamber still didn't have "Waymarks."
This was the perfect chance for Nolan to hand them out—as Lantern Rite gifts.
He first approached Beidou and Rosaria, who were drinking together at a table.
Their cheeks were tinged red from drink. As soon as Nolan came near, Beidou hooked an arm around his neck and shoved her cup to his lips:
"Haha! Today is a good day—come drink with me!"
Nolan wasn't much of a drinker, but he didn't mind. Since the cup was already at his lips, he took a sip before saying:
"I came to give you both a gift."
He briefly explained the use of the Waymark.
"Oh? And you'd just give us something so incredible, just like that?" Beidou downed another gulp of wine, surprised.
"Of course. Waymarks aren't rare for me. I'd be glad if you used them to visit and chat more often." Nolan smiled.
"Good. Then I won't be polite about accepting." For Beidou, often at sea, teleportation was invaluable. And since it came from a friend, she had no reason to refuse.
[Beidou Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You, Obtained 460 Affection Points. Current Affection Level Lv.7 (560/700).]
Seeing the prompt, Nolan happily taught Beidou how to fuse with the Waymark.
Afterward, he turned to Rosaria.
"Teleportation would be useful for you too. When you're bored at work, you could sneak over to drink with Beidou.
"And when you think the sisters at the cathedral are about to notice you're missing, just teleport to Barbara's side—it'll look like you never left."
The suggestion was indeed appealing. Rosaria nodded and accepted the Waymark with quiet satisfaction.
[Rosaria Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You, Obtained 470 Affection Points. Current Affection Level Lv.7 (600/700).]
After giving Waymarks to Beidou and Rosaria, Nolan moved to where Yoimiya, Yae Miko, Kujou Sara, Kuki Shinobu, and Kirara sat with Kamisato Ayaka.
Yae Miko, ever cooperative, casually mentioned that both she and the Shogun had received Waymarks from Nolan.
Hearing this, Ayaka and Sara were delighted. The ability to contact the Shogun at any time—and even teleport to her after approval—was extremely appealing, especially for Sara.
They accepted without hesitation.
[Kamisato Ayaka Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You, Obtained 520 Affection Points. Current Affection Level Lv.7 (600/700).]
[Kujou Sara Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You, Obtained 580 Affection Points. Current Affection Level Lv.7 (380/700).]
Both were added to his circle of goodwill without issue.
As for Kuki Shinobu and Kirara, being ordinary citizens of Inazuma, their respect for the Shogun was tinged with fear.
The thought of constant contact with her—especially under Yae Miko's watchful eye—made Shinobu uneasy.
But when she caught Miko's faint smile, she felt refusing might bring worse trouble.
So she accepted the Waymark.
[Kuki Shinobu Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You, Obtained 380 Affection Points. Current Affection Level Lv.9 (200/900).]
Since everyone else had accepted, Kirara didn't decline either. For her, teleportation meant faster, more efficient international deliveries—something she was eager to try.
[Kirara Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You, Obtained 430 Affection Points. Current Affection Level Lv.6 (530/600).]
The prompts popped up one after another—his affection with Inazuma's girls had risen considerably.
With Shinobu nearly maxed out, she was close to unlocking a new skill.
Next were Ganyu and Cloud Retainer. Once they received Waymarks, nearly every girl present would wield the power of Interstellar Travel.
Nolan approached their table, explained the Waymark's functions, and with a smile, offered them as Lantern Rite gifts:
"This way, whether Ganyu wants to return to Mt. Aocang or Master wishes to visit her disciples in Liyue Harbor, it will be much more convenient."
"Eh… alright then, thank you."
Ganyu could already travel swiftly with adeptal arts, but she didn't want to refuse her friend's goodwill. After all, Interstellar Travel was easier than her own methods. She accepted gladly.
[Ganyu Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You, Obtained 420 Affection Points. Current Affection Level Lv.10 (MAX).]
Cloud Retainer, meanwhile, was intrigued by the Waymark's similarity to the Akasha Terminal—yet unbound by range. With it, she could communicate across any distance, so there was no harm in keeping one.
"Hmph. Very well. Thank you. Since it is a Lantern Rite gift, this adeptus shall prepare a return gift in kind."
Adjusting her red half-rimmed glasses, she clasped her silk-wrapped chest and accepted.
[Cloud Retainer Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You, Obtained 420 Affection Points. Current Affection Level Lv.9 (280/900).]
With two more notifications flashing across his panel, Nolan was overjoyed.
Not only had Shinobu and Cloud Retainer reached Level 9 affection, but Ganyu had maxed out!
That meant another Affection Skill was his to claim.
Sure enough, the panel lit up with a new message:
[Through sincere heart and tireless effort, you have bound yourself deeply to a fate that once ran separate from yours. From this day forward, the stars of these maidens shall shine with you. Gained ability: Guided by the Moonlight.]
(End of Chapter)
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