"Traveler?"
"Little Amy?"
"Who, who is Little Amy?!"
Fischl's small face turned crimson as she denied the nickname.
However, because of this, the long-standing estrangement between the two, due to not seeing each other, instantly disappeared.
"Why are you at Wind Dragon Ruins? Are you on a mission?"
"I... cough cough, this Princess heard that the Crimson Evil Dragon abducted my subjects, and thus came here to rescue them. My other half, have you seen the Crimson Evil Dragon's figure?"
Jack was a bit confused and was about to activate his Grass elemental ability to hear Fischl's thoughts when Oz, sensing his duty, spoke.
"My Lady means that we received news from the Adventurers' Guild about pursuing and investigating the red giant dragon. It abducted Miss Barbara, and there are rumors that it flew towards Wind Dragon Ruins."
"You're looking for me?"
Just then.
The smoke from the Grass elemental chain explosion dissipated, and Barbara, unharmed under her shield, walked out. Her face was flushed with excitement and exhilaration. Clearly, personally defeating the elite monster Ruin Guard had given her the thrill of being a damage dealer in the team.
"Eh? Eh!!" Fischl pointed at Barbara in surprise. Then she looked at Jack again. In an instant, she suddenly understood.
"Oh ho ho ho, so that's it. As expected of my other half, to have completed the legendary quest of rescuing someone from the giant dragon's mouth before this Princess."
"Perhaps you don't know yet, but the fire dragon you drove away abducted Barbara this morning. Luckily you were active in this vicinity, otherwise Barbara would have been in danger."
Fischl, now serious, patiently explained to Jack in her unique linguistic style. Including how she received the quest from the Adventurers' Guild, and how she came to Wind Dragon Ruins with the help of the Guild's intelligence and people like Mona.
"I generally understand what happened." Jack helplessly waved his hand, "In short, it's not as bad as you think. I was just playing a game with Barbara, and even the fire dragon was an extra I found?"
"That's right, that dragon is my brother-in-law's friend. She was the one who carried us to Wind Dragon Ruins to play."
"Brother-in-law? Play?"
What is all this?! Fischl's little brain overloaded, and she covered her forehead, about to faint.
Jack stepped forward, catching her back, and the two assumed a romantic male-over-female dance pose. Looking at the man so close, Fischl became even dizzier.
Grumble~~
Just then, a strange sound came from Fischl's flat stomach.
"Cough cough, speaking of which, we haven't had dinner yet, have we, Barbara?"
"But brother-in-law, weren't we just... Oh, right, right! I've been exercising all day today, I'm starving."
Receiving Jack's eye signal, Barbara quickly echoed his words. But the way she rubbed her stomach, it looked a bit charming.
Jack only glanced at Barbara, not daring to look more.
"How about it, Your Royal Highness, would you grace us with your presence for dinner?"
Fischl's entire heart had been stolen by the man holding her, and she didn't notice Barbara's unusual behavior, saying haughtily,
"Alright... S-since my other half has so graciously invited me, this Princess has no reason to refuse."
"No problem, Your Royal Highness."
"No need to be so reserved, you are my other half, you may... you may call me by my name."
"Then Little Amy?"
"You... never mind, whatever. I grant you this privilege."
This nickname, which only parents and family members could use, felt somewhat embarrassing coming from the Traveler's mouth, but... it wasn't bad. Fischl thought so.
…
After some wandering. Jack led the two back to their previous camping spot.
As for exposing the fact that he and Barbara had already eaten dinner, the astute Fischl must have already figured it out. However, at a time like this, no one would bring up the truth. Everyone maintained a shared understanding and tacit agreement.
Before formally cooking dinner. Jack, the chef, still needed to ask about the customers' dietary restrictions.
"Little Amy, is there anything you'd like to eat today?"
"Just some grilled meat with bread will do. Of course, if there are noodles, that would be even better."
"Little Amy likes to eat noodles, huh? Alright, then I'll make noodles for you."
Jack took out his Serenitea Pot, preparing to get some ingredients from his home; he didn't carry noodles with him.
"Do you also like to eat the noodles he makes?" Barbara asked out of the blue.
Fischl belatedly blinked her eyes, then her face quickly flushed.
"Ah? Oh, y-yes... This Princess is quite fond of Flaming Chili Mince Meat Noodles."
"I wasn't talking about those noodles." Barbara said with an innocent look.
Then what noodles were you talking about! Is that how the Teyvat common language is used?
Fischl pretended not to understand, simply shifting her gaze to the calm lake surface to hide her turbulent inner feelings.
As for Oz, he had been put away by Fischl. As an elemental being, summoning Oz required consuming Fischl's elemental energy as a cost. Now, being hungry and having her safety secured, she could afford not to summon Oz, and also prevent him from exposing some of her girlish thoughts in front of the Traveler.
"Um, Miss Fischl, do you also like brother-in-law?"
Seeing Fischl not taking the bait, Barbara directly switched to a more straightforward phrasing.
"Li-like?! How could this Princess... By the way, why do you call the Traveler brother-in-law? Your sister is..."
"Acting Grand Master Jean, Jean Gunnhildr, she is my sister."
Hearing this answer, Fischl's heart was like a rollercoaster, changing from shyness to nervousness. Originally, she had thought that if Barbara's sister was an ordinary person, she might have a chance as a competitor. But since it was the perfect Acting Grand Master Jean, she didn't even have one-tenth of the confidence to win.
Barbara saw Fischl's mood turn low and became even more certain that she also liked Jack. Although there was a fleeting pang of sourness in her heart, she was still that angel.
So she gently held Fischl's hand and said,
"I can help you join the Traveler's family!"
"What?! Wait, Miss Barbara, do you know what you're saying? Are you and Acting Grand Master Jean actually on bad terms?"
Fischl was so nervous that her chuunibyou didn't even act up, and she started speaking normally.
Barbara shook her head: "No, my sister cares for me very much, and I love her very much too."
"Then you're finding women for your sister's man, isn't that intentionally causing her trouble?"
"Sister won't be unhappy. She once talked to me and asked me the same question."
Starting from the next few sentences, Fischl felt her brain and worldview begin to reconfigure.
"Sister asked me if I also liked brother-in-law, and I answered yes."
"I said I was worried she'd be unhappy and had never dared to tell her, but sister just gently comforted me."
"Jack doesn't belong to any one person, but at the same time, he belongs to everyone. If you like, express it. If you love, say it. Don't make excuses for your timidity, just charge forward."
"No matter what happens, no matter the outcome, don't leave any regrets, because he will bear everything for you, because he is such an overbearing yet gentle man."
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