Cyno said, "One story was enough for you to reach a conclusion. It seems you know a lot of things I don't."
"So what did you gather from it?"
Lumine answered firmly, "The one who truly protected the village was the Lesser Lord Kusanali."
Cyno's eyes widened in shock. "You're saying... the Lesser Lord Kusanali?"
Paimon said, "Yes, yes! What, don't you believe it? It must have been the Lesser Lord Kusanali who left her power on those mad scholars through the Akasha."
Cyno said, "It's not about believing or not believing—it's that your reasoning is surprising. The Lesser Lord Kusanali—the current Dendro Archon—is still active in Sumeru?"
"The Akademiya places far more importance on the deceased Greater Lord Rukkhadevata and completely disregards the Lesser Lord Kusanali. I've been influenced by that mindset as well."
"Besides, I've never heard anything about the Lesser Lord Kusanali myself. She's like a nonexistent god."
[Paimon: The future Cyno, as the General Mahamatra, doesn't even know about the Lesser Lord Kusanali's deeds? It seems most of Sumeru's citizens don't know about her either.]
[Nahida: Compared to the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, I'm still far from qualified. I'll keep working hard.]
[Dehya: No, you're more qualified than anyone. It's not your fault—it's the Sages' fault. They've treated the deity like a tool.]
[Yae Miko: That description is very apt and precise.]
[Paimon: That just makes me angrier.]
[Wriothesley: Simple. Then make the Grand Sage and his ilk become tools for entertainment instead.]
Paimon argued angrily, "Nahida is not a nonexistent god! She's a kind, gentle, wise deity who just talks a little strangely sometimes."
[Nahida: Do I talk strangely?]
[Paimon: It's not normal human style, anyway.]
[Nahida: Human thoughts are indeed hard to understand. They always come up with unexpected reactions.]
[Lumine: Maybe you should live among humans for a while.]
[Paimon: But Nahida is locked up! She must want to interact with humans too, right?]
[Lumine: I'm sorry.]
[Nahida: Sorry? Why are you apologizing?]
[Lumine: I misspoke.]
[Nahida: What you just said was a statement of fact.]
Lumine said, "Not long ago, I worked with Nahida to save Sumeru City."
Cyno crossed his arms seriously. "I often interrogate criminals. I can tell when someone is lying."
Paimon replied seriously, "Then you should know we're telling the truth."
After observing closely, Cyno said, "That look in your eyes—it's not the look of a liar. It seems you really have had contact with the Lesser Lord Kusanali."
"How could this be?"
"So the deity has been by our side all along."
[Nilou: The deity has always been living among us. We've been dancing joyfully under her light...]
Just then, a child appeared from behind and asked blankly, "Excuse me, are you here to help me find my grandfather?"
Paimon spread her hands. "And who are you?"
Cyno stepped forward. "Your accent and mannerisms—you're a local."
The child introduced himself. "My name is Isak. You're going to help me find my grandfather, right?"
Cyno asked, "Is your grandfather one of the village guardians?"
Isak said, "Don't call him that! Grandfather is just Grandfather. Why do you have to call him that? He's not a bad person."
Cyno took a deep breath. "Your grandfather isn't a local, but you are a child of this village. Why do you call him grandfather?"