No. I had to find a way to pull the plot back on track.
If nothing else, Lumine had to become an Honorary Knight.
That title was deeply intertwined with countless events later on.
If it went missing now, the butterfly effect could spiral out of control and cause far greater deviations.
"Ahem… it's nothing,"
Lin Mo said awkwardly. "I just thought the hero who saved Mondstadt would be granted the title of Honorary Knight."
"Oh? And what's that title even good for?"
Paimon asked curiously.
"Uhh… honor? Respect?"
"Ehh~ then it doesn't sound that useful at all~"
Paimon clearly wasn't impressed.
Lumine's expression didn't change either.
She didn't seem to care much about the Honorary Knight title.
What they didn't know was that this very status would allow them, during their travels across Teyvat, to quickly earn the trust of strangers—
to be entrusted with all kinds of requests,
to experience countless touching, bittersweet, and joyful quests.
Sure, they were basically being used as errand-runners, but the journey itself was full of meaning.
Luckily, it wasn't too late.
Since he and Jean had already recognized each other, Lin Mo could always ask her to formally grant Lumine the title later.
For now, the main plot mattered most.
Lumine needed to obtain the Skyward Lyre before the Fatui stole it.
With that in mind, Lin Mo asked warmly,
"Since you're planning to retrieve the Skyward Lyre, would you like me to apply for an official Knights of Favonius permit for you?"
"Ah—really!? We can!?"
Paimon's eyes lit up instantly.
"Of course,"
Lin Mo nodded. "Come with me. Let's go find Acting Grand Master Jean and get the authorization."
"Wow~ you're such a good person!"
Paimon exclaimed. "We just met, and you're already helping us this much!"
"Thank you, Mr. Ganqing,"
Lumine said quietly.
Though her expression remained calm, the gratitude in her voice was sincere.
But just as Lin Mo started leading them toward the Knights' headquarters,
a realization struck him.
Jean and Eula had gone out specifically to look for Lumine and Paimon.
They weren't at headquarters at all.
"Mondstadt is so big… how are we supposed to find them before midnight?"
Lin Mo wondered.
Then he spotted a familiar, adorable figure in the distance.
Klee.
An idea instantly formed in his mind.
As the saying went—
Fireworks in the city, report to solitary confinement.
Bombs hurt people, and Jean comes knocking.
"Klee—!"
Lin Mo raised his arm and called out loudly. "Come here for a second!"
"Brother Ganqing~~!"
Klee immediately dashed over, her short legs pumping furiously.
A few seconds later, she skidded to a stop right in front of him.
"Eh~ it's Klee!"
Paimon said in surprise.
"Hm? You know her?"
Lin Mo asked.
"We do, we do~!"
Klee eagerly answered. "Before the dragon crisis, the Traveler and Paimon took Klee fishing with bombs~!"
Lin Mo smiled and bent down, lifting her into his arms.
"Then tell me, Klee—do you want to play with Jumpty Dumpty right now?"
"Eh~ really!? I can!?"
Klee's eyes sparkled.
But the next second, she grew nervous.
"B-but… this is inside the city. If Klee plays with bombs, Master Jean will put me in solitary confinement…"
"It's okay,"
Lin Mo said gently. "Brother Ganqing promises you—this time, Master Jean won't scold you, and you won't be grounded."
"Eh~ really?"
Klee blinked in disbelief.
"Yes. But this Jumpty Dumpty has to be thrown into the sky, okay?"
Lin Mo glanced at her backpack and continued with a grin,
"Do you want to set off a huge firework over Mondstadt?"
"A huge firework…"
Klee's eyes filled with stars as she imagined it—
a magnificent explosion blooming across Mondstadt's night sky.
"Brother Ganqing~ use this one, this one~!"
She rummaged through her bag and pulled out a bomb bigger than her own head.
"Hehe~ This is a super–super enhanced version of Jumpty Dumpty that Klee secretly made, but never dared to use~!"
Holding the bomb, she asked timidly,
"Brother Ganqing… can Klee really detonate it?"
"Of course you can,"
Lin Mo nodded. "Just throw it into the sky. I'll handle the rest."
"Yay~!"
Klee hopped down from his arms excitedly.
Lumine and Paimon instinctively took several steps back.
Paimon swallowed nervously.
"Paimon doesn't really know what Mr. Ganqing is planning… but Paimon has a really bad feeling about this…"
Nearby, Barbatos also frowned slightly.
He could feel the terrifying concentration of Pyro energy within the bomb.
There were plenty of civilians strolling through Mondstadt Plaza.
His statue wasn't far away either.
Detonating something that powerful here…
Was this really okay?
Just then, Klee cheerfully announced,
"Alright, Brother Ganqing! Klee's gonna throw it now~!"
"Mm. Go ahead,"
Lin Mo said calmly.
"Hehe~"
"Jumpty Dumpty—!!"
Klee hurled the bomb with all her might.
It arced high toward the center of the plaza.
As it began to fall, about to explode upon impact,
Lumine, Paimon, and Barbatos all instinctively squinted.
At that exact moment—
"Let the wind rise."
Lin Mo spoke softly.
A powerful updraft surged from the point of impact.
The bomb, which should have detonated on the ground, was violently swept upward, rocketing into the sky.
Carried by the rising wind, it soared higher and higher—
to a height twice that of the Cathedral of Favonius.
Then—
BOOOOOOM!!!
Thunder roared across the heavens.
In an instant, the night sky above Mondstadt blazed as bright as day.
Every resident in the city jumped in shock.
"What was that!? Is Stormterror attacking again!?"
As panic spread, everyone turned toward the source of the explosion.
"So… so beautiful…"
"What day is it? Why are there fireworks?"
"Fireworks are banned in Mondstadt! Who would set off something this gorgeous?"
…
The massive blossom of light blooming in the sky caused quite a stir.
But for a brief moment, it also washed away the gloom left behind by the dragon crisis.
Back in Mondstadt Plaza—
"Wow, Klee, you're amazing!"
Paimon exclaimed, staring at the firework.
"That bomb must've been insanely powerful, right~?"
"Hehe~"
Klee scratched her head shyly.
She knew it was praise,
but in Master Jean's eyes, powerful bombs only meant scolding.
Just then—
"KLEE!!!"
"I told you—no playing with bombs inside the city!!"
An angry voice rang out.
Lin Mo turned toward the sound.
When he saw Acting Grand Master Jean and Eula approaching,
a smile curved at the corner of his lips.
Summon Jean plan—successful.
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T/N:
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