Inside the game arena.
Sigewinne cautiously made her way down the hallway.
She had realized something important.
Hiding in a dead-end was a terrible idea.
If Valerius found her there, she'd have nowhere to run and would be eliminated on the spot.
So she had left her original hiding place in search of somewhere that offered both concealment and an escape route.
She had already picked the perfect location.
Outside the changing room grew a row of evergreen shrubs.
They weren't particularly tall, but they were more than enough to hide her tiny frame.
More importantly, if she hid there, she'd be able to spot Valerius immediately and flee if necessary.
Fortunately…
She hadn't encountered him on the way.
After turning several corners, she arrived outside the table tennis hall.
Once she got past this area, she'd be safe.
Keeping low, her little legs moved as fast as they could.
She slipped past the building and rounded the back.
"Huh…?"
"…Eh…?"
"…What…"
Sigewinne froze.
What…
What was she looking at?
Lisa was sitting on top of Valerius…
And she had even taken out a rope.
Was this… some kind of adults-only scene?
This is being livestreamed!
You two are seriously playing this boldly?
"…Uh…"
Lisa was just as stunned.
She looked at Valerius…
Then at the rope in her own hands…
Only then did embarrassment explode across her face.
She had been so focused on tying Valerius up that she'd completely forgotten how compromising their current position looked.
"D-Don't misunderstand!"
"I'm only trying to restrain Valerius!"
"I understand."
Sigewinne nodded.
Of course you're restraining him.
You even brought out a rope.
"N-No!"
"It's not what you're thinking!"
"You two carry on."
"You two carry on."
Turning around, Sigewinne fled as fast as she could.
Since Valerius was already here…
She'd have to find somewhere else to hide.
Still…
She couldn't help thinking…
The people of Mondstadt sure know how to have fun…
"Now's my chance."
Lisa was still frozen in embarrassment.
But Valerius seized the opportunity.
Earlier, Lisa had twisted his arm behind his back, leaving him unable to exert any strength.
Now that she'd relaxed for just a split second…
He immediately planted a hand on the ground, twisted his body, and threw her off.
Then he reached out.
The rope returned to his hand.
"Hmph."
"You actually thought you could tie me up?"
Now Valerius was grinning triumphantly.
He had almost fallen for her trick earlier.
Without another word…
He quickly tied Lisa up instead.
After everything she'd just put him through…
There was no way he was eliminating her that easily.
He had to get a little revenge first.
"So…"
"How should I deal with you?"
A wicked grin spread across his face.
Lisa shivered.
"Y-You…"
"Don't do anything weird…"
"As if I'm the weird one."
Rolling his eyes, Valerius noticed there was still extra rope left.
So he simply tied Lisa securely to a nearby tree.
"Now."
"Tell me."
"What were you laughing at?"
"I wasn't laughing."
"You think I'm deaf?"
"Was my singing really that bad?"
"N-No!"
"It was good! Really good!"
Lisa hurriedly defended herself.
Truthfully…
His singing wasn't bad at all.
It was just…
What in the world were those lyrics?
"Proud and mighty?"
"Hmph."
"So…"
"I've caught you now."
"Do you want to avoid the punishment?"
"Yes!"
Lisa nodded repeatedly.
She had assumed being the first eliminated guaranteed punishment.
She hadn't expected there to be another option.
"Good."
Valerius pulled out a small card and held it in front of her.
"Sing this."
"If you do…"
"I'll go eliminate someone else first."
"…Really?"
"Of course."
"Fine."
To avoid punishment…
Lisa steeled herself.
It's only singing.
How hard could it be?
[Bronya: Shameless…]
[Diluc: At least it's only singing. That's acceptable.]
[Jean: Yes… as long as she avoids punishment.]
[Herta: What are you thinking? He's obviously lying to her.]
[Albedo: What do you mean?]
[Jing Yuan: Since these games began… have you ever seen Valerius show favoritism?]
[Jean: S-So… even if Lisa sings… she'll still be eliminated?]
[Qingque: Obviously.]
[Barbara: ...…]
He was too evil.
Valerius was far too evil.
"The cowboy rides so proud and strong~~~"
"Again."
"Put some feeling into it."
"The cowboy rides so proud and strong~~~!"
"More emotion."
"Can't you sing properly?"
"I…"
"Of course I can!"
Lisa wanted to cry.
This guy has absolutely no shame.
Suppressing the urge to strangle him…
She gave it everything she had.
Anything to avoid punishment.
Meanwhile…
Hidden behind a nearby corner…
Hu Tao watched Sigewinne hurry away.
The little Melusine's face was bright red.
Curious, Hu Tao tilted her head.
"What happened?"
"Why'd she come back so quickly?"
She'd seen Sigewinne head that way earlier.
How had she returned so soon…
Looking like she'd witnessed something she absolutely shouldn't have?
"…Should I go take a look too?"
Unable to contain her curiosity, Hu Tao quietly slipped out of hiding and crept toward the table tennis hall.
"The cowboy rides so proud and strong~~~!"
"Huh?"
As she drew closer…
She heard someone singing.
Why was someone singing?
Weren't they afraid Valerius would hear them?
"…Wait."
Hu Tao's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Could this be…"
"A mission?"
Earlier she'd found a mission herself and received a pretty decent reward.
Afterward…
Every mission location had disappeared.
She'd assumed everyone could only complete one.
But now…
Listening to Lisa singing…
She concluded this had to be another mission.
Which meant…
This mission hadn't disappeared.
So…
Could she complete it too?
She didn't think the odds were good.
But…
What if?
She continued forward.
"The cowboy rides upon my heart! I'd melt within your broad embrace~~~!"
"Oh wow…"
"That's quite the song."
Hu Tao burst into laughter.
She immediately recognized Lisa's voice.
But…
What kind of lyrics were these?
One moment it was proud and mighty…
Now it was melting in someone's embrace?
She quickened her pace.
"Give me one encounter upon the endless green pasture! Give me one glance—hot~~ and~~ burning~~!"
"My goodness…"
"First proud and mighty…"
"Now hot and burning…"
"What kind of mission is this?"
Hu Tao's curiosity had completely taken over.
She hurried the rest of the way.
Finally…
She rounded the corner and cautiously peeked around the wall.
"…Huh?!"
In her imagination…
Lisa should have been completing some kind of mission.
But…
That wasn't what she saw at all.
Under a tree…
Lisa was tied to the trunk…
Passionately singing at the top of her lungs.
Meanwhile…
Valerius stood in front of her, swaying happily and keeping the beat.
"…You people are really into some wild stuff."
The scene before her was so shocking that Hu Tao couldn't help shivering.
She couldn't help admiring Lisa.
The people of Mondstadt are fearless.
They're livestreaming this… and they're still playing like this.
And judging from Valerius's expression…
He seemed to be enjoying himself.
"…Is this how he and Shenhe play together at home too?"
[Shenhe: ...…]
[Cloud Retainer: Hehe… Even I find myself curious now.]
[Neuvillette: I still don't understand humans…]
He simply couldn't understand.
If you wanted to eliminate someone…
Then eliminate them.
Why make them sing first?
Was this…
Some sort of ritual?
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