Mondstadt Bridge.
The wind blew in from Cider Lake.
Timmie stood at the head of the bridge.
Before him gathered a flock of cooing pigeons.
"Eat… eat… my friends…"
He scattered breadcrumbs, a trace of melancholy on his face that didn't belong to a child his age.
"Don't be afraid… I'll protect you…"
Venti, Lumine, and Paimon stopped at the other end of the bridge.
"That's him!" Paimon whispered.
"Shh." Venti made a quieting gesture.
Lumine adjusted the violet goggles over her eyes.
She looked toward Timmie.
And—
She froze.
"Traveler?" Paimon poked her. "Do you see the super huge pigeon?"
Lumine didn't answer.
Behind the lenses, her pupils contracted slightly.
At that very moment—
The pale blue screen lit up across all of Teyvat for the third time.
[System]: "Temporary Q&A session initiated."
[System]: "Question: Mondstadt citizen Timmie. What is his 'imaginary friend'?"
The chatroom exploded.
[Chatroom – Diona]: "Timmie? Oh! That annoying kid who feeds pigeons every day! He scared off my customers last time!"
Chatroom – Paimon: "Feeding pigeons… fowl meat… Sweet Madame…"
[Chatroom – Lumine]: "Paimon. Your drool."
Chatroom – Timmie: "…! You're not allowed to talk about my friends!"
[System]: "Warning: @Timmie. The concerned party is forbidden from answering. Consequences will follow."
Four options appeared.
[A. King of the Pigeons]
[B. Ruin Guard]
[C. Acting Grand Master Jean]
[D. His Father]
Chatroom – Arataki Itto: "HAHAHA! The great Arataki Itto's turn again! Watch and learn, you amateurs!"
[Chatroom – Kuki Shinobu]: "Boss, calm down… you just finished dancing…"
Chatroom – Arataki Itto: "Isn't it obvious?! He feeds pigeons every day! Of course it's a pigeon! Definitely A! King of the Pigeons! Sounds awesome! I choose A!"
[System]: "@Arataki Itto, incorrect."
[System]: "Incorrect answer confirmed. 'Targeted' punishment for @Arataki Itto will be issued."
Chatroom – Arataki Itto: "Targeted? Hahaha! As if I'm afra— huh?"
Inazuma. Hanamizaka.
A flash of light appeared before Arataki Itto.
A table.
On it—
A mountain.
No, a towering pile of golden, steaming… tofu.
Beside it, a barrel of miso soup.
[System]: "Punishment: Consume the 'Extra-Large Deluxe Fried Tofu Feast.'"
Itto's face turned green.
Chatroom – Arataki Itto: "W-Wait! Bean products?! Are you kidding me?! I'm an oni! Oni can't eat beans! I'll— I'll die!"
He turned to run.
"Thud!"
An invisible barrier bounced him back.
[System]: "Refusal detected. Enforcement will proceed."
A massive mechanical arm made of blue light materialized in midair.
It grabbed a slab of fried tofu.
"NOOO—! Help! Shinobu! Save—"
The arm moved.
Precise.
Merciless.
Stuffed.
Across all of Teyvat's screens, a close-up appeared of Arataki Itto being force-fed tofu.
His face shifted from green to blue to purple.
His eyes rolled back. His body convulsed.
"My… dignity…"
"Thump."
He fell flat, unconscious.
The mechanical arm vanished. The tofu mountain disappeared.
[System]: "Punishment complete."
[Chatroom – Yoimiya]: "…Wow. That's rough."
[Chatroom – Kamisato Ayato]: "Oh? Oni cannot eat soy products. How… fascinating."
[Chatroom – Kuki Shinobu]: "(Facepalm)… Boss… rest in peace."
[System]: "Q&A continues."
Silence filled the chatroom.
Even Itto had been struck down…
"Hmph!" Paimon floated forward. "Useless guy! Watch me!"
Chatroom – Paimon: "A is definitely wrong… B, a Ruin Guard? No way! Timmie's super timid!"
Chatroom – Paimon: "D, his father? …That might be possible… but…"
Chatroom – Paimon: "C! It's C! Acting Grand Master Jean! Timmie must admire her just like Nora does! I chose C!"
[System]: "@Paimon, incorrect."
[System]: "Punishment will be executed immediately."
Paimon stiffened.
She clamped her hands over her mouth in horror.
[System]: "Punishment: Taste deprivation. Duration: One month. During this period, all food will be flavorless."
"…Flavor…"
"…less…?"
She stood frozen for three seconds.
Then—
"WAAAAAAAAAAAAH—!!!"
Her shriek echoed through Mondstadt.
"No! My food! My delicious food! No flavor?! That's worse than death!!"
She grabbed Lumine's hair and shook her violently.
"Traveler! Save me! I don't want tasteless barbecue! I don't want it!"
Lumine calmly pried her off.
"…Serves you right."
[System]: "Q&A continues."
Only B and D remained.
Lumine stood at the bridgehead.
She removed the goggles—
Then put them back on.
Through the violet-tinted world—
Beside Timmie.
Behind the flock of pigeons.
Stood a massive, cold, silent… shadow.
Lumine inhaled slowly.
[Chatroom – Lumine]: "I choose B. Ruin Guard."
The entirety of Teyvat fell silent.
Chatroom – Kaeya: "…What? A Ruin Guard?"
[Chatroom – Lisa]: "Little cutie… are you certain? That child… with that big fellow?"
[Chatroom – Beidou]: "You're joking, right? That thing would scare off every pigeon."
[System]: "…Answer correct."
[System]: "@Lumine. Reward issued."
[System]: "Congratulations. You have obtained the special talent: 'Treasure Hunter's Instinct.'"
Chatroom – Paimon: "(Sniff) T-Treasure…?"
[System]: "Talent Effect: When equipped, you will never overlook any treasure chest within your line of sight. All chests, no matter how well-hidden, will be highlighted. The system will automatically plan the most efficient route for collection."
"..."
"..."
"WAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH—!!!"
Paimon resurrected instantly.
No more tears.
She zipped in front of Lumine, eyes gleaming with Mora-gold light.
"Treasure chests! Traveler! Treasure chests!"
"We're rich! We'll never worry about Mora again!"
Even Lumine's eyes lit up.
Money.
This talent was practically—
"Paimon!" Lumine grabbed her shoulders.
"Yes!"
"You endure this month."
"No problem!" Paimon thumped her chest, practically drooling. "One month? Even a year! For treasure chests—I'll endure it!!"
"Let's go! Chest hunting!"
[System]: "Broadcast continues."
The screen did not vanish.
It flickered and switched to live footage.
The camera focused on Mondstadt Bridge.
The image showed exactly what Lumine saw through the goggles.
Timmie in the foreground.
Pigeons in the middle.
And behind them—
A gigantic Ruin Guard.
Rust-covered. Moss-grown.
Standing motionless.
Like a statue.
Its single eye dim and lifeless—
Yet staring straight into the distance.
Timmie turned and gently patted the Ruin Guard's cold leg.
"Big guy. Thanks for always staying with me."
"With you here… the bad guys… won't ever hurt my friends again."
Across Teyvat—
Dead silence.
Chatroom – Arataki Itto: "(Just woke up)… Ugh… beans… huh? WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?!"
[Chatroom – Raiden Ei]: "…To befriend machinery. Is this… another form of 'erosion'… beyond eternity?"
On Mondstadt Bridge—
Paimon stared at the broadcast.
Her face turned pale.
"R-R-R—"
"RUIN GUARD AHHHHHHHH—!!!"
She shrieked and dove behind Lumine, trembling.
"It—it's going to spin! It's going to fire missiles! Run, Traveler!"
Lumine removed the goggles.
She glanced at the near-fainting Paimon.
Then on the screen.
Calmly, she spoke.
"Paimon."
"W-What?!"
"Say the line."
"What line?!"
"You know the one."
Paimon froze.
She looked at the enormous mechanical construct…
And understood.
Trembling, she peeked out from behind Lumine.
Cleared her throat.
Summoned every ounce of courage—
Pointed at the screen and shouted:
"…The area ahead is highly dangerous. We'd better come back later!"
Lumine nodded solemnly.
"I agree."
[System]: "Act One – Imaginary Friends… concluded."
The screen slowly dimmed.
Only Paimon remained, patting her chest in lingering fear.
"…A Ruin Guard… as a friend…"
She let out a long sigh.
"The children of the City of Freedom…"
"…are really too free."