Genshin x Minecraft: Building the Temple of Virtue

Seeing Yae Miko in such a frantic state, Ryen didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He had actually intended to speak with Makoto and the others regarding the Shogun’s situation.

Although the Shogun wasn’t technically ”dead,” she existed only as a consciousness; within the logic of the MC World, she certainly qualified as the type of entity that could be revived. By using a Totem of Undying, the Shogun could not only act as an independent individual from then on, but she would also retain a level of power comparable to Ei’s.

Inazuma was about to accidentally stumble into gaining yet another top-tier Archon-level combatant. It was a good thing, overall. However, Ryen figured that Makoto and the others would likely notice this possibility themselves while they were busy reviving the Kitsune Saiguu. There was no need to make a special point of reminding them.

Ningguang and the others also rose to take their leave. The Lantern Rite was approaching; even though the Ministry of Civil Affairs handled the heavy lifting, they still needed to sign off on the final confirmations. Furthermore, they needed to brief the military on the upcoming Lantern Rite competitions.

Venti, Diluc, and a few others cornered Zhongli, stubbornly insisting that he help them test the recent improvements to their strength. Xiao and the other Yakshas followed them out. The rest of the group scattered to attend to their own affairs as well.

Before long, only Ryen and Paimon remained in the room.

Ryen took a leisurely sip of his tea, already sensing Paimon’s extreme nervousness. The little creature was wound tight, her body stiff as a board. She kept stealing glances at Ryen out of the corner of her eye before immediately lowering her head, looking for all the world like a child who had done something wrong.

After an indeterminate amount of time, Ryen noticed that Paimon looked as though she were about to burst into tears. Finding the situation quite amusing, he finally spoke.

”Everyone’s gone. Can we talk business now? Should I call you Paimon, the flying mascot, or Lord Paimon, the Sustainer of Space of the First Throne?”

Paimon gave a violent start, frantically diving into Ryen’s arms.

”No, no, no! Paimon will always be Lumine’s best partner and Ryen’s little flying pet, Paimon! Paimon isn’t some Sustainer of Space!”

Ryen nodded slightly and spoke in a soft voice. ”We met Istaroth in Inazuma. She isn’t dead.”

Ryen watched Paimon’s expression closely. She didn’t seem surprised at all by the news of Istaroth’s survival. He guessed that the little one remembered quite a lot. Or perhaps, her memories had recently begun to return?

Paimon also knew she couldn’t keep things from Ryen at a time like this: otherwise, he would surely grow suspicious of her. She bit her lip and looked at him cautiously.

”If Paimon tells Ryen everything, will Ryen still hold Paimon like this? Will you still spoil Paimon?”

Ryen chuckled and pinched Paimon’s cheek, teasing her. ”Who do you take me for? I am the Lord of the Outer Domain, an entity that has assimilated the fundamental power of the Imaginary Tree. Even if you were Phanes himself, it wouldn’t make a difference to me. What, are you hoping you can actually pose a threat to me? In my eyes, all existences in this world are equal. Of course, a well-behaved, obedient, and cute little girl might enjoy a few extra privileges.”

Hearing this, Paimon immediately let out a massive sigh of relief. She hugged Ryen’s neck and gave him a happy peck on the cheek.

”So, I’m still your favorite Paimon, right? And I will always be?”

Ryen didn’t answer with words, simply offering a light smile and a nod.

”Hooray! Ryen is the best! Paimon loves, loves, loves Ryen the most!”

Having let go of her deepest fear, Paimon nuzzled into Ryen’s chest with innocent affection.

”Let’s get to the point,” Ryen said, helplessly squeezing her cheek.

Paimon giggled. ”What does Ryen want to know? Paimon can tell you everything, but the memories Paimon just recovered are still so few...”

Ryen’s eyes flickered. After a moment of silence, he asked softly: ”Why does Istaroth remain in the past? What exactly is this ’fated cycle’ that the First Throne is planning?”

Paimon thought for a moment, then shook her head with a bright smile. ”Paimon doesn’t know!”

”...”

Ryen’s face darkened. He held Paimon up, pretending to be angry. ”You little brat, are you playing with me?”

Paimon hurriedly replied: ”Paimon really doesn’t know! Paimon only recovered some memories recently. Paimon only knows that she is the Sustainer of Space from the First Throne. Other things really aren’t clear, especially things concerning Big Sister Istaroth and that guy Asmodeüs... However, my memory-intuition tells me that the ’fated cycle’ Big Sister talked about seems related to the safety of Teyvat, and even the Imaginary Tree...”

Saying this, Paimon scratched her cheek, looking troubled. ”Paimon doesn’t remember... anyway, it won’t affect Ryen!”

Ryen nodded thoughtfully, then asked: ”Is Istaroth the leader of the Four Sustainers?”

Paimon nodded her little head vigorously. ”That’s right, that’s right! Big Sister Istaroth is the most powerful! She’s much stronger than that guy Asmodeüs! Wait... why does Paimon have such a bad impression of Asmodeüs?”

As she spoke, even Paimon began to feel a bit puzzled herself.

Ryen chuckled. ”Based on the information I’ve gathered, Asmodeüs is very likely the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles.”

”The Heavenly Principles?!” Paimon was shocked. She grumbled: ”Doesn’t that mean Asmodeüs betrayed us?”

Ryen rolled his eyes. As expected, he couldn’t rely on this little one; the things she knew were even fewer than what he had already deduced.

”Do you remember Baal?” Ryen asked casually.

The Four Pillars, after all! Logically, Baal should be the head of the Four Pillars.

”Baal... isn’t that Makoto?” Paimon looked at Ryen in confusion, then mumbled: ”Is she one of the Four Sustainers too? Well, Paimon does feel a strange, inexplicable closeness to Sister Makoto.”

Fine! Ryen sighed internally. He decided to stop asking her about the political structure of the First Throne. Every question was met with ignorance; it was hard to tell who was supposed to be providing answers to whom!

”Tell me then, when exactly did you recover your memories?” Ryen looked at Paimon with a grin.

Paimon looked a bit guilty. ”Paimon will tell you, but you can’t hit Paimon!”

”I’ll consider it.”

”Ugh... three months ago...”

”...”

Ryen’s expression turned grim. He held Paimon up by her collar and brought her level with his eyes. ”So you recovered your memories three months ago, and you’ve been playing dumb and acting cute for me this whole time? I never realized you were such an Academy Award-winning actress!”

Paimon stuck out her tongue guiltily. ”At that time, Paimon ate ten Enchanted Golden Apples in a row, and for some reason, these memories just came back. Paimon was scared! Paimon was worried that you and Lumine wouldn’t want me anymore, so Paimon didn’t dare say anything...”

Ryen gave Paimon’s bottom a light, playful swat. ”No matter who you are, as long as you are Paimon, you will always be my little flying pet.”

”Ryen...” Paimon’s eyes shimmered with emotion as she looked at him.

”What is your relationship with Phanes?” Ryen asked.

Paimon replied immediately: ”No relationship! None in the past, none now, and none in the future! Paimon only likes Ryen!”

Ryen found this quite funny. ”I mean, rumors say that Phanes created the Four Sustainers from his own shadow, and created the eggshell to shield Teyvat...”

Hearing this, Paimon curled her lip and complained: ”Although Paimon doesn’t remember very clearly, how could that guy possibly have that kind of power? We Four Sustainers are essentially the power of the Imaginary Tree itself; how could he manage such a feat? In my memory, it seems he signed a contract with us. We helped him drive away the Seven Dragon Sovereigns, and then... ugh... Paimon doesn’t remember.”

Ryen nodded privately. So far, what Paimon said aligned with what he had heard from Istaroth and his own deductions.

”Istaroth mentioned a ’Lord God.’ It seems this Lord God is your true master. So... is His name Belial?”

Paimon’s cheeks puffed out instantly. She said crossly: ”Paimon doesn’t have a master! Even if she did, it would only be Ryen! What Belial? what Lord God? Paimon doesn’t know!”

Ryen observed Paimon carefully. She didn’t look like she was lying. He estimated that her memory recovery was very limited. The information he got from Paimon was actually less than what he had already guessed.

”Tsk.” Ryen curled his lip. ”How about you eat another few dozen Enchanted Golden Apples?”

”No way!” Paimon glared at Ryen. ”Why are you so obsessed with Paimon recovering all her memories? What if Paimon stops liking you once she remembers everything?”

Ryen had a moment of realization. No wonder Paimon never touched Enchanted Golden Apples anymore, even though they tasted great. It turned out she was afraid that if she remembered more, she would stop being the person she was now. She was very satisfied with her current life and didn’t want to break this peace. With Ryen and Lumine, she was happy as she was.

Ryen pulled Paimon close and gently rubbed her head. ”If you don’t want to know, then you don’t have to know. No one is allowed to plot against my Paimon. You can just focus on being a little do-nothing; I’ll protect you.”

Hearing this, Paimon rubbed against Ryen with a face full of bliss. After a long while, she said in a muffled voice: ”Ryen, Paimon has also recovered a part of her power... I can use subspace to attack enemies now. It should be roughly equivalent to an entry-level Archon.”

Ryen nodded slightly, not taking it too seriously. Still, he couldn’t help but feel some respect for the strength of the Four Sustainers. Recovering just a fraction of her power allowed her to reach a level beyond the imagination of ordinary people. It was clear how powerful the Four Sustainers were in their prime.

However... looking at the Paimon in his arms who was acting spoiled and cute, Ryen felt a sense of irony. No matter how strong she was, this little one would always be the flying pet hiding in his arms.

As he thought about it, Ryen suddenly looked at Paimon with a meaningful expression.

”In my original world, we have your myths as well. The Four Pillars of the Seventy-Two Demons. King Paimon.”

Hearing this, Paimon’s eyes lit up with joy. ”Really? Paimon’s reputation is that great?”

Ryen nodded with a smile. ”Quite great indeed. One of the Four Pillars, a King of the Dominions, knowledgeable in science, art, and secret magic, and teacher of these secrets to mankind. Commander of two hundred legions of demons and twenty-five legions of angels. A King of the highest rank.”

Paimon nodded along with a satisfied expression, her little head held high with pride.

”Keep praising, keep praising! Don’t stop! Say a few more things! That’s right! Paimon is just that powerful! A ruler! A King of Angels!”

Ryen gave a mysterious smile. His tone shifted as he looked at her with deep intent.

”However, the so-called King Paimon is described as having a female face but a male body, what one might call androgynous. So, little Paimon, are you a boy or a girl?”

As the words fell, Paimon’s face froze. After an eerie silence, she clutched her head in terror.

”Ehhhhh?!”