The hut fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Everyone was waiting for Kapachiri's choice.
Who would be her temporary mother?
Would it be me?
The moment this thought flashed through their minds, the situation shifted subtly.
Especially for Ei, the Cryo Archon, and the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata.
They exchanged glances, maintaining their divine composure without making a move.
But their inner thoughts were laid bare.
The ownership of Qin Yu's "good daughter"?
This was another form of Archon War.
In that case...
"Heh heh... don't feel pressured, you can choose anyone," the wife said with a slight smile, radiating motherly warmth.
"This child and I are fated," the human wife Ei said calmly, raising her delicate chin slightly.
After all, this child had called her "Mommy Ei" the moment she was born.
And those beautiful purple eyes.
She was the most suitable person to be this temporary mother.
"..."
Her Majesty the Cryo Archon's gaze was indifferent, her fingertips tapping lightly on the table.
Whether she became a mother or not was irrelevant.
Once she brought Qin Yu back to Snezhnaya for the marriage alliance...
"Ahem, I think this kind of joke is best avoided...!"
Qin Yu coughed lightly and gave Kapachiri a look.
This was a life-or-death question, one she couldn't answer!
He didn't want to be the focus of attention at future academic conferences.
"Hm?"
Kapachiri tilted her head, her pure purple eyes blinking softly.
Suddenly, her long, beautiful eyelashes fluttered, and she understood something.
Daddy was urging her to quickly choose a mother!
Kapachiri understood everything.
She resolutely raised her small face and scanned the women around her.
As a good daughter, a thoughtful little padded jacket.
She wanted to choose a mother that would make Daddy satisfied!
"?"
Qin Yu was taken aback by Kapachiri's sudden surge of spirit.
This wasn't right, why was she getting more motivated?
The third little padded jacket was about to spring a leak!
"But... it's so hard to choose."
Kapachiri murmured, her small face looking a little dejected.
The other "bad women" were directly filtered out.
The remaining candidates were Mommy Ei, Mommy Rukkhadevata, Mommy Keqing, and Mommy Nilou.
Plus the Cryo Archon.
Why couldn't she have several mothers at the same time?
Kapachiri fell into deep thought.
This problem was still too difficult for a child.
"If it's hard to decide, why not add some other conditions to filter them?"
The young aunt whispered in her ear, subtly guiding her.
Miss Fox was enjoying the show and stirring up trouble.
"I... I understand."
Kapachiri's purple eyes lit up, as if she had thought of something again.
In her innocent mind, bigger things were more powerful.
So...
Her gaze swept over Keqing and Nilou, and she shook her head.
Not big enough.
"???"
Keqing and Nilou instinctively clutched their chests, feeling offended.
What was with that regretful look!
"Still remaining are..."
Kapachiri looked at Mommy Ei, Mommy Rukkhadevata, and Mommy Cryo Archon.
In her small eyes, there was great confusion.
She observed the mothers' ample bosoms carefully, once again falling into a dilemma.
This size... seemed to be on par.
She couldn't choose.
"..."
Thinking of this, Kapachiri raised her small face and looked at Qin Yu.
Her lips were slightly pursed, and she looked wronged.
As if to say:
Daddy, quickly tell your daughter which mommy is bigger.
"?"
In the room, the gazes of several gods shifted again.
They all focused on Qin Yu simultaneously.
"Why are you looking at me?"
Qin Yu pointed at himself, his face darkening.
Now it was his turn to face the life-or-death question.
Questions about who was bigger...
He actually knew!
After all, he was a man who had explored the Abyss firsthand and operated deeply, so his feelings were naturally different.
In fact, their sizes were almost the same.
If he had to say, Qin Yu would vote for the human wife Ei.
But the Cryo Archon hadn't been touched yet... cough, no.
What was he thinking at a time like this!
"Heh... heh heh... just choose whoever you want."
Qin Yu had completely given up struggling, waved his hand, and slumped down like a salted fish.
Bring it on, even the third Archon War, he would accept it.
"...Mhm!"
Kapachiri received her daddy's encouragement and finally made her decision.
She slowly raised her hand, her fingertip moving between the Electro Archon, the Cryo Archon, and the Dendro Archon.
The temporary mother would be born from these three gods.
"..."
Just as the women held their breath, their spirits highly concentrated, waiting for the final result.
Suddenly, with a loud crash, the door of the wooden hut was pushed open forcefully.
"?!"
Everyone was startled and instinctively looked over.
A figure clad in pure white rushed in like a whirlwind.
Accompanied by a shower of star-like, dreamlike light, a small figure appeared.
She held her little head high, hands on her hips.
"Ta-da! We... are here!"
Paimon opened her eyes, her small face full of excitement and pride.
How about this surprise...?!
Suddenly, the air froze.
Paimon stiffened, her gaze meeting the eyes of the women in the hut.
Electro Archon, Cryo Archon, Dendro Archon, Hydro Archon, Flora Archon: ?
Paimon: ?
The familiar feeling, like returning to Celestia, felt strangely comforting.
Bah, comforting my foot!
"Ah, this."
Qin Yu looked at the suddenly appearing little Paimon and was momentarily stunned.
If the mascot had shown up, wouldn't that mean—
"Pant... pant... Paimon, why are you flying so fast!"
Outside, a girl in a white dress, as pure and clear as sunshine, ran in, leaning on the doorframe, slightly out of breath.
She should have made it, right?
Thinking of this, the girl raised her face.
In her heart, an emotion called joy grew stronger and stronger, until it shone brightly.
"Qin Yu!"
"Lumine."
Qin Yu looked at the girl with a flushed face, slightly out of breath, and said softly.
That's right, the girl who suddenly appeared was his maid, Lumine!
Before the touching atmosphere of reunion could build up.
"?"
Lumine blinked her eyes, and like Paimon, she met the gazes of the women in the hut.
Why were there so many people.
Raijin, Kusa, Hyō, Suishin, Kajin: ...
Lumine: ...
Suddenly, she noticed the unfamiliar black-haired, long-haired girl.
"...Why are you pointing at me?"
Lumine's confused voice was like a thunderclap.
Ei, the Cryo Archon, and Rukkhadevata were slightly taken aback.
They only then noticed that Kapachiri, startled by the commotion, had instinctively pointed towards the door.
And standing at the doorway was only Lumine.
Kapachiri's temporary mother was her!
"..."
Qin Yu felt the tense atmosphere and silently covered his face.
Finally, he looked up and smiled at Lumine:
"Coincidentally, one of your travel goals is to find the Seven Archons, right?"
"Hm? Why are you suddenly talking about this?"
Lumine hummed softly, puffing out her cheeks slightly.
The scoundrel who made her a maid to pay off debts.
When would she be able to escape this hardship and leave Qin Yu's side sooner!
[Lumine, all the Archons are here.]
Qin Yu's suppressed chuckle sounded in Lumine's mind.
"Oh, it's just... Huh?!"
Lumine instinctively nodded, then her eyes widened.
What did she just hear—!
As Lumine stood there in a daze.
"Tsk... the dazzling sunlight, I can't nap again."
A lazy voice, tinged with sleepiness, sounded from outside.
The next moment, a woman with a graceful figure, mysterious aura, and elegant charm appeared, leaning in the doorway.
A smile played on her exquisite face as she looked at Qin Yu.
Her deep emerald green eyes twinkled teasingly, as if holding countless secrets.
"Long time no see."
It was Qin Yu's personal secretary, Miss Yelan.
"Yelan? You two come in quickly..."
Qin Yu reacted, stood up, and was about to welcome the two women in.
Even though there were many people, they could still manage...
But when he saw two more elegant figures behind Yelan, he completely abandoned his previous thought.
"Who are you...?"
"Hello, Mr. Qin Yu, my name is Barbara, nice to meet you!"
"Eula."
Qin Yu stared at the two women, one sweet and one cool, who had suddenly appeared, and was stunned.
They were from Mondstadt?
The small camp could no longer bear it.