Paimon asked in utter bewilderment, "Huh? Why? If Tighnari became a sage, we'd have more people backing us up when we went adventuring in Sumeru."
Tighnari merely smiled faintly. "Heh, I never liked the working atmosphere at the Akademiya. Rather than taking part in those mysterious grand projects of theirs, I'd prefer to use what I know and have learned to make tangible improvements to the rainforest's environment.
"After all, my major was botany. Without the broader environment of the rainforest, my knowledge would be like a castle in the air-impressive but impractical. As for helping people grow a brain, that isn't my area of expertise.
"If you want someone to back you up in Sumeru, you can ask Cyno for help. He wields considerable power now, with the Matra under one hand and the Sumeru Army under the other. As for Alhaitham, from what I know of him, if you want his help, you'd best not approach him during his time off."
Lumine said, "The Sumeru Army? Sumeru has its own army? Do you mean the Corps of Thirty from before?"
Tighnari smiled. "More or less. Previously, Sumeru City employed the Corps of Thirty as mercenaries. But after that operation of yours, both Lesser Lord Kusanali and the Akademiya's scholars felt that a city defense force like that wasn't enough to protect Sumeru's people.
"So the Akademiya provided the funding for Cyno to select the best members of the Corps of Thirty and recruit suitable talent from across the country. The guards now not only hold official posts within the Akademiya, but also fall under military command. The days when scholars could order the guards around as they pleased are over."
Paimon nodded. "In that case, this policy really was necessary. Mondstadt has the Knights of Favonius, Liyue has