Happy Birthday, Nahida

Xingsu looked at Paimon in front of him and sighed helplessly, "Um... Paimon, how did you come to such an absurd conclusion?"

Paimon floated in the air with his chest puffed out, his little face full of serious pride, and he spoke eloquently, "According to the usual plot of a novel! Xingsu, as the protagonist of the novel, falls into the enemy's illusionary trap, and after going through all kinds of hardships, he finally finds the flaw in the illusion."

Then the protagonist is often prepared to make sacrifices, face enemies a hundred times stronger than themselves, and be ready to overturn the table with the enemy.

Ultimately, because the villain had something to lose and couldn't afford the consequences, they chose to negotiate with the protagonist.

Xingsu's lips twitched. "Because there are so many flaws, I didn't even know where to begin my rebuttal."

Nahida listened intently, her emerald eyes shining slightly, and she murmured in amazement, "So there are such wonderful ways to write stories? It seems I still have so much to learn..."

"Don't try to learn everything!"

Just then, Ying, who had been quietly watching the show, suddenly brightened up as if she had been enlightened. She looked back and forth between the petite, emerald-green Nahida and Xingsu beside her, and suddenly understood.

"I think I know! You just said the key to breaking the deadlock lies with her, so her abilities must play a crucial role. And Nahida looks green and is quite small, which means..."

Xingsu breathed a slight sigh of relief upon hearing this, secretly rejoicing: Finally, there's a normal person who can make sense of logic.

"Oh, thank goodness, at least there's someone who understands."

The next second, Ying pointed her finger directly at the bewildered Xingsu, and declared firmly, "This proves you illegally employed child labor!"

Xingsu:???

What are you talking about?

Paimon instantly realized what was going on, and immediately pulled Ying aside for a quick glance. The two of them quietly stood on either side of Nahida, adopting a protective stance, and didn't forget to give Nahida a reassuring look.

"I see!"

"Don't be afraid! We'll contact the disciplinary officer right now and get you rescued!"

Are these two people in front of me really human?

"Nahida."

"Uh-huh?"

Clearly, Nahida didn't understand what role she was playing either, and could only stand there blankly watching the three of them.

Has the Akademiya considered opening a special education school?

Nahida nodded blankly, then replied earnestly, "Hmm... I'll consider it. Gaining wisdom and knowledge is an inherent right of everyone."

"Huh?!" Paimon instantly grasped the key point and exclaimed in surprise, "So Nahida is from the Akademiya?!"

"I have a feeling she's going to say something weird again."

"So the Akademiya also employs child labor?!"

"... I knew it would turn out like this."

Paimon, his face filled with shock and indignation, asked frantically, "What do we do now?! Xingsu and the Akademiya are in cahoots! Who can we ask for help?!"

"Hey... I'm still right here..." Xingsu was too lazy to argue anymore.

Nahida gently raised her hand, pushing aside Ying and Paimon who were blocking her way, and looked directly at the two of them.

"Alright, let me make everything clear. I am Sumeru, the Lesser Lord Kusanali of Buer."

"Oh, so you weren't a hired child laborer, you're just a simple little... Lesser Lord Kusanali?!" Paimon exclaimed belatedly.

"That's right, the real deal."

Paimon suddenly turned to look at Xingsu: "You, you really found the Lesser Lord Kusanali!"

"That's right."

"So now you should be the president of the 'Becoming the Cutest Lesser Lord Kusanali, Guardian of Light' support group!"

Xingsu:?

Is that the main point?

Don't worry about those key points.

"Since you are the Lesser Lord Kusanali, why are you only showing yourself now? And it seems the sages of the Akademiya have done some very wrong things to you. Has the Akademiya imprisoned you?!"

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to stay out of the public eye, I just think it's not the right time yet."

Her voice was soft and gentle, carrying an undisguised sadness and confusion.

"I just feel that I'm not yet qualified to be a leader. I can't yet possess the gentleness and strength of the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata. I'm still too weak and unworthy to lead my people. So I'm working hard to learn and observe humanity until one day, when I'm recognized by everyone, then I will..."

"No, Nahida."

Xingsu patted her head, just like he would a member of the family in the House of the Hearth.

"You have already gained everyone's approval."

He paused, looked at Dunyarzad who was sleeping on the hospital bed, and then turned his gaze back to Nahida.

"But, I..."

"There are no 'buts'. The Greater Lord Rukkhadevata has her own achievements and glory; it's her own story. You've always wanted to become like the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata, but how can you prove that the one standing here is the Lesser Lord Kusanali, and not a replica of the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata?"

Nahida slightly raised her head, her emerald eyes trembling gently as she stared blankly at Xingsu.

"But... I'm still very weak, and there are many things I can't do."

"Then try your best to do it. I think even some sages can't do those things. Their deliberate efforts to elevate the Greater Lord Rukkhadevata and suppress your existence haven't made Sumeru any better. I think they're just trying to control Sumeru, and those words are just shackles they use to bind you."

"Then let us begin with this Sabzeruz Festival, and save your people."

"Yes! I understand." Nahida nodded with a smile.

"It seems like we were the two of us asking the questions, so why are they the only ones talking?" Paimon hovered in mid-air, quietly leaned close to Ying's ear, and whispered, his tone tinged with a little grievance.

Ying slowly withdrew the faint, scattered lightning around her, gathering all the restless elemental energy into her body, and nodded gently, replying in a low voice:

"This isn't our area of expertise; let's just leave it to these two 'dream experts'."

As soon as their hushed conversation ended, Nahida looked up at them and said, "Traveler, I will explain everything about this dream to you. Xingsu will use the power of memory to protect your brain, ensuring that it doesn't suffer from irreversible confusion due to your concepts and perceptions of reality and dreams."

Ying nodded vigorously immediately. "Okay! The most important thing now is to get out of this dream as soon as possible and save Dunyarzad."

After hearing the whole story, Paimon suddenly understood and grasped the logic instantly. He then spoke with great enthusiasm:

"I see! So our ultimate goal now is to find the true protagonist in this endless dream. Once we break the root of the problem, everything will end, right?"

Nahida smiled gently and praised, "What a smart child! He understands so quickly."

I'll stay here to stabilize Dunyarzad's vital signs and prevent her from suffering a backlash when the dream collapses. I'll leave the task of breaking the illusion and finding the root cause to you two.

"Don't worry! Leave it all to us!" Ying and Paimon replied in unison, full of fighting spirit.

The two didn't linger any longer, turned around and quickly left, heading into the dreamlike streets to search for clues.

The room finally quieted down.

Xingsu slowly crouched down, looking directly at the petite Nahida, and softly offered a belated but most heartfelt blessing:

"By the way, Nahida, happy birthday."

Upon hearing this blessing, Nahida was slightly taken aback.

She gently raised the corners of her lips, her soft voice carrying a barely perceptible sob and joy:

"Yes! Thank you... This is the first birthday greeting you've ever given me in person in all these years."

"By the way, I'm still a little concerned... about that 'Becoming the cutest Lesser Lord Kusanali who protects the light' support group you mentioned before... what exactly is it?"

"Ahem, ah... well, that's a matter for later, let's talk about it later!"

"Hmm? Okay..."