Paimon: Lyney, those topics just now...
Lyney: I know you two don't really like their way of chatting, but they just want to give you the best things in their eyes.
Everyone then went to meet other members of the House of the Hearth and had a very pleasant conversation.
Lyney: Alright, let's head back now.
Paimon: Lyney feels a bit strange today.
Lyney: Do I? Maybe I'm just tired. Huh? Is that Freminet over there? Perfect, let him give me a hand, I'll cook myself.
Freminet stood in the distance, looking at something.
Lyney: Freminet, are you looking for something? We can help you find it.
Freminet: Ah?! It's you two. It's nothing, I was just looking for any extra supplies.
Lyney: Okay, what do you need?
Freminet: Dry rations, water, and some clean cotton cloth.
Lyney: Okay, dry rations, water... Wait, what do you need these for? Don't you have any outdoor missions recently? Don't you always eat with us?
Freminet: I... I get hungry at night, so I wanted to get more. Maybe it's because I'm growing.
Paimon: Uh... What a flimsy excuse (whispering).
Lumine: That's enough, Paimon, that's his family business.
Qixuan's gaze, however, turned towards the distant tent.
Qixuan: Found it.
Lumine: What?
Lyney: Freminet, do you remember what I told you? You're not like me, you haven't gotten used to lying. What exactly happened? Are you even hiding it from me?
Freminet: ... ...
Paimon: Um, maybe we should step aside?
Lumine: Don't make a sound, Paimon.
Paimon: Oh, okay.
Freminet was a bit flustered by Lyney's question.
Lyney: This is the first time I've seen that expression on your face. Is it related to 【Father】?
Freminet: Hmm... Come with me.
Freminet led everyone to a simple tent, and there... stood a cute little girl with pink hair.
Clervie: Welcome back! Huh? There seem to be more people today. Do we have new friends?
Qixuan: You felt it too, didn't you?
Lumine: Hmm... She...
Qixuan: Shhh... No need to say it out loud.
Paimon: What are you two talking about?
Lyney: Hello, I'm Lyney. I grew up in the House of the Hearth. May I ask who you are?
Clervie: Hello! I'm just like you, a child of the House of the Hearth too. As for my name, just call me Clervie.
Lyney: Clervie?
Clervie: Nice to meet you.
Paimon: Lyney, have you heard of this name?
Lyney told everyone to turn their backs and said,
Lyney: No, but I'm certain she's not on the House of the Hearth's roster. I don't know when she snuck in.
I guess she's most likely the 【Non-Existent Child】 【Father】 is looking for. Freminet, did you find her? Did you... not tell 【Father】?
Freminet: I... hid her here. I didn't tell anyone.
Lyney: Since when?
Freminet: About... half a month ago.
Lyney: Wasn't that when we first arrived in Poisson? Do you know what you're doing?
Freminet: I know.
Lyney: You're harboring someone 【Father】 is searching for! If 【Father】 finds out about this, all those who know will be punished together.
This is a rule of the House of the Hearth. 【Father】 will not accept any form of betrayal. You should be very clear about this. Why are you doing this?
Freminet: I've thought about it. I can't just hand her over. Lyney, do you remember when Shapiro almost lost his life last year? He was poisoned during a mission, and the poison acted up on his return. There was no one around him. That night, someone called me to wake up and told me to save him. I opened my eyes and couldn't find the source of the voice, but I still half-believed it and went to find Shapiro, which saved his life.
Lyney: You...
Freminet: Such haunted incidents have happened several times in the House of the Hearth. You should remember them too.
Lyney: You mean, she did all those things? She saved our family members?
Freminet: Unless there are other 【wandering spirits in the House of the Hearth】, there's no other possibility.
If Clervie were our enemy, whether she's a spirit or a child, I would act without hesitation, because that is 【Father】's command.
(After the execution... Arlecchino: What? You said that child's name is Clervie? Why weren't you brave enough to defy my orders!)
Freminet: But she lives with us and has secretly helped us a lot. I think she should also be regarded as family. I can't just deal with her without understanding anything.
(Arlecchino: You've been promoted, good boy.)
Lyney: Then have you thought about what to do next? She can't hide here forever; she'll be exposed sooner or later.
Freminet: I...
Lyney pulled Freminet aside for a conversation.
Meanwhile, Qixuan had already taken out a Homu doll and started playing with Clervie.
Clervie: It moves! How amazing.
Qixuan placed the Homu on the ground, and with a slight movement of her finger, the Homu doll stood up and moved without any stiffness.
Qixuan: Then I'll give it to you, okay?
Clervie: Really? But I don't have anything to give in return...
Qixuan: Giving it to a cute girl is free, of course.
Clervie: Thank you!
Lumine: Clervie, do you have any good friends?
Clervie: Yes, I do, but... I haven't seen her in a long time.
Paimon: Can't you find her?
Clervie: No, it's not that. Maybe... she's very busy.
Qixuan: Clervie, can we be good friends?
Clervie: Of course we can.
Qixuan: In that case, big sister will give you a welcome gift.
Qixuan secretly took out a jade pendant from her imaginary space, then infused some 【power】 into it.
Take it.
Clervie: This... is too valuable.
Qixuan: This symbolizes our friendship, you must accept it.
Paimon: Hmm... Qixuan-jie, why are you... (Muffled sounds).
Lumine quickly covered Paimon's mouth and dragged her away.
Clervie: Alright, thank you, Qixuan-jie.
Clervie put the jade pendant around her neck. The pendant emitted a faint glow, and then an energy, invisible to ordinary people, surged into Clervie's body, helping to stabilize her soul.
On the other side... Lyney and Freminet had also finished their argument... er, conversation.