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[Genshin Impact] Chapter 457: Awakening
🕑 Added 2025-04-27 05:07:01 +0000 UTCOnly about 6,000 Adventure EXP remained—not enough to do much—so Nolan closed his character panel and started walking back toward Tighnari’s place.
After a long period of contemplation, Lumine had more or less grasped the nature of the force behind the "Eleazar" affliction.
It was much faster than the originally estimated two or three days.
Not only did she master the power behind Eleazar today, but she also managed to cleanse about a third of the Eleazar corruption from Collei’s body.
Such a major breakthrough naturally had to be shared with a close friend.
Right now, Collei was excitedly chatting with Amber, who had just been teleported here after her shift. To Nolan, she seemed noticeably more cheerful and lively.
After all, the disease that had plagued her for so long was finally nearing a cure—even a rock would feel like jumping for joy in such a moment.
“Aren’t you the guy who went out with Tighnari? What took you so long to get back?”
Paimon asked curiously.
“Oh? So you’re saying Tighnari’s already back?” Nolan responded casually, then gave a brief rundown of what he’d been up to today.
“I finished clearing out the ‘Withering Zones,’ went to Sumeru City to save the our Dendro Archon, and drove off both ‘The Doctor’ and ‘The Wanderer.’”
“Whaaat?! You went and did all that behind our backs?!”
Paimon’s starry eyes widened in shock.
Even Lumine, who had been chatting with Amber and Collei, looked over with puffed cheeks, her expression saying: _Why didn’t you take me with you?!_
“Well... I just wanted to scout Sumeru City ahead of time. I didn’t expect all of this to happen,” Nolan coughed lightly, a bit embarrassed.
“As expected of a legendary adventurer—only someone capable of shifting the course of events could be praised so highly by the world,”
At that moment, Tighnari walked in from outside, speaking with admiration.
He had long suspected that the Grand Sage and his people were up to no good, but he hadn’t imagined it was this serious—they had dared to imprison the little Lord Kusanali.
What shocked him even more was that Nolan had resolved everything in just a day or two after arriving in Sumeru.
It was terrifyingly impressive!
“Ahem, come on, stop that. It was just a small effort,” Nolan said, unable to take the direct praise.
“Hehe, no need to be modest. Since so many good things happened today, let me prepare a special rainforest feast for everyone,”
Tighnari smiled, clearly in high spirits as well.
“Yay!”
Paimon twirled excitedly in midair.
—Wonderland—
After finishing dinner, Nolan and Lumine returned to rest. They also brought back some fruit for everyone.
“These are red-heart grapes, unique to the Sumeru rainforest. Looks like they were just freshly picked.”
“Aww, you sweethearts went on an adventure to Sumeru and still remembered to bring gifts back home. I’m touched,”
Lisa, sitting on the couch, looked at the big basket of grapes Lumine was holding. Her eyes sparkled like emeralds.
She stood up and gently pinched Lumine’s soft cheeks.
She used to be quite fond of this type of grape back when she was studying in Sumeru.
But due to the long distance involved...
These red-heart grapes, which only grow in rainforest environments, were practically impossible to transport all the way to Mondstadt for sale.
So when Lisa, who hadn’t tasted this fruit in ages, suddenly saw that Nolan and the others had brought some back, she was pleasantly surprised.
“Hehe, Tighnari said it’s a special variety he’s cultivated with great care. Not only are the grapes bigger and sweeter—they’re seedless too!”
Paimon grinned as she explained.
“Carefully cultivated?”
Sucrose, wearing a short white top that revealed glimpses of her black halter-style undergarment, perked up her fluffy animal ears instinctively at the mention of something in her field of research.
“Yup! We met a botanist in Sumeru named Tighnari—you two might have a lot in common,”
Paimon said with a cheerful nod.
“A botanist… If even Paimon’s complimenting him like that, he must be quite accomplished. Now I’m really curious—maybe I could learn a thing or two about plant research from him.”
Sucrose took a sip of tea, her voice filled with interest.
“Hm… Tighnari… I think I’ve heard of him. A distinguished scholar. I believe he works in Avidya Forest now. Not human, if I recall correctly—possibly of a long-lived race.”
Lisa let go of Lumine’s cheeks and thought for a moment as she spoke.
“Eh? So Tighnari’s from a long-lived race?” Paimon was a bit surprised.
“Well, look at those long ears—it’s pretty clear he’s not human. A longer lifespan isn’t all that surprising,”
Nolan muttered as he tiredly sat down on the couch. Maybe Lisa had only just stood up, because he could still feel the lingering warmth where she had been sitting.
When it came to the topic of longevity—so long as everyone continued to live in the Wonderland, their lifespans could be extended indefinitely.
He didn’t have to worry about not being able to be with them forever. That thought brought him peace.
“Now that you mention it, I’m curious what race Tighnari really is,”
Paimon said, her frown relaxing.
“Why not just ask him tomorrow…” Lumine said while placing the basket of red-heart grapes on the dining table.
But before she could finish her sentence, two figures came rushing down the stairs from the second floor.
It was Fischl and her familiar, Oz.
Fischl stopped midway down the stairs and called out toward them:
“Foolish attendant, come quickly! When I was putting something away in the storage room, I saw the salt—it's glowing!”
“I sense a terrifying aura,” Oz added, voice low and serious.
“Oh?”
There was no doubt the salt Fischl mentioned was the **Divine Salt**—and if it was suddenly glowing… could it mean the **God of Salt** was about to awaken?
Nolan considered this possibility deeply.
“Oh dear~ Didn’t you say that salt was the remains of the God of Salt? Are we about to have another god living in this house? Ugh, my status is going to drop again~!”
Lisa gave Nolan a mock pitiful glance.
Among all the girls in the Wonderland, her age had given her the edge to proudly call herself “big sister.” Even in front of Jean and Eula, she could still stand her ground.
In that sense, she had more or less taken on the role of “head of the house.”
But ever since Raiden Ei and Raiden Makoto—two actual gods—moved into the Wonderland, she felt like her position had dropped two ranks.
Now, with the possible arrival of a third goddess—the God of Salt—her top spot was under threat again.
“……”
Nolan gave Lisa a helpless look. _Why’s she suddenly so hung up on this?_
He stood up and wrapped his arm around her, pulling her into a gentle embrace.
He gave a light pat on her soft rear, hidden beneath the hem of her blue dress, and chuckled:
“Alright, let’s go check it out together. If the God of Salt really is waking up, that’s a good thing.
“She’s a relic from the Archon War era—if you’re all curious about what happened back then, we can ask her ourselves, right?”
His less-than-convincing attempt at justification drew a round of judgmental side-eyes from the girls.
_Please, we’ve been together long enough—we all know what’s really on your mind!_
---
(End of Chapter)
