Dunyarzad turned to look at Lumine. "Lumine and Paimon, you are so punctual. I am so glad you made it back to celebrate the Lesser Lord Kusanali's birthday."
[Paimon: What a coincidence. It turns out to be the Lesser Lord Kusanali's birthday.]
[Lumine: Yes. This should be the most important day in Sumeru.]
[Ningguang: Mr. Zhongli, do you have any plans to celebrate your birthday with everyone this year?]
[Zhongli: Too many years have passed. I no longer remember my birthday. Let the Lantern Rite be my birthday.]
[Lumine: The day you fully became Zhongli could also be considered your birthday.]
[Ningguang: A deity's birthday is a very significant occasion.]
[Keqing: As for birthdays, I remember celebrating them enthusiastically every year as a child. But as I grew up, such celebrations became rare.]
[Ningguang: When I was a child, my family struggled financially. To be honest, I have never celebrated a birthday.]
[Paimon: Let us celebrate properly together during the Lantern Rite.]
[Ningguang: But did we not hear that no one in Sumeru remembers the Lesser Lord Kusanali anymore?]
[Nilou: There are still some believers of the Lesser Lord Kusanali in Sumeru. For example, I, and Dunyarzad, are both fervent admirers of the Lesser Lord Kusanali. Dunyarzad suffers from severe Eleazar. Hosting the Sabzeruz Festival has always been her wish. She has spent a considerable amount of Mora on it.]
[Nahida: This is my first birthday in five hundred years.]
[Paimon: That suddenly makes me feel very sad.]
Lumine said, "I am so glad we did not miss this day."
Dunyarzad nodded earnestly. "That is right. Tomorrow is the festival. Having prepared for so long, I cannot help but feel a little nervous."
Paimon waved her hands. "No need to be nervous. The Lesser Lord Kusanali will surely feel everyone's sincerity."
Dunyarzad had already prepared a place for Lumine and Paimon to sleep.
They agreed to meet again at the bazaar the next morning.
Paimon was very excited. "I feel so looking forward to it too. Will there be any delicious food at the Sabzeruz Festival?"
[Yae Miko: Little Paimon, is there anything in your head besides food?]
[Paimon: There is also Miko!]
[Lumine: You cannot eat Miko.]
[Yae Miko: ... On second thought, a mysterious flying creature might taste better. Flying animals tend to be chewy and very firm.]
[Paimon: No! Do not eat me!]
[Furina: Hahaha, emergency food little Paimon!]
"Stop, stop. If we keep talking, I will be too hungry to sleep. We need to go inside. Traveler, let us go to our room."
The next day, when Lumine arrived at the meeting spot, Dunyarzad was already ready and waiting at the agreed place.
"Good morning, Dunyarzad. Ah, it seems we overslept a little." Paimon scratched her head apologetically.
Dunyarzad shook her head. "Not at all. I came too early."
"Ah, this day has finally arrived. Every minute and second is as precious as gold."
Paimon gestured. "You have put so much into this day, Dunyarzad. You must keep your spirits up and enjoy it."
Dunyarzad nodded. "That is right. I just could not sleep last night. I hope my body does not hold me back."
"Well then, let us set off. Let us browse the stalls over there first."
With that, Dunyarzad led the way to the market street.
"Many merchants have come to set up stalls for the Sabzeruz Festival on their own, and they have refused subsidies. Let us go show them some support first."