I Accidentally Got Isekai'd To Teyvat!

So there I was again, victorious, glorious, and possibly wanted by at least three departments of the Akademiya. But none of that mattered now.

Why?

Because it was Nilou Time.

After sending that ancient dustbag Azar back to the retirement home with a few strategically placed elemental-infused slaps, I finally got to plop my butt down on the warm stone steps of the Grand Bazaar. Mission "Punch Bureaucracy" was a success. Radish Archon, that one's for you. (More revenge coming soon. Stay tuned.)

The crowd slowly quieted, the lights dimmed, and there—stepping into a spotlight crafted from Dendro and actual divine-level charisma—was Nilou.

And I?

I was not prepared.

Like. Not. At. All.

"Ghhh—" I choked on my breath, feeling actual tears spill from my face. Greg tightened his grip on my shoulder, possibly because he thought I was dying. I blacked out twice. I think I saw Celestia. Not the city—like, the literal divine realm opened its doors to me and went, "Bro, you good?"

Nilou moved with such grace, I swear I almost handed her my whole wallet. And possibly my soul. If she asked nicely.

Lumine, sitting beside me with her arms crossed and a faint blush on her cheeks, leaned in slightly and whispered just low enough for me to catch, "She really is graceful... I wouldn't even mind if it were her. But between us... I'm definitely still the cutest."

Girl.

We all know you're cute, don't make me cry again.

Paimon was floating mid-air, happily munching on some skewers that I know she didn't pay for. I mean, she's broke. Like, morally bankrupt and financially drained. And yet somehow still had snacks.

I glanced at Greg.

He was squinting. I didn't like that.

"Don't you dare, lizard," I whispered. "Find your own redhead."

Greg blinked once. Judging. Calculating. Possibly plotting Nilou's kidnapping.

I squinted harder.

The moment the final notes of Nilou's dance ended and the petals showered around her like the blessing of every romantic bard in history, the plaza erupted in applause.

And I, the fool, stood up and screamed, "MARRY ME!"

There was a collective gasp.

Lumine hit me with her elbow.

"Too far?"

She sighed. "A little."

"She didn't say no, though."

Greg looked smug.

After that glorious cultural and emotional high, we all dove headfirst into Festival Mode.

Me, Lumine, Paimon, Greg (lizard of questionable moral compass), Nilou, Dunyarzad (who insisted she was totally fine now), and even Dehya (still flexing her new greatsword every 15 seconds) decided to explore the Grand Bazaar like it was our first day out of the Monstadt kindergarten.

We tried all kinds of booths.

Paimon won a plush toy somehow. It was shaped like Zhongli. I am not joking. Keqing would really love to have that one.

Lumine refused to leave the stall selling Dango Milk until the Inazuman vendor gave her a discount out of fear.

Greg got kicked out of three food booths for being too judgmental.

I challenged Dehya to an arm wrestling match.

Lost. Instantly. (But it's fine. I made up for it with style.)

We even passed by a fortune-telling booth. I, being the enlightened man-child that I am, had to try it.

The fortune-teller looked into her mystical leaf pile and said: "You will be stressed because of a certain blonde... and a redhead."

I sat there in deep thought.

"So basically a win," I said proudly. Lumine slapped the back of my head.

We stumbled upon a booth that made balloon creatures. Greg demanded one shaped like a Pyro Slime. The vendor failed. Greg refused to blink at him for ten minutes. The man quit the business that night.

Then we ran into a mirror maze. I got lost. Twice. Ran into myself. Scared myself. Paimon had to guide me out with snack bribes.

We watched a group of children perform a short skit of "The Legend of the Lizard Prince." Greg was so moved he climbed onstage, posed like a true hero, and then pooped dramatically as his finale. Kids gave him a standing ovation.

We passed a booth that let people try on traditional Sumeru garb. Dehya shoved a set into my arms and said, "Put this on, Festival Prince."

A few minutes later, I emerged looking like someone who lost a bet with fashion, and everyone was wheezing.

Nilou clasped her hands, giggling. "You look... radiant."

Lumine muttered, "You look like a shiny cabbage."

"Fashion is pain," I declared proudly.

Then came the spice challenge. A food stall dared us to eat their infamous Dragonfire Samosas. I took a bite.

I screamed.

Paimon swapped hers with mine before the contest started. That sneaky floaty mushroom. I saw my life flash before my eyes. Greg licked the air and passed out.

We even did a sand art contest next. Mine looked like a slime who gave up on life. Dunyarzad's was actually beautiful. Dehya made hers explode on purpose. Greg made one shaped like my head and then stomped on it. I think he won.

Then we found a magic show booth. I volunteered. They made me disappear. For twenty minutes. No one came looking.

"I assumed you were stuck in another domain," Lumine said casually when I reappeared.

"Paimon assumed he broke it," said Paimon.

Nilou just laughed. "Well, at least you made the act exciting."

Later, someone handed me a mini drum and asked me to perform for the crowd. Why? I have no idea. But I accepted. What followed was a rhythm game performance that involved me juggling, backflipping, and summoning tiny Geo platforms while yelling, "THIS ONE'S FOR YOU, NILOU!"

I hit myself in the face with the drum.

Greg applauded.

The night started to fall, lights from the bazaar glowing bright and warm like stars that decided the sky was overrated.

Dunyarzad pulled us all together for a photo. Yes. A photo. With one of those strange Sumeru gadgets that somehow printed images from memories.

Greg photobombed it.

Classic.

Then there was a quiet moment. No music. No drama.

Just us. Laughing. Alive.

Nilou leaned closer, whispering, "Thanks... for today. I really needed this."

Lumine glanced over at me, then at Nilou. "Honestly, he's a lot to deal with, but... sometimes, I think it's a good thing he's around. At least it means we never get bored—and we can laugh a little even when things are heavy."

Dehya chuckled, arms crossed as she looked at the chaos incarnate that was me, clearly amused. "That disaster of a human may be exhausting, but... at least he keeps things interesting. Wouldn't have it any other way."

Nilou smiled softly, still holding onto the memory of my confetti ambush and dramatic drum solo. "He might be a handful, but... today felt like a real dream come true."

Lumine sat nearby, glancing at me with a faint smirk. "Dream or fever dream, still up for debate. But I guess... having him around makes it easier to forget the heavy stuff for a while."

Greg flopped dramatically onto my shoulder, tail flicking like he was claiming all credit for the day's fun.

"Oi," I muttered, nudging the smug little gremlin with my finger, "half those good memories were mine, you freeloading fashion-judging fruit snack."

He licked my ear.

I screamed.

Everyone laughed again.

Greg hopped on my head. Crown acquired.

And then, for a brief, golden moment, we were just a group of friends laughing under lanterns.

No danger.

No gods.

No loops.

Just laughter.

Just us.

...for now.

***

So there I was, finally... sitting. On a bench. Doing absolutely nothing for once. A rare sight to behold, truly. If there was an Archon of Resting, I was ready to be their blessed champion. The others were off doing festival-y things—Paimon was probably trying to barter stolen snacks, Lumine was off keeping the gremlin lizard Greg from starting a fruit-flavored black market, and me? I was just staring at the fake sky.

Yup. Fake. Totally artificial. Like one of those painted ceilings in fancy restaurants back on Earth. Beautiful? Absolutely. Real? Nah. I've known that since Natlan. I even mentioned it once in Chapter 17, didn't I? Or was it 18? Anyway, the point is—this sky's as real as my chances with Ningguang. Still pretty to look at, though.

And just as I was contemplating life, questionable decisions, and why I still have emotional baggage bigger than my inventory limit, someone sat beside me.

"What are you doing here all alone?" a soft voice asked.

Oh no.

Oh no no no.

It was her.

Nilou.

My brain immediately stopped working. Like someone had slammed the emergency shutdown button inside my head. Steam was probably rising from my ears. My soul tried to eject from my body out of pure panic, but gravity held it down.

"I—I uh—" I choked, coughing up my dignity. "You know, just chillin'. Like I won't be causing trouble in, like, five minutes."

She giggled. Actually giggled. Which made me glitch a little harder.

Nilou followed my gaze up toward the sky. "It's beautiful, isn't it?"

I blinked and muttered, "It's not real though."

She looked at me, confused for a second, then laughed softly. "You're so silly, Shigeru."

I blinked. Did she—? No, no way.

She glanced at me again. "I want to get to know you better, Shigeru."

"Wha—huh? Like how? In what manner of knowing are we talking about? Like casual? Existential? Physically or spiritually? Is there a questionnaire involved—?"

She smiled and tucked her hair behind her ear, looking unfairly perfect. "Just you. Being you."

My brain: blue screen of death noises.

I forced myself to look back up at the sky to avoid combusting entirely. Deep breath. Don't panic. You've stared down Fatui Harbingers, Abyss Lecters, and the wrath of Lumine's frying pan. You can do this.

"How about... I tell you about my origin?"

She tilted her head. "Origin?"

"Yeah, like, my backstory. Tragic edition. With bonus trauma."

Nilou nodded, interested.

"So here's the deal," I began, sitting up straighter. "I'm not from this world. I'm from a place called Earth. It's like Teyvat but with less magic and way more taxes. One day, this metal beast called a truck decided to run me over. Boom. Dead."

Nilou's eyes widened slightly, not in fear, but curiosity. I continued.

"Next thing I knew, I woke up here. Like some messed-up game of reincarnation bingo. Apparently, fate spun a wheel, landed on 'isekai protagonist,' and here I am."

She laughed lightly, though her eyes were filled with understanding.

"Also, Teyvat—this whole world? It was a game back in my world. So I kinda... know things. I knew about people, places, plotlines. It's like watching your favorite movie and suddenly getting cast in the sequel."

Nilou gave a thoughtful nod. "I guess that explains why you act like you know everyone... and everything. Like an observer."

I grinned. "Damn right."

She tilted her head again. Adorable. Dangerous. Deadly.

"Is that also why you like me? Because you already knew me from before?"

My grin faltered.

She got me.

I looked back at the sky, quieter now. My voice came out softer, more real.

"It's... like that. But also different."

Nilou said nothing, just watched me with those kind eyes.

"There was someone," I said. "Back in my world. She dressed like you. Moved like you. Looked at the world the same way you do. She saved me. Pulled me out of the dark. Introduced me to this game. This world. She brought me here. Brought me back to life."

I smiled faintly to myself.

"And because of her... I fell in love with Teyvat. With everything in it. That led me to you. And your character. And suddenly... it wasn't just admiration. It was something more. It became real."

Nilou remained silent, her gaze softening.

"She left. Disappeared. Just like that," I said, voice tightening. "But... she left behind memories. Pieces of herself. And I carried them with me."

I finally looked at Nilou.

"And those pieces led me here. To you. That's why... even if it started because of her, what I feel now is entirely mine. And real."

She smiled then, and it felt like something inside me unclenched.

"That girl," she asked, barely above a whisper. "Are you still... in love with her?"

I shook my head slowly. "I don't. But I can't pretend she didn't matter. I've moved on, yeah. But it'd be a lie to say she didn't shape me."

I looked down at my hands, flexing them slightly.

"The pain she left behind... made me more honest. Made me see people—not just characters. It's what makes what I feel for you even more real."

Nilou didn't say anything. She didn't need to.

Her hand gently brushed mine.

We sat in silence, not awkward, but full. The kind of quiet where the world didn't feel heavy. Just calm.

I looked back up at the sky. The fake, painted, too-perfect sky.

"I finally said it..." I muttered to no one. "I finally let out everything. Yana..."

A single tear slid down my cheek.

I closed my eyes.

And then I fell asleep.

_____________________

End of chapter 99

Quests Completed:

*Witness Nilou's Dance of Sabzeruz (and cry like a simp)

*Fortune Reading of Doom (Blonde & Redhead Combo)

* Prevent Greg from starting an underground bootleg fruit trade

*Keep the festival alive (by force, enthusiasm, or both)

*Achieve True Rest (while emotionally exhausted)

* Confess a painful backstory (Isekai Edition)

*Address Past Love: Completed with 1 emotional point

*Unlock Emotional Honesty Buff with Nilou

Rewards:

*Front-Row View of Nilou's Dance 

*Cognitive Clarity from Emotional Dumping +3 Self-Awareness

*Paimon's "Borrowed" Snack Bag (x1 Lizard-Approved Cookie, x2 Samosa of Questionable Origin)

*Greg Is Too Busy To Be a Menace Buff (Duration: 10 minutes)

*(Nilou's Gentle Smile (+5 Inner Warmth, stacks with future bonding)

*Yana's Memory (Non-removable passive: +2 Resolve, +1 Melancholy)

*Moment of Vulnerability Shared

*+7 Morale

*+3 Self-Awareness

*+2 Emotional Clarity

*+1 Relationship Progression (Nilou)

*+Permanent Passive Buff: "Heart on Sleeve" – Sometimes, being vulnerable is your real strength. (Triggers extra dialogue bonuses during emotional scenes.)

Achievement:

"Fake Skies, Real Feelings"

-Under a sky painted by lies, you chose honesty. Confessed a heartfelt past, opened up about lost love, and shared the truth with someone who needed to hear it—not for pity, not for drama, but to move forward. You're still a disaster, but at least now… you're an honest one.