At the center of the island, a towering peak loomed.
Under the starlit night, an icy wind howled through the air.
Clack.
Suddenly, a faint sound broke the stillness.
Immediately after, a hand shot up from below the cliff.
Thud.
Ren leaped over the edge, landing near the cliffside.
“…”
He glanced downward, taking a deep breath.
Beneath him stretched an endless abyss.
The narrow cliff ledge was barely wide enough for someone to stand.
This was the final stretch to the mountaintop.
A fall from here would undoubtedly result in a shattered body.
“My partner, be careful.”
The doll-like girl tugged on Ren’s collar, her voice soft.
She tilted her face upward toward the summit, her gaze flickering.
That ominous sensation grew stronger and stronger.
“…”
Ren silently shook his head, his expression calm.
He crouched down and grasped the small hand reaching out from below the cliff.
Crack.
The ground beneath him let out an ominous sound.
Loose rocks tumbled down the mountainside.
Ren’s expression changed slightly, his grip tightening instinctively.
“Quick, come up, Keqing.”
Without hesitation, he pulled the girl up in one swift motion.
“W-wait a moment—”
A muffled cry escaped her lips.
In the hazy moonlight, the girl tumbled directly into Ren’s arms.
With a thud, both froze simultaneously.
“Keqing, are you okay?”
Ren, startled by the softness pressed against him, felt a mixture of shock and surprise.
This sense of fullness and contentment…
Does this mean Keqing’s been eating really well lately?
“Ren… slow down!”
In his arms, Keqing shyly raised her face, her voice awkward.
“I’ll try.”
Ren opened his mouth to respond, his tone somewhat helpless.
The atmosphere suddenly became oddly tense.
“I meant for you to be more careful!”
Keqing shot him a glare.
This reckless guy—acting so clumsily while climbing a mountain!
Thinking of this, Keqing subconsciously sniffled her reddened nose.
The cold mountain air wasn’t helping.
Yet the unfamiliar warmth of safety lingering around him made her turn her face away.
“No… it’s not like I’m worried about you or anything…”
Keqing puffed up her cheeks, huffing softly to correct herself.
“Thank you, Keqing.”
Ren gazed at the tsundere Keqing and smiled.
The hand he’d held aloft slowly lowered.
And very earnestly, he wrapped his arm around Keqing’s slender waist.
“Ah!”
Keqing stiffened, her body trembling.
In her panic, she instinctively tried to grab onto something.
The result?
Keqing ended up hugging Ren tightly, unwilling to let go.
For a moment, the two stood impossibly close.
“Keqing, hold tight.”
Ren steadied his nerves and spoke seriously.
The space at the edge of the cliff was already limited.
Of course, he wasn’t trying to take advantage of the situation…
Although, he couldn’t deny a certain impulse buried deep within him.
After all, who could resist a cat girl falling into their arms?
Soft, warm, and impossibly snug.
The tactile sensation was unparalleled.
Yeah, I can’t resist this, Ren admitted to himself.
“Ren, let me go first!”
“Then you let go first.”
Ren blinked innocently, unwilling to budge.
“I… I didn’t—!”
Keqing bit her lip, at a loss for words.
She’d instinctively hugged him without realizing it…
This guy had been the one acting improperly first!
But for some reason, she couldn’t muster any anger.
She wanted to let go of her arms, but no action followed.
“O-once I’ve rested a bit, then…”
Keqing hesitated, her small reddened nose brushing lightly against Ren’s chest as she murmured softly.
The warmth in his embrace—she wanted to savor it just a little longer.
She whispered to herself in her heart.
Just a bit more.
Ren noticed Keqing’s slightly red nose and spoke gently.
The chill of the mountain air was unforgiving—letting a girl freeze was an unpardonable crime.
Though Keqing wasn’t exactly fragile.
“Mm.”
Keqing turned her face to lean into Ren’s chest, muttering faintly.
In her gaze, a quiet, girlish joy flickered.
“Ugh, how touching.”
A teasing voice cut through the moment, shattering the mood.
In Ren’s arms, Keqing’s ears flushed red.
She realized they weren’t alone here.
There was still that doll-like girl!
“Stop it.”
Ren glanced helplessly at Sandrone, who was perched on his shoulder.
Was she intentionally ruining the moment?
Honestly, it wouldn’t be surprising.
“Hmph, my partner, don’t forget your place.”
Sandrone huffed lightly.
She extended her tiny hand and tugged sharply at Keqing’s cat ears.
“Woman, step away from my partner.”
And that useless thing pressing against his chest—how can you not find it cumbersome?
“Are you jealous of me?”
Keqing raised her face, her eyes narrowing coldly.
She’d been tolerating Sandrone for a long time.
After all, you’re just a flat-chested doll!
“…?”
Sandrone’s smile faded, her small face turning frosty.
She’d had enough of that mocking gaze aimed at her chest.
An inexplicable sense of rivalry flared up between them.
“Stop arguing and focus on getting over there.”
Ren’s gaze shifted toward a distant, isolated cliff, his tone soft.
“Why the sudden shift—”
Keqing followed his line of sight and froze.
“That’s…”
Sandrone murmured softly, recognition flashing in her eyes.
This aura—it felt all too familiar.
“A little spirit, maybe.”
Ren frowned thoughtfully.
“It seems… it wants to tell me something.”
Before he finished speaking—
The howling wind around the mountain abruptly fell silent.
A faint melody drifted from the summit.
—
This is a fan translation of 原神：人在提瓦特，贴贴就能变强 by 萌红叶. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!
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