Villain Simulator, GenshinImpact

"What nonsense is this 'Dark Duel'!" Shenhe's cheeks flushed as she glared at Lucas. "I've already figured out what ridiculous idea is brewing in that head of yours!"

If Yelan was someone skilled at reading people's emotions, then Shenhe—straightforward and pure—was the opposite, often oblivious to others' motives. Yet even she saw through Lucas's intentions at a glance, making it clear just how transparent his plans were.

"That's right, you've guessed correctly," Lucas admitted with a cheeky grin, not even bothering to hide his motives. "So? Do you dare play with me?"

"Of course I dare! Why wouldn't I?" Shenhe slapped the table, her tone resolute. "Do you think I'm afraid of you?"

"Great! Let's get started!"

Seeing her agree, Lucas's enthusiasm surged. Smiling brightly, he said, "Now this makes the game more interesting."

"This time…" Shenhe declared confidently, "I won't lose again!"

Then, she lost.

This outcome was far from surprising. After all, card games weren't battles. A fighting spirit alone was meaningless; even sheer determination couldn't change the result.

"I can't believe… I lost again…"

Clenching her fists, Shenhe muttered, "I was so close this time."

"Close? Please don't make things up," Lucas said with a sigh. "I still had over 2000 Life Points left."

"One more round!" Shenhe demanded persistently.

"Sure, I don't mind," Lucas replied with a meaningful smile. "But shouldn't you fulfill the condition for losing the previous round first?"

"Dark Duel, right?" Shenhe bit her lip slightly, her pride evident. "I won't go back on my word. Tell me, what do you want me to do?"

"Well then…" Lucas smiled. "Take a walk with me outside. After so many games, I feel like I've turned into a statue from sitting too long."

"Just… a walk?" Shenhe blinked, her disbelief apparent. "That's it?"

It wasn't just disbelief—there was even a faint hint of disappointment in her tone.

Considering what she knew of Lucas, she had half-expected him to come up with some kind of "creative mischief."

"Of course, with a little extra 'spice,'" Lucas said as he suddenly produced a collar and blindfold from nowhere. "These."

Realizing what Lucas was implying, Shenhe muttered, "Wait, you're not planning to…"

"Just ten minutes," Lucas said, putting the collar around her neck, his expression suddenly tinged with sorrow. "I used to have a Samoyed, but it passed away. I loved taking it on walks. Could you let me… relive that feeling, just for a little while?"

Lucas's acting skills had clearly reached a masterful level. The ever-gullible Shenhe not only believed him but even seemed slightly moved.

Blushing furiously, she whispered, "Alright… fine. But only for ten minutes, okay?"

Despite her prideful nature, Shenhe believed in keeping her word. Under Lucas's guidance, she soon found herself wearing the "equipment"—a collar and even a pair of dog-ear accessories.

Still, Shenhe couldn't help but feel puzzled. Just how long had Lucas been planning this?

"You're… so cute," Lucas said gently, patting her head. Then he added, "But something's still missing."

"Collar and ears… I've already done this much," Shenhe said, a mix of confusion and exasperation in her voice. "And you're still not satisfied?"

Knowing her fiery temper, if anyone else had dared "humiliate" her like this, they'd likely have been met with her signature move: "Divine Maiden's Deliverance"

"Of course not," Lucas replied, tilting his head innocently. "Have you ever seen a dog without a tail?"

"A tail?!" Shenhe's face turned crimson. "That's going too far!"

"It's not that hard," Lucas said, pulling out a fluffy tail from his bag. "Look! Isn't it adorable?"

"I don't think so," Shenhe said, frowning. "Besides, how am I even supposed to wear that? It looks heavy, and adhesive wouldn't hold it securely."

"No worries, it comes with a mounting mechanism," Lucas said, flipping the tail to reveal a sleek, metallic plug shaped like an oversized pinecone. "This little plug will do the trick."

"A… plug?" Shenhe looked confused. "How does this thing even work?"

"Well, since it's a plug…" Lucas smirked. "How do you think it's supposed to work?"

"Wait… don't tell me…" As the realization dawned on her, Shenhe's blush deepened. "That's impossible! There's no way it would… fit!"

"You won't know until you try," Lucas said, inching closer. "After all, this is a Dark Duel. The punishment has to be something suitably… dark and mysterious."

Never in her wildest imagination could Shenhe have guessed that the "dark and mysterious" punishment would involve a trip down an unexplored, hidden path leading to an unknown, enigmatic destination.

"But…" For once, Shenhe looked genuinely uneasy, her expression tinged with rare vulnerability. "I'm scared…"

"You? Scared?" Lucas said in disbelief. "I didn't think there was anything in this world that could scare you."

After all, Shenhe was the kind of person who, at five or six years old, had fearlessly confronted remnants of a evil god with nothing but a dagger.

"That's completely different," Shenhe said, shaking her head. "Master always said, the greatest fear comes from… the unknown."

"If you really don't want to, we can forget it," Lucas sighed, sounding regretful. "Maybe I did go too far. I just… I miss seeing my Duoduo wag its tail so much."

"So its name was Duoduo?" Shenhe murmured, her eyes softening with a trace of sympathy.

Back when she trained in the mountains, Shenhe had once raised a little fox out of loneliness. But Cloud Retainer had released it into the wild, citing its potential to distract her training—a decision that Shenhe had never entirely gotten over.

"Fine," Shenhe finally relented. "I'll agree… but you'll have to help me. I probably can't put it on by myself."

In the end, Shenhe "grew" a tail.

To her surprise, the process wasn't as difficult or painful as she'd imagined. Perhaps it was due to her years of training, which had given her extraordinary flexibility and resilience.

---

Author's Note: Well yea she doesn't really smile but couldn't generate a better picture even after trying several times..