A beautiful day begins by sleeping in. When Koji finally got up, Lumine had already gone out.
"Click click click, truly the holy body of a tireless worker."
Koji knew Lumine had gone out to earn some Mora.
When your wish is strong enough, an exclamation mark appears over your head, and then a certain blonde girl will run over to help. As long as you pay her, she can get it done perfectly.
Right now, Lumine had income, but raising that bottomless pit Paimon always made her anxious. If one day she had no money, they might not even be able to eat.
"Koji, do you know what time it is? Why are you only waking up now?"
Lumine pushed the door open with a smile. Clearly, she had earned money.
"Lumine, we already have enough Mora for now. You don't need to take commissions every single day," Koji said helplessly.
There were plenty of commissions in Mondstadt. Many people were simply too lazy, so as long as money solved it, they didn't mind hiring others.
"Hehe, well they pay well, and most things are too easy." Lumine shrugged.
Catching cats from rooftops, running errands, earning Mora was really too simple.
Watching her Mora increase day by day, that sense of accomplishment was beyond words.
"Fine, as long as you're happy." Koji had nothing else to say. She liked this kind of life.
"Oh, by the way Koji, that drunk Venti asked us to meet him at the church," Lumine said.
"Oh?"
Koji's eyes lit up. Here it came.
Even if he missed seeing Venti get gutted, he could still steal the Anemo Archon's wine.
"Lumine, you go. I'll grab the wine." Koji smirked.
Lumine instantly understood. "I'll keep Venti busy, don't worry."
Dandelion Wine… she too wanted to be rich.
Koji thought to himself, he didn't even need her. Venti would be acting with Signora, his attention nowhere near Windrise. When Koji moved, there'd be no hesitation.
While Lumine and Paimon went to the church, Koji flew toward Windrise.
That great tree at Windrise had always made him curious. It must be connected to the ley lines.
Other nations had symbolic trees too. Mondstadt's great tree had no name, but its size was overwhelming. Its dense crown spread like a giant umbrella.
Here you could always feel a cool breeze blowing from Dragonspine. In the heat of summer, this was the perfect retreat.
This wasn't stealing wine. How could the work of a learned man be called stealing?
Digging.
Once Koji confirmed the spot, he began to dig. Below lay a special Anemo seal.
After a few shovels, he uncovered the Anemo barrier, inside of which were ten jars of fine wine.
So the Anemo Archon really had buried his Dandelion Wine here.
Koji easily broke through the barrier and pocketed all ten jars.
This was payment. Venti wouldn't drink them anyway.
They would kindly help him handle it.
—Meanwhile—
Signora held the Gnosis in her hand, brimming with pride. She never thought it would be so easy to take the Anemo Archon's heart. It seemed he had no power left.
"Not good!"
Flat on the ground from being gutted, Venti suddenly sat up and turned toward Windrise, his expression dark.
Someone touched his wine.
Woooo—
The winds howled. Venti's braid glowed as he turned into a gust, racing to Windrise.
"?"
Signora's face darkened. In that instant she felt a crushing pressure that almost suffocated her.
No wonder he acted so weak. He had been putting on a show. How irritating.
As expected, gods were never simple.
"Do you feel guilty? Why didn't you act back then?"
Her expression twisted. She realized Venti had done this on purpose, giving her the Gnosis. Otherwise, she'd have had no chance.
Even a slacking god was still a god.
Their power was not something mortals could touch.
She would remember this and never again underestimate a deity.
"Rosalyne, looks like you've already succeeded," Koji appeared. He hadn't waited at Windrise, instead taking the opposite path.
"What, does the Honorary Knight plan to take the Gnosis back?" she asked flatly.
"No, no. Venti doesn't want it anyway. Why would I help him?" Koji shook his head.
For Venti to give it away so readily meant more than guilt toward her. Likely he'd already spoken with the Cryo Archon.
After all, if Zhongli could sign a contract with the Tsaritsa, there was no reason Venti couldn't.
"Rosalyne, now that you've witnessed divine power, best tread carefully before the gods." Koji advised.
Compared to "third brother," Signora at least wasn't unbearable.
"Spare me. Mind your own business."
She left with the Gnosis. After witnessing Venti's outburst, she would no longer underestimate the Archons.
"So Venti really was acting," Lumine said, speechless. She'd thought the Harbinger was that strong, easily taking Venti's Gnosis.
"You thought? The Anemo Archon is one of the original Seven. He survived the Khaenri'ah war five hundred years ago."
"In Mondstadt, what phrase do you hear most often? 'May Anemo Archon protect you,' right?" Koji asked.
Lumine nodded. She had indeed heard it often.
"Divine power isn't just personal strength. It also comes from faith. Even though Venti hasn't shown miracles in ages, Mondstadters still believe in him."
"So don't think he's really weak. When he wears the crown, that's when the true Anemo Archon descends."
Lumine nodded again, then asked, "Did you get it?"
She didn't even need to ask. Venti's panicked expression had said everything.
"Yeah." Koji smiled faintly.
Later, he would sell a jar to Diluc, keep the rest, and if Venti ever wanted to drink, he could always share. After all, they were friends.
—Windrise—
Venti stared at the pit, crying out in anguish: "Who the hell stole my wine!!"
He dared not open his eyes, praying it was a dream.
Gone. All gone. Not a jar left.
Even he himself had been reluctant to drink them. Yet now, buried here, they had vanished without a trace.
Suddenly, the world felt heavy. Let it all be destroyed.
Slumping to the ground, Venti thought, had he known this would happen, he'd have drunk it all back then.
On her way to Liyue, Signora passed through Windrise to look at the great tree. There she found a depressed wind spirit.
"?"
Rosalyne tilted her head. What strange sickness had come over him? This was no act.
Seeing Venti like this, her mood lifted. The frustration from being deceived evaporated.
(End of Chapter)
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