Chapter 40 — Diluc: The Twisted Wind God's Influence
Even someone as pure-hearted as Barbara couldn't deny the truth forever.
She might preach freedom every day in the Church of Favonius, but she wasn't naive. Not everyone in Mondstadt truly believed in "freedom" as the Anemo Archon intended it.
Some people waved the banner of liberty just to hide their selfishness.
"People like that are the worst!" Barbara said, puffing her cheeks in frustration. "They twist Lord Barbatos's teachings for their own gain. I'm sure he'll punish them eventually!"
Across from her, Kael watched her reaction, amusement flickering in his golden eyes.
If only she knew.
If Barbara ever found out that her beloved Lord Barbatos spent most of his time napping under trees and sneaking free wine from taverns, she might faint on the spot.
Still, Kael couldn't bring himself to judge Venti.
The people of Mondstadt had no idea how much they owed their "lazy" god. For centuries, Venti had kept the winds of freedom flowing, the climate gentle, the seasons kind.
Without his divine power quietly maintaining balance, Mondstadt would have long turned into a frozen wasteland like Snezhnaya.
They just didn't realize that even the most carefree god carried the heaviest burdens.
---
Kael took another spoonful of the spicy vegetable stew and smiled in quiet approval.
The dish wasn't perfect, but it was filled with sincerity—and in its warmth, he could taste Barbara's kindness.
She beamed when she saw him eating with enthusiasm. "I'm glad you like it! I was worried it would be too spicy."
"It's excellent," Kael said sincerely. "Cooking is an art—one that reveals a person's heart. Yours is… honest and warm."
Barbara flushed slightly, unsure how to respond.
After clearing the table, she began washing dishes, humming softly. Then she turned back toward him. "Mr. Kael, do you have any plans for today?"
"Not particularly," Kael said. "I've finished my immediate tasks for Lady Ningguang. For now, I'm staying in Mondstadt to observe the situation."
Barbara's eyes brightened. "Then why don't I show you around? As Mondstadt's Deaconess, it's my duty to welcome guests!"
Kael chuckled inwardly. Are all Mondstadt women this fearless? Or am I just that charming?
Suppressing the thought, he smiled. "Then I'll be in your care, Miss Barbara."
Her eyes sparkled. "Leave it to me!"
---
Angel's Share Tavern
That same morning.
The scent of wine and oak filled the air.
Jean pushed open the heavy doors of the tavern and immediately spotted Diluc seated near the counter—his clothes torn, his arm bandaged, his usually calm face shadowed by fatigue.
"Senior!" Jean hurried toward him. "What happened? You're hurt!"
She rarely saw Diluc this disheveled. For a man who could single-handedly fight through hordes of monsters, his current state was alarming.
He let out a low breath. "There were too many. I discovered traces of the Abyss Order near the Whispering Woods. They laid a trap—an entire ambush. I stayed longer than I should have, hoping to gather more intelligence."
Jean's heart sank.
That meant he'd gone into the danger knowingly… just to bring back useful information.
But the truth twisted painfully inside her.
Barbatos had warned me about that ambush last night.
Which meant—Diluc had walked straight into a trap that could've been avoided.
He'd bled for nothing.
Jean clenched her fists. "I'll call Barbara. Her healing is exceptional. You'll recover faster with her help."
Diluc gave a small nod. "Do it. I can't afford to waste time in bed."
Even wounded, his fiery determination hadn't dimmed.
Jean couldn't help but admire that about him—and worry all the more for it.
---
When Barbara arrived, she immediately knelt beside Diluc, her hands glowing with soft Hydro light. Healing energy wrapped around his burns and cuts, soothing the tension in his body.
Within moments, the worst of the pain faded.
"You really overwork yourself, Master Diluc," Barbara said with a faint pout.
"Someone has to," he replied dryly.
Jean hesitated, then spoke softly. "Senior… something happened last night."
Diluc looked up, his crimson eyes narrowing.
"Lord Barbatos appeared before me," Jean continued. "He spoke of Dvalin, of the ley line corruption, and of a traveler—named Lumine. He said she would come to Mondstadt soon, and that she would help save the city."
Diluc froze. His expression didn't change outwardly, but Jean caught the flicker of emotion in his gaze—envy, disbelief, and… longing.
Because secretly—beneath all his composure—Diluc was Mondstadt's biggest Barbatos devotee.
---
The Fanatic of the Wind
Over the years, Diluc had spent absurd amounts of Mora collecting relics, manuscripts, and supposed "Barbatos artifacts."
Half of them were forgeries.
And the other half?
Well, Wendy had probably drunk from them at some point.
"...So," Diluc said after a moment, forcing calm into his voice, "the Archon himself appeared to you."
Jean nodded cautiously. "Yes. He's recovering from his slumber. The war five hundred years ago drained much of his strength."
Diluc's hands tightened into fists.
So he was alive all this time. Watching from the sidelines while monsters ravaged the land. While the Fatui spread corruption. While Father…
He took a long, silent breath, suppressing the bitterness rising in his throat.
Jean saw it—the flicker of old anger in his eyes. She remembered how he used to curse Barbatos for his absence.
But if he ever learned the truth… that the Archon he'd despised for years was the same carefree bard who pestered him for free drinks every week…
Jean felt a headache forming.
Oh, Archons, please never let him find out.
If he did, the shock alone might kill him.
---
Diluc finally sighed. "I see. So he's back. That means Mondstadt still has a chance."
"Yes," Jean said softly. "But we can't rely on divine intervention forever. I plan to clear out the monster infestations near the city. It won't solve the root cause, but it'll buy us time."
Diluc nodded. "Good. I'll lend a hand once I recover."
She hesitated. "Actually… I was also thinking of asking Klee to create new, controlled explosives—ones ordinary knights can use safely."
Diluc's eyebrow twitched. "You're using Klee? Finally."
There was a trace of reluctant respect in his tone.
For years, he'd thought Jean too soft—too hesitant to unleash Mondstadt's true potential. But perhaps she was finally learning that mercy could only go so far.
"Klee's power is dangerous," Jean admitted. "But if we teach her discipline, she might become our greatest weapon."
Diluc smirked faintly. "If you ever need help training her, I'll volunteer. Someone has to make sure she doesn't blow up the Cathedral again."
---
Later, as silence settled in the tavern, Diluc leaned back, lost in thought.
Barbatos...
He'd spent half his life chasing whispers of the Wind God, desperate for answers, desperate for meaning.
And yet, every night he'd walked past that infuriating bard without realizing who he really was.
That lazy drunk… that tone-deaf musician…
If he ever found out the truth, he wasn't sure if he'd laugh or break something.
Still, even as frustration simmered beneath his calm, another emotion burned brighter—resolve.
He would continue to fight, no matter what form the Archon took.
Mondstadt was his home. His to protect. His to save.
And one day… he would meet Barbatos again.
Face to face.
Not as a worshipper.
But as a man demanding answers.