Cael withdrew his gaze from the sky and looked at Venti.
"Tell me about my past," he said calmly.
"What kind of person was I? What did I do?"
He was genuinely curious about the life he'd forgotten.
Venti paused, then chuckled.
"You're about three thousand years older than me. That sort of thing should really be asked of the old man."
"But just your three thousand years of exploits?"
He shook his head. "Even talking nonstop, we'd never finish."
Then he swung his pale legs idly and grinned.
"But—back then, you were my most loyal fan! And I—was your big brother!"
"You followed behind me, and together we conquered the world, undefeated wherever we went…"
He was clearly getting carried away again, his expression growing more animated by the second.
Cael's face darkened.
He raised his right hand.
Dark Elemental power surged forth.
"I wouldn't recommend making Mondstadt disappear overnight."
The moment Venti felt that chaotic fluctuation, he panicked.
"HEY—HEY—WAIT!!"
"Joking! Joking!! Big bro! BIG BRO—put it away!!"
His face went pale.
Don't be fooled by how small it looked—
that mass of Dark Elemental power could genuinely wipe Mondstadt off the map.
Inside, Venti was already cursing someone far away in Liyue.
Damn it, Zhongli!! You never said he'd recovered his elemental power!!
All Zhongli had told him was that Cael had revived and lost most of his strength—
he'd never mentioned this part.
Cael smirked and calmly dispersed the power.
Then he asked the question he'd been holding back.
"…Was I popular with women?"
Venti nodded without hesitation.
"Very. For example—Liyue Qixing's secretary."
"And there was also that Yaksha… uh… blue hair."
"The Qixing's secretary… Ganyu?"
Cael froze.
Thinking back to how Ganyu had behaved around him half a year ago, things finally clicked.
"No wonder she kept avoiding me…"
He sighed lightly.
"Looks like I was pretty capable back then… Wait, why am I praising myself?"
As for the blue-haired Yaksha—
that had to be Fǎnán.
Given his personality, it made sense.
He would have tried to save the Five Yakshas.
...
Just as he was about to ask more—
Voices suddenly rang out behind them.
"RUN!! We've been discovered!!"
Venti turned sharply, frowned, and leapt down without hesitation.
Cael was about to follow—
When Lumine grabbed him and bolted forward, spreading her Wind Glider mid-run.
Right.
He was playing the role of "weak guy" right now.
No choice—
guess he'd just enjoy being held by Lumine.
Paimon saw the satisfied look on his face and clenched her tiny fists.
"You big pervert!! Are you taking advantage of Lumine?!"
...
...
Venti led them to what he considered a safe place.
"Oh?"
A calm voice greeted them.
Behind the counter, Diluc was methodically wiping a wine bottle, looking at the intruders with mild curiosity.
Venti walked in like he owned the place.
"Master Diluc! Help us hide for a bit—
I'll pay you back with performances later."
Diluc glanced at the bard, then at the two and a half people beside him.
"Second floor," he said flatly.
"Fewer people there."
"Hehe—thanks, Master Diluc!"
...
...
Soon, Knights arrived to investigate.
They claimed suspects included:
a gold-haired person,
someone wearing a hood,
and a green-haired individual.
Upstairs, Cael's mouth twitched.
Black hair + no lights = hooded suspect.
Wonderful.
Diluc, as usual, mocked the Knights' incompetence.
"Someone foolish enough to steal the Lyre der Himmel," he scoffed.
"They'd be better off robbing my wine cellar."
He casually pointed them elsewhere and sent them away.
Once the danger passed, Diluc turned back—his curiosity satisfied.
After hearing the explanation, he understood that the Lyre hadn't been stolen by them, but by the Fatui.
"So that's how it is," he said coolly.
"Stealing the Lyre is still a grave crime."
"Even if you're fools—
you're a once-in-a-millennium kind of foolish."
Still, if their reason endangered Mondstadt, Diluc would not hesitate to act.
Even if he couldn't win.
After all, among these 3.5 people were Barbatos and Agarest.
Venti chose to answer with a story.
"My payment ranges from five Mora to the Lyre itself," Diluc said calmly.
"That depends on your tale."
...
...
[The story is long. We'll skip the word count padding.]
...
...
When it ended, Diluc looked solemn.
"This… narrative poem…"
"…Why tell me something so important?"
"Why?" Venti smiled faintly.
"Perhaps… the wind's direction is changing."
Cael stared at him flatly.
Another riddle-spewing bard.
Riddle-speakers, get out of Teyvat.
Diluc had made his decision.
"I'll help you connect with the bridge."
"Traveler—since you're an Honorary Knight, and the description only mentions 'gold hair,' they won't suspect you."
He turned to Cael.
"And you… should be fine as well."
"—Damn it."
Cael cursed internally.
If he ever found out who labeled him 'the hooded guy', he'd personally send them off.
Paimon burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! Finally, you got what you deserved, you big pervert!"
Lumine silently prayed for Paimon.
Because Cael was smiling at her
very kindly.
Diluc then added, looking at Venti:
"As for you—don't leave the tavern."
Venti grinned.
"Sounds great. I like taverns."
"—AAAAH!!"
Paimon suddenly screamed.
Lumine turned—
And laughed.
Cael's sinful hands were mercilessly squishing Paimon's soft cheeks.
"Waaah—d-don't knead my face!! Big pervert!!"
She was completely overpowered.
Ignoring that scene, Diluc continued calmly:
"Meet here tomorrow. I'll bring assistance."
...
...
"BIG PERVERT!! Don't run away if you've got guts!!"
"I, Paimon, am not to be trifled with—fight me three hundred rounds!!"
She was restrained by Lumine, flailing furiously.
Cael, already leaving, turned back with a grin.
"My place is pretty big.
You sure you want to come?"
Paimon instantly fell silent.
She wasn't confident she'd leave that room intact.
Of course, Cael wouldn't do anything—
if she came, he'd just use her as a pillow.
...
...
At the inn, a staff member approached him.
"Mr. Cael, you have a letter."
He accepted it with a smile.
"From Hu Tao, I bet."
Since leaving Liyue, they'd been exchanging letters regularly.
He was curious what she'd written this time.
Inside was her familiar handwriting.
When are you coming back?
Liyue Harbor is sooo boring now.
Xiangling's busy all the time, Qiqi runs away when she sees me,
so I only hang out with Yun Jin and Xier sometimes.
Also, Zhongli's started wandering again—listening to operas, teasing birds, buying everything in sight!
He's totally trying to spend all the money you left him!!
And he's been hanging out with that Snezhnayan toy salesman—Tartaglia!
They're weirdly close!!
So—when are you coming back?
I kinda miss you.
Just a little!
I'm just bored, that's all!
Cael smiled softly.
He replied that it'd still be a while,
that he had things to take care of,
but when he did return—she'd be the first to know.
The letter was sent.
...
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