“The best bard in the world!”
“The best bard in the world!”
“Lord Barbatos is starting his performance.”
Venti stood at the top of Starsnatch Cliff, gently plucking at his lyre, the familiar, melodious tune like a Mondstadt morning.
The mountain shook, the Stormterror Dvalin charged up from below, whipping up a storm.
His massive form slowly descended, gazing at Venti.
Dvalin: “Now, there’s nothing left to talk about.”
Venti said softly: “Is that so? Or am I mistaken? Your eyes seem to be recalling this melody.”
Dvalin snorted.
Jean and the others dared not step forward, afraid of interrupting their exchange.
Just then, a beam of ice shot out, striking Venti’s lyre.
The lyre was knocked away.
Paimon: “The bard!”
An Ice Abyss Mage appeared from atop the Stormterror’s back!
【Jean: It’s an Abyss Mage!】
【Klee: Fluffy!】
【Marjorie: Even Mondstadt has these evil Abyss Mages appearing?】
Abyss Mage: “Don’t be fooled by him, poor dragon.”
“That voice sounds like something sinister.”
“It seems the Stormterror has been beguiled by these fiends.”
“He looks harmless enough, but is he a mage?”
Abyss Mage: “He’s already abandoned you. Look, he’s coming to deceive you again.”
Venti, having been ambushed and wounded, was a heartbreaking sight. It pained him to see Dvalin being fooled.
Jean and the Traveler rushed forward, shielding Venti.
They couldn’t let him be attacked again.
“Poor Lord Barbatos.”
“That damned Abyss Mage ambushed him!”
Dvalin: “Barbatos!”
The Abyss Mage kept chanting: “Hate, rage, you have become an enemy of Mondstadt, there is no turning back.”
Dvalin, furious, flapped his wings, roaring at Venti: “These people, they’re here with you—to hunt me down!”
Venti: “That’s not true.”
Abyss Mage: “This dragon must serve its true master. You can stay here and lament your powerlessness.”
Dvalin spread his wings and departed, leaving only Venti’s sigh.
【Rosaria: Bartobas】
【Barbara: Lord Barbatos!】
【Keqing: That vile Abyss Mage】
【Mayaka: The Abyss is very cunning, we Natlan have been fighting the Abyss for ages】
“Lord Barbatos.”
“Lord Barbatos looks so heartbroken.”
“Damn it!”
“It makes me angry.”
“Don’t worry, the people of Mondstadt will find a way.”
Jean: “Bar—Venti, please take care of yourself.”
Venti: “You didn’t just figure out my identity now, did you?”
Actually, Diluc and the others had already figured it out.
Picking up the Skyward Lyre again, he couldn’t use it anymore.
Jean was about to gather the Knights to track down the Mage.
But Diluc said there was no need.
Diluc: “If you want to track down those monsters, you can rely on my intelligence network and resources.”
“Diluc’s so cool!”
“So cool!”
“Diluc’s the man of my dreams.”
Paimon: “Even though Diluc hates the Knights, he protects Mondstadt in his own way.”
Venti’s mood improved a little: “Paimon’s tone suddenly got so doting.”
Everyone went back to wait for news.
Diluc: “I’ll make them understand that no matter how lawless the Abyss Order becomes, there are things that cannot be done in Mondstadt.”
“Wow!”
“So cool!”
“There are things that cannot be done!”
“That’s a cool line.”
“Full of awesome.”
【Kaeya: Oh my, Mr. Diluc is amazing】
【Kachina: Master Diluc is so powerful】
【Amber: Master Diluc is so reliable】
【Jean: Senior has always been reliable】
【Diluc: Alright, alright, this livestream is really something】
【Kaeya: Oh, you wouldn’t be blushing, would you?】
【Diluc: What did you say? Go scrub your water basin!!!】
【Muchen: The screen froze?】
「For this livestream’s second question, who is the ‘true master’ the Abyss Mage mentioned? 」
「1: Kaeya, 2: The Traveler Lumine, 3: Little Paimon, 4: The Abyss Mage King, 5: The Abyss Apostle, 6: The Abyss Ruler」
Muchen activates the Evil Commander ability—All Out Attack.
「The seven nations must all answer, each nation chooses two representatives, answering correctly will avoid punishment」
「Public chatroom, 5000 random people, 4 minutes discussion time」
【Amber: Huh? Didn’t we just answer a question?】
【Xingqiu: And it’s all seven nations answering?】
【Ningguang: This question is tricky】
【Diluc: Oh, it’s Kaeya】
【Lisa: Hahaha】
【Eula: It’s Kaeya】
【Amber puts her hands on her hips and laughs: Kaeya, confess, are you a bad guy lurking in Mondstadt?】
【Gorou: Huh? Is Captain Kaeya a bad guy?】
【Dehya: They’re just joking】
【Kaeya: Definitely not me, didn’t you see in the story how I defeated an Abyss Mage?】
【Muchen: It’s actually Paimon!】
【Paimon: Not me, not me!】
【Aether: I believe Paimon】
【Paimon: Hehe】
【Aether: After all, it’s hard to imagine Paimon as a mastermind】
【Muchen: True, even ten little heads wouldn’t be enough for her】
【Beidou: Hahaha】
【Candace: Paimon, they’re saying you’re not smart】
【Yoimiya: Hahaha】
【Kujou Sara: Hahaha】
【Paimon stomps her feet: You guys are making me so mad, I’m going to eat ten, twenty Sweet Flower Cakes, I’ll bankrupt you!】
【Eula: Hahaha】
【Xingqiu: Hahaha】
【Marjorie: You guys are so funny】
【Barbara: Stop being funny, just choose an answer】
Shenhe: “Muchen, what should we choose?”
Muchen: “It couldn’t be the Traveler’s sister, right?”