Back when Jia Changjiang had confronted La Signora and the Gnosis, the system had presented him with a curious possibility:
[Claim it! Seize everything. Make the Gnosis part of your power, and from that moment, the elements themselves will lie in your hands. Take control of all things… and one day, even “that one” may be yours to surpass.]
[Today, we are but mortals. But when that time comes, we will be masters of all.]
This was one of the three paths the system had outlined.
Though Jia Changjiang hadn’t chosen that path, the idea that the elements themselves could be wielded had lingered in his mind ever since.
He had experimented with elemental-infused objects in the past, but every attempt ended in failure.
Something always felt missing—a certain feeling.
The closest comparison was the raw power he’d experienced the first time he tore a massive tree from the ground, roots and all. In that moment, he’d sensed the overwhelming certainty that this object was now his to command.
This feeling wasn’t about the Gnosis. To Jia Changjiang, a Gnosis was merely an external tool, not something that truly belonged to him.
But standing before this seal—this nearly tangible concentration of elemental energy—he finally felt it:
The elements themselves are mine to wield.
For the first time, he wasn’t relying on a borrowed source of power. He had truly grasped the element in its raw form.
Thrilled, Jia Changjiang tightened his grip, attempting to tear the seal apart. But in an instant, the elemental energy reverted into a chaotic torrent of water, retaliating with a tremendous force that sent him flying backward.
He landed several meters away but managed to steady himself before hitting the ground.
The seal, however, remained intact.
“Well, I guess brute force won’t cut it after all,” Jia Changjiang admitted, a bit disappointed.
Mona, on the other hand, was utterly shocked.
“You… how did you grab the element within the seal?! You don’t even have a Vision! You shouldn’t have any ability to manipulate the elements!”
She stared at him, disbelief written all over her face. “How did you do that?!”
Lumine clapped a hand on Mona’s shoulder, her grin wide. “Oh, Mona… don’t worry about it too much. Jax always has some weird surprises up his sleeve. And he’s always pulling out bizarre stuff. Just think of it as… a specialty from his homeland!”
Lumine gave her a thumbs-up, flashing her bright smile. “We’re used to it by now! Last time, when we fought a god, he even pulled out a golden staff!”
“A golden staff…? Wait, no, that’s not the point—” Mona caught herself and exhaled deeply, forcing herself to calm down. “You’re right. Neither of you belong to this world, so I suppose it’s not unreasonable for you to be… unusual.”
She turned back to Jia Changjiang, curiosity burning in her eyes. “But how can you grab an element without any elemental control?”
Jia examined his hands thoughtfully. “It’s hard to put into words. If I had to describe it… it’s a feeling.”
“To me, a weapon isn’t just an object—it’s an extension of my body. A part of me,” he explained, clenching his fists. “When I held that elemental energy, it felt similar. I just need to get used to it…”
“Maybe someday, I’ll truly master it.”
His ambiguous explanation left Mona even more perplexed.
Shaking her head, Mona decided to set aside her questions for now. Solving her immediate housing problem—and finding a proper space for her astrology—took priority.
“Alright, here… and here…”
Mona focused her knowledge and skill on the seal. Within a few minutes, the very same seal that had repelled Jia Changjiang was successfully undone.
“All that’s left is to report back to Katheryne, and you can move in!” Paimon exclaimed excitedly.
Suddenly, an elderly voice spoke from behind them.
“No need for that—you can go ahead and settle in.”
The group turned to find an elderly man standing behind them. Though unfamiliar at first glance, Lumine quickly recognized him as Goth, the owner of the Goth Grand Hotel—rented by the Fatui in Mondstadt.
He owns this place too? What is he, a landlord supreme?
“The equipment inside is just sitting there gathering dust. If someone can make use of it, that’s good enough for me,” Goth said, nodding sagely. “Since you’ve managed to break the seal, I’ll rent the property to you for a very reasonable price.”
“Rent?!” Mona blinked, stunned. “But I worked so hard to break the seal!”
“Exactly. I’m grateful, so I’ll give you the best deal possible,” Goth replied smoothly. “You’ll find my rates quite fair.”
“Mona, maybe we should look for another place?” Lumine offered, eager but cautious.
After a moment of contemplation, Mona sighed in resignation. “Forget it. Even if we find somewhere else, it probably won’t have the magical equipment I need for astrology. I’ll just rent it here.”
“It’s fine. Being broke is only temporary!” Jia Changjiang encouraged. “Mora will come if you save enough!”
“Very well. I’ll prepare the paperwork. Wait here for a bit,” Goth said, heading off to finalize the arrangements.
With that, Mona officially found herself a home in Mondstadt.
“Mona’s a Mondstadt resident now!” Lumine said cheerfully. “I’ll be sure to visit you often!”
“Lumine, Jia Changjiang…” Mona hesitated for a long moment before finally speaking the words she’d been holding back.
“I wasn’t able to gain any new knowledge on this trip, and I couldn’t fulfill my promise to read your destinies. Why are you still helping me?”
“Don’t worry about it!” Lumine said brightly. “Even if you couldn’t manage it this time, we had a great journey together. And besides, we’re friends now, aren’t we?”
“Yeah! Friends!” Paimon chimed in.
“Thank you,” Mona said softly, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. “When I do refine my astrology enough, I promise you’ll be the first ones I help.”
“Alright then!”
Jia Changjiang clapped them both on the back. “Let’s tidy up Mona’s place a bit. Once the lease is signed, we’ll head out to celebrate!”
“I’m thinking… Angel’s Share would be perfect! Let’s go there later!”
—
This is a fan translation of 武器大师在原神绝不死于徒手 by 徐人双 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!
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