After distracting Teucer, Lumine and Jax took the opportunity to locate Childe, who was hiding in a corner of the room.
Compared to his usual brash and confident demeanor, Childe appeared significantly more drained.
“Haha…” Childe laughed weakly, trying to catch his breath. “You found me first… You’re not going to tell Teucer I’m here, are you?”
He lowered his voice, his tone tinged with exhaustion. “If that kid saw me like this, it’d be way too embarrassing…” The toll of using his Foul Legacy transformation was evident, leaving him visibly weakened.
Without a word, Lumine drew her one-handed sword and drove it into the wall behind Childe, mere inches from his head.
“Aren’t you afraid I’ll finish you off while you’re like this?” she asked, her tone mockingly menacing. “After all, last time you fought us, you unleashed a Harbinger’s full power right after.”
“You wouldn’t do that in front of my little brother,” Childe replied calmly. “I trust you.”
Then he shifted his gaze to Jax. “And him… Jax wouldn’t strike me down in this state either. We may differ in ideology, but we share enough in common that I believe you both wouldn’t do it.”
“Tch…” Lumine clicked her tongue and reluctantly sheathed her sword. “You’re lucky. I’ll let it slide for Teucer’s sake. But seriously, why go so far?”
Childe lowered his head, letting out a faint chuckle. “Childhood dreams are the most fragile things. Left alone, they’ll shatter on their own one day. That’s why… someone has to protect them, don’t they?”
“A promise made should be kept. Mistakes should be corrected. And the dreams you’ve given to someone… they should be safeguarded until the very end.”
“That’s what it means to be a brother, isn’t it?” Childe smiled faintly before coughing softly.
“…I’ve had to face my brother too,” Lumine said after a moment of silence.
“Ah, so I’ve brought back some memories for you?” Childe teased lightly, his laughter subdued but genuine.
“Do you need to rest? We can take care of Teucer,” Jax offered.
“That would be helpful… but could you also give this to him for me?” Childe reached into his coat and pulled out a small toy—a tiny, metal replica of a Ruin Guard.
“You even got him a gift?” Lumine raised an eyebrow.
“I did. I had it custom-made by a blacksmith a long time ago, intending to give it to him back in Snezhnaya. But now, it seems fitting as a memento of his time here.”
“You’ll handle it, won’t you?” Childe asked, looking between Jax and Lumine.
“Lumine should do it,” Jax said, folding his arms. “That kid keeps calling me ‘Uncle.’ I’m not fond of him.”
“Yet you’ve been playing with him the whole time,” Paimon pointed out, smirking.
“I’ll give it to him,” Lumine volunteered, taking the toy. “Should I bring Teucer straight to the Northland Bank?”
“Yes,” Childe nodded before attempting to stand, his movements unsteady. “I still need to arrange for his return…”
Seeing him wobble, Jax stepped forward and supported him. “I’ll help you get there. Rest up while Lumine and Teucer head back—maybe you’ll still catch Teucer before he leaves.”
Childe looked at Jax, momentarily surprised, but didn’t argue. Without further ado, Jax escorted Childe away, taking a route hidden from Teucer’s view.
—
With Jax’s assistance, Childe returned to the Northland Bank far quicker than he could have managed on his own. Once there, he immediately instructed the manager, Andrei, on Teucer’s travel arrangements. Finally, Childe allowed himself to relax, settling into a quiet corner of the bank.
Jax took the seat across from him, separated by a tea table. A bank attendant brought over two cups of tea without needing to be asked.
For a branch of Snezhnaya’s influence, the Northland Bank had done well to adapt to Liyuean customs.
Jax crossed his legs and sipped his tea, appreciating the flavor. While it wasn’t as potent as alcohol, tea had its own unique charm.
“So, what kind of person is Snezhnaya’s Tsaritsa?” Jax asked casually, breaking the silence. “As a Harbinger, you must know her well.”
Childe blinked, caught off guard. “Are you trying to pry information out of me?”
“Just making conversation,” Jax replied, taking another sip. “We’ve fought already; it’s normal to chat afterward.”
“I don’t act with malice toward others, nor am I addicted to fighting,” Jax continued. “What I do enjoy is seeing the convictions—or willpower—reflected in the clash of weapons and the gaze of an opponent.”
“Ah… Her Majesty, the Tsaritsa.” Childe leaned back, relaxing slightly. “Why do you ask?”
“Curiosity,” Jax admitted bluntly. “Or maybe… because someday, I plan to challenge her.”
“You plan to what?” Childe’s surprise quickly gave way to intrigue. “You really are unique. No Vision, yet you talk about challenging archons and Harbingers like it’s nothing.”
“Having no Vision means nothing,” Jax said firmly. “As long as I’m alive and able to move, I’ll keep moving forward.”
He met Childe’s gaze, studying him. “Your eyes… they’re different from most people’s.”
“How so?” Childe asked, touching his face instinctively.
“They’re unfocused, hard to read. When people look into your eyes, they can’t quite tell what you’re thinking. It’s disconcerting.”
Childe chuckled faintly. “I suppose that’s because we’ve had very different experiences.”
Jax didn’t respond immediately, instead sipping his tea thoughtfully. He understood they were alike in some ways—fighters at heart—but completely different in others.
At the Golden House, Childe had shown his true self: someone who cared little for the weak, valuing only the strong and his family. Jax, however, was different.
For him, even the weak had value.
—
T/N: which vision do you side with more? Jax or Childe?
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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