Hu Tao Is Monetizing My Existence. [207]

You could say she was a child, but not quite—a child in appearance, but with a personality that felt much younger than she looked.

The funny thing was, she’d been fished up from the sea by Aether.

Jiang Bai turned to the actual child in their group. “Klee, do you know where the symbol of Mondstadt’s hero is?”

Klee thought hard, but in the end shook her head. “Klee doesn’t know.”

There was only so much a child could remember—and only so much she could understand.

Maybe someone in the Knights had mentioned it before, but she’d either forgotten or it never seemed important.

By contrast, Paimon—with her childlike appearance—was definitely no ordinary kid.

Seeing that even Klee didn’t know, Paimon put her hands on her hips, looking smug. “Hmph! There’s plenty I know that you don’t!”

Jiang Bai grinned and played along. “Well then, we’ll count on our all-knowing guide Paimon to show us the way!”

Paimon led the group out of the city, floating ahead while Aether walked, deep in thought.

Jiang Bai glanced over. “Thinking about Venti?”

“Yeah.” Aether nodded. “His voice sounds really familiar to me.”

“Familiar?” Jiang Bai narrowed his eyes. “Have you met him before?”

“I saw him once in the wild, but we didn’t talk.”

Aether didn’t hide his suspicions as he watched Paimon lead the way, with Klee trailing behind her. “And don’t you think his actions are a bit… deliberate?”

“I’ve got a theory,” Jiang Bai said.

“Hm?”

“You said his voice sounded familiar. Is it maybe similar to the voice you heard when you fought Dvalin?”

Back then, everyone had guessed the Anemo Archon had appeared, lending Aether his power.

The more Jiang Bai thought about it, the more likely it seemed—Venti was the Anemo Archon himself.

After all, Venti had said Dvalin had been asleep for five hundred years. He couldn’t have only just met Dvalin recently.

That meant Venti had known Dvalin for over five centuries.

And after so long at the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Jiang Bai knew perfectly well how long mortals lived in this world. Who could survive five hundred years, looking so young?

Aether’s eyes lit up as he realized just how close he was to the truth.

If the Archon was inviting them to help Dvalin, there were so many questions Aether wanted to ask—and now he had to see it through.

They soon arrived at Windrise, where Venti was waiting under the great oak. He waved as they approached. “You’re here! I was just wondering if you’d follow me.”

Aether met his eyes directly. “I want to know more about the Anemo Archon.”

Venti, as if he hadn’t noticed anything strange about Aether’s tone, replied with feigned surprise, “Barbatos? That guy’s been gone from Mondstadt for ages. Why are you looking for the Anemo Archon?”

“I do have something to ask—but let’s finish this matter first. What was that plan you mentioned?”

Venti didn’t drag it out, and instead shared his plan in a mysterious tone. “We need to go to the Cathedral and retrieve a lyre called the Holy Lyre der Himmel.”

“The Holy Lyre der Himmel? Klee knows that one!” Klee piped up, raising her hand. “Barbatos used to play it! Every year during the Windblume Festival, they take it out!”

Jiang Bai raised an eyebrow. “How are we supposed to get it? We can’t just wait until the Windblume Festival.”

Venti grinned mysteriously. “Don’t worry, you’ll see in a moment.”

The group turned back toward Mondstadt’s Cathedral. On the way, Paimon grumbled, “Why did we even come out here in the first place? Why not just go straight to the Cathedral?”

“Because I was injured. I needed to rest here,” Venti replied.

“You’re hurt?” Jiang Bai looked him up and down, seeing no sign of any injury.

“Yeah, someone interrupted my talk with Dvalin, and I got corrupted too.” Venti shrugged, leaving no doubt who he was talking about.

Aether looked embarrassed—he really hadn’t meant to interrupt.

“How’s your injury? Should Aether purify you too?” Jiang Bai offered.

“Just a bit of wind in the trees, and with you here, I’m feeling much better.”

…

Although Stormterror’s rampage had thrown Mondstadt into chaos, the Cathedral was still full of people praying.

Venti spotted an idle nun and walked up to her.

“Hello, Sister.”

“May the Anemo Archon bless you, young bard. Is there something you need?”

“I know a secret that could resolve Mondstadt’s current crisis.”

“That would be wonderful, but you should report it to the Knights. I’m just a nun—what can I do for you?”

“There is something. With the Holy Lyre der Himmel’s power, I can—”

“Please leave.” She cut him off coldly.

“Stormterror may be fierce, but as long as the Acting Grand Master stands firm, there’s nothing we can’t defeat.”

Venti took a step back, a little shocked. “But if you do that, Stormterror will die!”

The nun’s tone was resolute. “A beast that has turned against the East Wind—even if the Archon himself appeared, forgiveness would not come so easily.”

Jiang Bai watched from the sidelines, expressionless, as the Anemo Archon himself tried to borrow a harp from a nun devoted to his own worship—to save his closest friend—and was refused.

Sometimes, irony was stranger than fiction.

The Archon hadn’t said a word, yet plenty of people claimed to know his will, speaking as if it was their own.

This nun knew full well that Stormterror was the Dragon of the East Wind, the Archon’s companion, once one of the Four Winds. Yet even if Barbatos himself showed up, she believed slaying Stormterror was righteous.

People who didn’t know the truth—who only saw a rampaging dragon—believed their judgment was just and used that to sit in judgment over what they called a fallen beast.

Five hundred years ago, he was a guardian who saved Mondstadt with his own life.
Five centuries later, poisoned and driven mad, he’d become the monster they were determined to kill.

How arrogant. How bitterly ironic.

Jiang Bai sighed, patting Klee gently on the head.

In the end, it’s children with pure hearts who are the most likable.

Venti let out a sigh. “Well, I suppose there’s no helping it. I can’t hide it anymore.”

He cleared his throat, striking his usual bardic pose. “Rejoice, my faithful! Standing before you is none other than Barbatos, the Anemo Archon himself! Aren’t you shocked? Aren’t you moved to tears? Isn’t it touching, finally meeting the god you serve?”

Jiang Bai & Aether: “…”

Honestly, if they hadn’t already guessed, there was no way they’d believe this flighty, unreliable guy was actually Barbatos.

If you want people to believe you, at least show a miracle! Grow some wings or shape-shift or something!

Just standing there making grand proclamations—who’d ever buy it?

—

This is a fan translation of 胡桃拿我冲业绩 by 余溯. 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!