Hu Tao Is Monetizing My Existence. [192]

Dear Klee,
By the time you receive this letter, the New Year will probably be over.
Happy New Year!

Mommy misses Klee so much, but right now Mommy is busy with something very important and can’t get away. But Mommy’s love, just like Dodoco, will always be with you.

I’m so happy you’ve made new friends! Make sure to stay in touch with your friends, okay? Otherwise, feelings might fade with time!

The photos you sent are tucked into Mommy’s magic book. If you send more, Mommy’s whole magic book will be filled with Klee’s photos!

With the new year here, I wonder if Klee has grown a little taller? Next year, Mommy will be able to spend New Year’s with Klee!

Last but not least, Klee, you must always be happy! And write Mommy lots of letters!

—Love you most, Mommy Alice

Klee lay on her bed, beaming as she read her mother’s letter. Reading Mommy’s words felt just like having her by her side.

When she finished, she bounced over to her desk, pulled out some stationery, and picked up her pen to write a reply.

Dear Mommy, Klee is happy every day!

The Grand Master took lots of Knights out on an expedition. Klee doesn’t really understand what an expedition is, but Acting Grand Master Jean says it means they’ll be gone for a long time.

Now there are way fewer Knights around, but it’s too bad Acting Grand Master Jean is still here.

But Jean has been so busy lately she doesn’t have time to keep an eye on Klee, so now Klee can happily go blow up some fish!

Klee has invented a bomb that’s much quieter now. Since the explosions aren’t as loud, Jean won’t catch Klee blowing up fish anymore, hehe.

But because there’s a big dragon around, all the Knights are really busy, and no one has time to play with Klee. Even the uncle at the city gate won’t let Klee go outside alone.

But Klee came up with a plan! Klee’s going to write to Brother Jiang Bai and invite him to come play. Brother Jiang Bai is sure to have free time!

He can take Klee to Starfell Lake to blow up fish in secret, climb up to Starsnatch Cliff to pick those really long-named flowers, go to Windrise to eat some freshly picked Sunsettias, visit Wolvendom to see Razor, go to the beach to collect seashells, and maybe sneak a peek at the giant dragon…

Klee’s off to write to Brother Jiang Bai now, and will write to Mommy again next time!

—The cutest Klee

—

Jiang Bai hadn’t been to Mondstadt in quite a while. He’d unlocked all the waypoints around Liyue, even outside the Chasm, but had only activated a handful in Mondstadt.

With Klee inviting him to visit, it was the perfect chance to open up all those waypoints scattered across Mondstadt.

“Director, do you want to come play in Mondstadt?” Jiang Bai found Hu Tao, who was busy sculpting little clay figurines.

Lately, Hu Tao had been obsessed with making clay figurines. Though she was just starting out and the results weren’t exactly pretty, she enjoyed it immensely.

Now, a row of little ghost figurines with all sorts of expressions and poses lined up in front of her, waiting to be glazed and fired in the crematorium kiln.

“No time, I’m busy!” Hu Tao was so absorbed in her clay work, she didn’t want to move at all.

“Then I’ll go by myself, okay?”

“Go on, just don’t stay away too long.”

Jiang Bai weeded his patch of Sweet Flowers one last time and watered them, making sure everything would be fine even if he was gone for a week. Then, without another thought, he teleported straight to Mondstadt.

—

Mondstadt
Falcon Coast

A blond Traveler was chatting idly with his little floating companion, Paimon.

Staring at the floating little creature in front of him, he couldn’t help but remember their first meeting two months ago.

Back then, he’d been fishing for food, but instead he unexpectedly reeled in a strange being.

The little thing was humanoid, about the size of a baby. Having just been pulled out of the water, she lay on the sand with swirly eyes spinning in circles.

He picked up the drowned little creature by her foot, trying to get her to cough up all the water she’d swallowed.

“Wake up, come on, wake up.”

After a bit of rough handling, the little one finally groaned awake.

So began two months of sharing this vast beach together, two strangers growing from awkward unfamiliarity to a kind of quiet understanding.

It was only after those two months that he finally told her his story.

“My sister and I drifted here from another world. When we tried to leave for the next world, a mysterious god appeared before us.”

As he recalled that battle against the self-proclaimed Sustainer of Heavenly Principles, it all felt strangely distant—like something from long ago.

But in his memory, losing his sister still felt like it had only happened yesterday.

“That mysterious god took my sister away, and I was sealed, stripped of my powers. The two of us who once crossed countless worlds have been trapped here ever since.”

With a stick, he drew a simple sketch of those scenes in the sand, and there was no hiding the sorrow in his voice.

“I don’t even know how long ago that was. After I woke up, I’ve been wandering ever since. Until two months ago, when I met you.”

If it hadn’t been for Paimon, he might have been alone for a long, long time yet.

“If it weren’t for you, I probably would have drowned. So, I’ll do my best to be a great guide!”

Determined to help Aether find his sister, Paimon clenched her fists. Though the responsibility was huge, she was brimming with energy.

“Come on! Let’s go!” Paimon floated in the air, leading Aether towards Mondstadt.

This was the land of the Anemo Archon—maybe he’d learn something about his sister from the god of wind.

Before washing up on this shore, Aether had never really seen the scenery of this world.

So, when he stepped out from the narrow mountain path and stood on the slope, gazing over Mondstadt’s lush green fields, it felt like seeing the light of day for the first time.

A flock of birds soared overhead, mountain breezes carried the scent of grass and trees.

At his feet, low blades of grass swayed in the wind, brushing gently against his ankles like tiny, warm hands.

In the distance, the waters of Starfell Lake shimmered a bright blue, and a towering Statue of The Seven stood in the center of the lake, casting a gentle light.

Farther still, at the very edge of his sight, he could just barely make out a massive city. The distance made it impossible to see details, but he could glimpse the outline of the city and the huge windmills turning within.

Just like a hero at the start of his own adventure, the Traveler set out on the road to Mondstadt—and began his own legend.

He touched the Statue and felt the power of Anemo, met the Wind Archon’s follower, and saw the East Wind Dragon—Dvalin.

He hid behind a huge stone, quietly watching the enormous wind dragon and the green-clad figure before it.

He had no idea what they were doing, but caution couldn’t hurt.

“Wow, that dragon’s huge!” Paimon whispered in amazement.

“That person… is talking to the dragon.”

At that moment, Venti was trying to soothe a corrupted Dvalin, but Aether’s newly acquired and still unsteady elemental power startled the already unstable dragon.

A wild gale whipped up, Venti vanished in a flash of green, and Dvalin roared, beating his wings as he soared away—leaving only a crystal teardrop radiating a faint, ominous aura.

Carefully pocketing the crystal, Aether and Paimon, guided by a patrol knight they met by chance, finally set foot in Mondstadt City.

—

T/N: Aether! now Jiang Bai and Aether Yaoi!

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!