“An item in advance?”
Jia Changjiang frowned, puzzled by the sudden quest that had appeared out of nowhere.
“‘A Record of Mondstadt’s Past’? What is this?”
He was about to take out the scroll to examine it when Lumine’s voice called out from ahead. Reluctantly shelving his curiosity for later, he jogged to catch up with the group.
Stanley was leading the way, but as Jia Changjiang reached them, Venti tugged at his sleeve and whispered, “Jax, did you notice anything unusual?”
“…You mean Stanley?”
Jia Changjiang glanced at the bard, recalling the cryptic quest details. Lowering his voice, he replied, “I’m not sure. His tone makes him seem like a fraud, but what he said about the Ashen Sea… it feels genuine.”
“Indeed. But there’s another small discovery.” Venti smiled knowingly, then called out to Lumine, who was walking ahead and chatting with Stanley. “Traveler, could you check with your detector?”
“Huh? But adults don’t usually have imaginary friends, right? Are you saying Jack does?” Lumine donned the detector and turned to scan Jack, finding nothing unusual. However, when her gaze shifted to Stanley, she gasped.
Standing beside Stanley was a figure with a steely resolve, their body scarred and their stance reminiscent of a seasoned warrior.
“Whoa! Stanley has an imaginary friend too?” Paimon exclaimed in shock.
“I suspected as much. His story seemed… off,” Lumine said thoughtfully. “There’s more to it than he’s letting on.”
“Then let’s find out the truth behind the story.” Venti’s voice was light, but his expression hinted at intrigue.
The group soon wrapped up their exploration of the domain and came across a treasure chest.
“Well done, Jack. Today’s adventure ends here, and this chest… it’s your hard-earned prize,” Stanley said, panting slightly as he addressed the young adventurer. Without waiting for a response, he turned and walked away.
“Goodbye, Mr. Stanley!” Jack called after him, waving enthusiastically before happily collecting the loot they had found, including some arrows as proof of his adventure.
But instead of leaving, Jack hurried over to Lumine and the others. “Excuse me! Do you have a moment? I need to ask for your help!”
“A commission?” Lumine’s interest piqued immediately. “Let’s hear it.”
“Well, you see, a few days ago, Mr. Stanley told me about the weapons he used on his adventures—relics of the great hero Vennessa. The Sword of Brilliance and The Shield of Radiant Will are supposedly hidden in Dadaupa Gorge! Could you accompany me to find them?”
Jack’s face lit up with determination. “My family doesn’t really support my dream of becoming an adventurer. But if I can bring back these legendary artifacts, maybe they’ll change their minds!”
“Oh?” Venti’s smile turned mysterious. “Then why don’t you just ask Stanley himself for help?”
“I… this is such a selfish request. I’d feel bad asking him. But I promise! I’ll return the relics as soon as I’m done with them!” Jack pleaded earnestly. “Please, help me!”
“Well, we could help you… but about the payment…” Lumine rubbed her fingers together with a mischievous grin.
“You can have the treasure chest! I won’t take a single thing!”
“Deal!”
With Lumine convinced, Venti chimed in, “Helping out, hmm…”
“I’ll sweeten the deal. I have a bottle of rare vintage wine from two years ago. It’s yours if we find the relics.”
At the mention of wine, Venti’s demeanor shifted immediately. “Dadaupa Gorge, you say? No time to waste—let’s go!”
As the group prepared to leave, Jia Changjiang noticed Venti and Lumine staring at him expectantly.
“I’ll come too. No payment needed,” he said, stroking his chin thoughtfully. “Let’s just say I’m interested in those artifacts. After all, I am a weapons master.”
Unbeknownst to the group, Stanley, who had left earlier, was eavesdropping from behind a wall. Hearing their conversation, he hurriedly slipped away, heading in the direction of Dadaupa Gorge.
Meanwhile, Jia Changjiang and the others set off with Jack, making their way toward their destination.
As they walked, Jia Changjiang finally found a moment to examine the quest item the system had given him.
[A Record of Mondstadt’s Past]
It was a small booklet, made of simple paper. Opening it, Jia Changjiang noticed that the text was written in characters he could understand—square-shaped script reminiscent of his own world’s writing.
For context, while he had no trouble communicating verbally in this world, reading the local language was a different matter. Though he’d picked up a little over time, most of it still eluded him.
Flipping through the booklet, Jia Changjiang walked behind Venti and Lumine, his eyes scanning the contents.
The first page featured an illustration of a frozen plain and a towering spire. The story began with a tyrant—a god of tornadoes named Decarabian.
The tyrant was no inept ruler. His strength shielded his people from harm, yet he remained a tyrant.
Satisfied with the city he had built, he stood atop his tower, accepting the kneeling worship of his followers. But that worship stemmed from the oppression of the gale.
The booklet was filled with tales of old Mondstadt:
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The priestess Gunnhildr leading her tribe.
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The huntress Amos, who fell in love with a solitary god.
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The knight named Ragnvindr, who unveiled the Dawn Veil.
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The solitary king of the tower, ruling with cruelty and protection alike.
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Mondstadt, a city trapped like a bird in a cage.
At its end, the booklet described a momentous event:
With the winds of rebellion at their backs, a boy, a wind spirit, a knight, a huntress, and a priestess climbed the tower that pierced the heavens, challenging the stern and tyrannical god-king.
But there, the story stopped.
“Where’s the rest?” Jia Changjiang muttered in frustration.
“Jax, we’re here. Stop reading,” Lumine said, snapping him out of his thoughts.
“Huh?” He looked up and realized they had arrived at Dadaupa Gorge. Had he really been so engrossed in the story?
“So, this is Mondstadt’s past…” he murmured, tucking the booklet away.
—
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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