Though shocked by Dainsleif’s probing questions, Lumine composed herself and gave the matter careful thought.
“Liyue… is protected by Liyue itself,” she said decisively, reflecting on her and Jia Changjiang’s journey through the harbor.
“Adepti and mortals are both part of Liyue. It’s not a question of who protects Liyue—Liyue protects itself,” Lumine concluded.
“That is your answer… Then, the final question,” Dainsleif said, his gaze steady as he studied her.
“In this world, there are those who possess a Vision and those who do not,” he began. “To the gods, which group of people do you believe is more important?”
The weight of the question caused Lumine to pause, unlike her earlier responses.
Her mind wandered through her journey thus far—remembering those she’d encountered, both with and without Visions. The people with Visions stood out vividly, yet that didn’t mean those without them were any less significant.
Then she recalled the Archons she had met: Venti, who remembered the name of every Mondstadt citizen, even when they had all but forgotten themselves; and Zhongli, who chose to step down as Geo Archon yet still watched over Liyue with quiet hope, like a parent sending their child out into the world.
Does it really matter whether one has a Vision?
“To the gods… everyone is important,” Lumine finally answered.
“That is your answer…” Dainsleif repeated, nodding. “You are much like him… yet different.”
With that, his attention shifted to Jia Changjiang. The atmosphere grew tense as their gazes locked, the weight of the room tilting under Dainsleif’s scrutiny.
After a long, deliberate pause, Dainsleif finally asked, “You said you came here as her companion, with no one to search for. So, tell me—what is the purpose of your journey?”
The question caught Jia Changjiang off guard, causing him to falter. He opened his mouth to answer but quickly realized that a simple response wouldn’t satisfy Dainsleif.
“If it’s a desire for combat and bloodshed, there’s no need to travel. You could simply accept the Fatui’s invitation,” Dainsleif added, his unyielding gaze meeting Jia Changjiang’s.
After a moment’s thought, Jia Changjiang sighed, carefully choosing his words. “If my goal was just fighting, there are many other, more thrilling ways to achieve that. But that’s not why I’m here.”
He placed his hand on the table, his fingers pressing lightly against the surface. Though he had drunk a fair amount earlier, his voice was steady and his thoughts clear.
“I have power—power with no restrictions, capable of being used however I wish. But I am different,” Jia Changjiang said, his hand curling into a fist, the tension in his muscles visible. Then he released it, flattening his palm against the table again.
“Power may have no limits, but I do. Everyone has their own principles.”
Meeting Dainsleif’s gaze once more, Jia Changjiang added, “For me, it’s about doing what I want—without crossing the line.”
“I travel to see how others live by their principles, how they affect me, and how I, in turn, affect them. Isn’t that what makes this journey so interesting?”
“For me, the journey isn’t about duty or obligation. It’s about pursuing what’s meaningful to me. And that’s enough,” Jia Changjiang concluded.
Dainsleif remained impassive, his expression unreadable. “I see. Then, the second question.”
“Why do you travel with her?” he asked, glancing at Lumine.
This piqued Lumine’s interest—she, too, was curious about his answer. After all, their partnership had started on a whim; they had both decided to travel together simply because their goals aligned.
After a brief silence, Jia Changjiang replied, “Because by staying with her, I get to witness things worth seeing.”
He leaned forward slightly, his tone earnest. “My time is limited. My life is fragile. So before it’s over, I want to see as much as I can. And she is the best judge of what’s worth witnessing.”
Dainsleif nodded faintly, as if filing the answer away. “Now, for your final question.”
“To someone like you, from another world, with no ties to this one—what is most important to you?” he asked.
“Is it the gods, the Seven Archons, those with Visions, or those without? Or are none of these things important to you?”
The question brought Jia Changjiang back to a memory from Dragonspine: the story of the Skyfrost Nail, which froze the mountain and turned its chronicler into a monster.
He thought of Venti and Zhongli—now friends, despite their divine status. He thought of the people of this world, each with their own dreams and struggles, regardless of whether they bore a Vision.
“Those you mentioned… all of them are important to me,” Jia Changjiang finally said, a small smile forming on his face.
“But none of them are the most important.”
He leaned back in his chair, his smile growing. “What matters most to me is winning—and sharing that victory with them.”
“Even the gods of Celestia?” Dainsleif pressed.
“Yes,” Jia Changjiang replied, his grin unshaken. “Victory matters. That’s what’s important.”
“…That is your answer, then,” Dainsleif murmured, nodding slowly. “I understand how you see this world now.”
“But as your journey continues, I wonder—will you still hold to this resolve?”
Jia Changjiang chuckled. “Who knows? If you’re curious, you’ll just have to ask me again someday.”
“The answers will be for time and the future to reveal,” he said, a gleam of determination in his eyes.
—
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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