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While the city in the novel was officially named Fengdu, any citizen of Mondstadt could tell at a single glance that it was actually their own home. A city favored by the wind, forever caressed by a gentle breezeāthe resemblance was far too obvious to ignore. There was really no need for any further explanation; the setting was Mondstadt through and through.
When the topic shifted to Detective Fengdu, Albert became visibly animated, his voice rising with excitement as he addressed the others in line. He spoke with a fervor that suggested he had analyzed every single page of the work.
"I absolutely adore this book! There's a line where the protagonist says he wants to protect everything in Fengdu, whether it's as small as a cat or as significant as a young boy. To me, that clearly reflects the tenderness hidden within Lord Ye Ruo's heart and his deep, abiding feelings for Mondstadt. I'm convinced that the main character, Shotaro, is actually based on Master Ye Ruo himself, even if the name sounds a bit more like something you would hear over in Inazuma. The way he becomes a knight to guard the city surely draws inspiration from the legends of the Darknight Hero. And that secret organization, the Museum, which sells those cursed products made from the resentment of dead gods? Even if Mr. Ye Ruo didn't explicitly say it, the prototype for that villainous force has to be the Fatui! Only they would be capable of such underhanded, shady business. Curse those Fatui!"
As he uttered that final curse, Albert instinctively lowered his voice. The Fatui were a massive, international organization spanning all seven nations, and they were notorious for meddling in the internal affairs of other countries. While they operated under the guise of diplomacy, everyone knew they were constantly involved in dark, clandestine operations. They were incredibly powerful, led by eleven Harbingers who were rumored to possess strength beyond human comprehension.
Currently, the strength of the Knights of Favonius was at a low point. Grand Master Varka had taken the majority of the elite knights on an expedition, leaving Mondstadt's defenses thinner than usual. An ordinary citizen like Albert knew better than to shout his grievances too loudly, lest he draw the wrong kind of attention from the Snezhnayan diplomats stationed at the Goth Grand Hotel.
Since the release of this new work, it had faced stiff competition from the author's previous hit, To Save Mondstadt, Debut as an Idol!. That novel already had a massive, established fan base. However, the gritty battles and local setting of Detective Fengdu were proving to be even more popular with the general public. The people who lived here loved their city, and seeing a fictionalized version of it protected by mysterious powers resonated deeply with them.
The concept of a secret treasure containing the power of the Anemo Archon, which could be used to transform and fight enemies, was a brilliant and novel hook. In Mondstadt, anything involving Barbatos was considered a sacred relic. There was a famous story about a man who had once spent a fortune competing with the Fatui to acquire a sealed vial supposedly containing a single breath of the Anemo Archon. He ended up buying two thousand fake bottles just to ensure the Fatui didn't get their hands on a real one. This showed just how much value the people placed on the power of the wind.
The novel captured this cultural obsession perfectly. Irene, caught up in the discussion, turned to Yuri with a curious expression.
"Sister Yuri, you probably like the setting of the Anemo treasure too, right? I've heard many people speculating that such an item might actually exist somewhere in the world."
Yuri shook her head firmly, a small, knowing smile playing on her lips.
"No, that's not it for me. I'm mostly interested in the relationship between Shotaro and Philip. The way they work together makes me feel like I'm opening the door to an entirely new world. It's just so fascinating to read about!"
Irene, Albert, and the freckled girl all fell silent, staring at Yuri with blank expressions. Her comment seemed to carry a weight they weren't quite prepared to process. After a moment of awkward silence, the freckled girl managed to find a new point of interest to keep the conversation moving.
"Since we think one protagonist is based on the Wind Knight, who do you think the other one represents?"
Irene went quiet for a moment, tapping her chin as she thought back to the Wind Knight's career.
"Master Ye Ruo is my idol, so I remember his active days well. Back then, it seemed like he was always cooperating with the Spindrift Knight, Eula. I remember she comes from that family... you know..."
Irene started to say the name, but both Albert and Yuri let out sharp, sudden coughs. Irene jumped, realizing her mistake as she looked around at the many people nearby. She quickly shut her mouth, and even the new girl seemed to understand the gravity of the slip-up. The atmosphere grew momentarily heavy before they shifted the topic.
The family Irene had been about to mention was the Lawrence Clan. In modern Mondstadt, that name was synonymous with tyranny and historical oppression. They represented the dark ages of the city's past, a time of cruelty and arrogance that the citizens had fought hard to overthrow. Even centuries later, the stigma remained. Eula, despite being a knight, lived in a constant state of social isolation because of her lineage.
Irene wondered if Master Ye Ruo had changed the second protagonist to a male character out of consideration for his former comrade-in-arms. However, thinking about it more closely, the character of Philip did have a certain feminine grace to him. It seemed their guesses were likely correct; the novel was filled with references to real people and events in Mondstadt.
While the crowd outside continued their spirited debate, a soft chuckle echoed from the second floor of the Wind and Bird Bookstore. A hand reached out to push open the window, allowing the morning sun to flood into the room and illuminate the cozy interior.
A young, handsome man stepped toward the window to take in the view of the city. Below him, the colorful buildings and rotating windmills of Mondstadt created a picturesque scene of peace and prosperity. This was the Wind Knight himself, Ye Ruo. He stood tall and elegant, dressed in a sharp black-and-white suit with a matching vest. His dark hair fell slightly over his forehead, and his deep eyes seemed to catch the light in a way that made him look like a figure from a painting. It was this refined appearance that had won him the hearts of so many women in the city.
In truth, Ye Ruo was a traveler from another world who had lived in Mondstadt for over a decade. His journey had begun in a much rougher fashion. In his previous life, he had been a regular office worker who, after a long stint of overtime, was killed in a traffic accident on his way home. He was subsequently reincarnated into the world of Teyvat.
It wasn't until he was six or seven years old, once his young brain had developed enough, that his past memories finally resurfaced. He quickly realized where he was, but his situation was dire. He was an orphan at the time and had nearly been taken by the Fatui to the House of the Hearth, an orphanage run by the Harbinger known as The Knave, Arlecchino. Had that happened, he would have been trained as a mindless soldier for Snezhnaya.
Fortunately, a system had appeared to him at that critical moment, granting him the inherent ability to control the wind before falling into a deep sleep. Armed with this power, Ye Ruo fled in pursuit of the freedom he craved. He successfully avoided the Fatui, having no desire to be brainwashed into their service. Perhaps it was his intense longing for liberty and his iron will that caused an Anemo Vision to manifest for him out of thin air when he was only seven years old.
Since he could already manipulate the wind through his system, the Vision was essentially the icing on the cake. He didn't crave the power of the gods as others did; he was just glad the transformation didn't turn him into a dwarf. Eventually, he managed to smuggle himself out of Snezhnaya and arrived at Dornman Port in Mondstadt. As a vital trading hub, the port was always bustling with ships and goods from all over the world.
It was there that the young, travel-worn Ye Ruo encountered a certain man. Grand Master Varka, the head of the Knights of Favonius, was a boisterous and kind-hearted individual. After a series of events, Varka took the boy in and helped cover up his mysterious past. Ye Ruo eventually joined the Knights and grew into the renowned Wind Knight the city knew today.
Possessing a Vision already set him apart from ordinary people, but during his training, Ye Ruo discovered he was a genuine genius. Whether it was the Favonius Bladework or other martial skills, he mastered them with incredible speed. The style of the Knights was defined by its lightness and precision, qualities that suited him perfectly. Through years of dedicated practice, he reached a level where he could deflect individual raindrops with his sword without using any elemental energy. The sheer force of the wind generated by his blade could cleave through trees and shatter stone walls. If he chose to add his elemental powers to the mix, the results were nothing short of miraculous. At that time, Ye Ruo was still very young.