Mondstadt.
Knights of Favonius Headquarters, Grand Master's Office.
Jean had originally been working when the video began playing. She paused her work, intending to see if she could learn something useful from it like in previous episodes.
But she never could have imagined that this episode would list herself and Barbara as protagonists!
When she saw the cover—herself, Barbara, and the relationship chart—Jean froze on the spot.
Her emotions were… complicated.
Jean was actually a little different from how she appeared on the outside.
Deep down, she still had a girlish side, and she particularly enjoyed romance novels.
Originally, if she herself appeared in the video, Jean felt that would be fine.
But why was Barbara included too…?
Sisters together and all that…
Just thinking about it already felt like forbidden knowledge, didn't it?!
"Oh? Jean, you're blushing~?"
Lisa, who had rushed over after seeing the cover information, teased her with a smile.
"Lisa…!"
Jean's face reddened as she protested softly, then tried to change the subject.
"Recently… work's been going smoothly, right?"
"Mm-hmm~ If this were before, such an obvious attempt at changing the subject would never have come out of your mouth," Lisa replied, eyes full of amusement.
Realizing she'd been seen through, Jean fell silent.
For a time, the Acting Grand Master's office was filled with Lisa's playful teasing.
Westwind Church.
Barbara was, as usual, performing prayer duties inside the church.
Even though she already knew the truth—that Barbatos was actually Venti—her job as a deaconess still had to be done.
It was just that, by now, Barbara's object of faith had quietly shifted from only Barbatos to both Barbatos and Gu Chen.
Faith in the Anemo Archon wasn't something she could abandon so easily. After all, even from history books alone, one could see the many achievements Venti had accomplished—despite how unserious he usually seemed.
As for believing in Gu Chen, that was even simpler.
Although Gu Chen's contributions to Teyvat came from other past-life versions of the world, the influence of the Taixuan Sect had undeniably crossed over into the present through the videos. Barbara herself could already recite the Taixuan Scripture from memory.
She hadn't missed a single episode of the Past Lives series.
Unlike Nilou and Collei, who openly shipped the Sect Leader in the group chat, Barbara belonged to the more hidden camp.
After all, most girls liked love stories—especially the sincere emotions within them (ignoring the parts that caused unbearable emotional pain).
Barbara had never really thought about whether she herself might ever become a protagonist in the videos.
But today, reality came crashing down on her heart like a heavy hammer.
Having herself as one of the protagonists wasn't entirely unacceptable…
But why did it also have to be her sister?!
Most people didn't know that Jean and Barbara were sisters. It wasn't intentional secrecy—just an unspoken understanding between the two, neither of them ever emphasizing it.
Those close to them mostly knew, and even the group chat had vague suspicions. Still, no one pried too deeply.
But now…
Looking at the character relationships…
Sister and sister together…
Barbara's head felt like it was about to explode.
"…Interesting."
Rosaria leaned against the wall nearby, casually twirling a dagger around her fingers.
Her pale face showed a faint, intrigued smile.
Angel's Share.
Diluc stood behind the counter, personally mixing drinks as he occasionally did.
It was technically working hours, yet Kaeya—the Cavalry Captain—was sitting there drinking anyway.
As for why he was here during work hours… Kaeya always had his reasons.
"At it again, huh? On the video this time. Surprised? Unexpected?" Kaeya teased.
Diluc glanced at him indifferently, offering no response.
Kaeya narrowed his uncovered eye slightly and spoke as if casually:
"I wonder when the Sect Leader will appear? If it's him… maybe Father will still be alive and well?"
Bang!
The bottom of the wine bottle hit the table with a dull thud.
Diluc's expression remained calm, but Kaeya knew him well enough to tell—waves were surging beneath that calm surface.
Diluc still didn't say much.
Only a trace of hope and anticipation flickered in his eyes.
"…Hopefully."
After leaving those three flat words behind, Diluc turned and left without another glance.
Kaeya watched him go, the corner of his mouth curling slightly.
"Heh… Sect Leader," he murmured softly. "I'm counting on you."
Gu Residence.
"Tsk tsk."
"Tsk tsk."
Lumine and the others surrounded Gu Chen, openly scrutinizing him.
Gu Chen sat there like a criminal under interrogation.
Paimon pointed at him accusingly with a tiny finger.
"Real and Shadow each got their own episode—fine, maybe that was coincidence. But what's going on with Jean and Barbara?! You're getting more and more unrestrained in these videos!"
Raiden Makoto and Raiden Ei exchanged glances, both speechless.
Guizhong wore an I've-seen-through-you expression.
"This guy probably just likes… certain attributes!"
"Exactly!" Paimon nodded vigorously.
"Alright, alright, since you all think that…" Gu Chen grinned. "Hehehe."
Since everyone here was his own wives, he naturally spoke without restraint.
"Condemn him!" Paimon declared.
"Yes, condemn him harshly!" Lumine echoed.
"How about some punishment?" Gu Chen rubbed his chin, his gaze drifting downward—to rows of silk-clad legs.
"Ew—!"
Paimon made a disgusted face, let out a sound of disdain, and quickly flew away.
She felt that she was probably the only being in the Gu Residence who hovered awkwardly between family and outsider.
Some things—even if she understood them—she had to avoid because she was still too small.
After flying some distance away, Paimon pulled out snacks and milk tea and opened the group chat.
[Extraordinary Group Chat]
Nilou: So Jean and Barbara are actually sisters? 😲
Collei: Real sisters?! 😱
Jean: …Yes. (wry smile)
Barbara: …(sigh)
Kirara: Okay, family matters aside—this is the first time we've had two female leads, right?!
Kaeya: Well, since it's the Sect Leader, being special seems normal, doesn't it? 😏
Azhdaha: I was shocked, but after Makoto and Ei set the precedent, I kind of accepted it. Still… Sect Leader, you really deserve death for this! Two! And sisters! (table slam)
Gu Chen: Is it illegal? 😏
Yanfei: Hm… by Liyue law, not illegal. But extremely envy-inducing. 😄
Osial: "Envy." I don't want to say it twice. 😒
Beisht: Oh? Just how envious are you? 😊
Azhdaha: Say it! Why aren't you talking now?! 😏
Dvalin: Yeah, say it! Explain exactly how envious you are! 😏
Osial: I was just joking! Beisht, believe me—you're still the one I love most! 💖
Zhongli: (laughs)
Nahida: (giggles)
Kaeya: Back to the point—does "The Best Grand Master" refer to the Sect Leader or Jean? She's the Acting Grand Master now, after all. But from the cover, I'm leaning toward Gu Chen being the Grand Master.
Sangonomiya Kokomi: Based on Jean's posture on the cover, the Grand Master should indeed be Mr. Gu Chen.
Dvalin: Honestly, that keyword is so abstract I can already imagine it. 😏
Nilou: Hehe~ At first I didn't get it, but now I do! 😈
Collei: Then what does "Like a Romance Novel" mean? 🤔
Lisa: Jean reads romance novels in private.
Jean: !!! Don't say that out loud!!!
Nilou: Oh~ So that's what Grand Master Jean is like~ 👏
Kazuha: Unexpected, but understandable given Jean's age. 😌
Yae Miko: Sounds like Yae Publishing House could sell novels straight to the Knights' Grand Master's office~ 😏
Jean: (panic)
Albedo: The video is about to start. Since Jean is involved, the time span probably won't be too long—maybe the past ten or several decades.
Klee: Will Klee appear? ✨
Albedo: If nothing unexpected happens, yes.
Klee: Yay! I'll be in the video! @Alice Mom, Klee's going to appear!
Alice: Yay!
The cover faded away completely—the video was beginning.
The first thing that appeared was a vast sea of clouds.
The camera then plunged downward, revealing the land of Mondstadt, where spring reigned eternal.
After Barbatos reshaped the terrain and guided the seasonal winds, Mondstadt had known no snow—aside from Dragonspine.
Gentle breezes swept across the land, dandelions and Cecilia flowers swaying in the wind.
The camera approached Mondstadt City.
Built upon an island in Cider Lake, its giant windmills could be seen spinning even from afar.
Main and secondary bridges carried traffic in and out of the city, carriages moving slowly as smiling faces passed before the lens.
It was a land seemingly free of worries, where people greeted each other with the same words:
—"May the Anemo Archon protect you."
The camera sped along Mondstadt's main street.
Fountains came into view, bards reciting newly written poems.
Climbing the steps, the towering Statue of the Seven stood there—winged, hooded, its gender unclear, hands extended as if welcoming freedom… or releasing it.
Behind the statue lay the Westwind Church, priests and nuns coming and going as believers prayed devoutly.
The camera circled, arriving at the Knights of Favonius headquarters.
In the wide courtyard, knights trained. Inside, clerks bustled about, words like "monsters" and "subjugation" drifting through the air.
The perspective shifted again, soaring across Mondstadt—
Storm-lashed Musk Reef.
The thousand-meter cliffs of Cape Oath.
Wind-swept Windrise and Falcon Coast.
The flowing springs of Springvale.
Dawn Winery, its fields filled with grapevines.
Wolvendom, home of wolves.
A spire piercing the clouds.
The jagged terrain of Brightcrown Canyon.
Busy ports with ships coming and going.
The ruined Thousand Winds Temple.
Starsnatch Cliff, blanketed in Cecilia flowers.
Every scene was worthy of a painter's canvas.
Finally, the camera returned to Mondstadt's gates, where a knight greeted travelers from afar:
"This is the City of Song and Wind, the City of Freedom, the Crown of the North. Travelers protected by the Knights of Favonius—welcome to Mondstadt. May the Anemo Archon protect you!"
Heizou: What is this opening?! Just a few minutes in and I already want to move to Mondstadt! 😲
Furina: What a scenic masterpiece!
Lyney: I'd heard about Mondstadt before, but I didn't expect it to be this beautiful!
Kaeya: Beautiful? It's… alright, I guess. 😏
Zhongli: By common logic, this is likely the perspective of locals—familiar sights grow mundane with time.
Albedo: Judging from the context, this should be during Grand Master Varka's administration.
Diluc: Varka… I understand his stance, but I cannot agree with how he handled things. Hmph.
Nilou: So Grand Master Varka was a controversial figure?
Jean: Grand Master Varka is a legend of the Knights. Perhaps some matters back then were… handled imperfectly.
Kaeya: Since it's Varka's era, keep watching—you'll learn some hidden truths.
The camera shifted to the Grand Master's office.
A blond young man in white knight's attire sat in the chair, lacking overt authority, instead giving off a free-spirited, laid-back air.
Standing before him was a black-haired boy.
About eight years old—taller than his peers—wearing a sword at his waist that was slightly too short, standing calmly and composed.
Nilou: AHHHH! It's baby Gu Chen!!! So fair and cute—I can take it!!
Collei: Little brother Gu Chen! Yay yay yay!!
Kirara: First time seeing him as a kid! He looks like a porcelain doll—no wonder he grew up so handsome!
Ayaka: A bit immature… yet far more composed than his age. That contrast… he was so cute as a child.
Furina: Wow—little Gu Chen, come let big sister hug you!
Kaeya: I hereby announce—this is peak hype time for the Sect Leader's female fans!
Azhdaha: Damn it… Sect Leader, how were you handsome from childhood all the way to adulthood?!
Gu Chen:"Steamed buns? You don't even hold the bowl steady?" 😏
Paimon: He looks so easy to bully, like he'd puff up angrily and glare at you, then pretend to be mature and not care!
Nilou: Stop, stop—hehehehe…
Collei: Hehe… hehe…
Yae Miko: Is that drool on the floor… or something else? Hard to tell! 😏
Ayaka: Wait! Lady Guuji, that topic is crossing a line!
Barbara: This group… I can't stay here another day!
Jean: There are children in this group!!!
Alice: Then let's make a private beautiful-girls group chat! 😆
Gu Chen: What? A beautiful-girls group? What are you chatting about? You must add me!
Kaeya: Fine, fine—add me too!
Venti: Me too! Hehe~
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