That day, Hu Tao had a major business deal to attend to, so she left first.
Cael, meanwhile, decided to take Seele with him to the village she kept mentioning—Benghuai Village.
He'd already asked around. Benghuai Village wasn't particularly hidden; it was just deep within Liyue's lands, and the travel costs were outrageously high.
Seele, on the other hand, was practically buzzing with excitement.
After so many years… she was finally going home.
A real home.
"Lord Agarest, you have to meet Sister Bronya later!" Seele said excitedly as she sat beside Cael in the carriage, both hands tightly clutching his.
"It's been so long—she's definitely missed me to death!"
Cael nodded, deep in thought.
I wonder how they're doing.
Teyvat shouldn't have Honkai energy… so maybe they're just ordinary kids here.
As long as none of them evolved into Herrschers. Otherwise, even I couldn't protect Teyvat.
He gently patted Seele's head and smiled.
"Don't get too excited. We'll be there soon enough."
Seele nodded, her face glowing with happiness.
"I'm definitely telling them that Lord Agarest is still alive!! This is top-priority news!"
Cael paused, then replied,
"Let's see how things go. I'd rather not have my identity as Agarest spread around."
"Don't worry!" Seele said confidently.
"They're really tight-lipped—especially Sister Kiana!"
She's the last person I want to tell, Cael complained inwardly.
Along the way, Seele kept chatting nonstop, and Cael quickly realized that Benghuai Village was anything but ordinary.
A lot of… very familiar girls lived there.
"Hehehe, everyone in our village is super nice!"
...
...
"Just as I thought."
Three girls stood surrounding Cael, staring at him like they wanted to tear him apart.
"So it was you who kidnapped Seele!"
Kiana, dressed in a long cloak, glared at him righteously—though the stupidity at her core was impossible to hide.
Mei held a tachi tightly in her hand, watching Cael with clear caution.
Meanwhile, Bronya had already materialized a heavy cannon, aiming it straight at him.
At that moment, Cael understood something very important.
Teyvat… really does have Honkai energy after all.
Seele hadn't expected this either and hurriedly shouted,
"Sister Bronya! Sister Mei! Sister Kiana! Don't hurt him—he's Lord Agarest!"
The three froze.
Bronya looked at Seele calmly.
"It's okay, Seele. Even if you were deceived, it's not too late."
Kiana glared fiercely at Cael.
"What did you do to Seele all these years?!"
Cael shrugged, clearly not planning to explain. He casually gestured at them.
Come at me.
When people were this emotional, a good beating usually made them listen.
That gesture alone filled Kiana and Bronya with unbearable humiliation.
"This guy looks way too punchable!"
Kiana clenched her fists. "I'm gonna knock all his teeth out!!"
"Bronya will reduce him to atoms."
Only Mei hesitated, staring intently at Cael.
He's too confident.
This doesn't feel like a bluff.
Seeing this, Seele panicked.
"Lord Agarest, don't!!"
That only made Kiana angrier.
"What kind of brainwashing did you use to make Seele care about you this much?!"
Then Seele added something that completely stunned her.
"Lord Agarest! Please don't hurt them! Go easy—especially on Sister Bronya! Just… a little strength, okay?"
"..."
Bronya could tell Seele was worried about her, but she felt absolutely no joy.
Cael looked at the three of them.
"Well? Are you attacking or not? If not, I'm taking Seele and leaving."
"Fire!"
Bronya's cannon roared, and a massive energy blast instantly engulfed Cael.
Moments later, only ash remained.
"Hahahaha!! That's it? He got blown to nothing!"
Kiana laughed so hard she clutched her stomach.
But Bronya and Mei both sensed something was wrong.
"No—!"
A chill ran down Kiana's neck.
Her smile froze.
"You're too slow. Compared to Dvalin, you're amateurs."
"When did you—?!"
Kiana glanced sideways, only to see Cael behind her, a Dull Blade resting lightly against her throat.
"Never lower your guard in a fight," Cael said calmly.
"No matter how weak you think the enemy is."
He withdrew the blade and stepped away.
No one dared to move.
"If I were serious, you'd already be dead."
Cael lifted his foot and lightly kicked Kiana in the backside, sending her stumbling forward.
The next instant, Mei moved.
Her blade flashed toward Cael's face.
He dipped his head effortlessly, dodged—and casually kicked her as well.
The force was light, just enough to throw her off balance.
"Good speed," Cael remarked.
"But not faster than me. Sorry."
Too fast…
There's no way to win, Mei realized.
Even Kiana could now feel the overwhelming gap in strength.
"And you," Cael turned toward Bronya.
"…?"
Bronya frowned. Why did this feel like a lesson?!
"Your startup is too slow."
"???"
...
Cael stood before the three of them again.
"All three of you together—I could still one-shot you. That's how weak you are."
"Damn it!!"
Kiana clenched her fists, seething.
"And even without me," Cael continued, glancing at Seele,
"Seele alone could wipe the floor with you."
The three were stunned.
Seele stepped forward, sighing softly.
She revealed her Dark-element Vision, letting it glow clearly before them.
"That is—?!"
Mei stared in disbelief. "A Dark Vision?!"
If the Dark element truly existed…
Then that meant the Dark Archon—Agarest—was really alive.
The same thought surfaced in all three minds.
But Kiana looked between Cael and Seele uncertainly.
"Still… this guy really doesn't look like Lord Agarest at all…"
Seele then explained everything—from being taken by Il Dottore, all the way to the present.
When she finished, Bronya nodded, fully convinced.
She stepped forward and hugged Seele tightly.
"Seele… it's been so long…"
…Intense girl-on-girl bonding.
Cael watched with great satisfaction.
Mei, too, accepted the truth. She straightened and bowed respectfully to Cael.
"Lord Agarest, welcome back. Please forgive our earlier rudeness."
Only Kiana was still stuck in disbelief.
"Huh? Eh? Really? That's impossible, right? No way—right?!"
Cael waved his hand and looked at Seele.
"Seele," he said lightly,
"aren't you going to introduce her to your friends?"
...
...
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