Chapter 65: Venti Appears (Patreon)

While Amber showed the group around Mondstadt, she didn't forget to introduce the thing she loved most and was best at: gliding.

She enthusiastically gifted Lumine a Wind Glider and taught her how to use it.

The moment Lumine tried it out, an accident struck.

Lumine strapped on the Wind Glider, tapped her toes lightly against the city wall, and let the wind carry her up into the air.

But before she could steady herself, the gentle breeze that had been carrying dandelion seeds turned savage all at once. A gale laced with dragon's breath came sweeping in from outside Mondstadt!

The violent winds tossed Lumine helplessly, and she was blown high into the sky.

Then a huge dragon appeared above Mondstadt.

"Watch out!" Amber cried.

"Traveler!!" Paimon was scared out of her wits. She flapped frantically, trying to grab Lumine and pull her down, but the pressure of the dragon's wind pinned her in place. All she could do was spin around in circles, frantic.

[March 7th: It's a dragon!]

[Kiana Kaslana: That wind looks terrifying! Lumine, be careful!!]

[Zenless Zone Zero Belle: So is this the part where the hero fights the evil dragon?]

Gusttave kicked off the ground and shot into the sky like an arrow.

He reached out, caught Lumine around the waist, and pulled her into his arms.

Faced with his move, Lumine stiffened for a moment, then cooperated fully with his motions.

In this situation, she didn't have much choice.

But the sight left a certain Abyss Prince steaming mad.

[Aether: Get your filthy hands off her!]

[Gusttave: Nope. Come hit me if you've got the guts!]

[Aether: You son of a—!]

Seeing Gusttave's provocation, Aether turned even redder with fury.

But what Lumine said next was even harder for him to take.

[Lumine: You, the guy who abandoned his sister and vanished, shut up!]

Aether fell silent in the group chat.

It was as if she had jabbed the sorest spot he had. He couldn't get a single word out.

Back to Mondstadt.

Gusttave looked down at Lumine, who was still trembling slightly in his arms. He made no snide remarks. He just drew her a little closer and adjusted his posture so she could lean on him more steadily.

Then he raised a hand and pointed upward. A pale golden barrier unfolded without a sound, firmly holding back the gale laced with dragon's breath.

Dvalin's enormous form swept past through the clouds. The wind pressure from his six wings bent the trees outside the city over in neat rows.

Robbed of his reason, he roared at Gusttave.

"Insolent dragon, you dare show off your tricks before me!"

With Gusttave's thunderous shout, a colossal palm suddenly manifested in the sky and snatched Dvalin up like a baby chick.

Then Gusttave made as if to finish him off.

At that moment, a gentle voice sounded beside Gusttave and Lumine: "Please, my lord, show mercy. Attacking you was never Dvalin's intent. He has been tainted by the power of the Abyss and has lost his reason. That is the only reason he's in this state."

The moment the voice rang out, the people of Mondstadt grew excited.

[Varka: He's finally here.]

When he'd just seen Gusttave about to crush Dvalin, Varka had broken out in a cold sweat on the spot.

Thankfully, Venti had appeared and stopped Gusttave.

[Jean: It's Lord Barbatos!]

[Barbara: This must be Lord Barbatos.]

[Kaeya: So he was tainted by the Abyss?]

[Lisa: No wonder the guardian of the east turned into this…]

Venti's explanation made Kaeya and the others understand at once why Dvalin had gone mad and attacked Mondstadt.

Gusttave looked toward a certain corner of Mondstadt and called out, "You want me to stop without even showing your face? Isn't that a bit insincere?"

Venti said helplessly, "Well, you're streaming, aren't you? If I show up, won't everyone in Mondstadt find out who I am?"

Gusttave raised an eyebrow. "You still care about that? Varka, Seamus, Dahlia… the higher-ups all know who you are already, don't they?"

"Seamus even switched from praying to the Anemo Archon to praying to Heaven after seeing your true face."

Venti retorted, "I'm not that pathetic, am I?"

Gusttave answered with a look of disdain. "Heh. Want me to play back what Vennessa and Dvalin said about you back then, for everyone to see?"

Venti's voice stalled on the spot. Even from far away, you could hear him sucking in a sharp breath.

The next second, a teal-green figure appeared high in the sky, accompanied by a light, lilting melody.

The Anemo Archon, in the form of a boy, was still clutching half a bottle of unfinished apple wine. His hat sat crooked, and his bright green eyes were filled with panic that said, "How do you know everything?" Yet he kept up a brave front and waved a hand. "Oh, come on, that's all ancient history. Why bring it up? Young people shouldn't have such good memories, you know."

[Author's Note: Asking for flowers…]

"I may not have much going for me, but when it comes to holding grudges and remembering embarrassing history, I'm first-rate," Gusttave said.

[Jean: Ven… Lord Barbatos!!]

Barbatos was somewhat famous in Mondstadt as a drunken bard, and even Jean had heard of him.

Though she had heard it from Varka.

Varka said Venti was his drinking buddy.

[Barbara: Lord Barbatos is right here among us?]

At first, Barbara had a hard time accepting that the carefree Venti was the Anemo Archon.

But as a devout believer, she quickly adjusted her mindset.

[Nimrod: I've actually had drinks with Lord Barbatos!]

[Elowen: Oh my gosh! I actually saw the Anemo Archon with my own eyes today!]

[Anthony: Last month I beat him at cards and won three hundred Mora off him. Now that I think about it, wasn't that blasphemy?!]

[Diluc: I never expected the penniless drunken bard to turn out to be… Mondstadt's future really does look bleak.]

[Kaeya: It's not that exaggerated.]

[Diluc: Hmph!]