Episode 174.4: The Queen wants it, so I'll come and get it!
『 Before their departure, Zhongli specifically instructed Lumine, who was by his side, "To stop this storm, you must first find the one who lit the fuse."
After speaking, he departed in a hurry, leaving a series of hurried footsteps echoing in the empty entrance.
Watching Zhongli's figure gradually disappear, Paimon's heart was filled with mixed emotions.
On one hand, she marveled at what a truly good person Zhongli was, and on the other, she was curious about who or what this "fuse" he mentioned actually was.
Meanwhile, a figure involuntarily surfaced in Lumine's mind—one of the Fatui Harbingers, the elegant yet unfathomable 'Childe' Tartaglia.
But then, Lumine couldn't help but wonder, in such a situation, what kind of trouble could this Tartaglia possibly stir up?
Just as her thoughts raced and the atmosphere grew tense, a flash of insight seemed to spark in Lumine's mind.
The Fatui, the Gnosis, the Geo Archon—these three keywords intertwined and collided in the depths of her consciousness, ultimately pointing to a clear location... 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Keqing (Genshin Impact): "Could it be that place?!" ]
[ Ningguang (Genshin Impact): "It can only be that place; that place is the best choice." ]
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "Where exactly is it?" ]
[ Lumine (Genshin Impact): "The Golden House, have you forgotten?" ]
[ .....]
『 That was the sacred place where the Geo Archon's Exuvia were enshrined after his passing, the only mint in all of Teyvat—the Golden House.
If the Fatui wanted to seize the Gnosis, they would surely need to approach this power of the adepti.
This made Lumine realize that Liyue's defenses might have a loophole.
In other words, the Golden House might currently be completely unguarded, allowing anyone to enter and exit.
Upon realizing this, Lumine's heart tightened, and she immediately rushed towards the Golden House, where the adeptus's Exuvia was kept, fearing that even a moment's delay could lead to unforeseen changes.
But when Lumine reached the entrance, she was stunned by the strange scene before her.
The place, which should have been heavily guarded, was now empty, not even a shadow in sight.
One must know that in the world of Teyvat, it was not like those high-tech worlds with unmanned surveillance.
Such an anomaly could only mean one thing.
With doubts swirling in her mind, Lumine gently pushed open the heavy doors of the Golden House and stepped inside.
As soon as she entered, the sight before her confirmed her suspicions.
The calm outside the Golden House was precisely because the guards were not standing guard outside at this moment,
but were instead lying on the ground in a state of extreme disarray, having been thrown aside after being knocked down.
Witnessing this scene, alarm bells rang in Lumine's heart, realizing that the Golden House was currently fraught with danger.
As she explored deeper, the corridors on both sides were filled with luxurious decorations... 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Dori (Genshin Impact): "The Golden House?" ]
[ Dori (Genshin Impact): "The legendary Golden House?" ]
[ Dori (Genshin Impact): "This is the legendary Golden House. I feel like I could sleep here." ]
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "Paimon wants to too!" ]
[ Yanfei (Genshin Impact): "You're committing a crime!" ]
[ Shinomiya Kaguya (Love Is War): "Is this Mora?" ]
[ Shinomiya Kaguya (Love Is War): "But isn't this just gold?" ]
[ Neuvillette (Genshin Impact): "Gold? But speaking of which, Morax is also known as the God of Gold." ]
[ Miyuki Shirogane (Love Is War): "Using gold directly as currency, that's so extravagant." ]
[ Keqing (Genshin Impact): "All this Mora is made using the power of the Rex Lapis, so it's not actually particularly precious." ]
[ Yukinoshita Yukino (Oregairu): "But if this god is gone in the future, won't it be impossible to make more?" ]
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "Oh right!!" ]
[ Ningguang (Genshin Impact): "This....." ]
[ .....]
『 And the mountains of Mora piled on the ground made Paimon incredibly envious, her heart itching with desire.
Just as she was about to make a move and grab some, Lumine, with quick eyes and hands, stopped her "little action."
Caught red-handed, Paimon reluctantly gave up.
However, even as she gave up, Paimon remained persistent, whining and pleading with Lumine: "If I can't take it with me, then let me lie here for a while, use this Mora as a blanket, and have a shimmering golden dream, can I?"
Lumine didn't respond to Paimon's money-grubbing remark and continued towards the deeper platform.
Because she also sensed that the atmosphere around them was off, as if some power was silently suppressing the surroundings.
Immediately after, a breathtaking scene unfolded before their eyes—a massive dragon's remains.
Seeing this familiar figure, both of them knew without a doubt that this was the giant dragon that had fallen from the sky, most likely the Geo Archon's adeptal Exuvia.
Just as they were about to approach for a closer look, a slightly helpless voice suddenly rang out from behind them: "As guides, your identities have already fulfilled their purpose. Why do you still come looking for trouble?"
Upon hearing that familiar voice, the two spun around abruptly, and indeed, it was the troublesome Tartaglia standing there.
At this moment, a hint of helplessness hung on his face as he slowly moved towards them.
"If you could become a part of our Fatui, perhaps you could receive a substantial reward from the Cryo Archon, Her Imperial Majesty." Childe said to Paimon and Lumine with regret, "Unfortunately, as you are now, you are merely an obstruction to me."
Tartaglia's sudden appearance filled Lumine with questions.
Everything had been kept secret from Childe, so how did he know all of this?
Lumine naturally wouldn't know that it was all due to a certain emergency food's chatter, or perhaps ears eavesdropping from behind a wall.
However, pursuing these matters now was meaningless. Tartaglia, who knew everything, began to explain with a sigh:
"It's a long story, and taking such a roundabout way doesn't suit my style. But circumstances are unpredictable. Soon after I arrived in Liyue, just as I was about to act, I witnessed the sudden demise of the Geo Archon, and even his adeptal Exuvia was mysteriously hidden." 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "You were eavesdropping on us!" ]
[ Tartaglia (Genshin Impact): "Didn't I tell you, walls have ears?" ]
[ Tartaglia (Genshin Impact): "I didn't lie to you." ]
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "I'll never trust you again!" ]
[ .....]
『 "If it weren't for your preparations for this Rite of Parting, I wouldn't have obtained a single clue. Any later, and things would have been much more troublesome."
At this point, Tartaglia's gaze swept over the surroundings of the Golden House. "Heh, to interrupt Mora minting to hide the adeptal Exuvia, the Qixing really spared no expense."
Paimon, upon hearing this, suddenly understood and asked in disbelief, "You, you really intend to seize the Gnosis from the adeptal Exuvia?"
"Hmph, as a Fatui Harbinger, it is my duty to carry out the will of the Cryo Archon," Tartaglia said, approaching with his weapon in hand, his target directly Lumine, or rather, the adeptal Exuvia behind her.
"Her Imperial Majesty desires it, and we shall obtain it for her." 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Tartaglia (Genshin Impact): "Victory belongs to the Empress." ]
[ .....]
『 Gazing at the aggressively approaching Tartaglia, Lumine's anger flared. Her hands clenched her weapon, and her eyes glinted with a fierce light, locking onto her opponent.
"You scoundrel, don't even think about approaching the adeptus's Exuvia! We will never allow it!"
However, facing Lumine's fierce stance, the other party merely sneered indifferently and said dismissively:
"The key question isn't who can allow me to approach, but who here can stop me."
"The time for transactions and calculations has passed; it's time to turn the page."
"Honestly, I'm tired of these schemes and tricks, but for the Cryo Archon, I'm willing to endure."
"But once I've endured it, next, why don't we enjoy some simple, direct fun together? What do you say?~"
Under the eager gaze of everyone, Tartaglia candidly expressed his thoughts.
"The greatest pleasure is continuous fierce battles!"
Upon hearing this, Paimon felt a hint of apprehension but still gathered her courage to ask, "You mean you like to casually challenge people to fights?"
"Haha, you could say that!" Tartaglia was unfazed and even revealed a secret: "In Mondstadt, Signora offended the Archon outside the Cathedral and then left in a hurry after succeeding."
"At that time, she preferred to temporarily restrain everyone with ice and snow rather than confront you head-on. That wasn't fear, but to avoid the commotion caused by a major battle drawing the attention of the Knights of Favonius."
"When facing a strong enemy, she first considers her own interests, weighing victory and defeat, and also considering the consequences of her actions."
When mentioning his colleague—the Fatui Harbinger, Signora, who carried out missions in Mondstadt—Tartaglia's expression was full of disdain, showing his incomprehension of her cautious style. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Barbara (Genshin Impact): "Lord Barbatos was actually offended!" ]
[ Kaeya (Genshin Impact): "Fatui, give an explanation!" ]
[ Jean (Genshin Impact): "..." ]
[ Diluc (Genshin Impact): "Cowardly Knights of Favonius." ]
[ Jean (Genshin Impact): "Senior, it's not like that." ]
[ .....]
『 Immediately, Childe changed the subject and expounded on his philosophy of action.
"I am completely different from her. The reason I became a Fatui Harbinger is entirely that I pursue the ultimate source of joy—"
"That is to constantly challenge stronger opponents!"
As he spoke of the difference between himself and Signora, a look of longing involuntarily appeared on Childe's face.
What a noble aspiration! To spar with countless strong opponents one by one, what a magnificent idea!
Recalling the encounter at the Mondstadt Cathedral entrance, Paimon earnestly said to Tartaglia, "What happened in Mondstadt will never happen again here!"
Tartaglia faced Paimon's resolute demeanor, openly displaying his passion for battle.
"Oh? Then bring it on, but rest assured, I won't harm your travel companion." Childe smiled at Lumine, clearly in a good mood:
"All I seek is the thrill of battle, so just play along with me."
"Defeating me isn't easy, so you don't need to deliberately seek victory. You just need to enjoy the fun of battle, like me, do you understand what I mean?"
However, facing Childe's overwhelming confidence, Lumine looked unconvinced and retorted:
"You think I can't beat you? Do you know what you're saying?"
Upon hearing this reply, Childe's smile grew even brighter.
"Hahaha, excellent! Since we're going to play seriously, don't let my expectations down."
"This is a rare opportunity to exchange blows; show me your full strength." Facing Lumine's offensive, Tartaglia still calmly adopted a fighting stance.
"You know, opportunities to fight a Fatui Harbinger are rare."
Despite saying that, in the ensuing fierce battle, the powerful Tartaglia quickly fell to Lumine's continuous attacks.
When Childe got up after falling, his face showed no pain; instead, it was filled with even greater joy.
"Excellent, I have a full new understanding of your power. No wonder Signora was wary of you; it's understandable."
"In that case, I can also display my true strength without holding back. However, my full power might be a bit too intense for you!~."
At this point, Childe finally decided to hold nothing back and prepare to go all out.
After speaking, a surge of water enveloped Tartaglia, completely encasing him, as the battle was about to enter a new stage.
When he reappeared, his attire was no longer ordinary but strangely bizarre.
And this transformation caused Tartaglia's strength to suddenly skyrocket, achieving a qualitative leap.
The situation where he was just suppressed by Lumine is now completely reversed, and he directly repelled Lumine on the battlefield.
This scene frightened Paimon, who quickly flapped her wings and flew to Lumine's side, checking her up and down incessantly.
Though fear coiled in her heart, Paimon bravely stood in front of Lumine, in a stance of sworn protection to the death.
Meanwhile, Childe slowly stepped forward, the bowstring in his hand glowing with a deep purple light, energy surging.
"Indeed, quite impressive. Your swordsmanship truly has a unique flavor."
"Unfortunately, this is as far as you can go today."
With that, he was about to launch an attack, arrow on the string, ready to fire at any moment.
Just at this critical juncture, as the attack was about to reach Paimon,
Lumine deftly pulled Paimon behind her, then swung her sword, summoning wind, and blocked Childe's fierce strike with Anemo power.
After a struggle, she slipped her foot, using the momentum to unleash Geo elemental skill, summoning a Geo construct, intending to hinder Childe's continuous attacks.
The Geo construct crashed towards Childe's feet, accompanied by a roaring explosion, and Lumine seized the opportunity to escape Childe's attack range.
However, once the smoke cleared, Childe, who should have appeared in the smoke, seemed to have evaporated, vanishing without a trace.
This scene made a flash of insight appear in Lumine's mind; she seemed to have grasped something crucial.
She suddenly turned her head, her gaze sharp, directly towards the direction of the adeptal Exuvia... 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "You're too despicable!" ]
[ Tartaglia (Genshin Impact): "Little Paimon, this is battle; tactics are normal." ]
[ Lumine (Genshin Impact): "Paimon, it's okay, none of this has happened yet. He won't get a second chance." ]
[ .....]
『 Sure enough, Tartaglia, just as she had anticipated, had silently positioned himself atop the adeptal Exuvia at some unknown point.
"This guy is too cunning; he actually used the chaos of the battle to get close to the adeptal Exuvia!" Paimon complained, pouting as she gazed at Childe in the distance.
"Hehehe, for someone who's been through countless battles, such a small trick is child's play." Before Childe finished speaking, his hand slowly reached out towards the adeptal Exuvia beside him, preparing to claim his spoils of war.
"Well then, I'll gladly accept Morax's Gnosis." 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Paimon (Genshin Impact): "Oh no, the Geo Archon's Gnosis!" ]
[ Tartaglia (Genshin Impact): "The mission is completed just like that?" ]
[ .....]
『 However, after some searching, Tartaglia's expression suddenly changed. 』
『 .....』
〜Dimensional livestream, Chat Room〜
[ Tartaglia (Genshin Impact): "It's empty?" ]
[ Oyama Mahiro (Onimai): "Hahaha, what a waste of effort." ]
[ Chika Fujiwara (Love Is War): "So much planning, and it was all for nothing." ]
[ Conan Edogawa (Detective Conan): "Evil can never triumph over justice!" ]
[ Belial (Ultraman): "Heh, justice." ]
[ Tregear (Ultraman): "Justice..." ]
[ .....]
『 "So that's how it is, truly unexpected." Childe withdrew his empty hand, a hint of anger surfacing.
"So, you were the one who got there first." Leaping down from the adeptal Exuvia, Childe's body was immediately encased in a layer of armor.
The immense aura released as he donned the armor caused Lumine to involuntarily stagger.
"But everything has a price, doesn't it?" Childe, clad in armor, said slowly to Lumine.
With that, he abruptly plunged his weapon into the earth.
Accompanied by a powerful impact, the ground instantly cracked and collapsed with a roar.
Seeing Lumine about to fall, Paimon desperately tried to pull her back, preventing her from plunging into the abyss.
But this effort was ultimately futile, and Paimon herself was dragged down along with her.
After a messy landing, Childe also slowly descended from the sky.
He exuded an unmistakable aura of formidable power.
And Childe's next words left Lumine and Paimon utterly bewildered.
"Did you already obtain the Gnosis in advance?"
"Were your actions swifter, or was the information about the Golden House earlier deliberately leaked to me by you?"
"Never mind, either way, just hand over the Gnosis now. Don't force me to take it myself; that might not be so pleasant."
Confused by this sudden interrogation, the two quickly argued: "That's not true! We didn't take that Gnosis at all!"
Despite their opposing stances, Paimon unhesitatingly retorted against this inexplicable accusation.
However, this answer did not dispel Childe's doubts.
Thus, the intensity between the two escalated once again. 』
『 .....』