After leaving the restricted section, Victor Wang deliberately asked Lisa about the origins of Geographical Record.
"That book? I think it was brought over by someone from Khaenri'ah a long time ago. Later, because of how sensitive it was, it ended up in the restricted section."
Just as I thought… It really is a Khaenri'ahn book. Victor Wang followed up, "But the last map—why is its style so different from the rest? And the locations seem so unfamiliar. Are those really places in Teyvat?"
As expected, Lisa didn't know the answer either.
Victor Wang bought several sheets of mapping paper from an adventurer supply store and returned to his rented room. He tried his best to recreate the map, but his first two attempts made him frown even at his own work.
Fortunately, his third draft was at least clear enough not to be misunderstood. Carefully folding the map, Victor Wang tucked it into his cloak pocket.
If I ever meet one of the Seven Archons, I have to ask about this.
Balancing days of training how many wind currents he could control simultaneously, memorizing books at the library, and mentally exhausting himself to build spiritual stamina, Victor Wang led a life sprinkled with unexciting, mundane routines.
One morning, after waking up on time to check the daily commissions unique to adventurers, he found a large crowd of adventurers gathered around the request board.
Although many usually came to take on commissions, once they'd selected their tasks, they would form teams near Good Hunter or the fountain plaza. A crowd blocking access to the board was rare.
When Victor Wang got closer, he overheard heated discussions.
"Barbara's holding a solo concert?"
"After I got hurt fighting monsters and Miss Barbara healed me, I haven't heard her sing again. Finally?"
"With something like this, couldn't you just tell her 'I feel kinda down and need your voice to heal me'? I'm sure she wouldn't say no."
"Hey hey, that's basically tricking her! That's not cool!"
Several young adventurers bickered.
"But why is Albert the client?"
"Who cares? Five thousand Mora for helping out? I'm in, no matter who posted it."
Victor Wang squeezed through and saw the commission himself.
The request said Barbara was holding a concert and needed fifty adventurers to hand out flyers and twenty more to help build the stage.
Flyer distributors would be paid five thousand Mora and had to deliver fifty flyers. Stagehands got eight thousand but also had to help take it down after the show.
The concert was scheduled for 7:00 PM the next day, and payment would be issued only after the event ended.
The client was Albert.
Albert—the president of the Barbara Fan Club. Although the request wasn't from Barbara herself, people trusted it due to his notoriety.
Victor Wang thought for a moment. I've got free time anyway, might as well join the fun.
He accepted the flyer distribution task, and Katheryne handed him a bundle of prepared flyers.
The most eye-catching thing on the flyer was a full-color image of Barbara—mid-jump, flashing a peace sign in front of her face, beaming with a sweet smile. Definitely the kind of thing that could capture the hearts of countless hopeless romantics.
The flyers had to be handed out to people who hadn't already received one. The fountain plaza was already covered.
Guess I'll head to Anemo Archon Plaza.
Driven by a bit of mischief, Victor Wang decided to go advertise right outside Barbara's place.
At 9 a.m., Kaeya had finished clocking in and, as usual, wandered the city. Upon reaching the plaza, he saw the black cloak he hadn't spotted in a while.
"Barbara, promoting her own concert this boldly? That's surprising."
Victor Wang explained, "It's not her. The request was posted by Albert."
"Oh? I see." As the city's gossip broker, Kaeya instantly grasped the full story.
Victor Wang also understood. Knowing Barbara's personality, there was no way she would initiate such a grand promotional campaign. This was almost certainly Albert's doing. Still, he didn't care—it wasn't his responsibility.
Kaeya's amused gaze shifted to Victor Wang. "Your voice?"
"This is my first step toward becoming human again."
Kaeya froze for a second.
"But the path I've found is difficult—it's not something that would work for every Hilichurl."
"Well then, I'll wish you success, as a friend."
After parting with Kaeya, Victor Wang continued handing out flyers.
"Well, well, isn't this the president of that fan club? What's this? Switching sides?"
Seeing Victor Wang distribute Barbara's flyers, Albert couldn't help but throw in a snide remark.
Victor Wang took a deep breath. That day when he snuck around the cathedral to witness The Fair Lady extracting Venti's Gnosis, Albert had mistaken him for a fellow pervert.
"I told you I'm not."
Victor Wang did like voluptuous women, sure. But small had its charms, and large had its drawbacks.
No matter who The Fair Lady once was, she was now bad news. Liking a dangerous woman was fine—but falling in love? Absolutely not.
"Aw, don't be shy! I can tell you've come to appreciate Lady Barbara's greatness. Join our fan club, and I'll make you vice president!"
Albert recalled the seductive figure of that woman that day. Truly a formidable rival to Lady Barbara. If he could recruit her fan club president over to their side, it would be a major win.
Victor Wang was baffled. Does this guy not understand language? There really is a Lady fan club? Then again… scoring a vice president seat in Barbara's fan club wasn't a bad deal.
"What perks come with being your vice president?"
Seeing Victor Wang intrigued, Albert quickly responded, "For example, tomorrow's concert—you'd get front-row seats!"
"Still… is this solo concert even legit?"
"'I want to hold a solo concert'—this is a wish Lady Barbara has never told anyone, but I know! I'm going to make it happen for her!"
Wait wait wait… if she's never told anyone, how do you know? What would Barbara think once she found out about this concert happening behind her back?
Victor Wang was speechless.
Albert was too far gone in self-delusion, wearing a look of deep sacrifice and conviction. "Let more people hear Lady Barbara's beautiful voice! Let more people see her radiant figure! Let more be healed by her! This is my life's mission!"
"…We also offer all sorts of perks in the Lady's fan club…"
"Ahem." Albert snapped out of his delusions. "As vice president, you'd get exclusive updates about Lady Barbara!"
Not as tempting as the previous one… Victor Wang pretended to hesitate.
Albert twitched, like he was making a hard choice.
Victor Wang kept up the act, sighing dramatically.
Albert's face contorted, and finally he bit the bullet: "As vice president, you'll get exclusive photos of Lady Barbara!"
In truth, only Albert had those—he'd taken them himself, in secret.
"Oho? You've got that kind of material?"
Albert's face was grim, like he'd sacrificed a limb. But to defeat Lady Barbara's powerful rival, he nodded firmly.
Victor Wang thought, Wow, this guy's seriously messed up. The lives idols live… what a nightmare. Still, a free gain was a free gain. No need to keep faking it.
"Fine then, I'll graciously accept the vice president role!" Victor Wang was gleeful inside.
…
Lunchtime. The Knights of Favonius cafeteria.
Normally, only staff stationed at headquarters came here. Knights like the Outriders and scouts rarely did.
But after resolving the Stormterror incident and crushing the Fatui's forces in Mondstadt, the Knights were finally enjoying some well-earned rest.
Eula had returned to the city to recuperate and was now catching up with Amber over lunch.
Seeing Eula, Jean sighed inwardly. What a fine person, held back by the Lawrence name. But she kept her face composed, exchanged greetings with Amber and Eula, and then found an empty seat.
"Did you hear? Barbara's holding a concert!"
"I knew this morning. Don't tell me you just found out?"
"Tch. Acting all high and mighty because you heard it first?"
"You brought it up to flex!"
"We're frozen now. I'm sitting two meters away from you."
"I'll sit three meters away from you!"
Hearing two fellow Knights bicker over who found out first, Jean grew curious about the source. But if she asked now, she might ruin their lunch… Best to wait and see later.
While waiting for her own meal, Kaeya arrived and sat directly across from her.
"Acting Grand Master Jean, I came across something quite interesting today."
Kaeya pulled a flyer from his pocket. A Barbara concert flyer. Many people in Mondstadt didn't know Jean and Barbara were sisters—but Kaeya certainly did.
"What's this?"
Jean looked at the image and, like Kaeya and Victor Wang, concluded immediately: This is not something Barbara would do.
There had been a church-organized post-crisis choir concert recently, but that was a group performance.
"Where did this come from?"
"A commission by Albert. By now, probably half the city knows about it."
Jean pressed her palm to her forehead. So much for a peaceful lunch.
…
That afternoon, word finally reached Barbara about her "solo concert."
"How… how could this happen?"
Of course, Barbara wasn't afraid of performing. As part of the Church's choir, she regularly sang at public events.
But a personal concert with this level of publicity? That was a first—especially since she had no idea it was happening at all.
Two Knights escorted Albert to the Church of Favonius.
"The suspect, under suspicion of spreading false information, has been brought in. Miss Barbara, would you like to speak with him?"
"Lady Barbara! With your talent, you should've debuted long ago! Since you won't take that step, I'll do it for you! It's a tragedy for the world not to hear your voice!"
Facing Albert, lost in delusion, Barbara was at a loss.
"Sigh… Please handle him according to standard procedure."
"The stage! The invitations! The flyers! It's all ready! Go for it, Lady Barbara!"
Even as the Knights dragged him away, Albert's voice lingered.
Barbara's dream of becoming an idol to heal people's hearts had indeed been the reason she received her Vision.
She had hoped to walk her path gradually—but now the entire city knew. She couldn't betray their expectations.
Time to accelerate the idol project.