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Chapter 19 - Mondstadt’s Man-Children and Slacking Subordinates… Poor Jean Has It Rough

On the light-screen, Arthur continued:

"Raised by a family with such a strong creed, Jean naturally developed exceptional qualities.

"Posture and etiquette that embody knightly grace.

History and poetry that shape a knight's soul.

Swordsmanship and physical training that reinforce martial spirit.

She excels in all of them."

"With relentless daily practice, she earned the title of Dandelion Knight at the age of fifteen—

inheriting Vanessa's legacy."

"And after Grand Master Varka left on expedition, Jean became the Acting Grand Master."

"Thus began her era of… non-stop workaholism."

"From the Knights' major affairs—

to trivial daily nonsense."

"Arguing couples on the streets, minor neighborhood disputes,

even lost cats and dogs…"

"Jean handles everything."

"Reliability practically radiates off her face."

"In a way, it's admirable."

"But—

while she doesn't think there's anything wrong with it,

from an outsider's perspective…

the issue is huge."

"Can you imagine someone in Liyue telling Ningguang to help find their lost cat?"

"Or walking up to the Sumeru Sage and saying:

'Hey, my dog ran away, help please'?"

"Or asking Neuvillette, Chief Justice of Fontaine,

to mediate a lovers' quarrel?"

"Completely absurd."

Even Arthur couldn't help shaking his head.

"Of course, we can't blame Jean and Noelle alone."

"They're kind people doing their knightly duty."

"The real problem is—

Mondstadt has too many man-children."

"In the entire continent of Teyvat,

no other nation's citizens behave quite like Mondstadt's."

He sighed softly.

Arthur actually liked Mondstadt—

the new player's homeland, a fairy-tale dreamland.

But the man-child behavior,

that was truly hard to swallow.

He shook his head again and played Jean's Story Quest footage.

The entire screen vividly displayed

what a 'typical day' looks like for the Acting Grand Master.

When it ended, every nation except Mondstadt collectively froze.

[Ordinary Chat Group]

[Tian Tiezui]: HOLY—

You guys call JEAN to help find your PETS?!

[Master Mao]: "Man-child" is accurate.

Utterly disgraceful.

[Zheping]: We're always fighting wars in Inazuma.

People go to the front every day.

This is the first time I've seen a country call its national leader

to mediate a couple's quarrel…

Every nation started mocking Mondstadt's immaturity.

It was too embarrassing.

Freedom didn't mean freeloading.

The Mondstadters couldn't even argue back.

They'd never thought about it before.

To them, asking Jean for help with petty things felt normal.

But now, seeing the light-screen and hearing everyone scold them…

They themselves felt guilty.

They loved their Acting Grand Master—

yet they were the ones exhausting her the most.

[Transcendent Chat Group]

[Klee]: Jean works so hard every day???

Klee was wrong… Klee won't make Jean angry anymore…

[Jean]: It's alright, Klee.

[Xiangling]: Ahh… Jean's workload is terrifying.

[Keqing]: Ganyu and I work overtime often,

but our energy goes toward actual work.

Life problems are handled by the Millelith.

[Ganyu]: Yes…

Lost pets should be handled by regular Knights.

[Diluc]: Meaningless chores are Jean's greatest enemy.

Excessive responsibility isn't a virtue.

I hope she realizes her true role.

[Noelle]: S-So… Captain Jean and I…

were doing it wrong?

[Zhongli]: From a rational perspective:

your people rely on you far too much.

[Lumine]: Exactly!

Who calls their national leader to solve a street argument??

"Man-child nation" is accurate!

[Paimon]: Probably all Venti's fault. He spoiled them.

[Venti]: …

[Neuvillette]: Jean is competent,

but excessively so.

[Falga]: Sigh… truly difficult for that child.

[Barbara]: S-Sister… Acting Grand Master…

You've worked so hard.

Mondstadt – Knights of Favonius Headquarters

Jean watched the footage and the flood of comments.

Her expression wavered.

"So…

Have I been… wrong all this time?"

She had always believed she wasn't doing enough.

Never did she imagine she was doing too much.

Overworking herself—

and unintentionally turning Mondstadters into helpless dependents.

Lisa looked at her dear friend, heart aching softly.

"Jean… your dedication isn't wrong.

But moderation matters."

"As the Acting Grand Master,

you must direct Mondstadt—not carry it alone."

"Ningguang doesn't look for lost pets."

"The Sages don't,

Neuvillette doesn't."

"Why must you handle everything?"

"Mondstadt's people must learn independence."

Jean closed her eyes.

She stayed silent for a long moment.

When she opened them, the confusion was gone.

"…I understand, Lisa."

"I should… allow myself proper afternoon tea once in a while."

"And Klee…

I promised to go fish-blasting with her, but always pushed it off."

"When this Dragon disaster is over,

I'll make the time to take her out."

A long breath left her chest,

as if a huge weight were lifted.

Maybe letting go

was the right answer.

"That's good~"

Lisa smiled gently.

"Klee will be thrilled."

Livestream – Arthur

Arthur sipped his tea, checked the flood of comments, and continued:

"Jean's overwork isn't only due to Mondstadt's man-children."

"There's also the issue of lack of capable staff."

"Let's compare."

"Liyue has the Liyue Qixing, and secretaries like Ganyu."

"Keqing and Ganyu alone outperform dozens."

"They also have Yelan, Beidou, Ningguang's network—

an entire ecosystem of elites."

"Fontaine?

Even if Furina doesn't handle affairs, they have Neuvillette—

a powerhouse in both authority and competence."

"And beyond him: Clorinde, Chevreuse, Duke Wriothesley,

Navia, Melusines…"

"All highly reliable."

"But Mondstadt?"

"Lisa—

A Sumeru genius, unmatched in magical knowledge…

restricted to being a lazy Librarian

due to special circumstances."

"Kaya—

Cavalry Captain,

but prefers drinking to working."

"Klee—

Mondstadt's strongest combatant,

but busy blowing up fish."

"Albedo—

A brilliant alchemist,

but buried in Dragonspine sketching rocks."

"Noelle—

Too kind, too earnest,

not quite ready to be a full Knight."

"Diluc—

Capable, yes,

but estranged from the Knights."

"And then the Anemo Archon does nothing,

and Varka took most of Mondstadt's elite away."

"In short—

Jean has almost no one reliable to delegate to."

"Man-child citizens.

Slacking subordinates."

"Jean… truly has it rough."

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