The second soldier chuckled lewdly. "She's not denying it. Figures. Tell you what—give us a free 'service,' and we'll let you go."
Even though Gorou was still getting used to her new body, being accused of that kind of thing made her blood boil. And hearing those disgusting demands lit the spark into full-blown fury. Her hands clenched into fists. She was this close to breaking their jaws.
But before she could move, a shadow dropped from above—landing squarely between her and the soldiers.
"Yo," the newcomer said with a smile. "Working late, are we, officers? Appreciate your hard work."
Gorou's eyes widened in disbelief. Of all people—Lucas?!
She hadn't expected him to leave the Komore Teahouse at nearly the same time as she did. And of all the alleys in Inazuma, they'd managed to cross paths here.
"Don't get in our way," one soldier snapped. "Move along!"
"W-wait," the other hissed, tugging on his partner's sleeve. "Look at his clothes… this guy's not someone you wanna mess with."
Their voices weren't loud, but Lucas caught every word, and he couldn't help finding the whole thing a little funny.
People in Inazuma really did judge by appearances. Kujou Sara had personally ordered this outfit for him, yet it seemed to cause misunderstandings wherever he went.
"Ahem." Lucas decided he couldn't be bothered to argue. Instead, he casually took out the jade pendant Kujou Takayuki had given him and held it up with a grin. "You recognize this, don't you?"
The two Tenryou Commission soldiers froze. They didn't know what the pendant was exactly, but the Kujou Clan crest carved into it was unmistakable. Forging a clan insignia was a serious crime—and combined with the man's expensive-looking clothes, there was no way this was fake.
"Um…" one soldier stammered nervously. "M-may I ask who you are, sir?"
"You?" Lucas snorted. "You don't have the rank to ask." He threw an arm around Gorou's shoulders with a lazy smile. "I'm in a good mood tonight. Thought I'd have a little fun. What—are you two planning to ruin it for me?"
A warm, rough touch pressed against Gorou's shoulder, sending a strange jolt through her. But she quickly understood—he was trying to get them out of this. So she just frowned and endured it in silence.
Thanks to his "Rampage" Simulator training, Lucas carried himself with a natural air of authority. The way he moved, the way he spoke—it was pure high-society arrogance. And honestly, it fit. Men of status were known for their odd hobbies, after all. A wealthy noble sneaking into a dark alley at midnight with a courtesan? Perfectly believable.
The two soldiers blanched, bowing so low their foreheads nearly touched the ground. "Forgive us, sir! We didn't recognize greatness when we saw it! We'll be on our way!"
Then one of them, wearing a greasy grin, added, "Would you like us to, uh, stand guard for you two?"
Lucas pointed down the street. "Scram."
"Yessir!"
As soon as they were gone, Gorou jerked her shoulder free. Lucas dropped his arm and scratched his neck awkwardly. "Sorry lady. Desperate times. I wasn't actually trying to take advantage of you."
"Who are you calling—" Gorou started to snap back, then stopped, realizing she actually was a girl now. Her voice dropped. "It's… fine."
Her mind spun quickly. Maybe she should just beat him up right here, settle the score once and for all.
But no—she'd only just gained this new power. She still wasn't used to it, and if she went too far, she might accidentally kill him. Besides, humiliating him now would be meaningless. Beating him publicly at the Transmission of Heart tournament, in front of everyone—that would sting much more.
"I might be overstepping," Lucas said with a sheepish smile, rubbing his cheek, "but a girl walking around dressed like that this late at night—it's kinda dangerous, don't you think?"
That's when Gorou finally realized what he meant. Because of her canine bloodline, her sweat glands barely functioned, which meant she overheated easily. That was why her clothes had always been simple—lightweight, sleeveless, easy to move in.
As a man, that kind of outfit had made sense. But now that she was a woman… well, not so much.
No wonder those Tenryou Commission soldiers had mistaken her for a courtesan. Her bare midriff alone was practically an open invitation for trouble.
"Mind your own business," Gorou muttered, biting her lip. "Maybe I am a courtesan. Wouldn't my outfit make sense then?"
The sharpness in her tone was pure reflex—resentment still lingered between them. Normally, she wasn't this prickly.
Lucas didn't reply. Instead, he quietly loosened his collar and slipped off his outer coat.
Gorou's face turned crimson. "W-what are you doing?! I—I don't care if I am a courtesan, I'm not taking clients!"
But instead of anything indecent, a gentle warmth enveloped her shoulders. Lucas had draped the coat over her.
"No matter who you are," he said simply, smiling, "you'll catch cold dressed like that."
"This coat…" Gorou murmured, remembering what Beidou had said earlier. "It must be expensive."
"Probably," Lucas said carelessly. "But it's fine. I don't plan to wear it again. Feels like walking around with a label on my back. Makes it hard to breathe."
"Then why…" Gorou lowered her head. "Why help a stranger like me?"
"Maybe it's your ears." Lucas tilted his head, grinning. "I, uh, made a friend earlier today. Ended up making him mad. You remind me of him—you both have those cute ears."
Gorou's ears twitched instinctively, and her tail gave an involuntary little wag.
What the—why is my body reacting like this just because he complimented me?
It had to be a side effect of that transformation pill. Definitely that.
"It's getting late," Lucas said, turning to leave. "You should head home too. See you around."
He'd barely taken two steps before Gorou blurted out, "Wait! I—I'm not a courtesan! Really, I'm not!"
Why… why do I even care if he believes me? she thought, flustered. It doesn't matter what he thinks.
Lucas looked back, smirking. "Yeah, I kinda figured. A courtesan with a temper like yours? You'd scare off all your clients."
"You're the one with the bad temper!" she shot back instinctively.
Watching his silhouette fade into the night, Gorou murmured, "Good thing he didn't ask my name."
If he had, she would've been stuck. What could she even say—'Hi, I'm Five-Girl'? That'd give everything away instantly.
A cool night breeze swept through the alley. She shivered and tightened the coat around herself. The faint warmth—and his scent—still lingered on the fabric. Without thinking, she took a small sniff. Then her face turned red again.
"Don't think a little kindness like this means I'll forgive you," she muttered. "Just… wait."
The wind shifted again, bringing a scrap of paper that smacked right into her face. Peeling it off, she saw bold lettering across the front: "Hina Ramen Shop."
"Hina?" Gorou blinked, then smiled faintly. "Guess that's fate. Fine then… from now on, this body's name will be Hina."
The next morning.
Tomorrow would mark the official start of the Transmission of Heart tournament. There wasn't really any need for extra practice, but Lucas still decided to squeeze in a final sparring session with Raiden Mai.
To be honest, if it came down purely to swordsmanship—with no Visions or special powers involved—Raiden Mai was already a pretty troublesome opponent for him.
First off, as a Puppet, she had no stamina limits. No matter how long the fight dragged on, fatigue never showed on her face or movements.
Second, that same puppet nature meant her emotions barely fluctuated. She could calmly analyze every situation, no matter how dangerous. Even when wounded, she wouldn't falter from pain or fear.
Those two traits alone set her leagues apart from any ordinary warrior.
But her body possessed something even scarier.
The ability to learn.
It was a new function she'd gained after her last "system upgrade."
And "learning" didn't just mean copying an opponent's techniques mid-battle. It meant using her immense analytical capacity to deconstruct every aspect of her opponent's fighting ability—then integrate it into her own database.
Put simply, she was like the Go-playing AI AlphaGo. It didn't truly "play" against human opponents; it just calculated the highest win-rate move based on all the data it had.
Raiden Mai fought the same way. She didn't just react to attacks—she predicted them, and countered with whatever move had the best statistical chance of victory.
Lucas could feel it firsthand. Every time they sparred, she'd grown a little stronger, sharper, faster.
Of course, that didn't mean she was invincible. Her system library was still limited, and her mechanical body had its own ceiling. Against overwhelming power, speed, or elemental abilities from a Vision, she was still at a disadvantage.
Still, since the Transmission of Heart sword tournament prohibited the use of Visions, that limitation turned into an advantage for her.
"Let's… take a break," Lucas said, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
Raiden Mai's face didn't change in the slightest. The intense sparring they'd just done might as well have been a light morning warm-up for her.
"The data's still insufficient," she said, shaking her head. "Your swordsmanship is good, but the sample variety is too narrow. Next round, fight me with spear techniques."
"Spear techniques?" Lucas blinked. "Why not just let me use Nation Destroyer instead?"
Honestly, he was a little curious. The tournament rules only banned Visions, right? So technically, firearms weren't off-limits. If he pulled out a musket, would that still count as fair play?
Still, training with Raiden Mai wasn't just for her data collection—it was also helping him improve. He'd gotten too used to crushing his enemies with the system's overwhelming power. Having to rely purely on martial skill again felt… strange.
"Or," he said with a nervous laugh, "we could just rest for a bit first?"
"Already exhausted?" Raiden Mai's tone was flat. "Human bodies really are fragile."
"Sorry for being born human," Lucas groaned. "I'm gonna walk around the courtyard for a bit. You coming?"
"No. I need to further analyze the combat data I just gathered." She knelt neatly on the tatami, her expression as calm as ever. "Go rest. I'll wait here."
Lucas let out a relieved sigh and stepped out of the training ground.
But the moment he rounded a corner, he spotted a familiar figure striding briskly down the path—it was Kamisato Ayaka.
"Morning, Ayaka," he called. "What's the rush? Something urgent?"
Ayaka slowed down when she saw him, smiling gracefully. "Thoma just informed me that a guest from Mondstadt has arrived. I was on my way to the reception hall to greet them."
"A guest from Mondstadt?" Lucas's curiosity immediately lit up. "Didn't expect the Yashiro Commission to have ties that far west."
"Hosting foreign guests is part of the Yashiro Commission's duties," Ayaka said with a nod. "Every so often, the Knights of Favonius send envoys to exchange information and maintain friendly relations."
"The Knights of Favonius, huh?" Lucas chuckled. "I've been to Mondstadt before—actually met a few of them. Mind if I tag along? I'd love to hear how everyone's doing these days."
"That would be wonderful," Ayaka admitted, pressing a hand to her chest in relief. "Normally my brother handles this sort of thing, but since he's busy, I've been a little nervous about meeting them alone."
They chatted as they walked, but before they reached the reception hall, the sharp sound of clashing metal rang out ahead—steel against steel, fast and fierce.
Both froze, exchanging a glance. Then they broke into a run.
A few steps later, they reached the courtyard outside the hall—only to find two tall figures locked in combat. One wielded a long spear, the other a greatsword.
The spearfighter's silver hair glinted under the sun—it was Shenhe. Her opponent, with blue hair, golden eyes, and the standard uniform of a Knight of Favonius, met her blow for blow.
Shenhe's skill was formidable, but the knight's was no less so. Their fighting styles were both straightforward and brutal—strength against strength. Each impact sent freezing gusts of wind across the courtyard, the air itself crystallizing from the cold. The nearby trees and flowers had already begun to wilt from the chill.
"Eula?!"
Lucas shouted her name before he could stop himself.
The envoy from the Knights of Favonius was none other than Eula Lawrence, captain of the Reconnaissance Company.
He never would've imagined running into her here—and certainly not like this, locked in a duel with Shenhe.
Maybe because the battle was so intense, neither woman had noticed their arrival.
Lucas sighed, half exasperated, half resigned. Then he drew Yotohime with one hand and Broken Mistcutter with the other, twin blades flashing as he leapt into the fray.
In the blink of an eye, he was between them—fast as a storm wind, both swords raised to intercept their blows.
Two sharp clangs rang out as Lucas's twin blades caught both weapons mid-swing.
Shenhe and Eula both froze, startled. Neither of them had used their Visions, but their blows hadn't been pulled in the slightest—and yet this man had blocked them both at once, effortlessly. His strength was nothing to scoff at.
What shocked Eula even more was who it was.
"Lucas?!" she blurted out. "What the—why is it you?!"
"Brother-in-law?" Shenhe frowned. "You know this woman?"
"Brother-in-law?" Eula's surprise only deepened. "Since when did you become someone's brother-in-law?"
"Can we not do this all at once?" Lucas sighed helplessly. "How about we start with the obvious—why the hell are you two fighting?"
"Hmph! How should I know?" Eula huffed, sheathing her claymore. "That crazy woman challenged me out of nowhere! What was I supposed to do—back down and admit defeat?"
Lucas rubbed his temples. "And you, Shenhe? Why did you suddenly challenge her?"
"She was the one who provoked me first," Shenhe replied coolly. "I was just passing by and saw this unfamiliar woman sitting in the guest room. She asked who I was, and I told her, 'None of your business.' Then she scoffed and said, 'How rude. Vengeance will be mine.' So I said, if she's got a grudge, she can settle it now instead of brooding over it. What, was she afraid of me?"
"I told her I wasn't afraid, and she said if that's the case, we should fight. The loser apologizes," Eula added, crossing her arms. "So we fought."
Lucas finally pieced the whole thing together. It all came down to one line—Eula's favorite catchphrase.
If it had been a Mondstadt native, they'd know "Vengeance will be mine" was just something Eula said out of habit. She'd never actually taken revenge on anyone in her life.
But Shenhe, being straightforward as always, had no way of knowing that—and had taken the phrase literally. Thus, the misunderstanding.
"Alright, alright. It's a big misunderstanding," Lucas said, exhaling. "Shenhe, when she says that line, she doesn't actually mean it. Got it?"
"How would anyone 'get' that?" Shenhe said dismissively. "Move aside. I still intend to finish this fight."
"Gladly," Eula said, her eyes lighting up with interest. "Other than the Acting Grand Master, I haven't met such a worthy opponent in ages."
Lucas knew exactly how this would go. Both women were stubborn to the core. Even if he forced them to stop now, they'd just find another chance to fight later.
"Miss Eula," he began carefully, "I understand your enthusiasm for battle, but—"
Before he could finish, Kamisato Ayaka stepped forward with a calm smile. "If it's victory you seek, there's a far better opportunity coming up."
Eula glanced her way. Clearly, this wasn't her first visit to Inazuma—she knew Ayaka well enough to take her seriously. "What opportunity?"
"Tomorrow marks the start of the Transmission of Heart sword tournament," Ayaka explained. "Many of Inazuma's finest warriors will be competing—including Miss Shenhe. With both your skills, it wouldn't be difficult to meet in the arena."
"How unnecessary," Shenhe said evenly. "And besides, with her skill, I doubt she'll even last long enough to face me."
If anyone else had said that, it would've sounded like taunting. But from Shenhe, it was pure sincerity.
Of course, that sincerity hit Eula like a challenge. "Fine. I'll join the tournament," she said with a sharp grin. "And when we meet, I'll defeat you fair and square—before everyone's eyes."
"Uh…" Lucas muttered under his breath, leaning toward Ayaka. "Didn't the registration deadline pass yesterday? Can she even sign up now?"
Ayaka smiled knowingly. "Ah, I forgot to mention—remember Acting Commissioner Honda? After losing during the qualifying round, he decided he wasn't strong enough and forfeited his slot. That vacant position can go to Miss Eula instead. Considering her strength, she'd pass the exam easily anyway."
It might've been a little bit of a loophole, but nothing worth fussing over.
And Lucas had to admit—Ayaka's quick thinking had neatly defused a full-blown duel.
"Alright, then it's settled," he said in relief. "So, you two can call a truce for now?"
"Hmph." Shenhe lowered her spear. "So this woman's one of your admirers too?"
"W-what nonsense!" Eula's face turned pink. "We're just acquaintances! How dare you accuse me like that—vengeance will be mine!"
"You really do love that line," Shenhe said flatly, finally realizing it was just a habit. "No wonder. This man seems to attract women wherever he goes."
"On that, I actually agree," Eula said dryly. "The Acting Grand Master's sent you several letters recently. When you didn't reply, she got so gloomy it was almost scary."
"There's no helping it," Lucas said awkwardly. "I've been in Inazuma, so I never got them. By the way, how is everyone in the Knights these days?"
"Oh, same as always. The Acting Grand Master's still overworked. Even Kaeya's been grumbling about losing his favorite drinking partner." Eula smiled faintly. "And Klee—she misses you the most. Keeps saying she's going to come find you."
"I miss her too," Lucas said softly, his expression warming at the mention of his "daughter." "Once I'm done here, I'll head back to Mondstadt and visit her."
"Speaking of Klee," Eula said, rummaging through her belt pouch, "she lent me a little gadget before I left."
After some searching, she produced a round, chubby device that looked exactly like Klee's companion, Dodoco.
"Wait—that's not a bomb, is it?" Lucas asked warily.
"Of course not!" Eula shot him a look. "It's something Klee's mother gave her—a 'Dodoco Communication Device.' It lets you talk over long distances. The Acting Grand Master told me to use it to check in once I arrived safely."
"Mondstadt already has something like this?" Kamisato Ayaka said in awe. "If it were used for military purposes, it could—no, no. Something this incredible shouldn't ever be used for war."
Her reaction wasn't surprising. In a world with no true communication technology, a device that could transmit messages instantly would shake all of Teyvat to its core.
"Not quite," Eula admitted. "Even in Mondstadt, this thing's a rare treasure. After all, Klee's mother, Alice, is a witch. Nothing she makes is ever ordinary..."
Before she could finish, a sweet little voice suddenly chirped from the other end of the Dodoco Communication Device.
"Captain Jean! I hear Eula-sis's voice! Eula-sis, it's me, Klee! We can hear you!"
"Hello? Hello? Can you hear me?" came another voice—older, steadier, and unmistakably Jean's. "Eula, have you arrived safely in Inazuma? How was the journey? Did you run into any trouble?"
Hearing their voices tugged at something deep in Lucas's chest—warm memories of Mondstadt and the people he'd left behind.
"Don't fuss like an old lady," Eula grumbled. "Everything went perfectly fine."
Then she shot a sly glance at Lucas. "By the way, Acting Grand Master—remember those letters you kept sending to Liyue?"
There was a pause on the other end before Jean's voice returned, suddenly flustered. "W-Why bring that up all of a sudden? It's fine, really. They were just... casual letters. Even if he didn't reply, it's perfectly fine..."
She said "fine" several times—but the disappointment in her tone was impossible to miss.
"I'm sorry, Jean," Lucas said at last, unable to stay silent. "It's not that I didn't want to reply. I've been in Inazuma lately, and I never received your letters."
"That voice…" Jean's tone shifted instantly—soft with disbelief. "Is that you?"
Both Shenhe and Ayaka turned toward Lucas with subtle but unmistakable expressions—half curiosity, half something else. If Jean's reaction was any indication, their relationship was... not exactly ordinary.
"Daddy!" came Klee's excited shout next, bursting through the receiver. "Daddy, is that you?!"
If Jean's tone had been shocking, this line was an absolute bombshell.
Shenhe and Ayaka froze in place, staring blankly at Lucas.
This man... had a daughter?
"Lucas!" Shenhe immediately grabbed him by the collar, her voice sharp. "Explain. Now."
Sure, she could tolerate her "brother-in-law" having a messy romantic past—but a secret daughter? That was pushing it.
"Huh? Are there others over there?" Jean's calm voice cut in quickly. "Please, everyone, take a breath. There's an explanation for this, I promise. Give him a chance to explain."
Jean... thank you.
Lucas felt a rush of gratitude as Shenhe reluctantly loosened her grip. "Fine," she muttered. "But you'd better have a damn good reason."
"It's me, Klee," Lucas said gently into the device. "Have you been behaving?"
"Klee's been super good! I didn't even get put in time-out this week!" she said proudly. "So when can I see Daddy again?"
"When I finish my work here, I'll come visit," Lucas replied. "Until then, promise me you'll listen to Captain Jean, okay?"
"But..." Klee's voice turned small and trembly. "Klee wants to see Daddy now..."
Lucas froze. For all his experience in battle, he was completely defenseless against a little girl's whine.
Jean, on the other hand, clearly knew how to handle this. "Klee, don't trouble your father," she said patiently. "He's very busy right now and—wait, Klee! Don't run off!"
"What happened?" Lucas asked quickly.
"Klee got upset and ran out," Jean said with a weary sigh. "Don't worry, I'll find her. But... if you can, please come visit her soon. She really does miss you."
"I'd say," Eula quipped under her breath, "she's not the only one who does."
"Eula!" Jean's voice cracked in surprise, suddenly flustered. "I—I have to go find Klee! Talk later!"
The line cut off with a series of sharp beeps.
"So," Shenhe said, cracking her knuckles. "Care to explain how exactly you ended up with a 'daughter'?"
...
Meanwhile, back in Mondstadt—
Our Spark Knight was already sprinting down the hallway toward her room.
"Klee!" Jean's voice echoed after her, but the little girl slammed the door shut and locked it tight, leaving Jean outside knocking helplessly.
"Klee, don't lock the door!" Jean called out. "Your father must be busy with something important, that's all. I promise—he'll come see you soon, okay?"
But Klee wasn't listening. She darted to the big wooden chest in her room and began rummaging through it. "I remember it was in here... not this one, that's the super-sized Jumpy Dumpty Mom gave me... not this one either, that's the condensed bottle Sucrose made me... ah, found it!"
She pulled out a cute red hat, smiling brightly. "Here it is!"
It was the Summoning Magic Hat—the reward she'd earned after clearing the island adventure.
[Effect: Can mark up to two targets. Use to teleport to one target's location, or summon them to yours. (Can be used once per day.)]
Klee had tossed it into her "treasure box" and promptly forgotten about it—until now. Hearing her father's voice had brought all those memories flooding back, along with a fierce longing to see him again.
Now the question was... should she bring Daddy here, or go to him?
Little Klee hesitated, clutching the hat tightly.
"Klee!" Jean's voice grew firm outside the door. "If you don't open up right now, I'm going to be angry!"
Klee froze in panic. Jean was usually gentle and kind, but only Klee knew just how terrifying the Acting Grand Master could be when she was angry.
W-wait!
Daddy must be super busy right now—how could she drag him back here?
Then there was only one solution: Klee would go to Daddy instead!
She quickly came up with the perfect excuse to slip away. She didn't know exactly where Inazuma was, but she did know it was far, far away—so far that even Captain Jean wouldn't be able to catch up right away.
A child's thoughts were simple. Faced with an incoming "storm," the best option was to hide until it passed.
Maybe by the time she got back, Jean would have cooled down.
"Captain Jean!" Klee shouted through the door. "Klee's going to Inazuma to find Daddy! Don't worry, I'll be back really soon!"
Jean froze for half a second, then realized what was happening. She stopped knocking, pressed her palm flat against the wooden door, and gathered Anemo energy in her hand.
With a deafening boom, the door shattered.
Inside, Klee was standing proudly in the middle of her room, pressing a bright red hat onto her head. "Summoning Magic Hat! Take me to Daddy!"
As soon as she spoke, a glowing circle appeared beneath her feet, symbols spinning in the air. Her small body began to turn translucent.
"It's working!" she cried, her face lighting up. "Goodbye, Captain Jean! You can punish me when I get back!"
"No!"
Jean lunged forward on instinct and grabbed Klee's wrist. She hadn't expected Jean to act that fast—but the Summoning Magic Hat had already activated. There was no stopping it now.
A flash of light engulfed the room—and in an instant, both of them were gone.
...
At that same moment, in the reception hall of the Kamisato Estate—
"So, yeah. That's basically the story," Lucas said, after what felt like an eternity of explaining. "I only pretended to be her dad so I wouldn't break her heart."
"I... see." Shenhe nodded slowly. "I thought she was your illegitimate daughter."
"How could she even be my illegitimate daughter?!" Lucas sputtered. "She's way too old for that to make any sense!"
Shenhe shrugged. "How would I know how old she is? If she were two or three, it would've been a reasonable suspicion."
"Let me think..." Lucas spread his hands apart, roughly indicating a size. "She's about this tall—"
Before he could finish, a blinding flash of light flared between his palms.
Then came a sudden weight in his lap, something soft and solid pressing against him.
Wait—what the...
A small blonde girl had appeared out of thin air, sitting right on his legs—and between them, squeezed tight, was a red-hatted little girl with round cheeks.
"Daddy..." Klee's muffled voice came out squished between the two adults. "Klee... feels kinda squished..."
"Wha—?"
Lucas blinked hard, then scrambled to his feet, setting both of them down in a hurry. The others in the room stared in stunned silence.
"Acting Grand Master... and Klee?!" Eula gawked. "How did you two even get here?!"
Indeed, the "unexpected guests" were none other than Jean and Klee.
"The hat brought us here!" Klee said excitedly, holding up her now-battered red cap. "I can't believe it actually worked—huh? Wait, what's happening to it?"
The once-bright Summoning Magic Hat was now scorched and torn, wisps of black smoke curling from its edges.
"This hat was only meant to teleport one person," Lucas murmured thoughtfully. "Since two people used it, it must've overloaded and burned out."
Klee's face fell. She clutched the ruined hat to her chest, her lower lip trembling.
"I'm so sorry, Klee..." Jean said softly, guilt clouding her face. "If I hadn't grabbed you—"
"Captain Jean only did it because she cares about Klee," Klee said, shaking her head bravely. "Klee... Klee doesn't blame you..."
Her words were brave, but her eyes were already glistening with tears.
To Klee, it wasn't just a toy or a trinket. The hat had been the one thing that could take her to her daddy anytime she wanted. To her, it was the most precious treasure in the world.
"Hey, don't cry," Lucas said quickly, crouching to her level. "Your mom's an amazing witch, right? If anyone can fix it, it's her."
"Oh, right!" Klee's eyes brightened instantly. She wiped her cheeks and grinned. "When I see Mommy again, I'll ask her to fix it!"
Jean sighed, still a little dazed. "I never thought something like this could actually happen..."
She turned to Ayaka with an apologetic smile. "You must be Lady Kamisato, yes? I'm terribly sorry for barging in uninvited."
Although she'd never visited Inazuma before, Jean and Ayaka had exchanged letters several times. Both had imagined meeting one day—but neither had expected the other to be so beautiful, so composed, and so warm in person.
"There's no need to apologize, Captain Jean," Ayaka said with a polite smile. "I've long wanted to meet you myself. Since you've come all this way to Inazuma, why not stay at the estate for a few days?"
"I appreciate the offer," Jean replied, "but I really can't. There's still much to handle back in Mondstadt. Eula, Klee—let's head home together."
"Nooo!" Klee immediately ducked behind Lucas, clutching his coat. "Klee finally got to see Daddy! I don't wanna leave already!"
"I can't leave yet either," Eula said, folding her arms and glancing at Shenhe. "I'm entering the Transmission of Heart tournament tomorrow. I have a certain match to settle—fair and square."
"Oh, by all means," Shenhe replied dryly. "If you want to use this as an excuse to run away, that's fine by me."
"Please. You're the one afraid to fight me," Eula shot back, hands on her hips. "Don't worry—until I've beaten you properly, I'm not going anywhere!"
"Looks like they don't plan on leaving anytime soon," Lucas said with a helpless shrug. "In that case, Captain Jean, why not stay here for a while too?"
"That's right," Ayaka added smoothly. "The seas are rough these days—sailing back would be dangerous anyway. Once the weather calms, I'll arrange a ship to take you all home."
It was true—ever since Klee's hat had been damaged, teleporting back to Mondstadt wasn't an option.
Jean hesitated, her composure faltering. "But… still…"
"Don't start making excuses," Eula frowned. "You've skipped at least four or five of your scheduled rest days already, haven't you?"
"That won't do at all," Ayaka said kindly. "Even my brother makes time to rest now and then. People are like bowstrings—if you stay drawn too tight for too long, you'll eventually snap."
"Exactly," Lucas nodded. "Besides, you've got a perfectly reasonable excuse to stay this time. You might as well take the chance to relax."
The two women spoke in perfect rhythm, like a well-rehearsed act, leaving Jean completely unsure how to refuse.
After a long sigh, she finally said, "I suppose… it wouldn't hurt to stay for a bit. But the Knights' affairs—"
"Kaeya and Miss Lisa can handle that!" Klee quickly offered. "We can use the Dodoco Communication Device to tell them!"
"Well… all right then." Jean nodded, finally relenting. "If we can reach them, we'll stay here for now."
At that, Eula turned on the device and cranked the volume to maximum. Jean leaned toward it and called hesitantly, "Hello? Is anyone there?"
To her surprise, a few seconds later, a familiar voice crackled through the speaker.
"Wait… is that Captain Jean?" The voice sounded teasing. "Coming from this little thing? Captain, can you hear me?"
"Kaeya! It's you, isn't it?" Jean let out a breath of relief. "Due to some… unforeseen circumstances, Klee and I will be away from Mondstadt for a while. I'll have to ask you and Lisa to handle the Knights of Favonius in my absence."
"Oh, I see," Kaeya replied, amusement lacing his tone. "Don't worry, Captain. Take this chance to rest—I'll make sure everything runs like clockwork."
"R-Really? You're sure that's fine?" Jean still sounded unsure. "In that case, report to me three times a day—morning, noon, and evening—using this device to—"
Bzzt… bzzt… tchh—Captain… signal's… not good…
Bzzt… crack!
With a sharp pop, the connection cut off completely.
Jean stared at the silent device, shoulders slumping. "I have a bad feeling about this… Let's just hope nothing goes wrong."
Meanwhile, back in Jean's office—
Kaeya, who had just hung up, smiled faintly. He pushed open the door and called out, "Everyone, listen up! Captain Jean's orders—half an hour early dismissal today! Drinks are on me!"
At that moment, a slim blond boy happened to walk by, looking startled. "Captain Kaeya, Acting Grand Master Jean would never make such a decision. Did she really say that?"
"Relax, Mika," Kaeya said cheerfully, slinging an arm around his shoulders. "Your Reconnaissance Company captain isn't here anyway. Come on, have a drink with me."
"B-but I can't drink!" Mika panicked. "Alcohol affects field accuracy, and—"
"That's an order," Kaeya grinned. "And from now on, I'm the Acting Grand Master."
"Wha—whaaaat?!"
———
Jean and Klee's sudden arrival turned out to be an unexpected, but pleasant, surprise.
Though Eula tried her best to convince Jean to join the Transmission of Heart kendo tournament, Jean politely declined.
Partly because all the registration slots were already full—but more importantly, Jean had never been one for competition. Her swordsmanship was for protecting Mondstadt, not for seeking glory. And besides… this was her rare day off. She intended to actually rest for once.
Of course, she still had to keep an eye on Klee.
But Klee refused to leave her "Daddy's" side, which meant the three of them would have to move together.
"It's a rare opportunity," Ayaka suggested. "Why not have Mr. Lucas show you both around? Watching a child alone can be tiring—two adults will manage better. And tonight there's a fireworks festival to celebrate tomorrow's Transmission of Heart tournament. I'm sure little Klee would love it."
And so, that evening's plan was set: Lucas, Jean, and Klee would attend the fireworks festival together, while everyone else went about their own business.
Especially Shenhe and Eula, who had become inexplicable rivals—they were both training furiously, determined to outdo the other in tomorrow's match.
Night fell.
Crowds filled the lantern-lit streets, their laughter mixing with the crackling of fireworks. Klee's red eyes sparkled as she took everything in, her head swiveling this way and that. To her, every sight and sound of this foreign land was fresh and fascinating.
"What do you think of Inazuma so far?" Lucas asked softly, glancing at Jean beside him.
"It's… quite different from Mondstadt," Jean admitted, her cheeks a faint pink. One hand instinctively covered her lower back as she murmured, "Though I'm still… not used to Inazuman clothing."
To help them blend in, Ayaka had prepared yukata for the three of them. Lucas looked fine in his, but for Jean and Klee—two unmistakably foreign faces—the result was… a little off.
Klee, being a child, looked adorable no matter what she wore.
Jean, on the other hand, stood out completely. With her golden hair, fair skin, and tall, graceful figure, she already drew stares in a crowd of shorter Inazumans. The yukata, designed for smaller frames, fit her a little too snugly—especially around the back, where the fabric strained slightly.
More than a few Inazuman women turned their heads as she passed, unable to help themselves. Their eyes lingered a second too long, and some even sighed in quiet envy.