đ If you enjoy my work, consider supporting me on Patreon. I'm offering advanced chapters there as a thank-you to readers.
--------------------
Check out advanced chapters on : patreon.com/DragonOP
--------------------
Teyvat is a vast continent, and in its northeastern reaches lies the renowned Kingdom of Wind. Within this realm sits the city of poetry and idyllic songs, the city of wind and freedomâMondstadt. The people of Mondstadt are known for their carefree and cheerful nature, living lives defined by ease and liberty. Because the weather remains mild and favorable throughout the year, the citizens never have to worry about food or clothing. They are blessed with the favor of the Anemo Archon and fertile lands that yield a bounty of grain. This beautiful environment has even allowed them to use their surplus harvests to brew world-famous wine, solidifying Mondstadt's reputation as a land of fine spirits and celebration. It allows the people to live comfortably, singing songs of hope and poetry as the gentle breeze flutters by, carrying dandelion seeds to far-off lands.
On this particular day, a large crowd of Mondstadt citizens gathered in front of the Wind and Bird Bookstore, a shop that had recently opened in the heart of the city. Despite being new, the bookstore had quickly become a local sensation. On ordinary weekdays, the shop sold various novels and light literature to the public, but the real draw was the owner. Occasionally, the master of the shop would write a new novel and put it on sale personally. From the very beginning, many people bought the books simply because of the author's prestigious name, only to find that the stories were genuinely captivating and unique. Gradually, the shop became a local landmark, creating a spectacle that was rare even for a city that admired bards and poetry.
It was no surprise that novels could become popular if they were interesting, but the status of the shop owner was the true catalyst. The man behind the counter was the famous Wind Knight, an individual who had recently resigned from the Knights of Favonius. In Mondstadt, the Wind Knight's prestige, ability, and connections were legendary, and he was deeply respected by the populace. Unlike other stores that had to slowly build a reputation over years of service, the Wind and Bird Bookstore became an overnight success due to the sheer charisma of its owner.
As the bookstore doors finally swung open, the clerks began their service. The crowd immediately began to pour inside, forming organized lines while excitedly discussing the plot points of the previous volumes they had read.
"Oh, it's finally open! I've been waiting all morning for this," one man exclaimed. "I heard that the seventh volume of the Wind Knight's light novel, To Save Mondstadt, I'll Become an Idol!, goes on sale today. As usual, the first three hundred copies are signed by the author himself. We have to hurry if we want to get one of those!"
"Whether it's signed or not, I'm buying two copies!" a young girl nearby added with a giggle. "I came here early just to make sure I could get a signed one for my collection. It carries the personal touch of Lord Ye Ruo, the Wind Knight. That makes it incredibly precious to me!"
The speaker was Irene, a young girl with blonde hair, a pretty face, and a lively spirit. She was full of youthful vigor and dressed for training, though she had clearly put her sword practice on hold for the sake of literature. Her face was flushed with excitement as she spoke of her idol. She was a dedicated fan of the Wind Knight and his work. However, after remembering something, Irene gritted her teeth in frustration.
"I heard that some people rush in just to buy the autographed copies and resell them at high prices later. It's too much! They're wasting Master Ye Ruo's hard work and sweat. People like that should be arrested for their greed!"
Beside her, a woman named Yuri, who was already married and a bit more cynical about the world, smiled indifferently at the girl's passion.
"It's only natural for a businessman to seek a profit," Yuri noted. "Since they know people will pay, they're going to keep doing it. However, Mr. Ye Ruo made a rule that each person can only buy one autographed book. That makes things much fairer for the rest of us, doesn't it?"
As they chatted, another young girl with freckles looked between them, her expression filled with confusion.
"Wait, didn't you say that this knight quit the Knights of Favonius? Why do you still call him by his title if he's no longer a member?"
Irene and Yuri both looked at her with strange, amused expressions, as if she had asked a very silly question.
"Master Ye Ruo quits the Knights all the time," Irene explained with a shrug. "He leaves, then he goes back, then he leaves again. It's happened so many times that we've lost count. But his military exploits are outstanding and his contributions to the city are extremely high. Neither Grand Master Varka nor Acting Grand Master Jean ever say anything about it, so the rest of us just got used to his habits. He'll probably go back to the Knights eventually. Are you new to Mondstadt?"
For the people of Mondstadt, the Wind Knight was known for being far more efficient than most other knights. He handled problems cleanly and quickly, showing incredible bravery whenever monsters infested the wild. He once wiped out a massive horde of monsters in a single afternoon, making the trade routes outside the city walls much safer for merchants and travelers. Everyone was grateful for his dedication to the city's safety. He was considered a genius within the order, ranked just below figures like Varka, the Knight of Boreas, and Jean, the Dandelion Knight.
He was young, handsome, and immensely capable. In the eyes of the public, Ye Ruo was a legend in the making. His only quirk was his tendency to resign from his post whenever he felt like doing something else, only to return to his duties later. While most commoners accepted this as a sign of his free spirit, a few people in the inner circles knew that Ye Ruo's behavior was often linked to his dealings with the Fatui or other hidden threats.
"Oh, is that how it is?" the freckled girl said, scratching her head in embarrassment. "I'm originally from Springvale, but I lived in Liyue for a while, so I'm a bit behind on local news. I was just really surprised when I read a book like To Save Mondstadt, I'll Become an Idol!. It actually depicts Lady Barbara, Master Jean, and other high-ranking female knights becoming idols to save the city. I found the whole concept incredible and a little bit shocking."
She wondered if Mondstadt's freedom had perhaps gone a bit too far. Writing about such important figures in such a casual way seemed like a sure way to get a knock on the door from the Knights of Favonius the very next day. But once she realized who the author was, everything made sense. If a high-ranking member of the Knights wrote it, then it was essentially official business.
Their conversation caught the attention of a man named Albert who was standing behind them in line. He poked his head out and joined the discussion with a look of pure adoration.
"Don't you dare underestimate that book! Every idol described by Lord Ye Ruo has a perfect and positive image, especially Lady Barbara! The book shows her as so serious and responsible. Even though she doesn't know anything about idol culture in the story, she works herself to the bone to make the team better. She even grits her teeth and perseveres through illness for the sake of others! As the leader of the Barbara Fan Club, I was moved to tears when I read it. Every character has a shining moment. It's a divine masterpiece!"
Albert looked like he was ready to offer a prayer to the book itself. Irene didn't say anything, but she nodded in silent agreement. She particularly loved the portrayal of Master Jean. In the novel, Jean maintained the majesty and temperament of a high-ranking leader while also showing the gentleness of an older sister who cared for the younger girls in the idol group. Irene often found herself dreaming about working alongside Jean as her trusted deputy, so the book appealed to her perfectly. She felt that only someone as talented as Master Ye Ruo could capture the Dandelion Knight's personality so perfectly.
Only Yuri seemed a bit speechless at the level of obsession coming from her companions. Her face twitched slightly as she listened to them gush.
"Is that really necessary?" she asked with a sigh. "I think the book is good, but you're all being a bit dramatic. Personally, I'm here to buy the latest volume of Detective Fengdu. It's about two young men in Mondstadt who use a secret treasure containing the Anemo Archon's power to become two knights sharing one body. They guard the city of wind from the shadows. I find that story much more interesting and grounded."
The line continued to move forward as the fans debated their favorite tropes and characters, all eager to get their hands on the latest words from the Wind Knight. Inside the shop, the smell of fresh ink and paper filled the air, promising new adventures for the people of the City of Freedom.