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It truly was a great city to live in. The atmosphere of Mondstadt always had a way of putting a person at ease, regardless of the chaos brewing in the rest of Teyvat.
After checking his status, Ye Ruo realized he had finally accumulated enough popularity points to perform ten consecutive draws. He had been holding onto his fame points for a while, but now the anticipation was becoming too much to ignore. He decided there was no point in waiting any longer and called out to the interface in his mind.
"System, perform ten lucky draws for the common treasure chests."
"Ding! Order received. Deducting 1,600 points of fame. Starting the lottery draw now."
Following the cold, mechanical notification, Ye Ruo watched as ten virtual treasure chests materialized and fell from the sky in his mind's eye. With a single thought, he commanded them to open all at once. A brilliant white light burst forth, illuminating his vision as the rewards began to scroll past.
"Ding! Congratulations! You have received: Hilichurl's Large Wooden Stick x1, 5,000 Mora, Crystal Ore x3, Dragonspine Pine Wood x100, Bamboo Shoots x20, Cor Lapis x1, Inazuman Katana x10, Naku Weed x3, an Enhanced Hilichurl Training Stake, and... a pair of Eula's underwear."
Ye Ruo looked over the list of items and nodded with a look of genuine satisfaction. This haul was actually quite rich. Initially, he had worried that the ordinary white-tier treasure chests would be nothing but useless junk, but he was starting to realize they were a goldmine for practical materials and daily supplies. Everything from the wood to the food and the ore had a use in his daily life or his business ventures.
The Mora was always welcome, and seeing items from Inazuma like the katanas and the Naku Weed was a pleasant surprise. It meant that even while staying in the heart of Mondstadt, he could gain access to foreign resources without ever having to step foot on a boat or deal with the Raiden Shogun's stormy borders. He pulled up the information for the strange purple plants he had just acquired.
Naku Weed: A specialty crop from the Inazuma region. It is a plant that vibrates faintly with the sound of thunder even on a windless day. Status: Healthy.
"I'll have to find a good flower pot and plant these later to see if they can survive in this climate," he mused.
One of the best features of this system was the way it handled inventory. Items drawn from the chests didn't seem to occupy individual slots in a traditional sense; they could exist in pluralities. If ten pieces of wood occupied ten separate spaces, his inventory would be full in minutes. Instead, the system stacked them neatly. No matter how much wood he drew, it only counted as one item type. If he got lucky enough to draw thousands of pieces of lumber, he could essentially carry an entire forest in his pocket.
This realization made the white-quality chests much more valuable in his eyes. They represented a steady supply of common life items and essential resources. He could store everything in the system's dedicated space, which was incredibly convenient for someone who moved around as much as he did. His only minor regret was that the system space didn't allow him to store items he had obtained outside of the lottery, like his own personal weapons or armor.
"I suppose I can't have everything," he thought. "Maybe down the line I'll draw a specialized spatial artifact. I was actually thinking about heading to Liyue to track down Madame Ping, the true mistress of the Adepti. If I could convince her to give me a Serenitea Pot, life would be perfect. Having a portable world to build a home in is a must-have for any traveler. But for now, this system will have to do."
As Ye Ruo was about to close the menu and go about his day, his eyes snagged on the very last item in the list. His face turned an impressive shade of black as the reality of the reward set in.
A pair of Eula's underwear.
"How on earth did I draw something like this?" he hissed under his breath. "You stupid dog of a system, don't try to frame me. I am not the kind of person who goes around messing with a lady's wardrobe! If Eula ever found out about this, I'd have to leave the country and bury myself in a hole from the sheer shame."
It was a massive headache. He couldn't wrap his head around why the lottery would even include such personal items. He decided then and there that the item would stay locked in the deepest, darkest corner of the system space. He would never, ever take it out. On a brighter note, he had also drawn some fresh bamboo shoots. He decided he would treat himself to some stir-fried pork with bamboo for dinner. With the system finally active, he felt like his life was beginning to undergo some truly interesting changes.
After composing himself, Ye Ruo stood up and gathered his manuscript. He handed the newly written chapters of his novel to the staff waiting in the bookstore before slipping out through a side door. As he walked through the streets of Mondstadt, he was immediately greeted by the enthusiastic citizens.
"Good morning, Wind Knight!" one shopkeeper called out.
"Master Ye Ruo, it's good to see you!" shouted another.
"Brother Ruo, hope you have a great day!" a group of kids chimed in.
Ye Ruo returned their greetings with a warm, easy smile. He exuded a temperament as refreshing as a spring breeze as he made his way toward Good Hunter. He had an appointment with a junior from the Knights, and he didn't want to be late. Even after he passed, the sounds of people discussing him lingered in the air.
"Ah, Master Ye Ruo is just so handsome. He's powerful, young, and successfulâhe's basically the perfect partner," a young woman sighed.
"I know what you mean," her friend whispered. "I dream about him all the time. Sometimes I get so excited in my sleep that I wake up and have to change my clothes."
"That's... probably too much information," a third girl remarked, looking a bit uncomfortable.
"I'm just so torn," the first girl continued, ignoring the comment. "I used to be obsessed with Master Diluc, and then I was fascinated by the Darknight Hero, but now the Wind Knight is here. How is a girl supposed to choose?"
Hearing her fanatical tone, several other women nearby rolled their eyes.
"Give it a rest. You're talking like you actually have a choice. Wake up and have some fruit; you're clearly dreaming too hard!"
The group burst into laughter, the lighthearted banter following Ye Ruo as he rounded the corner.
A short while later, Ye Ruo arrived at the Good Hunter restaurant. Even though it was still relatively early in the morning, business was booming. The outdoor tables were nearly full, packed with locals and travelers alike. As the most authentic eatery in the city, Good Hunter was a staple of Mondstadt life. Their Steak and Satisfying Salads were legendary, thanks in part to their long-term partnership with the hunters from Springvale. Everything served was fresh, often arriving at the kitchen the very same day it was caught or harvested.
While the restaurant was famous for its staples, Ye Ruo's personal favorites were the Honey Roast and the Sweet Madame. He also had a soft spot for the Mondstadt Hash Browns and the Northern Apple Stew.
He spotted his companion at their usual table and walked over.
"Noelle, you're early," he said with a smile. "I thought I was making good time, but you've beaten me here."
Sitting at the table was a silver-haired girl dressed in a pristine maid's uniform. She wore light, elegant armor over her sleeves and wristbands, a testament to her role as a combat-ready maid for the Knights of Favonius. Her outfit was a striking combination of white, black, and red, accented by a bright red rose tucked behind her ear. She looked like the picture of diligence and obedience, possessing a delicate charm that made people instinctively want to look after her.
In the eyes of Mondstadt's residents, Noelle was nothing short of a miracle. She seemed to be everywhere at once, helping everyone with everything. She was the Unhonored Flower of the Knights, a girl who worked harder than anyone else but had yet to pass the official knight selection exam.
As soon as she saw Ye Ruo approaching, Noelle scrambled to her feet, her expression a mix of respect and slight panic.
"Ex... Senior! You're here! I'm so sorry, did I keep you waiting?"