Outside Mondstadt.
The trio had just stepped beyond the city gates.
Morning light spilled across the vast expanse of Cider Lake, its rippling surface glimmering like scattered stars.
The lake was like a massive sapphire, sparkling brilliantly beneath the sun.
A gentle morning breeze brushed the water, carrying with it a faint fruity aroma that was both fresh and intoxicating.
However, Kairo wasn't lost in the beauty of the moment.
He had keenly noticed that the little one beside him—Klee—was staring fixedly at the lake's surface, eyes shining with that all-too-familiar glint of excitement.
Sure enough—
The next second, Klee clenched her tiny fists, eyes sparkling with barely restrained glee.
"It's such a big lake... If I throw in a really big bomb... would it make a super huge splash?"
Kairo: "..."
Fischl: "..."
Thankfully, Klee eventually forced herself to look away, her little face twisted with visible inner struggle.
"Can't bomb... can't bomb... Acting Acting Grand Master Jean said no bombing Cider Lake... can't bomb... can't bomb..." she muttered under her breath, clenching her hands tight.
Yet even as she chanted those words, Kairo clearly saw his small hand inching unconsciously toward her backpack—as if ready to pull out a bomb
He sighed helplessly and quickly diverted her attention.
"All right, let's get moving. Today's task is to head into Whispering Woods—mainly to collect materials and check for any Hilichurl encampments nearby."
So the three followed the winding trail toward Whispering Woods.
As they walked, Kairo couldn't help recalling Klee's... explosive tendencies.
Whispering Woods... was that really a place to bring Klee along?
Images flickered through his mind—
Klee tossing one of her Enhanced Bombs into a pile of dry leaves—
and then whoosh!
A blazing inferno sweeping across the forest until everything became a sea of fire.
Kairo's lips twitched.
That scene was far too easy to imagine.
And he had no one with Hydro powers by his side—
no way to control the flames once they started.
If Whispering Woods actually went up in smoke, that'd be quite the problem.
He'd already experienced the destructive potential of bombs infused with the Crimson Echo—he knew exactly what they could do.
After some thought, Kairo made a firm decision.
"Let's take a detour. We'll collect supplies in Whispering Woods, then head to Starsnatch Valley. It's near Windrise, and there's a river there—you can bomb fish all you want."
"Eh?"
Klee's eyes immediately lit up. "Starsnatch Valley? Really?"
Kairo nodded.
"Mm. The terrain there's better suited for your... experiments. Even if something blows up, it won't cause much trouble."
Klee jumped with joy.
"Yay! Kairo's the best!"
Fischl crossed her arms and smiled proudly.
"Our expedition, too, must know battle! Starsnatch Valley—surely a divine trial bestowed upon this princess of condemnation! It shall witness the glorious saga of the Prinzessin and her loyal vassals!"
Oz flapped his wings and translated calmly,
"My lady means she agrees—it's a good idea."
Kairo: "..."
Well, at least the chuunibyou approved.
The three adjusted their route, following a forest path that wound toward Starsnatch Valley.
Along the way, they admired how the morning sunlight bathed the land in gold.
For some reason, Kairo couldn't shake the feeling that today's journey would be... livelier than yesterday's.
Especially considering the arsenal of bombs in Klee's backpack.
He had a hunch—Starsnatch Valley would not be peaceful today.
After a short while, the trio reached the edge of Whispering Woods.
Shadows of trees danced across the ground, branches swaying in the wind, which carried the earthy scent of grass and soil.
But just as Kairo was about to step into the forest—
his stride halted.
His sharp eyes locked onto the open clearing ahead.
A clearing that now... held a crude Hilichurl camp.
"Hm?"
Kairo frowned, scanning the site.
It was hastily built—
wooden stakes and beams forming uneven fences, with a few roughly assembled huts scattered inside.
On the wooden watchtowers, two Pyro Hilichurl Shooters paced back and forth, scanning their surroundings warily.
It looked freshly built.
"This camp wasn't here yesterday, was it?" Kairo asked, turning to Fischl.
Fischl blinked, her golden eyes narrowing slightly. Then she raised her chin with a disdainful snort.
"Foolish sinners, daring to construct their vile nest beneath the gaze of the Prinzessin der Verurteilung! Their arrogance knows no bounds!"
Oz sighed.
"My lady means... this camp wasn't here yesterday."
Kairo nodded thoughtfully.
Indeed, the wooden fences weren't fully secured.
It had to be newly built—probably overnight.
Which meant the Hilichurls must have moved in last night.
After observing further, Kairo estimated there were only about a dozen of them.
Mostly regular Hilichurls, a few with shields on patrol,
and two Pyro Archers atop the platforms—
their arrowheads glowing faintly red from fire enchantment.
Arrows like those could easily ignite grass or trees.
"Looks like they're trying to settle here." Kairo murmured.
He distinctly remembered this place being an empty clearing last night.
Now, it was a budding camp.
And once a Hilichurl camp formed in the wild, it tended to grow.
Fischl's gaze sharpened.
Her hand instinctively reached for her bow; her Electro Vision shimmered faintly with purple light.
"Perfect! The Prinzessin requires a trial—to display the majesty of her Electro of Judgment!"
Oz dutifully translated,
"My lady means—she's going to attack."
Kairo twitched his lips, glancing at her sideways.
Why did she look even more excited than Klee?
Still, he didn't stop her.
In fact—this was the perfect chance to test his new Fate Skill from Sampo.
As Kairo thought that, Fischl had already drawn her bow.
Under the quiet morning light, at the forest's edge, purple Electro gathered on the string—
a crackling arrow of Electro power forming between her fingers.
"Let the Electro of Judgment rend your sinful souls asunder!"
Oz: "My lady means—she's ready. Targeting the Pyro Archers."
Whoosh!
A streak of violet Electro tore through the air, striking the watchtower squarely.
Bang!
The Pyro Hilichurl convulsed violently, crackling with electricity, before tumbling down from the platform with a pained shriek.
Before the other could react, Fischl loosed another shot—
Thwip!
Another precise hit.
The second archer dropped instantly, body twitching before going limp.
And at that instant, chaos erupted across the camp.
Hilichurls around the campfire howled in outrage, grabbing torches and charging forward.
The ones in front raised their thick wooden shields to cover the rest.
Kairo narrowed his eyes and smiled faintly.
Then he raised his right hand and flicked it lightly.
Sampo's Fate Skill—[You're the Shining Star]—activated.
BOOM!
A blinding flash of white light exploded across the charging Hilichurls.
It was as if a miniature sun had descended onto the battlefield—
the entire clearing drowned in pure radiance.
"Guaahh!!"
"Hu-gaaa!!"
The Hilichurls shrieked in pain, clutching their heads and stumbling wildly.
Some dropped their torches, nearly setting the grass ablaze.
The shield-bearers, blinded, swung their shields wildly—
slamming into their own allies.
One even got whacked by a comrade's torch, his body bursting into flames as he rolled frantically on the ground.
The scene devolved into utter chaos.
Kairo couldn't help smiling.
Now this was useful.
Because this was a conceptual Fate Skill—
an area-of-effect ability that guaranteed blindness for anyone within its range.
Even a god would be temporarily blinded if caught in it.
"Ehh?! Ehhh?!"
Klee stared, wide-eyed.
Kairo had just flicked his hand—
and suddenly, all the Hilichurls were flailing around like they'd been hit by an invisible flashbang!
"Kairo! Did you use... an invisible flash bomb?!" she gasped in awe, tugging at his sleeve.
"You didn't even throw anything!"
Even Oz blinked in surprise.
"My lady, I didn't see him throw anything either…"
Fischl's eyes widened, her excitement palpable.
"This... This is a power the Prinzessin has never witnessed before!"
Her gaze burned with fascination.
"Kairo! Could it be—you have secretly mastered divine magic of light?!"
First the mysterious alchemical tool yesterday,
then the arrows infused with the Crimson Echo—
and now this radiant miracle.
Kairo: "..."
She was literally creating her own lore at this point.
"Stop daydreaming." He chuckled. "Take them out. Use your bow."
He hadn't forgotten—the blind effect only lasted ten seconds.
With the Pyro Archers gone, he could easily mop up the rest himself,
but with a skilled archer like Fischl around, there was no need.
"Fufufu…" Fischl smirked confidently, golden eyes blazing.
"The gears of destiny turn! The Prinzessin's arrows shall pierce through these ignorant heretics! Oz—lend me your strength!"
Oz sighed softly.
"My lady means—she's starting."
Whoosh!
An arrow streaked through the air like Electro, striking a blind Hilichurl dead-on.
BOOM!
Electricity crackled, and the creature collapsed with a whimper, body smoking.
Fischl's eyes gleamed.
So easy!
For the first time, she realized—
there existed such a humane way to fight!
No danger.
No risk.
The enemies couldn't even fight back!
This was heavenly!
Overjoyed, Fischl drew again, Electro coiling around the arrow.
"The wheels of fate turn once more! The darkness shall perish beneath my arrows of judgment!"
Oz: "My lady means—next one."
Thwip!
Another flawless hit.
Another Hilichurl down.
The battlefield remained in chaos—
the blind Hilichurls still stumping into one another, flailing their torches.
Fischl's blood was boiling with exhilaration.
She'd always excelled at ranged combat,
but once enemies closed the distance, she was helpless.
Forced to flee, panic often replaced grace.
But now—
with Kairo beside her—
he could render enemies helpless with a flick of his hand,
turning the battlefield into a shooting gallery.
It was intoxicating.
She loosed arrow after arrow—
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Each shot struck true.
One by one, the Hilichurls fell.
"Hahaha! Tremble before the Electro of Condemnation, pitiful sinners!"
Oz: "My lady means—this is way too easy."
Kairo gave her a sidelong glance, amused.
"Looks like you're enjoying yourself."
"Enjoying?!" Fischl lifted her chin proudly, eyes blazing.
"This is the Prinzessin's day of glorious hunt! Never have I felt such an exhilarating battle!"
Oz sighed again.
"My lady means—she hopes we can do this more often."
Kairo: "..."
He scanned the clearing—
every Hilichurl lay defeated.
"Klee, help clean up."
"Roger!"
The little girl ran forward excitedly, pulling out bomb after bomb from her backpack—
and began tossing them cheerfully into the ruined camp.
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