["Oh, right—my name is Aerin."]
["I'm a biologist specializing in the study of Hilichurls."]
["You seem very interested in them. I noticed you watching for quite a while."]
["Are you a scholar researching Hilichurls as well?"]
Aerin's attitude was gentle and approachable.
When he smiled, it carried a bright, sunny warmth that naturally put others at ease.
[After hearing his introduction, Amber immediately responded.]
["No, I'm not a scholar. I'm Mondstadt's Outrider—Amber."]
After politely introducing herself, Amber suddenly remembered how terrifying the mutated Hilichurls were.
[She hurriedly added, "Your outfit doesn't really look like someone from Mondstadt."]
["Are you a scholar from another nation?"]
At the mention of scholars, Amber's first thought was Sumeru, where her close friend Collei was.
["Are you from Sumeru?"]
She carefully looked Aerin up and down—yet his clothing didn't resemble that of a typical Sumeru academic.
["Mm-hm, that's right," Aerin replied with a smile.]
["I came to Mondstadt from Sumeru."]
"So he's from Sumeru?"
Paimon rested her chin between her fingers, staring intently at Aerin on the light screen.
"No wonder his roasted boar was so professional. Turns out he's a biologist."
Lisa frowned slightly. She didn't comment—but an uneasy feeling crept into her heart.
Aerin's smile was honest and radiant, yet behind it lingered the sense that something was being deliberately concealed.
[Clorinde]:"Hmm… something about him feels off."
[Tighnari]:"Is he really from Sumeru? His name sounds more like it's from Liyue."
[Mualani]:"His fashion sense wouldn't lose to Natlan trends—but it doesn't look like Natlan either."
[Furina]:"He doesn't look like a good person at all."
[Neuvillette]:"Lady Furina… and how exactly did you determine that?"
[Furina]:"Isn't it obvious? The prettier something is, the more dangerous it becomes! And what kind of normal person casually studies Hilichurls—especially mutated ones? Ordinary people would be terrified just seeing them!"
[Hu Tao]:"That argument doesn't sound very convincing, Your Grace."
[Paimon]:"He is a good person! I ate with him! He really is a biology researcher—and his roasted boar is amazing!"
[Xiangling]:"Uh… that sounds more like a chef?"
"Hmm…"
Zhongli let out a low hum.
Cloud Retainer, who had rushed to his side, asked quietly,
"Do you also find that young man suspicious, Rex—Zhongli?"
Based on the chat's analysis—
A Sumeru scholar with Natlan-level fashion,
a Liyue-style name,
wandering Mondstadt to research Hilichurls—
Anyone would feel uneasy.
More importantly—
Zhongli, who had guarded Liyue for thousands of years, had never seen eyes like Aerin's.
Those abyss-deep black pupils.
Not in Liyue.
Not anywhere in the Seven Nations.
"I'm afraid Aerin may be the one we should truly be wary of—the Fifth Descender."
"And furthermore…"
Zhongli spoke slowly.
Aerin gave him the strange impression of deliberately exposing flaws in front of Amber.
As if he wanted to be suspected.
Cloud Retainer and Xiao stiffened subtly.
Cloud Retainer spoke bluntly,
"Zhongli, you jest. How could the Fifth Descender appear as a mere youth? At the very least, they should resemble you."
She didn't fully understand what a Descender truly was—but such beings should not be ordinary.
"Cloud Retainer," Zhongli replied calmly,
"for transcendent beings, appearance is nothing more than skin over bone."
"Just like the Fourth Descender—she…"
The Fourth Descender?
Cloud Retainer's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
"…Never mind," Zhongli said, waving it off.
"Let us continue observing. The light screen will give us the answer."
Cloud Retainer: ❓❓❓
["It's too dangerous here."]
["You should leave as soon as possible."]
Amber watched Aerin carefully.
She noticed he carried no Vision.
["It's fine," Aerin replied with a smile, pointing below at the mutated Hilichurls.]
["A scholar's thirst for knowledge is limitless."]
["Can you imagine how someone like me feels—discovering mutated monsters in Teyvat?"]
["Let me tell you a little secret…"]
He glanced around furtively, then leaned close to Amber's ear and whispered—
["I've studied these mutated Hilichurls."]
["There's a power inside them that surpasses elemental energy."]
["Isn't that fascinating?"]
Amber's heart raced.
Her thoughts spiraled.
Just as Jean and the others had theorized—
The Abyss Order must have injected something strange into the Hilichurls, giving rise to a new power.
"That's really strange…"
Paimon's eyes cleared.
"How did someone without a Vision even capture mutated Hilichurls to study them?"
"This Aerin… could he just be bluffing?"
No one answered.
Jean.
Lisa.
Lumine.
All three stared at Amber on the screen in horror.
A Visionless biologist calmly approaching mutated Hilichurls?
No one would believe such a thing.
Those creatures possessed a power that caused victims to collapse and disintegrate entirely.
A normal person wouldn't survive even brief contact.
The truth became obvious.
Aerin was the creator of those mutated Hilichurls.
No wonder his words felt deliberately flawed.
He wasn't careless.
He was toying with Amber—humoring her before killing her.
"Damn it… damn that Fifth Descender!"
Jean stood up abruptly, fists clenched, trembling.
Then grief flooded her expression as she turned to Amber.
Amber, watching her own future, sighed softly.
"So… I really will die at the Fifth Descender's hands."
"And I won't even get to bring the truth back to Mondstadt."
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