When the story of the twelfth life ended and the projections above the inn fell still, the audience began to murmur.
"What a disgrace. The Knights of Favonius? Disgusting."
"I thought the Knights represented light and freedom, but there are scum like this among them too. They've tarnished the Knights' reputation."
"If Acting Grand Master Jean knew about this, she'd be furious."
"Years of faith built up, only to be destroyed by one rotten apple."
"Someone quick—get this story to Mondstadt and show the people there what that Inspector really did."
"We can't let a hero be forgotten."
"I heard the editor of Yae Publishing House has already sent the story to Mondstadt using special methods. It should be on the streets within the hour."
"Good. The truth will come out. Crepus can finally rest in peace."
Though this story didn't take place in Liyue, the people of Liyue understood sacrifice. Heroes had given their lives to build their great nation. Anyone who tried to erase their deeds would be an enemy to all of Liyue.
At the beginning of the story, when the audience heard the unfamiliar name Crepus, they had been dismissive. But after hearing the full tale, they spoke his name with reverence.
Sacrificing himself to protect others. Choosing to die by his son's sword rather than let the Delusion control him into slaughtering the innocent.
If that wasn't a hero, then what was?
Meanwhile, in a corner of the inn, the three Electro sisters, Yae Miko, and Xiao were all taken aback. Even Zhongli furrowed his brow.
Ei snorted coldly. "Barbatos, something like this happened in your nation and you did nothing?"
Barbatos looked wronged. "Eh, so that's the truth? I'm hearing about this for the first time too."
At the time, he had been in Sumeru, trying to earn Mora by busking so he could buy wine. By the time he returned, the tragedy had already occurred. He had naively believed the Knights had driven off Ursa the Drake and had even praised them for their growing responsibility. He never imagined the Inspector had used his authority to deceive everyone.
Ei sneered. "How ironic. You're so irresponsible that you went to Sumeru to teach the Lesser Lord how to govern."
Barbatos had no defense. It was his failure.
Still, he had only been trying to earn Mora for wine, not genuinely teaching Kusanali how to rule.
Zhongli rarely spoke, but he did now. "Though Barbatos bears some blame, the Inspector is the root of the evil. The true fault lies with him."
Barbatos nodded eagerly. "Yes, it's all that Inspector's fault."
Ei huffed. "You bear responsibility too."
She was angry because Crepus was her brother's reincarnation, and he had been so cruelly wronged by a mere Inspector.
At this point, the tragedy was already past and could not be undone. Barbatos sighed. "The current Acting Grand Master is Jean. I believe she is a just person. Once she learns the whole truth, she'll surely give Crepus the justice he deserves."
Ei snorted. "Let's hope so."
Meanwhile, in another corner, Shenhe, La Signora, Keqing, Hu Tao, and the others sighed after hearing the story.
Keqing looked seriously at La Signora. "You weren't involved in the Ursa the Drake incident, were you?"
If La Signora had been involved, she might never forgive herself, since Crepus was Rostam's reincarnation.
La Signora wiped away her tears. "The Delusion experiments and Ursa were likely orchestrated by The Doctor. That man is unforgivable."
She was gradually shedding her Harbinger identity, becoming the maiden Rosalyne once more.
Hearing her answer, Keqing's expression softened.
Xiangling sighed. "Too bad Diluc isn't here to hear these stories. He'd be so moved. When he learns the truth has come out, he'll be glad for his father."
Beidou, the older sister figure, said seriously, "The stories will reach Mondstadt soon enough. Diluc will come eventually."
Everyone was moved by Crepus's sacrifice and felt for Diluc.
Just then, Hu Tao spoke up. "Life and death are natural—but Crepus didn't die of old age or illness. The Delusion drained his life force. Delusions are deadly. Miss La Signora, I heard you have one too. Please don't use it recklessly."
Whenever life and death came up, Hu Tao thought of her grandfather, who had died suddenly of illness at home.
La Signora said firmly, "Don't worry. I won't use the Delusion again. When Rostam returns, I'll give it to him to dispose of."
Hu Tao grinned. "Good. By the way, your Harbinger friend didn't come today."
La Signora was also puzzled. "I'm not sure where he went."
…
Meanwhile, at a secluded inn elsewhere in Liyue, Childe handed a letter to a subordinate, instructing him to deliver it to Snezhnaya—to the Regrator, or directly to the Tsaritsa.
In the letter, Childe detailed how La Signora had been moved to tears and won over by the storyteller, and how she had abandoned her mission and defied the Tsaritsa's orders.
The subordinate took the letter and asked, "Lord Childe, since Liyue is so dangerous, why don't you leave?"
Childe sighed. "The mission has failed. I want to leave, but those damned gods have their eyes on me. I doubt I'd even make it out of the city before the Anemo Archon stopped me."
It was unbearable. Those gods had taken it upon themselves to treat him like a Mora dispenser—a reusable one at that.
He added, "And take this message back too."
The subordinate asked, "What message?"
Childe said seriously, "If possible, ask Her Majesty the Tsaritsa to come to Liyue herself. No matter how many Harbingers we send, we can't handle those gods."
The only one who could deal with them was the Tsaritsa herself.