"Who said I'm going to send you to solitary confinement?"
Gu Sanqiu sighed and rubbed his temples. "It's just fishing with a bomb. You didn't cause a forest fire or an earthquake. Relax, I'll pretend I didn't see anything."
"Yay!"
Klee cheered loudly and leapt into Gu Sanqiu's arms, nuzzling her small, rosy cheeks against his chest.
"Hehe, Brother Sanqiu is the best!"
Gu Sanqiu gently patted her head. "Alright, while I can let this slide, lying isn't a good habit, understand?"
"Mhm, I understand! Klee won't lie anymore!"
Klee nodded earnestly, though she couldn't resist glancing longingly at the floating spoils of her explosive handiwork.
Gu Sanqiu put her down. "Pack up your catch, and then we'll head out. I actually have something else planned for us today."
"Huh? Is Brother Sanqiu taking me out to play?!"
Klee's eyes sparkled with excitement. Going out with Gu Sanqiu meant she had someone to cover for her. Even if she used her most dangerous bombs, there wouldn't be any irreversible consequences. She was thrilled!
To Klee, Albedo was the strict, responsible older brother, while Gu Sanqiu was the mischievous ringleader parents warned their children about.
"Not quite. Today isn't about playing; it's about testing what you've learned."
Sanqiu grinned. "So, Klee, you haven't forgotten what I taught you last time, right? Show me how much your bomb-making skills have improved."
"Huh? I get to play with bombs? Yay!"
Though it sounded like an exam, Klee instantly latched onto the fun part. She clapped her hands joyfully, already picturing the explosions she'd unleash without being sent to solitary confinement.
Watching the tiny red-hooded knight gleefully gather her bounty, Gu Sanqiu couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for Mondstadt's natural environment.
But then again, Klee's past feats, like flattening entire hills, hadn't managed to alarm Barbatos. Why should he, a visitor from Liyue, worry about it?
Besides, with Jean keeping a strict eye on her, little Klee had matured significantly. Bombing fish was already her limit these days. She no longer indulged in mountain-flattening antics, knowing it caused trouble for everyone.
The mischievous sunshine of Mondstadt only wanted to bring smiles to people's faces—not headaches.
Still, Klee's destructive power as Mondstadt's ultimate damage dealer often left Jean with no end of problems.
Compared to a certain "literary writer" and their exploits in the ruins of Stormterror's Lair, the Knights of Favonius and Albedo had clearly done an exceptional job raising her.
Once Klee had collected her spoils, Sanqiu helped her pack them up. Together, the duo covered the evidence of their "crime" before leisurely flying back to Mondstadt.
While the Knight earlier hadn't given a clear answer about Aether's whereabouts, Sanqiu had a pretty good idea where the traveler might be.
"Brother Sanqiu, are we going to test the bombs in the city?"
Klee clung to his neck with a worried expression. "But Captain Jean said doing that near Mondstadt would cause trouble for everyone."
"Don't worry, we're here to find someone—or maybe to give you a partner for today's test."
Judging by Aether's displayed strength, he likely wouldn't resort to taking commissions outside the city. His unwavering determination to find his sister must have been burning like a fire in his heart.
Before encountering the deeper mysteries of Teyvat, Aether's immediate priority was undoubtedly earning money.
And for an unrooted traveler trying to scrape by in Mondstadt, the quickest way to do so would be—
Sanqiu smiled lightly. "Ah, found you."
Ahead, Aether was carrying crates for the Knights of Favonius logistics team. Upon hearing the voice, he looked up to see Gu Sanqiu standing against the sunlight, smiling like a mastermind at the climax of a story.
"He—he's here!"
Paimon gasped, stumbling back before quickly hiding behind Aether.
"What do you mean 'he's here'? I have a name, you know."
Sanqiu greeted the logistics officer, Hertha, before turning back to Aether, who was still holding a wooden crate.
"Hey, how about finishing your task first? Staring at me while carrying heavy stuff doesn't tire you out? Or do you just like this vibe?"
Aether blinked, realizing the obvious, and continued his work. Meanwhile, Paimon resumed cheering him on, making Sanqiu question whether time had frozen for a moment.
The scene of Paimon shouting encouragement while Aether hauled goods felt strangely familiar. The occasional offers of songs only heightened the déjà vu.
Barbatos, aren't you going to explain this one?
"Wow, Brother Sanqiu, that little kid is so tiny! Even smaller than Klee!"
Klee waved enthusiastically at Paimon. "Hi! My name's Klee. What's yours, little one?"
...
Physically, Klee was indeed larger than Paimon. It was the first time Sanqiu had heard Klee call someone else a child—usually, it was the other way around.
The small girl practically bounced off Sanqiu, eagerly jumping up and down in front of Paimon.
"W-who are you calling a little kid?"
Paimon stomped her foot indignantly, only to realize Klee's gaze was pure curiosity.
Klee tilted her head in confusion. "But you are a little kid."
"Paimon is not a little kid—you're the kid!"
Klee puffed out her cheeks, shaking her head seriously.
"Nope, Klee's a kid. But you're smaller than me, so that makes you a little kid. Isn't that obvious?"
Paimon felt utterly defeated, wishing she could crawl into one of the crates and refuse to come out without snacks or Mora.
Turning to Sanqiu, she pointed accusingly.
"Is this your kid? Why does she keep calling me a little kid?!"
Sanqiu replied with mock sincerity, "Well, as things stand, you do seem more like a little kid than Klee does."
Klee, validated by Sanqiu's words, stood proudly with her hands on her hips, a triumphant grin on her face.
"I give up…"
Paimon groaned, rubbing her forehead. "What are you even doing here? Don't tell me you're here on a Knights' commission, too."
"Nope, I'm just here to find you two."
Sanqiu patted Klee's hat. "By the way, this here is Klee, the Spark Knight of the Knights of Favonius. She's basically your golden benefactor—though maybe I should say benefactress."
"Wow! Klee is a benefactress? Awesome!"
Klee's eyes sparkled as she turned to Paimon. "Little one, Little Paimon, call me Mommy! Or Benefactress Klee works too. Hehehe!"
Paimon glared daggers at Sanqiu, who was obviously egging Klee on.
"Hey! Don't take this too far!"
---
...
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