Chapter 47: Wendy Endures the Humiliation
Aiden couldn't help but feel a little frustrated. He was supposed to be the saint, yet every time he appeared alongside Wendy, people always noticed her first.
Was his presence not grand enough?
Perhaps he needed to add some dramatic effects to his entrances in the future—something flashy to make sure people paid attention. After all, he was technically the superior of Wendy and the others now.
With a slight huff, Aiden pulled Diluc into the chat group and then vanished without another word. Before leaving, he took a few bottles of Diluc's finest wine from the cabinet. He was feeling a little annoyed, and a good drink would surely help improve his mood.
---
[Ding! Congratulations, Diluc has joined the chat group!]
Jean: "Senior? Welcome, welcome!"
Wendy: "Oh? Mr. Diluc? Welcome to the chat group! And hey, do you want points? You can trade them for wine!"
Ningguang: "Diluc, owner of Dawn Winery? Welcome aboard!"
Diluc was momentarily stunned as information flooded into his mind, but he quickly processed it. The power to purify the Abyss? Who was that person just now? And why did he enter this so-called chat group immediately after the stranger left? There had to be a connection.
Even Barbatos, the Anemo Archon, didn't have the power to cleanse Abyssal corruption.
And according to what he was seeing, points could be used to gain power.
Wendy had mentioned trading points for wine… but what he truly lacked was strength.
Strength to exact revenge on the Doctor.
Strength to stand against the Abyss.
He had to get stronger.
Without hesitation, Diluc started browsing the exchange system. Every ounce of power he could afford—he would take it. He would become strong enough to one day march into Snezhnaya and personally put an end to the Doctor.
But then he noticed the names in the chat group.
Wendy. That was obviously Barbatos himself.
Jean. So she was also a part of this? That meant she had the opportunity to grow stronger too.
Keqing and Ningguang. Liyue's most powerful figures.
Zhongli. A highly respected figure in Liyue, rumored to have connections with both the Qixing and the Adepti.
And then there was Aiden.
A name unfamiliar to him, yet one that carried immense weight.
Had he underestimated that man?
---
Diluc frowned. "If you have this kind of power, why haven't you done anything to stop the Abyss?"
Wendy sighed and spread her arms. "Because the Abyss is far more terrifying than you realize. The disaster five hundred years ago nearly destroyed all of Teyvat. Only two of the original Seven Archons survived. I was one of them… and I fell into a deep slumber afterward."
Diluc's eyes widened slightly. Even he didn't know that.
That meant the other surviving Archon had to be Morax, the Geo Archon of Liyue.
But then what about the Raiden Shogun? Wasn't she still ruling Inazuma?
Could Wendy be lying?
No, that didn't seem like her style. There must be deeper secrets at play.
"So, you're saying we need to keep this power hidden? That we need time to build our strength? And that the Traveler, who hasn't arrived in Mondstadt yet, is supposed to be our distraction? The Abyss knows about her power to purify corruption, don't they?"
Diluc was quick-witted and highly analytical. Even with limited information, he was able to piece together a reasonable theory.
"You could put it that way," Wendy admitted. "We're still not strong enough, and my divine power is too scattered. If I openly show too much strength, it could bring unwanted consequences to Mondstadt."
She sighed before continuing. "Besides, Mondstadt needs this battle. It's something we must face on our own, just as we did centuries ago."
The mention of scattered divine power caught Diluc's attention.
Barbatos… had deliberately dispersed his own power?
That reminded him of the old legends, and a realization hit him. His gaze softened slightly as he looked at Wendy.
Despite his usual carefree and unreliable nature, perhaps this god had done more for Mondstadt than anyone gave him credit for.
---
"If we can gain points from hunting monsters… then I'll join you tomorrow. You and Jean were hunting today, right?"
Diluc usually preferred working alone.
But the state of the world left him little choice.
"I have no objections," Wendy replied easily. But then she blinked as something clicked in her mind.
Wait.
Did that mean Diluc had already figured out her identity?
A helpless expression crossed her face. "Hey… even if you know who I am, could you at least pretend you don't? Let me keep up the act a little longer!"
She sighed dramatically before waving her hand. "Fine, fine. Whatever. Just don't go around exposing me to everyone else, alright?"
Diluc chuckled. "That won't be a problem. But even if I know who you are, don't think I'll give you a single bottle of wine for free. If you want one, trade for it with points."
Wendy groaned. "Ugh, you're as stingy as ever."
Diluc's expression turned serious. "Still… you should be careful. The Fatui have been gathering information on you. It seems they have plans involving you."
A shadow crossed Wendy's face at the mention of the Fatui. The Tsaritsa, the Harbingers, and especially La Signora.
The Ice Queen she once respected was no longer the same.
Could the Tsaritsa still be reasoned with? Or had she already fully embraced the path of war?
Aiden's existence had changed everything.
If he truly didn't intend to restrict humanity's growth, then why was the Tsaritsa still opposing him?
Then again, the Fatui were filled with extremists. Not everyone within their ranks followed the same ideology.
Wendy sighed heavily, massaging her temples. "I know, I know. We'll deal with them eventually."
Diluc's eyes sharpened.
"Don't worry. We'll keep getting stronger. I swear… Mondstadt will never suffer another tragedy like the Black Fire Incident again."
Wendy blinked at his intensity.
…Did he think she was enduring humiliation for the sake of Mondstadt?
She nearly laughed.
Still, if that belief pushed Diluc to greater heights…
She would let him believe it.
For now.