Genshin Impact: I'm The Envoy of Snezhnaya
Chapter 333: The Mysterious Bard
"Not this one… and it doesn't seem to be this one either."
After explaining the situation at The Cat's Tail, Noelle crouched down in front of a cluster of cats, holding the drawing she had made and carefully comparing them one by one.
Even though Bai Luo had said that as long as it was a red cat, it might be his, she still insisted on using that pencil sketch—which, aside from the color, bore absolutely no resemblance to Cat Diluc—to painstakingly compare each one.
Unfortunately, a cat that didn't exist was destined never to be found.
Even though more cats had gathered here today than usual, Noelle still couldn't find the one that belonged to Bai Luo.
Meanwhile, Bai Luo was squatting beside The Cat's Tail's message board, reading the notes pinned to it, a smile slowly forming on his face.
"I saw her before at the Windblume Festival, a very strange girl. Her whole body was wrapped in bandages. Was she sick? She didn't look like a local, and she seemed a bit gloomy. But deep down, I really hoped she could run around laughing happily like the other kids. I haven't seen her in a long time now. For some reason, looking at this messy message board made me think of her again. I hope her illness can be cured, that she can take off the bandages, and live a healthy, happy life."
Picking up the pen thoughtfully placed beside the board, Bai Luo left a reply next to the message.
"Please rest assured, she has already been reborn, and is now walking her own path, living more brilliantly than anyone else."
After responding to that message, Bai Luo thought for a moment, then added another line at the very bottom of the board.
"Sunsettia. Sweet. Anyone want one?"
After checking every single cat, Noelle returned to Bai Luo's side, looking a little disappointed.
"I'm very sorry… it seems your pet isn't here either. Shall we move on to the next place?"
Noelle didn't stop Bai Luo from writing on the message board.
After all, the board had been set up precisely to encourage people to leave their thoughts behind.
Judging from the handwriting and content, many people she recognized had left messages here as well.
However, Bai Luo's final sentence left her slightly puzzled.
Sunsettias… aren't they always sweet?
Hmm… maybe Kaeya would have a reasonable explanation, after all, he had fainted thirteen whole times because of Sunsettias.
"Let's go. On to the next place."
Placing the pen back beside the message board, Bai Luo stood up and gestured for Noelle to lead the way.
In truth, before meeting Noelle, he hadn't noticed that this city—one he had wandered through countless times in the game—actually contained so many scenic spots.
Under her guidance, Bai Luo toured nearly every notable location in the city.
The oldest windmill, the souvenir shop, the largest tavern…
They even stopped by the Goth Grand Hotel.
After they had more or less finished touring the city, Noelle finally led Bai Luo up to the plaza in front of the Favonius Cathedral.
The towering statue of the Anemo Archon and the magnificent cathedral had always been among Mondstadt's most famous sights.
But… for a god who worshipped freedom, was such a grand and carefully constructed cathedral really necessary?
"If you only wish to pray, the statue here would be enough. The Favonius Cathedral is temporarily closed to the public, but I can submit an application to enter and help you search inside. After all, there have been cases of small animals wandering into the cathedral before."
Places like the Favonius Cathedral had once been open to outsiders.
However, after the incident at The Cat's Tail, the victims were temporarily transferred inside the cathedral. To protect their safety, entry was restricted to the sisters of the church and members of the Knights of Favonius.
Even knights themselves now needed to submit an application in advance if they wished to enter.
"Thank you for your hard work."
"Please don't say that. This is simply what I should be doing."
Bai Luo's brief words of gratitude made the maid feel unexpectedly flustered.
In her eyes, she was only doing what she ought to do, just like how everyone in the Knights of Favonius worked tirelessly for Mondstadt.
She had never sought thanks from anyone.
By the time Bai Luo and Noelle reached the area near the statue, the crowd had already begun to disperse.
Judging from the snippets of conversation drifting through the air… a bard had likely performed here earlier.
Neither the Knights of Favonius nor the Favonius Cathedral had ever tried to stop such things.
Bards were one of Mondstadt's defining features, and most of them sang praises of Barbatos anyway, if anything, they helped spread the faith.
"I've heard that a mysterious bard has recently arrived in Mondstadt," Noelle said, ever the considerate guide, explaining as soon as she noticed Bai Luo's interest.
"The songs he sings have a kind of classical beauty that others don't possess. Some of them are ballads that were nearly forgotten thousands of years ago."
Her words made Bai Luo freeze for a moment.
A bard who had only recently arrived in Mondstadt?
Singing songs with an ancient elegance, melodies nearly lost to time?
That style reminded him of someone.
Or rather… of a god.
"Does he wear green bard's attire," Bai Luo asked slowly, "with white stockings? And the feeling he gives off… is it like the wind itself, light, free, and unrestrained?"
"You've met him?" Noelle asked in surprise.
"..."
There's no doubt about it.
The bard performing in the plaza was absolutely Barbatos.
Bai Luo even began to wonder whether, if he went to Angel's Share right now, he'd run into the Anemo Archon being tossed out by the bartender as a drunk.
If that were the case, many of his plans would need adjustment.
He didn't believe for a second that Barbatos was merely the carefree slacker portrayed in the game.
After crossing blades with Morax and Raiden Ei, Bai Luo understood one thing all too clearly:
Never underestimate a god.
People said the Anemo Archon had slept for too long, that his power had greatly diminished?
After the calamity five hundred years ago, Raiden Ei spent most of her time in meditation, yet that one "careless" strike she aimed at the Balladeer… Bai Luo wasn't confident he could dodge it without entering a quantum state.
Barbatos losing his Gnosis so easily to The Fair Lady wasn't because his strength had dwindled away.
It was because he was deliberately holding back.
Holding back so much that it made Bai Luo's mercy toward Teppei look stingy by comparison.
Fortunately, Bai Luo had come to Mondstadt for other reasons this time.
The matter of seizing the Gnosis could be left entirely to La Signora.
Still, the presence of the Wind God was something he would have to take seriously.
. . . . .
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