"Ba... Barbatos? You are the Anemo Archon, Lord Barbatos!"
Ruola's gasp drew everyone's attention, and Venti temporarily set aside Dvalin's matter to look at Ruola.
"Yes, I'm sorry I deceived you before, but actually, I still prefer you to call me as you used to."
"We are friends, aren't we?"
Ruola was still in shock, retreating a few steps, feeling overwhelmed by Venti's gentle words.
"Alright, Ruola, stay calm. Ven—Lord Barbatos wouldn't want you to be like this."
Diluc patted his sister's shoulder. His sister's faith in the Anemo Archon was no less than that of the nuns in the Favonius Cathedral.
Ruola nodded, her gaze towards Venti completely changed.
Venti faced Ruola, a smile on his face, bringing with it a cool, gentle breeze.
Among the players, some less observant netizens were only now realizing, after Ruola's exclamation, that Venti was actually the Anemo Archon?!
[I had already shattered my filter for Venti when I first guessed he was the Anemo Archon, but seeing Ruola's reaction, it's suddenly back up again.]
[Ruola baby's surprised look is so cute!]
[Venti and Ruola, hehehe, the lilies of our homeland are blooming again!]
[???]
[No way, there's no way some people still don't know Venti is a guy!]
--- On Starsnatch Cliff.
"Bar—Lord Venti, what do we do now? Dvalin doesn't seem to be responding to your call."
Venti gave a wry smile. It seemed it would take some time to restore his previous relationship with Ruola.
"Dvalin's mind has been severely corroded by the Abyss. Conventional methods won't awaken him. We need to use some unconventional means."
Paimon: "What unconventional means?"
Lumine interjected abruptly: "It's to beat Dvalin up first, then reason with him."
"Huh? Beat Dvalin up?" Ruola thought of Dvalin's massive size and instinctively felt a little nervous, but after secretly glancing at Venti, she also nodded.
With Lord Barbatos here, everything would be fine, right?
"Haha, while it sounds a bit strange to put it that way, that's essentially what it means."
After deciding to head to the Stormterror's Lair, the group made a plan. Without further ado, they prepared to set off immediately.
As they were about to depart, Diluc stopped the excited Ruola.
"Ruola, you go back to Mondstadt City first, or directly back to the winery. You don't need to go on this trip."
Ruola's face fell, her entire being expressing reluctance.
This was a quest to defeat a dragon alongside Lord Barbatos! Such a classic and fantastical plot had been replayed countless times in the mind of a Damselette with a touch of chuunibyou like Ruola. Now that it was happening in reality, how could Ruola possibly miss it?
"Big brother~"
Diluc remained unmoved.
Seeing that coaxing didn't work, Ruola looked at Jean.
Jean subtly averted her gaze. Diluc was her senior, and she didn't really want to contradict him.
Besides, she also thought it best for Ruola to return to Mondstadt City. This journey was unpredictably dangerous, and if anything happened to Ruola, her senior would surely never forgive himself.
Ruola didn't ask Lumine and Paimon; she figured they couldn't persuade her big brother. Helpless, Ruola could only look at Venti.
"Venti~"
"Eh heh~"
Ruola felt a little put out. There was nothing she could do but compromise.
However, the plot was almost over anyway. Going for the last bit didn't really matter much. She had already piggybacked on a lot of the story.
"Alright, then I'll head back first. But you all must be careful, and little Paimon, remember to hide far away!"
Paimon waved at Ruola: "Don't worry, Paimon will protect herself!"
Lumine also said goodbye to Ruola.
--- Ruola returned to Mondstadt alone.
After enjoying a meal at the Good Hunter restaurant and packing up some more food, she set off for the Favonius Cathedral.
It had been a while since she last saw Barbara. Later, Venti and the others would return Jean, and she could piggyback on that plotline too.
However, how should she handle the later plot involving the Fatui Harbinger?
Ruola walked and pondered, finally deciding not to worry about anything and just see how the plot unfolded.
Ruola arrived at the Favonius Cathedral, where the choir was performing. Ruola waited nearby and suddenly spotted Sister Rosaria, who was blending in, faking it, and secretly slacking off.
She looked very sleepy, dozing while standing.
When the choir finished singing and the nuns dispersed, Ruola ran to Rosaria, who was dozing in her seat.
Before Ruola could speak, Rosaria opened her eyes and looked over.
"Ruola? Are you also here to pray to Barbatos?"
"Cough, cough, Sister Rosaria, it's Barbatos. Sister, are you very sleepy?"
"Hmm~ Today's task is done. Later, help me tell Barbara that I'm going back to catch up on sleep."
Rosaria yawned and patted Ruola's head.
"Oh, and I really liked the wine you gave me last time. Remember me next time if you have more; I'll buy it from you."
Ruola nodded her little head repeatedly. Hearing Rosaria mention wine, she immediately pulled a bottle out of her Vision's space.
Upon seeing what Ruola produced, Rosaria's previously listless state immediately changed, her eyes becoming bright.
Although she was a nun, Rosaria was very fond of drinking and often went to the Angel's Share to drink.
Ruola secretly looked around, and after confirming that no nuns, especially Barbara, were looking, she quickly slipped the bottle to Rosaria:
"I just happened to have a bottle with me."
One might ask why Ruola, who doesn't drink, would carry wine with her.
The main reason was actually Venti.
Ruola was like a little hamster, constantly moving her big brother's stash. However, she knew her limits and didn't touch the ones her big brother valued highly or those he only had a very small collection of.
Anyway, her big brother had so much wine in his cellar, and so many cellars, so taking a little wouldn't hurt, right?
"Little Ruola really loves her big sister~"
Rosaria rubbed Ruola's little face, finding her utterly adorable, and smilingly accepted the exquisite-looking bottle of wine.
"Ruola!"
Suddenly, Barbara spotted Ruola and happily greeted her.
Rosaria smiled at Ruola, put the wine in her embrace, and walked towards the entrance of the Favonius Cathedral.
"Barbara!"
Ruola and Barbara sat down in the pews in the church:
"Barbara, Sister Rosaria went back first."
"Mm-hmm, seeing how sleepy she is, it's good for her to go back and rest early. I just wonder why she's so sleepy today. I should talk to her properly and tell her not to stay up late; it's bad for her health!"
"Barbara, I brought your favorite food—are you busy now? Shall we go to the back—"
Barbara hesitated for a moment, then, under the gaze of Ruola's beautiful big eyes, she nodded.
The two walked towards the back of the church.