"She? Who's she?"
Paimon blinked in confusion, having no idea what Jean was talking about.
"That fake— no, that girl named Wendy. She's back."
Jean glanced at the Knights' Headquarters door with a complicated expression, deliberately correcting herself before she could say "fake Archon."
She didn't dare call someone that powerful "fake" to her face.
Just moments ago, she had stepped out briefly to handle some Knights' affairs.
But when she returned…
she saw a familiar figure sitting casually in her chair.
At first glance, she thought it was Venti.
But after a closer look—
absolutely not.
It was a girl.
A girl who looked extremely similar to Venti.
It hit Jean instantly:
the "fake Archon" Venti mentioned before—
Wendy—
had returned.
Realizing this, Jean froze.
She knew exactly how terrifying that girl's power was.
A single person, able to fight three Archons and a silver-haired girl of equal power, without falling behind at all—
Jean couldn't even imagine such strength.
Not to mention that sky-splitting scene from that day…
She could still recall it vividly.
Her mind had gone completely blank.
She remained frozen until the girl finally looked her way.
In that moment of eye contact, Wendy spoke impatiently:
"You're that… uh… Jean-something, right? Whatever, doesn't matter.
Do you know where Wen~di is?
I wanna play with him."
"Uh… then… do you… have business with Lord Venti?"
Jean asked cautiously, still bewildered.
Before this, she had imagined countless terrifying possibilities—revenge, destruction, trouble—
but she never imagined Wendy would say she came to "play" with Venti.
Play??
After nearly killing each other last time?
Nothing made sense anymore.
"I already said it—
to! play! with! him!
Are you deaf?"
Wendy sounded even more annoyed.
"I understand… but I'll need some time to find him. He's not in Mondstadt right now."
Jean tried her best to keep her voice calm, terrified the girl might interpret her words as an attempt to stall.
She had experienced Wendy's temperament firsthand that day—
She behaved like a child whose moods changed instantly and unpredictably.
If she were just a normal little girl, Jean wouldn't care.
If she fussed, Jean could just soothe her—like she did with Klee.
But this girl was absolutely not normal.
She could level Mondstadt with a temper tantrum.
Jean had to be extremely careful.
"That so…?"
"Ahh, no wonder I couldn't find him. Hurry up and bring him back."
Before Jean could explain further, Wendy nodded to herself with an expression of sudden understanding.
"No problem, I'll go right—"
Creaaak—
"Jean, you—"
The door opened.
Lisa walked inside.
She had heard Jean speaking to someone, so she came to check—
and then froze completely.
The fake Archon… returned?!
Shock appeared on Lisa's usually composed face.
Never had she expected the girl who once impersonated Mondstadt's god to show up again.
What in the world—?
Is she going to do what she did last time?!
"Lisa, let's go out and look for Lord Venti together.
This guest wishes to see him."
Jean said quickly, trying her best to look calm while sending Lisa a desperate signal with her eyes.
Her heart was pounding.
She had been on edge the entire time speaking with Wendy.
Lisa suddenly barging in nearly gave her a heart attack.
If Wendy felt offended, Mondstadt would be done for.
Fortunately, Wendy didn't seem bothered by Lisa's appearance.
Still, Jean needed to find Venti—fast.
"…Understood."
Lisa didn't know what was happening,
but seeing Jean's expression,
She knew now was not the time to ask questions.
Just as the two were about to step outside—
"Wait."
Lisa: "!"
Jean: "!"
Both froze in place, then stiffly turned their heads.
"This book…
Is this one of you humans' 'love stories'?"
Wendy stood up, holding a book in her hand.
Jean nearly choked.
That book—
It was her favorite romance novel,
"The Melancholy of Young Vera."
Although the girl possessed overwhelming power,
she clearly had zero experience in this kind of topic.
And that curiosity…
Lisa found it strangely cute.
"Not… entirely.
Mm… the stories are… artistically embellished.
Most people's lives are far more ordinary."
Jean carefully chose each word, afraid of angering her.
Wendy's earlier "wait" almost scared her soul out of her body.
She thought Wendy was going to lash out.
Thankfully, she was just asking about a book.
But—
Would she be satisfied with that answer?
Jean tensed up again.
"Heh~
You humans really are boring.
Wasting time on these meaningless things.
Whatever.
Hurry up and get Venti for me."
Wendy flopped back into Jean's chair with a bored expression.
"That's what happened…
but I still don't know why she's looking for Lord Venti."
Jean finished recounting the events outside the headquarters.
"I understand.
All of you stay out here.
I'll go in alone."
Venti took a deep breath.
It was obvious—
Wendy came for the cube.
There was no mistaking it.
But that was good.
He couldn't handle the cube alone anyway.
The only problem was Wendy's terrifying strength
and her utterly unpredictable personality…
…Good luck to me.
Creaaak—
Venti pushed open the door and stepped inside.
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