TL Note: Merry Christmas! Here are 5 chapters!
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Lumine did not fully understand the change in Neuvillette's mindset, so she asked, "Is it because of the power you just obtained?"
Neuvillette did not answer her question directly.
"Traveler, now that the Oratrice has lost its function, in order to carry out justice, I require an executioner."
Lumine: "Me?"
Neuvillette nodded.
"I have already identified the source of all disasters in Fontaine—the ferocious beast that manifested the prophecy. Its name is the All-Devouring Narwhal."
"Come with me. The time for execution has arrived."
The All-Devouring Narwhal was incomparably massive, moving through space itself, tearing open enormous spatial rifts with each bite.
Under the combined assault of Lumine and Neuvillette, the Narwhal was soon beaten into a state of collapse, unable to move.
[Venti: Such overwhelming power… Is this the complete form of the Hydro Dragon Sovereign, Neuvillette?]
[Ningguang: Astonishing control over Hydro—he has stripped the Primordial Sea's power directly from within the Narwhal.]
[Arataki Itto: My goodness—this is the power of a Dragon Sovereign?!]
[Yae Miko: Arataki Itto, there's no need to be so shocked. Even before obtaining a divine throne, Ei's Musou no Hitotachi was already capable of cleaving valleys apart.]
[Zhongli: Indeed. Even without a divine throne, the power of gods is overwhelming. That is precisely why ordinary people require protection.]
[Paimon: You can really tell Lumine and Neuvillette are attacking with all they've got—this has to be fueled by anger, right?]
[Nahida: A friend was sacrificed before their very eyes. They must be furious.]
Just as Neuvillette prepared to carry out the execution, the sky cracked open into a dark purple-black rift. Vast Abyssal power poured forth, engulfing the All-Devouring Narwhal and compressing it into a sphere.
A girl with light gray hair and dark purple stockings appeared. She tossed both the Narwhal and Tartaglia into the rift, which then closed.
She slowly turned to face Neuvillette.
"Thank you for handling the cleanup. This was originally my responsibility."
"I merely secluded myself for training for a while, and somehow my disciple ended up fighting my master's pet."
"I anticipated this eventually, but their encounter happened earlier than expected. A miscalculation—when I return, I'll punish myself by swinging my sword three million times."
[Zhongli: She is not from Teyvat. She comes from beyond this world.]
[Paimon: Someone from beyond this world? I remember that whale also came from outside Teyvat.]
[Neuvillette: Correct. The All-Devouring Narwhal is not a species native to Teyvat.]
[Lumine: So… this is the Narwhal's owner, coming to retrieve it?]
[Tartaglia: Allow me to introduce her—this is my master, Skirk. When I was young, I once fell into the Abyss, where I met her. She taught me many things. She's a woman of few words.]
[Ningguang: Mm. She must care deeply for you—otherwise she wouldn't have thrown you in with such force.]
[Tartaglia: That joke isn't funny at all.]
[Paimon: I'm curious—why would Skirk take a disciple in Teyvat?]
[Tartaglia: Skirk said I awakened it, forming a connection. That's why she taught me these combat techniques—they would be useful someday. As for it… it might be related to the dream I had when I fell into the Abyss. In that dream, I was deep beneath an endless ocean, and before me was a whale so vast it was suffocating.]
[Paimon: So you were the root cause of Fontaine's disaster—you awakened the Narwhal!]
[Tartaglia: Hold on—that's not something I can take responsibility for. The prophecy appeared centuries ago. I only fell into the Abyss a little over ten years ago.]
[Neuvillette: Indeed. Fate was written long ago. Tartaglia was merely the one who appeared at the appointed time. From what we saw, before the Narwhal arrived at the opera house, this "Childe" had likely already been battling it for quite some time.]
[Tartaglia: As expected of Neuvillette—your words are fair and just.]
Neuvillette asked, "That power just now… What exactly are you?"
Paimon explained, "Based on what she said earlier, I think she really is Childe's master—Skirk!"
"But according to Childe, she's supposed to be someone who barely talks at all."
Skirk replied calmly, "I simply have nothing to say to the weak. Without relying on power from beyond this world, you were able to defeat the All-Devouring Narwhal. That alone qualifies you to speak with me as equals."
[Paimon: Childe, did you hear that? She just has nothing to say to the weak.]
[Tartaglia: Who am I? Where am I?]
[Arataki Itto: Hahahahaha! That came back around fast!]
[The Knave: Childe, no need to be discouraged. What Skirk did not acknowledge was your younger self. The current you can fight the Narwhal for an extended period—your strength should already meet her standards.]
[Tartaglia: That's right—my strength is nothing like it used to be.]
Paimon asked, "What kind of person treats the All-Devouring Narwhal as a pet?"
Skirk replied, "I agree with you. Using a planet's Primordial Sea to raise a creature like the All-Devouring Narwhal as a pet is… strange, no matter how you look at it. The disparity in power is too great, there's little interaction, and it even consumes a disciple's time to manage it. The only redeeming quality is its visual appeal."
"In any case, it can hardly be considered a qualified pet."
"Skirk, I think you're missing the point," Paimon said.
"The point is—this 'pet' nearly destroyed an entire nation."
"So then… who exactly is your master? Childe's master's master?"
Skirk waved apologetically.
"Oh—you didn't know? My apologies. I assumed that was common knowledge."
"His name is Surtalogi."
Paimon, Lumine, and Neuvillette all looked confused.
[Ningguang: Surtalogi? Does anyone know who that is?]
[Zhongli: Though I have walked this land for thousands of years, that name is unfamiliar to me.]
[Venti: I've collected songs from all across the world, yet I've never heard that name either.]
[Nahida: Even with access to Irminsul's records, I find no trace of it.]
Skirk continued, "Not well-known enough? Then perhaps you've heard the title 'The Knight of Extreme Evil'?"
Still, they remained puzzled.
Skirk tried again, "What about the prophet Vedrfolnir? Or Gold—Rhinedottir?"
Paimon immediately responded, "I know Rhinedottir! A member of the Hexenzirkel—Albedo's mother, right?"
Skirk nodded slightly. "Those names are ones I heard from my master as well. To be honest, I've never met them personally."
"But with that, it should be easier to understand. My master is likely someone similar to Rhinedottir—
Someone who pursues the extreme."