"The Darknight Hero? He's one of ours from Mondstadt."
"Haha, we were just discussing him yesterday." The people of Mondstadt held their heads high with pride.
"Darknight Hero? What's that? Our hero is the big sister, Yoimiya," the children of Inazuma countered.
[Yoimiya: Sounds interesting. Are we playing a game?]
[Arataki Itto: If it's a game, this young master will never lose.]
[Sayu: Sayu just wants to sleep.]
[Ningguang: A broadcast of the future?]
「The stories broadcasted are likely to happen in the future, representing one of the trajectories of fate. They may also be stories that have already taken place」
As the text in the live room faded, an image flickered to life.
The camera opened inside the Angel's Share tavern in Mondstadt. It was incredibly lively, with every seat filled. People were drinking heartily and eating large portions of meat. Many in Inazuma watched with envy, wondering if this was the fabled city of freedom.
Lumine and Paimon were shown speaking with the bartender, Charles.
[Paimon: Traveler, look. Is that us? Is that really us on the screen?]
[Lumine: Could it be something that happens to us in the future?]
On the screen, Paimon asked, "Master Charles, what is everyone talking about? What's the hot topic?"
Charles calmly wiped a glass. "Legends of a person known as the 'Darknight Hero'. Legend says a mysterious figure appears only at midnight to punish evil and promote good."
[Thoma: I love stories about heroes.]
[Chongyun: Does Mondstadt also have someone protecting everyone from the shadows?]
[Xingqiu: A story that usually only appears in novels. I like it.]
In the ordinary live room, the bullet comments were endless as everyone joined the discussion.
The plot continued.
Lumine looked puzzled. "Has anyone actually seen the Darknight Hero?"
Charles replied, "I've heard there are a few witnesses, so it shouldn't be baseless rumors. If you're interested, why not go to the plaza and ask around?"
When Paimon and Lumine reached the plaza, the first person they encountered was Margaret.
"Oh? You're here to ask about the Darknight Hero?" Margaret paused for three seconds before smiling. "The Darknight Hero—it's me."
「Ding—Live Q&A time. Please select the correct answer」
1: The Darknight Hero is Miss Margaret2: The Darknight Hero is the bartender Charles3: The Darknight Hero does not exist4: None of the above
「Thinking time: Three minutes. Please note: only those outside the Mondstadt region may answer. Anyone who reveals the answer will be blocked by the system and face immediate punishment」
[Arataki Itto: This is too easy, hahaha. My face was practically glued to the screen while watching.]
[Xingqiu: I feel like things aren't quite that simple.]
[Kaeya: Why is the Mondstadt region forbidden from answering?]
[Lisa: Isn't it obvious? Someone here surely knows who the hero is, or they'd just answer and take the reward for themselves.]
[Sayu: If I guess correctly, can I get medicine to grow taller?]
[Margaret: Oh my, being watched by so many people all of a sudden makes me feel a bit shy.]
[Sara: Miss Margaret, I see you're smiling quite happily.]
[Ningguang: This question is clearly a trap.]
[Diluc: Pointless rumors...]
Ningguang smiled, while her three secretaries adjusted their glasses behind her.
"Lady Ningguang, I think it's number 2," Baixiao suggested.
"I think it's 3," Baiwen added.
Keqing and Ganyu were both deep in thought, suspecting the first question might not be overly difficult.
「Ten seconds remaining. Please prepare to rush the answer. There are ten spots for the ordinary live room. The reward for this question is 30,000 Mora. The punishment is running ten laps around your current city」
「If no one in the Elite Live Room answers within twenty seconds, one to three people will be randomly selected to answer」
[Arataki Itto: Time to test my hand speed.]
[Yoimiya: Let's see who's faster.]
[Klee: Klee wants to answer too, why did the button disappear?]
[Thoma: Hehe, looks like our friends in Mondstadt will just have to watch us perform.]
The countdown hit three, two, one...
「Ding—Xingqiu has successfully secured the chance to answer」
[Xingqiu: My apologies for my lack of talent, but I managed to grab it. I hope everyone will excuse me.]
[Arataki Itto: Curse it, this young master actually lost a contest of speed.]
[Xingqiu: Often, the most dangerous place is the safest place. Miss Margaret's figure is slender and does not look like that of a martial artist. Therefore, I choose 2, the bartender Master Charles.]
Ningguang and her secretaries nodded. Xingqiu's analysis was logical. Many others nodded in agreement as well.
「Ding—Incorrect answer. Penalty for Xingqiu: Live stream yourself in women's clothing for ten minutes at Liyue Harbor Wharf while shouting 'I am Xingqiu' three times」
Instantly, a small screen appeared in the lower left corner of the live broadcast showing Xingqiu. A set of blue women's clothing fell from the sky.
Xingqiu's face turned bright red. "Women's clothing? Impossible. I am a man."
He tried to toss the clothes onto a stone table, but...
「Resistance detected. Executing forced compliance. Adding mandatory dialogue」
"Ah—why is my body moving on its own? What is it doing?" Xingqiu cried out.
Millions watched. Meanwhile, the ten people in the ordinary live room were also suffering.
"Help! I haven't exercised in decades. Ten laps around Liyue? This will be the death of me."
"Old Cao, aren't you only in your early thirties?"
"Haha, look at the people in Inazuma running too."
**[Iron Tongue Tian: Haha, I got it right. 30,000 Mora is really mine. The answer is ******]
「Detection: Iron Tongue Tian revealed the answer before the official announcement. Reward confiscated. Added to the ten-lap running group」
Ying'er burst out laughing, and Chef Mao joined in.
"Hahaha, this is killing me."
"Young people should exercise more," Old Man De'an chuckled. "How interesting. Luckily my hands were slow and I didn't grab the chance."
Now everyone understood the terror of this live Q&A. It was absolute, forced execution.
A split-screen appeared in the live broadcast. Xingqiu, forced by the system to change in a restaurant, walked out.
He walked with a feminine grace, swaying his hips and posing for the camera. With a slit in the skirt revealing his legs, he was forced to speak a line of utter despair to the camera.
"Ahem... everyone, do I look beautiful?"