"…Damn."
The former hilichurl camp had been reduced to a massive crater, as if Zhongli himself had dropped Planet Befall right onto it.
"That thing was basically a nuke," Cael muttered in disbelief.
"I only used a palm-sized amount of Dark element, and it did this?"
If he released all of it…
Just thinking about it sent chills down his spine.
"…I should talk to Zhongli."
"With a mess this big, there's no way he didn't notice."
A Truth Long Known
Back at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, Hu Tao was nowhere to be seen.
Instead, Zhongli stood quietly in the hall, as if he had been waiting all along.
Looking at Cael, he spoke calmly:
"Since you came to find me, that means you've already realized something."
Cael nodded seriously.
"Yes, Mr. Zhongli.
…No—Morax."
Zhongli gave a slight nod.
"Since you have guessed my identity, then by the contract you made with me five hundred years ago, I may now tell you the truth."
"Five hundred years ago…"
"…So that means—"
"It seems you've already pieced most of it together," Zhongli said slowly.
"In that case, I will speak plainly."
"Cael—you are the Dark Demon God, Agarest."
Even though he had prepared himself, the confirmation still hit like a hammer.
So it was true.
He had arrived in this world six thousand years ago.
What he was now was merely a reset version of himself.
"I will keep this secret from the Director," Zhongli continued.
"You and I were born in the same era.
You were my longest-standing companion. Liyue would not be what it is today without your contributions."
"You never signed a contract to eternally protect Liyue. At any point in those six thousand years, you could have left."
"But you never did."
"If you had not fallen, there may have been Eight Archons, not Seven."
"And your revival now…"
"…may be tied to the plan you made with the Tsaritsa."
That phrase caught Cael immediately.
"My plan… with the Tsaritsa?"
"What was it?"
Zhongli shook his head.
"Only you and the Tsaritsa knew.
You told me that if you traveled with 'that one', you would eventually find the answer."
"As for who 'that one' is—I do not know."
Cael thought for a moment, then smiled.
"…I think I know who you meant."
Zhongli paused—then laughed softly.
"As expected of you."
He turned to leave, then suddenly stopped and looked back with absolute seriousness.
"Old friend.
Please remember to pay my bill."
Cael:
"…Was one million Mora really not enough for a single week?!"
Before the Performance
Tomorrow was the day Cael would perform onstage with Yun Jin, and Hu Tao treated the night before with extreme importance.
She followed him like a shadow.
"My dear Hu Tao," Cael sighed, "you don't need to follow me into my room. I'm not going to get into trouble."
"Better safe than sorry!" she replied confidently.
"If something happens, that'd be a disaster!"
She moved to follow him inside.
"Stop right there!" Cael pressed a hand against her forehead.
"Men's bedrooms are off-limits."
"But you went into my room before!" Hu Tao protested.
"Fairness and justice!"
He sighed and let her in.
"Yay!"
She immediately began inspecting everything.
"So this is your room? Pretty ordinary…"
Then she crouched and reached under the bed.
Nothing.
Cael watched helplessly.
"…What are you doing?"
"Why don't you have those books under your bed?" she asked seriously.
Apparently, she had learned this "fact" from Yanfei.
Cael's face darkened.
"So, Hu Tao," he said flatly, "are you planning to sleep here? I'm about to go to bed."
"Eh?! Already?!"
She tiptoed to the bookshelf, trying—and failing—to reach the top.
"…I'm worried about her intelligence," Cael muttered.
"Hu Tao. Last warning. Are you leaving?"
She pouted, then suddenly flushed red and hurried out.
"…She's actually pretty cute," he muttered as the door closed.
Outside, Hu Tao's face burned.
Only then did it hit her—
She'd barged into a man's bedroom…
…and searched for adult books right in front of him.
When he asked about sleeping together, she had almost nodded.
"…This is so embarrassing!!"
Consciousness Space
Late at night, while the world slept, Cael's consciousness drifted elsewhere.
A dark, empty space.
"…Is this a dream?"
"No," a voice answered.
"This is your consciousness space."
Cael jumped.
The voice sounded exactly like his.
Before him stood a man identical in appearance—but far different in presence.
Where Cael was youthful, this man was calm, ancient, and composed.
"You're… me?"
"Correct," the other said calmly.
"I am you—from five hundred years ago."
"Since I've appeared, you already know who you are."
"Ask. I'll answer."
Cael narrowed his eyes.
"…Did you build a harem?"
"Halfway."
"…Pathetic. Six thousand years and you couldn't even finish one."
"Well—our emotional intelligence tends to start fires," the older version muttered awkwardly.
"…Fair."
Then Cael grew serious.
"What's the upper limit of Dark element power?"
"Can it kill the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles?"
The older Cael smiled faintly.
"No limit."
"Yes—absolutely."
"I failed only because a branch from another world interfered. At the time, I wasn't strong enough to oppose It."
"Someone… from beyond Teyvat?"
"Correct."
"One last question. What is our plan with the Tsaritsa?"
The older Cael smiled.
"You already know."
"You are me. I am you."
"Think the way you think—and you'll find the answer."
"Our time is up."
"This consciousness was left behind five hundred years ago."
"Memories and power—
You must reclaim them yourself."
Cael scowled.
"Being a riddler is fun to you, isn't it?"
"Extremely," the other laughed.
"You'll grow to love it too."
"…Damn it."
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