Check out my new translation!
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"Mr. Victor, there's a letter for you. It was sent from Fontaine to Mondstadt, then forwarded here. I'm really glad we managed to find you."
Because of certain people who never have a fixed place to live, some letters end up requiring Adventurer's Guild commissions just to locate the recipient. And because certain Katheryne bodies are spread across all seven nations—and somehow capable of near-instant communication—these letters are sometimes delivered by Katheryne herself.
That was exactly the case with the letter in Victor Wang's hand.
A letter from Fontaine, sealed in an ornate envelope, the wax stamped with the insignia of the Opéra Épiclèse. There was no need to open it to guess the sender, but if he wanted to know the contents, he still had to break the seal.
After sending Katheryne off, Victor Wang read the letter carefully.
Unlike the thick stack of printed contracts he received last time, this envelope held only a single sheet—handwritten in Furina's luxurious script refined over five hundred years—containing a request.
The general meaning of the letter was this: Since last year's The Merchant of Fontaine, the Opéra Épiclèse had been eagerly awaiting another trend-setting play from Dust. But unfortunately, there had been no such signs this past year—not even any new plays. They hoped Dust would continue working hard, and if he produced another strong piece, the Opéra Épiclèse would gladly sign another contract, even making it their New Year's feature again.
In other words… a reminder to submit a new work.
It seemed his early infiltration of the Fontaine market had been extremely successful—and must be continued.
Victor Wang temporarily adjusted his training plans for the next few days, spent some time writing, and then drafted a reply.
"To Lady Furina:
I can't write another script that fits the Opéra Épiclèse as perfectly as The Merchant of Fontaine in such a short time. After all, that play's inspiration was born from the shipwreck during Liyue Harbor's Archon invasion, and we can't exactly wish for such terrible events to happen.
If you don't mind me breaking apart the 'justice comedy,' I still have two works ready—one of 'justice,' and one of 'comedy.'
Feel free to pick whichever you like. If you don't like either, that's fine as well. But since, for the sake of confidentiality, I've sent you the unpublished manuscripts directly, I must ask you to help contact a publisher and have both works printed.
My pen name—you should already know. My account information? Now you know that too. I express my thanks here.
Oh, right. I've also sent one more piece. Judging from the thickness, you can tell it's not a play—it's a detective novel. After thinking it over, I decided Fontaine's atmosphere suits it best, so I'll trouble you with that one as well.
When I eventually arrive in Fontaine, I'll be sure to thank you in person."
After checking the contents one last time, Victor Wang mailed it to Fontaine. Along with the reply, he sent three books: Hamlet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and Sherlock Holmes.
Days passed, but no reply came. There was no news of publication either. Victor Wang wondered whether Furina had realized she was being used as a courier—and gotten offended.
But Victor Wang wasn't worried. Agitating Furina was like kicking cotton—nothing really stuck.
And as the end of the year drew near, the already-bustling Liyue Harbor grew even livelier.
"Did you hear? This year's Lantern Rite is focusing on fireworks! The Ministry of Civil Affairs even organized a full fireworks show!"
"Don't we have fireworks every year? Why are you… this excited?" Chongyun felt a bad premonition.
"Listen to me!"
Hu Tao slammed both hands on the table and stood up with a whoosh. Her gaze swept across Xingqiu, Chongyun, Xiangling, Shenhe, and Victor Wang with the authority of someone about to lecture a nation:
"Fireworks evolved from gunpowder, which was originally used by our Liyue ancestors to make firecrackers. But what I care about isn't fireworks—it's firecrackers.
"Firecrackers create blinding flashes and loud bangs. They can scare off dangerous beasts and send signals… ahem. Fine, what I really care about isn't even firecrackers—it's beasts.
"I read in an ancient text that every New Year, a creature called 'Xi' appears in Liyue. 'Xi' is powerful and harms humans, but it's afraid of firecrackers!"
"Stop!" Xingqiu cut off her nonstop speech. "I just want to ask—why does it only appear in Liyue? Do the other six nations not set off firecrackers?"
"You're being too literal! Besides, doesn't this perfectly match the theme of this year's Lantern Rite? Think about it—our 'Liyue Exploration Team' went searching for the beast 'You' during last year's Lantern Rite. By tradition, we have to look for a new beast this year too. And I think 'Xi' is perfect!"
"Wait!" Chongyun sounded the alarm. "No matter how you count it, we only searched once last year. How did that become a tradition?"
"Well, traditions need a beginning, don't they? As long as we keep doing it every year, it'll eventually become one!"
"Can we choose not to keep doing it…"
"Mm-hmm? Don't tell me you've lost your motivation for exploration?"
"…Why did it suddenly turn into that?"
Chongyun looked to Xingqiu. Xingqiu answered, "Exorcising demons and slaying monsters is an act of chivalry. I approve."
Chongyun looked to Xiangling. Xiangling said, "I've never skipped a team activity."
Chongyun looked to Victor Wang. Hu Tao looked too. Victor Wang immediately averted his gaze. "I'm just here to eat. Total passerby."
Hu Tao pressed, "You're really not coming?"
"That's your exploration team's activity, not mine."
"We can change it to the Bubblegum Squad. Or we can form a 'New Year's Eve Squad' on the spot—anything works."
"Ahem. I still need to practice swordsmanship."
"Tch. Then what about Shenhe?"
"If Xiangling goes, I need to help Chef Mao here. If Xiangling doesn't go, then I'd like to accompany Victor and help with sword practice."
Hu Tao shook her head in frustration. "Then what about Lumine?"
Victor explained, "Lumine's busy making money. The more initial capital she has, the more she'll earn after investments."
"Ah, what a pity… Fine then, looks like it's just the four of us. Let's head out now!"
The exploration team searched tirelessly for five days—and found absolutely nothing.
Convinced they had the wrong timing, Hu Tao insisted on leading another expedition into the wilderness on New Year's Eve—the first day of the Lantern Rite—to look for traces of 'Xi.'
To avoid clashing with the release of Xiao Lanterns, the fireworks show organized by the Ministry of Civil Affairs was scheduled precisely for New Year's Eve—the first day and the last day of the Lantern Rite, respectively.
So the four of them couldn't watch the fireworks together. Even Zhongli had gone to Jueyun Karst to gather with his old friends. Only Shenhe, Lumine, and Paimon remained to accompany Victor Wang.
For New Year's, it really didn't feel lively enough…
Just as Victor Wang was thinking this, he unexpectedly spotted someone in the crowd who shouldn't have been here at all.
"Isn't that Yoimiya?"
Paimon spotted her first. They hurried over—and indeed, it was Yoimiya.
"This is Liyue's Lantern Rite fireworks show, right? No lanterns—just fireworks! Ever since I was born, this is the first time I've even heard of such a thing, so I rushed right over! Good thing I made it!"
Victor thought it was lucky enough to run into Yoimiya. But after a few more steps, Paimon rubbed her eyes—then gasped again: "Kaeya? Amber! Klee?! What are you all doing here?!"
Hearing her voice, Kaeya turned his head—and immediately tried to turn it back.
"Agh, don't mention it… I accidentally ruined Klee's plan to 'play' in Liyue earlier, so since we happened to run into the Lantern Rite fireworks show, I brought her here as compensation."
"And me! Acting Grand Master Jean didn't trust Kaeya and Klee coming alone, so she assigned me to watch them. With Scout Knight Amber here, I guarantee there won't be any accidental explosions!"
"Just watch Kaeya! This has nothing to do with Klee!"
And just like that, an unexpectedly eclectic New Year's Eve group formed.
When they reached Heyu Tea House, Victor Wang noticed Zhongli and several adepti sitting inside—drinking tea and listening to opera…
When midnight arrived, the Lantern Rite officially began, and the fireworks show commenced. The exploration team returned right on time.
Hu Tao proudly announced to the listeners, "So the 'Xi' we've been looking for is actually just remnants of the Archon's power. They usually hide underground beneath Liyue, and during the Lantern Rite, they're drawn to the lively human celebrations. But the concentrated warmth of the crowds repels them—they can't get near places full of light and heat, so they can only move around in the dark mountains."
Xiangling muttered, "Whatever it is, at least we found it. Otherwise, I'd be bothered for the rest of the year."
Xingqiu and Chongyun nodded in complete agreement.
Hu Tao, of course, had no such awareness, and proudly added, "We tested it too—firecrackers don't deal extra damage to it. You still need real combat! But lively human energy really does suppress 'Xi.' So, in short—"
"Happy New Year, everyone!"