The Serenitea Pot could be called Teyvat's greatest invention. It's basically carrying a home with you wherever you go—no need for tents or backpacks anymore.
Once you enter the Serenitea Pot, nobody outside can see what's happening inside, no matter what you do.
"Lumine, are we going to see the Captain?"
"Yeah. The Captain is seriously insane. I'd heard the Fatui had Harbingers with Demon God-level combat power, but seeing it for real… I couldn't help being shocked," Lumine sighed.
Even though he still couldn't beat the Pyro Archon, he could trade blows back and forth. Ordinary people couldn't do that.
"He's even going to call you 'Your Highness, Princess,'" Koji said.
"The Captain is from Khaenri'ah?" Lumine asked, surprised.
Not many people would address her like that—basically only those connected to Khaenri'ah or the Abyss Order.
"The Captain really is from Khaenri'ah. Because of the curse of immortality, he managed to live until now," Koji said.
"Is it like Dain…?" Lumine asked.
After all, the Captain didn't look like some kind of monster—he kept a human form, and after waking up he looks fully intact.
"Dain's situation is… special," Koji said. He hadn't met Dain himself.
Among the people who split up the Abyss's power, only Dain remained. As for the five sinners, they left Khaenri'ah—perhaps they were never cursed by Ronova, the Ruler of Death, because the Abyssal power kept them from aging or dying.
Dain didn't leave Khaenri'ah with those five. He was probably struck by an immortality curse… though it was also possible the Abyss's power played a role.
The power of the Abyss—so long as you can control it, rather than be controlled by it—raises the level of your very existence. Extending lifespan is just the tiniest, most insignificant side effect.
…
"Lord Aotian, Traveler."
When the Fatui soldiers saw Koji and Lumine, they saluted with great respect.
"You've come. Earlier, the timing wasn't appropriate. Given my original identity, I should address you as: Your Highness, Princess," the Captain said as he looked at Lumine, calm as ever.
He was born of Khaenri'ah; by rights, he should call Lumine "Your Highness, Princess."
Back in Snezhnaya, and then at Natlan's arena, neither was the right moment.
"You can skip the 'Your Highness, Princess' thing. Captain, you can just call me Lumine, or call me 'Traveler~,'" Lumine shook her head.
She honestly had no impression of the people of Khaenri'ah.
The Captain knew her, but she really wasn't familiar with him at all.
"Fine. Then 'Traveler,'" the Captain nodded.
"Captain, did you win that fight against the Pyro Archon?" Koji asked with a smile.
Just how did the Captain train to become that strong?
"I did. But it wasn't satisfying," the Captain said with some regret.
Compared to his peak, his condition had declined a lot—and the Pyro Archon, Mavuika, hadn't been able to go all-out either.
If he'd fought the Pyro Archon five hundred years ago, it would've been truly exhilarating.
"Captain, do you know a lot about my brother?" Lumine asked.
"His Highness, the Prince… The last time I saw him was many years ago. What he carries is very heavy."
The Captain spoke with emotion. Though Khaenri'ah had already fallen, Aether hadn't let go—he always wanted to do something for Khaenri'ah.
"What your brother wants to do is restore the nation."
"Can he actually do it?" Lumine asked.
Her brother had never explained the details of what he was doing. She only knew it was related to Khaenri'ah.
Along this journey, she'd learned many things. When Khaenri'ah was destroyed, those who didn't die all became hilichurls—unless that kind of curse could be reversed.
"His Highness, the Prince, must have a direction in mind—or he wouldn't be doing it," the Captain said.
He hadn't gone to help, not because he hated his former homeland, but because he had other pursuits.
"Captain, do you know those major sinners—Surtalogi and the others?" Koji asked.
The Captain's voice turned cold. "Of course I know them. Khaenri'ah reaching the point of destruction… how could it not have involved their interference?"
Those people were elites in their respective fields within Khaenri'ah.
They jointly split the Abyss's power, yet at the moment of life and death, not one of them stepped forward to stop the world-ending disaster.
If even one of them had acted, there was a high chance Khaenri'ah might've seen some kind of turning point.
But they didn't. They chose to watch coldly from the sidelines. The title "sinners" suited them perfectly.
The Captain nodded. "I don't know much, but it should be like that."
"Ugh, they're seriously disgusting," Lumine said indignantly.
They split Aether's power, and then didn't help with anything—absolute scum.
"Lumine, one of the five sinners—Gold, Rhinedottir—devoured the Ruler of Life. She's the Ruler of Life now," Koji said.
Koji also wanted to know what exactly happened—whether it was purely for power, or if there was another purpose.
"G-Gold… the Ruler of Life…" the Captain was surprised.
Even he hadn't known this. The Four Shadows of the Heavenly Principles were far too mysterious; almost no one had ever seen them with their own eyes.
"Don't underestimate Gold. Her alchemy has reached the absolute summit. Those Abyss monsters are all connected to her," the Captain warned.
Especially now that Rhinedottir had devoured the Rhinedottir who held the Authority of Life—her alchemical genius would definitely rise to an even higher level.
"I'm not underestimating her. No matter how strong she is, I won't be calling in outside help," Lumine said, looping her arm around Koji's.
Even if all five sinners came at once, she wouldn't panic—she'd just shove Koji in front to block.
If even Koji couldn't win, then that meant she'd reached her limit.
The Captain didn't comment. Besides, he had no chance to meet them anyway. Here in Natlan, he was already at his final stop.
"Captain, no regrets?" Koji asked, looking at the Captain's heart with a meaningful gaze.
The Captain chuckled softly. "What is there to regret? They were all heroes. Letting them become homeless souls… I couldn't live with that."
He knew what Koji was referring to. Even though it burdened him heavily, he hadn't regretted it for a single moment.
Since they had nowhere to return, then his place would be their temporary shelter—somewhere to shield them from wind and rain.
"Admirable—the upright and courageous Captain!" Koji said sincerely.
If anyone else said that, it would sound fake. But when the Captain said those words himself, it meant it truly was so. That was reputation.
Within the Fatui, the Captain's standing was something no other Harbinger could compare to. Beyond his terrifying strength, he possessed incomparable personal charisma.
So this time, you're not going to sit over there—Ronova is on his side.
He'd heard that kind of praise many times and remained unmoved. He didn't care much about outsiders' evaluations.
(End of Chapter)
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