So This Is What a Popular Idol Is Like?!**
Two delighted smiles bloomed simultaneously on the adorable faces of the two girls who greeted him.
Catching the small figure of Klee as she leaped into his arms, Lory gently held her and looked around the chaotic scene with surprise.
And when his gaze fell on Bennett, the situation instantly became clear—no explanation needed.
This unlucky kid had clearly stumbled into another accident, got hurt, and dragged himself here for healing again.
And judging by Klee's guilty expression…
The explosion was probably her fault… again.
"Mr. Lory, did you come here for something today?"
Barbara politely stepped forward, temporarily ignoring the freshly healed Bennett.
"Nothing special. Can't I come visit Mondstadt's cutest, most popular idol?"
Lory teased lightly as he appraised the pure and adorable young deaconess.
Unlike her older sister Jean—composed and serious—Barbara radiated youthful charm.
Her soft, light-gold curls tied into twin tails, her white priest's hat perched neatly atop her head.
Her Favonius deaconess dress—white, blue, trimmed with lace—paired with floral-patterned white tights that emphasized her slender calves.
The large blue-and-white ribbon on her chest added a sweet, girlish vibrance.
Her grey-blue eyes sparkled like bubbles of joy rising in clear water.
Being praised was nothing new for her, but when he did it—
Barbara lowered her head, cheeks pink.
"T–That's not true…"
"Anyway, let's head inside first."
Seeing this, Bennett quietly abandoned his plan to invite Klee for another treasure hunt.
He waved and excused himself.
"Uh—I'll leave you to it then! See you later, Mr. Lory, Klee, Barbara!"
Without even wiping the dried blood off his face, the boy marched off toward the Adventurers' Guild, full of confidence.
Once Bennett left, Lory entered the cathedral with Barbara while the crowd slowly dispersed.
Barbara led him through the great hall and into the private rest area for the sisters—a place where ordinary people were forbidden.
But for Mr. Lory… exceptions were made.
And she had been careful not to let others see her escorting him here.
Once inside, she flopped onto her small single bed with a soft groan.
"Uuuu…"
Like a lazy kitten stretching, the young priestess melted into the mattress—
until she realized Lory was watching her with an amused smile.
She panicked, jerked upright, and sat primly.
Her small hands—used mainly for holding microphones, not weapons—fidgeted nervously.
She turned her head slightly, unwilling to let him see her flustered expression.
Knowing she embarrassed easily, Lory did not tease her further.
"Still getting used to the rings?"
"Mhm! They're amazing! My healing has gotten sooo much better lately! 'The Smile of the Saint' really is the perfect name!"
Barbara lit up instantly, her shyness evaporating as she excitedly praised the birthday gift he had given her.
According to him, these rings were ancient relics—capable of healing any injury, scaling with the user's abilities, and even allowing remote healing as mastery improved.
"And they're beautiful too! Sister Grace, Sister Victoria, Sister Jilliana—they were all so jealous."
She stretched her soft, pale hands toward him, proudly displaying the rings.
She wasn't showing off out of vanity—
but because they were from him.
Even Klee blinked wide-eyed.
"Barbara's rings are so pretty!"
"Hehe, I'll treasure them for my whole life!"
"I'm glad you like them—"
Lory froze mid-sentence.
Because Barbara had placed the rings on her ring fingers.
On both hands.
"Ah—!"
She only realized the embarrassing implication after he noticed.
With a squeak, she yanked her hands behind her back as if burned, her face glowing red.
Lory cleared his throat, politely pretending not to notice, and shifted the topic.
"Anyway, I came today to return something. Recently, the Fatui manipulated the Stormterror incident and even stole the original Skyward Lyre, replacing it with a fake. But their plan failed, and I recovered the real one. I'm returning it to its rightful place."
The explanation sounded outrageous, but Barbara didn't doubt him—
not after everything that had happened in Mondstadt.
And the real Skyward Lyre was in his hands right now.
He simply needed a reasonable pretext to hand it back.
Klee puffed up angrily.
"Those Abyss guys were mean! They even stole the treasure I buried in the grass last time!"
Lory resisted the urge to comment that her "treasure" could probably level a Fatui camp.
To prove his words, Lory summoned the true Skyward Lyre.
Barbara inhaled sharply.
That ancient aura
the pure Anemo resonance
there was no mistaking it.
"T–This… the real Skyward Lyre…!"
She trembled, overwhelmed, and clutched the sacred instrument reverently.
Without hesitation, she excused herself.
"I need to go confirm the condition of the sanctuary! Please wait here a moment!"
She hurried out, leaving Lory seated on her bed—faintly scented with her fragrance.
He glanced around the room.
No pink, frilly idol chamber—
Instead, walls covered in motivational notes, idol principles, and self-discipline reminders.
Large posters of herself hung here and there.
Everything seemed normal…
Until Lory noticed a soft, plushy bulge beneath the blanket.
He casually lifted the fabric—
and froze.
Staring back at him was a full-body pillow…
printed with his own life-sized image.
He silently lowered the blanket back into place.
And pretended he saw absolutely nothing.