Diluc had watched Noelle's performance closely.
They were both Vision holders. Even though their elements were different, they both used claymores.
He couldn't help but comment, "That girl's got quite the strength."
"Hehe…"
Noelle let out an embarrassed little laugh.
"That's good. Keep it that way," Diluc said, offering rare guidance. "Don't chase sword techniques on purpose. Use your own strength to bring out Geo's heavy, steady nature. That's your advantage—don't throw it away."
"Huh?" Noelle froze. "I… don't need to pursue sword techniques? But the Knights…"
Diluc frowned slightly and glanced at Kaito. "You're taking her along, and you haven't taught her this?"
Kaito spread his hands. "We only just started, didn't we?"
"Tch."
Diluc clicked his tongue and fell silent, unwilling to waste more words.
He knew Kaito could use a claymore too.
And this guy could wield two elements—one of them Geo.
Even if Diluc didn't say it, Kaito would teach Noelle eventually.
"What Diluc means is: Geo's nature is defense and direct impact," Kaito explained. "For someone using a claymore, defense is attack."
"Your strength is naturally high. Stack defense, fight with big, sweeping movements—that's your path."
"As for sword techniques…"
A mischievous smile tugged at Kaito's lips. "When you used Sweeping Time just now, the weight of that blade dragged you along, didn't it?"
"…Yes." Noelle's cheeks reddened.
Her strength was great, but when she unleashed Sweeping Time, the blade was so long that once she swung, her center of gravity pulled outward—dragging her footing with it.
"In that situation, being able to hold on tight is already impressive," Kaito said. "Forget techniques. Sword techniques only matter when the blade moves like an extension of your arm."
"And Jean…" Kaito added bluntly, "she's always telling kids who admire the Knights nothing but encouraging words. Like handing out confidence boosts. It just makes people work themselves to exhaustion for no reason."
"When we get back, I'm going to tell her to reflect."
"… "
For a moment, silence fell.
Diluc thought Kaito's words made perfect sense.
Barbara weighed which side to defend, failed to come to a conclusion, and decided to pretend she hadn't heard anything.
Lumine already knew that when Kaito was around, Acting Grand Master Jean always seemed… oddly powerless.
Only Noelle looked genuinely conflicted. Jean had been her idol for as long as she could remember.
Her face flushed bright red. "But… Sweeping Time takes a long time to build up Geo energy for. Normally, I still need to practice my swordsmanship."
"When your strength improves, I'll get you a set of artifacts that speed up Geo energy absorption," Kaito said lightly. "Then you can keep Sweeping Time running."
The way he said it was downright domineering.
As if "a full set of artifacts" was just something he could casually hand out.
"N-no… that's too valuable…"
Artifacts weren't like pastries.
Noelle couldn't just make five or ten batches to repay him.
"Oh?" Diluc's interest flickered. "Then can you find a set that boosts Pyro power? I'll pay a premium."
"We'll talk later," Kaito said, cutting it off.
Because right now, he genuinely didn't have any particularly strong artifacts to spare.
When he did, they could revisit the topic.
"Come quick!"
Paimon dug a damaged chest out from beneath the rubble.
So that was why she'd gone quiet earlier.
She hadn't suddenly become well-behaved—
She'd been looting.
After hilichurls set up camps, they liked to gather things from nearby and hoard what they considered valuable.
Like Pyro Slimes.
They believed they could be thrown like weapons to cause explosions, so they'd captured them and kept them in water jars to "raise" them.
"This is… silver ore… a broken bow… a broken sword…"
Paimon tossed out what she deemed worthless, along with some "pretty" leaves and bits of grass.
Then her eyes lit up.
"Mora!"
A few hundred Mora lay at the bottom of the chest, gleaming faintly.
Paimon's eyes gleamed too. She stuffed the entire chest into her storage bag in one motion. "I'll keep it safe for everyone!"
"Tch." Diluc looked like he'd just witnessed a rare species of fool.
"Hey! Do you have a problem with that!?" Paimon snapped back.
The Mora was already in her bag. She wasn't afraid of him.
"I've seen fools," Diluc said flatly, "but I've never seen one this foolish."
He crouched, picked up two strands of grass that Paimon had thrown away—each one emitting a faint, pale-blue glow—and tossed them to Kaito.
"These two Small Lamp Grass stems are worth several times more than that broken chest of Mora," Diluc said.
"What!?"
Paimon was horrified.
She hurriedly flew over.
But Kaito had already put the Small Lamp Grass away. He smiled. "Next time we're in the city, I think you should buy a guidebook on Mondstadt specialties and learn a little."
Paimon stomped the air in rage.
Then she quickly scooped up all the "worthless" things she'd thrown out—silver ore, broken bow, broken sword, weeds, leaves—and shoved them back into her storage bag.
Afraid she'd missed something valuable again.
She decided that from now on, she would collect everything she could along the way—
And get it appraised once they returned to Mondstadt.
"Go fetch that scroll for me," Kaito said, pointing toward a spot in the ruins. "Next time we find something valuable, I'll cut you in."
"This?" Paimon picked it up and asked, confused.
It was a samachurl's scroll dropped by the hilichurl. The resistance of its power against Diluc's flames had already dissipated, but the remaining symbols and writing were still useful.
As for the torn hilichurl masks… Kaito couldn't be bothered. Adventurers sold piles of those in the marketplace.
He took the scroll and tucked it away. "Let's go. Tonight we'll reach the campsite merchants usually use in Whispering Woods and sleep there."
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