The way Kamisato Satoru had fought was practically even more brutal than the monsters themselves. If he were truly allowed to cut loose, Dvalin’s bones might be beaten apart before the dragon ever regained its senses.
Until they found a way to eliminate the curse at its source, simply suppressing Dvalin through violence wouldn’t solve the actual problem.
"All right, then. You guys can keep discussing it. I won’t butt in."
Kamisato Satoru shrugged indifferently and casually withdrew from the serious strategic discussion.
Jean could only sigh helplessly before explaining the plan she’d arrived at after careful consideration. She intended to send people to clear out three abandoned temples in order to stabilize the disrupted flow of the Ley Lines.
As the ever-helpful Traveler, Lumine volunteered to join the operation almost without hesitation, dragging Kamisato Ayaka along with her.
"I’ll pass. A few ruined temples occupied by Hilichurls don’t sound particularly interesting."
Kamisato Satoru waved a hand and turned toward the door, clearly unwilling to waste his time inside some dark, damp ruins.
"Mm!"
No one present had any objections.
After all, everyone had personally witnessed Kamisato Satoru’s terrifying combat strength. He had already demonstrated power on the level of a god’s familiar.
Afterward, Lisa, Amber, and Kaeya each accepted an assignment and split up, taking Lumine and Kamisato Ayaka toward the three ancient temple ruins.
"What a headache, Acting Grand Master Jean. If the people of Mondstadt find out that the Stormterror causing all this chaos is actually Dvalin, public opinion is going to explode."
If everyone learned that their former protector had become their destroyer, the collapse of that trust would be the hardest damage to repair.
Even if the people of Mondstadt revered the Anemo Archon almost blindly, the casualties and losses they’d suffered were painfully real. They couldn’t simply be brushed aside.
At present, assigning three major members of the Knights to the front lines was already the limit of what they could spare. If Jean left the city as well, Mondstadt’s already-fragile order might descend into even greater chaos.
"Yes... That’s the part giving me the biggest headache right now."
Jean sighed helplessly. She could already imagine just how severe the consequences would be if the truth became public.
"If you ask me, you might as well be completely upfront about it. Tell everyone exactly what’s really going on. Things might actually improve that way."
Kamisato Satoru pushed open the door as he casually offered one final suggestion.
"Yes... Perhaps that’s our only choice."
"Acting Grand Master Jean, I’ll be staying at Eula’s place for the time being. If you run into any trouble you can’t handle, feel free to send someone there to find me."
With that, Kamisato Satoru’s tall figure disappeared through the doorway as he left the office.
Tap, tap, tap—!
Bump!
"Ow!"
Before Kamisato Satoru could fully close the heavy office door, a reckless little figure came charging over and ran straight into him before landing on her bottom.
"Ugh..."
Notebooks and parchment scrolls scattered messily across the floor.
The little girl dressed in red rubbed her aching forehead, her eyes glistening as though the collision had hurt quite a bit.
Given Kamisato Satoru’s height and build, he hadn’t moved an inch. He lowered his head curiously and studied the small red figure who had suddenly barged into his path.
The child was like a tiny sun.
A red beret sat atop her head, while a single stray lock of hair tilted to one side amid her short, pale-blonde hair.
Her porcelain-doll-like face was framed by large eyes, and long, pointed elven ears peeked through her hair, making her look both lively and adorable.
Her finely made red-and-white dress swayed gently as she moved, and a gleaming Vision hung from the small brown backpack on her back.
Four-leaf clover motifs symbolizing good luck could be seen everywhere, decorating her skirt, backpack, and hat.
By this point, Kamisato Satoru was already certain of her identity.
This had to be Mondstadt’s famous little Klee.
"Klee! Were you planning to sneak out of the city to go fish blasting again?!"
Since the door hadn’t closed yet, Jean heard the commotion and stepped outside to investigate.
The instant she saw what was happening, her voice shot up several octaves in a furious roar.
She was already at her wit’s end dealing with Stormterror. Seeing this little troublemaker breaking the rules again made her temples throb even harder.
"Um... Acting Grand Master Jean... Klee just thought the solitary confinement room was too stuffy, so Klee wanted to come out for a walk. Really! Just a walk."
A flicker of panic crossed Klee’s orange-red eyes as her tiny hands nervously clutched the hem of her skirt.
"Klee, have you forgotten that your solitary confinement isn’t over yet?!"
Jean was almost amused by sheer frustration.
With the dragon crisis still unresolved, danger lurked everywhere outside. Keeping Klee in solitary confinement right now was purely for her own safety.
"Klee will go right—"
"Huh?"
"Daddy! ╰(▽)╯"
Just as Klee lowered her head dejectedly and prepared to return to solitary confinement, she suddenly looked up and noticed the tall Kamisato Satoru.
First came a surprised little sound.
Then, with a delighted cheer, she threw herself straight into Kamisato Satoru’s arms.
"..."
In an instant, the corridor fell deathly silent.
It was almost as though countless speechless crows had flown over Kamisato Satoru’s and Jean’s heads.
Their expressions were astonishingly identical, filled with shock, bewilderment, and indescribable awkwardness.
Who am I?
Where am I?
What am I doing?
Deep within his soul, Kamisato Satoru asked himself the three existential questions.
He was only in his twenties at most and was still a single man. Forget having a wife—he’d never even had a proper girlfriend.
Yet somehow, he’d walked out the door today and a daughter this big had suddenly fallen out of the sky.
And to make matters even stranger, he couldn’t sense the slightest hint of any special blood connection between them.
"Um... little Klee, are you sure you’ve got the right parent? I’ve never even been married."
Utterly confused, Kamisato Satoru lifted the little bundle out of his arms and set her back on the floor.
Jean also gave him an extremely peculiar look.
Judging from Kamisato Satoru’s youthful appearance, he certainly didn’t look old enough to have a child Klee’s age. Besides, the two of them didn’t resemble each other at all.
"White hair, wears a blindfold, really tall... Everything Mommy said matches perfectly..."
As Klee counted the characteristics off on her fingers, several dark lines seemed to descend across Kamisato Satoru’s forehead.
"Wait a minute!"
Seeing that he didn’t believe her, Klee didn’t bother explaining further. She hurriedly took off her little backpack and began rummaging frantically through it.
One exquisitely crafted yet dangerously explosive Jumpy Dumpty after another was casually pulled from the bag.
As Jean watched, her expression grew darker and darker.
"Da-da-da-daaa! Found it!"
"It’s the Dodoco Communication Device!"
Klee triumphantly pulled a communicator shaped remarkably like a Jumpy Dumpty from the bottom of her bag.
Kamisato Satoru stared at the thing, momentarily unsure where he should even begin complaining.
"Dodoco—"
...
"Why, if it isn’t my adorable little Klee. Is there something urgent you need Mommy for?"
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