"Barbara?" Rosaria folded her arms and thought for a moment. "She should be with the choir right now. Why, you looking for her?"
"Yes. Could you take me there? I don't know where the Cathedral's choir room is."
Nolan nodded as he spoke.
"Fine, follow me." Rosaria answered with her usual indifference.
"Hehe, thanks a lot!"
Following behind her, Nolan expressed his gratitude.
Rosaria slowed her steps slightly, as if something had come to mind, then added:
"If you really want to thank me, why not help me out this afternoon?"
"Oh? What kind of help?" Nolan looked at her with curiosity.
"The Church is preparing a pilgrimage event in a few days, to promote faith in the Anemo Archon. I need to scout the pilgrimage sites ahead of time, to make sure there aren't monsters or other dangers nearby.
"If there are, I'll have to clear them out… which sounds like a pain. If possible, just carry me with your Anemo power, fly me around the sites. That'd save a lot of travel time—sooner done, sooner I can finish my shift."
Rosaria explained simply.
"I see. That's easy. I'll help." Nolan grinned and nodded.
"…Mm."
Rosaria gave a quiet nod of thanks.
[Rosaria Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You, Obtained 320 Affection Points. Current Affection Level: Lv.5 (230/500)]
Seeing the notification on his panel, Nolan felt quietly pleased.
Before long, the two of them reached a room along the cathedral corridor. From inside came the faint harmony of hymns.
"Barbara's in there. Go on in yourself. I'm heading back to duty. Remember to find me this afternoon."
Rosaria's voice was calm, without much inflection.
"Of course I won't forget." Nolan thumped his chest.
Rosaria gave a slight nod, turned, and walked away, her black fishnet tights shifting as she moved.
Nolan waited a short while, listening as the voices inside gradually fell silent. Then he knocked on the door.
Soon, a nun opened it. She looked at him with mild surprise.
"You're the Honorary Knight, aren't you? What business brings you here?"
As the Honorary Knight, the hero who helped drive off Stormterror, Nolan's name was well known throughout Mondstadt.
Especially among the Knights of Favonius and the sisters of the Church—none of them could fail to recognize him.
"Yes. Hello, Sister. I came to see Miss Barbara."
Nolan smiled warmly as he answered.
"Alright, please wait a moment."
Barbara's sweet voice had earned her countless admirers—she was Mondstadt's idol. If an ordinary fan came asking to see her, they would rarely be allowed; after all, that would only disturb her life for the sake of a glance or a few words.
It could even interfere with the Church's work.
So when random visitors came sniffing around the Cathedral without good reason, the nuns would normally turn them away.
But Nolan was different.
He was the Honorary Knight, one of Mondstadt's saviors—if he had come to find Barbara, it must surely be for something important. There was no reason to delay him.
"Thank you, I appreciate it," Nolan said politely to the sister.
Less than a minute later, Barbara appeared. She wore a white priest's cap, her light-golden hair tied into naturally curled twin-tails.
Her white dress with dark-blue lace swayed at the hem, while her legs were wrapped in white tights patterned with flower petals.
"Mr. Honorary Knight, what brings you here?"
Barbara's fair face lit up with pleasant surprise.
Seeing that no one else was nearby, Nolan gently took her soft hand and leaned in close, whispering into her ear with a smile:
"Would you like to live with me? Noelle and Captain Jean are there too."
He explained briefly about Wonderland.
"Mm—Mr. Honorary Knight, you're way too much of a flirt!" Barbara pouted unhappily, hearing that he was involved with so many girls, Jean included.
Unobservable Barrier spread outward as Nolan pulled Barbara into his arms and kissed her lips.
The press of his lips made Barbara's cheeks burn crimson. She instinctively pressed against his face, pushing his head back.
"Uu—don't be so sudden! Mr. Honorary Knight, you're awful!"
After saying that, she buried her face in his chest, too shy to look up.
"Well? Will you come live with me? That way you'll see me every day, and Captain Jean, and your good friend Noelle too."
He coaxed her enticingly.
"I—I'll have to think about it," Barbara admitted softly, though expectation stirred in her heart.
"Alright, take your time."
Nolan didn't let go, kissing her cheek slowly, as if he wouldn't release her until she agreed.
"Mr. Honorary Knight, you're so shameless… hmph!"
Face scarlet, Barbara had no choice but to nod in agreement.
"Then it's settled. When you finish work tonight, I'll come and take you to my place." Nolan kissed her soft earlobe with a grin.
"…Mm."
Barbara covered her flushed cheeks and responded faintly.
Having secured her consent, Nolan refrained from further intimacy. Better to let her recover, otherwise the sisters might notice something unusual when she returned.
With Barbara's shy nature, she'd hardly know how to handle it.
After making arrangements with her, Nolan left the Cathedral for the time being, returning to Wonderland.
After all, Barbara still had her church duties; even if she moved, it wouldn't be until after her shift.
Since he had promised Rosaria a small favor in the afternoon, but had no immediate tasks now, Nolan returned to the cosmic beast's stomach to check on things.
The wall he'd smashed open with meteors had almost fully healed. If he struck a different spot with smaller meteors, it likely wouldn't alert the beast.
That meant fewer insects might appear at once, but the advantage was sustainability—and far less chance of being discovered.
Just as well—he now had several new sword techniques to practice, and the insects made perfect sparring partners to accelerate his progress.
Practical combat was always more effective than drilling alone.
And indeed, it proved true.
Once Nolan deliberately began fighting the insects using his sword arts, every one of his sword techniques advanced rapidly!
(End of Chapter)
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