Chapter 35 — Why Not Use Klee?
"Master Diluc!"
Jean's voice trembled slightly — not from fear, but from unease. She shot a quick glance at Kael, her expression awkward.
It wasn't ideal to air Mondstadt's internal affairs in front of an outsider. The Knights of Favonius had their flaws, but hearing Diluc's sharp criticism spoken so bluntly — especially before a foreign guest — stung her pride as Acting Grand Master.
Diluc, however, didn't seem to care.
He folded his arms, his crimson eyes cold and sharp as blades.
"Hmph." His gaze slid to Kael. "I'm curious — why share this information with Jean? Logically speaking, the worse Mondstadt's situation becomes, the greater the advantage for the Fatui."
He leaned forward slightly. "And you… seem to have a good relationship with Tartaglia, one of the Eleven Harbingers."
Jean's expression shifted subtly. Kael has ties to a Fatui executive?
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A Man Between Worlds
Kael merely smiled, unbothered by the suspicion.
"This is simply a matter of duty," he said calmly. "I serve as an advisor to Lady Ningguang of the Liyue Qixing. Tartaglia wanted to learn about me — just as I wanted to learn about him. Our relationship is nothing more than an exchange of information."
His tone was steady, confident — every word believable.
Jean and Diluc exchanged a silent glance. His explanation sounded reasonable enough.
Still, Diluc didn't relax.
"The Fatui are not to be trusted," he said flatly, his voice edged with disdain. "The more you deal with them, the deeper their claws sink into you."
Kael chuckled softly. "Oh, I'm well aware. They're dangerous — far more than most realize. I've heard that the top three Harbingers possess power rivaling the Archons themselves. If one of them decided to target me…"
He spread his hands, smiling faintly. "Let's just say I'd be in trouble."
Of course, this was pure performance.
In truth, Kael's strength already exceeded that of any Archon. Even if the Cryo Archon herself stood before him, he wouldn't feel threatened.
But for now, hiding that truth was wiser.
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Shadows of the Past
Jean and Diluc both fell silent, the atmosphere heavy with unspoken memories.
The Doctor, Il Dottore of the Fatui, had once come to Mondstadt. His presence alone had been enough to plunge the city into terror. And without their Archon to defend them, Mondstadt had been powerless to resist him.
That shame still haunted both of them.
"Hmph." Diluc finally exhaled sharply, his tone cooling. "I'll investigate the Four Winds Temples personally. You'll have my report by morning."
Without another word, he stood and left, the crimson of his coat flickering like firelight as he disappeared through the tavern door.
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A Knight's Burden
Jean sighed, rubbing her temple. "Forgive him," she said quietly. "He has a personal grudge against the Fatui. His father's death… changed him."
Kael leaned back, his golden eyes thoughtful. "It's fine. I respect his conviction. The Fatui don't seem to have many friends anyway."
He paused, then added, "My own investigation has uncovered something disturbing. The Fatui have been instigating wars across Teyvat — creating orphans in every nation and raising them to become loyal soldiers."
Jean froze, her expression darkening.
She'd long suspected as much, but hearing it spoken aloud sent a chill down her spine.
At one point, Mondstadt had nearly become a base of operations for the Fatui. It was a humiliation that still lingered.
And through it all… where had their Archon been?
Where are you, Lord Barbatos?
If Venti had been present in full strength, such things would never have been allowed to happen.
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A Small Kindness
Moments after Diluc's departure, Charles, the bartender, entered the room carrying a tray of freshly made dishes.
"Acting Grand Master, Sir Kael," he greeted with a polite nod. "The boss told me to serve you personally. He's covered your expenses for tonight."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "He has? Well, that's generous of him."
Jean smiled faintly, though she looked embarrassed. "That's… very like him. He may criticize me every chance he gets, but he still cares for Mondstadt — and for its people."
Charles placed two plates of Sweet Madame before them, the aroma of roasted fowl and sweet sauce filling the air.
"What would you like to drink?" he asked.
Jean answered immediately. "Black coffee, please."
"And I'll take a mug of apple cider," Kael added. "I've heard it's one of Mondstadt's specialties."
Charles nodded and left the room once more.
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Kael picked up his fork and tasted the dish. "Hmm. This is good," he said approvingly. "Almost on par with Wanmin Restaurant's finest."
Jean smiled softly. "Angel's Share might be a tavern, but their chefs are among Mondstadt's best. Diluc hires only the most skilled people."
Kael nodded. "He's a man of high standards — that much is clear."
Then, setting his fork down, his tone grew serious.
"The disturbances in the ley lines aren't random. I suspect the Abyss Order is involved. If that's true, Mondstadt could be in real danger."
Jean's smile faded instantly. "I was afraid of that," she admitted. "We've detected traces of Abyssal corruption near the Four Winds Temples. But if we move the Knights there, the city will be left undefended."
Kael folded his arms, his expression thoughtful. "Then perhaps it's time to call back Albedo. His strength would make a difference."
Jean nodded slowly. "Yes… you're right. If Albedo is here, he can at least stabilize the ley lines while we handle the crisis."
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The Spark Knight
After a moment of silence, Kael spoke again.
"There are monsters appearing all over the wilderness. Why not let the Spark Knight handle some of them?"
Jean's eyes widened. "Klee?"
Kael smiled innocently. "Of course. She's Mondstadt's strongest little demolition expert, isn't she?"
Jean nearly choked on her coffee. "Kael—!"
He blinked, pretending not to understand. "What? It's the perfect situation for her talents. Wide open spaces, enemies to blow up… she'd love it."
Jean sighed, rubbing her forehead. "You know about Klee, then?"
"Let's just say I know her mother," Kael replied casually. "Alice left quite the impression on me."
Jean's lips tightened. "That explains it. But still, I can't allow Klee to fight. Her power is… extreme. If she fought without restraint, Mondstadt's landscape might never recover."
Kael smirked. "That sounds impressive."
Jean frowned, exasperated. "I'm serious. If other nations learned how destructive she could be, they might see her as a weapon — not a child. And Klee is still so young. I won't let her face that kind of danger."
Kael leaned forward slightly, his voice gentle. "You'll make a great mother someday, Jean."
Jean nearly spilled her coffee. "M-Mother?!"
Her face turned crimson. "That's… that's not the point, Kael!"
Kael chuckled softly. "Perhaps. But my point stands. Sooner or later, the world will learn of Klee's strength. Instead of hiding her away, why not guide her?"
Jean blinked, caught off guard. "Guide her?"
"Exactly," Kael said. "She doesn't need to fight directly. Have her create special bombs designed to repel monsters — with controlled detonations. Let her contribute safely. That way, she can help without ever stepping onto the battlefield."
Jean fell silent.
It was a simple idea… yet it made perfect sense.
She wasn't worried that Klee's bombs would be too weak — she was worried they'd be too strong. But if the designs were adjusted under Albedo's supervision, it might just work.
"Hmm…" Jean murmured, thoughtful now. "That could actually be… possible."
Kael smiled knowingly. "Mondstadt could use a little spark right now."
Jean glanced at him, then looked down at her cup, a small smile forming at last.
Maybe this traveler wasn't just a guest from Liyue.
Maybe he was the wind that Mondstadt had been waiting for.
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End of Chapter 35 — Why Not Use Klee?