Chapter 203

Mondstadt

Takumi appeared not far from Starfell Lake. Although he had visited Inazuma, Liyue, Sumeru, Fontaine, and Snezhnaya, this was his first time in Mondstadt—the most peaceful of the starting regions.

Mondstadt lived up to its reputation. As soon as Takumi arrived, he spotted a little red figure sneaking around, clearly up to some mischief.

The small figure wore fiery red clothes that matched her leather backpack. On her head was a red beret adorned with feathers and four-leaf clover patterns. Underneath the hat, her short platinum hair was tied into two small pigtails. She wore gloves, a dress, bloomers, long leather boots, and pure white knee socks.

Yes, this sneaky little cutie was none other than Mondstadt's most powerful adventurer, the traveler from another world, and the daughter of Alice, the Explosive Witch—Klee.

Klee carefully set down her small leather bag, pulling out a bomb about the size of her calf that shimmered with the light of the seven elements. Her red eyes sparkled with excitement as she looked left and right, then jumped up happily.

"Yay! I managed to sneak out without Captain Jean noticing."

"If Captain Jean finds out about the gift Mom gave me, she will definitely take it away," Klee said, talking to herself. "Mom said these are super-powerful bombs, an upgraded version called an 'Elemental Nuclear Bomb.' It's much, much more powerful than my other bombs."

"If I use this to fish, I'll catch a lot of fish!"

Klee fondled the 'Elemental Nuclear Bomb,' her eyes glistening. "But wait, Mom didn't tell me how to make the bomb explode. How do I do it?" She bit her finger, her eyes full of confusion.

This sight almost made Takumi, who was standing behind her, melt on the spot. She was so adorable. He couldn't resist such an innocent and lovely soul.

"It's simple, Klee. You just hold down the red button."

Klee, still unaware of who was speaking, responded with childlike innocence, "Is that so?" She pressed the red button with her little finger. "Then what?"

"Then pull out the safety pin, and finally activate it with elemental energy to make it explode."

"Oh, it's that simple? Thank you!"

Only then did Klee realize there was someone behind her. She quickly turned around, startled. "Wah!" After getting a better look, she pouted. "Who are you, big brother? Why did you scare Klee like that?"

Takumi looked at the angry Klee, knelt down, and smiled. "I didn't mean to scare you, Klee. I just happened to see you about to use a super bomb to fish, so I'm going to tell Captain Jean now. How long do you think she'll put you in solitary confinement for?"

Klee panicked, hurriedly hiding the bomb behind her back. "Klee wasn't going to fish, and Klee doesn't have any bombs!"

Takumi instantly mimicked Jean's aura. "Klee, you know you shouldn't lie."

Klee's eyes widened. "Big brother... you're just like Captain Jean!"

Takumi continued, "Klee, you can't change the subject."

Klee began to tear up, clasping her hands behind her back and gently swaying. Her big red eyes peeked up at the stranger who reminded her so much of Captain Jean. "Big brother, please don't tell Captain Jean, okay? Klee will share her grilled fish with you."

Takumi crossed his arms. "Klee, you're trying to bribe me now? I really will have to tell Captain Jean."

Klee brought her index fingers together and looked at Takumi with teary eyes. "Big brother, what does Klee need to do so you won't tell Captain Jean?"

Takumi looked at the tearful Klee, his heart nearly melting, but he kept his composure and stretched out his hand. "First, give the bomb to me."

Klee became anxious, holding the bomb tightly with both hands. "This is a gift from Mom to Klee. Can Klee give you a different bomb instead?"

Takumi smiled. "Captain Jean..."

Klee reluctantly handed over the 'Elemental Nuclear Bomb.' "Klee gives it to you, but big brother has to give it back when Klee grows up, okay?"

Takumi took the elemental bomb. "When you grow up, I'll give this back to you."

Klee eagerly stretched out her little finger. "Pinky promise—no changes for a hundred years!"

Takumi laughed, then hugged Klee. "You're such a handful. I should just return this to your mother, Alice."

As Takumi lifted Klee, she grabbed onto his shoulder, her big eyes filled with confusion as she heard her mother's name. "Big brother, do you know Mom?"

She had never seen this big brother in Mondstadt before.

Takumi held Klee with one arm, examining the 'Elemental Nuclear Bomb' with the other. "Of course I know her. She's a traveler from another world. This 'Elemental Nuclear Bomb' is actually a three-phase bomb. Alice spent a lot of time on Earth to learn the principles of nuclear bombs."

"Tsk tsk, this seven-element bomb isn't much weaker than Tsar Bomba. If it went off in Mondstadt, Starfell Lake wouldn't be the only thing at risk."

Klee's big red eyes widened in amazement. "Earth? Big brother, are you from Earth too?"

"Yes, I'm from Earth, but not the same Earth that your mother visited."

Klee took a doll from her backpack, her big eyes full of hope. "Well, do you know this, big brother?"

Takumi couldn't help but smile at Klee's innocent enthusiasm. "Isn't this Dodoco?"

Klee excitedly hugged Takumi's arm. "Daddy! Big brother is really Klee's daddy! No wonder Klee hasn't met her daddy until now, but Daddy recognized Klee right away!!"

Takumi smiled. "Why do you think I'm your daddy?"

Klee blinked. "Mom said Daddy is from Earth, and if you know Dodoco, you're Daddy. So, big brother must be Klee's daddy, right?" Her big eyes were full of anticipation.

Takumi was so charmed by her innocence that he kissed her cheek. "If that's what Klee thinks, then I must be."

With this affirmation, little Klee hugged Takumi's neck, shouting sweetly, "Daddy! Klee has a daddy!"

Takumi's golden eyes flashed. He knew that Klee was fatherless, born through parthenogenesis. The elves were a magical race, capable of reproducing without a partner, similar to how Nahida was born from Rukkhadevata.

Takumi patted Klee's back. "Klee, let's head back to Mondstadt now."

Klee clapped her hands happily. "Okay! Daddy is going to find Mom!"