Chapter 9

Morning sunlight shone on the broken streets of Mondstadt.

In the aftermath of the dragon disaster, people were working hard to rebuild their homes. Hiroshi walked along the streets, heading toward the outskirts of Mondstadt.

"Big brother, thank you for saving me and my sister yesterday. This is for you to eat."

A young boy ran up to Hiroshi with a breakfast in his hands, offering it with a grateful smile.

Hiroshi stopped, crouched down, and gently patted the dusty-haired boy's head, taking the offered breakfast. He smiled warmly. "Thank you for the breakfast."

The boy shyly touched his head and ran back to his parents, who were not far away. Hiroshi looked up to see a couple wrapped in bandages watching from a distance, with a little girl hiding behind her father, sneaking glances at Hiroshi. When she saw him accept the breakfast, her face lit up with joy.

The couple bowed deeply to Hiroshi in gratitude, then continued with their rebuilding efforts.

As Hiroshi made his way out of the city, he received thanks from countless people, which brought a faint smile to his face.

While his actions yesterday were driven by his abilities, his upbringing, and a little impulsiveness, Hiroshi found that receiving so many heartfelt thanks made it all worthwhile. He had no intention of charging toward Stormterror alone, but he was more than willing to help others as long as it was within his ability, and as long as they were deserving of his aid. And there was no doubt that Mondstadt—a city that had welcomed him so warmly—was at the top of that list.

Moreover, his efforts hadn't gone unrewarded; the Knights of Favonius had honored him greatly. He was now an honorary knight and had been gifted a mansion outside Mondstadt as well as a property within the city.

Hiroshi intended to use the time while Lumine and the others were headed to the Four Winds Temples to level up and strengthen himself as much as possible.

Why did Lumine agree to help with the Four Winds Temples? Well, it was simply because Lumine was a kind-hearted girl. It definitely wasn't because the Knights promised to provide food and lodging while helping her find her brother, and certainly not because she wanted to avoid staying near the weirdo who pointed at her and shouted, "You're the type I like!"

Outside the city gates, Hiroshi waved goodbye to the saluting members of the Knights of Favonius. A gentle breeze gathered around him, enveloping his body, and an iron sword flew out. Hiroshi stepped onto the sword and soared into the sky, leaving the bewildered knights behind.

High above, Hiroshi stood on the flying sword, watching the scenery flash by below, a grin on his face. Sword flight was the dream of every wuxia novel fan, and here he was, making that dream a reality.

Expanding his Divine Sense to scan the ground below, Hiroshi streaked through the sky above Windrise, performing unnecessary loops before heading straight for the Daduapa Gorge, where a large number of hilichurls had gathered.

Satisfied and grinning, Hiroshi sat cross-legged on his flying sword, surrounded by several others that danced and twirled around him, slicing through any hilichurls that came into his senses.

He opened the chat group, which he hadn't had time to check in a while.

**Luo Xiaobai:** My master and I are almost at the city, and Fengxi is coming too. What should I do?

**Kuroneko:** Didn't you watch the Fate replay?! Just confront him!

**Luo Xiaobai:** But I don't want to hurt Fengxi and the others.

**Hiroshi:** Xiaobai, you need to realize that their goal is your domain. You may not want to hurt them, but they won't let you go!

**Hiroshi:** Or do you think what Fengxi is doing is right after watching the replay?

**Luo Xiaobai:** I know Fengxi is wrong, but I still don't want him to die.

**Hiroshi:** Fengxi's main problem is that he's gone too far—he's putting everything on the line for the domain, regardless of who gets hurt.

**Hiroshi:** I can understand where he's coming from. Imagine living peacefully in your home, only for a group of outsiders to suddenly come in, take over, and destroy it.

**Kuroneko:** Now that you put it that way, Fengxi's situation does seem pretty tragic…

**Hiroshi:** It's just that our perspectives are different. Those affected by his actions are also innocent.

**Hiroshi:** Their era has reached a point where neither side can eliminate the other. They have no choice but to seek coexistence.

**Hiroshi:** As seen in the replay, some fairies have already started working towards that. Unfortunately, their efforts were ruined by their own allies.

**Kuroneko:** Emmm, I totally don't get it.

**Hiroshi:** Maybe you should study some politics.

**Kuroneko:** Politics?! Wouldn't I rather just fight monsters and level up?

**Hiroshi:** That's one way, too.

**Hiroshi:** @Luo Xiaobai, Xiaobai, you could also grow stronger and beat Fengxi into submission. Then, once coexistence is possible, you could release him.

**Hiroshi:** Or, when you're strong enough to create worlds, you could just make a new world and throw all the fairies who refuse to coexist with humans into it.

**Luo Xiaobai:** Create worlds? Can I really do that?

**Hiroshi:** Of course, this chat group connects us across all worlds, and we'll all grow stronger over time. Someday, you'll be able to create worlds.

**Hiroshi:** And judging by my years of reading novels, your domain is like the embryonic form of a world—especially the spirit realm space, which is basically the foundation of a small world.

**Kuroneko:** !!! Is Xiaobai's power really that strong? Hehehe! Creating worlds—it's as if this power was made for me, the Fallen Angel Dark Black Cat!

**Hiroshi:** @Kuroneko, actually, if you exchange for Spirit Control - Metal, you can also get a spirit realm space. I checked, and domains are a bit pricey.

**Kuroneko:** Spirit Control - Metal also has spirit realm space?

**Hiroshi:** Yep. The foundation of that power is the spirit realm space, so it's really worth it. Not only does it have great potential, but you get a storage space for free.

**Hiroshi:** @Kuroneko, so, understood? Stop saving up for magic—this is too good to pass up.

**Kuroneko:** Alright, alright. I'll consider it. But why are you recommending it so hard?

**Hiroshi:** Heh, I recently got a new power—Spirit Control - Wind.

**Hiroshi:** I just uploaded it to the shop. If you don't like Metal, you can consider Wind.

**Kuroneko:** Emmm, I see. So you're promoting your own power.

**Hiroshi:** Hahaha, what can I say? Xiaobai's domain is too tempting, but it's expensive, so I have to earn points.

**Kazuma Satou:** @Hiroshi, finally, you're back! Where have you been these past two days? I've missed you so much.

**Kuroneko:** Turns out Xiaobai is the real rich guy in this group.

**Kuroneko:** Pfft, I bet you're just missing good food. You still haven't paid off your debts.

**Kazuma Satou:** Ha, like that little debt could hold back Kazuma Satou-sama.

**Kazuma Satou:** If it weren't for that idiot Aqua, I'd be living the good life by now!

**Hiroshi:** What did Aqua do this time?

**Kazuma Satou:** She dragged Megumin into the party while I wasn't looking…

**Hiroshi:** Woohoo, waifu unlocked!

**Kuroneko:** Lolicon Kazuma is here!

**Kazuma Satou:** Then yesterday, on a mission, she blew up the client's farm.

**Kazuma Satou:** Waaaa! The debt I just paid off has now doubled!

**Hiroshi:** Oof, that's rough.

**Luo Xiaobai:** Oof, that's rough.

**Kuroneko:** Oof, that's rough.

**Kazuma Satou:** @Hiroshi, big bro, take me in. I'll cry cutely.

**Hiroshi:** Scram. You think you're a cute girl or something?

**Hiroshi:** I'll cook extra portions for you when I make dinner.

**Kazuma Satou:** Oh, you're my god. Amen.

**Kuroneko:** When will we get a group mission?! My magic is boiling over.

**Hiroshi:** I want a group mission too. I'm so broke—I need points.

**Hiroshi:** The only way to earn points is by checking in and uploading group member replays. But we don't have enough people, and no one's triggered a group mission yet.

**Ding! An anomaly has been detected in the world of group member Hiroshi. A group mission is now being issued.**

**Group Mission:** Due to previous space-time fluctuations, the Demon King's army from group member Kazuma Satou's world has experienced an error in their group teleportation magic array, sending them to group member Hiroshi's world. They are currently attempting to recalibrate the array to lead their forces into this new world.

**Mission Requirement:** Destroy the teleportation magic array.

**Mission Duration:** 24 hours.

**Mission Reward:** 80,000 points, 40,000 experience (to be distributed based on contribution).

**P.S.: During the mission, any return to your original world will occur one second after departure.**

**Hiroshi:** Ah, speak of the devil. The group mission is here.

**Hiroshi:** @Everyone, time to get moving!

**Kuroneko:** This is the power of my identity as the Fallen Angel Dark Black Cat? My heart's desire manifests!

**Luo Xiaobai:** A group mission? I will join to become stronger.

**Kazuma Satou:** It's my turn to shine.

**Hiroshi:** I'm already above the enemy. Get ready and join me.

Above Daduapa Gorge, Hiroshi hovered high in the sky, looking down at the goblins that clearly didn't belong in Teyvat.

"There are quite a lot of them."