Chapter 44: Klee and the Unexpected Roadblock

It was another bright morning in Mondstadt, and excitement filled the air. Today was a special day for Satoshi and the rest of the construction team—they were getting closer to completing the road from Mondstadt to the new city. It wasn't just a project; it was the lifeline that would connect two places and make way for a bright future.

However, this day was about to get a lot more interesting as Klee had insisted on helping once again. Satoshi, knowing how much Klee loved being part of big adventures, decided to let her join, under strict supervision, of course. After all, Klee had a way of turning even the most mundane tasks into something unforgettable.

As Satoshi made his way to the construction site, he spotted Klee running toward the workers, her red outfit vibrant against the green hills. Jean was walking alongside her, making sure Klee didn't cause any "unplanned fireworks."

"Good morning, Klee! Good morning, Acting Grand Master Jean!" Satoshi greeted them warmly.

Jean smiled and nodded. "Good morning, Satoshi. Klee is very eager to help today, so I'll stay for a while to make sure everything goes smoothly."

Klee's eyes lit up, and she gave Satoshi an enthusiastic salute. "I'm ready to help! No bombs today—just rocks!"

Satoshi chuckled nervously. "That's good to hear, Klee. We'll need your help clearing some rocks along the path, but let's keep the explosions to a minimum, alright?"

Klee nodded, her face serious. "You got it! I'll be super careful!"

---

The work was well underway. Satoshi had organized the workers into small groups, each with a specific task—some were leveling the ground, others were setting up solar-powered streetlights, and a few were smoothing the edges of the road. Klee, Amber, and Noelle were assigned to clearing the rocks that blocked the path.

Amber knelt beside Klee, giving her a friendly pat on the head. "Alright, Klee! Remember what we practiced—only use your smallest bombs, and make sure everyone is a safe distance away first."

Klee pulled out one of her mini-bombs, a device she had modified to make smaller, more controlled explosions. She looked at Amber with a wide grin. "All ready! Tiny bombs, just like you said!"

Noelle, ever the protector, was standing nearby with her shield at the ready. She had insisted on being there to make sure that everyone stayed safe during Klee's "rock-clearing" efforts.

"Alright, everyone! Clear the area!" Noelle called out, her voice firm.

The workers all took a few steps back, giving Klee plenty of room. Klee set the bomb near a particularly large rock, then quickly scampered back to where Noelle and Amber were standing. With a loud *BOOM*, the bomb exploded, shattering the rock into smaller, more manageable pieces.

Amber cheered, throwing her fist in the air. "Great job, Klee! That was perfect!"

Klee jumped up and down, her excitement contagious. "Yay! I did it! Can I do another one?"

Noelle smiled, nodding approvingly. "Of course, Klee. But remember, safety first. Let's move on to the next rock."

---

Meanwhile, Sucrose was working a little further down the road, setting up an alchemical station to test the soil stability. Albedo had also joined her, intrigued by the challenge of ensuring the road would be sturdy enough for long-term use.

Albedo looked over at Sucrose, who was carefully mixing compounds. "How is the soil looking, Sucrose?" he asked, his voice calm.

Sucrose adjusted her glasses, glancing at her notes. "It's a bit loose in some areas, but with the right alchemical mixture, we should be able to stabilize it. I'm thinking of adding a bit of geo-elemental residue to strengthen the foundation."

Albedo nodded thoughtfully. "That sounds like a solid plan. Let's make sure we test it thoroughly before applying it to the entire road."

Nearby, Kaeya was overseeing the logistics, making sure all the materials were in the right place at the right time. He watched as Klee set off another small explosion, sending pebbles flying into the air. He couldn't help but smirk.

"I have to say, Satoshi, your decision to let Klee help is certainly… explosive," Kaeya said, his voice dripping with amusement as he approached Satoshi.

Satoshi let out a long sigh, though he was smiling. "Yeah, well, she's doing a good job, and everyone seems to be having fun. I think we could all use a little Klee energy now and then."

Kaeya chuckled, giving Satoshi a pat on the shoulder. "You're a braver man than I am. But you're right—her enthusiasm is infectious."

---

As the day went on, the team encountered an unexpected problem. A large boulder, much bigger than the others they had cleared, was sitting right in the middle of the planned road. It was too big for Klee's small bombs and too heavy for Noelle to move on her own.

Satoshi, Jean, and Diluc gathered around the boulder, all of them looking at it with varying degrees of annoyance.

"Well, this is inconvenient," Diluc said, crossing his arms. "We could try breaking it apart, but it might take a while."

Jean nodded, her brows furrowed. "We need to find a way to move it without causing too much damage to the road. If we break it, the debris could scatter and set us back even more."

Klee, who had been standing nearby, suddenly perked up. She tugged on Satoshi's sleeve, her eyes bright. "Satoshi, I have an idea! What if we ask Mister Dodoco for help?"

Satoshi blinked, confused. "Mister Dodoco? Who's that?"

Amber giggled, leaning down to whisper to Satoshi. "Dodoco is Klee's imaginary friend—or, well, her favorite stuffed toy. She always says Dodoco can help her with anything."

Klee nodded vigorously. "Dodoco's really strong! I think if we all work together, we can move the boulder!"

Jean smiled softly, kneeling down beside Klee. "That's a wonderful idea, Klee. Why don't we all give it a try? Everyone, gather around. Let's see if we can move this thing."

Noelle stepped forward, her expression determined. "I'll lead the push. With everyone's help, we should be able to move it."

The entire team gathered around the boulder—Satoshi, Jean, Diluc, Amber, Noelle, Kaeya, and even Venti, who had been napping in the shade until now. Klee stood at the front, her tiny hands pressed against the boulder, her face scrunched up in concentration.

"Alright, everyone," Satoshi said, taking a deep breath. "On three. One… two… three!"

With a collective grunt, the team pushed against the boulder. At first, it didn't budge, but slowly, ever so slowly, it began to roll. The group pushed harder, their faces red with effort, until finally, the boulder moved out of the way, rolling off to the side of the road.

Everyone cheered, and Klee jumped up and down, her eyes shining. "We did it! Mister Dodoco helped!"

Venti, wiping sweat from his forehead, grinned. "Indeed, Klee! It was Dodoco's strength that saved the day!"

Jean gave Klee a gentle pat on the head. "You did great, Klee. We couldn't have done it without you."

Satoshi smiled, looking around at the team, his heart swelling with pride. It wasn't just the progress they had made that made him happy—it was the fact that they had done it together, as a team. Each of them, from Klee to Noelle to Diluc, had played a part in making this dream a reality.

---

As the sun began to set, the group gathered near the edge of the road, admiring the progress they had made. The road was now clear, and the foundation was nearly complete. The workers were tired but happy, their faces glowing with satisfaction.

Kaeya raised an eyebrow, looking at Satoshi with a smirk. "So, what's next, fearless leader? More boulders? Or perhaps a dance-off to celebrate our progress?"

Satoshi laughed, shaking his head. "No dance-offs, Kaeya. But I think we've earned a break. How about we head back to Mondstadt and have some dinner? My treat."

Amber's eyes lit up, and she raised her hand excitedly. "Can we have sticky honey roast?!"

Diluc, who had been standing quietly, finally spoke up, a rare smile tugging at his lips. "I think that sounds like a great idea. We could all use a good meal after today."

Klee, still full of energy, ran over to Satoshi and tugged on his arm. "Can we have some Jumpy Dumpty-shaped cookies too?"

Satoshi grinned, nodding. "Of course, Klee. Anything for our little road-building hero."

With that, the team made their way back to Mondstadt, their laughter echoing across the hills. They still had a long way to go before the road was complete, but with each step, they were building more than just a path—they were building memories, friendships, and a future they could all be proud of.

And as Klee skipped along beside them, chattering excitedly about her plans for the next day, Satoshi couldn't help but feel that they were all part of something truly special. One road, one dream, and one bright future, built together—with a little help from Mister Dodoco, of course.