Villain Simulator, Ch 83

[Age 65: After decades of peace, Mondstadt once again faced disaster. The once-valiant Dvalin, who had fought alongside the Anemo Archon, had now transformed into the Stormterror Dragon and launched an attack on Mondstadt.]

[Under the leadership of the Lawrence family, Mondstadt began its resistance. However, Stormterror's power was on par with that of the demon dragon Ursa from years ago. Although your children were formidable, they were unable to secure victory in a short time.]

[Just as the battle reached a stalemate, you suddenly appeared on the battlefield, an ice spear forming in your hand. Despite your aging body, you unleashed an incredibly powerful elemental force, hurling the spear toward Stormterror.]

[It was the same "Dragon Piercing Spear" you used against Ursa forty years ago. But this time, it wasn't just an illusion. As the ice spear flew, it became engulfed in a ring of crimson flames, striking Stormterror in the chest and severely wounding it.]

[Sensing the immense power and being gravely injured, Stormterror had no choice but to flee from Mondstadt.]

[You had saved Mondstadt once again, but given your advanced age, the full force of the Dragon Piercing Spear took a significant toll on your body, causing severe backlash.]

---

[Age 68: Finally, you succumbed to the injuries caused by that backlash. You knew your time was near. Yet, perhaps because you had already died once before, you didn't feel much fear about death this time.]

[You were a tyrant, a butcher with bloodstained hands, a ruthless interrogator, but also a hero who had saved Mondstadt… As you lay surrounded by your loved ones, memories from both of your lives flashed before your eyes like a carousel.]

[You held Eula and Jean's hands. Their faces had aged, but in your final moments, they seemed to return to their youthful selves. Just as Ursa had said when she passed, this truly was a very, very good life.]

[You died.]

[Cause of death: Illness.]

[Overall assessment: No regrets.]

[Your rewards have been sent and are ready for you to claim.]

[Please choose one of the following talents: "Eternal Bloodline (Blue)," "Noble Origins (Blue)," or "First Glass of Red Wine (Purple)" to be your permanent talent.]

---

This time, there was no need to agonize over the choices.

[Eternal Bloodline] essentially conflicted with the effect of [Another Chance].

To be honest, Lucas had thought about what would happen if he chose [Eternal Bloodline] and then committed suicide—would he respawn as a baby in the original world?

In some ways, it would be like exploiting a bug in the system.

But then again, he laughed it off—he didn't have any children anyway.

As for [Noble Origins], that also seemed irrelevant.

"I choose… [First Glass of Red Wine]."

[Tsk, so you really want to corrupt the pure maiden saving her first glass of wine for a special occasion, huh?]

"I didn't have much of a choice, alright?" Lucas quickly defended himself. "The other two are basically only useful in the simulator!"

[No need to explain—explanations are just excuses.]

[You have acquired the innate talent: "First Glass of Red Wine."]

As the voice faded, Lucas slowly opened his eyes.

For some reason, though, this time, after leaving the simulator, he felt a slight wetness in his eyes.

Even though he knew that everything in the simulator was just a system-generated storyline, Lucas still felt that the emotions of those "NPCs" were incredibly real.

"You really have impeccable timing when you wake up," Fischl yawned from her seat beside him. "We've just arrived in Mondstadt."

Lucas stood dazed for a few seconds before he finally pulled himself out of the story in the simulator and recalled the events happening in the real world.

His convoy had left Dawn Winery and was heading toward Mondstadt.

Unlike before, this time Lucas had adjusted the time ratio between the simulator and reality, allowing time in the real world to pass more slowly rather than being paused. 

This way, he could avoid wasting time during the bumpy journey.

To those outside, Lucas, who was engaged in the simulation, appeared as though he were simply asleep.

"Really?" Lucas was slightly taken aback as he opened the carriage window.

Sure enough, the convoy had already reached the gates of Mondstadt, where two Knights of Favonius had stopped them.

"I am Swan of the Knights of Favonius," a polite young man in armor greeted them. "Could the person in charge please register your entry?"

Lucas had just stepped down from the carriage when Swan suddenly called out, "Lawrence, what are you standing there for? Come over here!"

Perhaps because he had just exited the simulator and hadn't fully detached from his role, Lucas instinctively frowned upon hearing the name "Lawrence" and said:

"Lawrence? Is that a name you can just shout so casually?"

In the simulator's story, the Lawrence family held a prestigious position, even among nobles.

Especially during their prime a thousand years ago, if a commoner dared to call out "Lawrence" without using an honorific, they would likely be harshly punished.

Of course, even outside of noble circles, addressing someone by just their surname, particularly when a subordinate addressed a superior or a junior addressed a senior, was considered highly disrespectful.

It was like calling your father "Little Guy"—most likely, you'd get a whipping.

However, after saying this, Lucas quickly realized something was wrong, but it was too late. Swan looked at him in confusion and said, "I think there's been a misunderstanding. I was calling the man behind you."

Lucas turned and saw a blond man with a ponytail walking past him, also dressed in the Knights of Favonius uniform. The man gave an awkward smile and said, "Um, Lawrence is actually my name."

"Your name is Lawrence?" Lucas asked, puzzled. "Are you related to the Lawrence family?"

"No, no, no! My name has nothing to do with the infamous Lawrence family," the knight named Lawrence explained with a wry smile. "Honestly, you're not the first person to ask."

"This story goes way back," Swan, seemingly accustomed to the situation, chuckled. "His father is a Fontaine merchant. When he first came to Mondstadt, he made a drunken bet with that blacksmith, Wagner. The wager? This guy's name."

"Yeah, my father had no idea about the weight behind the name 'Lawrence' back then, and he actually honored the bet," Lawrence sighed. "Every time he talks about it, he regrets it so much. After all, he was just one drink away from winning. If he had won, Wagner would've had to give him his favorite dagger and name it Pink Bunny."

Lucas couldn't help but laugh to himself.

Good thing Wagner won—otherwise, his own weapon, Dagger of the Unfilial, might have ended up with a ridiculous name.

"But you're pretty strange yourself," Swan rubbed his chin and commented, "Why can't we just shout 'Lawrence'? After all… they're descendants of criminals! What good could come from them?"

Lucas suddenly remembered that, in reality, the Lawrence family was very different from how they were portrayed in the simulator.

Since being overthrown by Vennessa's uprising, their status in Mondstadt had plummeted, and they were now nothing more than despised figures, akin to rats in the street.

Although he had only played the role of a Lawrence family member in the simulator, hearing the word "criminal" still made Lucas feel somewhat uncomfortable.

"I just think that's not quite right," Lucas shook his head and said, "The ones who made mistakes were the ancestors of the Lawrence family. If their descendants sincerely repent, shouldn't they have the chance to redeem themselves? Does the child of a villain have to be a villain too?"

Swan was surprised that this stranger from Liyue would stand up for the infamous Lawrence family. Frowning, he replied, "In any case, I just don't like them. Even if a Lawrence family member stood right in front of me, I wouldn't use any honorifics."

"Oh, really?"

At that moment, a cold, aloof voice came from behind Swan: "And how exactly do you plan to address me?"

A tall girl with blue hair stood behind him, staring at the two of them with an icy expression.

Eula!

Lucas immediately recognized her. This was the woman who, in the simulator, had spent an entire lifetime with him.

Indeed, her appearance, build, and demeanor were all exactly the same.

"Ca-Captain Eula!" Swan's face turned pale with fear. He quickly straightened up and, with utmost respect, said, "I was only joking just now. Please don't take it to heart."

"I actually preferred your defiant attitude from earlier," Eula coldly glared at Swan. "Talking behind my back… I won't forget this grudge."

Swan's face turned even more ashen, but he could only accept his misfortune, keeping his mouth shut, lest he say anything else that might offend this descendant of the Lawrence family.

"You must be the one sent by Yuheng to deliver the equipment," Eula glanced at the convoy behind Lucas and said, "The acting Grand Master is busy with other matters and couldn't greet you personally, so I'm here in her stead."

"Y-Yes," Lucas stammered, still staring at Eula's face. "I'm Lucas."

"Do all Liyue men stare at women like that the first time they meet, or is it just you?" Eula frowned.

"Sorry" Lucas quickly realized his rudeness and shook his head. "It's just that… you're very beautiful."

"Tch, sweet talker. I won't forget this grudge, either," Eula said, though her expression didn't show any real anger.

After all, she was still a woman, and being complimented on her looks did bring her some joy, even if only a little.

What was stranger still was that, for some reason, this man from Liyue seemed rather pleasing to Eula's eyes.

Besides, what he had said earlier had made her view him in a new light.

"These are the Grand Master's guests. No need for registration," Eula waved her hand. "Follow me."

Swan and Lawrence immediately opened the city gates, allowing Lucas and the convoy to enter.

"In that case, I'll take my leave for now," Fischl said as she stepped down from the carriage, her gaze showing a hint of reluctance. "The crossing of our fates ends here for the time being. But as my loyal subject, you must be ready to heed my summons at any time."

"What the young lady means," said Oz, perched politely on Fischl's shoulder, "is that she hopes you'll visit her home when you have the time. I've already written the address on the note I gave you."

One had to admit, Oz was incredibly thoughtful.

"So this chunibyo girl was with you the whole time, huh," Eula casually remarked. "Seems like your journey wasn't exactly a relaxing one."

"Rude!" Fischl's face flushed red as she fumed, "Fine! When the sinner's blood within you can no longer be hidden, I, the Prinzessin, shall personally deliver your judgment!"

The words "sinner's blood" visibly stirred anger in Eula's expression. Just as she was about to retort, Lucas spoke up first: "Fischl, calling it sinner's blood is a bit too much, don't you think?"

"You… you!" Fischl became flustered. "How can you take her side when you're supposed to be my loyal subject?"

Lucas wasn't speaking up for Eula out of some sudden burst of righteousness, it was because of the time they had spent together in the simulator as husband and wife. Seeing her being insulted now made him feel a bit protective, so he had spoken up on her behalf.

"I get it now!" Fischl glanced at Eula and gritted her teeth as if realizing something. "You… you've fallen for this woman, haven't you?"

To be fair, setting aside the Lawrence name, Eula was undeniably a stunning beauty, both in appearance and figure. 

Although Fischl wasn't bad-looking herself… most men would likely prefer the towering peaks of mountains to the gentle hills. 

When it came to matters of figure, though Fischl often comforted herself by thinking, "Maybe there's still room to grow," deep down she knew that achieving Eula's level of attractiveness would probably require making a wish to the Abyss—and selling her soul on the side.

"Isn't it obvious?" Eula smirked mischievously, then, with a playful glance, she reached out and gently hooked her arm around Lucas's. "Most people would know which choice to make."

"Y-You're making me so mad!" Fischl, still a young girl at heart and harboring some special feelings for Lucas, stomped her foot in frustration. "I'm not talking to you anymore! Oz, let's go!"

Without waiting for Lucas to say anything, Fischl stormed off, not even glancing back.

But as she walked away, she quietly asked Oz, perched on her shoulder, "Did… did he chase after me?"

"Forgive me for being blunt," Oz replied in his low, somber tone, sounding almost envious, "but if I were in his shoes, I don't think I'd be able to move either."

"You… you can forget about roasted beans this week!" Fischl snapped.

"What?!" 

---

After watching Fischl leave, Eula quickly released Lucas's arm, her face slightly flushed. "Don't get the wrong idea. I just wanted to mess with that little girl. And don't think that just by saying something nice, you can win me over."

"I wasn't trying to win you over," Lucas replied honestly. "I just spoke what I felt. No matter what the Lawrence family did in the past, that was a long time ago. You don't need to hold yourself responsible for their actions."

"When I accepted the Lawrence family's teachings and took the Emblem, it became my responsibility," Eula replied coolly. "But I'll prove myself in my own way. And don't act like you know me so well—we've only just met."

But I do know you!

He knew how strong-willed she was, what her favorite food was, and even… her preferences in more private matters.

Lucas knew all of this.

But he couldn't say a word… because he knew, deep down, that it was all "fake."

---

Meanwhile, at the Knights of Favonius headquarters.

"Hah…" 

A girl with a blonde ponytail lifted herself from her desk, wiping the tears from the corners of her eyes.

"Did I… really doze off?" Jean muttered to herself, confused as she stared at the liquid on her hand. "It feels like I… just had a long, long dream."

It was hard to believe that she had only slept for half an hour. In that brief time, it felt as though she had lived an entire lifetime in her dream.

It had been a long and strange dream.

Unlike in reality, her family, the Gunnhildr family, was not renowned, but instead held a low status. 

Conversely, the infamous Lawrence family had become the most prestigious nobility in Mondstadt.

----

Author's Note: Looks like Eula haven't slept yet...