Chapter 326: Barbara's Noble Phantasm with Jean (2-in-1 Chapter)

Mondstadt City, Val Berry Street.

In a cozy, white two-story house, Fischl had just finished her bath and changed into a white nightgown adorned with floral patterns. As she stepped out of the bathroom, a few requests for teleportation popped up before her eyes.

One of them, naturally, was from Nolan.

The other two were familiar faces as well—Amber and Eula from the Knights of Favonius. Fischl already suspected that the moment they obtained the "waymark," Nolan was stirring up attention from other girls again!

"Everything about him is great, except that he loves flirting with girls," Fischl thought, annoyed.

He had just brought Mona home not too long ago, and now there were two more!

Hmph, tonight she would make sure to punish him properly until he couldn't stand!

On Dragonspine, as soon as Fischl consented to the teleportation, Nolan and the others disappeared into the dark, snowy night, crossing a vast distance in an instant to return home.

There, they were met by Fischl's slightly pouting face.

"Uh, what's wrong?" Nolan asked with a hint of confusion.

"Hmph, I don't want to talk to you!" Fischl folded her arms over her upper abdomen, causing her nightgown to wrinkle slightly and revealing glimpses of her smooth, fair skin through the gaps between the buttons.

Well, Nolan could guess what was going on.

Little Amy was probably a bit jealous because he brought back more girls again.

"By the way, where's Mona?" Nolan shifted topics, knowing it wasn't the right moment to offer her a comforting hug with Amber and Eula present.

"She went back. She said to come find her tomorrow if you're free; she wants to study the starry sky inside the 'Wonderland,'" Fischl replied, though she claimed not to want to talk to Nolan. Reflexively, she answered when he asked.

Realizing she had acted against her own will, her fair face flushed with embarrassment and annoyance. With a final huff, she declared, "I'm going to bed!" and marched upstairs.

"Are you two having a fight?" Amber asked, watching Fischl's retreating figure with curiosity.

She had always kept an eye on Nolan and knew he and Fischl were in a relationship.

"Probably not," Nolan said, scratching his head awkwardly. "Let's report our mission results to Acting Grand Master Jean first."

"Yeah, Jean's probably still working at this hour," Eula said, her hands resting on her waist as she raised an eyebrow.

Such a workaholic, never considering her health. Fine, after reporting, she'd drag Jean out for a break.

Knights of Favonius Headquarters.

Nolan and the others arrived swiftly, gliding in on their Wind Gliders.

As Eula predicted, the light in the Acting Grand Master's office was still on, signaling Jean's presence.

The group entered the Knights' hall and turned left, knocking on the office door.

"Come in!" a gentle, female voice called from inside.

Upon hearing the voice, Nolan, Amber, and the others opened the wooden door and stepped in.

The candle flames on the chandelier flickered, casting a warm glow throughout the room.

Seated at her desk, Jean moved aside a stack of freshly processed documents and rubbed her eyes, shifting her gaze to the visitors.

Of course, it was Nolan and his team. Apart from emergencies, it was rare for anyone to report this late.

Their presence indicated progress on their mission.

"The Honorary Knight always delivers with such efficiency," Jean thought to herself, impressed.

Had Eula heard Jean's internal monologue, she would have rolled her eyes—always praising the Honorary Knight when she and Amber had worked just as hard.

"Hehe, Acting Grand Master Jean, we're back!" Amber said, waving and smiling.

"So, any findings?" Jean propped her elbows on the desk, intertwining her fingers and resting her chin on them as she smiled.

"Hmph, as if there was any doubt!" Eula crossed her arms, slightly lifting her chest encased in sheer black fabric, and tilted her head proudly. "The Cryo Hypostasis you mentioned has been dealt with!"

"That quickly?" Jean placed her hands flat on the desk, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.

It wasn't that she doubted their capability to defeat the Cryo Hypostasis, but the mountainous terrain and harsh conditions made finding such a creature a challenge.

"Actually, Albedo was a great help," Nolan said as he recounted the events that had unfolded on Dragonspine in detail.

Of course, the detail about Albedo being a synthetic human was left out. After all, he had promised not to reveal it, and it wasn't particularly relevant to the mission.

"That's how it went."

Hearing about the appearance of the Fatui's "Doctor," the resurrection of the shadow dragon Durin, and how Albedo managed to deceive him, even Jean, as the Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius, found it hard to believe.

"Indeed, if I hadn't seen that dragon myself at Albedo's camp on Dragonspine, I would find it hard to believe too," Amber said, spreading her hands and shaking her head.

"Well, regardless of everything, the outcome turned out well. The Fatui's plans were thwarted, and none of you were injured. Still, I'm a bit worried about the dragon, Durin."

Like Nolan and the others, Jean shared concerns about the possibility of the dragon causing trouble again.

"We'll have to trust Albedo to keep an eye on the dragon. On the other hand, if he manages to coexist with Durin, that would mean Mondstadt gains a formidable ally," Nolan suggested, trying to reassure Jean.

"Hmm, that makes sense. Albedo is the chief alchemist of the Knights, so if he befriends the dragon, it's akin to the Knights of Favonius making an ally. If there's any trouble, we could call on its help," Amber added, having seen the dragon and knowing it had a childlike mind with a touch of innocence, making her feel inclined to speak up for it.

"Alright, then." Jean's eyes reflected deep thought, but she eventually nodded. "Still, we can't afford to let our guard down. The dragon's existence shouldn't be widely known.

"Amber, Eula, since you're in the loop, make periodic visits to Dragonspine.

"Keep an eye out for any signs of instability in the dragon and see if Albedo needs any supplies or assistance. Report back to me, and I'll do my best to provide support."

Most of Mondstadt's key combat forces were away on the Grand Master's expedition.

To be honest, Mondstadt felt somewhat vulnerable right now.

If it weren't for the presence of Lord Barbatos, deterring both the Fatui and the Abyss Order, they might have already attempted an attack.

Although the remaining forces in Mondstadt wouldn't fear either group, the Knights would face significant losses without enough top-level combat strength, and such a cost was one Mondstadt couldn't afford.

So if there was a chance to secure a powerful ally, Jean didn't mind investing some resources. Any success would be beneficial.

"Don't worry, Acting Grand Master! We'll handle this task!" Amber assured, patting her chest confidently.

"Sure, I actually enjoy the cold environment of Dragonspine, and I could take a swim in the lake while I'm there," Eula added nonchalantly, arms crossed.

"Oh, Acting Grand Master, do you not need me to go?" Nolan asked with a smile.

Jean chuckled, brushing a strand of golden hair from her face, a faint smile appearing on her lips. "No need to trouble the Honorary Knight with such minor matters. Besides, it was thanks to you that things went so smoothly on Dragonspine!"

[Jean Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You, Obtained 380 Affection Points. Current Affection Level: Lv.7 (300/700).]

"After all, I am a Knight of Favonius, dedicated to Mondstadt's safety!" Nolan said, pleased to see Jean's rising favorability toward him and offering a sincere line.

"Indeed, Honorary Knight, thank you for your dedication to Mondstadt."

As an outsider to this world, Nolan's official connection to Mondstadt was only in name. Yet he had made countless contributions to the city. Hearing his words, Jean felt her admiration for him deepen.

[Jean Has Developed Good Feelings Towards You 230 Affection Points. Current Affection Level: Lv.7 (530/700).]

"Heh."

Noticing the notification on his character panel, Nolan couldn't help but smile. With his kind nature and newfound strength, his desire to bring more peace and fewer conflicts and schemes to the world was genuine.

But what mattered most to him was, of course, the many girls in Mondstadt.

"By the way, you've all made such significant contributions. The Knights should reward and commend you.

"However, the matter of the dragon is sensitive, so we can't publicize it. Reporting only the mission to handle the Cryo Hypostasis won't merit much recognition.

"So, I'm in a bit of a bind. Why don't you tell me what you'd like? If it's within my power, I'll do my best to grant it."

Jean reached up, brushing her fingers against the pale skin under her golden bangs, genuinely looking troubled.

On one hand, Nolan and the team had indeed done great deeds, and not rewarding them would be inappropriate.

But announcing the resurrection of Durin would lead to a flood of adventurers to Dragonspine, causing Albedo no end of trouble.

Moreover, even though she was the Acting Grand Master and wielded the most authority in Mondstadt, she couldn't arbitrarily distribute the Knights' resources without reason.

Most of the Knights' resources came from the taxes of Mondstadt's citizens, so Jean couldn't waste them without justification, or she'd have to answer to everyone.

So Jean decided that the rewards for the Cryo Hypostasis mission would go through the official channels of the Knights, while she would handle any additional rewards personally.

Despite her position, Jean was still the eldest daughter of the prestigious Gunnhildr clan, with substantial means of her own. A reward from her would not be insignificant.

"Hmph, who needs rewards or commendations? If there's a valid reason, then let it count as credit for the Cryo Hypostasis mission.

"After all, I'm a Knight of Favonius. It's my duty to protect the people of Mondstadt. If you feel bad about it, then tomorrow, spar with me and let's see who's the strongest in the Knights!" Eula said, hands on her hips, eyes gleaming with confidence and challenge as she stared at Jean.

Then, as if remembering something, she turned to Nolan. "And you, you promised to spar with me after the mission!"

"…Alright," Nolan nodded, remembering his promise.

"Hmph, tomorrow I'll take Eula down a notch. She's so prideful—will she cry if she loses?" Nolan thought to himself with a sense of anticipation.

Jean, on the other hand, hesitated a bit before saying, "Eula, but I have work to do tomorrow, could we—"

Before she could finish, Eula cut her off:

"Really? The eldest daughter of the prestigious Gunnhildr family going back on her word?

"Hmph, if I happen to mention to Barbara that her beloved sister didn't keep her promise, she'll surely feel disappointed.

"Besides, many of your tasks don't require you to handle them personally. Just delegate them to Kaeya, and you'll have time."

Eula, holding a long-standing "grudge" against Jean, knew her very well and felt this was the perfect moment to corner her.

Jean, being Barbara's older sister, deeply cared about her image in her younger sibling's eyes.

"Eula, you—"

Jean was taken aback by Eula's tactic of involving Barbara. It was infuriating, but there was no helping it; she truly cared about her sister's opinion of her. Sighing in resignation, she had no choice but to agree.

"Hmph, that's more like it. I'm heading back to the dormitory now to rest up. Tomorrow, both of you will be defeated!" Eula smiled with satisfaction as she saw Jean nod, then prepared to leave.

"Hey, Eula, wait! I'll come with you," Amber said, indicating that she didn't need any special rewards either and joined Eula as they headed back to the dormitories.

"Sigh, what a troublesome bunch."

Jean sighed once more.

"Don't be upset, Acting Grand Master. I think Eula probably just wants to give you an excuse to relax a bit. The sparring is likely secondary," Nolan said with a smile.

"I know, but… fine. Looks like Kaeya will be busier tomorrow."

Jean had many tasks that didn't require her personal attention, like clearing transport routes overrun by monsters, retrieving tax records, and even finding lost cats—things that shouldn't necessarily involve her.

But the fact that citizens came to her with these requests reflected their trust in her, a trust Jean didn't want to disappoint.

So, she often chose to handle these matters personally.

"By the way, Honorary Knight, even though Eula and Amber said they don't need extra rewards, I can't really leave it at that. Is there anything you want? Just don't make a request that puts me in a difficult position, like Eula did," Jean said, turning to Nolan.

"Well…"

This question did trouble Nolan a bit. He felt embarrassed to ask for anything too valuable and didn't have any urgent needs at the moment.

After some thought, Nolan glanced at Jean and decided to challenge her as well:

"Acting Grand Master, how about you take a few days off?"

"Huh? Why do you say that?" Jean asked, momentarily puzzled.

"I mean, my reward would be for you to take a few days off and rest. Ideally, you'd set at least one regular day off each week."

Nolan explained.

"Honorary Knight, why are you like Eula and the others? Please, choose something else. I've told you, don't put me in a difficult spot. I have a strong constitution, and helping the citizens with their small tasks is really no problem," Jean said, looking at Nolan helplessly.

'No problem, she says? Last time, she was so exhausted that she fell ill for days,' Nolan silently thought, mildly exasperated.

After some consideration, he cleared his throat and smiled:

"Ahem, Acting Grand Master, if you don't agree, then I might have to drop by the Cathedral and have a chat with Miss Barbara."

(End of Chapter)

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