Chapter 24: Olaf

The group stayed in Springvale for one night.

Originally, Lumine and Paimon were supposed to return to Mondstadt after delivering the letter. But enticed by Xiangling's description of delicious food, they decided to stay and wait for the hunting team to return the next day.

Early the next morning, Xiangling was already waiting at the entrance of Springvale. According to her, ingredients should not be kept waiting, and she wanted to get her hands on the long-awaited ingredients as soon as possible.

While Lumine and Paimon were still asleep, Wang Daoyi had already woken up but chose to stay in the inn to read.

Since leaving Liyue Harbor, he hadn't had much time to read due to the hurried journey and encounters with formidable enemies like the Geo Hypostasis. Now that things had calmed down, and there was no urgent matter at hand, Wang Daoyi finally had the opportunity to take out the books from his bag.

This time, he only brought a few books with him, intending to pass the time while resting on the road.

Flipping through the pages of "Specialties of Mondstadt," Wang Daoyi enjoyed the rare tranquility of the past few days.

Meanwhile, Lumine and Paimon continued to sleep lazily.

The morning in Springvale was quiet and peaceful.

The gentle breeze blew, causing dewdrops to slide down the leaves, sparkling as they danced.

The newly risen sun shone on Xiangling's face, and on the grassy lawn beside her, dewdrops sparkled, while a cool breeze brushed past, occasionally carrying a hint of floral scent.

Xiangling stretched lazily. "What a beautiful day!"

Before long, a group of a dozen people appeared at the end of the road.

"Oh, they're finally back! Boar meat, delicious boar meat!" Xiangling hummed happily in her peculiar tone as she saw the hunting team's approach.

But as the hunting team drew nearer, Xiangling noticed something was amiss. Not only did the hunting team bring back game, but there were also many wounded among them.

"Was there an attack?" she wondered.

With the return of the hunting team, the previously quiet Springvale became bustling once again.

Because along with the game, the hunting team brought back many wounded, stirring up a commotion in the town.

"How did so many people get injured?"

"Was it an attack by poachers?"

"I think I saw a stranger among the hunting team!"

The noisy voices outside interrupted Wang Daoyi's reading. Closing the book, he prepared to go out and see what was happening when Xiangling pushed the door open and entered.

"What's going on? I heard some noise. Did the hunting team return?" Wang Daoyi asked.

Xiangling nodded, her face showing a hint of worry. "Yes, the hunting team is back. They said they were attacked by monsters, and Mr. Duraf asked Lumine for help in eliminating the attacking monsters!"

Accompanied by Xiangling, they went to Mr. Duraf's house. There, a large crowd had gathered around Mr. Duraf and a stranger.

"Is this... Springvale?" the stranger asked skeptically.

Mr. Duraf, with a helpless expression, replied, "Yes, I've told you countless times. This is Springvale, but I don't recognize any of the people you mentioned!"

The stranger seemed anxious. "It can't be! They're all my family and friends, living in Springvale!"

"What's your name then?" Mr. Duraf asked, somewhat exasperated, though the stranger did exhibit traits of the Ketzlein lineage.

"I'm Olaf Ketzlein."

"Olaf Ketzlein?" Mr. Duraf exclaimed, his expression somewhat strange.

"What's wrong? Is there something wrong with my name?" Olaf asked.

Mr. Duraf shook his head, went back inside his house, and fetched a thick book.

"Although I don't remember the lineage well, your name is exactly the same as one of our ancestors."

He opened the thick family genealogy book and after a moment of searching, pointed to a name. "Look, Olaf Ketzlein, a member of our family from three hundred years ago!"

"No, it can't be that coincidental!" Paimon exclaimed.

Mr. Duraf closed the genealogy book and turned to the hunting team. "Where did you find this Mr. Olaf?"

The members of the hunting team recalled, "Just a few days ago, after we had completed our hunting mission, we heard someone calling for help. We followed the sound and found a ruin. In the ruin, there was a giant evil tree that attacked us with countless ice shards. Olaf was the one calling for help in the ruin."

"A giant evil tree?" Wang Daoyi nodded. It must be the ruin mentioned in Xiangling's invitation mission, and the giant evil tree must be the Cryo Regisvine.

"Cryo Regisvine?" Mr. Duraf was surprised. "I thought those monsters were supposed to be near the Thousand Winds Temple?"

In the "Specialties of Mondstadt" book, there was information about the Cryo Regisvine, mentioning one that had been captured by the Knights of Favonius and was being kept below the Thousand Winds Temple.

Wang Daoyi explained to everyone, "The Cryo Regisvine is a monster formed by the condensation of frost in the earth's veins on vines. Some scholars believe that plants, like the organs of the world, regulate the flow of elemental energy in the earth's veins. And these crystals, imbued with elemental energy, crystallize over time to become plants like the Mist Flower Corolla and the Flaming Flower."

"But the difference between Mist Flower Corolla and Flaming Flower and the Cryo Regisvine is too great!" Paimon exclaimed in amazement.

"That's because of the difference in the concentration of elemental energy in the earth's veins and the specific environment in which certain plants grow. Over time, they may evolve into creatures like the Cryo Regisvine, becoming large and fierce life forms akin to monsters!" Lumine added with a hint of awe.

"Oh, could Mr. Olaf be a person frozen by the Cryo Regisvine three hundred years ago?" Paimon suddenly realized.

Xiangling also agreed. "Yes, just like how we use ice to preserve ingredients, Mr. Olaf must have been frozen by the Cryo Regisvine."

"This..." Mr. Duraf was speechless. Did he just unwittingly save an ancestor of his own?

"In any case, having a monster like the Cryo Regisvine appear near Springvale is too dangerous. Over time, it might even affect the breeding of the boars nearby." Mr. Duraf's expression showed concern. 

The disaster brought by the Stormterror had greatly affected Mondstadt, and the Knights of Favonius had few resources left. Recently, Lumine had accepted many commissions, and now, Mr. Duraf also entrusted the task of dealing with the monsters to Lumine.

(End of Chapter)