Chapter 15 Important Characters Rosalyne

[10 years old: You begin the second Knights of Favonius assessment.]

"Enter the important plot and activate immersive mode."

As the environment around Kujo Tsumugi started to twist and shift, she soon found herself outside a building. An examiner stood before her with a serious expression.

"The task for this assessment is to enter the Whispering Forest and eliminate a tribe of Hilichurls by yourself. Do you understand?"

The examiner handed Tsumugi a map indicating the location of the Hilichurl tribe.

"Side quest: Pass the Knights' assessment and become a true Knight of Favonius."

Seeing the side quest prompt, Tsumugi frowned.

Why is this assessment considered an "important plot"? Last year's assessment was only mentioned briefly, but now it's in immersive mode...

She couldn't make sense of the simulation system's logic.

"The time requirement is to return here within three days. Do you understand?"

"Yes!"

Tsumugi responded promptly.

She examined the map; the location marked was about a day's journey away. With one day for travel, one day to handle the Hilichurls, and another day to return, she had ample time.

After planning her route, Tsumugi put away the map and entered the Whispering Forest alone.

The Whispering Woods, only a few hours from Mondstadt, is known for its beautiful scenery. Many Mondstadt residents visit Cider Lake and the surrounding area, which Tsumugi thought was a sign they had nothing better to do.

Despite its beauty, the forest hides many dangers. The Knights of Favonius frequently patrol the area, but the dense trees and underbrush offer ideal cover for Hilichurls. Though the Knights have attempted to suppress them many times, no one knows how many small groups still wander the forest.

Travelers to Cider Lake are like gamblers playing Russian roulette—frequent success is possible, but failure means eternal doom.

Tsumugi's thoughts turned grim when, less than a day into the forest, she encountered a convoy attacked by Hilichurls.

The scene was grim: over thirty dead Hilichurls and a dozen fallen Mondstadt guards lay on the ground. A group of Hilichurls was gathered around a lavish carriage, banging on its door with wooden sticks. The scene suggested a noble had been attacked while returning from a delightful trip to Fruit Wine Lake. Despite desperate resistance from the guards, they were overwhelmed and killed. The noble, locked in the carriage, had managed to survive by resisting the Hilichurls' attack.

Tsumugi, though only a ten-year-old child now, was not an ordinary person. These Hilichurls were no match for her. She quickly drew her sword and dispatched the remaining Hilichurls before knocking on the carriage door.

"Is there anyone inside? I'm a trainee knight of the Knights of Favonius. I've dealt with all the Hilichurls outside. You can come out now."

"Yes! Someone is here!"

A timid female voice responded from inside the carriage.

The door creaked open to reveal a young woman with long golden wavy hair, much taller than Tsumugi and about fourteen or fifteen years old. She wore a stunning light blue dress, with traces of tears in her eyes, suggesting she had been crying.

"Oh, thank goodness…"

As soon as the girl saw Tsumugi, she threw herself into her arms, trembling with fear.

"It's alright... It's okay…"

Tsumugi, unsure how to comfort her, gently stroked the girl's hair, trying to emulate the reassuring gestures she had seen in stories before her time travel.

After more than ten minutes, the girl calmed down. Realizing her disheveled appearance, she took a few steps back, wiped her tears, and adjusted her dress with a graceful demeanor. Her flushed face made her look even more endearing.

"Thank you for your help, young knight. I am Rosalyne-Kruzchka Lohefalter. I offer you my deepest respect."

Rosalyne!

Tsumugi's eyes narrowed, a flash of murderous intent crossing her features.

Rosalyne-Kruzchka Lohefalter had been an ordinary girl from a noble family in Mondstadt. She loved singing for her secret admirer in Wind God's Square—Rustan, the renowned Young Wolf.

Rosalyn went to Sumeru Akademiya for further studies to improve her singing. Before leaving, she confessed her love to Rostam, but he did not respond, promising to give her an answer upon her return.

However, Rosalyne never received that answer.

Three years later, upon returning to Mondstadt, she learned of Rustan's death. The seven gods—wind, rock, thunder, grass, water, fire, and ice—had suddenly descended on Kanreya and destroyed the nation. An alchemist named Gold, who survived the disaster, sought revenge against the seven nations using alchemy to create a dragon named "Durin." Under Gold's command, Durin ravaged Mondstadt. Young Wolf Rustan led the Knights of Favonius to battle Durin in Dragon's Back Snow Mountain. Although the dragon was defeated with the help of Tevarin, Rustan perished in the final battle.

Crushed by her lover's death, Rosalyne fell into despair. She burned her own life to vow to eradicate all monsters. Rosalyne became a witch, driven by a relentless rage against monsters. Her deeds, though saving many, were recorded with reluctance by historians. Despite saving Mondstadt, she remained in silent loneliness.

Eventually, the Fatui executive found her and granted her the authority of the Ice Goddess. The cold extinguished the flames of her rage, and from that day on, Rosalyne was dead. Only the Fatui executive known as La Signora remained.

...And that's why murderous intent flashed in Kujo Tsumugi's eyes.