Chapter 30: Comforting Barbara

"Huh?!" Paimon exclaimed, flying over to Venti and angrily pounding on his head with her tiny fists.

"You good-for-nothing bard, are you messing with us?!" Venti awkwardly blocked Paimon's attacks with his arms until the little creature was too tired to continue.

"Let me explain. This is, after all, a divine artifact of the Anemo Archon. A single tear crystal's Anemo energy isn't enough to fully restore it. We'll need a few more tear crystals."

"But where can we find more tear crystals?" Paimon pressed.

"I know a few locations. How about we split up?" Venti promptly shared the locations of the tear crystals and suggested dividing into teams.

"Um, I'm sorry, but I'd like to withdraw from this mission," a voice spoke up. Yun Fan turned to see Barbara, who was now looking down, her face hidden.

"Barbara..." Jean looked at her sister with concern. For many years, their relationship had been lukewarm.

Due to her position as Acting Grand Master, Jean wasn't sure what to say.

"Then I'll withdraw as well. I'll take Barbara back to Mondstadt," Yun Fan stepped forward. The journey back to Mondstadt would take several hours, and he wasn't comfortable letting Barbara return alone.

"Huh? No, it's fine... I can go alone..." Barbara's voice grew softer until it was barely audible.

"The road is dangerous, and we can't let you go back alone. So, don't refuse," Yun Fan insisted.

"Then I'll leave Barbara in your care, Mr. Yun Fan. Please ensure she returns safely to Mondstadt," Jean gave another knightly bow, this time even deeper, showing just how much Barbara meant to her.

Yun Fan and Barbara walked back to Mondstadt, with Yun Fan occasionally using his senses to check their surroundings. It wasn't that he was worried about monster attacks—nothing in Mondstadt could pose a threat to him—but he didn't want Barbara to be frightened.

"If something's on your mind, you can tell me. Don't keep it bottled up," Yun Fan said gently, looking at the silent Barbara beside him.

"Mr. Yun Fan... I, I don't..." Barbara instinctively refused, but her fidgeting hands betrayed her true feelings.

"Really?" Yun Fan lifted Barbara's lowered head, forcing her to meet his gaze.

Her light blue eyes met his golden ones, and the girl felt her breath catch.

Barbara had never experienced such a situation before. Her mind went blank, and she didn't know how to react.

Thump, thump, thump... Barbara could clearly hear her own heartbeat, even feeling the blood flowing through her veins. Her breathing became rapid, and her cheeks turned red.

Seeing the girl like this, Yun Fan decided not to tease her further and withdrew his hand.

"Can you tell me now?" Yun Fan asked with a soft smile.

"Mr. Yun Fan... do you think... I'm useless?" Barbara asked hesitantly. Though Yun Fan wasn't the Anemo Archon, he was someone acknowledged by the Geo Archon and acquainted with Lord Barbatos. If he thought she was useless, then...

"I don't think you're useless at all, Barbara," Yun Fan said, placing a warm hand on her head and gently stroking her hair.

"In my eyes, Barbara is one of a kind."

"Really? But during this mission to save Stormterror, I didn't contribute at all. I even almost became a burden to everyone."

"And in the end, I decided to withdraw from the mission to avoid causing more trouble, but... I ended up making you, the strongest among us, leave the mission too. I, I..." At this point, tears welled up in Barbara's blue eyes, and clear droplets began to fall.

"Don't worry, Barbara. No one blames you. You're a member of Mondstadt, Jean's beloved sister. I promise you, on my honor as the Divine Lord and in the name of the Anemo Archon, that what I say is true," Yun Fan continued to gently stroke Barbara's golden hair while wrapping his other arm around her, pulling her into an embrace.

Hmm, was this a bit unethical? Taking advantage of a girl's vulnerability...

Well, ever since he decided to give them equal love, he had already thrown morality out the window.

Barbara leaned into Yun Fan's chest and cried, shedding her usual cheerful and sunny demeanor. After all, even as Mondstadt's top idol, Barbara was, at her core, just a girl who longed for her sister's recognition and love.

"Thank you... Huh?! Mr. Yun Fan, we, we..." After a while, Barbara finally stopped crying and was about to apologize when she realized she was completely enveloped in Yun Fan's embrace.

After the initial shock, Barbara didn't pull away as she had when she first shook hands with Yun Fan. Instead, she blushed and leaned into him.

After composing herself, Barbara spoke up.

"Thank you, Mr. Yun Fan. I'm really grateful that you were willing to listen to me," Barbara said shyly, recalling the earlier scene. She had been quite bold, leaning into a man's embrace like that.

"Haha, it's no problem. You can come to me anytime you have something on your mind. After all, I'm kind of the Anemo Archon now. My arms are always open for you," Yun Fan said with a smile, spreading his arms wide.

"Pfft!" Seeing Yun Fan like this, Barbara couldn't help but laugh. It had been a long time since she felt this relaxed. Ever since the dragon crisis began, the number of injured Mondstadt citizens had been increasing, and she had been under immense pressure every day. Even her favorite spicy drinks couldn't lift her spirits.

"Mr. Yun Fan, thank you for comforting me. But aren't you the Divine Lord? How are you connected to the Anemo Archon..." Barbara asked hesitantly.

"Well, it's hard to explain. How about I show you?" As Yun Fan spoke, a gentle breeze stirred Barbara's golden hair. In this soft wind, Barbara felt her faith resonating with Yun Fan.

"This, this..."

Barbara was utterly confused. Wasn't this person the Divine Lord of Liyue? How had he suddenly become Lord Barbatos?

"Words can't really explain it. Let me just show you this!"