Chapter 33: Heading to the Church of Favonius

"No matter how many times I see it, it still feels so magical!" Acting Grand Master Jean exclaimed in awe.

Lumine poured the freshly purified tear crystals into the Skyward Harp.

Hum~

The Skyward Harp emitted a soft hum, its strings plucking themselves to produce a beautiful, melodious tune that instantly cleared everyone's minds.

"The Skyward Harp truly lives up to its reputation as the lyre once used by the Anemo Archon. It has such a profound effect," Diluc remarked, shaking his head. Indeed, Vision holders like himself were still far from matching the power of true gods.

It was said that the top three Harbingers of the Fatui possessed strength rivaling that of gods. Diluc had once encountered the Second Harbinger, The Doctor, and it was clear that he was no match for him.

However, gods varied in strength. Although Diluc had never seen Yun Fan go all out, his intuition told him that The Doctor shouldn't be a match for Yun Fan.

Perhaps he could seek Yun Fan's help.

"Now that the Skyward Harp has been restored, let's go and call Dvalin," Paimon said, curiously poking the now-empowered Skyward Harp with her finger. Seeing no special reaction, she retreated to her original spot.

"Mm!" Lumine nodded.

This isn't good!

Yun Fan's heart was pounding. Ever since Lumine had spent more time with Paimon, her words had noticeably decreased.

If this continued, Lumine might truly become the silent "Traveler" from the game, with Paimon doing all the talking. If that happened, Yun Fan would have nowhere to cry.

He needed to find a way to address this issue.

"Let me think. Poetry and melodies drift across the land with the wind. Let's find a place..."

"How about Starsnatch Cliff? It faces the sea and has wind coming from all directions. It's the perfect place to summon Dvalin," Yun Fan interrupted Venti, offering his suggestion.

The group exchanged glances and agreed with Yun Fan's proposal, as they couldn't think of a better location.

"Wait a moment," Venti called out to Yun Fan just as they were about to set off.

"What now, kid?" Yun Fan's forehead twitched with irritation. This slacker always had something up his sleeve. If Venti didn't give him a reasonable explanation, Yun Fan was ready to punch him in the face.

"Uh, well... Yun Fan, maybe you shouldn't come this time. You scared Dvalin so badly last time. I'm afraid he might just run away if he sees you again..." Venti scratched his head awkwardly. Last time, Yun Fan had blasted Dvalin away with a single shot. Although Dvalin probably didn't see who attacked him, it was better to play it safe and have Yun Fan stay in Mondstadt.

"Fine, I guess I didn't think that through," Yun Fan shrugged helplessly. Since this mission was likely to fail anyway, he might as well let them handle it while he took a break.

"Let's go!" Paimon waved her small, delicate hand, and the "Dvalin Rescue Team" set off for Starsnatch Cliff.

"Da~ da da da da~ da da da da~ da~ da!" Barbara hummed a tune, her golden twin tails swaying in the wind as she shook her head gently.

The nuns nearby, who were still begging for alms, noticed Barbara's cheerful demeanor and began gossiping in hushed tones.

"Have you noticed? Miss Barbara seems to be in a particularly good mood today," a nun in a black habit whispered.

"Indeed, it's been a while since we've seen Miss Barbara this happy," another nun in a white habit chimed in.

"Do you think Miss Barbara has found someone special?"

"I think so too."

"Really? I'd love to see what kind of man could capture Miss Barbara's heart."

As they chatted, a cold, icy voice interrupted their conversation.

"Gossiping about the Deaconess behind her back? I think you'd like to experience the Church's discipline," the voice was calm but chilling, like ice that had never melted. The nuns shivered and looked up, only to quickly lower their heads and apologize upon seeing who it was.

"Sorry, Sister Victoria!" they chorused.

"Don't let it happen again," Sister Victoria nodded, letting them off the hook.

However,

Sister Victoria turned her gaze to Barbara. She, too, could see the joy in the young girl's heart. In theory, the Deaconess was required to remain pure during her tenure.

If Barbara had indeed found someone special, it could have a significant impact on her, potentially even costing her the position of Deaconess. After all, with Archbishop Simon Page away on an expedition with Varka and other factors causing internal turmoil within the Church of Favonius, the situation was delicate.

Time passed quickly, and it was soon nearing noon. Yun Fan lay lazily in the courtyard, basking in the sun, one eye half-closed as he gazed at the sky.

To avoid causing panic, Venti and the others had set off for Starsnatch Cliff late last night. By now, they had likely finished and were on their way back. It would still be some time before they returned to Mondstadt, so Yun Fan decided to use this time to do something meaningful.

With that in mind, Yun Fan got up from the lounge chair and walked to the front hall of the Good Hunter.

"Sara, I'm heading out. If anyone comes looking for me, tell them to come back tonight."

Yun Fan packed some dishes from the Good Hunter: Spicy Fish Skewers, Black-Back Perch Stew, Fisherman's Toast, and more—enough for several people.

Since he only knew that Barbara loved Spicy Fish Skewers, he had to guess the rest of the dishes.

After storing them in his inventory, Yun Fan hummed a tune and leisurely made his way toward the Church of Favonius.

The Church of Favonius was one of Mondstadt's most iconic landmarks. The building was predominantly white, even more luxurious than the Knights of Favonius headquarters. While it exuded opulence, it also gave off a sense of tranquility, solemnity, and strictness.

"May the Anemo Archon bless you, esteemed guest. How may I assist you?" A nun, blushing at Yun Fan's handsome appearance, approached and greeted him.

"Hello, Sister. I'm here to see Deaconess Barbara," Yun Fan replied politely.

"Miss Barbara? Oh! My apologies, but may I ask why you're looking for her? Recently, there have been too many people with ill intentions seeking Miss Barbara, so we must be cautious," the nun explained apologetically.

"I understand. Just tell Barbara that Yun Fan is here to see her," Yun Fan said, understanding the situation. After all, Barbara was Mondstadt's top idol and the daughter of the Church's Archbishop. It was inevitable that some people would approach her with ulterior motives.

Yun Fan was one of those people, but his motives weren't about power or influence.

"Very well, Mr. Yun Fan. I'll relay your message."

After the nun left, Yun Fan pondered silently.

Should he deal with those self-organized Barbara fan clubs?