Ch 21 : Battle and salvation are two different things

Seeing Su Yuan's panicked expression, Wriothesley asked with some confusion, "Hey… Su Yuan, isn't this a bit much? It's just a Chevreuse who's been taken over by the Eerie. Do you really think I can't handle her?"

"Besides, the man standing next to me is none other than the Chief Justice of Fontaine, the pinnacle of Teyvat's beings, the Hydro Dragon Sovereign. Other than Lady Furina, who else in all of Fontaine could possibly be stronger than him?" Wriothesley gestured toward Neuvillette.

Neuvillette: ...

The ice was melting at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Watching Chevreuse, whose body was engulfed in pitch-black flames, Su Yuan felt an overwhelming sense of urgency.

"The Eerie! It cannot be reasoned with using common logic! This is not a matter of combat strength!!!"

"Didn't we agree that you would trust me?"

"Then listen to me—RUN!!!"

Su Yuan's face was flushed red with emotion as he shouted hysterically.

He grabbed Neuvillette and Wriothesley by the hands, attempting to pull them upstairs…

Both Neuvillette and Wriothesley were momentarily stunned.

Seeing Su Yuan so agitated and serious, they didn't resist and allowed him to drag them up to the second floor.

Once they reached the second floor, Neuvillette spoke up, "I'm sorry, Su Yuan. I said I would trust you… but just now, I still hesitated."

"It's fine, Neuvillette. I didn't take it to heart…" Su Yuan replied as he naturally walked toward the bookshelf, focusing on the second row where Teyvat's Comprehensive Tea Review was located.

He pressed down on it. "We need to leave this place first, put some distance between us and the Eerie-controlled Chevreuse, and then make a plan…"

As he spoke, the sound of gears and machinery echoed through the room.

The bookshelf slowly moved aside, revealing a deep and shadowy passageway.

"Hmm???" Wriothesley was visibly surprised by the sight.

"Su Yuan, is your intel really this impressive? You even knew about this?"

"There's a hidden passage here. In all of Meropide, the number of people who know about this can be counted on one hand… And you even knew how to activate the switch?"

"Did Sigewinne tell you? No way… She doesn't seem like the type. Without my permission, she wouldn't reveal something like this…"

Huh?

Su Yuan froze for a moment.

What just happened?

He had no prior knowledge of this passage, yet he instinctively found the right book, triggered the switch, and opened the hidden passage…

"Forget it, I don't know what's going on either. Let's just get out of here first!"

Su Yuan thought of the soon-to-be-freed "Chevreuse" downstairs.

He knew they couldn't waste any more time, so he took the lead and stepped into the passage, with Neuvillette and Wriothesley following closely behind.

As they entered, the lights inside the passage flickered on, and the bookshelf slowly returned to its original position.

A few seconds later, "Chevreuse" arrived on the second floor.

She scanned the area, but there was no one in sight…

"Oh? Ran away, did they…"

"Chevreuse" tilted her head, crimson liquid oozing from her eyes and mouth…

"No matter… My specialty is tracking down fugitives, after all…"

"Where do you all think you can run?"

"Heh… Heh… Hahaha…"

.............

"There's no sound of pursuit behind us. Looks like 'Chevreuse' didn't notice this passage…" Wriothesley glanced back thoughtfully.

"But is it really okay for us to just run like this? Won't Chevreuse, under the control of the Eerie, go on a rampage elsewhere?"

"She shouldn't… Chevreuse has been controlled by the Eerie for a while now. If she intended to start a massacre, she would have done it already," Neuvillette said calmly.

"The same was true for me earlier. I was only focused on tormenting Su Yuan—I never had the intention of indiscriminately killing others."

"That's right," Su Yuan added.

"It seems like the Eerie deliberately tries to conceal itself. We still don't know their exact motives, but they clearly aren't mindless killing machines…"

"Su Yuan, while I trust your judgment unconditionally, I still have some doubts," Neuvillette spoke up.

"Even though I am not in my 'complete dragon form' right now, my affinity and control over hydro elemental power are unmatched. I do not believe that the Eerie-controlled Captain Chevreuse would be my equal in battle."

"Yeah, yeah, Su Yuan, I'm curious too. Do you really not trust Neuvillette's and my abilities?" Wriothesley added.

"Even if we really can't win, at the very least, we can protect ourselves, right?"

"Sigh…" Su Yuan let out a small sigh before explaining.

"The Eerie… it's an entirely new power system, something that can't be understood using common sense."

"In the worldview of my original world, entities like the Eerie are often associated with rules, concepts—things that are more abstract and elusive. Haven't you noticed? The Eerie actually follows rules very strictly. If we want to defeat them, we probably need to find some specific rule to exploit rather than just blindly fighting them head-on."

"Besides, the Eerie is controlling Chevreuse's body. There's no guarantee we wouldn't end up hurting her in the process."

"In any case, my main point is still the same—every extra day I survive, I'll gain more intel. I believe that eventually, I'll find information on how to defeat the Eerie."

"Hmm… Su Yuan, what you're saying makes sense." Neuvillette nodded in agreement.

As they spoke, they reached the end of the passage.

Wriothesley stepped in front of Su Yuan and said, "There's a manhole cover above us. Su Yuan, you're not suited for heavy lifting, so leave it to me!"

"Once we get out, we'll be behind the infirmary. Let's check on Sigewinne first—I'm worried that Chevreuse might have done something to her."

With that, Wriothesley climbed up and pushed open the manhole cover.

However, when the three of them arrived at the infirmary, Sigewinne was nowhere to be found.

"That's strange… At this hour, Sigewinne should be here for her shift at the infirmary." Wriothesley frowned, a growing sense of unease creeping into his heart.

Just then, a nurse walked in from outside and exclaimed in surprise, "Huh! Lord Duke! Lord Neuvillette! What are you both doing here?"

"Have you seen Head Nurse Sigewinne?" Wriothesley asked urgently.

"Oh! Head Nurse Sigewinne? Yes, I saw her!" the nurse replied.

"Just now—about half a minute ago—Captain Chevreuse suddenly came here and took Head Nurse Sigewinne away. It seemed like something urgent…"

"Did they mention where they were going? Which direction did they head in?" Wriothesley stepped forward abruptly, his expression turning serious, startling the nurse.

The nurse, her hands trembling, pointed in a direction.

"I think… I think they went that way…"

"Neuvillette, let's go!" Wriothesley didn't hesitate for a second and immediately took off running.

"Follow me! That direction leads to the Combat Arena! It's currently closed, so there shouldn't be anyone inside!"

"Su Yuan! I know you told us not to fight 'Chevreuse,' but I can't just ignore Sigewinne's safety!"

"Su Yuan, Wriothesley is right," Neuvillette said as he turned to Su Yuan.

"Perhaps you should stay here at the infirmary and rest. Wriothesley and I will handle this."

"No, I'm coming too!" Su Yuan replied firmly.

"I'll find a safe spot to observe from a distance. I won't get in your way or hold you back!"

Seeing the determination in Su Yuan's eyes, Neuvillette nodded.

"Alright, but you can't move quickly right now. Should I carry you in my arms, or on my back?"

Hearing this, Su Yuan was momentarily stunned.

He imagined himself—a grown man—being carried in a princess hold by Neuvillette… and immediately felt a little weird about it.

"Uh… Neuvillette, just carry me on your back…" Su Yuan said.

"Alright." Neuvillette turned his back to Su Yuan and crouched down.

Su Yuan lightly leaped up, landing on Neuvillette's broad and sturdy back.

Then, without hesitation, Neuvillette took off, sprinting at high speed to catch up with Wriothesley.

Su Yuan glanced at the engraving on the palm of his left hand.

It had repeatedly warned him not to fight the Eerie, but… if it were him in their place, he wouldn't just stand by and do nothing while Sigewinne's safety was at risk.

Their goal wasn't to fight the Eerie—it was to save Sigewinne!

Since a fight was unavoidable, then so be it.

Su Yuan was no coward!

At worst… he'd just start over again!

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