I Became A Hilichurl

Victor Wang checked the Adventurer's Certificate and bank note tucked in the pocket of his cloak. Unlike his coin pouch and dagger, the items stored in the cloak hadn't been taken by the Fatui.

His pocket watch was still there, too. It was already 10 a.m.

Mondstadt was large and prominent—so long as he oriented himself, heading back toward the city would be straightforward. Although unfamiliar with the area, Victor Wang didn't follow Kaeya back.

'I wonder how far along Lumine and the others are with the plan to save Stormterror?'

Once Venti's Gnosis was taken, the giant tree at Windrise would be the only confirmed point where Venti's location could be tracked afterward.

After all, the Anemo Archon could be easy to find when he wanted—but vanish completely when he didn't. Once off the main storyline, who knew where the characters went—especially Venti, who didn't even have a proper job.

So, Victor Wang wanted to make use of his one and only advantage.

He quickly recalled the coming plot: collect Dragon Tears to repair the Holy Lyre, attempt to awaken Stormterror at Starsnatch Cliff but the lyre gets destroyed by Abyss Mages, then deal with the wind barriers and tower seals in Stormterror's Lair.

Judging the general direction, Victor Wang headed toward Stormterror's Lair, deciding to scout the protagonist team's progress.

In the game, this could all be done in a day. But in real life? With the distances involved, maybe two days?

With that thought, Victor Wang stopped walking. It would take him a whole day just to reach Stormterror's Lair...

'Might as well have gone back with Kaeya.'

He turned around and walked for half an hour. Just as he arrived back at Mondstadt's gates, he was called out by Katheryne of the Adventurers' Guild.

"Greetings, adventurer. The Knights of Favonius left a message for you. If you have time, please visit their headquarters."

"Me?"

"Yes."

Maybe those guys who kidnapped me got caught, and they need me as a witness? Victor Wang mused as he headed to the Knights' base.

After the gate guard went inside to inform them, he was invited into the Knights' confinement room.

It was the first time in Victor Wang's life being inside such a place. It was… not what he had imagined. The confinement room was spacious, with a long table in the center and chairs arranged around it—like a conference room. It even had windows.

So, this is the confinement room? Makes sense. If someone were locked in here and forbidden from leaving, unable to do anything, the mental toll alone would be punishment.

"Feel free to sit wherever you like. Please wait a moment." The escort left and gently closed the door behind.

"Hey!" Victor Wang panicked, rushing to the door—only to find it wasn't locked.

A curious guard outside glanced at him. "Is something wrong?"

"I thought you were locking me in the confinement room."

"Confinement room?"

"Isn't this the room where the Spark Knight is always locked up?"

"Well... for Klee, yes. But officially, this is the Knights' conference room. Please don't worry."

"So, it really is a conference room." Victor Wang sat down to wait.

Before long, Lisa walked in with a staff member carrying a notebook.

"Hello. The Acting Grand Master is away, so I'll be serving as acting acting grand master."

Lisa gave a brief introduction and took a seat across from Victor Wang. She then offered a polite apology. "We're aware of your recent ordeal. Please accept our apologies for the threat to your safety here in Mondstadt. It's truly a first. I know it sounds like an excuse, but all our personnel have been deployed to handle the aftermath of the dragon disaster."

"I understand."

Even the Anemo Archon got his Gnosis stolen in this city.

"The perpetrators have been apprehended. You don't look injured..." Lisa couldn't tell much with the cloak covering him. "Was there any financial loss?"

"They took my coin pouch and dagger."

Lisa nodded to the clerk, who soon returned Victor Wang's belongings—plus an extra coin pouch.

"We found two pouches on them. You can have both—consider it their compensation. Also, on behalf of the Knights, I can authorize a small amount as emotional damages."

Seeing Lisa's sincere attitude, Victor Wang felt bad taking more. Especially since he didn't need the money. "Since I wasn't harmed, let's just leave it at that."

"Thank you for your contribution to Mondstadt's safety."

After leaving the Knights' HQ, Victor Wang opened the Fatui's pouch. One glance at the Mora inside and his heart sank.

"Only 2,000 Mora from three people? And they had the nerve to call me poor!"

...

The next morning, Victor Wang arrived early at the plaza in front of the Cathedral, leaning casually against the outer edge, pretending to admire the view of Mondstadt.

From this position, he could see anyone going into the church. And since it wasn't right by the entrance, it wouldn't draw attention either.

If nothing unexpected happened, the scene where The Fair Lady took the Gnosis would occur today or tomorrow.

At around 8 AM, Jean and Venti indeed arrived at the Cathedral. A while later, Lumine entered too.

Then the main villainess appeared.

Victor Wang watched from above as The Fair Lady, flanked by two Electro Cicin Mages, ascended the stairs from the right side of the plaza. From his angle...

Lady, are you trembling because it's too cold? Or because it's too massive?

She reached the plaza and then climbed the steps to the Cathedral's entrance. At the top, she turned to scan the people below.

Victor Wang quickly averted his gaze, avoiding direct eye contact.

But with his outfit, to someone who could manipulate elemental energy, he was like a beacon in the night. The Fair Lady gave him a second glance.

There weren't many people in the plaza at this hour. Aside from that black-clad figure, nothing drew particular attention.

The Fair Lady was satisfied. The fewer people who knew what she was about to do, the better. She and the Cicin Mages moved to the right side of the Cathedral—out of Victor Wang's view.

Two minutes later, Victor Wang gave chase, climbing the church steps and turning right—

"What the—! Who the hell are you?"

There was a person hiding behind the pillar on the Cathedral's right side. Victor Wang's heart nearly jumped out of his chest.

"Sorry, I'll leave now... Oh, wait, not a nun? Then why are you jumping like those three women just now?"

The man explained, "I'm Albert, president of the Barbara Fan Support Club. Just practicing our cheers—don't mind me."

Victor Wang recognized him, of course. But he was curious. "Those three women?"

Albert pointed behind the Cathedral. "They went that way."

Victor Wang sucked in a breath. Albert, oh Albert... It's a miracle The Fair Lady didn't kill you on the spot.

There were some benches here, with a clear view of what would soon become the main stage—the right side entrance of the Cathedral. Victor Wang chose the best vantage point and waited for the show to begin.

Minutes later, Venti and Lumine exited through the side door.

Barely a few steps out, two Debt Collectors burst from the ground behind them in an ambush—but both Venti and Lumine dodged.

Then The Fair Lady appeared from around the Cathedral's rear corner. She snapped her fingers, and a chilling gust laced with ice shards blasted toward Venti and Lumine. As Lumine braced against the cold, a Debt Collector tackled her from behind, and Venti's foot was frozen in place.

Paimon was the most dramatic—frozen into an ice cube and blown toward Victor Wang's direction, then crashing onto the ground. It looked like she might shatter!

"F**k Debt Collectors!"

The Fair Lady strolled slowly toward Venti. She lifted his chin with her fingers. From Victor Wang's position, he could only see her fiery red lips move, not hear what she said.

But he could guess Venti's line: "It's not a hamster. It's a mouse."

A green Anemo aura rose around Venti, but The Fair Lady didn't give him time to act—she struck with a swift strike, sending him flying.

At this point, Lumine was tightly restrained by the two Debt Collectors and could only watch helplessly—just like Victor Wang.

The Fair Lady plucked a glittering object from Venti and held it up to inspect.

"So, this is the Gnosis? Not nearly as exquisite as my prized chess set." Victor Wang added voiceover in his head.

She followed up with a kick to Venti's right side, sending him rolling across the ground.

"F**k... Can I say that? Oh well."

With everything settled, The Fair Lady cast one final glance toward Albert, then sauntered away toward the back of the Cathedral.

Victor Wang, wisely, had long hidden in the church's shadowed corner and avoided her detection.