24 It seems someone has been shunned (bug fix)

She had already realized that Master Diluc was not there. It was not as if Mr. Charles was unaware of this, yet he had not only failed to stop Kaeya but had even helped him prepare things so that he could ‘go find Diluc for a drink.’ Clearly, it was nothing more than an excuse.

Why did he need an excuse instead of simply knocking on the door? Naturally, it was because Charles was well aware of the young lady on the third floor and her social anxiety.

Kaeya clicked his tongue. "...Fine, I suppose there’s no hiding it once you’ve been seen through."

He thrust the tray laden with food into Hailie’s hands and clapped his own with a carefree air. "Alright! Mission accomplished! These are for you all to enjoy! Farewell, my lovely little Hailie!"

Having confirmed that she was merely an ordinary person—albeit a particularly beautiful one—Kaeya departed with a flourish.

To be honest, he had been truly busy lately.

Hailie carried the wine and snacks into the room and set them on the table. She tapped gently on the balcony door. "He has left, Miss Nana. Would you like to come and try these new snacks?"

A moment later, the balcony door opened. The dignified and beautiful young woman walked in clutching a book, smiling at her with a bashful expression.

Hailie’s heart softened instantly, overflowing with a protective instinct. She said gently, "Don't worry, Miss Nana, I won't let anyone just wander into your room!"

"Master Kaeya is actually a very kind and considerate person. Anyone who knows him rarely dislikes him. He always knows exactly how to maintain a comfortable distance from others while remaining warm and open-hearted. Believe me, if you spend time with him, you will surely like him too!"

Who could dislike a sunny, cheerful boy who knew how to talk and laugh?

Thinking of Mr. Kaeya’s wild complexion, athletic build, bold fashion sense, and cheerful tone, Pei Nana’s smile remained reserved. "I think I’ll pass."

At first glance, they were simply incompatible.

She still preferred the temperament of Master Diluc, with his steady and indifferent nature.

...

Strangers often got lost entering Dragonspine, but as a resident expert of the mountain, Albedo navigated it as easily as strolling through his own back garden.

When Aether had searched for him in Dragonspine, he had spun around like a headless fly. Albedo, however, had found him in an instant. Their journey out of the mountain was equally smooth; they did not miss a single turn along the way. After spending just one night on the slopes, they arrived at the Adventurer’s Camp at the foot of the mountain by the following evening.

It was a strange phenomenon: Dragonspine was draped in snow and bitter cold, yet Mondstadt, just across the water, was filled with gentle breezes, soft rain, and lush greenery. It was as if an invisible boundary line separated two distinct worlds.

Centuries after the Anemo Archon disappeared, a large part of why people still believed in his existence was this very imbalance between the freezing mountain and the temperate plains.

This was considered a wonder, a manifestation of the Archon’s "miracle." Every year, many tourists, believers, and adventurers came here to witness it. Standing on that invisible, intangible, yet undeniable dividing line, one could place one foot in the biting, pristine snow and the other on the soft, fluffy grass, leaving behind both novel experiences and commemorative sketches.

The Knights of Favonius had repeatedly tried to forbid it, but eventually, they seemed to accept reality. No longer harboring illusions about stopping people, they left only one or two knights behind to warn of the dangers of the mountain—a case of doing what one can and leaving the rest to fate.

Of course, if you felt that phrasing was too polite, you could use a harsher term: some people simply cannot be saved from their own folly.

The Adventurer’s Camp had originally been a supply point established by the Adventurers' Guild on the edge of Dragonspine. As more people arrived, it gradually developed into a unique little town dedicated to serving the adventurers and tourists exploring the mountain.

The "buildings" here were quite peculiar.

Although it was tacitly accepted as a town, the Knights of Favonius tolerated its existence only to a certain extent; they would never officially recognize it. To grant recognition would be to concede its legality—a form of endorsement. That would only lead to more Mondstadt citizens flocking to this dangerous place, making it even harder to manage. Therefore, just as it had always been called the "Adventurer’s Camp" without a proper name, the buildings were all various types of tents.

It was essentially a facade of "temporary adventurer housing."

As evening approached, Aether, Paimon, and Albedo requested two rooms for the night. The "rooms" they were assigned were much the same.

The trio tidied up their tent briefly; it was not yet time to rest. Seeing the clear weather outside—especially the rare, brilliant sunset casting its glow over the mountain—the usually gloomy and terrifying peak seemed to take on a touch of rare, sacred radiance.

Albedo found himself transfixed. Lost in thought, he stared at the pure, towering Dragonspine for a long while before suddenly pulling his art supplies from his bag and hurrying outside.

Little Paimon, who had been chatting and bickering with the Traveler, let out an "Eh?" and chased after him, asking curiously, "Albedo, are you going to draw? How are your skills, anyway?"

Albedo replied, "Reasonably adequate. Dragonspine rarely sees such clear weather; it would be a pity to let it go to waste."

He set up his easel outside the inn, using the majestic, snow-white mountain as a backdrop to capture the magnificent, colorful clouds on the horizon.

Persistent dark clouds still clung to the mountain like an inescapable nightmare, but high above the black haze, the sky was filled with an endless, brilliant display of magnificent sunset hues. Colorful light pierced through the gaps in the clouds, casting pillars of radiance upon the snow. In those refractions of light and shadow, the gloomy, somber Dragonspine seemed to be draped in a shimmering, iridescent glow.

"What a beautiful day."

Albedo whispered to himself, a faint smile touching his lips.

The Traveler stayed by his side. Paimon watched with great interest, occasionally letting out exclamations of wonder, while the Traveler remained quiet, frequently turning to look in the direction of Mondstadt.

"Are you in a hurry?" Albedo asked suddenly, his voice clear and melodic.

Aether and Paimon blinked.

Albedo continued, "You’ve been restless since we were on the mountain. Since I started painting, you’ve looked that way no less than twenty times. If you are so concerned, why not head back first? I can return to Mondstadt on my own."

"Hehe... w-well, wouldn't that be rude?" Paimon gave a dry laugh, bashfully rubbing her head with her chubby little hands. "We asked you for help; how could we just leave you behind?"

(No, your presence here is only serving to distract me.)

Albedo said, "I am not a child; I do not require company. If you are worried about the city, you are free to leave. You can use those ancient ruins, so you should be able to reach it immediately, right? Let us part ways here, and we shall meet again in Mondstadt."

Paimon felt guilty, hiding her hands behind her back and bowing her head, tapping her toes on the ground. "W-we aren't in that much of a hurry..."

To ask for help and then abandon the person halfway... that would be... way too heartless.

Aether, however, stood up and said, "Then thank you. I am indeed very worried. When you return to Mondstadt, you can find me at Angel's Share."

Paimon: "Eh???"

Albedo nodded. "Farewell, then, Traveler."

Without a moment's hesitation, the Traveler grabbed Paimon and bolted toward the teleport waypoint near the Adventurer’s Camp like a gust of wind.

Paimon shrieked as she was dragged along, wailing, "Slow down, slow down! Why are you in such a hurry, Traveler! Didn't we leave Nana with Diluc?? He will definitely protect her well!"

Albedo watched their figures grow smaller in the distance, murmuring softly, "...How surprising."

Without a doubt, the Traveler was a dedicated and responsible adventurer with a strong sense of professional ethics. Whether it was fighting Hilichurls, hunting down mechanical constructs, cooking, delivering meals, finding cats, walking dogs, or feeding pigeons, he completed every task quickly and well—but one would never call him "deeply attached" to them.

Tasks, for him, were merely jobs that provided pay, direction, and opportunities to meet many people.

To have so much private emotion involved this time...

"It seems she really is a very important person... I must make haste as well."

Albedo understood that it wasn't as if there were no alchemists in Mondstadt. Timaeus, though lacking in mastery, was sufficient to handle the daily needs of ordinary citizens. Even the Honorary Knight himself often had Timaeus assist with basic synthesis materials.

Yet, the Honorary Knight had chosen to bypass the local option, enduring a long and arduous journey to seek his help. Clearly, he believed that an ordinary alchemist could not solve his problem.