"System! you're such a meanie!! Waaa!!!" Inside the system space, Etoma was currently wriggling on the bed, sobbing intensely.
"You didn't need to remove some of my memories with my Diluc-nii! System, you're an idiot! Waaa!!!"
[Apologies, host. But this was your request.]
"How could I make that request? It's clearly your doing!"
[It's...]
The system suddenly fell silent for a moment.
[Indeed, host. It's clearly my fault. My apologies.]
"See!! Give it back! Give my Diluc-nii memories back!"
[Apologies, host. The memories have been deleted and cannot be restored.]
"Waaaa!!!" Etoma's cries grew even louder.
Unbeknownst to her, this was her own decision—more precisely, the decision of her mature self.
After learning how the point collection system worked, she had teamed up with the system and decided to seal away unnecessary memories that could hinder her work. She even instructed the system to lie when she asked for them back.
She also edited and sealed other memories that Etoma did not need to know. The truth about her family, the darkness of the world had all been sealed or edited away. Leaving only what was necessary ahead.
At the moment, she only retained knowledge of events surrounding her friend Lumine—from now into the future, and some knowledge of the past about Archons, and other history.
This had also become her new objective: collecting points related to Lumine, wherever she went.
After an hour, Etoma finally stopped crying… and pouted.
[Host?]
"Humph." Etoma glanced away.
[...]
This continued for another hour before Etoma finally sighed and forgave her system.
"So, what should I do first to begin? I literally have no idea where to start." Etoma said, crossing her arms.
[Yes, about that, host—you can leave it to me.]
[As your beginner gift, I will grant you the maximum amount of points you can obtain during the Mondstadt arc.]
"Mondstadt arc... quite something to say..." Etoma muttered blankly.
[After the Mondstadt arc, you will handle everything on your own. So, what do you think, host?]
"Sigh... fine. Lumine and the others should be back from freeing Dvalin by now. What are you going to do?"
[Don't worry, host. Just sit back and watch.]
[But first, we need to create another body for you in Mondstadt to—]
Just like that, the curtain began to rise.
The stage was set.
A story not meant to save people…
But to break them.
Quietly.
Thoroughly.
Inevitably.
.
.
Mondstadt City
Knock* knock*
"Who is it?" Jean spoke as she focused on her paperwork, her voice carrying faint exhaustion.
"It's me."
"...Lisa. Come in." Only then did Jean finally lift her head.
"How is the search?" Jean asked, though her eyes already seemed to know the answer.
Lisa shook her head slowly.
"We've turned Mondstadt inside out… but there's nothing."
Nothing. That single word lingered in the air like a verdict.
They were referring to the search for Diluc's sister, Etoma. Yesterday, after the Dvalin incident, she had suddenly gone missing.
Diluc, her brother, had practically gone feral—turning Mondstadt upside down in search of any clue. After a day passed, he finally gritted his teeth, swallowed his pride, and asked the Knights of Favonius for help in finding her whereabouts.
Anyone who knew Diluc would be shocked. The man who hated the Knights of Favonius more than anyone had lowered his head and asked for their help.
That was how important Etoma was to him.
And yet… even after another day, there was still no trace of her. It was as if she had vanished into thin air.
Even those who had falsely accused Etoma, the sole reason of her missing status, no longer remembered anything. Their memories had already been altered.
"Sigh..." Jean stood up. "I'll join the search."
Lisa immediately stopped her.
"No, you should rest. You haven't slept since yesterday. That's why I came here."
"If I rest, then what about him, who hasn't rested for three days straight?" Jean replied with a faint smile. "Compared to me, his situation is far worse."
"I'm truly grateful to Diluc. Even if he never shows it publicly, I know he's been protecting Mondstadt from danger all these years. This is the least I can do to repay him."
Lisa sighed.
"Do as you wish."
"Thank you."
.
"Eula!" Amber's voice rang out as she ran toward her.
Eula barely spared her a glance before turning away again. She sat on a fallen log, shoulders tense, exhaustion clinging to her like a shadow. Two days—two days without rest, without stopping.
"Eula… let's go back for now," Amber said softly, her breath uneven. "You need to rest. We can keep searching tomorrow—"
"Don't."
Eula shot to her feet.
The single word was sharp enough to wound.
Her hands trembled as they clenched at her sides. "Etoma's whereabouts are still unknown…" Her voice wavered, barely holding together. "She's out there… she's still out there, Amber…"
She turned, raising her voice.
"And she's probably alone! or worse, someone probably hurting her!" Eula's voice broke as it rose. "The one we don't even know her current condition. We don't know if she's hurt, if she's scared, if she's even—" She choked, breath hitching. "—and you're telling me to rest? DON'T BE ABSURD!"
Tears spilled down her face, unchecked.
"Etoma is… my most precious friend, Amber…" Her voice dropped into something fragile, something painfully human. "How am I supposed to sleep… knowing she might be out there suffering?"
Her fingers dug into her palms as if grounding herself from falling apart.
"Don't you feel it?" she whispered hoarsely, before her voice surged again. "Don't you feel even a little worried about her?! Do you even have a heart, Amber?! Answer me!"
"Etoma is my friend too!" Amber's voice cracked as she shouted back, tears streaming freely now.
"She's my precious friend too… how could I not be worried?" Her voice trembled, softer this time, breaking at the edges. "I just… I don't want you to collapse before we even find her…"
Step by step, she moved closer.
"Please… Eula… at least think about yourself too…"
The fight drained out of Eula's body. Slowly, as if her strength had finally abandoned her, she sank back onto the log.
"Etoma…" A broken sound escaped her, half sob, half whisper.
She covered her face with both hands, shoulders shaking as the weight of it all finally crushed her.
"Eula..." Amber slowly patted her back.
.
"Captain, this area already been searched."
"Search again," Kaeya said flatly.
"But Captain-"
Suddenly, the man being grabbed by his collar.
"If you value your life, just follow the order and search. I won't repeat it again,"
"Y-yes sir!"
The man scrambled away in terror.
.
CRASH!*
"DAMN IT!"
"M-Master Diluc, please calm—"
"Damn it… damn it… DAMN IT!!"
Furniture shattered under his hands.
Glass splintered.
Everything within reach—destroyed.
Diluc gripped his hair, his breath uneven.
"…Etoma…" His voice cracked. "Where are you…?"
Then—His expression darkened. A killing intent flickered in his eyes.
"If I find whoever did this…"
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"If I managed to find the one behind it, I swear I will make him suffer with my own hands..."
.
Chaos unfolded across Mondstadt.
Jean moved tirelessly, asking for information from anyone she could find. Eula forced herself onward, beginning yet another round of searching despite her exhaustion. Kaeya led a massive search party through the beyond. Diluc scanning every single sheet of paper, chasing even the faintest clue. At Windrise, Venti rested beneath the tree, still recovering from his stolen Gnosis. Meanwhile, the Traveler and Paimon darted from place to place, searching endlessly for Etoma.
And yet, amidst the chaos—
A lone figure in a black robe walked calmly through Mondstadt's disordered streets.
Her bangs covering her eyes. A massive backpack loomed behind her, rising well above her head.
She paused, glancing at the unrest around her, before letting out a quiet murmur—
"What a messy situation~ …I suppose I could make a profit from this, fufu~"
.
.