Kamisato Ayaka and the others couldn’t help covering their mouths and giggling at the interruption. After Kamisato Satoru had put it that way, the Anemo Archon suddenly seemed a whole lot more down-to-earth.
"No, no! I said bless! Don’t get the wrong idea!"
Amber’s pretty face flushed bright red as she desperately tried to correct them.
After all, to native Mondstadters like her, Lord Barbatos was the most sacred of beings.
Kamisato Satoru looked at the innocent girl with an expression full of sympathy.
If you ever find out that your god is actually a street bard who spends every day scamming people into buying him drinks at the tavern, your entire worldview will probably shatter into pieces.
"Since we’re heading the same way, I’ll take you to Mondstadt and help you get settled in. But before that, I need to deal with those Hilichurls causing trouble up ahead."
Amber casually took the hunting bow from her back.
"I’ve got nothing else to do, so I’ll give you a hand!" Lumine immediately volunteered.
She really was unbelievably eager to help others.
As expected of the Traveler, Teyvat’s number-one errand runner.
Kamisato Satoru silently complained to himself.
"That would be a huge help. Thank you! Let’s get going!"
Amber nodded gratefully, making no attempt to refuse the offer.
Kamisato Satoru, meanwhile, let out a bored yawn. As far as he was concerned, small fry like Hilichurls were barely enough to count as a warm-up.
...
"AWOOO—!"
Yet when they actually reached the Hilichurl camp, Kamisato Satoru couldn’t help freezing for a moment.
Floating in midair before them was an enormous monster shrouded in ominous black energy.
Wasn’t that a Rifthound?
These obnoxious things normally gathered on Tsurumi Island in Inazuma or inside certain strange Domains. Around Mondstadt, they were only occasionally seen in Wolvendom.
So what was one doing beside a major road like this?
"Oh my god, Amber. You call that a Hilichurl?"
Lumine stared dumbfounded at the creature. The violent aura radiating from its body made every hair on her body stand on end.
Her instincts told her that this was absolutely not a monster she could handle at her current level.
"Those aren’t the ones I saw earlier!"
"It looks like these monsters killed all the Hilichurls..."
Amber seemed flustered as well, repeatedly shaking her head.
She rarely patrolled dangerous places like Wolvendom, so naturally, she knew very little about these unfamiliar and dangerous monsters.
"Everyone, get back!"
"Enemies at this level aren’t something you can casually handle."
Kamisato Satoru’s frivolous demeanor vanished, his gaze turning sharp.
Although monsters in Teyvat would respawn after dying, he knew perfectly well that the actual inhabitants of this world didn’t get a second chance.
The most disgusting thing about these Rifthounds was their Corrosion, which could bypass any shield. On top of that, they could teleport around like ghosts. Once their claws drew blood, the resulting continuous loss of vitality was anything but pleasant.
"ROAR—!"
Three Rifthounds teleported in front of Kamisato Satoru almost simultaneously.
Their razor-sharp claws, disconnected from their bodies, gleamed with a chilling dark-golden light mottled with purple as they viciously slashed toward his face.
Bang!
Yet the instant those claws came within a few centimeters of Kamisato Satoru, they seemed to collide with an invisible, insurmountable wall.
They couldn’t advance another inch.
A mocking smile curved Kamisato Satoru’s lips.
Before his Infinity, close-quarters attacks of this level were nothing more than a joke.
And even in the extremely unlikely event that they somehow managed to break through his defenses and injure him, his masterful Reverse Cursed Technique could restore him to perfect condition in an instant.
"Now it’s my turn to take out the trash."
BANG!
Kamisato Satoru abruptly reached out and accurately seized one of the Rifthounds by the head.
Then he brutally slammed it into the ground.
The violent impact instantly blasted an enormous crater into the earth.
"Whimper..."
The Rifthound only managed a brief cry before its entire head was forcibly flattened by the blow. The purple glow in its eyes immediately faded away.
"Oh my gosh... He’s way too strong!"
Amber stared in stunned disbelief.
To instantly kill such a terrifying monster through sheer physical strength alone was something she’d never even heard of before.
Kamisato Ayaka stood nearby, her beautiful face filled with pride.
After all, this was the elder brother she admired more than anyone.
"They’re nothing but piles of rotten bones without any flesh or blood. It’s nothing impressive."
BOOM!
Kamisato Satoru vanished once more.
Before the remaining two Rifthounds could even react, they followed their companion’s example and experienced the most intimate possible reunion with Mother Earth.
"Done. That’s a wrap."
Kamisato Satoru casually brushed nonexistent dust from his sleeve.
"If you ever run into monsters giving off this kind of purplish-black aura while you’re out traveling, remember to keep your distance. Whatever you do, don’t try to fight them head-on."
He didn’t forget to turn around and warn the others.
Kamisato Ayaka asked curiously, "Brother, have you encountered monsters like these in some ancient text before?"