Genshin Impact: Villain Impact

"I…" 

Lucas was just about to speak when the door suddenly flew open with a loud "bang." A middle-aged man walked in, his face expressionless.

"Father?" Lucas was slightly startled. The man who entered was none other than his father, Schubert.

"Uncle, I…" Eula began to explain, but Schubert shook his head and said, "There's no need to say anything."

Schubert placed the key he was holding back into his pocket and said calmly, "This decision is mine. Eula, this farce between you two has gone on long enough."

"About this farce between you two," Schubert said coolly, "I've always known. Young people tend to do reckless things, and I've tolerated it for long enough. But now, it's time for it to end."

"This isn't a farce," Eula said firmly, her gaze unwavering. "Lucas and I love each other deeply. No matter what, I won't give him up."

"Sigh…" Schubert let out a soft sigh, but a wry smile appeared on his face. "I never liked playing the villain who breaks up lovebirds."

"Then why are you opposing us?" Eula asked, clearly puzzled.

"Because, for him, there are more important things to focus on right now," Schubert replied. "I'll make a deal with you. Five years. No matter what happens, in five years, Lucas will end this marriage. Whatever happens between the two of you after that is your own business."

Lucas was unexpectedly moved by his father's words. He had never imagined his normally stern father could show such a gentle side.

"Eula, please believe me," Lucas nodded. "I swear on the five-year promise, I will not fail you."

"At this point, if I keep pushing, it would only make me seem immature." Despite her words, Eula shot Lucas a disapproving look. "I just hope whatever you're doing is worth the five-year wait."

---

[Entering text mode...]

[Age 22: Your political marriage to the Gunnhildr family proceeded smoothly, which only deepened your suspicions. It seemed as if the Gunnhildrs were trying to avoid suspicion by agreeing so easily.]

[You had no expectations for this marriage. Whether your bride was plain or beautiful, you knew you had no choice but to accept.]

[The wedding wasn't particularly grand, though both families invited a fair number of prominent figures. You were certain that Eula would never attend such an event. But to your surprise, you spotted her at the wedding.]

[She didn't seem affected at all. Moving gracefully between guests of both families, she looked like just another attendee.]

[The only explanation you could think of was that she had come to witness your humiliation. After all, Eula's beauty was renowned throughout Mondstadt. No matter how attractive your bride might be, she would surely pale in comparison to Eula.]

[Finally, as the wedding music began, you laid eyes on your bride for the first time. To your shock, it was none other than Jean Gunnhildr!]

[Yes, the very same Jean who had been the WindBlume Festival princess you met as a child.]

[Her beauty rivaled Eula's, though she lacked the same level of fame due to her family's position. You had never expected the Gunnhildr family would offer their eldest daughter to you.]

[Dressed in her wedding gown, Jean naturally took your arm and, gazing into your eyes, whispered, "I told you we'd meet again, little one."]

[Compared to your childhood encounter, Jean had matured both in appearance and figure. The wedding gown accentuated her perfectly, and not even Eula's presence overshadowed her.]

[Jean seemed completely at ease. As the main figures of the wedding, you both had to make the rounds. You thought Eula would seek you out, but before that could happen, Jean led you right to her.]

["You must be Eula," Jean said, raising her glass with sincerity. "My husband has told me how much you've taken care of him. Let me offer this toast to you. May you bless our marriage."]

Offering a toast to your "ex" at your wedding.

Could there be anything more awkward?

Even though it was text mode, Lucas felt an intense secondhand embarrassment, like he could dig a hole with his toes and crawl into it.

["Of course," Eula replied gracefully, taking a sip of her wine with a smile. "I wish you both a long and happy life together. May you have many children."]

[Though Eula smiled, you clearly saw small cracks forming in the glass she was holding.]

[As you and Jean prepared to move on, Eula suddenly called out to you: "Brother Lucas, we were so close as kids. Don't you want to share a few more drinks with your sister?"]

[Without waiting for a response, Eula poured three more glasses of wine and downed them in one go. Though conflicted, you stayed and shared three drinks with her.]

[Thanks to your Never Drunk skill, even three hundred drinks wouldn't affect you. But watching Eula force a smile as she drank tore at your heart.]

[Perhaps trying to drown her sorrows, Eula drank a lot that night. Though you stayed close to Jean, your gaze never strayed far from Eula.]

[As the wedding was winding down, a tipsy Eula staggered over to you and Jean once more, slurring slightly. "Brother… can you help me to the restroom?"]

[Faced with her request, your options are…]

[1. Agree]

[2. Refuse]

[3. Ask Jean to take Eula instead]

In this situation, refusing would be the polite choice. After all, it was his wedding, and walking off with another woman might look strange.

But Eula was like a sister. Refusing her might raise suspicion instead.

"I'll agree."

As soon as Lucas made his choice, a system notification popped up—

[Forcing entry into immersive mode...]

Again?!

How much do you enjoy watching these awkward scenes play out?

Looking at Eula's drunken, hazy eyes, Lucas could only sigh inwardly.

"Sister Eula, I'll help you." Lucas gently supported her, turning to Jean. "I'll be right back."

"Alright," Jean said with a kind smile. "Take good care of… our sister."

For some reason…

Lucas couldn't shake the feeling that this version of Jean, in the simulation, had a slightly… mischievous undertone.

Of course, it might just be his imagination.

After all, her upbringing in the simulation differed from the real Jean, so her personality was bound to have some differences.

Lucas quickly brought Eula to the restroom. But as they approached, Eula leaned weakly against him, her voice soft. "I can't walk anymore… help me inside."

Luckily, the restrooms were unisex single stalls. Though exasperated, Lucas still dragged Eula's limp body to the door.

Just as he was about to close it behind her, Eula grabbed his wrist and pulled him into the stall with her.

With a loud bang, the door slammed shut.

By the time Lucas realized what was happening, he found himself pinned tightly against the stall wall by Eula's hands.

"Huh?" Lucas was stunned, mumbling, "Sister Eula… what are you doing?"

"What do you think?" Eula looked down at him, her cheeks flushed with a rosy tint. "I had to watch my dear little brother become someone else's 'dear little brother.'"

"You… you're drunk," Lucas said helplessly. "I should leave."

If anyone discovered the groom locked in a bathroom with another woman on his wedding night, rumors would undoubtedly spread like wildfire.

"Are you kidding?" To Lucas's surprise, the drunken haze on Eula's face disappeared in an instant, the flush retreating as well. "You think I'd get drunk so easily? After years of family events, my tolerance is as strong as steel."

She was… pretending to be drunk?

Lucas felt a jolt of nervousness. "Eula, you know this was all just an act. It wasn't real."

"Even if I know that, watching you get cozy with her makes me angry," Eula pressed a finger to Lucas's lips, pouting. "Just the thought of you two doing 'this and that' tonight makes me feel terrible!"

Indeed, the most awkward thing about a wedding is that every guest knows what happens on the wedding night.

"Damn, if only your bride were ugly or fat," Eula said with annoyance. "At least then, I'd feel a bit better about it."

"It doesn't matter," Lucas shook his head. "In my eyes, Sister Eula is always the most beautiful woman."

"Save that sweet talk for your new bride," Eula finally calmed down a bit, though she was still irritated. "I'm not that petty. Even if this marriage is a sham, the duties that come with it still need to be done."

Lucas understood Eula's feelings all too well.

After all, watching the man she loved for years be sent into another woman's arms would make any woman feel emotional.

"But…" Eula's tone suddenly shifted, her eyes locking onto Lucas with intensity. "If you dare put more effort into being with her than you ever did with me, you're dead!"

"Why… why is this such a strange competition?" Lucas groaned, feeling a headache coming on. "Do you realize I almost blew my cover earlier?"

"You're upset over something like that?" Eula let out a laugh, her anger starting to fade. "Well then, as your sister, I should make it up to you."

"Wait… wait a second…" Lucas's face flushed. "What… what are you planning, Sister?"

"What do you think?" Eula adjusted her position, a mischievous smile on her face. "That Gunnhildr woman has been provoking me all night. So, I'll give her a groom who's too exhausted to do anything on his wedding night!"

No way… not here!

Just as Lucas reached for the door handle, he suddenly heard footsteps outside.

Crap, I can't leave now.

Panicking, Lucas lifted his feet off the ground, hoping the person outside wouldn't notice the shadow of two pairs of shoes in the stall.

"Looks like I have no choice…"

Lucas felt his mind starting to melt.

Looks like he'll just have to follow Eula's lead…

…

Meanwhile, outside the restroom, a strange-looking girl with a purple pointed hat stood by the door, her face grim as she clutched her stomach.

"Damn it! I barely managed to sneak into this wedding under the pretense of being an astrologist, and now I've got a stomachache from overeating…" the girl muttered, biting her lip. "I can't help it. I was starving for days, and the food here is just so good."

Gurgle gurgle…

Her stomach let out a cute but urgent rumble.

"It's been 20 minutes already! Is the person inside constipated or something?" Growing impatient, the girl raised her hand. A circular water mirror formed on the door, slowly revealing the inside of the stall.

It wasn't that she had any strange hobbies—she simply wanted to see what was taking so long.

However, as the image inside the mirror became clear, the pale-skinned astrologist's face turned beet red.

"This… this is Mondstadt?" the girl mumbled. "I guess it really is a city that values 'freedom,' but this is a bit too free, isn't it?"

"Mona?"

A soft voice suddenly sounded from behind her. The girl named Mona quickly dispelled the water mirror and turned around, trying to hide her nervousness with a smile. "Jean? I… I was just waiting for the restroom."

Yes, the woman who had appeared behind Mona was none other than the bride of this wedding.

What should I do?

Mona felt a wave of panic. Should she tell Jean that her new husband was in the bathroom with another woman…?

Wait… Mona hesitated. Maybe Jean already knew. After all, noble families have complicated relationships. Maybe they liked spicing things up with… these kinds of activities?

Either way, getting involved wouldn't benefit her. Better to mind her own business.

"I'm sorry for the inconvenience. As the hostess, it's my responsibility," Jean said, bowing slightly. "If you don't mind, please feel free to use the restroom in my room."

"Thank you!" Mona quickly nodded.

What a saint this woman is!

…

Ten minutes later.

"Phew…" Mona sighed with relief as she stepped out of the restroom in Jean's room. "I feel like I lost two kilograms."

"Mona," Jean, who had been waiting outside, spoke with a subtle expression. "I heard you're quite a skilled astrologist. Would you mind performing a reading for me? I'm curious about how my marriage will turn out."

At this, a cold sweat formed on Mona's forehead.

--

This kind of situation hardly needed divination to foresee the outcome—after all, it was only the first day of marriage, and her husband was already with another woman...

"My divination is quite accurate," Mona said seriously, "but I'm not the type of astrologist who would distort the results just to please others. Even if the outcome isn't what you expect, I will tell you the truth as it is."

She paused, looking directly at Jean. "Are you sure you want to proceed with the reading?"

Jean hesitated for a moment but then solemnly nodded and said, "I've made up my mind. Please, proceed with the divination."

Though she could be unreliable in her daily life, when it came to fortune-telling, Mona was always serious. She quickly performed her divination, and before long, she had the results.

"So, this is our fate?" After hearing Mona's reading, Jean gave a faint, sad smile. "Thank you."

"You're the first person who's ever thanked me after hearing the truth," Mona said, clearly moved by the result. "Most people get angry when the reading isn't what they wanted to hear. Some even call me a witch."

"Let's go," Jean said softly. "After all, I'm the bride. I can't disappear for too long."

Watching the expression on Jean's face, Mona thought about the "secret" she had seen earlier through the water mirror at the restroom. For a moment, she considered telling Jean the truth but ultimately held back.

After all, the old woman who trained her had taught her one useful lesson outside of astrology—never meddle in other people's business.

...

On the other side, after an intense "battle," Lucas finally left the cramped restroom.

Clearly, Eula had made sure Lucas wouldn't have a shred of strength left for Jean, which left him feeling slightly helpless.

"Where have you been, Lucas?" A hand clapped down on Lucas's shoulder. "My foolish daughter has been looking for you everywhere."

The man standing behind Lucas was a middle-aged man with an elegant demeanor. His golden hair was tied into a long braid behind his head, and he wore glasses that gave him a refined appearance.

This man was none other than Jean's father—Seamus Gunnhildr.

According to Lucas's intel, his real name was Seamus Pegg, who had married into the Gunnhildr family. His wife had been the head of the Gunnhildr family, but she had suffered complications during the birth of their second daughter. The baby had died young, and the trauma from that event had left her bedridden ever since.

For the past twenty years, Seamus had been acting head of the family, and it was he who had arranged Jean's marriage to Lucas.

"F-Father-in-law," Lucas felt a bit nervous but quickly composed himself. "Sorry, I drank too much earlier and had to go to the restroom for a while."

"It's normal to be nervous on your wedding day," Seamus said with a gentle smile. "Seeing you reminds me of myself on my own wedding day. It was the happiest day of my life. I hope you… will love Jean as much as I loved her mother."

"Of course. Marrying someone like Jean is an honor," Lucas said, forcing himself to say the right words.

If the Gunnhildr family was indeed the mastermind behind the "Millennium Lie," then Seamus would certainly be involved. However, Lucas found it hard to imagine that this soft-spoken man could be behind such a devious plot.

…

Soon, the wedding concluded, and the guests gradually began to leave.

Lucas was now faced with what was probably the most challenging part of this immersion mode.

He looked at Jean, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, her cheeks flushed from the wine she had drunk. Lucas couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions.

"Why are you just standing there like a piece of wood?" Jean patted the space next to her on the bed, her tone gentle. "Come, sit closer to me."

For some reason, despite being known as the "Smiling Reaper" who had interrogated countless heretics, Lucas found himself feeling a little nervous.

Jean tilted her head slightly and asked, "You don't look well."

No wonder. After all, Lucas had just been thoroughly "dealt with" by Eula not long ago… and not just once.

Given her vengeful nature, Eula hadn't left even a trace of energy in him for Jean.

"Jean," Lucas said as he sat beside her, his tone calm. "We both know this is just a political marriage. If you don't want to go through with anything tonight, I won't force you."

It wasn't that Lucas was particularly noble—it was just that, thanks to Eula, he was currently in "sage mode."

No worldly desires at the moment.

"Are you planning to make me a widow on my wedding night?" Jean leaned against Lucas's shoulder and whispered softly, "Don't blame yourself. I've already accepted my fate. At least you're not some balding old man or a bloated lord. I consider myself lucky."

"I…" Lucas began, but Jean's tenderness overwhelmed him before he could finish.

"Don't ruin the mood, okay?" Jean said gently. "Just like when we first met—leave everything to me, little brother."

"Jean…"

At that moment, Lucas felt as if he had gone back to the day when he had first caught the feather as a young boy.

---

[Talent "First Glass of Red Wine" activated: Agility increased by 75%.]

[Switching to text mode...]

[Age 23: A year has passed since you moved into the Gunnhildr family estate. During this time, you've been searching for any connections between the Gunnhildr family and the "Millennium Lie," but no solid evidence has surfaced.]

[To avoid suspicion, you've had to maintain the appearance of a loving couple with Jean.]

[Of course, this hasn't been difficult for you. Jean seems to genuinely like you. You must admit, she's an ideal wife—gentle, kind, and highly capable.]

[In public, she's a perfect representative of the Gunnhildr family. In private, she's a wife who fulfills your every need.]

[There have been times, even once or twice, where you've thought to yourself that if not for the weight of your responsibilities, spending your life with Jean wouldn't be so bad after all.]

[Age 24: However, as an enforcer, you can't forget the reality. Rafal's information provides a key breakthrough. You discover that many others like him have risked their lives in pursuit of "knowledge."]

[Handling them proves to be much more difficult than dealing with simple rebels. After all, their research into history doesn't technically break Mondstadt's laws.]

[Public opinion continues to swell, and enforcer operations increasingly face resistance. In one instance, during an arrest, a citizen resisting capture was accidentally killed, further inflaming anti-Lawrence sentiments.]

[This event triggers a surge of unrest against the Lawrence family. Around this time, an underground book titled "The Millennium Lie" begins circulating among the people.]

[The book Millennium Lie recounts a history vastly different from the accepted one. Its contents are even more exaggerated than the real history.]

[In this version, the Lawrence family's ancestor, instead of being the hero Kreuzlied who resisted the dragon and saved Mondstadt, is depicted as a tyrant—Eberhart—who oppressed the people.]

[His crimes are countless, including implementing the shameful "First Glass of Wine Decree" and colluding with the evil dragon Ursa to brutally kill Mondstadt's hero, Vennessa, who led the rebellion against the nobles.]

[This book not only claims to present the "true history" but also cites numerous sources, making it appear even more credible.]

[The publication of Millennium Lie dealt a massive blow to the Lawrence family. The current family head was so outraged by its contents that he fell gravely ill, forcing Eula Lawrence to take over in this time of crisis.]

[Many believed that this young woman wouldn't be able to handle the situation, but Eula quickly proved them wrong with her decisive actions.]

[First, she declared Millennium Lie a banned book, ordering all copies to be confiscated and burned, and made the possession of the book a criminal offense.]

[Although these actions did not resolve the underlying tensions, they temporarily stabilized the Lawrence family's rule.]

[Due to secrecy, only the heads of the Lawrence family had access to the full list of enforcers. After becoming head, Eula discovered your name on the list.]

[Upon learning this, Eula immediately sought you out, asking whether your marriage to the Gunnhildr family was part of an investigation into them.]

[After two years of being undercover in the Gunnhildr family and earning their complete trust, there was no longer any need to hide the truth from Eula. You revealed everything to her.]

[You expected Eula to be thrilled by the truth, but she remained calm. It seems that her sharp mind had already suspected something.]

[Thus, the two of you agreed to continue your investigation, with one of you operating openly and the other in secret, to uncover the mastermind behind Millennium Lie.]

["Don't think that using your mission as an excuse will let you do whatever you want," Eula said, unable to resist adding a final remark before parting. "I'll remember this grudge, and when this is all over, you'll spend the rest of your life making up for everything you owe me."]

[By this time, Eula was 27 years old. Her dream of becoming the family head had never been about power or status—it was so she could be with you openly.]

[She had devoted her life to this cause, and you knew you had no right to disappoint her.]

[Age 25: Outwardly, you maintained the appearance of a loving husband with Jean, but in secret, you continued to gather information, especially concerning her father, Seamus Gunnhildr.]

[There were many suspicious things about Seamus. For instance, he disappeared for a period every week, and for the past three years, he had been the only one taking care of his bedridden wife. Even Jean herself hadn't been allowed to see her mother.]

[Meanwhile, Eula had made a risky decision to preserve the Lawrence family's rule—she formed a secret alliance with the Fatui, who were stationed in Mondstadt's embassy. Their methods were far more effective at rooting out heresy, though certainly not legal.]

[Eula's hardline policies sparked considerable dissent within the Lawrence family. Many believed that she was betraying the family's traditions, especially by collaborating with outsiders.]

[But Eula stood firm, knowing that soft measures wouldn't pacify the people of Mondstadt. No matter the cost, this farce had to end.]

[At the same time, you noticed that Jean's condition was deteriorating. One day, she confided in you, saying she missed her mother terribly and asked if you could help her sneak into her mother's room just to see her, even for a moment.]

[In the three years of your marriage, Jean had never asked you for anything. Faced with this request, you decided…]

[1. Agree]

[2. Refuse]

"Agree."

Lucas's intuition told him that this could be a turning point.

[Taking advantage of Seamus's absence, you and Jean sneaked into her mother's room. As expected, the door was locked, but Jean had prepared for this. She pulled out a key she had made in advance and opened the lock.]

[The room was simple and cozy, and at first glance, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. But what puzzled you was that there was no sign of Jean's mother.]

[However, as an enforcer, you quickly discovered a hidden mechanism in the room. After all, you had encountered many secret rooms used to hide illegal things during your investigations.]

[Feigning casualness, you triggered the mechanism, and with the sound of gears turning, a section of the wall flipped open. What you and Jean saw behind it shocked you both.]

[Inside a large glass container was the corpse of a woman. She had been dead for quite some time, but the preservatives in the fluid had kept her body from decomposing.]

[Jean broke down immediately. The body in the container was her mother, who she had believed had been bedridden for years. In reality, she had been dead all along.]

[Her father hadn't told anyone about her death, not even Jean. Worse, he had preserved her corpse in this grotesque manner.]

[Just then, you heard footsteps approaching the room. You quickly reset the mechanism and pulled the dazed Jean into a closet to hide.]

[Judging by the sound of the footsteps, you instantly recognized them as Seamus'. He didn't seem to notice anything amiss and soon, you heard the mechanism activate again.]

[Then, you and Jean overheard a bizarre conversation.]

["Dear, how are you feeling today?"]

["Much better. The doctor says I might be able to get out of bed soon."]

["That's wonderful! I have good news—our plan is progressing smoothly."]

["Really?"]

["Yes, Lawrence won't last much longer. Soon, I'll restore the Gunnhildr family to its former glory. When that time comes, you'll be the true queen of Mondstadt!"]

["You're amazing, my love. I'm so happy. Can you kiss me?"]

[Then you heard the sound of a kiss, though it was clearly just the sound of lips pressing against glass.]

[What made this conversation truly creepy was that Seamus was speaking both parts, as if playing both roles in the conversation himself!]

[You never imagined that the normally gentle and refined Seamus had such a dark side. Of course, the person more shocked than you was his own daughter. You had to cover her mouth tightly to prevent her from crying out.]

[After Seamus left the room, you and Jean cautiously sneaked out.]

[You brought Jean back to your room, and it took her a long time to calm down. You wanted to say something to comfort her, but she spoke first: "You're an enforcer, aren't you? The reason you married me was to investigate the Gunnhildr family and its connection to Millennium Lie, right?"]

[Faced with Jean's question, your choices are…]

[1. Deny everything]

[2. Silently confirm]

"I…" Lucas hesitated for a moment before replying calmly, "Confirm."

[You silently nodded, and Jean didn't seem surprised by your admission. "Father once told me to play the role of a good wife. I always knew he wanted to restore the Gunnhildr family's former glory, but I never thought he had become so twisted."]

[Jean hoped you could stop Seamus's plan and told you that he regularly held secret gatherings to recruit followers. She gave you the time and location of the next meeting, asking you to put an end to it all.]

It seemed that Seamus had likely been suspicious of Lucas's true motives from the start, which was why he was willing to marry his daughter off to keep Lucas in check.

But he probably never imagined that even his own daughter would betray him.

[Although you weren't certain if Jean's information was reliable, trusting her posed no real risk to you. You promised her that you would do everything in your power to spare Seamus' life.]

[For this mission, you planned carefully. First, you arranged for enforcers to lay in ambush around the meeting site. Then, you disguised yourself as a follower to infiltrate the gathering and gather evidence. That way, even if your cover was blown, you could still escape unharmed.]

[Just as Jean said, you noticed people slowly arriving at the meeting location—a long-abandoned church. It wasn't difficult for you to knock out one of the followers and take their place, slipping into the group unnoticed.]

[The leader of the gathering was, as expected, Seamus Gunnhildr. He stood on a raised platform like a pope, passionately speaking about the contributions the Gunnhildr family had made a thousand years ago to overthrow tyranny.]

["The Lawrences are deceivers! They've deceived Mondstadt for a millennium, stealing the fruits of justice!" Seamus spoke like a born orator, his voice full of fervor. "Do they think we'll remain fools forever? No! We will fight for the truth! Long live the truth!"]

[The crowd erupted in a chant of "Long live the truth!"]

[You couldn't help but think of Rafal, who had spent his entire life chasing the "truth," only to have it become a tool for others to exploit.]

So they're wrapping their own selfish interests in the guise of "truth"? What a twisted argument.

["But," Seamus's tone suddenly changed, turning cold, "there's a heretic among us tonight!" He paused for dramatic effect. "My dear son-in-law, don't you think it's time to reveal yourself?"]

---

[Entering immersive mode...]

Before Lucas could react, Seamus suddenly raised his arm. What had been a thin, frail limb rapidly expanded into a monstrous black claw, resembling that of a beast, which he swung at Lucas with terrifying force.

A powerful gust of wind sliced through the air, instantly shredding the cloak Lucas had used for his disguise into pieces.

"I never imagined that even my dearest daughter would betray me," Seamus said with a calm smile. "But no matter—she will understand my intentions eventually. Everything I've done has been to fulfill her mother's wish."

"Her mother is dead," Lucas said coldly. "You talk to a corpse every day—have you really convinced yourself otherwise?"

"Shut up!"

Seamus, who had maintained a smile all along, suddenly flew into a rage upon hearing Lucas's words. "My wife is still alive! Her greatest wish was to see the Gunnhildr family restored! Once I fulfill her wish, she'll recover from her illness!"

But then, Seamus's expression shifted abruptly, and he spoke in a different voice, mimicking his wife's tone: "Darling, don't be angry. I see everything you've done for me."

Just as he had in the room before, Seamus started playing both parts of the conversation, impersonating his wife and speaking to himself. The scene was eerily unsettling.

"It's all over," Lucas said flatly. "My men have surrounded this place. Once you admit your guilt, this farce will come to an end."

"You mean these men?" Seamus clapped his hands softly, and the church doors suddenly swung open. A group of followers entered, each carrying a severed head in their arms.

The heads belonged to Lucas's enforcers—the very ones he had carefully stationed around the church beforehand.

But those enforcers had been handpicked elite troops. There was no way ordinary followers could have overpowered them.

Even if they were somehow outmatched, it should have been easy for them to retreat and report back. How could they have all been killed here?

"Did you really think I'd rely solely on 'truth' to overthrow your family?" Seamus sneered, his face now showing a faint pattern of scales, and his vertical pupils glowed with murderous intent. "I and my followers have already been infused with the Dragon's Scales. Now, witness our power!"

The Dragon's Scales?

Lucas froze for a moment.

In this simulator world, dragons were supposed to be extinct. There shouldn't be any trace of them left.

As Seamus finished speaking, the followers removed their hoods, revealing grotesque transformations on their faces and bodies. They had all undergone mutations, and they now surrounded Lucas, their eyes filled with predatory intent.

Although Lucas was strong, he didn't have the overwhelming power he once wielded in his past life. The mutated followers possessed inhuman strength, and after a grueling battle, Lucas eventually succumbed to his injuries, collapsing to the ground, gravely wounded.

Was this how this simulation would end…?

"Truthfully, I don't want to kill you," Seamus said, standing over Lucas. "After all, Jean loves you so dearly. But your existence is a hindrance to me. Don't worry, though—I'll give you a glorious death, as a sacrifice to our great Dragon God!"

Dragon God...?

Upon hearing these words, Lucas felt a sharp pain in the back of his head, and his consciousness faded.

...

"Ugh..."

Lucas slowly regained consciousness, unsure how much time had passed. He hadn't returned to the real world, nor had the system finalized his death.

So... I'm not dead yet?

Lucas glanced around and was shocked to find himself inside a vast temple. The dim glow from candles lit the walls, which were inscribed with ancient symbols resembling some sort of incantation.

A faint, metallic smell of blood hung in the air. In a corner not far away, the remains of various creatures were scattered about—livestock like cattle and sheep, as well as... human bones.

"Offerings to the Dragon God…" Lucas muttered to himself, recalling Seamus's words. "Are they planning to feed me to something? But what exactly is this Dragon God, and where does their strange power come from?"

Just then, a deep growl echoed from the depths of the temple. A dark shadow darted toward Lucas, knocking him to the ground before he could react.

Pinning him down was a massive black-purple dragon-like creature… and it seemed oddly familiar.

"Roar!"

The black dragon roared and opened its jaws wide, seemingly about to bite Lucas's head off. But just as its teeth were mere inches from him, it stopped abruptly.

"Sniff sniff…"

The dragon, which had been ferocious a moment ago, suddenly started sniffing Lucas's face like a curious puppy. Then, it extended its tongue and gave him a gentle lick.

At that moment, Lucas's memories clicked into place, and he recognized the dragon from his past life. "You're… Ursa?"

Yes!

It was the fearsome dragon Ursa!

Even though Lucas had reincarnated, he remembered this creature clearly.

However, Ursa seemed smaller than before, which was probably why Lucas hadn't recognized it at first.

Upon hearing its name, the dragon's eyes filled with tears.

Then, Ursa's body began to emit a faint glow. When the light faded, standing before Lucas was the familiar figure of a black and purple-haired dragon girl.

Since Ursa had knocked Lucas down earlier, she was still sitting on top of him.

"I've finally… found you!" Ursa's thick tail wagged energetically like a long-lost pet reunited with its owner. "That green guy didn't lie to me after all!"

"The green guy?" Lucas was still bewildered by the situation. "What's going on? And why are you here?"

Even though Lucas had reincarnated, his appearance and scent remained quite similar to his previous life, so it wasn't surprising that Ursa had recognized him.

"Well, using human terms… it's a long story," Ursa said, preparing to launch into a lengthy explanation. "A thousand years ago—"

"Uh, could you get off me first?" Lucas interrupted, his face turning a bit pale. "I'm having trouble breathing."

Although Ursa had taken on human form, her tail alone weighed as much as her entire body, making it hard for Lucas to breathe.

"How is that possible?" Ursa tilted her head. "I used to sit on you like this all the time, and you were fine."

That was true. Back then, it wasn't just sitting—there were plenty of times when they would "ride" together, so to speak.

But in his past life, Lucas had been far stronger, capable of handling Ursa's playful roughhousing.

"Could it be…" Ursa blushed, looking a bit embarrassed. "Have I… gained weight?"

That wasn't the issue at all. From Lucas's perspective, her slender waist and defined abs showed no sign of excess weight.

"No, it's me," Lucas admitted with a sigh. "I've been reincarnated as a human. All my previous powers are gone."

"It doesn't matter!" Ursa chirped, unfazed. "I'll protect you, just like I always did."

"Anyway," Lucas said, still trying to make sense of things, "tell me what happened."

"Around a thousand years ago, after you died, I wandered aimlessly around Teyvat. I didn't know what to do," Ursa began, helping Lucas to his feet. "But to keep the Mondstadt people in check, I would still fly back occasionally. Even though I stopped eating people, they were still terrified of me."

"Who wouldn't be?" Lucas said with a wry smile.

Ursa continued, "Then, that green guy… Barbatos, he found me and offered me a deal. He told me that if I agreed to be sealed in this temple for a thousand years, I'd get to see you again!"

"Wait!" Lucas suddenly realized something was off. "You're telling me that wasn't just his way of tricking you into being sealed?"

After all, Barbatos had been known for pulling tricks—he'd even faked contracts in the name of the Geo Archon. It wasn't far-fetched that he'd trick Ursa into a seal to prevent her from causing trouble.

"Of course I had my doubts!" Ursa's face turned red, her eyes shifting nervously. "I'm not that stupid!"

"But… since you're here now," Lucas's gaze softened, "I guess you agreed to the deal, didn't you?"

"Being sealed here for a thousand years was boring, but I wanted to see you, so it was worth it."

"Not being able to fly across the skies was frustrating, but I wanted to see you, so it was worth it."

"Not getting to taste all the delicious food of the world was painful, but I wanted to see you, so it was worth it."

Ursa's excitement poured out as she spoke rapidly. "Didn't you tell me that all trades need to be fair exchanges? For me, even if there was only a tiny chance of seeing you again, a thousand years of waiting was truly worth it!"

Hearing this, even Lucas, whose heart had grown cold and calculating over the years, felt his eyes sting with emotion.

"Are… are you crying?" Ursa asked cautiously.

Lucas shook his head

"It's just the rain."

"Liar!"

Ursa, showing no concern for sparing Lucas's dignity, shot back, "There's no rain inside this temple."

"So, you've been here for a thousand years?" Lucas glanced around, confused. "But there's no food or water here. How have you survived?"

"Barbatos cast some forbidden spells on this temple," Ursa pointed at the inscriptions on the walls. "While I'm in this space, my metabolism slows down significantly. And besides, I'm a dragon. Even if I didn't eat for hundreds of years, I wouldn't starve."

"What about those remains?" Lucas suddenly recalled something important. "And why are you being referred to as the 'Dragon God' by Seamus?"

"Because of the contract I made with Barbatos, I can't leave this temple. But humans can come and go freely," Ursa explained as she stroked her chin, recalling. "About twenty years ago, a human couple accidentally stumbled in here. While I don't need to eat, I did feel like indulging myself..."

"I was about to devour them," she shrugged, "but the man begged for mercy and promised to bring me food regularly if I spared them. So, I held his partner hostage until he brought me something to eat."

"Wait..." Lucas's eyes narrowed. "That man… was Seamus, wasn't he?"

"Yeah, I think that's his name," Ursa nodded. "He kept his word and brought me some cows and sheep. I had a feast. You told me before that in human society, people pay for meals, but I didn't have any money. So, I gave him a little gift."

"A gift?" Lucas quickly asked.

"A scale, of course," Ursa said casually. "You know how valuable dragon scales are. They're rare enchantment materials. Even regular armor and weapons, once embedded with a dragon scale, become priceless equipment."

"And..." Lucas muttered, his thoughts racing, "what if those scales were embedded... inside a person?"

"Huh?" Ursa blinked, caught off guard. "I never thought about that. It'd probably hurt a lot, I guess?"

"I think I understand now…" Lucas nodded thoughtfully. "Keep going."

"After I ate, I let them go. I figured that would be the end of it. But a few months later, that man came back with more livestock—chickens, ducks, cows, you name it," Ursa licked her lips as she remembered. "He said he'd continue bringing food if I gave him more scales from time to time."

"Since dragon scales are like human nails and grow back, I agreed. Even though I don't need to eat, I still enjoy it."

It seemed Seamus had lucked out by stumbling upon Ursa's weakness—her love for food. As long as she was fed, she was willing to part with dragon scales, even if they were immensely valuable.

"Not only that, he seemed to respect me greatly," Ursa added, clearly pleased with herself. "Sometimes he'd ask me questions. If I knew the answers, I'd tell him. If not, I'd just make something up."

"Wait…" Lucas's heart sank. "You told him about the events that happened in Mondstadt a thousand years ago, didn't you?"

"Of course! Especially the time we attacked the city together!" Ursa said excitedly. "I told him that story so many times!"

Great! Mystery solved!

No wonder the content in The Millennium Lie felt so authentic.

It came directly from the source... or rather, from the dragon's mouth!

Lucas quickly pieced everything together.

Twenty years ago, Seamus, after marrying into the Gunnhildr family, stumbled upon Ursa's temple by accident. He struck a deal with the dragon, trading food for her scales.

Later, Seamus learned the truth about what happened a thousand years ago from Ursa herself. He realized that this information could be used to overthrow the Lawrence family and restore the Gunnhildr family to power. With the added strength granted by Ursa's dragon scales, Seamus began to prepare.

For the past two decades, Seamus had been carefully setting his plan into motion. Now, public opinion in Mondstadt had reached a boiling point, and his "Dragon Scale Army" was likely ready.

At any moment, Seamus could launch a rebellion to overthrow the Lawrences, putting Eula, Lucas's family, and everything he held dear in grave danger.

"Ursa!" Lucas suddenly snapped to attention. "We need to get out of here immediately! Can you take me out?"

"I told you, I'm bound by my contract with Barbatos," Ursa shook her head. "I still have three more years before the contract ends."

"Three years?" Lucas rubbed his temples in frustration. "Seamus could have taken over Mondstadt by then… I can't wait that long!"

Lucas rushed to the temple's grand entrance, attempting to force the doors open. But without his former strength and lacking any weapons, he couldn't budge the massive doors.

Ursa, bound by the temple's enchantment, couldn't help either—she was forbidden from damaging anything within the temple.

What should he do?

----

What should he do?

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration hit Lucas. He grabbed Ursa's shoulders excitedly and asked, "Ursa, in the past thousand years... have you shed your skin?"

It was said that dragons would molt when they reached a certain stage of growth or suffered severe damage, allowing their bodies to regenerate and gain a "new life."

If shedding her skin could repair all the damages to her body, then it might be able to fix what was "broken" too. That would mean Lucas's special talent, [First Glass of Red Wine], could take effect on Ursa once again.

"I have, yeah," Ursa nodded, tilting her head slightly. "Sometimes, when I get bored, I molt for fun."

"Perfect!"

Without hesitation, Lucas began undoing his collar. "Let's get started then!"

"S-Started?" Ursa seemed to catch on to what Lucas was suggesting, and her face flushed a bright red. "W-Wait, is this really the time for something like that?"

"We don't have time to explain!" Lucas, now taking the initiative, gently but firmly pushed Ursa down onto the ground. His expression was dead serious as he declared, "This is to protect Mondstadt's future!"

If Barbatos knew that Mondstadt's future would be protected in such a way, who knows what expression he would have...

"Even though I don't fully understand," Ursa murmured while gazing up at the temple's ceiling decorations with a slight blush on her face, "it sounds… really important."

"Protecting Mondstadt's future… feels so good."

[Talent: "First Glass of Red Wine" activated. Reward: All attributes increased by 200%]

Lucas's gamble had paid off!

Ursa's molting not only gave him a second chance to absorb her power but also provided a strength far surpassing the first time! The process of absorbing immense power and refreshing abilities through molting made Ursa a true exploit of the [First Glass of Red Wine] ability.

"Fire and Ice Dance!"

Lucas unleashed both fire and ice simultaneously, blasting them against the massive iron doors. The rapid alternation between extreme heat and cold weakened the metal significantly. Seizing the opportunity, Lucas leapt forward and struck the weakened door with all his might.

With a resounding crash, the door shattered, and the path to freedom was opened.

"You're... leaving?" 

Ursa's voice held a trace of reluctance as she watched Lucas's figure. Because of her contract with Barbatos, she was bound to remain in the temple for another three years.

Still, she felt that it was all worth it.

If she had survived a thousand years of waiting, what was three more?

"I might know how to free you from this place," Lucas murmured. "If Barbatos set this seal, I could use his Gnosis to break it. Ursa, where is my old body buried?"

"You… didn't you tell me to eat your body?" Ursa replied earnestly. "After a thousand years, whatever I digested is probably fossilized by now."

"Huh…"

Lucas's mouth fell open in shock. "You actually ate it?"

In reality, the Gnosis of Barbatos—one of the game's system rewards—was already in Lucas's inventory in the real world. But in the simulation, the Gnosis was still housed within Eberhart's former body.

Seeing Lucas's horrified expression, Ursa couldn't hold back any longer and burst into laughter, clutching her sides. "Of course not, dummy! How could I even eat it? Your body, along with that chess piece-looking thing, is buried in the nest where we first met."

"You nearly scared me to death…" Lucas said, patting his chest with relief. "If I can retrieve that, I might be able to get you out of here sooner."

"Really?" Ursa's eyes lit up with excitement. "Are we going to fight together in Mondstadt, like a thousand years ago?"

For Ursa, the ruthless carnage of that battle had been one of the highlights of her dragon life.

"You will have a part to play," Lucas said with a mischievous grin, "and it's going to be the main attraction of the finale!"

With the power of the evil dragon, Ursa, combined with Lucas's newly enhanced abilities, he could easily sweep away Seamus's forces. But revealing Ursa's involvement would lend too much credibility to the "Millennium Lie" claims about the Lawrence family.

Instead, Lucas had other plans to not only win but also clear the Lawrence family's name once and for all.

"Father-in-law, you think your plan is flawless?" Lucas stepped out of the temple, a cold smirk on his lips. "Now it's my turn to strike back!"

...

As Lucas predicted, Seamus had taken advantage of his unconsciousness to launch an all-out rebellion against the Lawrence family. He grandly declared it a "war to overthrow the lies and reveal the truth."

Thanks to the widespread distribution of "The Millennium Lie," the Lawrence family's reputation had hit rock bottom. The deceived followers of "truth" rallied behind Seamus in overwhelming numbers, catching the Lawrences off guard.

Nobles across Mondstadt were forced to pick sides. Even some who had previously allied with the Lawrences switched sides, further weakening the family's power.

Though Eula led a valiant resistance, the Lawrence family's forces were steadily losing ground.

However, Lucas didn't immediately join the war. Instead, he sought out another group for help.

At the Goth Grand Hotel.

Even though the civil war raged across Mondstadt, this hotel—essentially the Snezhnayan Embassy—remained untouched. Neither the Lawrence nor Gunnhildr family dared to provoke the Fatui stationed there. Even a single arrow striking the hotel's window would be considered a declaration of war against Snezhnaya.

"Fascinating," said a handsome, orange-haired man standing by the window, watching the battle unfold below. "This so-called 'war' in this country is less impressive than a military drill in my school days."

This man was none other than Tartaglia, the Eleventh Harbinger of the Fatui.

"Are you talking about the second-year drill?" A light, teasing voice came from behind him. "I remember that ended with everyone brawling shirtless. Poor Tonia was scared out of her wits."

"Haha, good times!" Tartaglia laughed, turning to face the man sitting behind him—Lucas. "I've been in Mondstadt for over a month now, and you only just came to see me. That's not very friendly, now is it?"

Indeed, Tartaglia had arrived in Mondstadt over a month ago, even sending Lucas a letter to arrange a meeting. However, due to various circumstances, Lucas had avoided the meeting until now.

"You've seen the situation outside," Lucas said, shrugging. "If you still consider me a friend, I hope you'll lend Lawrence some assistance by sending the Fatui stationed here."

"This is your country's war, not ours. Snezhnaya can't afford to intervene," Tartaglia replied with a serious tone. "If Her Majesty the Tsaritsa found out I sent troops for personal reasons, I'd be severely punished."

"I don't expect you to help for free." Lucas smiled and handed Tartaglia a document. "This is the defense layout for Mondstadt. With it, Mondstadt would be like an unguarded infant before Snezhnaya."

"Mr. Lawrence…" Tartaglia's expression suddenly became deadly serious. "You realize that by doing this, you'll be branded a traitor to your nation."

Though Tartaglia often appeared carefree and nonchalant, when it came to serious matters, he never wavered.

This was no trivial affair. If word got out, Lucas would truly be branded a traitor for all eternity in Mondstadt.

"A traitor?" Lucas murmured to himself as if unbothered. "Of all the crimes I've committed, this might be the lightest."

To be honest, handing over Mondstadt's defense plans to the Fatui was something Lucas's father, Schubert, had done in the game's storyline. It seemed Lucas had inadvertently followed in his father's footsteps.

"This defense map is merely a bargaining chip for the Tsaritsa," Lucas said calmly. "As long as it's not activated, no one will know what it contains."

Tartaglia paused before bursting into laughter. "Haha, that's just like you, Lucas. Very well, I'll take this 'defense map.' If anything goes wrong, I'll report to Her Majesty that I was just a poor, deceived fool."

The two men exchanged knowing smiles.

"You always make sure you get something out of a deal," Lucas sighed. "Now that the deal's done, send me the troops."

"I've already arranged everything," Tartaglia said with a grin. "In addition, I'll be sending an officer to assist with the reinforcements."

"Oh, come on, who do you think you're underestimating?" Lucas chuckled. "I graduated at the top of my class from Snezhnaya's military academy. Leading a squad is no problem for me."

"I'll leave it to you two to discuss," Tartaglia said, snapping his fingers. "Lieutenant Tonia, come in."

As his words fell, the door to the room opened, and a tall, straight-backed female officer in Snezhnayan military uniform walked in, smiling. "Commander, what are your orders?"

"Tonia?" Lucas's face lit up with a grin. He stepped forward and threw his arms around her in an excited embrace. "Wow! You've moved up the ranks fast!"

"I could've climbed higher," Tonia said, returning the hug. "But to avoid suspicion, I had to take it slow."

"Don't make it sound like I held you back," Tartaglia laughed. "You're already the youngest female lieutenant in Snezhnaya's history. If you stood out any more, I'd have to give up my position as the last Harbinger."

Laughter filled the room, momentarily taking them back to their days at the Snezhnayan military academy. Though it hadn't been an easy time, it was one of the few carefree moments in Lucas's simulation.

"Thank you, Tonia," Lucas said softly.

"No need to thank me just yet," Tonia smiled slyly. "I never said I'd help you for free."

...

"Get out of the way!"

Mondstadt's once lively and bustling square had become a battlefield between the Lawrence and Gunnhildr families.

Eula, wielding a massive greatsword, fought like a valkyrie, fending off waves of enemies. However, the battle was far from fair. The Lawrence family wasn't just up against warriors from the Gunnhildr family, but also the townspeople Seamus had swayed to his cause.

Eula found herself holding back while fighting against the brainwashed civilians. But her enemies showed no such restraint.

"Eula Lawrence, whose blood flows with the sins of her ancestors," a voice called out.

Seamus Gunnhildr, dressed in a white robe, emerged from the crowd, his face adorned with a smile of false compassion. "There's no point in resisting any longer. The truth is out for all to see. Your family's deception can no longer fool the righteous."

"Seamus…" Eula's eyes burned with fury. "Where is Lucas?"

"Your spy? He's already paid for his sins. You'll be reunited with him soon enough."

"Die!" 

Without hesitation, Eula gripped her greatsword and leaped toward Seamus, ice gathering around the blade to form a massive sword of frozen energy.

She held nothing back this time.

However, Seamus simply raised his hands and caught the enormous ice blade with ease.

Twenty years ago, Seamus had already begun enhancing his body with Ursa's dragon scales. He'd used more than one, granting him strength on par with those who wielded Visions. 

Meanwhile, Eula was exhausted from hours of continuous fighting, clearly no match for Seamus in her current state.

With a loud *snap*, Seamus's dragon-scaled hand crushed Eula's ice blade into shards.

"Ha…" 

The impact sent a shockwave through Eula's body, causing her to cough up blood. She planted her sword into the ground to steady herself.

"Everyone, bear witness!" Seamus stood over her, raising an arm. "The sins of the Lawrence family shall be ended here by the Gunnhildrs!"

Just as Seamus was about to strike, a bullet whizzed through the air, piercing his hand and leaving a gaping hole.

"Ugh!" Seamus recoiled, but his inherited healing abilities from the dragon scales quickly began to regenerate his hand.

From dozens of meters away, Tonia stood holding a musket, her voice loud and clear. "Seamus Gunnhildr! I am Lieutenant Tonia of Snezhnaya. Your actions have jeopardized the safety of Mondstadt's people and its stability… You know what? Forget the speech. Surrender, or the next bullet goes straight through your skull!"

It seemed her years in Snezhnaya's military had rubbed off on her, giving her a sharper edge.

"Snezhnaya?" Seamus's face darkened. "You have no right to interfere in our internal affairs."

"Who said they don't have the right?" 

A figure suddenly dropped from the sky, landing beside Eula and gently helping her up. "They're my reinforcements. If you don't like it, Seamus, go find your own."

The familiar voice made tears well up in Eula's eyes.

"Sorry I'm late, Sister Eula," Lucas said with an awkward smile. "I wanted to come sooner, but I got… held up."

Lucas had expected a long-awaited embrace after their reunion.

However, Eula, mustering all her remaining strength, simply gave Lucas a light punch.

----

"I thought... you were dead."

For the first time, Lucas saw fear on Eula's face.

"How could I be?" Lucas gave a mischievous grin. "Good men die young, but villains... we last a thousand years."

"How..." 

Seamus stared in disbelief at Lucas, who had suddenly appeared before him. "I... I already offered you to the Dragon Lord."

"Next time, be sure to chop me into pieces before feeding me," Lucas said, stepping in front of Eula, still smiling. "My life is much harder to take than you think, dear father-in-law."

"Citizens of Mondstadt!"

Seamus raised his voice, addressing the crowd. "You see? The Lawrence family has not only deceived us, but they've also allied with Snezhnaya! We cannot lose! Attack! Att—"

However, the scene that followed made Seamus's voice trail off.

His so-called elite troops, empowered by the dragon scales, were all kneeling in a row, captured by the soldiers of Snezhnaya, waiting for their fate.

"These guys were indeed stronger than regular people," Tonia said casually, standing at ease, "but against a proper military force? They were just a joke. It didn't take us even an hour to wrap this up."

"How... how could it be?" Seamus's voice became hysterical. "Five hundred dragon-scale-enhanced soldiers... defeated in an hour? Even catching five hundred pigs would take longer than that!"

Though a bit reluctant to admit it, Lucas knew that in terms of military power, Mondstadt was indeed weaker compared to Snezhnaya. 

Of course, this was partly due to the fact that, in this simulation, Mondstadt lacked the force of the Knights of Favonius. In the real world, Snezhnaya wouldn't find it easy to conquer Mondstadt.

Otherwise, the Fatui wouldn't need to trade Mondstadt's city defense plans with Schubert.

Those five hundred "dragon-scale soldiers" had taken Seamus twenty years to cultivate, exchanging countless offerings of food to get them from the dragon Ursa.

These enhanced followers were the core of Seamus's confidence in overthrowing the Lawrence family's rule.

But what Seamus hadn't anticipated was that Lucas could call in military support from Snezhnaya.

After all, the Lawrence family didn't have a good relationship with the Fatui. The Fatui had repeatedly requested to station troops in Mondstadt, but the Lawrences had always refused.

"How could this happen..."

Seamus, realizing he was cornered, took a few steps back, muttering, "This can't be... I spent twenty years meticulously planning this..."

"My love, now is not the time to give up!" Seamus began mimicking his wife's voice again, speaking in a sharp tone. "We still have the Dragon Lord!"

"Yes!" Seamus's eyes lit up with renewed hope. "The Dragon Lord will help me. As long as I have the dragon, I will rise again..."

"The Dragon Lord you speak of..." Lucas pointed to the sky. "Is it that one?"

A massive shadow appeared on the ground. Countless Mondstadt citizens looked up, only to see a gigantic black dragon circling in the sky.

"The... the Dragon Lord!"

Seamus, seeing the dragon as his savior, shouted, "I'm here! Your loyal follower needs your help!"

The black dragon, as if hearing Seamus's call, slowly descended, landing in front of him.

The people of Mondstadt were frozen in terror.

Although many had heard of the infamous "Evil Dragon Ursa," it had always been considered a legend from a thousand years ago.

In Millennium Lie, it was explicitly stated that Dragon Ursa had been killed by Vennessa and the Gunnhildr family.

So, no one immediately connected this black dragon with the ancient evil.

In fact, some of Seamus's followers still believed the dragon was his guardian.

"Of course, I will help you," the black dragon, Ursa, said in a deep, resonant voice. "After all, we're partners, aren't we?"

"Did you hear that?" Seamus triumphantly declared. "The Dragon Lord is on our side! Justice will never die! The truth will never be defeated!"

"But... I'm not a 'Dragon Lord'..." Ursa suddenly roared toward the sky, "I am the demon dragon Ursa, and I'm here... to destroy you all!"

With that, Ursa unleashed a stream of purple-black flames, lighting up the sky over Mondstadt in a fiery display.

Everyone's faces showed utter disbelief.

Except for Lucas, who was desperately trying to keep a straight face to avoid bursting out laughing.

The over-the-top acting, coupled with the stilted lines...

If Ursa didn't look so fearsome, the whole act would've been exposed immediately.

Yes, the reason Lucas had arrived late was because he had gone to retrieve his previous life's body, bring out the "Gnosis" that Barbatos had given him. With it, he had broken Ursa's seal.

"I see!" 

Lucas put on a look of sudden realization, pointing at Seamus. "So all along, the ones colluding with the demon dragon Ursa were... the Gunnhildr family!"

"No... no, I didn't! I'm not!" Seamus stammered, completely taken aback by this sudden accusation. He stared at Ursa in confusion. "Dragon Lord... why didn't you ever tell me... that you were the demon dragon Ursa?"

"Well, you never asked," Ursa replied loudly. "Where is the Lawrence family? A thousand years ago, I was defeated by your ancestors, but today, I will burn you all to ashes with the flames of my vengeance!"

It finally dawned on the crowd.

"The Lawrence family didn't lie to us after all!"

"They're the true descendants of the heroes who defeated the demon dragon!"

"The Gunnhildr family are the real traitors, the ones who sided with the dragon!"

"Millennium Lie... that's the biggest lie!"

The once-loyal followers of Seamus began tearing their copies of Millennium Lie into shreds.

"Hmph... hahahaha!"

To everyone's surprise, Seamus didn't get angry—instead, he started laughing. "It doesn't matter... Dragon Lord or demon dragon, as long as it stands by my side... I am invincible!"

At this point, Seamus had reached the end of the line.

The realization that the revered "Dragon Lord" he had worshipped for years was, in fact, the demon dragon Ursa had dealt a severe blow to his mental state. Now, everyone believed that the Gunnhildr family was the one colluding with Ursa, and Seamus's grand plans had all collapsed.

Since ruling through "faith" was no longer an option, Seamus had only one path left—force.

After marrying into the Gunnhildr family, Seamus had been managing family affairs with his wife. Restoring the family's former glory had been her lifelong obsession. Even on her deathbed, she had yearned for the Gunnhildr family to regain its past brilliance. 

Seamus, deeply in love with his wife, suffered a severe mental breakdown after her death, leading to his split personality, one that embodied his wife. 

But that wasn't the only cause of his mental deterioration. The prolonged use of dragon scales from Ursa, embedded within his body, had also severely damaged both his mind and spirit. Seamus truly believed that if he restored the Gunnhildr family's glory, his wife would somehow rise from the dead.

"Dragon Lord!" 

Seamus's body trembled as he pointed at his enemies and the terrified crowd, shouting, "Use your dragon breath to purify the souls of these rebels!"

Seeing Seamus's intense reaction, Lucas was reassured. Everything was proceeding according to plan.

Lucas subtly signaled Ursa, who quickly understood. Her mouth began to glow as she gathered purple-black flames. "Mondstadt! Lawrence! Taste the flames of my vengeance!" 

A fierce-looking stream of dragon breath shot from Ursa's mouth. 

Of course, despite its terrifying appearance, the dragon breath was harmless—Ursa had only burped, creating no real damage.

Lucas stepped forward dramatically, declaring, "As a descendant of the Lawrence family, I will never allow you to destroy this city!"

With a wave of his hand, an ice wall erupted from the ground, instantly blocking the "demonic dragon breath."

"How… how is this possible?"

Seeing Ursa's attack, which he had relied on for twenty years, easily blocked by Lucas, Seamus's face was filled with disbelief. "The Dragon Lord's attack was stopped…"

Seamus wasn't the only one fooled by this performance. The onlookers, unaware of the truth, were just as convinced. In their eyes, one of the Lawrence family members had just withstood an attack from the very dragon that nearly destroyed Mondstadt a thousand years ago.

"Go… go get 'em!"

"Don't let that dragon win!"

"Evil will never triumph!"

Lucas wasn't sure whether to commend the people of Mondstadt for finally coming to their senses or laugh at how quickly they switched sides. 

Lucas wasn't concerned about their opinions, though. The reason he and Ursa were staging this performance was twofold: to solidify the Lawrence family's rule and, more personally, to completely crush Seamus's spirit. 

The dragon Seamus had worshiped for decades was nothing before Lucas—nothing would break Seamus more than that.

"Dragon Ursa!"

Lucas summoned an ice spear in his hand, pointing it at Ursa. "I will carry on the spirit of Lawrence and defeat you!"

With those words, Lucas charged toward Ursa, spear in hand.

Of course, even in his current state, Lucas knew he wouldn't stand a chance against Ursa's full power. 

But this battle was purely for show.

"Raaawrr!" Ursa let out an exaggerated roar, matching Lucas's attacks with her own. The two seemed evenly matched as they exchanged blows.

Despite the staged nature of the fight, they couldn't make it too obvious. If Lucas defeated Ursa in a single move, it would raise suspicion.

The onlookers were dumbfounded by the "epic" battle. First, there was the terror of seeing the infamous dragon Ursa, and second, the shock that a human could fight a dragon to a standstill.

Seamus, though powerful due to the dragon scales, lacked real combat experience. He couldn't see through the charade, and actually believed Lucas had been hiding his true strength all along.

Had Lucas let himself be defeated earlier on purpose, just to investigate the truth?

But while Seamus remained oblivious, others weren't so easily fooled.

On the balcony of the Goth Grand Hotel, Tartaglia (Childe) lowered his binoculars with a grin. "So, even the demon dragon is your ally? It seems my plans to infiltrate Mondstadt will have to be put on hold."

Behind him, a folder labeled "City Defense Plans" lay open on a table.

Much to Tartaglia's surprise, the folder really did contain Mondstadt's city defense plans, but they were practically useless. 

After all, Mondstadt's "defenses" were laughable at best. For an army like Snezhnaya's, those defenses posed no threat.

But now, it seemed there were far greater dangers within Mondstadt than its flimsy fortifications.

With a sharp clash, Lucas's ice spear collided with Ursa's claws, sending shards of ice scattering in all directions.

"Haven't we finished yet?" Ursa muttered in a low voice. "I'm starting to get hungry."

Back in Barbatos's temple, Ursa's metabolism had slowed to a crawl, and Seamus's offerings had kept her fed. But now, her ravenous appetite had returned full force after the seal was lifted.

"Hold on a bit longer," Lucas replied, exasperated. "I'll treat you to a whole roasted bull after this."

"Make it a hundred bulls!"

Ursa's enthusiasm surged at the thought.

"Alright, alright." Lucas sighed as a few beads of sweat formed on his forehead. 

It seemed that after all these years, Ursa had learned how to be a bit more demanding.

He'd have to "educate" this troublesome dragon properly later on.

Lucas suddenly leaped back several steps, gripping his ice spear tightly. A layer of snow and frost began to swirl around him as he gathered energy for a final attack.

After a brief moment of charging up, Lucas hurled the spear toward Ursa's chest with all his might.

"Dragon Spear Strike!"

The name was something Lucas made up on the spot, but thanks to the elemental effects he conjured, it actually looked quite impressive.

This final attack would mark the end of their grand performance.

The "Dragon Piercing Spear" spun out from Lucas's hand, dragging along a cold wind as it thrust fiercely towards the demonic dragon Ursa.

As everyone knows, in certain games, ice-type attacks deal double damage to dragon-type enemies. So, this move wasn't completely random.

Of course, just like the dragon breath that Ursa burped out earlier, this spear that appeared incredibly sharp was nothing more than a flashy display.

The ice element forming the spear's body had been diluted by Lucas, making it more like a paper tiger—strong in appearance, but weak in essence.

Ursa, on the other hand, was already "bored" and just wanted to wrap things up quickly and get some food. Without hesitation, she raised her chest and directly took the hit from the "Dragon Piercing Spear."

Among all the times Lucas's spear had pierced through Ursa, this was actually the least painful.

The ice spear striking Ursa's chest felt as if someone had taken a popsicle on a hot summer day and pressed it against her chest.

With a loud "bang," Ursa's enormous body was sent flying. After several exaggerated spins in the air, she crashed heavily onto the ground.

If this were a diving competition, she might have even scored high marks.

"Cough!"

Ursa spat out a mouthful of pre-prepared black blood, staggering as she rose and flapped her wings, quickly soaring into the sky.

"Damn you, Lawrence! You got lucky this time!" 

Ursa put on a hateful tone as she shouted, "But I'll be back!"

With that, Ursa turned and "pathetically" flew off into the distant sky.

"Trying to escape? Not so easy!"

Lucas, fully immersed in the act, struck a pose and said, "In the name of the nation! In the name of the people! I'll execute you!"

Then, he conjured another ice spear, launching another "Dragon Piercing Spear" toward Ursa's retreating figure.

At this point, Ursa was already hundreds of meters high in the air, yet the Dragon Piercing Spear behaved like a homing missile, striking Ursa right in the back.

The moment the ice spear hit Ursa, it exploded into countless shards of ice, scattering in all directions.

As for Ursa's massive body, it vanished from the sky, as if it had been completely obliterated by the spear.

Of course, this was just another magic trick of Ursa.

At the moment of impact, she had already transformed into her human form, and in the vast sky, her tiny figure was naturally beyond the sight of ordinary humans.

Watching the imposing demon dragon seemingly shattered by a mere human, everyone on the ground was left dumbfounded.

No one knew how much time passed before a cry broke the silence:

"Long live Lawrence!"

And just like an infectious disease, more and more people began to kneel and cheer in awe.

The truth from a thousand years ago had finally been "revealed." 

No matter the records or ancient texts, nothing was more convincing than reality.

Since the descendants of Lawrence had now completely destroyed the demon dragon Ursa, it stood to reason that a thousand years ago, it must have been Lawrence's ancestors who defeated the dragon.

As for Seamus, he was nothing more than a deceptive villain, trying to overthrow justice.

Ironically, by this point, the truth from a thousand years ago no longer even mattered.

Even if Lucas were to declare right now that, in fact, it had been the Lawrence ancestors and the demon dragon Ursa who had massacred ninety percent of the Mondstadt people a thousand years ago, it wouldn't change the current reverence the people of Mondstadt held for him.

The once-charismatic Seamus had now become the target of everyone's hatred. Whether it was the citizens who had not participated in the family feud, or the rebels who had followed Seamus, they all now pointed their fingers at this "deceptive" mastermind.

"Kill this scoundrel!"

"Traitor! He tricked us all!"

"Gunnhildr, leave Mondstadt!"

"No... this can't be..." Faced with the advancing mob, a trace of fear appeared on Seamus's face. "My dear, we were so close to success..."

"It's alright, Dear." His voice grew sharper. "I saw all the effort you put in..."

"Seamus, it's over," Lucas said as he walked up to him. "I promised Jean I wouldn't kill you, but... you won't escape punishment either."

"I... I've indeed lost. But... which version of history is true?" Seamus murmured in a daze. "Could the history that the Dragon God... no, that Ursa told me, be false?"

"Everything the demon dragon Ursa told you is true. Not only that..." Lucas whispered in Seamus's ear, "Ursa isn't dead. She... is my dragon."

"What..." 

Seamus's eyes flashed with surprise. He tried to speak, but no words came out. In that moment, Lucas had used his hidden fire-element power to burn Seamus's throat, ensuring he wouldn't be able to utter another word for the rest of his life.

Even if his throat were to recover, he would spend the rest of his days only able to converse with his other personality.

[Entering text mode]

[You have imprisoned Seamus in a perfect cell... It is the same palace where the demon dragon Ursa was deceived by Barbatos and awaited for a thousand years.]

[Using the Gnosis, you reactivated the sealing runes. In this place, Seamus's metabolism will slow down drastically, which means his lifespan will be greatly extended. Of course, for a prisoner, this is not a blessing but a curse.]

[Not only Seamus, but also the Gunnhildr family and the nobles who supported them have received their due punishment.]

[It must be admitted that this deeply rooted rebellion did not come without benefits. It allowed the Lawrence family to purge disloyal allies.]

[The rebels, including the Gunnhildr family, were all stripped of their noble titles. As for Jean, she was granted a pardon due to her role in reporting the situation and also because she was a victim herself.]

[Of course, the more significant reason is that Jean is now carrying your child, and this "grudge" has left Eula, who always wanted to outshine others, harboring resentment for nearly a lifetime.]

[On the other hand, the demon dragon Ursa has completely disappeared from this world. In her place, a human girl named "Ursa" has entered your life.]

[It took quite a bit of effort on your part to explain Ursa's "secret." Though Eula was not happy about the addition of another "competitor," she did not object.]

[After all, if she had protested, who knows if this dragon lady would have lost control in a fit of rage?]

[Age 26: Eula finally married you before turning thirty, stepping into the hall of marriage together. However, it was an unconventional three-person wedding.]

[The other bride, of course, was the demon dragon Ursa. Although she had no particular attachment to human marriage customs and even found wearing a wedding dress to be quite bothersome, you convinced her to participate by promising a ten-tier wedding cake, which she happily accepted.]

[After the official marriage, Eula no longer needed to take any precautions with you. Being competitive by nature, she seemed intent on making up for falling behind Jean in other ways—like through quantity.]

[However, things didn't go as planned, and it was Ursa who first brought you some happy news.]

[At first, you noticed something unusual about Ursa, such as how her previously well-defined abs were gradually becoming more rounded.]

[Of course, it wasn't surprising—this was the woman whose immense appetite had forced the Lawrence family to hire twice the number of chefs, so gaining weight from overeating was inevitable.]

[It wasn't until she complained of a stomach ache and called for a doctor that it was discovered she was, in fact, pregnant.]

[This news shocked you, as reproductive barriers between species aren't something that sheer willpower can easily overcome.]

---

[Age 27: Jean gave birth to a lovely daughter for you. Unexpectedly, Ursa, despite being a dragon, also gave birth to a son after only ten months—just like a human.]

[Though this half-blood child possessed extraordinary power from a young age, fortunately, he did not show any physical traits of the dragon race.]

[Still, the fact that both of your "junior wives" gave birth before her increased Eula's pressure, but after putting in some extra effort with you, she too finally fulfilled her wish.]

[Because of her pregnancy, Eula decided to step down as the family head. Two years ago, after your great victory over the demon dragon Ursa, you naturally became the head of the Lawrence family.]

[This transition didn't spark any controversy, after all, the position of family head wasn't that different whether it was held by you or your wife.]

---

[Age 28: Eula's moment of triumph came when, despite her frustration over "being the first wife," she delivered a shocking result—giving birth to a pair of twins, a boy and a girl, thereby "redeeming her honor."]

---

[Age 29: Your father, Schubert, officially disbanded the "Enforcers" and entered early retirement, though he quickly realized that looking after four grandchildren was far more exhausting than being an enforcer.]

---

[Age 30: The Fatui Harbinger known as "The Fair Lady" lost her title due to an accident, and the person who succeeded her was none other than Tonia, who had made outstanding contributions in recent years.]

[You and Tonia maintained contact. While you could still sense that she harbored some lingering feelings for you, her career remained a priority for her.]

[You, along with your three wives, traveled to Snezhnaya to attend Tonia's honors ceremony. Of course, you planned to take this opportunity to do a bit of traveling.]

[Ursa returned to her old tavern and, without breaking a sweat, shattered your previous drinking record, downing 563 shots of firewater—beating your "Thousand Cups Without Getting Drunk" achievement.]

---

[Age 33: Even though the children were growing up, Eula had completely lost interest in being the head of the family. Now, her new goal was to nurture these children into the future pillars of the Lawrence family.]

---

[Age 35: Your three wives each played different roles in raising the children. Eula took on the strict disciplinary role, Jean provided gentle care, and as for Ursa—most of the time, she just sat at the table and ate with the kids.]

---

[Age 41: Time passed, and you all entered middle age. Strangely enough, you noticed the passage of time on Ursa as well—she, too, was aging.]

[No one knew why this was happening. You speculated that it might be due to her prolonged human form. However, Ursa herself didn't care in the slightest. She was still the same girl who sneaked into the kitchen to steal snacks, though her appetite had also diminished.]

---

[Age 45: Your father, Schubert, passed away. He had dedicated most of his life to working diligently for the Lawrence family, often handling the "dirty work."]

[Fortunately, his later years were peaceful and happy. When he closed his eyes for the last time, surrounded by his children and grandchildren, you could still see the smile on his face.]

---

[Age 47: Unlike previous generations of the Lawrence family, you did not force the children to undergo a strict "elite education" but instead allowed them to pursue their own interests.]

[Your eldest daughter inherited Jean's gentleness and Eula's rigor. Her swordsmanship was exceptional, and although she hadn't earned the favor of a Vision, she was still the best candidate to succeed you as head of the family.]

[Your eldest son, despite being a half-human, half-dragon, with innate strength far beyond that of ordinary people, showed no interest in combat. Instead, he devoted himself entirely to music and poetry.]

[At high-end banquets and soirées, the Lawrence family's young master was rarely seen, but he was a regular at small taverns and busy markets, where his skill with the harp often caught the attention of many young women.]

[In some ways, he most resembled you in your youth. Though Eula had her complaints, you didn't see anything wrong with this—until one day, by chance, you met his poetry mentor, a bard who appeared as a young boy.]

[Your eldest son proudly introduced this mentor, named "Venti," marveling at his unparalleled skill with the strings. However, from the young bard's gaze, you detected a hint of mischief.]

["It's fascinating how two Lawrence family heads could govern this city in such different ways. You've made Mondstadt a much more interesting place," Venti said with a low smile. "You've changed my opinion of you."]

["Is there a chance..." you replied calmly, "that I don't care about your opinion at all?"]

---

[Age 50: On your fiftieth birthday, you officially passed the position of family head to your eldest daughter.]

[What's interesting is that, at the start of your second life as Eberhart, you committed countless wrongs all for the sake of power and status. Yet now, they have become the things you care about the least. All you want now is to put down the burden and enjoy a leisurely retirement with your family.]

[Age 51: You had thought your retirement would be spent leisurely, passing the time by birdwatching, fishing, and playing chess. But soon, you experienced the same struggles that your father Schubert once faced—you had officially become a grandfather.]

---

[Age 53: Playing and laughing with the children gradually became part of your daily routine. No one would ever imagine that the kind, loving man playing with his grandchildren was once a villain who nearly wiped out all of Mondstadt.]

---

[Age 54: You often told the children stories, especially about your youthful days when you defeated the demon dragon and saved Mondstadt. But they loved playing with Grandma Ursa the most, and their favorite stories were her "demon dragon tales," which were so vivid and real that it felt as if they had truly happened.]

[Even though her hair had turned white and wrinkles had formed on her face, Ursa's heart remained childlike. You once thought that her aging was simply a way to live in sync with you all—perhaps she was still that incredibly powerful demon dragon with her long life and strong body.]

---

[Age 61: Ursa fell ill. It happened without warning—she had been playing games with the children, tripped, and fainted.]

[The doctor told you that many of Ursa's organs had deteriorated from old age and that she might not have much time left.]

[You thought it was some sort of joke. A mighty demon dragon, dying from something like this? But her condition grew worse day by day.]

[You searched for the best doctors, but nothing helped. Her body became weaker, and she couldn't even eat the foods she once loved.]

---

[Age 62: One day, Ursa, who had been bedridden for a long time, suddenly got out of bed, looking much better. You thought a miracle had finally arrived. But then, Ursa told you a secret she had kept hidden for many years.]

[It turned out that her deal with Barbatos all those years ago didn't just include "waiting a thousand years." There was another condition—after her seal was lifted, her dragon bloodline would gradually fade away, and she would eventually become human.]

[Of course, Ursa didn't hesitate to accept this additional term. In fact, she didn't see it as a punishment at all, but rather as a reward.]

[In her past life, she had already experienced the pain of having to watch you grow old and die while she remained ageless. This time, she wanted to live as a human and spend her life with you.]

[It was then you realized that Ursa's apparent recovery wasn't a sign of improvement—it was her final burst of strength before the end.]

[That very night, surrounded by you and your family, she passed away peacefully.]

["Thank you," Ursa said her final words before closing her eyes: "This has been a very, very good life."]

[You buried Ursa's body in the nest where you first met her, along with the Gnosis, just like what she once did.]

---