February 23, 2023
Chapter 7
Mondstadt
Still at the crashsite
The meeting became more of an interview as minutes passed by like nothing.
James was thankful that they didn't pry too much in his background. Just the general question of whether if he's interested in messing the daily lives of the locals. All in all, their concerns is related to whether he plans to be some kind of villainous overlord, a philanthropic guardian, or just some guy does as he please.
A character test, so to speak. James was aware of their wariness from their perspective, and he cannot place blame.
"Any motives? Any plans? Any reasons why… you're building those… constructs?"
"I got plans to leave this place. Not this planet, but just Mondstadt."
He resisted the urge to groan. It's like kindergarten all over again. Oh, what do you want to be when you grow up? What do you think you will be doing ten or twenty years from now on?
Explore space, regret it, crashland on a rimworld, escape, and get teleported on some medieval world with crazy psycasters.
That's what.
"Eh?" Lisa had skepticism over what she heard as she recorded the interview with a humble quill pen and parchment. Instinctively, she dipped her pen's tip on the ink bottle.
"Come again?"
"I don't really plan on staying here. Mondstadt looks nice, but I'd rather find a remote place somewhere I can claim as my own."
A little silence.
Lisa's mind raced in said silence.
James looked at the droids working together to build and prepare more launch pods.
The knights got a little loose and seemed to have gotten more comfortable… and by comfortable, more knights from the outpost came in to check like children drawn to a entertainment park. With the droid fabricator being the greatest attraction, the knights stand around in awe and wonder as they witness giant metal arms on a great platform printing another droid in place. He supposed they can't be blamed for being curious, but so much for being professionals.
But he suppose that would be for the better. He would rather not all of them bunched up on the other side of the table where Lisa currently sits. Alone.
He was amused with their interaction as one of them, a young teenage maid, tried to interact to a droid, only to be left ignored.
"My name is Noelle, maid of the Knights of Favonius, and it's my pleasure to meet you!"
The droid passed her wordlessly as it carried a jerrycan of chemfuel to fuel another pod, leaving Noelle in an awkward silence.
James giggled. It reminded him when people from a tribal faction visited their base being awed by all sorts of technology.
Again… so much for being professional.
But hey.
It's their place.
He's technically the home invader. He doesn't trust them around his stuff, but he trust they wont cause trouble for anyone, and that they wouldn't be unwise as to lose his favor. He left them to their own, as he turned to Lisa.
"You… you have planned to leave?" Lisa asked, hovering her quill just a few millimeters above the parchment. "Does… does that mean you'll also leave your belongings behind?"
"Oh don't misunderstand me. I'm taking them all with me."
"… Eh? What? You mean… you're going to carry everything? All of… those?" She pointed her quill to the small hill of steel and other materials, and to all the crates arranged in a pile. "Ah! I assume you'll build an army of those automatons to carry-"
"Just assume I can to very far places in a few moments." James lock deeply into Lisa's eyes. "Since I can and will, what are you going to do?"
"… I… admit, we would be concerned that a person like you go where as you please," Lisa wasn't expecting this, and her expression betrayed that notion. Lisa wrote her report with some hesitation. What will she write? That he has means for a long range transportation? "Well… this is quite a development. But… would you not mind to stay here in Mond? Our leader would do everything for your accommodations."
"Lisa… someone attempted to kidnap me and get everything I have. I have reasons to leave this place, and less to stay. I wouldn't mind signing the contract regarding the compensation, but after that? I'll take my leave."
Lisa seemed hesitant to answer, but she eyed him with empathy.
"Yes. It was an ugly experience… but if you were to stay in Mondstadt-"
"And how could I trust you people when you can use your ignorance on me? Play me with lies and deceit?"
"That would be the Fatui's specialty." Lisa laughed mirthlessly. "You have rights to be suspicious… but we're willing to do everything to earn your trust."
"Even if you have genuine concerns of my wellbeing, can you protect me?"
"We will do everything-"
"Then how come you left me? How come the Favonius… just simply watched me in the background? As I fought for my life?" He pointed at Lisa with an accusing finger and leaned inquisitively, causing her to be under subtle discomfort.
"It… isn't that simple. You don't understand. Jean did everything she could."
Lisa carefully chose her next words. His words stung, but he was right. The Favonius was the bystander. They were supposed to be an upholder of justice… but even Jean couldn't do anything in front a harbinger's presence. For good reasons. Reasons that would put Mondstadt in danger if she took direct action.
"Well, your everything was not enough." James said blankly, with an equally blank expression.
The words stung.
Yes, The Knights Of Favonius was incomparable to the Fatui, but to be judged so recklessly by some man who barely knows anything?
Lisa couldn't let that one away.
"Il Dottore, second of the Eleven Harbingers. That was the person you fought. He has… power in every sense of the word. The Fatui have power all over Tevyat, but if we give you an official place in our nation, things will be different. You won't be some vagrant left in the wilds to be claimed by hounds."
A brief silence, until James then decided for another push.
"… And how would that make you different from them? If I stay in Mondstadt, then answer with utmost honestly. What of the Fatui? Will they do everything to get their hands on me? And if they will, would the Knights Of Favonius have the strength to resist them?"
"… It… I." Lisa hesitated to answer, her voice stuck in her mind. The large majority of the Knights Of Favonius are away in an expedition, and the Fatui will have their full attention to Mondstadt if that were to be…
"… You didn't put much thought into this, huh. Just because you think I'm stuck in this world for good, means I'll give in and give myself to anyone? Is that what you were thinking?" He chuckled. "At this point, then I suppose that's another reason to leave. I would not take pride in being a burden to you kind people."
Those words were genuine. Depending on some medieval military would be no different from calling your tribal allies to fend off a mechanoid raid. At the very least, they'd be a distraction, sacrifices to get a window to line up your gun sights to the killer machines.
(AN: It's why I don't make tribal factions an ally. Speaking as a CE player.)
He didn't want to treat the The Knights Of Favonius the same way, in as much as he don't want to be used for their own means.
Lisa wanted to object, to say anything, but her voice was stuck in her throat. He thinks that this world is out there to get him, and that was an opinion she wants to change. Of course, nothing made a worse first impression of this world than fighting a Harbinger after moments of waking.
There was much to know, of course, but James imagined how his future would go if he were to stick himself out there in the world for everyone to know, backed by people whose strength barely held any weight.
It wasn't a nice thought.
More reason to find his own super secret island and build a super secret base.
Super secretively.
James met people of ancient origins with superhuman abilities, from bunkers centuries old. They were isolationists through and through. They were brought to a world where they could trust no one, where they are forced to depend with nothing but what little camaraderie they have. Being in this situation, he couldn't help but relate, the exception being that he only has himself...
Or at least that's the he believes.
Lisa fell in silence and took a breath, "I understand. We can show you a map where you could go."
"I would be grateful. Now… I'm going to be busy, so please. The contract."
A few moments of silence…
Then after a few thoughtful breath, Lisa handed James a quill and parchment with foreign letterings. He signed his name over a line around the bottom side of the parchment.
...
...
...
The terms were simple.
The crash site is now his own land for the meantime. Any drop of chemfuel he got from their trees, he has to pay a small share to Mondstadt. Oil tax, if you will. He is free to do as he please around the area, so long he is cooperative under the monitor of The Knights Of Favonius. They even provided a temporary documentations for his identity to make his status as a "refugee" known to the public as to protect him from whatever laws concerned.
For the compensation in his little logging operation…
Captain Hertha, Captain of the 6th Company, coordinator of the logistics, was wide eyed with the automatons hauling red cans and steel to their designated spot. A spot she is standing in front of, alongside with her equally perplexed subordinates numbering around a dozen, and their Acting Grand Master, Jean Gunnhildr.
"I can't believe what I'm seeing, ma'am. H-He built all of those?" Hertha stammered. "And this spot is where he'll place remuneration? How many units of steel and this "chemfuel" should my company expect to transport?"
"A ton of steel and ten cans worth of oil."
That drew various reactions from the 6th company.
"A-A-A ton of steel?" Captain Hertha coughed, "T-Then considering the fairly smooth terrain from here to our warehouses… well first I need to learn the volume to weight ratio of this metal."
(AN: In game, that's 2k units of steel, or 26.6 full stacks of it. Hehe.)
Her usual place was that in the city, coordinating with the logistics and storage in knightly concerns. To be called by the Acting Grand Master in a matter involving the one who fended off one of the Harbingers? She was occupied in the city the time the battle happened, and so when she heard all the unbelievable news, she expected the worst in meeting him. But he seemed… passive.
Hertha eyed James who was eating on a table, seemingly bored in a world of his own. He made eye contact, and waved a hand and smiled politely. Hertha hesitated to wave back, but gathered her composure and returned the gesture, as she broke eye contact and turned to Jean.
"Ma'am, how did you convince for him to agree to this?"
Jean faced Hertha with a subtle stupefied expression, "… He was the one who insisted, to quote "pay for all the damages and inconveniences" unquote he has caused."
"What." Hertha's voice trailed to silence. "He… what? A ton of…"
(AN: +75 goodwill?)
A ton of steel, given just like that?! And it couldn't be some ordinary steel! Is he stupid or just generous?! Because that's a stupidly generous amount! Does he have any idea what that can get him!? How rich is he!? And... these machines keeps piling up all these metal! That couldn't be just one ton! Well... is it?
… And is he single?
Is what Captain Hertha would have said, but she kept it to herself, and sighed it all off. As if a woman like her has any chance. She took a pocket clipboard and a pencil, writing all needed instructions to get carts, measuring equipment, and a labor force under her company.
"Here. Get all available teams and weighing equipment now." Hertha ripped the paper and handed it to a subordinate. The knight messenger ran like the wind. Hertha eyed James again eating in peace, and to the scene before her, where all the robots hauling in a cycle, carrying steel in their arms more than what an average person could.
The captain of the 6th company will be busy this day.
...
...
...
All the knights watching the two droid fabricator in action were startled as the two pair of great metal arms retracted, and the two droids in the making twitched to life. The audience scuttled away with panicked expressions when the two droids stepped off the platform, then stood still like statue.
The knights stood still in amazement.
James walked to them, spoke to the automatons in a language alien to their ears, as the knights watch the man with awe.
"You're D-seven, and you're D-eight. Both of you construct a comms console and a machining table near those generators. After that, D-seven, take the grinder and deconstruct the ship, and for D-eight, come to me."
The knights watched the automatons gather materials and began building things they cannot fathom. There was around two dozens of people from the Knights Of Favonius all around the perimeter, and more from Hertha's company as they labored loading steel onto their carts, their donkeys lay idle on the ground.
"Lisa!" He made sure she heard, as she was currently in a conversation with others.
"James?" Lisa expressed her concern.
"Tell everyone to back away from this thing." James pointed the ship. "It's going to get noisy later."
"Oh? What will happen?"
"One of my droid will just work on something. Nothing much. Thanks!"
Lisa looked skeptical, then shared the warning to everyone.
James walked near the launch pods, cross-legged on the ground besides the salvaged camera modules gathered last chapter. Some knights gathered around, while others stole glances, like curious children. Even if they're standing near just a few meters away, he ignored them.
He supposed his lacking ability to converse with the locals had one advantage. No one would try bother speaking with you. There's only Lisa, but she seems to be discussing with their leader about something, with other captains along with some new people, including the blonde boy that James remembered from the cathedral, and this blue-haired gal with a mean look on her face…
Concentrate.
Whatever. Not his business.
He tried to pull a lid of a box, but his gloved fingers slid on the seams.
Ugh. Can't do anything inside this bulky space suit.
He pushed himself to stand and slid his hands all over the suit to unlatch whatever buttons and locks and zippers to get the suit open, then pulled it off of his whole body.
He heard gasps. It wasn't audible for ordinary people, but his bionic ears picked it up.
Enemies?
He turned around to see anything…
People were looking at him oddly. Well, more oddly than usual. He looked at himself. He wasn't naked, that for sure. Was it his black, gleaming, full body, skintight, plasteel bodysuit?
It's a full bodysuit made of plasteel crystalline fiber. It's light and thin, but surprisingly sturdy.
(AN: Yes, its from Rimsenal.)
He turned to the nearest knight who stood transfixed, a female one, as her lips slightly quiver looking down at his body.
Why is she blushin- oh… right.
He sighed. Maybe he should have been more careful… especially in cultures with conservative values. But oh well, that's on them. He wasn't embarrassed being stared at like candy, and besides, he can't do any fine work that needs fine dexterity inside a space suit. It's not like he can remove the gloves independently, being whole with the rest of the suit.
He coughed loudly to the girl staring. The female knight made eye contact, then as her face flustered, she turned and walked away. He glared at everyone staring at him. They tried their best to mind their own, much to everyone's awkwardness.
... Back to business.
It took him some time to find all the necessary components and combined them. No need to solder anything, considering all electronic components are modularized and standardized.
(AN: Very fancy engineering term much smart very wow)
D-eight came to him.
Oh. It's here. That means they're done constructi-
A loud shrieking noise caused everyone to wince as they turn in panic to the source. It was D-seven with a grinder, grinding the ship frame apart. The ones near the carcass of the ship suddenly withdrew from the automaton, as everyone distanced themselves, their hands plugging their ears.
Well. I did warn them. Haha.
Everyone winced at the noise but him. James may have sensitive bionic ears, but they're selective. It can hear a conversation opposite of the street in a lively market, but it can also muffle gunshots from an arm's length. Works much like electronic earmuffs. He didn't know what they were shouting about, but surely it was something unpleasant.
"D-eight. Weld this thing here securely. Face it upside down." James handed the droid a camera module and patted the bottom of the nearest pod.
James walked to one of his stools, uninstalled it, and installed it in front of the comms console. The screen lit up as he navigated the computer to connect with the camera module's wireless link. The a window appeared that showed the live stream of the camera, showing sparks as the droid welded the thing in place.
Everything's going well.
For the short while, he switched to one of the comms window, one that searches for any communication channels, for any frequency, for any signal traffic…
He waited for results… with hopeful expectation…
…
And he waited…
…
… But nothing.
No radio. Not even patterns of anything that resembles this world's equivalent of Morse code.
Meaning, there's not even ancient satellites he can connect to and download geographical data for public use, making this world remote and primitive. More so than any places in the rims. He sighed deeply, much to his indecision if that was good or not. He's likely the only person with access to technologies centuries ahead of anyone.
A shame… well, I got everything I need anyways… let's move on.
He looked at D-eight, standing idle. Using the comms console, he typed many bills and orders for all droids to fulfill, as D-eight went to haul steel along with others. And after that? They'll go on to do other things without needing face-to-face inputs. He sighed in relief, eased that he doesn't have to depend on verbal commands for the basic jobs. No more "do this, then that, then this" and no more guessing which of the droids is which.
Now…
For the fireworks.
He switched to a map application. The main display window showed nothing. His position is all surrounded with fog of war. No surprises there. Then he switched to the launch pod application. Selecting the one with the wireless camera, he set a coordinate to land somewhere.
[Unknown coordinates applied]
[The contents will be lost]
[Proceed?]
[Y/N]
End
March 25 2023 - Slight edits.
So... been two weeks since last upload.
Eh.
I've been roleplaying with genshin characters in . I want to take inspiration from my many interaction. So far, I have ideas on how this story could go, one not any less entertaining as the other. Problem is in how I could connect them.
Still. I'll take my time laying the foundations and his place in Tevyat.
Shameless advertisement incoming.
Ko Fi
hattycat
That's my page. If anyone appreciates my work, and my will to live, I love you and I appreciate you too. If anyone considers tipping me a dollar, just know what you'll have a special place in my hear-
Okay.
Too cringey.
Lmao.
Love ya'll.