Unlike Liyue Harbor, the economic heart of Teyvat, Mondstadt in the early morning appeared somewhat deserted. There were few people on the streets, and most of them were adventurers preparing to accept commissions.
So when Yae Publishing House's light novels were brought out at the Adventurers' Guild gate, the crowd that gathered was mostly adventurers. As adventurers, they had their own pride. They looked down on Yae Publishing House and its light novels. Their own adventures were far more interesting than those stories.
But when the adventurers saw that the book covers featured some truly famous figures, they no longer dared to dismiss them lightly.
Dvalin, the Dragon of the East of Mondstadt. The Raiden Shogun of Inazuma. An unfamiliar adeptus from Liyue. Each of them was a well-known name across the continent. And even the bard who often sang on Mondstadt's streets was on the cover—standing alongside the Raiden Shogun in the central position? How dared that bard do that?
But the next moment, when the adventurers learned that the bard on the cover was none other than Mondstadt's own Anemo Archon, Barbatos, they were stunned. That ordinary bard who even had to run tabs for his drinks—he was Lord Barbatos?
Their first thought was that Yae Publishing House had made it up. How dare they fabricate stories about Mondstadt's Anemo Archon? That was outrageous. Yet they couldn't suppress their curiosity.
So many adventurers decided to buy a copy to try it out.
"How much? I'll take one. Let me see."
"Don't go yet. If the novel doesn't have the stories you mentioned, I'll report you for false advertising. The Knights of Favonius will punish you."
"I want one too. I want to read the Anemo Archon's story."
"Same here. I heard the Raiden Shogun's strike is incredibly powerful. Is there a story about that?"
After the Yae Publishing House salesperson introduced the stories contained in the light novels, the adventurers' attitudes gradually shifted from disdain to curiosity. They began scrambling to buy copies.
Facing the adventurers' questions, the salesperson said seriously, "All those stories are included. Our Raiden Shogun swings that blade twice in the stories—easily achieving a double kill."
Due to time constraints, only a hundred copies had been printed in the first batch. Before long, they were sold out. The adventurers had come early in the morning to accept commissions and go on adventures. But driven by curiosity, they bought the light novels. The moment they opened them, they were completely immersed in the stories.
The Raiden Shogun of Inazuma became that strong through such experiences? The little zombie of Liyue Harbor went through all that to become a zombie? Lord Barbatos, our Anemo Archon, was just a wisp of wind 3,000 years ago, raised by listening to a boy's harp? The black dragon Durin and Dvalin were brothers? A disciple of the adepti was sacrificed by her father? Was that a collapse of morality or a failure of the law? The once-mighty god Orobasi was ordered to die by the Heavenly Principles after reading a strange book? The Raiden Shogun killed her brother's reincarnation twice? And even that guy Bennett was written into the light novel? The formidable Benny's Adventure Team has only Bennett himself?
After reading these light novels, every adventurer present felt as if a new world had opened before them. They saw a completely fresh world.
For these ordinary adventurers, the stories in the light novels were very interesting—as interesting as adventure commissions. But a light novel was still just a light novel. In the adventurers' eyes, these stories were merely fabrications by that editor from Inazuma's Yae Publishing House. They couldn't possibly be true. Because these stories were simply too absurd to believe.
Facing the adventurers' doubts, the Yae Publishing House salesperson sneered. "Tch. Lord Barbatos himself has admitted it. And you still don't believe it? Our Raiden Shogun herself cried several times. How could it be fake? And that disciple of the adepti from Liyue, and that little zombie—they were both present at Wangshu Inn and confirmed the truth of the stories. Moreover, even Dvalin flew to Wangshu Inn and was subdued by the storyteller on the spot. What else is there to doubt?"
The salesperson told them everything he knew, leaving the surrounding adventurers dumbfounded. They could hardly believe it. All those famous names across Teyvat had actually gone to Wangshu Inn in Liyue Harbor? What a spectacular scene that must have been!
The adventurers listened with rapt attention and then asked, "You said all the main characters from the light novels went to Wangshu Inn. What about Bennett? Did Bennett go to Wangshu Inn too?"
For these adventurers, they might not have access to the exalted Anemo Archon or the mighty Dvalin. But as fellow adventurers, they saw Bennett almost every day. They knew him very well.
Hearing the Mondstadt adventurers' question, the Yae Publishing House salesperson hesitated for a moment, then said seriously, "As far as I know, Bennett hasn't gone to Wangshu Inn because he doesn't know about what's happening there. But if he learns about these stories, he will definitely go without hesitation. As for the truth of Bennett's story, you can ask Bennett himself to verify it. I guarantee it's all true."
These salespeople had also listened to the storyteller at Wangshu Inn. They were very confident in the truth of the stories.
Hearing this, the Mondstadt adventurers became excited. "Let's go find Bennett. Ask him if his story is real."
"I never thought that kid Bennett was actually found in the Valley of Despair."
"I've never heard of a treasure like that."
Just as some adventurers were preparing to find Bennett and verify the truth of the light novels, a familiar voice came from behind them.
"Did someone call my name? Do you want to team up with me for an adventure? Sorry, but Benny's Adventure Team already has its own commission. We can't go with you."
It was Bennett's voice. As the leader of Benny's Adventure Team, Bennett had also come to the Adventurers' Guild early in the morning to accept a commission.