"Oh? A warrior? Why are you following me? What do you want to do?"
Although she had thick dark circles under her eyes, Durandal could tell she was a good warrior. Her gaze was very similar to those Adventurers she had seen.
But why would such a warrior appear before her? What did she want to do?
"I am here to complete a task, to determine whether you pose a danger to Mondstadt."
Despite the great danger, Rosaria did not intend to hide anything. She knew that any concealment was futile before a powerful God.
Hmm? You ask why she knew Durandal was a God? Because she had secretly overheard Jean and Lisa's conversation and learned Durandal's general identity from them.
She shouldn't have interfered in such matters, but as someone who secretly protected Mondstadt, she had to ascertain Durandal's dangerousness. Otherwise, she would have nightmares and worry to the point of not being able to sleep at night.
"Pose a danger to Mondstadt? How interesting. Currently, Mondstadt's biggest difficulties are Dvalin and the Fatui from Snezhnaya. Instead of solving these problems, you come to me. Is your target misplaced?"
Durandal tilted her head: "Or are you saying you think you can handle my affairs with your abilities? Do you think your strength can contend with a God?"
"No, I am not that arrogant. But some things must be done. This is why people like me exist in Mondstadt. I must do it well."
"To protect Mondstadt? Heh! What a grand and righteous reason. You remind me of some unpleasant memories."
Durandal's eyes narrowed, and a dangerous aura emanated from her.
She held no hostility towards Rosaria; it was just that her words had reminded her of something that had happened in the past.
Rosaria crouched down, looking at Durandal with a solemn expression. She was already prepared to draw her spear and fight, even though it would likely be a futile struggle. But she had been ready for this the moment she followed her.
To Rosaria's surprise, Durandal quickly retracted her hostility. She sat on the grass, her gaze fixed on the distant sky.
"Before we continue our discussion, I want to tell you a story, human. Before that, I ask you: If a life form that is no longer considered human lives in a corner of Mondstadt, and they haven't harmed anyone, only wishing to live a peaceful life in their village, would you eliminate them?"
"No longer considered human? If they pose a danger, then there is a need to eliminate them."
Just like the Hilichurls living throughout Teyvat, even if they haven't yet shown any intention of attacking human settlements, to prevent them from attacking humans, there is a need to eliminate them.
Hearing this answer, Durandal couldn't help but laugh. She laughed loudly, so loudly that it almost attracted all the Slimes nearby.
The Slimes that noticed Durandal's laughter, upon seeing Durandal, fled quickly like startled Grass Slimes.
Rosaria didn't understand why Durandal was like this. She didn't interrupt and just stood there watching her.
After a while, Durandal finally stopped. She wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes. She had cried so hard that tears had come out.
"Need for elimination? justice? For Mondstadt? Indeed, I hate people like you the most."
Durandal waved her hand, signaling Rosaria to sit beside her.
Rosaria initially refused. You couldn't just make her do something; it made her lose face. Even if she wasn't your opponent, she still had to fight for this bit of dignity.
But after Durandal showed an impatient expression and waved again, Rosaria wisely went and sat down.
She wasn't chickening out; she just wanted to see what Durandal wanted to express. This was part of gathering intelligence, absolutely not chickening out.
"That's a story that happened in a village called the Village of Doubt. It was a mining village where a group of happy humans lived. But this peace was shattered by the arrival of a Virus. It became a dead land overnight, and almost everyone died."
"Originally, they should have died then, but their strong will to survive was felt by an Apostle. She bestowed three magic orbs upon the village chief, Angeline, bringing her back to life. Although resurrected, she was no longer human and even needed to feed on blood. But she had nothing to complain about, for at least she was still alive. She used this power to revive the other villagers, and the village quickly returned to its former peace."
Rosaria quietly listened to the story Durandal was telling. No... it shouldn't be a story, but something that truly happened in the past.
The Apostle Durandal mentioned should be herself, just like the phrase, "I have a friend." The Apostle who bestowed magic orbs upon Angeline was clearly her.
What was Durandal's purpose in telling her this story? Did that village exist in some corner of Mondstadt?
"The villagers enjoyed a period of stability, but this life didn't last. Outsiders discovered their secret. Initially, the village chief didn't make things difficult for them and let them go. But unexpectedly, those people attracted more people, and those people called them monsters, claiming they would eliminate them. Ultimately, under the weapons of Adventurers, the villagers were annihilated."
"Tell me, Rosaria, who was evil? The villagers who turned into monsters, or the Adventurers who killed them?"
Durandal stood up, looking down at her: "They did nothing wrong. They merely wanted to survive. They never harmed anyone. Even if they needed to feed on blood, they did so by consuming animal blood. What exactly did they do wrong? Were they evil?"
"I..."
Rosaria couldn't give an answer. She didn't know how to respond to this question.
In the past, the people from the Abyss Order and Treasure Hoarders she dealt with were clearly evil. But the "monsters" Durandal spoke of, even though they were no longer human, had never harmed humans. Were they evil?
"If... if outsiders hadn't discovered the village's anomaly and allowed that village to continue living peacefully, would they not have harmed humans due to their own reasons?"
Durandal shook her head: "Although they gained power after being resurrected, their way of thinking did not change. No matter how much time passed, they would not harm humans. Their craving for blood would also not compel them to commit acts that harm humans."
There was no room for sophistry here. They would not commit acts that harmed humans, and they only wanted to live ordinary lives, with no intention of causing conflict whatsoever.
All the sins basically lay with those Adventurers who called themselves righteous; it was they who slaughtered everyone in the entire village, making those who had already died once die again.
Such Adventurers cannot be considered righteous; they are merely doing evil things under the guise of justice.
"Now you answer me, I have been in Mondstadt since the Archon War. I have never caused DMG to Mondstadt. I merely live quietly in my own area, occasionally coming out for a stroll, and even helping humans in need. Am I considered a dangerous element?"
Durandal pressed closer to Rosaria, gazing into his eyes, and demanded forcefully, "Who exactly gave you the right to judge who is right and who is wrong? Who is righteous and who is evil? Don't you think you are too arrogant? Human!"
Who exactly gave Rosaria the right to decide who is righteous and who is evil? Who did he think he was? What right did he have to do this?
He did all this for Mondstadt? Does simply using that slogan allow one to act recklessly?
Durandal considered herself not a good person. She admitted she was evil, but she had never done anything to harm Mondstadt. Even the Anemo God worshipped by the Mondstadters trusted her. What right did a mere human like you have to doubt her?
"...I am very clear about what I am doing, but... this is necessary."
After a brief silence, Rosaria looked at Durandal with a serious expression.
"Mondstadt is an ancient yet young white beast, ancient enough to need protection, and young enough to be unable to survive independently. Only such a place needs someone like me. I take care of Mondstadt like other sisters, allowing it to move forward steadily on the path of freedom."
"Even if doing so will stain your hands with blood, even if it will make you bear sin, even if it will make you despised by others, are you still willing?"
"Willing."
He had long understood the outcome he might face, but even so, he was willing and would have no complaints.
Durandal narrowed her eyes slightly. At first, she thought Rosaria was like the Adventurers she knew, a hypocrite who wantonly took others' lives under the banner of justice, but he was not such a person.
The apparent peace exists because someone is enduring darkness behind the scenes. Rosaria is such a protector; he deals with enemies who might harm Mondstadt in corners unknown to others.
But no one knew about this, no one knew what he had done. He could only go forward alone, with no path to retreat.
"Why is Mondstadt white?" Durandal asked.
"Because people like me are black."
"You are a sister, right? Why don't you pray to the Anemo God? Hope the Anemo God protects you?"
"Protection? Heh, maybe. The Anemo God might protect everyone, but she won't do that. Otherwise, human suffering would become a joke. I also pray, but not for God or anyone, but for myself."
Oh? As a sister, he doesn't believe in Barbatos? This is very interesting. Although she also thought that Barbatos, that king of slacking, was not worth believing in, she was quite interested in such an anomaly appearing in such a strongly believing profession.
What interested her most was Rosaria's resolve. Willing to embrace darkness for the light of others, such a person... could also be considered kind.
"How interesting. Are you interested in becoming my follower, human?"
"Hmm?"