Elric was a transmigrator—an utterly plain and unremarkable kind.
He went to sleep one day and somehow ended up in Fontaine.
After that, at least Elric had been a college student in his previous life, so he actually knew a bit about steam-related technology.
Not much, but enough to get by.
And so, through a mix of scrambling, struggling, and sheer luck, he finally climbed his way up to Fontaine's highest circles—right to the Hydro Archon's side.
As nothing more than an ordinary clerk.
Yes, truly ordinary. Back then, Elric had no cheat at all, not even a Vision.
As for why an ordinary person like him wanted to worm his way into a high position… well, maybe it was just a transmigrator's obsession.
After all, having crossed into Teyvat, if he didn't do something, it felt like a waste of his status as a transmigrator.
He also wanted to shoulder a bit of Furina's burden…
Then one day out of nowhere, Furina kicked him and said, "You. Go take out the Dendro Archon."
"…Me?"
Elric pointed at himself, asking in a daze.
"That's right. You. Hurry up and get going."
Furina urged him to get lost and head straight for Sumeru.
Elric was utterly unwilling. In his previous life, France had Napoleon's expedition to Egypt. Now Fontaine's Hydro Archon wanted him to expedition to Sumeru?
What kind of "Fufu First Empire" is this—Napole-Fu or something?
For the glory of the sacred Fufu First Empire!
The historical parallels even lined up. Wasn't this just sending him to his death?
If we followed the logic of history, wouldn't Mondstadt end up with a down-and-out artist giving speeches in a tavern or something?
Elric's expression froze. Mondstadt actually did seem to have an artist like that.
No, more importantly, he was just a powerless mortal.
He didn't even have a single soldier under his command—what was he supposed to fight with? Might as well pack it all up and go home!
But there was no helping it. With a god's command hanging over him, a subject had no choice but to obey.
So Elric left Fontaine and fled to Sumeru.
And thus… when you're outside, imperial orders don't always have to be followed, right?
He quickly took out several papers he'd prepared in advance about the stars and constellations, passed round after round of screening at lightning speed, and successfully charged into Rtawahist, becoming Layla's senior.
With Sumeru currently undergoing reform, he needed to secure the Akademiya as his backing.
Of course, the hardships along the way were not something outsiders needed to know.
In any case, after staying for a while, Elric increasingly felt that something about Furina's words didn't add up.
It was almost as if she simply wanted to exile him from Fontaine.
Could it be that she just wanted him to leave that hotbed of trouble?
By coincidence, after arriving in Sumeru, he heard that the blond Traveler had already resolved Sumeru's affairs.
He was planning to rest for a while, then set out back for Fontaine.
Good grief—Furina, you're actually this considerate to me?!
No, this wouldn't do. Elric decided he had to sneak back to Fontaine.
Going back itself wasn't difficult. The real problem was how to go back.
Whether openly or secretly, wouldn't he just get arrested by the Maison Gardiennage?
So he came up with a plan: go back together with the Traveler!
He wasn't even from Fontaine to begin with, so he didn't fear the Primordial Sea's waters.
What's more, having some knowledge of the plot, there was no way he'd abandon Furina and leave her to face everything alone.
He hadn't been completely idle these past years either—but without a system, what could he possibly do?
How could he compare with a plan that a divine Furina had designed over more than five hundred years?
He… could do nothing at all.
With no other choice, he could only look for the blond Traveler. Maybe the Traveler would have a better solution?
He'd heard that the Moonlotus Cup Beast-Tamer Tournament was about to be held here, and his junior, Layla, was planning to participate.
Wasn't that perfect? A guaranteed canon event.
That meant he would definitely run into the blond Traveler.
However, he'd forgotten exactly how Layla originally met the Traveler in the canon storyline, so he simply set up a stall here instead.
As long as you wanted to participate in the tournament, you'd have to come here to register.
If you came here, you'd definitely meet me.
That was Elric's equation—and judging by the result, it was completely correct.
But something seemed to have gone wrong in the process.
So which step had actually gone wrong?
Elric glanced at the current situation and fell into deep thought.
There was no reason for Lumine to be helping those scholars chase him, and the determination in her eyes—the kind of resolve to apprehend a criminal—was unmistakable.
And then, at some point, everyone around them seemed to have been frightened into complete stillness.
Uh… literal stillness.
Elric looked around blankly. He tried to raise his hand—only to realize that he himself was frozen too?!
What the hell, what kind of knockoff time stop is this? Only my thoughts can move?!
Elric turned his gaze toward the panel in front of him.
Then this definitely had something to do with this so-called popularity system.
[Ding… Loading complete.
You have become a five-star character in Genshin Impact. Please work harder to gain players' favor.
Note: The more you are loved by players, the stronger your power will become.]
After receiving this message, Elric found that he could move again.
However, everyone around him remained frozen in place.
"So this is my cheat…"
Elric stroked his chin, staring thoughtfully at the panel before him.
Wait a second… a five-star character?!
Such dazzling golden light!
I actually became a playable character in the game?!
No, no—what kind of nonsense is this? Have you ever seen a character without a Vision?!
Something had to be wrong.
Elric shook his head frantically. What kind of nonsense was this popularity system?
Was he supposed to debut as some kind of idol in Teyvat now?
The higher the popularity, the stronger the power?
If we're talking about popularity, who could possibly surpass the Seven Archons?
[Thirty minutes until players log into the game. Please finalize your character setup.]
"Uh…"
If Elric remembered correctly, the Moonlotus Cup Beast-Tamer Tournament should be an event storyline, right?
What, you're telling me to fight for popularity inside an event storyline?
He even remembered that Yae Miko would appear in this event. Competing with her for popularity?
Come on—who could ever outshine everyone's beloved waifu?
Elric still remembered when Yae Miko was first released. Tons of players said they'd pull for her even if she healed the enemies.
And sure enough, Yae Miko's popularity only kept rising.
Then maybe he should design his skills to heal enemies too?
In truth, what Elric really wanted to know was exactly what kind of character he was going to become.
Don't tell me it's going to be something like Aloy, right?
After all, he was also a traveler who had suddenly come to a different world.
He vaguely remembered that character was also a five-star—and even given out for free.
The key point was… who even remembered her anymore?!
If not for that one hide-and-seek event where he got screwed over and left with a deep impression, he wouldn't even remember that character existed.
Still, the possibility was low. After all, she was a crossover character.
Could he… even crossover with himself?
Forget it, forget it. Elric tossed those strange thoughts out of his mind.
He turned his attention back to the interface.
On the screen stood a character identical to himself, quietly waiting.
His expression carried a hint of excitement. The system's appearance meant he finally had a path to obtaining power.
With power, many things could be changed.
For example… saving Furina…
"So next is setting up my constellations and Vision element…"
As he looked at the selectable constellations and attributes on the interface, Elric's breathing quickened, his heart pounding hard in his chest.
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