I Became A Hilichurl

To avoid falling unconscious every time, Victor Wang gradually learned to hover at the edge of his mental limits, exhausting just enough to push his threshold. Through personal testing, he confirmed it could indeed improve his mental strength.

Though he'd discovered a way to improve it, Victor Wang knew he had to do more than just raise his capacity—he had to hone his technique.

Just like how elemental power needed to be refined into combat arts, even with sufficient mental strength, one couldn't control a thousand winds without mastery.

As Lumine had said, multitasking grew increasingly difficult the further one advanced.

With a clear goal ahead, Victor Wang drew up a rough plan: during the day, master control over one more wind stream; at night, exhaust mental strength in an open area before bed.

Thus began a life of tiring joy.

...

Alan Kerr was in a sour mood. Earlier that morning, a few of them from the Treasure Hoarders had gone off to a secluded spot for some team bonding. Out of nowhere, a pretty young girl appeared—golden hair pinned with a white flower, and a white dress flowing elegantly.

The crew had been baffled, and the girl outright declared their gathering was illegal. Of course, the boys didn't take kindly to that and wanted to throw hands.

The result? That girl clearly didn't have a Vision—but could still use elemental power.

They were promptly beaten up, and their Treasure Hoarder insignias were confiscated. If word got out, the ridicule from the guild would be unbearable.

To make up for their losses, he and Hobart had to work overtime looking for targets. And that's when they spotted a nondescript figure in a black cloak in the woods.

"Target in sight. Ready to move!"

"I dunno, this guy gives me weird vibes."

"What's weird? Look—he's not wearing a Vision. No way we'd run into two people in one day who can use elemental power without a Vision, right?"

Hobart squinted a little longer—sure enough, no Vision was visible. But staring made his head spin.

Seeing his partner hesitate, Alan Kerr added, "We'll have roast meat for dinner!"

"Let's go!"

Victor Wang had just finished his pre-sleep training and was heading back to Mondstadt when he heard shouting from behind.

"This path is mine, this tree is mine—if you want to pass, pay the toll!"

Victor Wang turned around and saw two masked Treasure Hoarders—one fat, one skinny. He sighed inwardly.

"Hey hey, if you're gonna set up a roadblock, could you do it in front of me? I could've just run past, you know."

"Hmph! Don't bother. Just pay up and move along."

"Alright then, chase me. If you can catch me, I'll let you rob me."

With that, Victor Wang turned and bolted.

"Son of a—! He's mocking us! After him!" The two Treasure Hoarders gave chase.

Victor Wang deliberately kept his speed just enough to keep them tailing, luring them toward Mondstadt.

His plan was to hand them off to the Knights at the city gate. But halfway there, the long-forgotten bracelet from Alice on his wrist buzzed to life.

"Hello? Hello? Can you hear me?"

Victor Wang halted, the two Hoarders thinking he'd run out of stamina and rushing forward.

But before they could get close, Victor Wang squeezed out a sliver of mental energy and conjured a harmless Palm Vortex, blasting both of them backward.

Frightened, Alan and Hobart turned tail and ran.

"Dammit, why doesn't anyone wear their Visions on the outside anymore? That's just unfair!"

"Exactly! If it lit up, we'd back off immediately! This is just cruel!"

Of course I don't have one. But does that mean you're entitled to rob me? Hearing their grumbling, Victor Wang fired two Wind Blades that barely skimmed past their cheeks.

"Mercy, sir!"

They broke into a sprint even faster than when chasing him. Only then did Victor Wang respond to Alice.

"Yes, Lady Alice, I can hear you."

"Albedo's out tomorrow. I need you to visit Klee and help me with something."

"Lady Alice, this cloak isn't really effective on people with Visions..."

Alice suddenly remembered she'd forgotten to warn him about that. Still, in Mondstadt, those who recognized the cloak wouldn't mess with him—and those who didn't likely didn't have Visions anyway.

"What, you want me to take it back?"

"No, no! Just venting. Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Victor Wang certainly wouldn't give up the cloak. Even if it didn't fool Vision holders, it was more than enough to hide from the majority—ordinary people.

After Alice finished her instructions, Victor Wang bought an adventurer's backpack and picked up some portable cooking gear from the general store.

The next morning, he followed Alice's directions to the northwest of Mondstadt, where a small three-story villa stood surrounded by greenery. It was fairly isolated from other homes.

"This is gonna be tricky..." Victor Wang winced, remembering the errand Alice had given him.

Knock knock knock. That was Victor Wang knocking on the door.

Patter patter patter. That was Klee running to open it.

"Hello... Daddy?"

Before Victor Wang could deny it, Klee shook her head. "You're not Daddy. Why are you wearing Daddy's cloak?"

The doodle of Dodoco drawn by Klee, and the bouncing bomb sketched by Alice on the back—it was unmistakable.

"I... I not only have your dad's cloak. I've also got this."

Victor Wang revealed the bracelet on his left wrist—worn over his sleeve to hide his dark skin underneath.

Not just the cloak, but Alice's bracelet—Klee instantly recognized it. No one else in Teyvat could forge such a thing. It was undeniable proof.

"Mommy's bracelet!"

KLANG! Klee slammed the door shut.

Uh-oh... Victor Wang stood there quietly.

Soon the door opened again. Klee now held a Dodoco-shaped device. She pressed a button and spoke into it, "Hello? Hello?"

Victor Wang's bracelet echoed back, "Hello? Hello?"

Klee tilted her head. "Huh?"

"Listen carefully, Klee. Your mom sent me. I have something very important to tell you." Seeing her paying attention, Victor Wang added, "But let's not rush. While your brother Albedo isn't home, let's go do some fun stuff first."

"Ah! I know—this is a date, right?"

"Ahem! Who taught you that?! That's not something to say lightly!" Victor Wang nearly choked on his own breath. Alice might be listening this whole time—imagine the misunderstanding.

"Huh? Is it not right?"

"Of course it's not right! You're just a kid..." Victor Wang paused. Wait, is she even younger than me? Given her long-lived lineage, probably still not of age. "Never mind that. Anything you want to eat, play, or do—let's do it all today!"

"Really?!"

"Really."

"You're not a bad guy, right? Mommy said bad people are really good at tempting others."

Victor Wang held up Alice's bracelet again. "Do you think anyone could take these from your parents?"

"Hmm... okay. Klee believes you." Klee tilted her head, then said, "I want to collect lizard tails to make a new type of bomb! Albedo recommended it specially!"

"Promise me—you let me catch them. You don't throw anything. Or it's solitary confinement for you."

For Victor Wang, it was easy to strike a lizard from out of range with a Wind Blade. But if Klee got involved, it'd just be explosions galore. That was a no-go.

Near the outskirts of Mondstadt, they caught several lizards of varying colors. Then Victor Wang and Klee built a small campfire and carefully dried the tails.

Afterward, Klee rummaged through her backpack and pulled out a mortar, grinding the tails into powder. Then she retrieved what looked like explosive components and began crafting with utmost focus.

As the trials continued, the resulting bombs began to change color.

"Explosions really are an art."

"Wow, big brother, you like explosions too?"

"Of course! What boy hasn't been fascinated by explosions?"

"But… what's art?"

"Art… Art is a sea star. A pink, five-pointed sea star."

"I don't get it..."

"You will when you're older."

After making the bombs, next came fishing. Klee's true intention was transparent—Victor Wang saw right through her.

He already had the route planned.

Lunch had been pre-ordered at Springvale—pigeon delivery from Good Hunter. After eating, he and Klee made their way toward Wolvendom.

"This is where I usually fish with bombs!"

No wonder you keep getting caught. Victor Wang shook his head. "Let's go somewhere safer."

The shores of Cider Lake, Wolvendom, and Whispering Woods all had good fishing spots. Victor Wang suspected Klee met Razor while bombing fish in Wolvendom.

But those locations were too close to Mondstadt—too easy for someone to notice and stop them. Instead, he picked a riverside spot on the eastern edge of Windrise Gorge, far enough that even if someone came to intervene, they'd take a while. Perfect for bomb-fishing.

Truthfully, it wasn't fishing that Klee loved—it was explosions. And she did love eating bass, especially Cider Lake bass.

After catching enough, Victor Wang brought out the cookware he'd bought the day before and, combining his prior-life experience with recipes studied at Mondstadt Library, prepared a full bass feast for Klee.

As the sun set, the two made their way back to Mondstadt.

"Do you have any other wishes?"

"I wanna see the circus!"

"Alright."