However, this time, Arkz was much more restrained when encountering the Hilichurl tribes.
When passing by Hilichurl camps, if the Hilichurls did not actively attack, he would not provoke them either.
The existence of A Qiu made Arkz realize that in this real Teyvat, even the inconspicuous monsters by the roadside had their own joys and sorrows, their own lives.
In the game, Hilichurls are just data designed by programmers specifically for players to slaughter. But in Teyvat, these Hilichurls, cursed by the Heavenly Principles and stripped of their wisdom, enduring the torment of an immortal curse for all eternity, are truly Sinners and pitiable people.
Arkz had no way of knowing what great sins these Hilichurls committed to be punished so severely by the Heavenly Principles, nor was he interested in judging the right or wrong of the matter. All he wanted to do was something within the scope of his ability.
"Ding! little lamp grass * 2"
"Ding! windwheel aster * 5"
"Ding! Valberry * 3"
"Ding! Wolfhook * 7"
...Ding ding ding ding ding ding ding...
Wherever Arkz went, he missed nothing that could be gathered and could improve his Foraging level.
Apples, Sunsettias—wild fruits that ripe and rotted on the ground, which Adventurers passing by wouldn't even bother to pick up—Arkz swept them all up without the slightest disdain.
The terrifying scene, resembling a plague of locusts passing through, sent the keenly perceptive small animals fleeing wildly. However, it was all in vain; fighting back only added to Arkz's reserve of lean meat.
Arkz took out his three-star Recurve Bow and shot at a rabbit fleeing in front of him. Just as the arrow was about to hit, the arrow he shot was struck by another arrow carrying thunder, causing it to deviate.
The lucky rabbit successfully escaped.
Arkz ignored chasing the rabbit and turned to look in the direction the arrow had come from.
He saw Fischl dramatically chanting: "Tyrant of the Forest, Bear of Evil who tears the sky and the earth, Candiff! Your time for wickedness ends here."
"I! The supremely brave, supremely righteous prinzessin der verurteilung—Fischl—descend with sacred judgment!"
"Go forth, My familiar, Oz, King of Night Ravens, the Divider of Day and Night, and severely punish this fellow who causes trouble in This Princess's backyard."
Oz flapped his wings and said helplessly: "My Lady, I am merely an ordinary night raven. This truly puts me in a difficult position."
Hearing Oz say this, Fischl stomped her foot angrily: "Oz, you rascal!"
Noticing Arkz looking over, Oz quickly flew in front of Fischl, watching Arkz alertly, while politely and gentlemanly explaining:
"Sir, there might be a misunderstanding between my Lady and you. Would you care to sit down and talk?"
...Arkz frowned: "So, your meaning is that you came to stop me because I picked up every gatherable plant in the wilderness?"
"But aren't everything in the wilderness ownerless? Is picking a little bit of it against the law?"
Fischl: "Although everything in the wilderness is ownerless, it is precious material that My subjects rely on for survival. How can one person monopolize it?"
Oz loyally fulfilled his duty as a translator: "My Lady means that many people in Mondstadt rely on gathering wild plants for a living. While Mr. Arkz's actions are not illegal, they will make life even harder for them."
Oz explained: "Mr. Arkz, you may not know, but surrounding Mondstadt City, there are many small towns and villages. Those with ability have all gone to Mondstadt City. Those left in these towns are either children, the elderly, or people who are frail and sickly."
"These people usually rely on gathering wild fruits and vegetables near the village to sustain their lives."
"Perhaps those wild fruits that are usually ignored are their staple food."
Arkz quickly explained: "I apologize. I only arrived in Mondstadt from Sumeru a few days ago and am not very familiar with the local situation in Mondstadt."
"I didn't realize that just gathering some wild plants would cause such a big impact."
"It's like in the game, where wilderness resources refresh. If you don't gather them, it's a waste... Uh, sorry, I often say things others don't understand without meaning to."
When Fischl heard Arkz's explanation, especially his last sentence, she immediately became excited as if she had found a kindred spirit. But under Oz's reminder, she quickly remembered the purpose of her visit.
Fischl: "Ahem, beneath a fierce exterior lies a heart shining like gold. I must admit, you are a respectable opponent."
Oz: "My Lady means that beneath your handsome appearance lies a heart shining like gold. Even my Lady herself praises your willingness to correct your mistakes."
Arkz looked at the perfectly synchronized pair of one person and one bird, spread his hands: "Alright, thank you both for the compliments."
"For some reason, I indeed need some wild plants. I think if I choose collection spots in sparsely populated, more dangerous areas, it shouldn't affect those poor people, right?"
Fischl and Oz exchanged a look and smiled: "Of course."
Arkz thought to himself: "I'm only collecting these materials to raise my Foraging level. These wild fruits and vegetables are not essential for me. Besides, with my strength, only Stormterror poses a threat among the monsters within Mondstadt's borders. I might as well venture deeper."
"Moreover, the more dangerous the area, the more remote the place, the higher the chance of discovering high-quality materials."
Just as Arkz was about to bid farewell and leave, Fischl and Oz suddenly stopped him.
Facing Arkz's puzzled gaze, Oz explained: "We deeply apologize for the impolite behavior of my Lady and myself in scaring away the prey you were hunting, Mr. Arkz."
"Although we do not know what Mr. Arkz needs these materials for, as an expression of apology, my Lady and I wish to lend you a helping hand."
"Precious materials in the wilderness grow very hidden, and my Lady and I are very skilled at finding various materials in the wilderness."
"What does Mr. Arkz think?"
Arkz murmured: "Help me find the locations of materials? That is a huge help to me."
Arkz thought: "On such a large map, materials like windwheel aster and Valberry grow randomly in the wilderness, not in fixed locations like in the game. Most of my energy was spent searching for the materials I needed."
"Oz can fly in the air, so the high-altitude vision must be clearer than mine. Fischl can share Oz's raven-eye vision. With the help of you two, I can raise my Foraging level faster and more efficiently."
Arkz's heart stirred. He snapped back to attention, looked seriously at Fischl and Oz, and smiled: "Then I'll have to trouble you two."
Fischl covered her eyepatch, full of imposing manner: "Under the gaze of My Great Dream-Illusionary Seneschal's Mad Judgment Eye, all evil shall have nowhere to hide!"
Oz immediately translated: "My Lady means..."
Before Oz could finish translating, Arkz spoke up: "Fischl means, leave it to her, right?"
Oz was surprised: "That's correct! Oh, I mean, this is astonishing! There is actually someone who can understand what my Lady says! I am truly moved!"
Oz: "Mr. Arkz, please, I beg you, you must become friends with my Lady!"
When Fischl heard what Oz said, her face flushed slightly, and she quickly covered Oz's beak, shouting: "Oz, stop saying things that absolutely do not need to be said!"
"It's not like I don't have friends!"
Arkz's lips curled up, and he joked with a smile: "I am quite willing to become friends with the charming lady before me, after all, Ms. Fischl doesn't seem to have many friends."
Fischl immediately retorted stubbornly: "Nonsense! I have many friends! Everyone's definition of a friend is different, and the objects of friendship are not necessarily limited to humans..."
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