Genshin Impact: Watch me turn the tables and kill my servants at the start!

Fanes crouched behind a thicket at the edge of Whispering Forest, clutching three bouncy bombs, his eyes peering through the leaves at the distant Hilichurl camp. Yakoda crouched beside him, five bombs tucked into her arms; her cat-ear hat was askew from a branch, but her starry eyes shone so brightly they seemed to illuminate the entire forest.

Wendy crouched down about three meters behind them, next to the roots of a large tree, clutching his lyre and muttering softly, "Why did I come with you...?"

"Because you owe us," Fanes retorted without turning his head.

The Hilichurls in the camp had calmed down and were still circling around the dying campfire. Even the Rock Helm King lying on the ground had closed its eyes again and was making low gurgling noises.

Fanes observed for a while and determined their patrol route and rhythm—every half a cup of tea's time, a Hilichurl would walk around the edge of the camp, and the rest of the time they would gather around the fire in the middle and stare blankly.

Fanes adjusted the position of the three bouncing bombs in his arms, then turned to whisper to Akoda.

"You go around to the left, I'll go to the right. We'll throw it in from both directions at the same time, but don't throw it at them, throw it towards the tents and campfire. After pulling out the fuse, count to three before letting go, so you don't blow yourself up."

Yakoda nodded, her starry eyes reflecting the firelight from the camp: "Understood. Be careful, boss."

"I'm tough as nails."

The two men crawled out separately, skimming along the grass like two little mice. Fanes felt his knees chafing a little from the mud, but he endured it and crawled all the way to a clump of bushes on the right side of the camp.

Phanes peeked through the gaps in the branches and leaves—Yakoda was already in position in the grass on the left, her light golden hair standing out conspicuously in the shadows. Phanes silently prayed that the Hilichurls' eyesight was not as good as that hair.

He took a deep breath, pulled out the first bouncy bomb, and pulled the fuse.

The fuse hissed faintly, its sound particularly clear in the quiet forest. Fanes silently counted to three, then forcefully threw the red and white ball towards the center of the campfire.

Almost at the same moment, the first bomb flew out of the bushes on the left, arcing through the air and landing precisely at the entrance of the nearest tent.

Two loud explosions rang out almost simultaneously.

Boom! Boom!

Flames erupted from the center of the camp, scattering sparks from the blast. The tent was blown off its roof, the fabric burning into a fireball in the air.

The Hilichurls jumped up from beside the fire with howls, scrambling around frantically, their masks casting distorted, terrified outlines in the firelight.

Without hesitation, Fanes threw out the second and third bombs in quick succession. Yakoda's rhythm was also perfectly coordinated, and all five bombs flew into the center of the camp in just a few breaths.

Explosions rang out one after another, like a string of lit firecrackers exploding at the edge of the forest. The screams of the Hilichurls, the crackling of the flames, and the creaking of the collapsing wooden frames mingled together, creating a chaotic yet lively "fireworks show."

The Rock Helmet King was startled awake. It opened its mouth and circled around blankly for a moment, then a flash from a bomb singed the few remaining hairs on its body. With a howl, it tumbled and crawled into the depths of the forest.

As for why elemental defense isn't used, guess why it's an enhanced version of the Bouncing Bomb (by Alice).

Phanes lay on the ground, covering his ears, staring at the engulfing camp ablaze, his heart pounding like a drum. He saw the last Hilichurl tumble and crawl out from behind a half-burnt tent, clutching a half-burnt skewer of roasted meat, disappearing into the woods in the opposite direction without looking back.

After about half a cup of tea's time, the fire gradually subsided. Almost all the tents in the camp had collapsed, the wooden frames were burned to charred remains, the campfire had been blown far away, and a few charred stones rolled in the grass, emitting white smoke.

There wasn't a single Hilichurl left; even the Rock Helmet had disappeared to some unknown mountaintop.

Fanes emerged from behind the bushes, brushed the mud and grass off his knees, and peered out from the edge of the camp to see what remained.

Yakoda emerged from the bushes across the street and ran over, her eyes sparkling as if she had just watched a grand fireworks display, still clutching the last bouncy bomb she hadn't thrown.

"Boss! That was so much fun!"

Yakoda's voice trembled with excitement, "Look at that tent! It flew off! And that campfire, it's exploded so badly you can't even find a spark!"

Fanes couldn't help but grin. He stood there for a while, staring at the still-smoking wreckage, then turned and walked back the way he came.

"Alright, alright, let's retreat. It'll be hard to explain if the Knights of Favonius see the smoke coming later."

Yakoda carefully put the remaining bomb back into her pocket and followed Fanes back. As they passed the large tree root, Wendy was still crouching there, lyre held protectively in his arms, his expression a subtle mix of disbelief and amusement at how fierce the two kids were. He saw the two approaching and opened his mouth: "You...you just wiped out their camp like that?"

As Fanes walked past him without turning his head, he asked, "Did you see the bombs we dropped?"

"...I saw it."

"As you can see, we handled it very easily."

Wendy silently followed behind them, the cynical glint in his dark green eyes lessened than usual, but a barely perceptible smile played at the corners of his lips. He bent down and plucked a string, a crisp tinkling sound drifting in the forest breeze.

As the three of them walked out of Whispering Woods along the path they had come from, the setting sun had already painted half the sky above the gates of Mondstadt. The city walls were bathed in a warm orange hue, and the blades of the windmills turned slowly in the golden light, a stark contrast to the freshness of the morning air, now tinged with a languid and peaceful twilight.

Fanes walked ahead, the hem of his coat brushing against the dandelions by the roadside, causing a few small white umbrellas to fall and drift in the wind.

As they entered the city gate, they encountered two patrols of Knights of Favonius returning from their mission. The leading knight glanced at them—a six-year-old child, an eight-year-old girl, and a green-clad bard carrying a harp; this group didn't seem like the type to cause trouble at all—and without asking any questions, simply nodded and walked past.

Fanes walked back to the Grand Hotel de Bois. When he pushed open the door, Rosalind was sitting on a sofa in the lobby lounge, drinking tea, with a half-read book beside her. Seeing the three of them enter, her gaze first fell on Fanes and Jakoda to confirm they were unharmed, before noticing the green-clad boy following behind. She raised an eyebrow, a questioning glint in her icy blue eyes.

Fanes rushed over and pounced on the sofa in front of Rosalind, sitting down immediately. He grabbed the teapot from the coffee table, poured himself a cup of warm fruit tea, and gulped it down. "Sister Rosalind! We had a wonderful day! We strolled around the plaza, drank milk, went out of town, blew up a Hilichurl camp, and now we're back!"

Rosalyn paused in her teacup-holding motion, turning her gaze to Yakoda for further confirmation.

Yakoda nodded frantically, her face flushed with barely concealed excitement: "It really happened! It blew up a huge area! Tents flew off! Boss's bomb-throwing accuracy is amazing!"

Rosalind's gaze then shifted to the green-clad bard who had shrunk to the doorway, preparing to slip away quietly: "...And who is this?"

Fanes waved his hand: "Found it on the road. It's not important. When you're angry, just kick it a couple of times! Or slap it twice. By the way, what's Rosalin having for dinner tonight? I'm hungry."

Rosalind looked at the green-clad bard and said with a hint of helplessness.

"Little Twelve, you're still young! You can't be so rude! Even though he's really a scoundrel, you can't let him ruin your image."