Inside the Golden House.
Childe had reverted from his Foul Legacy transformation to his normal form. He clutched his chest, panting heavily.
"It's about time... I calmed down."
Childe stood up and forced the words out.
His Foul Legacy transformation had placed such a heavy burden on him that he had had no energy left to think.
Now that he had released it, he finally regained his composure.
"Miss Ellin, the strength you displayed today far exceeds La Signora's assessment of you in her intelligence from Mondstadt. Why is that?"
"Because I'm a genius, and very lucky," Ellin answered calmly.
"Uh..."
Childe froze for a moment, clearly not expecting that answer.
But he soon smiled. "Well, since you don't want to answer, I'll just have to curb my curiosity."
"This fight alone was enough to satisfy me."
"It's been a very, very long time since I last faced an opponent I couldn't match even with everything I had."
"I'm grateful you could give me such an enjoyable fight."
Ellin's mouth twitched at his words. "Is getting beaten up your hobby?"
"Haha, you could put it that way. But fighting powerful opponents puts me under tremendous pressure, and that pressure drives me to grow stronger."
"The speed at which you grow stronger puts me to shame. But... as fellow seekers of strength, we're all friends, even if that friendship can only take the form of fighting one another."
Ellin rolled her eyes. Although she understood Childe's personality and hobbies well, hearing him say it himself still left her utterly speechless at his bizarre notion of friendship.
"If I could, I'd really like to sit down and have a proper chat with you."
"But for now, I'll have to set aside this exchange between kindred spirits and return to my actual work."