“Haa…” Stelle let out a slow breath as she walked out of the tavern in a daze.
In the end, even though she repeatedly promised to bring the money later, Diona still treated her with a helpless expression and generously covered the bill.
Of course, there was a price.
She had to visit Diona often, find time to go out and play with her, bask in the sun together, and catch fish for her to eat.
Naturally, all of that was Stelle’s own interpretation, not Diona’s actual words.
That shy and tsundere little catgirl would never say things so directly.
But Stelle was confident her interpretation wasn’t wrong.
In any case, after spending the entire afternoon in the tavern, it was time for her to go find Amber and the others.
It was already getting late, and there weren’t many people in Good Hunter.
Stelle quickly spotted Lumine and Amber at a table.
“Hey~ Stelle!” Paimon waved enthusiastically as soon as she saw her.
Stelle walked over quickly and took a seat with them.
The food hadn’t been served yet, so they must have only just arrived as well.
“Stelle, where did you go all afternoon?” Paimon asked curiously, voicing what Lumine had wanted to ask first.
Lumine shot Paimon a glance but said nothing, simply looking at Stelle and waiting for her answer.
“As for me…
I spent the whole afternoon at the Cat’s Tail.” Stelle scratched her head awkwardly.
She had originally planned to walk around the city and properly get to know this vast Mondstadt.
But in the end, once she started chatting with Diona at the Cat’s Tail, she completely lost track of time.
“Huh?
You went drinking?!” Amber looked at Stelle in surprise.
She didn’t know Stelle’s exact age, but her face still looked youthful—she didn’t seem like an adult yet.
“No, no.
Didn’t you say the bartender there was especially cute?
I just went to take a look…” Stelle quickly waved her hands.
“Oh, I see.” Amber let out a sigh of relief.
“So, what was she like?” Paimon continued to ask curiously.
“Hmm…” Stelle rubbed her chin and thought seriously.
Diona—calico-colored catgirl, cute straight brows, classic tsundere.
Overall…
“Very cute!” Stelle nodded firmly.
“Haha, I told you so~” Amber laughed happily.
“You two should go see for yourselves sometime.
I think she’d like you.” After thinking for a moment, Stelle said to Lumine.
“Mm.” “Enough about me.
What about you?
After meeting the Acting Grand Master, what did you do?” Stelle asked.
“We went to the temples of the Four Winds.” Lumine spoke up first, beating Paimon to it.
She wasn’t about to let Paimon steal another chance to talk to Stelle.
“The temples of the Four Winds?” Stelle tilted her head.
Another piece of knowledge she wasn’t familiar with.
Amber then took the opportunity to explain.
The Stormterror’s current ability to stir up such violent storms came from the residual power within those abandoned temples.
“You’ve really been working hard.” Stelle couldn’t help but sigh.
Compared to her leisurely afternoon in the tavern, Lumine and Amber had clearly been much busier.
At that moment, their food was brought to the table.
Among the dishes was Paimon’s long-awaited Sweet Madame.
“We only visited one today.
We still have to go again tomorrow.” Paimon’s eyes sparkled, and she was practically drooling as she spoke, her words slightly slurred.
“Do you need my help?” Stelle hesitated for a moment before asking.
Although she couldn’t use elemental powers, the power of the Destruction Path wasn’t something trivial either.
Dealing with a few monsters wouldn’t be a problem.
If only she still had Alisa Rand’s Lance, then as someone on the Path of Preservation, she could even grab a red glass orb and cosplay as a Pyro Vision wielder.
Unfortunately, all she had now was a bat—purely physical damage.
“It’s fine.
There’s actually no danger.
It’s just a quick trip.” Amber rejected her offer without hesitation.
In her eyes, Stelle was still a “normal person” who didn’t have a Vision and couldn’t use elemental powers.
Even though she had shown some skill earlier, knocking Hilichurls flying with that strange bat, Those were just ordinary Hilichurls.
Hilichurls were weak and posed no real threat to anyone with even a bit of combat ability.
But the temples were much more dangerous.
Amber didn’t want Stelle involved.
Lumine nodded in agreement.
Unlike Amber, she knew Stelle’s true strength.
But she still didn’t intend to let her join.
On one hand, as Amber said, this task wasn’t particularly dangerous—just a simple errand.
There was no need to make a big deal out of it.
On the other hand, she had her own private concerns.
That strange, fatal attraction she felt toward Stelle was too unsettling.
She didn’t quite dare to keep traveling together with her.
For now, she could still restrain herself—but if they stayed together too long, something might happen.
“Alright, alright, let’s eat already.
I’m starving!” Paimon wiggled excitedly in place, looking at everyone expectantly.
The food was all here—why weren’t they eating yet?
“Right, let’s eat.
Stelle, try Mondstadt’s specialties—you’ll probably like them.” Amber smiled as she placed a serving of Fisherman’s Toast in front of Stelle.
“Mm, thank you.” Stelle nodded.
Since neither of them wanted her to join, she didn’t insist.
She could tell they didn’t distrust her.
Amber was simply worried about her, while Lumine…
seemed to have other reasons.
Stelle could tell Lumine was keeping her distance.
But it wasn’t deliberate avoidance—rather, it felt like a hesitant push and pull.
She was certain that if she took the initiative to get closer, Lumine wouldn’t resist—or would only resist symbolically.
It felt like two people about to get married, shy and awkward before the wedding, pretending to be reserved.
Strange…
“By the way, Stelle, have you figured out where you’re staying tonight?” Amber suddenly asked.
“No…” Stelle shook her head, then looked at Lumine.
“Have you found a place?” “Mm.
Acting Grand Master Jean arranged it for us.” Lumine nodded.
They had been assigned to stay in the Knights of Favonius’ dormitory.
Originally, after she had repelled the dragon’s attack, Jean had intended to arrange a luxurious hotel for them.
But circumstances were special right now.
Lumine had thought about asking on Stelle’s behalf, but the dormitory was already quite full.
It had taken effort just to prepare one room for her.
If they added another person, the only option would be to squeeze another bed into her room and have Stelle stay there.
Just thinking about it made Lumine’s cheeks heat up.
Her rational mind told her she absolutely couldn’t allow that.
Being a little close to Stelle outside was one thing, but not indoors.
Otherwise…
Fortunately, Amber had thoughtfully said she would handle Stelle’s accommodations.
“I was planning to find an inn, but I didn’t expect to lose track of time at the Cat’s Tail…” Stelle turned to Amber with an embarrassed smile.
She had spent the whole afternoon petting a cat, completely forgetting about finding a place to stay.
But it should still be possible to find one now, right?
“That might be difficult.
The Goth Grand Hotel has been booked out by the Fatui, and there aren’t many places available right now.” Amber shook her head, then looked at Stelle with a mix of anticipation and shyness.
“So…” “Why don’t you come stay at my place?
I live alone, and the house is pretty big.
We can hang out together—and when we’re tired, we can sleep!”