“Keep it safe.”
Jiang Chen gestured for Lumine to carefully store the purified Wind Dragon’s Tear.
“Okay.”
Lumine nodded obediently.
If Jiang Chen needed anything, he would surely mention it.
“I’m going back to my room now.”
Lumine said as she turned.
Suddenly realizing something, her face flushed and she quickly covered her mouth, slipping inside and closing the door behind her.
The way she’d said it felt like an invitation.
As if she were waiting for him to ask her to stay.
Would she end up going to his room after all?
Lumine discovered a faint flicker of anticipation in her heart, which only made her more embarrassed.
She lay down on the bed, pulled Paimon into her arms like a plush toy, and closed her eyes.
“Aren’t you going to rinse your mouth?”
Jiang Chen stood in the hallway, somewhat bewildered.
But she’d only had a bit of wheat porridge, so it probably wasn’t a big deal.
Besides, travelers who didn’t fuss over small details had a good habit.
···
After a full night’s rest, on the second day following the dragon disaster, Mondstadt had already returned to its usual orderly state.
The waitress Sara arrived early in the morning, carrying the cooking utensils back out from inside the Good Hunter to the stall outside.
Then she began dealing with the various suppliers under contract.
Market Street, the main staircase avenue, and the Fountain Plaza were all filled with a lively atmosphere.
Knights of Favonius guards patrolled among the crowds.
Even the Good Hunter had a visit from the guards.
“Sara, have Boss Jiang Chen and the traveler who protected Mondstadt as soon as she arrived woken up yet?” a guard asked.
“Lumine?”
Sara had just gone upstairs to hang up ingredients when she saw Lumine and Paimon coming down from the attic.
The two had already exchanged brief introductions.
“Miss Lumine woke up early…” Sara said as she prepared to marinate some cooked food.
“As for the boss, don’t count on it.”
The boss usually slept until noon unless something came up.
Lumine, for her part, was sitting at a table on the second floor, propping up her face with her hand in utter speechlessness.
“Sara!
Sara!
Is my Fisherman’s Toast ready?”
Just then, little Paimon flew straight down from the second-floor window.
She could smell the food on the stall, and a trail of drool dripped from the corner of her mouth.
“Wait a little longer,” Sara said.
She had to serve the customers first.
She then added, “These two Knights of Favonius guards are here to see the boss and Lumine.
Little Paimon, would you take them upstairs?”
“Looking for Jiang Chen and Lumine?”
Paimon turned around, sized them up, and asked, “What do you two want?”
She put on an air of authority.
Bullying others by borrowing someone else’s power was her specialty!
“Uh…”
“This must be that…
you know…” The two guards exchanged glances.
“The mascot beside the traveler!”
They had some impression of her and didn’t mind her attitude.
Who would bother arguing with such a tiny thing?
“We’re here to deliver a message.
Grand Master Jean said she’d like to see you both today.”
Ideally, they could go right now.
That way, the guards would have completed their mission beautifully and left a good impression.
But judging by the situation, that seemed unlikely.
“Got it, got it.”
Paimon put her hands on her hips.
She flew back to the second floor of the restaurant and relayed the message.
“Then we’ll wait for Jiang Chen to wake up.”
Lumine wasn’t planning to go herself.
Besides, the message said they wanted to see both of them together.
“Little Paimon, you can come get the food now.
It’s my special treat!”
Sara called from below.
“Thanks!
Hehe!”
Paimon bustled downstairs and brought up two servings of Fisherman’s Toast. This story is hosted at g.com.
This was their breakfast.
After eating, they savored the lingering taste in their mouths.
With nothing else to do, they decided to take a stroll around Mondstadt.
Mainly, they wanted to look around and see the missing person posters the Knights of Favonius had put up for them.
Shortly after they left, a commotion suddenly arose in the Fountain Plaza.
“Ah, it’s Barbara!”
“Miss Barbara is looking this way!
She waved at me!
Oh my god!”
“To see Barbara so early in the morning—may the Anemo Archon bless me, my luck today is bound to be good!”
A crowd gathered around a lovely young girl with twin tails, wearing a white priestess dress and a priestess hat.
Barbara curved her bright eyes, clasped her hands in front of her, and revealed an irresistibly cute smile on her fair, delicate face.
She said to everyone, “Seeing you all so energetic puts my mind at ease.”
“Please disperse now.
If you want to hear me sing, it’s not time for the performance yet~”
“Besides, this is causing traffic trouble in Mondstadt.
Thank you, everyone.”
As Barbara spoke, she felt genuinely happy.
It wasn’t because she was so popular, but because yesterday’s dragon disaster hadn’t caused too much trauma to Mondstadt’s citizens—whether mentally or physically.
Everyone seemed just as they always were.
As for the few injured, they had already been transferred to the church yesterday.
She had come out early this morning specifically to observe whether the citizens’ spirits had been dampened by the dragon disaster.
From a distance, she spotted the Good Hunter’s sign, and her eyes lit up.
“Good morning, Sara!”
She trotted over to greet her.
Sara understood immediately.
Coming to the Good Hunter to shake off her swarms of ardent fans was one of Barbara’s usual tricks.
Jiang Chen’s name alone was enough to intimidate most of Mondstadt.
Who would dare disturb other customers’ dining or cause trouble in his shop?
They’d probably be thrown into Cider Lake to feed the fish!
Rumor had it underground that the two most untouchable establishments in Mondstadt were the tavern Angel’s Share and the restaurant Good Hunter.
Happy reading!