No?
Then I’ll Eat.
9: The Girl: Are You Eating?
No?
Then I’ll Eat.
Rosalyne’s outfit today lacked that sharp, biting feeling she had when going off to other countries; she was dressed plainly and elegantly.
“Just now Sandrone asked me when I came in, and I said—” Columbina had just opened her mouth to answer Arlecchino when Sandrone immediately stood up, grabbed a piece of bread, reached over Piers, and stuffed it straight into her mouth, forcibly silencing Columbina on the spot.
“The refreshments aren’t even enough to fill you—why are you running your mouth?” With her mouth plugged with bread by Sandrone, Columbina wasn’t the least bit angry; on the contrary, she grabbed the bread with both hands and started happily munching away, polishing off the whole piece in just a few bites, and once she finished, she took another piece for herself.
Just as she was about to take a bite, Columbina suddenly stopped, and, holding the bread, looked toward Piers, who was sitting relatively close to her.
“Do you want some bread?” “No need, Lady Columbina.
You eat it yourself.” Piers politely declined; it was a perfectly routine courtesy, but he overlooked one thing—Columbina didn’t understand such niceties.
The very second after Piers declined, Columbina stood right up on her seat, stretched out her whole body, and carried away the entire plate of bread that had been set in front of Piers.
The atmosphere grew inexplicably awkward—but as long as Columbina wasn’t embarrassed, it was everyone else who was.
“Sandrone, aren’t you going to introduce this new face to us?” Rosalyne, together with Arlecchino, was seated on the sofa across from Sandrone and Piers.
“My subordinate, Piers.
Her Majesty the Tsaritsa is sending him to Liyue in two days to clean up the mess left by those two fellows, Tartaglia and Dottore.
As his superior, I’m showing a little consideration for my subordinate and letting him join the tea party.” Sandrone said this with righteous conviction, without so much as a blush or a skipped heartbeat—though, of course, a puppet indeed can’t blush.
That really was quite a useless function; even something like sensing temperature at least had the more useful purpose of preventing parts from being damaged by extreme temperatures.
“Rosalyne, you’re heading to Inazuma in a few days too, aren’t you?” “Yes.
This time it’ll probably be a bit slower.
After all, Inazuma has already sealed off its borders, so infiltration takes time—but it won’t take more than a month.
After that, I still have to go to Sumeru.” As they chatted, the little robot that had been baking cookies by the stove had already brought over several cups of tea.
Although the cups were identical, the color of the brew made it obvious that the tea inside was not.
“You should still mind your safety and be careful—after all, what we’re facing are gods.” Arlecchino offered Rosalyne that reminder, then picked up a cup of tea from the little robot and took a sip.
“Don’t worry.
This isn’t my first mission either.
The so-called Seven Archons are nothing but a hollow name.
They did indeed surpass the other gods in the Archon War thousands of years ago, but after a millennium of erosion, their strength is a far cry from what it once was.” This is bad, this is bad—if Rosalyne goes over there with that attitude, she’s definitely going to come back with piles of them.
Whatever, it’s none of my business.
Even if I wanted to lend a hand, there’d be nothing I could do—even the [Servant], a fellow Harbinger, couldn’t talk her out of it.
If I went over to dissuade her, she’d probably just start swinging at me.
Just as everyone had settled in with their tea, a commotion suddenly broke out at the door.
“You promised—I came to drink tea with you, so later you’re going outside to fight me.” “I know, I know.
I won’t go back on what I promised you.” The [Captain] walked in with Tartaglia in tow, though [Childe] clearly wore a reluctant expression.
“Sorry for coming uninvited; I hope you’ll forgive me.” “No matter.
There’s no rule about who’s allowed to attend anyway.” Sandrone replied offhandedly, casually beckoning over the little robot that had just served them tea.
“Bosico No.
2, go fetch some fresh tea leaves—the best ones.” Upon hearing the command, Bosico No.
2 went off to the corner and began rummaging around.
For some reason, Columbina, right beside it and clearly still eating her dessert, suddenly let out a giggle.
“Columbina, what are you laughing at?” Sandrone shot her a glare.
“Nothing~” “If it’s nothing, then get up and lend a hand carrying the refreshments.
You’ve already nearly eaten half the refreshments on the table.” “Mngh.” The little wings on Columbina’s head drooped down, looking thoroughly reluctant, but Sandrone walked over and yanked her up anyway.
“And this unfamiliar face is?” Now that Sandrone had stood up and left the sofa, the [Captain] also caught sight of the previously hidden Piers.
“That one is Sandrone’s subordinate.
Supposedly Her Majesty the Tsaritsa is sending him to Liyue to clean up the mess left behind by the fellow beside you.” Rosalyne’s words were as caustic as ever.
“You say that as if you’ve never been to Liyue yourself.” “At least I’m not like a certain someone who went and stirred up a huge ruckus in Liyue, only to walk away with nothing but a great deal of hatred from the Liyue Qixing.” Just as the two of them were about to start quarreling, the [Captain] spoke up and put an end to the topic.
“Enough, Rosalyne.
Tartaglia is still just a child.
I hear you’re about to head off on a mission to Inazuma—is there anything you need assistance with?” “Heh.
Can’t be bothered to argue with you.” Tartaglia muttered something under his breath.
“No need.
They’re just Gnoses, and I’ve already secured two of them.
Even the most ancient batch of gods in the mortal world are nothing but a showy facade.” She looked utterly brimming with confidence, probably recalling the time she had once grabbed Barbatos by the throat.
“Do not underestimate your enemy.
Even if her divine power has waned, she is, after all, one of the first-generation Seven Archons, a god who emerged victorious in the Archon War.
A single isolated case cannot stand for all of them.” “Got it, got it.
Don’t worry—once I’m back, I’ll have Sandrone hold another tea party so I can share my mission insights with all of you.” That’s what Rosalyne said, but she clearly hadn’t taken a single word of it in.
So awkward.
If I’d known, I’d have gone off with Kitty and the little dove to carry the refreshments.
Eavesdropping on the Harbingers’ conversation—this won’t get me *, will it?
At this moment, Guizhong was still crouched in the corner, poking Bosico No.
2 with her finger.
“Hey, hey, I bet you don’t like listening to them talk either, do you?
Just now they were saying you’re going to Liyue.” Piers had been zoning out when the voice beside him suddenly gave him a start.
At some point or other, Tartaglia had already sat down right next to him.
“That’s right.
I set out the morning after tomorrow.” “This is the first time Her Majesty the Tsaritsa has ever sent someone other than a Harbinger on a mission.
What weapon are you good with?
Interested in a little sparring?
By the way, where’s your Vision?” Compared with a whole bunch of female Harbingers and a Captain who couldn’t possibly be any more straight-laced, he clearly preferred Piers, someone close to his own age.
“I don’t have a Vision.” “You don’t?
Friend, are you serious?” “Seriously.
As much as I’d rather not face it, I really am just an ordinary person without a Vision.”