Buyuan didn’t plan on chatting first and eating later.
He dragged everyone straight to the dining table.
Although he mostly followed the principle of “no talking during meals, no speaking in bed,” when it came to gatherings with friends, he would temporarily set that philosophy aside.
Baal’s cooking skills were, as expected, worthy of the number one cook in Teyvat.
She successfully earned praise from both Nicole and Anby.
Though luckily, Baal didn’t know how to make burgers — those were made by Buyuan himself.
Watching Anby focus mainly on eating the burgers, Buyuan was quite pleased.
“Didn’t expect the one dish I actually know how to make would get finished off too.” Buyuan spoke to Anby, rather delighted.
“Hm?
You made these burgers?” Belle picked one up with some skepticism and examined it.
“Who else?
Baal only knows home-style cooking.
This kind of specialty food isn’t in her cookbook.” Buyuan spread his hands helplessly at Belle.
“Thank you.
They were really good.
But I ate them all.
Sorry.” Anby thought she’d eaten too much and left none for anyone else.
“No, no.
I was just marveling that compared to Baal’s cooking, someone actually liked what I made!
Just a little happy about it.” Buyuan hurriedly explained.
“I’m very glad Anby likes the burgers I made.
If you want some more, you can come find me next time.
After all, with Baal around, even if we both fried an egg, Belle would unhesitatingly pick the one Baal fried.” Just thinking about it made the corner of Buyuan’s mouth twitch uncontrollably.
In truth, it wasn’t that Makoto didn’t know how to make burgers.
She simply didn’t know what to put in between the buns.
Otherwise, there probably wouldn’t have been any role for Buyuan at all.
“Thank you.
I understand.” Anby nodded seriously.
“What’s that supposed to mean!
Buyuan, what are you implying?” Belle poked him in dissatisfaction.
“Isn’t it true?
Last time, I didn’t even say what I’d made, and you still picked Baal’s.” Buyuan glanced at Belle, a bit miffed.
He’d thought Belle might choose his cooking out of friendship.
Though in the end, he hadn’t eaten what he made either, instead having Makoto make him another portion.
Since there weren’t that many burgers to begin with, Anby switched to eating the dishes after finishing them.
With Anby’s help, the tableful of food was cleaned up fairly thoroughly.
He was actually quite grateful Anby could eat so much.
If that much food had been wasted, Makoto would definitely have retreated to her charging dock and gone into standby for the whole night.
No cuddles.
Buyuan picked up the unfinished motor oil Billy had left and shoved it into his hands.
Under Billy’s deeply moved gaze, he shut the door.
“Rare for the house to be this lively.
Come to think of it, is this place a little small?
After all, I only got it to make it easier to run into Belle and Wise.” Buyuan surveyed his not-very-large home.
“Baal, what do you think?
Should we move?
Get a bigger place.” “En-nah?
En-neh.” (No need.
It’s cozy here.) Makoto just shook her head.
“Alright then.
If you don’t want to, we’ll talk about it later.
When we can’t fit anymore, we’ll switch.” Buyuan nodded and, under Makoto’s stunned gaze, said something that left her speechless.
“En-nah-nah!
En-nah-na-na!” (You’d better explain what you mean by ‘can’t fit anymore’!) Makoto instantly got worked up, jumped up, and started whacking his knee.
“What’s gotten into you?
Come on, let’s take you to bed.” After dinner with everyone, Buyuan hadn’t immediately left but had hung around the living room for a while.
It was getting late now, and he had class tomorrow — provided Ellen went to school, of course.
“En-nah-nah-nah!
En-neh!” (Let go of me!
Scumbag!) The little thing in his arms didn’t struggle, just kept up a relentless verbal barrage.
….
“Sorry for the trouble, Uncle Enzo.” Buyuan transferred a hefty sum of Dennies into Uncle Enzo’s account.
“Leave it to me.
The Bangboo language module’s pretty rare, but I happened to pick one up a while back.” Uncle Enzo lit a cigar in good cheer.
“Your Bangboo will be able to head back on her own by tonight.” Uncle Enzo took the Bangboo, which had entered standby mode, and carried it into the shop.
“Looks like I’ll be eating out today.
Told Makoto this morning I was gonna install a language module for her.
And at some point she slipped out of Baal.” Buyuan had been paying close attention.
But he still had no idea exactly when she’d left the Bangboo body and hidden herself.
“Forget it.
Belle and the others are probably about to enter the Hollow to search for the strongbox by now.” Buyuan recalled that after he’d left yesterday, Nicole and the others had stayed at the video store for quite a while.
They were probably discussing today’s commission target.
“Ellen’s off again today too.” Irritably swishing his tail, Buyuan decided to go grab breakfast.
“General Chop, one bowl of ramen.” Without a doubt, the best breakfast spot on all of Sixth Street was right here.
“Ah, if it isn’t young Buyuan.
Rare to see you eating ramen at my place.
Belle told me your Bangboo’s cooking is excellent.” Chop didn’t seem in the highest spirits, but still habitually chatted with Buyuan.
“Well, something went wrong with Baal.
Brought her to Uncle Enzo for repairs.
My stomach’s gotta rely on you now.” Buyuan rubbed his belly with mock helplessness.
“Ah, sorry, young Buyuan.
The ingredients I ordered yesterday ran into some trouble.
Got stuck in a Hollow.
Though I’ve already commissioned, uh, the Hollow Investigation Association to sort it out.
So, at least for now, we can’t open for business.” Chop said, rather regretfully.
“I see.
Then I’ll make do at 141.” Buyuan also recalled that this morning, Belle and the others had probably created a small alternate account to take Sixth Street commissions.
Buyuan browsed Inter-Knot as he walked toward 141.
Sure enough, under a commission that already showed as accepted, a newbie Proxy named MystiClear had taken it.
“Looks like I won’t be getting familiar with Anby at the W-Engine shop.
She’s probably already gone into the Hollow with Belle by now.” Buyuan ordered some oden at 141 and sat on a bench outside the toy shop next door, eating.
“This statue is so tacky.” Buyuan complained between bites.
At this moment, Buyuan couldn’t help pondering how he should make his entrance.
Should he take down Dullahan first in this strongbox battle, wait for them to arrive, and then hand over the strongbox?
Or should he wait for the Dead End Butcher and make a heroic entrance?
“Whatever, I’m bored anyway.
I’ll go in when they enter the Hollow and get the strongbox ahead of them.” Buyuan figured this would be better.
A hero’s entrance was all well and good, but he still didn’t have a firm grasp on his own strength.
And he’d never personally witnessed the Dead End Butcher’s combat ability either.
Buyuan opened his chat app and went straight to Qingyi.
Buyuan: Officer Qingyi, you there?
Qingyi: So polite?
Qingyi: I won’t cover for you if it’s anything unlawful.
Buyuan: Didn’t you clear my speeding record?
Qingyi: Assisting police work comes with certain perks.
That’s a given.
So, what is it?
Buyuan: Nothing major.
I need a Carrot for the Crete Hollow.
Qingyi: What do you need that for?
Buyuan: It’s nothing unlawful.
Qingyi: You know that’s not what I meant.
Buyuan: (?_?|||) Buyuan: Navigating inside a Hollow isn’t the hard part.
Finding the exit is what stumps me!
I just need to locate my target inside.
I can manage that.
Qingyi: (???!) Then how are you getting out?
I’m on duty today.
No time to fish you out.
Buyuan: My companion will fish me out.
Qingyi: Fine.
Download the data yourself.
File.zip The recipient has received the file.
Qingyi gently sipped her tea and exhaled a puff of hot air.
“What’s this guy up to?” Qingyi was a bit puzzled.
“Forget it.
It’s not like he’s some criminal.
Let him be.” Qingyi tidied up, planning to head to the park before work to play chess with her old pals.
“What a shame.
Ellen’s got a commission today, can’t bring her along.
Gonna have to explain things separately.” Buyuan ate a mouthful of oden, rather troubled.
After finishing his meal, Buyuan decided to head to the video store for some amusement.
So he made his way over.
“Wise, Belle’s not in?” Buyuan came in and familiarly plopped down next to No.
18.
“Belle took a commission.
You, on the other hand — clearly a student, yet skipping class every day.” Wise helplessly placed the video tapes he was holding onto the shelf and looked at Buyuan, who was preparing to man the front desk.
“Wise, don’t you need to keep an eye on things?
I can watch the store for you guys.
Got nothing better to do anyway.” Buyuan gave No.
18 a ruffle and volunteered.
“No need.
It’s just a small commission.
They’re probably already on their way back.” Wise shook his head.
“Have a seat.
Want some water?
No Bomb Cola, though.
Belle finished it all last night and hasn’t restocked.” Wise poured a glass of water and handed it to Buyuan.
“No problem.” Buyuan took the glass and sat at the front desk, bored.
Business at the video store seemed slow today.
Buyuan didn’t see any customers.
“Hm?
A customer!” Buyuan instantly perked up.
“Where?” Wise looked at the empty video store in confusion.
A chill ran down his spine.
Just then, the video store door was pushed open.
In walked a familiar face.
“Why is it Nicole, of all people?” Buyuan flopped back onto the desk.
“What do you mean, ‘Nicole, of all people’?!” Nicole marched up to Buyuan and smacked the table in displeasure.
“Buyuan bro, hello.” Billy was staring at his phone with a face full of disappointment, but still pulled himself together to greet Buyuan.
“Nicole, you’re here.
News on the strongbox?” Wise flipped the “Open” sign around and shut the shop door, turning to Nicole.
“Of course.
Belle and Anby went to do a commission, right?
We’ll go over the details once they’re back.” Nicole poured herself a glass of water at the dispenser and sat next to Buyuan.
“What’s up with Billy?
He’s actually emo?” Buyuan elbowed Nicole.
“Him?
Have you heard of Kamen Rider?” Nicole glanced at Billy, somewhat speechless, but still explained.
“Yeah, I know of him.” Buyuan was a little surprised.
At that moment, Wise also perked up his ears.
After all, Kamen Rider was technically their client too.
“That Kamen Rider posted a novel online, right?
Billy’s been checking every single day to see if there’s an update.
The reason should be pretty obvious by now.” Nicole rubbed her forehead in exasperation.
“Billy, could it be that there’s no update because he hasn’t found a target to act against?” Wise, of course, knew exactly why Kamen Rider hadn’t updated.
The guy simply hadn’t had any opportunities to make a move lately.
“Ahh, how could this be!” Billy’s entire being seemed to lose all color.
“Billy, why not watch Starlight Knight in the meantime?” Buyuan offered a suggestion.
“But!
I’ve already watched the latest Starlight Knight movie no less than ten times.” Billy felt his whole mechanical body was steeped in tribulation.
“Maybe you could watch the Monica one at Wise’s shop?
Oh~ Sweetie?” Nicole dropped the suggestion out of nowhere.
“Right…
Nicole!
Boss Nicole, what are you saying?!
There’s no way I’d watch something like that!” Billy first got excited, then suddenly turned coy.
“Ah.
Hopeless.” Buyuan glanced at Billy.
Diagnosis complete.
Buyuan hugged his tail, planning to take a nap.
He’d gotten up pretty early today.
Bam!
In an instant, Buyuan’s fur exploded.
It took him a while to recover before turning a resentful glare towards the one responsible for the commotion — Belle.
“Bro, so Nicole found a lead on the strongbox?” Belle had rushed back into the store with Anby in tow.
Comment it and let me know.