1. Mondstadt (9)
While I hesitated in the chilly atmosphere created by Lumine, the inn, where there was only us, was engulfed in a heavy silence.
Even the innkeeper seemed to sense the unusual atmosphere and had already fled somewhere.
Eventually, it was Paimon who couldn’t ignore my desperate gaze and broke the uncomfortable silence.
“Traveler, Xiu drank today. What are you going to say to the drunkard?”
At Paimon’s words, Lumine let out a sigh as if there was nothing she could do.
“Sorry, Xiu. I got a little excited. Let’s forget about today’s conversation and talk tomorrow?”
It seemed that today’s gathering would be disbanded with this kind of feeling.
Perhaps it was for the best. I didn’t even have a plan to persuade Lumine, and drinking alcohol now wouldn’t clear my head either.
It wouldn’t be a bad option to leave before the atmosphere worsened for no reason.
But something, something wasn’t right.
Even if it was just my instincts, my intuition was ringing an alarm bell. For some reason, it didn’t feel right to just end it like this.
I forced my spinning head, unaffected by the alcohol, to think.
What should I do? What should I do to calm Lumine and achieve my goal?
Honestly, I didn’t know. I could try to appease Lumine, but I couldn’t think of a way to fulfill my own purpose.
There’s no conclusion. Nevertheless, before Lumine could get up, I called her.
“Just a moment, Lumine.”
Lumine, who was about to get up, paused. Phaemon did the same.
Lumine’s pumpkin-colored eyes turned towards me. A gaze that seemed slightly disappointed, somewhat pitiful.
And then, I finally realized.
It was already too late to add calculations or empty words. So, the only thing I could do, from the very beginning, was to be honest.
“In truth, I still don’t really understand why you’re angry. I understand that I could be in danger, so I won’t oppose you.”
Lumine’s eyes narrowed slightly. Was she still angry? But it was already too late to take back the words I had spoken.
As I continued speaking, I searched for a breakthrough in my mind.
“But Lumine, one thing I can say for sure is…”
Suddenly, it occurred to me what I had been preparing for until just a while ago.
It wasn’t as if I had been idly playing around while the stall was closed. By utilizing functions like “Origin” or “Shop,” I had achieved various results in my own way.
Among them, one thing I had prepared for Lumine.
“To me, you always come first.”
With that, I took out what I had prepared from my ‘backpack.’ There was a heavy sensation in the hand that had been placed under the table.
I slowly revealed the gift I had prepared for Lumine on the table.
It was an impressive azure sword. The crossguard shaped like wings and the elegant golden handle indicated that this sword was not an ordinary one that could be found anywhere.
The subtle verdant gleam depicted the power of the wind element contained in the sword beautifully. Even though the inn’s lights had not been turned off, it felt as if the surroundings suddenly brightened.
This sword possessed a restrained beauty that captivated the attention of everyone.
Its name was the ‘Sword of Descension.’ It was a top-grade one-handed sword that I obtained by repeatedly using the ‘Devil’s Money Copier.’
Of course, that wasn’t all. I could also ‘enhance’ the weapon. It was a concept of enhancing the power of the weapon by adding the power of the gods contained in magical crystals. ‘Enhancement’ was a convenient feature, as I didn’t need to go through the cumbersome process, unlike the people of Teyvat.
The first test subject for this ‘enhancement’ feature was the ‘Sword of Descension.’ Of course, it cost a bit of magical crystals and mora, but it was not a bit regrettable.
Because it was a sword for Lumine.
I was rather regretful that I couldn’t ‘ascend’ it. ‘Ascension’ required specific materials that could only be obtained by clearing a kind of dungeon called the ‘Abyss.’ Since I hadn’t explored the ‘Abyss’ yet, it was natural that I didn’t have the materials.
The reaction of Lumine, the owner of this ‘surprise gift’ born from various efforts, was beyond my expectations.
The moment the ‘Sword of Descension’ appeared, Lumine held her breath.
Literally. Lumine seemed to forget to breathe and simply gazed at the ‘Sword of Descension’ as if she were bewitched. Enthralled pupils and careful glances that scanned the azure blade.
Anyone could tell. Fortunately, Lumine seemed to really like my gift.
I hadn’t planned on giving her alcohol. I wanted to give her the gift properly in a better atmosphere.
I inwardly sighed deeply, but at this point, I couldn’t
As Lumine absentmindedly scanned the black blade, the equally absentminded Paimon fluttered over with a puff. And just like that, the chilly atmosphere from earlier disappeared, replaced by Paimon’s usual cheerful voice.
“Wow, it’s a sword! Siu, when did you prepare something like this?!”
As Paimon exclaimed in awe, they flew around the “Skyward Blade,” inspecting it from every angle. It seemed that they were more captivated by its beautiful appearance rather than its performance as a sword.
Come to think of it, Paimon was no less of a treasure hunter than me. Considering their fondness for anything that looks good, it was possible that they were simply attracted to the sword’s appealing design.
But it was a better reaction than expected.
Since Lumine was a swordswoman, Siu had prepared the gift with the assumption that she would like swords. But judging from Paimon’s reaction, it seemed that it was also a great gift from an aesthetic standpoint.
I sensed that now was the chance. In the changed atmosphere brought about by the appearance of the “Skyward Blade,” I cleared my throat and spoke.
“Lumine, I don’t like dangerous things either.”
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Lumine, who had been fixated on the sword for a while, finally turned her gaze towards me.
In her eyes, surprise, embarrassment, gratitude, and confusion were all mixed together, swirling like a whirlpool.
“But still, if it has enough value, I’m willing to endure it. I want to be of help to you.”
Instead of interrupting me like before, Lumine quietly listened to my words.
I could finally be certain that Lumine had opened her heart to listen to my story.
“I hope you can enjoy a pleasant meal. I hope you can stay in comfortable places and move around more safely… This is my sincere wish for you. Moreover, you have a goal, right? To find your brother.”
Sometimes, drinking can be helpful. It often happened when I told a heartfelt story.
If I hadn’t had a drink, I would have bitten my tongue in embarrassment by now. How fortunate it was that alcohol saved my life when I was about to lose it while trying to calm Lumine down.
Suppressing my embarrassment with such foolish thoughts, I continued speaking.
“I don’t want to be a burden to you in achieving your goal. I want to be your comrade, Lumine.”
As I said that, I carefully placed the “Skyward Blade” on the table and stepped back.
“… And this, as a gift from me as your ‘comrade,’ Lumine.”
And at that moment, with a slight feeling of embarrassment, I added a few words.
“Sorry, I wanted to say it in a better atmosphere.”
Upon hearing my words, Lumine seemed hesitant. She shifted her gaze here and there for a moment, as if in a dilemma, then finally asked me something.
“…Are you being sincere?”
What is she talking about? I couldn’t understand, but since I hadn’t lied in anything I said so far, I felt confident. I stared directly into Lumine’s pumpkin-colored eyes, meaning that every word I said was sincere.
…But then, feeling a little embarrassed, I slightly averted my gaze. Lumine is pretty today, yeah. Her appearance was definitely unfair.
But whether she knew my feelings or not, Lumine asked again.
“The words that I’m always a priority.”
I swallowed a hollow laugh inside.
I wondered what she meant, and it was exactly that. I think we talked about it once before.
I immediately opened my mouth. It was the truth, so there was no reason to hesitate.
“I’m being sincere.”
And again, the back and forth of questions and answers between Lumine and me.
“Can you swear?”
“As much as you want.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
Finally, Lumine seemed relieved, placing her hand on her chest and letting out a deep sigh. And she walked briskly, approaching me by my side.
It happened in an instant.
“…Siwoo.”
And suddenly, the sweet scent of Luminé enveloped me. Her slightly flushed cheeks and ruby-like eyes reminded me of jewels, captivating my gaze.
“Don’t you just love me so much?”
Without warning, Luminé leaned in close, a mischievous smile on her face.
Finally, I let out a sigh of relief. Yes, this was the usual Luminé.
“…Yeah, well. Something like that.”
Luminé seemed satisfied with my response and stepped back. She returned to her spot and grasped the “Sword of the Celestial Sky”.
Raising the sword high, she stared at the blade intently.
The sight of the beautiful blue sword and the even more beautiful blonde girl combined was something I would want to capture with a camera. Just knowing that I could witness this scene made me glad I had prepared the “Sword of the Celestial Sky”.
After gazing at the sword for a while, Luminé turned her gaze towards me.
“Thank you, Siu. I’ll make good use of it. The sword you gifted me as a ‘comrade’.”
As she said that, Luminé suddenly felt a bit embarrassed and lightly scratched her slightly reddened cheek.
“Um, I’m sorry for getting angry earlier. I just didn’t want to see you in danger…”
“I know, don’t worry, Luminé.”
Finally, I was able to smile.
Phew, I thought I was in big trouble.
I couldn’t explain what the “big trouble” was, but I had a feeling that something significant was about to happen. It seemed like we had passed it safely for now.
As Luminé and I returned to our cheerful atmosphere, Paimon, who had been observing us with great interest, flew towards Luminé.
With a sinister expression, Paimon whispered something secretive into Luminé’s ear. It was surprising how loud the whisper was considering it was meant to be secretive.
“Good thing you’re upset, traveler. You received a gift from Siu and always get priority….”
“Fe, Paimon. Shh! Shh!”
Rumine hurriedly placed her index finger on her nose and repeatedly shushed, as if teasing Paimon, but he only responded with a sinister smile.
Well, honestly, I don’t really know what this is all about. Anyway, Rumine blushing and feeling embarrassed was cute, so it didn’t matter.
And so, my “Rite of Descension” was decided.
***
I had overcome a great mountain of convincing Rumine, but that didn’t mean my preparations for the “Rite of Descension” would go smoothly.
First, Rumine said to me, “Safety first, safety second, safety third.”
So, I had to request the Adventurers’ Guild to find me a capable adventurer to escort me, and at the same time, I had to visit the Dawn Winery for practical negotiations with Mr. Diluc.
When I, a total stranger, said that I would entrust all the accumulated stock at the Dawn Winery to him, Mr. Elzer, who seemed like a practical person, had a fit, but it was no use.
By demonstrating my abilities to Mr. Elzer, I was able to somewhat convince him, even though he didn’t show it.
Although Mr. Elzer didn’t show it, it seemed that due to the threat of the Stormterror, the distribution network was disrupted, and stock continued to accumulate at the Dawn Winery, creating a sense of crisis.
People commonly misconceive that with alcohol, all you have to do is let it mature, and there won’t be any harmful stock. But that’s not true.
Alcohol is determined not only by the maturation period but also by various factors such as taste and price.
Moreover, the longer the maturation period, the greater the amount of alcohol that evaporates from the stored stock. This evaporated alcohol is called the “Angel’s Share,” which is also the origin of the name of the Mondstadt tavern run by Mr. Diluc. And because the amount evaporating as the “Angel’s Share” is not insignificant, the price of alcohol increases exponentially as the maturation period lengthens.
However, even high-priced alcohol doesn’t necessarily sell well. In order to make a profit, there must be a demand that matches the price range for alcohol sales. That’s why even the renowned Dawn Winery had been struggling with excessive stock recently.
Amidst all this, I appeared as a breakthrough, someone trusted by the Knights of Favonius. It was thanks to Mr. Diluc’s explanation, even though I couldn’t fully trust it.
Anyway, after going through these various complicated processes, I was finally able to embark on the journey to Liyue.
On the day of departure, Rumine had a face that looked like she was about to cry.
“Xiu, don’t forget what I said. You must come back safely, okay?”
“Yeah, safety first, safety second, safety third. Don’t worry, I’ve said it more than twenty times since yesterday…”
“Siwoo, Liwal is a country of gourmet. Don’t forget to learn delicious cooking and treat me.”
“Yeah, you’re always the same, Paymon. Excellent, splendid.”
After bidding farewell to the beloved companions, we set off on our journey.
I felt my steps becoming lighter with the anticipation of embarking on an adventure after a long time.
When I first arrived in Teyvat, homelessness was suffocating, but now it had become a habit. However, I had been feeling frustrated after staying in Mondstadt for a while.
With a joyful heart, I arrived at the first location to start my journey in Liyue, the Adventurers’ Guild.
As always, the guide “Katherine” greeted me and said,
“Mr. Siwoo, this is the senior adventurer from the Mondstadt Adventurers’ Guild who will escort you.”
Ah, fortunately, it seemed that one senior adventurer had agreed to accompany me.
Since we would be together for a while, I should maintain a good relationship, I thought as I turned my gaze.
“I am Fischl, the owner of the otherworldly entity ‘Oz’ and the princess of condemnation. I have received the call of destiny along with the crow of darkness and have descended upon this place! Are you the one who has obtained the chance to accompany the princess this time?”
“The lady says she is glad to meet the client.”
A girl with long golden hair that reached her waist, with only the sides tied into twin tails. Her emerald eyes were impressive, but for some reason, her right eye was covered with an eye patch.
She was cute as much as her appearance. Rather, she was a girl who was excessively beautiful to be in my party. But, decisively, her self-introduction.
Moreover, there was a talking crow attached to her side, interpreting her words in a polite voice.
I turned my head and slowly shifted my gaze to Katherine.
Katherine, without meeting my gaze, simply cleared her throat and said, “Well, although it’s a bit peculiar… I guarantee her skills as an adventurer in the guild.”
I felt my strength drain away as I alternated my gaze between the girl who introduced herself as “Fischl” and the crow that seemed to be her companion.
…Is this just a kid with chuunibyou?
And so, the beginning of the Liwal Uplink was marked by a sigh of pessimism.