Be Careful When Agreeing to Terms and Conditions

2. Departure from Liyue (9)

The journey back to Mondstadt felt strangely nostalgic.

The day I first arrived on the continent of Teyvat came to mind. I wondered what would have happened if Lumine hadn’t caught me with her fishing rod. And then, arriving in Mondstadt, setting up a stall, complaining to Diluc at “Angel’s Share,” and heading to Liyue after monopolizing the supply of “Dandelion Wine” from Dawn Winery. Old memories were passing through my mind like a panorama.

It was truly a tumultuous life. Being stranded on the continent of Teyvat was an experience that most humans couldn’t have. But still, I was fortunate. I met good people, including Lumine, and I was able to use the game’s functions.

And ultimately, everything worked out well. Now, I have 500 million mora in my backpack. To be precise, it was 200 million mora worth of daily necessities and 300 million mora worth of goods from Dawn Winery.

Having achieved success on such a scale, I had enough qualifications to be called a “Genshin.” I would have to check things over a few more times by going back and forth to Liyue, but I thought I could somehow control Mondstadt’s distribution network until the Stormterror incident was resolved.

Of course, there was still much to do. Occupying the market was not simply a matter of spending a lot of money. Image was important, as well as trust in fixed trading partners or trade relationships. For now, I had no choice but to create trading partners, but even that was only until the Stormterror incident was over. So, I knew I would have to move busily in Mondstadt for a while.

Still, it was important that I had finally reached a level where I could help Lumine. As long as I controlled the distribution network and allied with powerful organizations in Mondstadt, such as the Knights of Favonius or the Cathedral, there would be no one capable of touching Lumine.

As I reminisced about the past, I suddenly remembered the time I spent in Liyue. Every day in Liyue was busy, but the last week was particularly intense.

The first event was meeting Ganyu again.

It was during lunchtime. The restaurant was closed, and I had nothing to do, so I opened the window wide and watched the streets of Liyue.

There were so many people walking around. Among them were travelers, couples, and merchants. There was even a beauty with blue hair and horns on her head.

… Huh? Isn’t that Ganyu?

Ganyu was sitting on a tree stump-like chair on the side of the road, chewing on something. It was a pure white flower. With joy in my heart, I quickly tidied up my clothes and ran towards Ganyu.

“Ganyu!”

“Huh, huh? Oh… Xiao’s little brother.”

Ganyu chewed the flower in her mouth, swallowed it, and put on her characteristic weak smile.

“It seems you haven’t left yet.”

“Yes, there are a few things I need to do… But more importantly, what are you doing right now?”

As I said that, I gestured with my eyes towards the handful of flowers she held in her hand. Understanding my intention, Ganyu opened her mouth with a soft voice.

“Oh, this is my lunch.”

Upon hearing those words, I opened my eyes in shock.

This is unbelievable. How can someone who serves as the Secretary-General of the Moonlit Sea Alliance only have a few flowers for lunch?

Is it because they have too much work and no time to have a proper meal? In any case, it couldn’t be anything less than terrible. If the modern labor standards were applied, the Moonlit Sea Alliance would be on the verge of collapse.

Even so, I was shocked to learn that someone as important as Lady Gamwoo was receiving such poor treatment.

“No, that’s lunch? No, no. That’s not a meal. Follow me.”

“Oh, well, it’s not like that…”

Lady Gamwoo seemed flustered, but I grabbed her wrist and forcibly pulled her up. After hesitating for a moment, Lady Gamwoo reluctantly followed me as if there was no other choice.

“It’s, it’s delicious… Cheongsim…”

I heard a voice that seemed to express frustration, but it didn’t register in my ears, which had gone numb from the shock.

Finally, I succeeded in bringing Lady Gamwoo to the lodging, and I started preparing the meal in the kitchen that had been set up in one corner.

The dish I would be serving today was ‘Mond Potato Pancake’. Since Lady Gamwoo was a vegetarian, I wanted to prepare a vegetarian menu if possible.

First, I peeled the skin off the main ingredient, the potato. Then I boiled some of the potatoes and diced the rest to preserve the texture. I put the diced potatoes in a strainer and rinsed them with water several times to remove the starch, then drained them. Once the boiled potatoes were ready, I mashed them, seasoned them with salt and pepper, and added the diced potatoes and potato starch.

At this point, I took out some pine nuts from a pinecone. Strangely enough, the pine nuts from the Teyvat continent were found inside pinecones. I crushed the pine nuts and mixed them into the prepared potato batter to add a nutty flavor and a crunchy texture.

Then, I fried the mixture in hot oil in a frying pan until it became crispy. The result was a dish that was called ‘Mond Potato Pancake’, but it resembled more of a ‘Hash Brown’ or ‘Croquette’.

[Perfection]

[Tasty Mond Potato Pancake] x2

Lady Gamwoo’s mouth watered at the golden appearance of the ‘Mond Potato Pancake’. The crispy outer layer was fried to a perfect golden brown, and the accompanying fruit jam emitted a tangy and sweet aroma that stimulated the appetite. And the savory fragrance that wafted through the air meant that the mixture of pine nuts and potatoes had been cooked to perfection.

Lady Gamwoo hesitated again, as she did last time, but she couldn’t help but pick up her chopsticks under my persistent coercion.

As she picked up a piece of the Mond Potato Pancake with her chopsticks, she could already feel the crispy texture. Lady Gamwoo dipped the potato pancake in the fruit jam made from sunsettia and raspberry. And the moment she put it in her mouth, she trembled with delight.

The crispy outer layer crumbled as soon as her teeth touched it. And inside, the warm and fluffy potato mixture greeted her tongue with a burst of flavor. The texture of the mashed potatoes, which could have been dense, transformed into a smooth and rich texture when combined with the chewy texture of the diced potatoes and the crunchy texture of the pine nuts. The savory taste of the oil-soaked potatoes, the unique fragrance of the pine nuts, and the sweet and tangy fruit jam came together to create a deep yet not overwhelming pleasure.

As someone with a great appetite, Lady Gamwoo couldn’t help but feel happy. The Mond Potato Pancake disappeared in an instant once again. It was worth it to deliberately prepare two servings so that Lady Gamwoo wouldn’t feel embarrassed.

And after the meal, Lady Gamwoo looked at the empty plate with regretful eyes, but this time she managed to endure it somehow. There must have been a reason for preparing two portions from the beginning. However, Lady Gamwoo seemed unaware that she was sucking on the chopsticks with a regretful face, unlike the last time. Since it was quite a cute sight, I decided not to say anything.

Eventually, Lady Gamwoo, with a sigh mixed with satisfaction and regret, put down the chopsticks.

“You ate well, Siwoo.”

She placed her hands on her chest and expressed her gratitude to me. I was satisfied with the fact that Lady Gamwoo had a proper meal.

However, a change occurred at that moment. Lady Gamwoo, after yawning unexpectedly, started closing her eyes and nodding off.

“Yawn, but now… it’s nap time, somewhere cozy….”

Was it dizziness? Or perhaps accumulated fatigue? I was surprised, and I supported Lady Gamwoo to the bed, but soon she grabbed onto me and fell asleep with her head on my knees.

After laying Lady Gamwoo on the bed, she found a pillow and fell asleep with her head on my knees without even realizing it.

Lady Gamwoo, with drowsy eyes, seemed unaware that she was lying on my knees, and I had no choice but to wait until she woke up.

When Lady Gamwoo finally woke up, stretching as if feeling refreshed, she blushed her face like a red radish and said, “I’m sorry,” before leaving as if fleeing.

And the second incident, the visit of Tartallia and Childe.

On that night, after Tartallia’s statement that they would come, what I prepared was ‘Honey Carrot Grill,’ ‘Butter Mushroom Roast,’ and ‘Crab Roe Vegetable Stew.’

‘Honey Carrot Grill’ was a Mondstadt specialty where beast meat was cut into large pieces, coated with honey sauce, and grilled. ‘Butter Mushroom Roast’ was a dish where mushrooms were thinly sliced and roasted with butter. ‘Crab Roe Vegetable Stew’ was a delicacy that combined crab roe and vegetables in a creamy soup.

Tartallia and Childe, who came to the accommodation, exchanged a few greetings and immediately began their meal.

As soon as ‘Honey Carrot Grill’ was sliced with a knife, the butcher skillfully decorated the plate. The honey sauce provided a sweet yet intense flavor. Although it seemed like an unlikely combination, when eaten with the garnished vegetables and meat, the true value of the dish was revealed. The thick and sweet aroma of honey, combined with the toughness of beast meat, created a strong flavor. The harmony of juice and sauce delighted the palate. The vegetables balanced the potentially heavy feeling, contributing with their sweet scent to the harmony of meat and sauce. It was a dish that seemed unlikely but formed a harmonious combination.

‘Butter Mushroom Roast’ emitted a unique fragrance from the well-cooked mushrooms, and the moment you cut through the crispy surface, the juicy essence burst out, pleasing both the taste and the smell. The rich flavor of butter subdued the somewhat pungent aroma of the mushrooms. ‘Crab Roe Vegetable Stew,’ how was it? The creamy texture of the crab roe, the unique texture, and the deep flavor of the well-cooked vegetables made this dish perfect not only for a meal but also as a snack.

Childe, after silently continuing the meal for a while, soon exclaimed, “Truly worthy of its reputation. The cuisine of a wandering merchant from Mondstadt is no less than that of Good Hunter or Wangshu Inn.”

The emotion in his golden eyes was pure admiration. It was like looking at a master of some skill.

Feeling a bit awkward under that gaze, I gave a small smile. In reality, I was not someone who had mastered any skill; I was just a person using a kind of trick called the ‘cooking’ function. I didn’t have the qualifications to receive such respect.

So, intentionally, I have been using the term ‘merchant’ rather than ‘cook’, but in fact, it was overwhelming to expect others to understand the subtle difference.

I poured dandelion wine into Jangyeo’s cup and finally confessed with a sigh.

“It’s not really something great. What should I say, it’s not a skill I obtained through my own efforts. It’s more like I was lucky.”

Hm? Jangyeo’s gaze subtly changed. It seemed unexpected. On the other hand, Tartalia’s attitude was not surprising, but rather a relaxed demeanor as if listening to an interesting story.

“Well, I don’t know if you’ve heard the rumors, but my cooking has special effects. If you eat the ‘Honey Carrot Grill’ you just had, you won’t get tired easily, and if you eat the ‘Butter Mushroom Roast’, your strength will be enhanced. It’s a trick I happened to discover while gaining such power. So it’s not that great. It’s just luck.”

Jangyeo closed his eyes and said, “Hm,” in response to my words. Tartalia, as always, had a relaxed smile. Disappointed, Jangyeo must have been, right? But there was nothing I could do about it.

For me to boast about my ‘cooking’ ability was a kind of insult. An insult to those who truly devote themselves to cooking. And such insults, in the end, would come back to me. A bunch of feathers made from the feathers of other birds, no matter how beautiful, will eventually be found out.

Tartalia was the first to react. Tartalia eventually burst into laughter.

“hahahahaha! How about that, Jangyeo? Quite an interesting guy, isn’t he?”

Tartalia’s reaction was expected. But what was unexpected was Jangyeo’s reaction. Jangyeo, who had opened his eyes again, had a smile on his face.

“hehehe, indeed. People are accustomed to elevating themselves, but not to lowering themselves…”

While saying that, Jangyeo looked at me directly and spoke.

“Siwoo, you don’t have to think so deeply about it. The ability you obtained through luck is still your ability. Of course, it may be regrettable and burdensome to be compared to those who invested blood and sweat in the process. And it is true that you should respect them even more. However, always remember that the essence of cooking lies in making someone happy. I, for one, was amazed by your cooking.”

“…I see.”

It had been a long time since I received such direct praise, so I felt my face flush with unnecessary embarrassment. It felt like being acknowledged by a socially respected adult.

It felt as if Jangyeo was not of the same age as me, but rather a sage who had lived for a long time. Was it because of the alcohol? Yeah, let’s just blame it on the alcohol.

At that moment, Tartalia raised her glass high.

“Well, since the atmosphere is good, let’s have a drink. And this is fate, so how about having gatherings like this often in the future?”

I immediately felt the alcohol buzz fade away at those words. ‘Gatherings like this’? Does she mean we’ll have frequent drinking sessions in the future?

But regardless of my mood, the atmosphere was moving towards gathering together. Jangyeo nodded with a faint smile.

“There’s no reason to oppose. Good food, good drinks, and good company. Isn’t this the perfect condition for a gathering?”

After hearing those words, I pondered deeply.

Come to think of it, isn’t this a great opportunity? People as knowledgeable as Mr. Zhongli are rare, and Tartaglia is currently a Harbinger of the Fatui.

Although my base is in Mondstadt, I’ll have to visit Liyue a few more times for business.

However, I couldn’t think of a reason why Tartaglia and Mr. Zhongli would take a liking to me, so I decided to let it be.

Alcohol doesn’t affect me. Feeling indifferent, I raised my glass.

“Well then, here’s to a good partnership from now on!”

And so, I made two drinking buddies in Liyue.

By the way, Zhongli had the highest alcohol tolerance, followed by Tartaglia, and I was the last. According to Tartaglia, even after I passed out from the alcohol, the drinking session continued for quite a while. They were truly incredible drinkers.

There was also something about a person named ‘Xiangling’ who came to give a statement, but since I was more interested in seeing Lumine immediately, I decided to ignore it.

And time passed. Today, Fischl and I had already reached the ‘Stone Gate’.

The ‘Stone Gate’ was literally a stone-made gate, or rather a gorge. The steep cliffs cast long shadows on the ground under the moonlight.

Originally, this gorge area was something our group avoided. It was because Oz’s scouting ability couldn’t reach there.

The steep gorge was covered like a roof over a narrow path, making it impossible to see what was below. There were even rocks scattered here and there.

Nevertheless, the reason we chose this path was because of the information Fischl obtained from Beidou. She said that the Cheongun army had recently patrolled this area.

If that’s the case, there was no need to climb up and cross over the top of the Stone Gate. The roof of the Stone Gate was high, and the physical stamina and time required to climb it were beyond imagination.

Thanks to this unexpected information, we set up our campsite within the gorge. It was already late at night.

As I was starting a campfire, I caught a glimpse of Fischl’s demeanor. Fischl seemed melancholic today as well. As we approached Mondstadt, her melancholic demeanor became more pronounced.

“…Um, Fischl?”

I cautiously called out to her. Fischl’s powerless gaze turned towards me. And yet, her expression was slightly tense, as if she had some complaints.

I let out a deep sigh. At times like this, it’s impossible to understand what’s going on in kids’ minds.

“Why are you like this? Is something bothering you?”

Piesel sharply turned her head. Perhaps it meant she didn’t want to talk. As I pondered how to react, Piesel’s voice reached me belatedly.

“…You, you don’t seem that sad, do you?”

I didn’t ask what. I sighed once again.

Piesel is a lonely child. Until now, I’ve been by her side, but once we go to Mondstadt, that won’t be possible anymore. She seemed worried about that.

Well, for Piesel, I’m the first friend she ever had. It wouldn’t be strange for her to be clingy.

“Piesel, just because we’re going to Mondstadt doesn’t mean we won’t see each other. I’ll be sad to part ways with you too.”

“Hmph, despite that, you seem to be in a good mood lately?”

At Piesel’s snorting remark, I remained silent. Perhaps that was the real source of Piesel’s discontent.

She’s feeling gloomy about parting ways, and I seem happy. It must have hurt her for no reason.

But what can I do? I couldn’t help feeling good about going to Mondstadt, where Lumine and Paimon are waiting. Of course, Piesel is precious too, but Mondstadt, with Lumine and Paimon waiting, is a place of comfort, like home.

I pondered. Should I teach Piesel about proper human relationships even now? Even if we’re friends, everyone has their own circumstances, and we can’t be together every day. I could scold her while teaching, maybe get angry, or persuade her. I just didn’t know what the right answer was.

If only I had been more active in high school peer counseling activities. Regretting that, I finally opened my mouth.

“Piesel….”

And then it happened.

I felt a strange sensation. A feeling as if something brushed against my intuition, my eyes fixed on the gap behind Piesel like magnets.

Something was shining. Something faintly reflecting the light of the campfire.

As soon as I confirmed it, I shouted like a scream.

“Piesel! Look out!”

At that moment, something shot out from the darkness. The sound of the wind parting, “shoop,” quietly but eerily echoed.

Peasle, upon hearing my shout, briefly looked puzzled but soon realized the urgency of the situation, rising to her feet and scanning her surroundings. It was a swift response.

She twisted her body to evade the incoming arrow. However, the arrow grazed Peasle’s forearm as it passed by.

“Oz!”

In response to Peasle’s urgent cry, a crimson message condensed from the empty air, and Oz appeared. Oz, upon appearing, seemed to grasp the situation immediately and sent spheres of electricity in all directions.

There they were—people. Clearly, a gang of thieves, given the masks they wore. Two of them, no, three?

They hid behind rocks, resisting Oz’s attacks. Peasle immediately drew her bow, ready to shoot an arrow at any moment.

A change was detected by Peasle at that moment. Just as she exclaimed, her posture crumbled. She collapsed to her knees.

“Miss?”

Oz also looked bewildered. Why did Peasle suddenly behave like that?

My gaze landed on the arrow Peasle had just dodged. In that moment, I thought of one possibility: ‘poison.’

“Oz, keep them at bay for now! I’ll take Peasle and find a way to heal her somehow…”

And then, a thud, a sound.

Later, a burning pain surged from my thigh. I gritted my teeth and looked behind.

Someone was standing there. A woman? I couldn’t tell because of the mask, but there was a sense of familiarity.

And an arrow embedded in my thigh. They were not two or three opponents. There were four.

“Oh no, s—”

My consciousness was abruptly cut off.

***

Upon regaining consciousness, I felt a strong headache. It was painful and stifling, as if the blood vessels in my brain were blocked. The next sensations were the tingling pain from my thigh, the coldness of the ground, and the smell of dust.

As my senses returned, my consciousness began to awaken simultaneously. Where am I?

“Hmm…”

Unintentionally, a suppressed groan escaped from me. However, even that groan didn’t last long.

“What’s this? It seems like this guy woke up.”

A robust voice, and only then did I feel the memories of when I collapsed coming back to me. This was a dangerous situation.

Sensing that, I refrained from groaning and tightly sealed my lips. Pretending to be unconscious seemed like a better choice for now.

“What’s going on? No reaction at all? Did I imagine it?”

“Ah, tsk. Just messing with people’s heads.”

The approaching figure towards me seemed to be blocked by another man’s voice, and he returned to his original position.

I started rolling my head. There was a way to escape this situation.

Since the incident with Pisel, I had been contemplating various options. It was due to the realization that I needed to be prepared for unexpected situations. Even the experiments I conducted in the closed restaurant after business hours were part of that preparation.

I took out a dish from the ‘backpack.’ Not with my hands, but with my mouth.

The dishes stored in the ‘backpack’ were divided and stored in such a way that they didn’t merge into one. They remained the same size each time I took them out. That was the application.

First, recovery with the ‘Sweet Sweet Chicken Soup.’

“But is it okay to accept this request? Adventurers who do anything for money, but this one smells too dangerous.”

“The reward is substantial. It’s a request from the ‘Wuiin Clan.’ They want us to cut off all the traffic going to Mondstadt. Even this request wouldn’t fall into the hands of nobodies like us if it weren’t for the Lord’s persuasion.”

‘Wuiin Clan.’ As soon as I heard that, I thought of Tartaglia.

But then, I instinctively shook my head. It couldn’t be Tartaglia. I hadn’t seen him much, but one thing was certain.

Tartaglia wasn’t good at deceiving others. And considering his personality, if he wanted to attack me, he would have done it himself. That would be more certain.

Moreover, he was the overseer of Liyue. An order like ‘cut off all traffic going to Mondstadt’ felt awkward if it came from Liyue. If such an order existed, it would have originated from Mondstadt, not Liyue.

And then, amidst my conversation with Tartalia, a name suddenly came to mind. “Xinyan,” I believe it was. From what I gathered from Tartaglia’s words, the Fatui Harbingers operated independently, to the point where they often didn’t even know what their colleagues were up to.

I had a hunch that there was a conspiracy involving the Mondstadt Rebellion. I kept my mouth shut, chewing on my food.

Next, strengthen “Snezhnaya’s Leadership”.

“But what if those Fatui try to silence us by killing us? They think they’re superior to everyone else.”

“That’s why Lord Childe took that woman to a separate villa, right? To smoothly intercept the items they possess. And we’ll escape.”

“…But what if the Fatui come after us?”

“Idiot, when did the Fatui ever reveal their cards and demand the return of their items? As long as we finish our tasks cleanly, there’s no reason for them to chase us and kill us.”

The conversation among the thieves was interrupted by a voice, the third voice I had heard.

“Enough, we just have to do as Sir Kaeya says. We’ve been doing well up until now.”

“Kaeya.” The moment I heard that name, it felt like a lightning bolt struck my head.

Right, why had I forgotten? Kaeya was the one who showed us the way to the Stone Gate, and he was the one who would most likely be able to predict our path before we left in a week.

And above all, the uneasiness I felt from Kaeya.

Kaeya was not just Xingqiu’s friend. He interrupted Xingqiu’s words, looked down on me for assuming I was Xingqiu’s boyfriend, and gave me a look like “Another one into Xingqiu?” as soon as he found out I had money.

I realized it all at once. No matter how you looked at it, hitting someone on the back of the head was a clear criminal act. Kaeya had to pay the price for that. No, I was planning to make him pay. I thought that as I swallowed the last bite of my food.

Lastly, protect with “Thick Lotus Seafood Soup”.

“Well, of course, Sir knows what to do… Huh? What?”

A dagger sprang from my hand. It was the same dagger I used to slaughter my first “fresh meat.”

My hands were tightly bound behind my back to prevent resistance, so there was no way anyone could have predicted that the dagger would suddenly spring from my hand.

Of course, it was a bit uncomfortable. However, with the strengthened strength from “Snezhnaya’s Leadership,” I felt no resistance as the dagger cut through the ropes.

Snap. The ropes were severed. I swung the dagger and cut the ropes that bound my ankles. Then, with a swift motion, I stood up.

Whew, I exhale. I sheathe the dagger into my ‘backpack.’

Tartalia’s words come to mind, something about ‘twisting a chicken’s neck.’

“You, you punk! How did this happen?”

“Is this the time for such questions?! Go and subdue them immediately!”

Saying that, a man rushes forward. A man with a robust voice. Since I’ve been keeping my eyes closed, it’s the first time I see his face. He looks quite rugged in reality.

The man draws the knife from his waist and, maintaining his charging stance, swings the blade towards my right arm. An attitude that suggests losing an arm wouldn’t be a big deal.

However, the man’s goal is not achieved.

Click, and the knife stops. It sounds more like hitting a solid piece of wood than cutting through human flesh. Astonishment flashes across the man’s face.

I give a slight smile.

“…Why, is this weird?”

Then, I grab the blade blocking my right arm with my left hand. Up to that point, the man just stands there stupidly making confused sounds.

Haley, the junior adventurer, wasn’t kidding. I knew the level of those who address such Haley as ‘nun.’ So, it was fortunate.

I pull the knife with a slight jerk. The enhanced strength from the ‘leading edge’ was beyond what a junior adventurer could withstand. He is pulled in, falling forward.

The collapsing man’s jaw is in a vulnerable state. So, I rake my knee over it. A crisp, clean hit.

With a squishy sound and an unpleasant sensation, the knee conveys the impact. It was a clumsy kick in an awkward position. The strength was poorly distributed, and if there were a master of martial arts, my immaturity would have been apparent even if I had taken doping.

Still, it was sufficient to break the jawbones of petty quarrelers like junior adventurers.

With a thud, one adventurer collapses. Now, only two remain.

“Is my body too tough?”

If you’re dissatisfied, come to Shiu’s restaurant. It’s closed, but you know.

Saying that, I thought about twisting a chicken’s neck.