Be Careful When Agreeing to Terms and Conditions

1. Mondstadt (8)

After the devil’s money duplicator was activated, my situation improved significantly.

First and foremost, I discovered the means of obtaining primal gems. It seemed that by breaking certain achievements or clearing specific locations, events, and requests, known as “quests,” Lumine would receive primal gems.

I first invested in “fate,” a kind of lottery ticket that came through the “events” and “mail” functions, and gathered all the primal gems to use in the “wishing” process.

In the end, there was nothing else of use except for that. With the money I collected, I repeatedly gathered stardust and starglitter, and used the starglitter to purchase Mora.

However, no matter how many primal gems I collected, there was always a limit.

Unfortunately, without the fuel known as “primal gems,” the devil’s money duplicator could not operate.

Although my situation had clearly improved, the amount of money I had accumulated was far from reaching my goal.

Of course, for a while, this amount was enough to live without any major problems.

No, rather, I could have lived luxuriously,

But what I had planned was something much bigger.

If I could gather enough initial capital, I could start, but I couldn’t help but be concerned about whether I should be satisfied with this level of satisfaction and move on to the next stage of the plan.

This place was where I came to calm my mind, which was buzzing with worries.

It was a famous tavern in Mondstadt called “Angel’s Share”.

In fact, I was quite fond of drinking before I fell to the Teyvat continent.

However, survival was the priority right after the fall, and when I arrived in Mondstadt, I was too busy with work to come here often.

But even in the midst of such busyness, I visited a few times, so my love for alcohol was recognized.

However, when I got too drunk and returned, I would get scolded, saying that I had to take care of myself for Lumine. Paimon would nag at me, saying that I smelled like alcohol.

But I couldn’t help but seek alcohol on a day as difficult as today.

Even though Mondstadt didn’t have many people I knew, it didn’t matter anyway since even if I drank alone at “Angel’s Share”, the bartender would listen to me enough.

But today’s “Angel’s Share” was strange.

Instead of the familiar “Charles” behind the counter, there was a handsome man standing there.

Fiery red hair that seemed to be burning, calm crimson eyes. Although the man’s long hair was tied back with a hairband, somehow those wavy strands revealed a wild charm.

And the atmosphere, there was a silence that seemed to steal the surrounding sounds, giving off a sense of tranquility.

He was quietly wiping glasses, and just that alone made him a painting.

I was overwhelmed by the unexpected atmosphere and couldn’t help but flinch and hesitate.

“…Are you a customer?”

He glanced at me briefly and asked. It wasn’t the attitude of someone dealing with a customer.

But his atmosphere, his subdued voice made me feel as if it was only natural.

Originally, I am a Korean, so I didn’t feel a strong aversion to someone who appeared older than me talking. Is this the power of Confucian culture?

I scratched my head and decided to just go in.

Even if the bartender had changed, as long as they poured good drinks and listened well, it should be fine.

I didn’t even know if someone who didn’t talk much like that could listen well to the customers’ stories.

“Um, what about the regular, Mr. Charles…?”

“…Charles is off today. What can I get you?”

I see, so this handsome man must be some kind of substitute for Charles on his day off.

Despite that, he seemed much more popular than Charles, especially with the female customers.

Well, every store has its own circumstances, so I decided to just let it go.

“Give me ‘Death in the Afternoon’.”

“It’s a bit strong for a first drink.”

“I’ve had some things lately that warrant it.”

My demeanor as I said that was undeniably gloomy.

The handsome man, who had been subtly observing my mood, nodded as if understanding.

“Death in the Afternoon” is a strong drink. I don’t know exactly how strong it is. According to Charles, it’s around 40 proof.

As the handsome man mentioned, it was indeed a rather strong drink to gulp down with nothing in the stomach.

But what could I do? Just as some people crave spicy flavors when stressed, there are also those who seek out strong drinks.

I downed the first “Death in the Afternoon” in one go. The burning sensation disappeared down my throat and into my stomach.

I’m going to have a hard time tomorrow morning, I muttered to myself.

“…Do you have some worries?”

How much had I been drinking like that? As the intoxication slowly rose, I shifted my gaze towards a deep, resonant voice I heard.

The bartender with red hair, or as I had just overheard, Mr. Dairuk.

He was still wiping the cocktail glass and briefly glanced at me.

His eyes were still sunken, but I thought Mr. Dairuk was a better bartender than I had expected.

Mr. Dairuk was paying more attention to the customers than I thought.

“So… Mr. Dairuk?”

“…Hmph, call me whatever you want.”

The silence in front of me bothered me a little, but since Mr. Dairuk was originally a man of few words, I decided to let it be.

“Actually, I’m running a stall, and recently I heard from the Fabonius Knights that I should close the store.”

“I heard the rumors.”

While saying that, Mr. Dairuk shone the clean cocktail glass under the light.

“So you’re a colleague of that ‘honorable knight’.”

“Yes, well… that’s why I was feeling a bit down.”

Thinking that the cocktail glass was well cleaned, Mr. Dairuk placed it on the display shelf and stared at me.

The depths of those eyes didn’t shine. Could he be someone with a dark past? The atmosphere was not ordinary from the beginning.

“The Fabonius Knights are an inflexible group, indeed.”

Still, Mr. Dairuk added with a sigh.

“But if you go through the registration process, you can reopen the store, even if it takes some time.”

“Ah, that’s what I mean. Actually, my goal was not a restaurant, but to gather as much money as possible and start my activities quickly.”

I seemed to be getting a little tipsy.

I had been keeping a story to myself that I hadn’t told anyone. But well, I guess it doesn’t really matter anyway.

Perhaps due to the stress I had been under, my mouth moved on its own.

“The truth is, I have an ability that others don’t… I can move a tremendous amount of objects all at once.”

“…Are you drunk?”

I expected that response. Letting out a frustrated sigh, I placed my hand on the empty chair beside me.

“Here, watch.”

As I thought about putting the chair into my ‘backpack’, the chair stretched and distorted as if space itself was warping, and then disappeared into my pocket.

Daiyurk’s eyebrows slightly raised at the sight.

It was an unexpected spectacle. Honestly, every time I saw this, I couldn’t help but wonder how this ability actually worked.

An icon in the shape of a chair appeared in my backpack, with the number ‘1’ engraved underneath.

I thought about taking out the chair again. And just like that, the chair stretched out from my pocket and returned to its original place.

But, can I really show this to others?

I quickly scanned my surroundings, but it seemed that the only person watching was Daiyurk.

Daiyurk, well, I don’t know why, but he didn’t seem like the type to go around talking about things.

To be more accurate, he seemed like he didn’t have any friends to talk to.

Thinking it was too rude, I decided to stop thinking about it.

Daiyurk, who saw the chair moving back and forth inside a pocket where it couldn’t physically fit, had a slightly frozen expression on his face.

It seemed like he was in shock. It would be strange if he wasn’t. After all, he hadn’t heard that this could be achieved with the power of ‘elements’.

Perhaps it was just reducing the weight of the object with the power of the wind element.

“Just now, only one chair went in, but actually, I can move much more. I haven’t tested the limits yet, but it’s almost infinite.”

That’s right. This ‘backpack’ ability was a terrifying ability that shone with the light of “cooking”.

It can store an infinite amount of objects. The objects placed inside remain fixed and can be preserved indefinitely. Moreover, the weight does not increase.

The only drawback is that it is tied to me. But that’s not a big deal if I move around myself.

If I were to use this ‘backpack’ to transport goods in large quantities, what would happen?

There are many monsters on the continent of Teyvat. There are also thieves, and to protect the cargo from various threats, it is necessary to maintain routes and hire adventurers for security.

Nevertheless, the amount of cargo that can be transported at once is limited. Naturally, the cost of maintaining the distribution network is expensive, and this is reflected in the prices.

Not to mention the current situation in Mondstadt. The existing distribution network has been completely destroyed by the Anemo Archon. Goods are drying up, and the prices in Mondstadt are skyrocketing day by day.

If I were to step forward and distribute a large amount of goods?

Of course, there are drawbacks. Since I have to move myself, the more goods I buy and sell, the better, considering the time required for round trips.

For now, I am the one moving, but my long-term plan was to reorganize Mondstadt’s distribution network. If I move, I can greatly reduce the cost of distribution, so I will initially gain an advantage in price competition. However, as time goes by and my movements decrease, and as my existence becomes exposed to the outside world, the risk of being targeted by enemies will increase, and eventually, like other upper-class individuals, I will have no choice but to hire people.

So now is the right time. The moment when the existing distribution networks in Mondstadt have been destroyed by the Anemo Archon.

At this time, I will devour Mondstadt’s distribution network. And when the threat of the Anemo Archon disappears, I will establish a proper upper-class.

At that time, the upper-class individuals who were constructing the existing distribution networks will also step forward again, but it will be quite difficult to rebuild the destroyed distribution network once again.

That’s why I needed a way to make the most money in the shortest possible time. Before the distribution network destroyed by the Anemo Archon is restored, I need time to seize control of Mondstadt’s distribution network.

“…And if that happens, it will benefit Mondstadt right away as well. If a large amount of inventory is released in a situation where the prices of daily necessities are skyrocketing, the lives of the people in Mondstadt will stabilize. Then, well, I can also repay the people of Mondstadt who loved my store, isn’t that nice?”

After my long discussion about the “grand plan” came to an end, Mr. Diluc suddenly found himself leaning over the counter, resting his elbows on it.

And tap, tap, tap, as if thinking, he tapped the table with his fingers.

“…But in the long run, it’s not good for Mondstadt to have one upper-class monopolize the distribution network.”

“Well, yeah. That’s true for ordinary people. But actually, I don’t particularly want to make money.”

In response to my words, Mr. Diluc had a surprised expression on his face.

“When I hear a plan, it seems like you really want to make a decent amount of money.”

“Well, I don’t have the strength or the connections. It’s the fastest way for someone like me, who has no power or resources, to build influence using whatever abilities they have. My goal is to create a place I can rely on.”

Hmm, and Diluc’s gaze was thrown somewhere. He might be reminiscing about the past, or maybe he was deep in thought; it was hard to tell.

“A place to rely on…”

“Right now, with my current strength, I can’t protect Mondstadt.”

That’s right. This was the real reason why I had to earn money now, even if it meant taking on challenging jobs.

Lumine had protected me when I was stranded in Teyvat, unable to do anything.

Paimon, though noisy, was a good guide. And what about Amber? And the regulars who visited my stall every day?

Charles from “Angels’ Share,” the owner of the inn where I stayed, and the people I gradually formed connections with around me, beyond just Lumine.

So I thought. I want to protect. Not a desire to have the power to protect many people. Just like Lumine bestowed on me, I, too, want to protect Lumine.

“Well, it might sound a bit cheesy, but… that’s the reason. Because the goal is to create a place to rely on, it would be better to form alliances with influential places like the Knights of Favonius or the Cathedral. And, even if we raid supply routes, it’s just petty thievery. If we want to compete with the upper echelons rooted deep in Mondstadt, we can’t expect to gain any advantage in price competition.”

Of course, even if we say that, there’s a scale economy, so the upper echelons with a large distribution network would have a clear advantage in price competition.

Having said that, I felt relieved and laughed heartily.

Come to think of it, it might still be more like a delusion. No matter how capable you are, if you don’t have money, you can’t even start. That was the situation right now.

“But I’ve closed the stall, and I don’t have that much money. It’s just a daydream.”

However, Diluc seemed to be contemplating something continuously. Tock, tock, tock. How much time had passed?

His solid lips opened a little more after a bit more time had passed.

“… What if I lend you the money?”

I burst into laughter, “Puhahahaha!” Unexpectedly, Diluc seemed like the type to enjoy jokes, despite not appearing that way.

“No, hehehe, Diluc. Do you know how much money is needed to execute this plan? Surprisingly good at jokes, though.”

In response to my reaction, Mr. Diluc let out a deep sigh.

“…Seems like you really have no idea who I am.”

As he shook his head disapprovingly, Diluc’s expression seemed genuine.

“There’s really no need for me to lend you money.”

Unable to follow the conversation and staring blankly, Diluc asked me,

“Have you ever heard of the ‘Morax-shaped Mora’ by any chance?”

***

Mondstadt’s wine is famous for its quality. It’s popular everywhere, earning it the nickname ‘Morax-shaped Mora.’

Diluc is the owner of a prominent winery in Mondstadt’s liquor industry, and this happened to be the opportunity as stocks kept piling up due to disruptions in the distribution network caused by the Anemo Archon’s dragon.

If I could take that stock?

Even after excluding the payment for the sales that I would make to Diluc, it was certain that there would be a substantial amount of Mora, possibly in the millions, rolling in after exchanging the substantial profits back into goods like necessities and distributing them in Mondstadt.

Of course, it’s a big deal, and it’s the first time I’ve met Diluc today. Naturally, there would be a verification process to gain trust, and contracts would need to be carefully negotiated.

Still, this was undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

If Lumine weren’t the Honorary Knight of Favonius or if Jean hadn’t given a favorable assessment of me, Diluc wouldn’t have even made this proposal to me.

I couldn’t calm my excited heart and rushed to the inn. Emitting the scent of alcohol, I grabbed Lumine and Paimon and discussed today’s events.

I’ve caught a big one; now I might have to leave Mondstadt for a while. Even so, if I come back soon, I could expand the business.

But what dampened my excited mood was Lumine’s reaction.

“No.”

Her voice was resolute. Lumine had never spoken so definitively before. Until now, her opposition was at most a mild ‘I disagree,’ but this time was different.

As I flinched at the unexpected response, Lumine continued with a sigh.

“Siwoo, the outside is a chaos of monsters because of the Wind Dragon. It’s been a long time since the Favonius Knights last patrolled. Even the villagers who are running out of supplies have become treasure hunters and often ambush escort vehicles. Do you understand what it means to be wandering around in such a place?”

“I know that, but still, this is worth taking the risk for…”

“Siwoo.”

I closed my mouth. Lumine’s eyes, with deep crimson irises, looked at me with a firm determination.

“For me, Siwoo comes first. Money? Business? I have no interest in that. Whether you say it or not, you are the most important to me. Because you are precious, I will oppose it. No matter what you say, it’s useless.”

I could only stutter and hesitate in response to Lumine’s continued words. Is it because I drank? My head isn’t working properly.

“…Lumine, even if you oppose it, this is an opportunity we can’t miss.”

That was all I could manage to say. Lumine closed her eyes upon hearing my words.

She let out a deep sigh. And when Lumine opened her eyes again, her gaze had turned cold.

“Siwoo, I didn’t want to say this kind of thing…”

I swallowed dry saliva. Today, Lumine’s mood was particularly strange.

I gestured with my eyes for Paimon to help, but Paimon just crossed her arms and shook her head.

She really couldn’t be a more unhelpful guide.

“Why do you keep going outside lately?”

“…Huh?”

Lumine’s words, spoken like that, caught me completely off guard, leaving me dumbfounded.

“You visited the Knights recently, right? You made Amber cry, and lately she talks about you a lot. Seems like you’ve become quite close?”

“Oh, Amber. Ahahahaha… We have gotten closer lately. She’s like a little sister…”

“She said you even treated her to a late-night snack. She asked me to thank Jean for her, saying that even Jean smiled, and it was a good memory?”

“Well, Jean seemed a bit tired… W-Well, we had a good conversation. hahahaha…”

As soon as I finished my hasty response, Lumine burst into a sweet smile.

She was so beautiful. Along with her celestial beauty, Lumine’s smile had the power to captivate anyone’s heart.

So, the reason my heart was trembling must be because Lumine was too beautiful.

Yes, it couldn’t be because I was scared of Lumine.

“Is that so?”

I glanced at Lumine and closed my mouth. Unlike her smiling face, her voice that came out of her mouth was incredibly cold.

When no response came out of my mouth, Lumine immediately erased her smile and looked at me with a cold face.

“Is it good?”

In the end, I had no choice but to admit it, breaking out in a cold sweat.

Today, Lumine was so terrifying that I couldn’t handle it.

Help me, Paimon…!