NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9: Chapter 9
Meanwhile, inside the Cat's Tail Tavern.
"Achoo!"
"Dear, adorable, sexy, perfect Diona, really, just one more drink. Just one more!"
A figure dressed in green sat at the bar of the Cat's Tail Tavern, pleading with the cat-eared bartender, Diona.
"Really, really, just one last Cat's Tail Special. How about I sing you a poem? No, ten poems… Achoo!"
The green-clad figure rubbed his red nose while giving Diona a pitiful look.
"Diona, give him a Cat's Tail Special."
The tavern's owner, Margaret, looked sympathetically at the bard, Venti, also known as the Anemo Archon, Barbatos, who was begging for a drink.
"Letting him pester you like this isn't a solution, is it?"
"Hmph."
A cat-eared girl, her ears twitching slightly, shook a cocktail shaker with a displeased expression. If one looked closely, they might even spot a hidden cat tail under the bar.
"Hmph, drink this Lizard Salt Wine and put an end to your drunken bard life…"
Diona secretly plotted, determined to teach this freeloading bard a lesson.
"Gulp… gulp… Ah, I've never tasted such a wonderful drink! Can I get a refill, miss?"
Venti, having downed the entire glass in one go, his red nose even seeming to improve.
"…A refill?"
Tears welled up in Diona's eyes.
"Even this kind of wine tastes good to him?"
To this day, Diona was still struggling with her "100% ability to make delicious drinks." Unwilling to admit defeat, she hadn't given up on finding a truly terrible recipe. Yet, the result was always the same—the Cat's Tail Tavern remained bustling, with patrons praising Diona's drinks while she puffed her cheeks in frustration.
"Drunken bard, don't get too carried away!"
"Ehe."
Venti let out his signature mischievous smile, clearly not a serious one.
Though his expression remained unchanged, Venti couldn't help but complain inwardly about the God of Flame, Famas, who had stood him up.
"Famas…"
Venti took another sip of his refilled Cat's Tail Special. If it weren't for the intense and chaotic aura of war he had sensed from the girl named Lumine, he wouldn't have believed that the God of Flame, defeated by Morax so long ago, was still alive.
"Even if he's alive, he probably doesn't have much power left. Yet, he was willing to expend so much Pyro energy to withstand Dvalin's fierce winds. It seems he's changed a lot."
"What a troublesome time this is."
Venti thought gently, finishing the last of his drink and preparing to sneak out of the Cat's Tail Tavern.
"Since you're not coming to me, I'll go to you, Famas!"
Just as Venti made up his mind to slip away, Diona's cat ears twitched, and a glass was hurled toward the fleeing bard.
"Stop! Drunken bard, pay up!"
"Besides the last drink I gave you, you also had two Dandelion Wines."
A gust of Anemo energy swirled as Venti effortlessly caught the glass and returned it to the bar. Then, a gentle and soothing breeze enveloped him, and his figure disappeared.
"Put it on my tab, beautiful and adorable Miss Diona. I'll pay you back once I earn some bounty money."
Watching Venti vanish, Diona stomped her foot in frustration. This green-clad bard had never paid for his drinks since arriving at the Cat's Tail Tavern. Yet, Margaret, the owner, never seemed to mind, always offering free drinks to penniless bards.
---
Meanwhile, outside the Knights of Favonius headquarters.
"The citizens who were protected during the battle against the dragon witnessed everything. The Acting Grand Master is very interested in meeting the two… no, three of you. She hopes to have a word at the Knights' headquarters."
Kaeya, his dark skin gleaming under the sunlight, explained to Lumine and Paimon. Amber stood nearby as the group entered the Knights of Favonius headquarters.
"Master Jean's office is on the left. You three can go in. Amber and I will wait outside."
After leading Lumine, Paimon, and Famas to the door of Jean's office, Kaeya quickly distanced himself, as if the office housed some kind of terrifying beast.
"Is Master Jean really that scary?"
Famas was a bit skeptical. From what he knew, Jean was a very responsible and diligent Acting Grand Master.
Though Mondstadt was the city of freedom, boundless laxity would only lead to chaos and confusion. Jean understood this well, which was why she maintained a strict and diligent work ethic, holding herself to the highest standards. Though she often ended up exhausting her monthly coffee quota by the beginning of the month.
Lumine gently pushed open the door to Jean's office. The first thing that caught her eye was a massive bookshelf that nearly reached the ceiling, followed by the strong aroma of coffee. A blonde woman in a fitted uniform sat at the desk, her brows furrowed as if pondering something extremely challenging.
In the corner of the room, near the library, stood a mysterious woman wearing a purple hat. From Famas's memory, this was likely the librarian, Lisa.
"Ahem."
Lumine coughed lightly, trying to catch Jean's attention.
Jean immediately looked up from her paperwork, first with a look of confusion, then one of understanding.
"Kaeya, is he really that afraid of me assigning him to clean up Mondstadt?"
Jean sighed, setting aside her thoughts.
"Welcome to Mondstadt, travelers carried by the wind. I am Jean, the Acting Grand Master of the Knights of Favonius. This is Lisa, our librarian."
Jean stood up and walked over to Lumine, while Lisa approached from the bookshelf.
"My, my, travelers from afar? It's been a long time since we've had visitors in Mondstadt."
Lisa, her purple hat tilted elegantly, shook her head.
"I'm here to find my brother."
Lumine briefly explained her purpose and origins, also introducing Famas in the process.
"No wonder I sensed Pyro energy from a monster on you. So it's this Pyro Slime… Famas?"
Lisa tilted her head curiously.
"I'm from Natlan, temporarily staying in Mondstadt."
Famas, unable to withstand Lisa's strange gaze, quickly explained his identity.
"Is it a spell that turns humans into Slimes? How peculiar. Though, I suppose only those warmongers from Natlan could come up with such strange magic."
Lisa chuckled. "Since the Stormterror incident, the elemental flow and ley lines around Mondstadt have become as tangled as a ball of yarn after a cat's played with it. For a mage, this is the worst situation. It ruins both your skin and your mood…"
Jean, listening to the conversation, took a sip of coffee from the cup at her side and confidently explained to Lumine, "If it weren't for these disturbances, the Knights of Favonius would have better ways to help you than just posting missing person notices. For now, please stay in Mondstadt temporarily. We'll do our best to resolve the situation."