Kael and Mona bickered the entire time they cleaned up the house, but soon enough, the place was spotless.
After they each washed up, they retreated to their respective rooms.
Kael thought about it for a moment—compared to Amber, it felt like living with Mona was actually... a lot more relaxing.
Amber's feelings for him, though sincere, sometimes felt a bit heavy—like a burden he didn't quite know how to carry.
But with Mona, he didn't have to worry about any of that.
She was blunt, a little emotionally dense, but she had her own rhythm and way of handling things.
Even though she'd said their fates would become deeply entangled, and Kael had no doubt the system was planning to throw her into the knife pit eventually,
—for now—
There were no emotional complications between them.
They were just like… two friends with decent banter.
——
The next morning, a brand new butcher shop opened right outside Mondstadt's front gate.
Kael had headed out at dawn to the Whispering Woods for a hunt, returning with eight wild boars—netting him another 160 attribute points.
Thanks to the hype from the Great Snowboar King earlier, Kael's name was already well-known in Mondstadt.
The moment the shop opened, a long line formed outside.
And within just one morning—every single piece of boar meat was sold out.
When the crowd dispersed, a little girl wearing a red hat and carrying a backpack walked into the shop.
"Hello, big brother! Klee would like two jin of Great Snowboar King meat~!"
The little girl tilted her head and looked up at Kael, speaking ever so politely.
Kael instantly recognized her—
This adorable bundle of energy was Klee!
Being stared at with those big, watery eyes… his heart nearly melted on the spot.
Kael crouched down to meet her gaze and said gently,
"The Great Snowboar King meat is already sold out."
Klee's smile drooped into a frown.
"But I brought all the Mora I've been saving up just for this… and it's all gone?"
She opened her tiny hand, revealing a pitiful pile of low-denomination Mora coins.
"Klee brought three hundred~ Mora~! Big bro, really no more Great Snowboar King meat?"
She said it so proudly, like she was carrying 300 million Mora.
Kael nearly laughed out loud, but kept a serious face as he replied:
"Really none left. But next time I bring one back, I promise—you'll be the first to know."
Klee looked a little disappointed, but still nodded obediently.
"Okay! Then it's a promise."
Kael was curious.
"Where'd you hear about the Great Snowboar King?"
"Klee heard it yesterday at the Knights of Favonius! They said the meat must be super tasty, so I asked Amber-sis to bring me over today—wait, huh...? Amber-sis was just here… where'd she go?"
Klee looked around the shop.
Not long after, Kael saw Amber walk in from the front door.
"Amber, there you are."
Amber's expression was slightly awkward.
"I—I wasn't coming to see you! I was just looking for Klee!
I've been searching all over—so that's where you wandered off to!"
"Hmm? But I thought you said you'd bring me here…"
"Okay! That's enough."
Face red, Amber quickly cut Klee off and grabbed her hand.
"Time to go back to the Knights."
Watching Amber's completely transparent reaction—still trying to play it cool after being totally outed by Klee—
Kael couldn't help but find it endearing.
He laughed.
"Alright, Amber. Don't be mad anymore. My place is all set up now—wanna come up and check it out?"
Amber's expression softened a little, though she tried to act aloof.
"I have to take Klee back first. Maybe some other time."
And with that, she left with Klee in tow.
——
"Sis, why are you smiling like that?"
From the moment they left the butcher shop, Amber's lips hadn't stopped curling up.
Klee tilted her head in curiosity.
"Did something super happy happen? Will you tell Klee too?"
"Hehe, it was super happy. But it's a secret for now. When you grow up and meet someone you really like—you'll understand."
"Hmmph! That'll take forever!"
Klee puffed out her cheeks.
"Meanie!"