"The best toy salesman in Snezhnaya? Hahaha~ I didn't expect Childe to have such a role! Next time we meet, Paimon will call him 'Toy Salesman'."
In Mondstadt, Lumine and Paimon, who hadn't seen Durandal for a few days, couldn't help but laugh out loud as they heard about what happened in Liyue Harbor.
"If only we could have seen it with our own eyes! We should have gone back to Liyue Harbor with you. It's such a shame to miss such an exciting event."
Paimon regretted not witnessing such an exciting scene, while Lumine's attention wasn't on that matter. Her gaze was fixed on Durandal and Shenhe.
She couldn't shake the feeling that their relationship had become even better than before. Although Shenhe was already very attached to Durandal, was she even more so now?
What exactly happened between them during the few days they were away? Could it be... No, it shouldn't be possible. If it were her, there might be a chance, but Durandal wasn't that kind of person. Even if Shenhe made such an invitation, she wouldn't agree.
Thinking this, Lumine breathed a sigh of relief. She certainly didn't want to see the two people she wanted to raise her friendship with end up together, while she stood by, congratulating them.
The group arrived at Nordic Hunt restaurant, eating and recounting Shenhe's past.
"I can't believe Shenhe had such an experience! Your father was too much; how could he treat his own daughter like that?"
Paimon said indignantly, and Lumine shared similar sentiments. Regardless of his intentions, he shouldn't have used his own daughter as a bargaining chip.
Moreover, this transaction seemed problematic no matter how you looked at it. How could he have been so blinded by desire to make such a choice?
"Thank you for your concern, but I'm fine now. After my father calmed down, he regretted his actions. Although we can no longer meet, he... he left me something very important."
Shenhe touched the hair tie in her hair. This hair tie, once used by her mother, would always be with her. With it, it felt as if her family was by her side.
Although there were regrets in the story, what good story is without regrets? While her past experiences weren't perfect, she still had these friends for the future, and they would stay by Shenhe's side.
"What about you two? I've already told you about Shenhe and my time in Liyue Harbor. Did you encounter anything interesting in Mondstadt these past two days? Tell us."
"Um... nothing much really happened. Just like usual, taking commissions at the Adventurers' Guild. Occasionally helping residents, nothing interesting at all."
Lumine's eyes darted away, clearly not telling the truth. There must be some secret, a secret that would cause an adverse reaction if revealed.
Durandal narrowed her eyes. What kind of mischief had this guy gotten into while she was away?
Just as she was about to summon the bird she had placed by Lumine's side to ask what she had experienced these past few days, a cute girl in a white nun's habit walked towards them, humming a song.
"honorary knight, you're here! I've been looking for you for ages."
"Ba... Barbara? What are you doing here? Aren't you praying at the Cathedral of Favonius?"
Lumine looked at Barbara nervously, her expression like that of a husband caught in the act. She spoke to Barbara while anxiously glancing at Durandal.
Barbara didn't know why Lumine was so flustered. She still had a gentle smile on her face, her hands resting on her cheeks, and she chuckled.
"Today's matters are mostly handled, so I thought I'd come find you. Didn't we agree yesterday to go to Wolvendom to collect red Wolfhooks? Did I... interrupt you?"
Yesterday? Didn't she say that during the time they were away, they were just taking commissions at the Adventurers' Guild as usual? She didn't recall inviting other girls on dates being part of her routine.
And when did she and Barbara become so close? Did their friendship develop over these past few days?
"Um, actually, we're still eating. If you haven't had your meal, why don't you join us?"
"This... alright."
Barbara nodded. The dishes on the table were all within an acceptable range.
As a girl, and an idol in Mondstadt, Barbara was very particular about managing her figure, usually avoiding high-calorie foods.
Because Shenhe preferred lighter flavors, many light dishes were ordered, which made Barbara accept Lumine's invitation. The group sat together and ate.
While eating, Durandal struck up a conversation with Barbara.
Barbara had a very good impression of Durandal. She had always helped the residents of Mondstadt, and Barbara answered all her questions.
This included what happened between her and Lumine yesterday. She chatted casually, but every word was aimed at gathering information.
In fact, it wasn't just yesterday. When Durandal and Shenhe went to Liyue Harbor, Lumine had met Barbara while on an outing to complete a commission.
At the time, Barbara was on her way to Springvale. There were people there who needed help, and as a member of the church, she had to go and see.
They happened to meet and journeyed together, chatting and quickly becoming friends.
For the next two days, Lumine would go to find Barbara whenever she was free. The two went to many places and even helped a merchant who was attacked by monsters outside, receiving a spicy Liyue Harbor drink made from jueyun chili from him.
Lumine let Barbara experience a life she couldn't normally. She had once wanted to be a knight like her sister, but she didn't possess the same strength, and even her Vision's element was Water, primarily for healing.
After her efforts proved fruitless, Barbara could only accept the identity of a Preacher, dutifully staying in the Cathedral of Favonius, praying to Barbatos, and healing the injured.
While spending time with Lumine, Barbara could assist Lumine in battle, allowing her to experience a thrill she had never felt before. This was what she was most grateful to Lumine for, and why she became good friends with Lumine so quickly.
"I see. It seems she's been very busy these past few days."
Looking at Lumine, who was already drenched in sweat, Durandal calmly sipped her black tea. "How helpful you are. You seem to have had a very pleasant time while I was away."
She was in a bad mood. Although she didn't understand this feeling, Durandal was very displeased to hear that Lumine and Barbara had such a happy time together.
Before finishing their meal, Durandal excused herself for some reason, taking Shenhe back to her territory at Cape Oath, where she received comfort from the small animals.
Meanwhile, Lumine, who was with Barbara searching for Wolfhooks in Wolvendom, felt a little worried. She was uneasy about whether this incident would affect her friendship with Durandal.
She felt that her friendship with Durandal was like a rollercoaster. Several times she felt it rise rapidly, but then it would drop again shortly after, even lower than before.
She was so troubled, truly troubled. Would her plan to simultaneously capture Durandal and Shenhe succeed? She didn't want to end up not capturing either of them, but instead seeing Durandal and Shenhe holding hands and leaving her, with nowhere to cry.
"honorary knight, you have a very good relationship with Miss Durandal."
"Eh?"
Barbara, with her hands behind her back, turned around and smiled at the confused Lumine, saying,
"When Miss Durandal was treating people in the city, I tried talking to her. But she completely ignored me then. Except for people coming for treatment, she kept her distance from most residents."
She must have gone through something that made her unwilling to interact with ordinary people. Barbara had seen such people before; because they had been hurt or hurt others, they often kept a certain distance from people.
Durandal was like that, and her situation was quite severe. No matter how Barbara tried to talk to her, Durandal simply wouldn't respond.
Barbara considered herself quite friendly, but even she couldn't get into Durandal's heart. After several failures, Barbara gave up.
She had thought no one could change Durandal, but Lumine had succeeded. Not only had she entered Durandal's heart, but she also occupied a very important position there.
That's why she said Lumine had a very good relationship with Durandal. Lumine was truly an amazing person, making people want to get closer to her.
"You're right. She's just afraid of hurting others, which is why she keeps her distance from people."
"At times like this, making her feel warmth is the best comfort. I believe the honorary knight can easily do this, right?"
"Make her feel warmth? I understand that, but if it happens too often, will the effect diminish?"
Just like taking medicine, it works at first, but as the number of doses increases, the body gradually develops resistance, and the medicine's effect gradually decreases and eventually disappears.
Would Durandal be like this too, gradually becoming immune to her closeness, and eventually, nothing she did would have an effect?
"Some people are indeed like that, but some people are very susceptible to it. I don't know Miss Durandal very well, but you've always been with Miss Durandal, so you should understand her personality. Will she fall for this?"
Would she? Lumine pondered for a moment, then showed a brilliant smile.
Of course she would! Every time she spent time with Durandal, what she wanted to see most was Durandal's tsundere expression.
That look of feigned indifference or dislike, but actually enjoying it, was what she most wanted to see.
Since that's the case, she needed to prepare for when she went back tonight.
Sorry for the long wait, everyone.
The Indestructible has a bit of a cold and has been constantly sniffling.
After taking medicine, I originally wanted to finish the second chapter before sleeping, but I wrote a lot that I wasn't satisfied with, deleted many words, and finally couldn't bear it anymore and went to sleep.
Everyone, please pay attention to keeping warm during this time. You can catch a cold if you're not careful.
Seriously, colds are really terrible. This endless runny nose is truly uncomfortable. The Indestructible feels like he's dying.
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