Back inside Mondstadt, though the storm had finally cleared, the damage it left behind could be seen everywhere.
It would take quite some time—and manpower—to repair everything.
"Looks like you knights will be busy for a while," Diluc said, sweeping his gaze across the ruined streets. His tone was flat, as though none of this had anything to do with him.
"Yeah…" Kaeya let out a helpless laugh.
"But the matter isn't settled yet. We'll save the repairs for later."
Even if the storm was gone, Stormterror—Dvalin—had not been dealt with.
Nothing was really over yet.
"I'll be going."
Diluc turned and walked off in a different direction. Kaeya and Lisa didn't stop him.
Lumine only gave his departing back a curious glance—then moved on.
Kaeya and Lisa headed to see Jean and report the situation, while Paimon, Lumine, and Farmas arrived in front of the Good Hunter restaurant.
"Lumine, Farmas! We've been fighting all day—let's eat something!"
The ever-hungry Paimon had been lured the moment the restaurant's aroma drifted past her.
"I heard that to reward the Knights for protecting Mondstadt, Sara is holding a mysterious event today!"
"A mysterious event?"
Farmas lifted his body and peeked into the restaurant. Owner Sara was busy cooking inside, and the outdoor tables were full. Business seemed completely unaffected by the earlier dragon attack.
"Yep! I heard it's something hosted together with Liyue's Ministry of Civil Affairs too. You have to respond with some kind of secret phrase…"
"With Stormterror attacking the city, Sara really has time for this?"
Lumine looked at the happily-eating customers. They were holding foods Lumine had never seen before. Something that looked like—
"Golden–Fried Finger Chicken?!"
Farmas almost shouted its real name out of instinct.
The three approached the front counter.
Sara rushed over with her usual bright smile. "Welcome to Good Hunter! What can I get you?"
"Honey-roasted Carrot Skewers! Jueyun Chili Chicken! Dandelion Soup! Sticky Honey Roast—oh! And Fisherman's Toast!"
Paimon immediately launched into full menu-ordering mode, listing dish after dish before glancing at Lumine and Farmas.
"Ehehe… maybe I ordered a bit too much?"
She laughed awkwardly—but clearly didn't regret anything.
"Alright, so that's everything?"
Sara scribbled rapidly and rushed back to the kitchen.
"Miss Sara, what are they eating over there?"
Farmas hopped onto the counter, staring at the Golden Fried Finger Chicken in a customer's hand—and a terrible realization crept over him.
"Ah, that? That's one of our new dishes—Golden Fried Finger Chicken and the Crispy Chicken Burger!"
Sara placed a steaming bowl of meat sauce noodles onto the counter, smiling brightly at Farmas.
She had seen the Knights' announcement—Mondstadt now had a talking Pyro Slime called Farmas. It must be this little guy.
A talking Slime would be excellent advertisement material…
Sara's eyes sparkled.
"But no one has guessed the secret passphrase yet, so I haven't given out the grand prize."
Sara finished the last dish Paimon ordered and placed everything neatly into a tray for Lumine and Paimon to carry.
"Ahem…"
Farmas already knew exactly what that "secret phrase" was.
But saying that line here?
In public??
In front of all these people???
"A-ahem, Sara… 'Travelers from—'"
"What? Sorry, I didn't hear you!"
Sara's voice came from the busy kitchen.
Farmas inhaled deeply.
"'Travelers from another wor—'"
Lumine and Paimon both turned around, staring at him with baffled expressions.
Farmas froze.
"Say it louder!"
Sara hurried to the front counter, eyes wide in anticipation.
Farmas shut his metaphorical eyes.
And yelled:
"TRAVELERS FROM ANOTHER WORLD— ENJOY THE TASTE!!!"
It was the ultimate social-death shout.
"Correct passphrase! Congratulations!"
Sara burst into delighted laughter, scooped Farmas right off the counter, squeezed him tight, then set him back down.
"You win a pair of special Liyue-crafted Wind Gliders, and the two new dishes—Golden Fried Finger Chicken and the Crispy Chicken Burger! On the house!"
"WHOA! Farmas! You knew the secret passphrase?!"
Paimon flew circles around him, tray in hand. Lumine nodded excitedly too.
"New dishes! Actual new food we've never tried!!"
Seeing Lumine's and Paimon's shining eyes, Farmas let out a silent sigh of relief and wiped nonexistent sweat off his nonexistent forehead.
Sara handed a red-and-white pair of gliders to Lumine.
"Oooh! These gliders look really special. Liyue makes things like this?"
Lumine held them carefully, admiring the smooth material.
"Lumine, why don't we eat first? You can try them later," Farmas suggested quickly—mostly to stop her from showing off and attracting every envious stare in the restaurant.
"Okay!"
She tucked the gliders behind her back, then scooped up Farmas and rubbed her cheek all over his warm gelatinous body.
"Thank you, Farmas!"
"It— it's nothing…"
Farmas just wanted to eat, finish, and escape the scene as fast as possible.
They found a table. Paimon laid down her tray full of fluffy white rice, each grain shiny and perfect.
Lumine placed her own tray down—holding three aromatic dishes:
a golden potato fritter with a bowl of sweet jam,
a bowl of rich meat sauce noodles,
and the two new dishes—Finger Chicken and the Crispy Chicken Burger.
The Potato Fritter was crisp and soft, carrying the gentle sweetness of Mondstadt's breeze and rain.
The noodles gleamed with red tomato-based sauce, sour and sweet, fragrant enough to make one ravenous.
And the Golden Fried Finger Chicken?
Its aroma alone was powerful enough to melt minds.
Crispy skin. Tender meat. Juices bursting out from the very first bite.
The Crispy Chicken Burger was even simpler—fresh vegetables, soft bread, and a glorious slab of fried chicken. No utensils required.
Lumine took a small bite—
crunch.
Her eyes lit up instantly.
Good Hunter's new dishes were astonishing.
Even Farmas, who rarely ate, munched through several pieces of chicken.
If not for their limited budget, Paimon looked ready to consume the entire food inventory.
"You two… maybe slow down a bit? We don't have much Mora left…"
Lumine laughed helplessly as the other two devoured everything like starved beasts.