Chapter 33: Use Charm On Her!
[Speaking of which, do you perhaps have something for that child?] The system's voice rang out.
'Hmm? Which child?'
Jibril's gaze fell on Klee nearby. The little girl was looking at them with a bewildered expression, clearly still out of the loop.
Uh, the system probably didn't mean this child. That would be... I'd end up in jail.
So, she looked at Lumine next to Klee... and Noelle beside her.
The maid seemed to want to put on a displeased expression, trying her best to make Marjorie realize her emotions and not make such jokes again in the future.
However, this kind of pouting anger was truly powerless.
'What if I really fall for Noelle?' The Flügel thought mischievously.
[T/L: I think that's another crime bro..]
[That's none of my business, but Lumine is going to be your master either way.]
This guy...
[I don't care who you like, I just want to see you win over Lumine, Besides, Yuri is a bonus, isn't it?]
System: To see such a good show, it's worth dying for!
[Alright, don't always be so dishonest. Go on and push forward with your invi~tation~]
Sighing inwardly, Jibril stepped forward to explain their intentions to Marjorie.
"Oh... so you're choosing a gift for Beatrice to give Quinn..." Marjorie said, stroking her chin and pondering for a moment. "In that case, I have two new items here: a Frosting Bottle and a Squirrel Wood Carving."
"The Frostening Bottle is a good wine tool that can keep wine chilled for a long time. The Squirrel Wood Carving... hmm, perhaps it could be an interesting little furnishing?"
Marjorie carefully introduced the goods to them.
"How about it... the wine tool or the furnishing, which one will you choose?"
"Frostening Bottle"
"The ice bottle."
Jibril and Lumine answered in unison.
They both turned to look at each other. After a brief moment of surprise, they both smiled and Paimon blinked her eyes in confusion.
Noelle also nodded gently in agreement. "Huh... it's perfect for Mr. Quinn!"
'They still remember what I said back then... that's so nice!'
Noelle bit back a smile, secretly pleased in her heart.
Upon learning their choice, Marjorie swiftly wrapped the exquisitely crafted wine tool and tied a beautiful bow around it.
As they were leaving, she leaned in and whispered something to Noelle, but this time the maid didn't blush, only glancing vaguely in Jibril's direction.
Jibril deliberately kept her distance, she wasn't interested in listening... it was probably just some meaningless gossip anyway.
A few minutes later, the girls delivered the package into Beatrice's hands.
"It's so cold, is this... a tool for wine?"
She carefully traced the smooth curves of the ice bottle as a joyful smile gradually bloomed on her face. "It certainly looks like something he would like... you've been a great help!"
Jibril crossed her arms over her chest and said with a mischievous smile. "Miss Beatrice might as well play hard to get... something like, If you want the gift, come on a date with me first?"
"I-Is that even okay?" Paimon blinked in confusion.
"...As long as it helps~"
"Hmm... it sounds like it could work? Anyway, thank you all so much! With this gift, he'll... he'll..."
Beatrice suddenly leaned back as if remembering something terrible.
"Uh-oh!"
"What's wrong, Miss Beatrice?" Noelle asked with concern. "Is there something wrong with this gift?"
The girl hugged the package tightly to her chest, her voice growing softer and softer. "N-no, it's not the gift. I was just thinking about going on a date with him... but I didn't think about where to go!"
"No way..."
Under everyone's gaze, Beatrice's face grew redder and redder.
"After all, I've never succeeded before!"
"Noelle... can you help me too...?"
Evidently, even the experienced Noelle was deeply shocked by such an absurd act.
The tall girl looked troubled.
She had thought it was just a small favor, but now... it seemed like she was making things worse! If this continued, the rest her senior had urged her to take would be ruined and even her training... "Noelle." Jibril's voice suddenly rang out. "Miss Beatrice seems to be relying on you?"
"Eh?"
Noelle turned her head, meeting the Flügel's smiling gaze.
Beatrice also nodded quickly. "Yes, yes! With Noelle, there'll definitely be no problem."
No, you're the last one who should say that. You hopeless romance-obsessed NPC, you're even worse than Marjorie!
With everyone's encouragement, the maid's restless heart finally calmed down. She took a deep breath, her eyes sparkling slightly. "Okay, leave it to us."
"Since we need to choose a location, splitting up to investigate would be more efficient." Jibril rested her chin on her hand, having already reviewed the map of Mondstadt in her mind. "I'll use Spatial Shift to go to a farther place, who wants to come with me—"
"No!" Lumine and Noelle objected in unison.
"???"
Jibril: What's going on?
Seeing her surprised expression, Lumine opened her mouth, then unnaturally turned her face away, "Although Dvalin won't attack for now, b-but there are still many dangers in the Mondstadt wilderness..."
Noelle also stammered. "The Honorary Knight is right! And it's easier for everyone to discuss together. Uh... isn't that right, Klee?"
"Klee wants to be with Sister Jibril!"
Seeing the small child rushing towards her, Jibril quickly hugged her as she helplessly retracted her wings.
"Alright, alright~ So, Noelle, where do you think is suitable for a date?"
"A date spot... should be somewhere with pleasant scenery and a quiet atmosphere." Noelle's eyes lit up. "Cape Oath is very good. There's also some beautiful scenery there!"
Cape Oath... whether it's romantic or not, it's definitely quite far. I really don't know how Lumine and Noelle ran around everywhere in the original story... The girl gently placed Klee on the ground and calmly looked up at the approaching group.
"I can't use my ability, so you all will have to walk."
"...Oh."
————
After an unknown amount of time, the group bypassed Dadaupa Gorge, filled with monsters and finally arrived at the edge of the cliff.
Time seemed to stand still in the sunlight descending from the sky and the never-ending flowing wind carried the gentleness of the ocean.
Looking at Jibril, who was inexplicably inspired by the scenery, the breathless girls, except for Paimon who was also floating, all chose to sit down and rest.
"Phew... I think... even Senior is tired after walking this far, so is Cape Oath... a bit too far for Miss Beatrice?"
"Indeed, but the view here is quite good. Is that called Falcon Coast over there?"
"Hey! You're stealing all of Paimon's lines!" Paimon stomped her foot angrily.
"...Miss Beatrice will definitely be fine, let's take a photo first." Lumine said as she stood up with a Kamera appearing in her hand.
Facing this conjuring out of thin air scene, the others all acted as if they didn't notice, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Jibril!"
"Huh?"
The Flügel turned her head at the sound, just in time to hear a soft click.
Lumine fiddled with the lens for a bit, then smiled and handed over the newly developed photo.
In the picture, she was looking back at the camera from the side, her wings spreading into a translucent arc and a few strands of cherry-pink hair brushing her slightly startled face, with the sunset reflecting on the sea behind her.
Overall, the protagonist of the photo thought it was quite beautiful, just that her expression was a bit silly.
"Oh, you dare to take a candid shot of me~" Jibril put her hands on her hips and playfully pinched Lumine's burning earlobe.
"Ugh... let's take a group photo quickly!"
The girl dodged as she pointed towards the sea, her voice filled with unconcealed shyness. "If we delay any longer, then we won't be able to catch the beautiful sunset."
Under Lumine's arrangement, the girls adjusted their positions at the edge of the cliff.
Klee stood directly in front, tightly hugging Dodoco. Noelle stood a little nervously to the Flügel's left, her posture somewhat stiff. And when Lumine naturally stood to Jibril's right, the huge wings suddenly gently curved into a heart shape, enveloping the three in their warm shade.
"Ready to shoot—" Paimon confirmed the Kamera one last time, then shouted and immediately flew to Lumine's side.
"Three!"
"Two!"
"One!!!"
With the soft click of the shutter, this moment was forever captured.
Lumine carefully ran over to put away the Kamera and Klee immediately went to her side, squatting down together to look at the photos they had just taken.
"Wow, Sister Jibril's hair... how did it turn into a rainbow?"
"Her hair is beautiful to begin with..." Lumine responded softly, the corners of her mouth unconsciously curving upwards.
On the other side, seeing the two excited over the photo, Jibril snorted lightly, deliberately tossing her long hair over her shoulder.
"Speaking of which..."
Noelle added from the side. "Starsnatch Cliff is famous for its night view."
Paimon pouted and said nothing.
"But." Noelle looked worriedly at Klee, who was huddling with Lumine to look at photos. "If we go to Starsnatch Cliff to see the night view, won't little Klee get home too late?"
"Ugh... N-Noelle, I'm doing a mission with everyone, Acting Grand Master Jean won't be angry, right?"
Jean: ( ◺˰◿ )
Looking at Klee's face, filled with disappointment, Lumine gently patted her head. "It's not just because Klee has to go home on time, you know; Jibril and I have something to do tonight."
[T/L: Ayo?]
"Indeed, it's nothing too important." Jibril echoed nonchalantly.
Yeah, just stealing a Mondstadt treasure, no big deal.
"Is it a Knights of Favonius operation?" Noelle asked with concern.
"No... Acting Grand Master Jean should get some rest too." Jibril sighed softly while looking at the girl in front of her who was avoiding eye contact. "Speaking of which, someone else should have been resting properly too."
"I-I'm sorry... huh?"
Noelle instinctively apologized, but before she could finish, a warm finger gently pressed against her lips.
She looked up, meeting a pair of golden crossed eyes.
"Although I say that... I just feel that if you learned to be lazy, you wouldn't be Noelle anymore?"
Looking at Jibril's helpless expression, Noelle suddenly felt a moment of trance—she suddenly remembered that whenever she wanted to do more work, Acting Grand Master Jean would also look at her in the same way.
But... it felt strange, different from Acting Grand Master Jean... The maid felt a rush of heat quickly rising to her cheeks.
She unconsciously clenched her skirt armor, the creaking friction growing louder, but her voice grew weaker. "I... I wasn't... always... busy..."
[You're quite good at flirting... Do you like younger girls?] The system questioned coldly.
[T/L: That's crazy]
'What are you even saying!? I just want her to rest properly—'
Jibril stumbles back half a step. Before she could turn to see who had ambushed her, someone grabbed her shoulder from behind.
A familiar voice rang out, faintly carrying a subtle tug. "Jibril, you can continue to ask Miss Noelle out tomorrow, but if you wait any longer... you don't want to go back with four people, do you?"
"Of course. Little Klee, let's run..."
Watching Jibril, holding Klee's hand, quickly disappear into the distance, the others left behind were momentarily stunned, then hurriedly chased after them.
"Noelle, you really should change into a lighter dress." Jibril shouted without looking back as she ran ahead. "...it's clanking and dangling when you run!"
"But... but for combat..."
"I wear so little and it doesn't affect combat!"
"Yes!"
The Flügel was about to say something more when a smoking, unidentified object suddenly popped out of Klee's backpack, exploding into a small firework on the beach.
The girls' shouts and laughter drifted away with the wind, and behind them, the sunset plunged like a tide.
The giant sun had already touched the sea, as if the whole world was mourning its departure. Tens of millions of tons of seawater gently swayed beneath their feet, and the tide broke into white foam beneath the black cliffs.
The gentle west wind blew through tens of thousands of hectares of forest. From afar, the evening woods also resembled a sea, a vast reddish-brown sea, with thousands of treetops swaying in the wind, forming layers of waves.
As a Flügel, Jibril could see very, very far. She saw the lights of the town, the city on the lake, and even the rolling distant mountains.
The clouds in the sky were burned to the color of flames, and in the gradually deepening night, her golden crossed eyes shone brighter than ever before.