[Trigger Conditions Met: Quest Activated]
[Complete the Contract with the Geo Archon, Morax]
[Quest Reward: To be calculated upon completion.]
After Zhongli and Jia Changjiang finalized their contract, they returned to the dining area to find a half-meter-high stack of empty plates on the table. Lumine and Paimon were visibly stuffed, lounging in their seats with bloated bellies.
Meanwhile, Childe appeared deep in thought—likely devising a plan to have the bill sent to the Northland Bank for deferred payment. Halfway through the meal, he had realized the amount of Mora he’d brought wasn’t nearly enough to cover it.
“Mr. J-Jax…” Paimon weakly fluttered over to Jia Changjiang before collapsing into his arms. “Paimon can’t eat anymore… hic!”
Her stomach, round and taut like a little balloon, left no doubt as to how much she had indulged. Nearby, Lumine looked no less overstuffed, her stomach similarly swollen.
“How much did you two eat…?” Jia Changjiang asked, gently rubbing Paimon’s stomach.
“Don’t—don’t do that!” Paimon protested, clutching her belly protectively. “If you rub it too much, everything I ate will come back up! Paimon worked so hard to finish it all!”
Jia Changjiang sighed at her dramatics while Lumine reclined in her chair, sighing with satisfaction. “Oh, you’re back. We’re just about done here,” she said, glancing at him and Zhongli.
“So, did you two finish your little chat? Are we ready to head out now?”
“Head out?” Jia Changjiang said incredulously, still holding Paimon. “You’re in no condition to go anywhere! Take some time to digest first—we’re not in such a hurry that we can’t wait a little.”
“Look at you! Just because the food was good doesn’t mean you should eat like this. And it’s not even our money this time!”
Lumine countered confidently, “Exactly—it’s not our money. Next time might be, so I had to make the most of this opportunity. Back in Mondstadt, you wouldn’t let me drink! Now you’re trying to stop me from eating, too? What’s next?”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Seriously, are you my mom or something? I’m older than you!”
“Age doesn’t necessarily equate to maturity,” Jia Changjiang retorted, flicking her forehead with his fingers. “Face it—you’re just a big kid!”
“Argh!”
Lumine tried to retaliate by poking his forehead in return but, overstuffed and with shorter arms, she couldn’t reach.
Watching their playful exchange, Zhongli’s lips curved into a faint smile.
“If you’re feeling heavy, Liuli Pavilion serves a fine hawthorn soup to aid digestion,” Zhongli suggested. “The Rite of Farewell is not something that can be rushed. Take this opportunity to rest.”
“Wow, you’re a nice guy after all!” Lumine exclaimed, momentarily forgetting her quarrel with Jia Changjiang as she looked at Zhongli with newfound appreciation. “I’ll remember your name now—Zhongli, right?”
“That’s correct,” Zhongli replied with a polite nod. “And yours—Lumine—is also a fine name.”
“So, were you two just talking about the Geo Archon’s funeral?” Lumine asked, curious.
“In a manner of speaking,” Zhongli admitted.
With a bowl of hawthorn soup in hand, Lumine eagerly sipped away, clearly pleased with the recommendation.
“This gentleman’s insights,” Zhongli said, gesturing toward Jia Changjiang, “have proven quite helpful for what I need to accomplish.”
Lumine frowned, puzzled. “Jax? Helping you? Are you planning a fight or something?”
“How do you always see me as a violent brute?” Jia Changjiang grumbled, thumping her gently on the head.
“Violent brute and a nagging mom,” Lumine muttered under her breath.
—
After some time, Childe stayed behind to settle the bill, while Lumine and Paimon, now feeling lighter, joined Zhongli and Jia Changjiang as they exited the restaurant.
“Paimon’s so full…” Paimon floated beside Lumine, patting her stomach. “I don’t think I’ll need to eat for days.”
“Considering how much you ate, Childe’s wallet is definitely going to feel lighter,” Zhongli remarked. “But perhaps it’s a fitting experience for a member of the Fatui—to indulge in Liyue’s finest offerings at least once.”
“So the highlight of Liyue is paying the bill?” Paimon grumbled.
Zhongli turned to Jia Changjiang and Lumine. “During your time here, you’ve left Mondstadt, the land of no gods, and entered Liyue, the land of contracts. How do you find it so far?”
“I think it’s great,” Jia Changjiang answered honestly. “It reminds me of my homeland in many ways. Though there are differences, it feels familiar enough to me.”
“Terrible!” Lumine said bluntly, cutting in. “In Mondstadt, I’m an Honorary Knight of the Knights of Favonius. But here in Liyue? I’m a fugitive, accused of assassinating the Geo Archon! Mondstadt feels like home—I absolutely love it there!”
She paused for a moment before grudgingly adding, “But… Liyue’s food is amazing. I’ll give it one extra point for that.”
Her comment drew a rare chuckle from Zhongli.
“It seems I owe you an apology,” he said with a smile. “But I must wonder—Liyue’s history spans 3,700 years. Have you had the chance to truly immerse yourselves in its depth?”
He gestured toward the city below. “With the Fatui funding the preparations for the Rite of Farewell, you will have the opportunity to explore Liyue’s traditions in greater depth. Consider this an effort to atone for the misunderstanding that painted you as criminals.”
Zhongli’s tone was warm, almost hopeful. “I hope that as you come to know Liyue more intimately, you will grow fond of this enduring nation.”
“Wait, so the Fatui are covering all the costs for the Rite of Farewell?” Lumine’s eyes lit up. “Now that’s something I can get behind!”
She puffed up her chest proudly. “I’ve got experience spending other people’s money! Remember when I helped Feiyun Commerce Guild?”
“Hmm…” Paimon, however, seemed uneasy. “Why would the Fatui pay for the Rite of Farewell? Isn’t that… strange? What do they gain from it?”
“Wangsheng Funeral Parlor concerns itself only with ensuring the ceremony’s success,” Zhongli explained. “As for who funds it, that matters little to us. My only wish is that Liyue’s traditions do not fade into obscurity.”
—
This is a fan translation of 武器大师在原神绝不死于徒手 by 徐人双 All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!
Reader discussion
0 Comments
Be the first reader to share a thought about this chapter.