“Clicking your tongue like that—you’re no emperor, and I’m not one of your ministers. Why do you sound like you’re entrusting your legacy to me?”
Gu Sanqiu scratched his head. “Why are you making the atmosphere so heavy all of a sudden? Isn’t it a bit early for a legacy handoff?”
“It’s not too early, because I can’t predict when such a day will come.”
Albedo spoke calmly. “And it’s not something I’m saying in a moment of despair. I’m just making the most logical arrangements. I trust you.”
“Relax! You know the saying, ‘the cart will find its way around the hill’? You said yourself you were created as a model of perfection. Do you think the person who made you would leave any loose ends? That would conflict with the whole idea behind your creation, you know.”
Gu Sanqiu shook his head. “Sure, scientists with their ideals and obsessions can be difficult, but they’re also the most meticulous of people. You don’t have to worry about that.”
If I stand here and let the tragedies destined to happen in the future unfold again, I might as well give up on living.
“Come on, let’s go. Back to drinking. Didn’t you say you couldn’t feel what it’s like to be human? Well, today, I’ll show you what friendship feels like.”
Gu Sanqiu threw an arm around Albedo’s shoulder and led him out.
“By the way, can your alchemy equipment whip up something on the spot? Like an elemental engine or something to speed things up? That way, we might still make it to the evening drinking session.”
The two left the Heart Cavern. At that moment, a pair of eyes opened deep within the cave, watching Albedo’s retreating figure. The owner of those eyes clenched their right hand tightly before letting it go again.
Their gaze then shifted to Gu Sanqiu, who was joking and laughing, as if they wanted to engrave every detail of him into their memory.
—
That evening, the super tech-savvy Albedo successfully crafted an elemental engine based on Gu Sanqiu’s description. The two raced back to Mondstadt at an incredible speed, so fast that creatures along the way could only perceive a roaring presence in the skies.
Then, the two ended up crashing headfirst into Cider Lake because the engine became unstable from excessive elemental energy input.
Had they not synchronized perfectly to contain the explosion with elemental power, the Knights of Favonius would have been on high alert again, and even Jean might have had to pay Klee a visit to remind her to “behave.”
“Damn, didn’t you consider the risk of elemental overload when you made this thing?”
Gu Sanqiu easily climbed out of Cider Lake, while Albedo, standing on a perfectly waterproofed Yanghua device, slowly rose to the surface.
With their skills, they could’ve easily escaped before the engine hit the lake. But doing so might have left the explosion uncontained and the engine lost, so they had no choice but to serve as “temporary collateral.”
“I did warn you this was just a basic propulsion model. None of the other modules were finished yet,” Albedo replied calmly, brushing off a button on his coat. The water on his clothes evaporated instantly.
“By the way, was this idea yours? If I mass-produce it, should I give you a share of the profits?”
“This thing isn’t very practical, unless you can solve the issue of ordinary people being unable to use elemental energy. Otherwise, the market potential is small,” Gu Sanqiu explained. “Your airship idea, though, is much better. You felt that speed just now, right? Without a shield or an alchemy array, regular people wouldn’t survive the turbulence.”
The engine was a spur-of-the-moment creation, powered entirely by elemental energy. It was fundamentally different from the complex industrial techniques or artistry of underground technology. Otherwise, Gu Sanqiu might’ve told Albedo to abandon the idea altogether.
“Fair point. But it could still benefit knights who can use elemental energy.”
Albedo pondered. “For instance, someone like Amber, the flying champion—if we could mount a small propulsion system onto her wind glider, it would make her missions much easier.”
“Leave that for later. For now, let’s take a break after everything we’ve dealt with. Work can wait,” Gu Sanqiu said, dragging Albedo into a random tavern and placing an order.
An hour and a half later, Albedo walked to the counter with his usual calm expression.
“Excuse me, the bill, please.”
“A-Albedo, Master Albedo?”
The drowsy tavern owner’s eyes lit up. “It’s really you!”
“Yes, it’s me. Please, let me settle the bill.”
“No, no, no! It’s my honor that you visited my humble tavern. How could I possibly charge you?”
The owner waved his hands frantically. “By Barbatos, today truly must be my lucky day. First thing tomorrow, I’ll go to the statue and give thanks to Lord Barbatos!”
“This is your rightful payment for your labor. I insist on paying, so please don’t refuse.”
The owner studied Albedo for a moment, then suddenly burst out laughing.
“Haha, just as the rumors say—Master Albedo is as meticulous and serious as ever. Seems like the tales about Mondstadt’s genius alchemist hold some truth.”
“Master Albedo, do you remember these?”
The owner pulled out two pendants, one blue and one red, from under the counter.
“Hm?”
Albedo thought for a moment. “Ah, yes, I remember. These are—”
“That’s right, your early creations: the Cryo Crystal Lamp and the Pyro Warmth Lamp,” the owner said nostalgically. “Back in the day, I was an adventurer traveling all over. When I got older, I settled down and opened this tavern. But old age brings its share of ailments.”
“Before these lamps, a group of us seniors petitioned the Knights of Favonius to ask the alchemy guild for help. We didn’t think anyone would care, but then you personally made these tools for us—lamps that balance elemental energy to ease our suffering.”
The owner’s face glowed with gratitude. “Not only that, but you also set up a free recharge station at the alchemy bench for when the lamps ran out of energy. At first, we thought the Knights were covering the costs, but it turned out you paid for everything yourself.”
“I even thought about following Liyue’s tradition and gifting you a banner in thanks, but I figured it’d be too flashy and wouldn’t suit your style.”
The owner chuckled. “So, no matter what, I can’t charge you for drinks. If my old pals found out I made you pay, they’d never let me hear the end of it—and I’d have no chance of finding a date at the senior center!”
“Many in Mondstadt have benefited from your kindness. We’ve heard you’re not fond of socializing, so we’ve kept our distance.”
“Still, you should know that those little snacks and wild fruits that show up at the Knights’ headquarters and the alchemy guild? They’re from the kids who wanted to thank you.”
“You, Master Albedo, are truly a great man.”
—
This is a fan translation of 原神之璃月奉香人 by 淡白蛋清. 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!
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