บท 69: I'm a businessman, what'd you expect?
In a room inside the Church of Favonius where the setting sun's rays of light had already tinged the room with its yellowish-orange color, three people can be seen talking to each other.
Not far from them was a classical piano, and down on the floor laid papers and a few markers.
"...That's basically it," Igarashi said while crossing his arms.
Just a few minutes ago, Lumine somehow managed to find out about his secret and he had no choice but to explain to her.
However...
He was Igarashi Izanagi. A shrewd, lazy, and greedy individual that yearns to spread manga all over the seven nations while piling up his Mora.
Why would he throw away his deepest secret just like that without mixing in some lies in them?
That's just bad business.
He had indeed told Lumine about his secret... however, he didn't tell EVERYTHING to her.
"I see..." Lumine said with an understanding expression. She then looked up at Igarashi with an apologetic look. "Forgive me... It's just that I had my own reasons for being suspicious of you. However... to think that..."
"You received memories from other worlds." She said as she grasped her chin before shaking her head. "It just sounds so surreal..."
Igarashi made a faint smile and shook his head. "It's alright. It was just a small misunderstanding, wasn't it?"
However, behind that smile of his lay a hidden thought. 'It worked!'
Yes, this is what Igarashi told her! Something that would neutralize her suspicions!
He explained that he was just an ordinary individual when suddenly, he was struck by lightning, and he suddenly received the memories of other people from different worlds.
Each memory held a person's experience and Igarashi watched them all. Feeling inspired, he decided to spread their stories by turning them into Mangas!
Later, while he was traveling in Liyue, he met an injured Adeptus while traveling in the mountains and helped them, to which the Adeptus gave him a monocle that can store and play memories, as well as change his appearance.
Oh, and he also said his real name, which exposed his home nation, Inazuma.
One of the reasons Igarashi was so secretive about his origins was that he thought that it would be weird for people to see an Inazuman in another nation when the nation of Inazuma itself is in isolation.
But he still said it. After all, a perfect lie is mixed with a bit of truth. But then again, she would find out about it sooner or later since she can see the names of people if she interacts with them.
'It was hard to keep the consistency of this background story, but at least she believed it.' Igarashi thought with a wry smile.
Suddenly, he felt something warm touch his hands and looked to see Lumine suddenly holding them.
"Again, please forgive me!" Lumine said as she held his arms. She even lowered her head, for some reason.
"N-No, it's fine, really!" Igarashi quickly tried to stop her from lowering her head. He slightly lowered his body and stopped her.
In a second, he quickly thought of a way to appease her apology. After a few more moments, he formulated a proper response.
"How about this then!" Igarashi raised his forefinger and looked at her with a smile. "How about... buying more mangas from me as well as some merchandise? Hm? How about it?"
Yes! He could not possibly forget his true goal both as a businessman and as a mangaka!
He has to actively spread his work!
"Buy... More?" Lumine looked up to Igarashi with a slightly dazed expression before a smile replaced her face. She then let go of Igarashi's hands. "Oh...! I see!"
"Wait! Hold on!" Suddenly, a squeaky voice interrupted the two of them.
Both Igarashi and Lumine looked at where the voice originated from and saw a white pixie floating with an irritated expression as she stomped on the air. "Can the two of you explain what's happening to Paimon?! What even is happening here?! And why are we buying more of Smiley Monocle's stuff?!"
"Oh... that...?" Lumine stood straight as she looked at Igarashi at the side and saw him also looking at Paimon. A small smile soon appeared on her face before looking at Paimon. "Well..."
"We're gonna be customers from now on." Lumine smiled brightly at Paimon.
"WHAT?!" Paimon heard her and immediately reacted. "Why?!"
'Phew.' Seeing the outcome of the situation, Igarashi sighed a breath of relief. 'Good thing I managed to curve this situation arou—'
However, his thoughts were soon disrupted by Lumine's voice. "Additionally..."
"I would also be working part-time for Sir Igarashi here for the time being," Lumine said with a cheeky smile as she pointed at Igarashi.
"..." Igarashi heard what she said and was rendered speechless. '...huh?'
"Wha—"
"WHAAAAT?!" Both Paimon and Igarashi asked in disbelief as they both looked at the smiling Lumine.
And so, a new helper would soon be part of Igarashi's business.
*
*
*
Away from the Church, at the gates of Mondstadt, a young man with pale blond hair and pale skin walked in.
Beside him was a demi-human girl that had green hair and glasses.
The two are none other than Albedo, the Chief Alchemist for the Knights of Favonius, and Sucrose, Albedo's assistant and disciple.
"The Windblume Festival is really lively this year, isn't it?" Albedo said.
Although it was nearing nighttime, the streets of Mondstadt were still quite lively. Children were having fun as they played with masks.
One can even hear their joyful laughs.
"Catch me if you can, Sherlock Holmes!" A kid in a costume said as he pointed what seems to be a cane toward another kid.
"Moriarty! Stop right there!" The other kid responded as she pointed a toy gun at the other kid. She was also wearing a costume.
It was clear that they were having fun.
Albedo looked around and saw that a lot of children were also doing the same thing, but with different costumes.
"Hm? Why are most of the children roleplaying? Is some kind of an event happening?" Asked Albedo as he looked around the lively atmosphere.
"I... I also don't know..." Sucrose said with a low voice. Her voice was low because of her natural shyness. "Forgive me..."
"No, it's fine," Albedo responded as he looked around more.
However, a kid soon bumped into him and disrupted his inspection.
"Ah, sorry mister," The child said. She too was wearing a costume.
Albedo looked at who bumped into him and saw a child also wearing a costume.
"Are you also roleplaying?" Albedo asked the little girl with curiosity.
"Yup!" The little girl nodded with a smile. She then took off her hat and showed it to Albedo. "I'm cosplaying as Violet Evergarden!"
"Violet Evergarden... I believe I haven't heard of her before." Albedo said as he grasped his chin. He then looked at the girl. "Can I ask you to tell me more?"
"Sure!" The girl happily said. "Recently, someone opened a new shop nearby that sells Manga!"
"Manga?" Albedo tilted his head as he crossed his arms.
"Yeah! Manga!" The girl nodded. "That's what Mr. Amon said. He's the one that makes and sells them!"
"They are books with pictures on them and few words!" It was clear that the little girl liked them. The main reason she likes them is that the scenes in the boom are visually seen, making it easier for younger audiences.
"I see," Albedo said with interest. "It does sound intriguing..."
"Yup!" The little girl said. She then turned around and waved at Albedo. "Welp, I have to go now! My friends are gathering up to see who has the best costume! Bye, mister!"
"Goodbye...!" Sucrose said with a low voice as she waved at the departing child.
"It seems that a new trend is rising, Mister Albedo," Sucrose said as she looked at her mentor.
"Indeed," Albedo said with a faint smile. "Well, then shall we check it for ourselves?"
"E-Eh? Really?" Sucrose said in surprise. "But... are we not here for Miss Lisa's potio—"
"That can wait," Albedo said with a faint smile before turning around. "Well, come on then."
"Ah... y-yes!" Sucrose said before following behind.
And so the two departed to go to Igarashi's shop. Not knowing that the latter had already prepared a trap to lure them in.
In the shop, Sasori guarded the shop and looked under the counter and saw two books with a label on them.
[Only sell to Albedo and Sucrose.] Is what was written on the labels, complete with a sketched portrait of the two mentioned people.
<FullMetal Alchemist.>
"He's planning something, isn't he..." Sasori said with a deadpan expression before sighing. "Oh well..."
Igarashi was a businessman. What did he expect?
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