บท 106: Genshin Impact's Incense Burner Of Liyue [106]
Gu Sanqiu had no choice but to obediently follow the caravan and check into the Goth Grand Hotel.
This wasn't some tour where he had free rein; if he wandered off on his own, there was a decent chance he'd have a few Knights trailing him by nightfall.
Fortunately, that arrangement would only last a short while.
As dusk settled over Mondstadt, even the city's winds seemed to soften, a silent invitation to wrap up the day's labors.
In other words, it was drinking time.
Thanks to the high quality of Mondstadt's wines and the local custom of using banquets more for socializing than for actual eating and drinking, the Liyue delegation had managed two nights of events without anyone collapsing from overindulgence. And with the backup detox pills from Fengyan, the Millelith soldiers had nothing to worry about either.
Gu Sanqiu seized the opportunity to slip away. So far, he hadn't encountered any local ruffians or unsavory characters eager to pick a fight—everything seemed unusually smooth.
"Hmm… let's head to Angel's Share. If I'm lucky, I might even catch sight of the ol' Master himself," Gu Sanqiu decided, quickly setting off in the direction of the tavern.
With a bit more luck, perhaps he'd even run into a certain Wind God lingering outside the tavern, hesitating by the door with pockets as empty as ever.
Plus, he had another reason to avoid Cat's Tail—he'd recently learned from Fatui intel that someone seemed to have taken a peculiar interest in its young bartender.
Considering someone had carelessly included that detail in official reports, it was safe to assume the informant was either an airhead or very drunk when they mixed that note into the intelligence.
All signs pointed to a recent incident of inappropriate behavior or comments at Cat's Tail, meaning the place probably wasn't welcoming to foreign troublemakers right now.
With ease, Gu Sanqiu found Angel's Share, then scanned his surroundings.
Yep, it seemed to be one of those days when the resident god of Mondstadt was too broke to come by for even a whiff of the tavern's offerings.
Creak—
The tavern door opened, drawing a few glances from the patrons, who relaxed when they noted the cut of Gu Sanqiu's Liyuean attire.
To them, he was just another visitor from Liyue, eager to try out the famed Angel's Share upon hearing its name.
In Mondstadt, such spontaneous actions were often seen as "free-spirited," and no one found it odd for a Liyuean to slip out of a banquet just to grab a drink.
Perhaps the sentiment was just a matter of camaraderie among wine lovers.
"Hello, I'll take five of today's specials, please. Thank you."
Polite and mild-mannered, Gu Sanqiu's demeanor matched his appearance. He was like that by default—unless, of course, things went sideways. Then "mild-mannered" would become something closer to "mildly destructive."
"Today's special does have a rather high base alcohol content, sir. Are you sure you'd like five?" Charles adhered to the tavern's principles—while it might seem like he was turning down a customer, it was best to lay things out in advance.
"No problem. I can hold my liquor."
Gu Sanqiu smiled, pushing his Mora across the counter.
"This is a deposit; if it's not enough after I'm done, I'll add the rest."
"A fascinating customer indeed," Charles chuckled, glancing at the sum, which clearly exceeded the cost of five specials.
"In that case, please enjoy the unique flavors of Mondstadt's finest spirits."
"Just the usual, please. Nothing… experimental," Gu Sanqiu replied, still smiling.
He wasn't looking for drinks with slimes, fish scales, or herbs in them. Angel's Share ought to stay far from those peculiar concoctions, lest it end up following in the paw prints of a certain cat-eared bartender.
The drinks arrived, and Gu Sanqiu downed three in rapid succession, earning a curious glance from Charles.
"Hmm, strong enough."
The drinks here certainly weren't the same as Liyuean brews, but that was to be expected—it was part of the local charm, and volume was the key to the tavern's business.
Charles set a fruit platter before him, and Gu Sanqiu absently picked up a slice of apple, lost in thought about the Knights' dark-skinned, one-eyed captain.
Subject: Kaeya Alberich
Position: Cavalry Captain of the Knights of Favonius; Acting Grand Master Jean's most trusted partner
Vision: Cryo
Preferred Weapon: One-handed sword
Title: Conqueror of the Cold Sea (…?)
Origin: Khaenri'ah
As a seasoned transmigrant, Gu Sanqiu's memory was capable of pulling all kinds of trivia from the dusty corners of his mind when dealing with unusual characters.
Yes, Kaeya was a Khaenri'ahn by blood. His father had brought him to Dawn Winery's outskirts before vanishing from his life entirely.
"This is your chance. You are our last hope."
Those were the words left behind by Kaeya's father.
And Kaeya was taken in by Crepus Ragnvindr, Diluc's father. Before the incident with the dragon, Kaeya and Diluc had been more like brothers than mere friends.
Diluc was always smiling, confident, and dependable—a figure that Mondstadt's citizens could rely on.
Kaeya, as quartermaster, was Diluc's right hand, strategist, and tactical advisor, covering his tracks and cleaning up after his battles.
To this day, Gu Sanqiu wasn't quite sure why Kaeya had been referred to as the "last hope."
If it was some bloodline-based curse, then Kaeya, as a pure Khaenri'ahn, would've shown some signs of trouble by now.
Gu Sanqiu had even taken the liberty of discreetly scanning Kaeya's spirit; there were no strange auras surrounding him.
There was also the far-fetched theory that Khaenri'ah had used some highly unconventional methods to implant the empire's secrets and knowledge within Kaeya, a classic protagonist start.
If it were something like a dying warrior hoping to pass on a legacy, that could've made sense. But for an entire nation to hinge its hopes on such a setup? Seemed unlikely.
The more plausible theory was that a few lucky Khaenri'ahn bloodlines had survived the catastrophe and had hidden themselves in Teyvat's seven nations, hoping that their descendants might one day live among the gods' people, biding their time for revenge.
This idea would explain Kaeya's father's parting words, "our last hope." In the wake of such overwhelming destruction, no one could predict how many might have survived.
Years later, however, Kaeya's heart was deeply intertwined with his bond with Diluc and the "ordinary father's love" he'd received from Crepus, leading him, one night, to confess his origins to Diluc.
Kaeya was a man who lived in a constant state of inner conflict and torment yet managed to wear a mask of good cheer.
Why he had to choose that particular night to reveal everything to Diluc, Gu Sanqiu could only attribute to story logic.
It was like trying to provoke someone with depression by poking at their most vulnerable spots with ill-timed words.
He withheld judgment on it; he hadn't been there to witness the moment.
For Kaeya, it might not have been a betrayal but rather a form of salvation—a desire to open his heart to his brother, hoping to comfort and revive him with sincerity.
"Sir, the fruit on your platter seems to have oxidized a bit. Would you like a fresh one?"
"Of course, price as usual."
Returning to the present, Gu Sanqiu glanced up to find a young man with crimson hair and red eyes standing before him, his expression cold.
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Translator's Note
Hi, besties! I'm here to share my latest translation, Godfather Owl: Guardian of Batman! Picture this: a young, in-training Bruce Wayne traveling the multiverse with his super mysterious (and a fraud) owl god father!. Their first stop? The magical world of Harry Potter! You just know there's going to be drama, action, and perhaps the birth of the strongest Batman!
Oh, and guess what? I've got even more stories coming your way this week, so stay tuned for all the fun. As always, thank you for being amazing—your support means the world to me. Love ya, and happy reading! (I don't actually love ya)
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you spot any mistakes or inconsistencies!
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