60 Festival
"Yeeeeee!" A cry of a Hilichurl was heard as it died.
"And done!" Paimon's squeaky voice was heard. "With that, your daily commissions for today are done!"
"Yeah." Lumine nodded as she placed her sword back in her inventory. "Let's claim the rewards from Katheryne later."
"Huh? Why?" Paimon asked. "We always claim out rewards after completing our daily commissions..."
"I want to check something." Lumine shook her head. "I want to check something on Dragonspine as well as..."
"As well as what?"
"...As well as visiting that person named Amon." Lumine said as the vision of the man with a monocle and a trusting smile appeared on her mind.
"Oh, Paimon remembers!" Paimon said as she heard the name. "It's that guy that has a monocle that always smiles for some reason... Just like how that Tone-Deaf Bard says Ehe at every moment he gets!"
"Paimon always sees him with a smile... That's it! From now on, Paimon will call him Smiley Monocle! That's Paimon's nickname for him!"
"Yeah, him." Lumine chuckled as she heard Paimon.
"I thought you only give nicknames to people you don't like?" Lumine asked.
"Nope, Paimon gives a nickname to anyone Paimon thinks is not normal!" Paimon crossed her arms.
"Suuuure..." Lumine shook her head as she opened her map. "Anyways, let's go back to Mondstadt."
"Alright!" Paimon replied before vanishing into her personal space.
After their short conversation, Lumine vanished as she teleported to a Waypoint on her map.
* * *
Teleporting outside Mondstadt's waypoint, Lumine's figure slowly appeared.
Looking around to see if anyone saw her, she sighed.
She then started walking towards Mondstadt.
On her way to the bridge, she noticed something.
Children and adults had smiles on their faces as they entered and left the city gates.
She also noticed a few decorations on the gate. 'Is something happening?'
"Ah, traveler, there you are." Suddenly, a voice appeared behind her.
Turning around, Lumine saw Bennett with Fischl and Razor.
"If it is not the windborne traveler that has transcended the heavens and traveled between worlds!" Fischl said. "It is truly fate for us to meet at such a glorious occasion!"
"Hello, traveler." Razor said with a smile.
Lumine looked at them and noticed something. It was... A mask hanging beside Bennett's face.
"What's going on?" Lumine asked.
"Huh? You haven't heard?" Bennett asked.
"No, we were busy in Dragonspine these past few days, so we weren't able to get any information about Mondstadt." Paimon explained.
"Ah, that explains it." Bennett nodded. "Well then, let me tell you what it is."
"Today is Mondstadt's Windblume Festival!"
"Windblume Festival...?" Lumine asked.
Bennett nodded. "During the Windblume Festival, the people of Mondstadt offer Windblumes to the Anemo Archon and to those they love and adore."
"Also, at Every Windblume Festival, one person who has truly proven themselves during Windblume or who has made great sacrifices for Mondstadt is selected as the Windblume Star to represent the people of Mondstadt and formally offer a Windblume of their choosing to Barbatos during the Windblume Ceremony."
"What's a Windblume?" Paimon asked.
Hearing this, Razor spoke. "Holfwook. It is definitely Wolfhook."
"Yeah, I kinda think the same too." Bennett agreed with Razor.
"Hah! How foolish of you two. I expected much for my retainers, but to think that you have let me down this far! This Prinzessin is utterly disappointed." Fischl expressed her opinion.
"The honorable Windblume is surely the ever-so-present Dandelions."
"Eh? Really...?" Bennett asked.
"No, no. I am sure it is a Wolfhook." Razor insisted.
"Alright, alright, stop it you two." Paimon interfered. "So, does a Windblume flower really exist?"
"Hold on, Paimon." Lumine said. She then looked at Bennett. "Bennett... What's that on your head?"
"Oh, this?" Bennett touched the mask. He then pulled it to his face, revealing a rather... bizarre face.
"It's something I bought from the place Fischl buys those... Umm... Mangas from!" Bennett said.
"I've read a book there and I loved it." He made a thumbs up. "The mask I have is one of the characters in the story I read."
"His name is Star Platinum!" A hint of happiness was in his tone when he said this
"Oh, you mean the Smiley Monocle? Paimon instantly recognized who it was.
"Yeah, that guy called Amon!" Bennett nodded.
"Yes, it is but the sinister Worm of Time that has brought the sacred texts from another world." Fischl nodded with a smile, seeing Bennett getting excited over the same interest as her.
"Smiley man. He gave Razor something called... Cake." Razor nodded.
"Yeah, me and Fischl brought Razor with us to his shop and he was kind enough to give him some cake." Bennett nodded.
"What?! He's giving out free food?!" Paimon asked with bewilderment.
She then looked at Lumine. "Ohhh, Traveler! Let's go meet Smiley Monocle now! Maybe he'll give Paimon some sweet food too!"
"Sure, Paimon." Lumine said with a wry smile.
"Oh, you're meeting Amon?" Bennett asked. "Let us come with you! I want to buy another thing from him."
"Alright." Lumine nodded.
The five of them then started walking to Mondstadt
When they entered, she saw the colorful green designs that were everywhere.
The once silent streets of Mondstadt are now filled with people as the Stormterror Incident had finally been quelled.
"Wow..." Paimon said. "All of these green reminds me of that Tone-Deaf Bard for some reason..."
"Come on! Amon's shop should be near Master Diluc's Angel's Share Tavern!" Bennett said before running
"Hmph, this Prinzessin shall not get left behind!" Fischl said before running behind Bennett.
"Razor won't lose!" Razor said before running with them.
"Hey! You're leaving us behind!" Paimon yelled.
"Then let's catch up with them!" Lumine said before running too.
"What— Fine!" Paimon said before following behind Lumine.
* * *
"More here!" Igarashi yelled inside the shop.
"Yes!" Sasori replied as he went out of the shop with a tall pile of Manga.
He then placed them on the table outside where a line of people was waiting.
"Alright, don't worry everybody! There's more to be sold!" Igarashi yelled at the people.
"Yes!" A person said. "I need the second Volume of Re:Zero! I need to see what Subaru does next!"
"Boss, give me the first volume of The Avatar!" One person said
"Same here!" Another person said.
"Alright, alright, there's enough for everyone!" Igarashi said. "Now then, please wait your turn!"
Business was booming.
A week had already passed since... The Signora incident. And during this time, no knights came to arrest him for suspicions of colluding with the Fatui.
At that time, Igarashi thought that Jean probably wanted to observe him more. So, he did not dare to act suspicious at all.
As for the Fatui... Ever since Signora left, Fatui agents have been guarding his shop behind the scenes.
Although noticed then, he just patiently waited until the festival by making a lot of manga with Sasori.
He would also occasionally go back to Liyue to manage the shop there and alternate the pattern.
And now, finally, the festival came.
[+5 Points]
[+5 Points]
[+5 Points]
[+5...]
Ever since he advertised his shop with some merchandise he made with Sasori like masks and figurines, he had been raking in some cash.
But despite this, there was someone else he had been waiting for.
'Sigh... Is Albedo ever gonna come? I don't know if he will since I was never able to play the Windblume Festival in the game...' He sighed.
He started playing Genshin Impact on version 2.2, and the WindBlume festival happened in Version 1.5
And everyone who plays Genshin knows that each event is limited. Once the version is gone, you can't play that event anymore.
...Something that ticks Igarashi off.
As for why he wanted to meet Albedo, it was simple.
He thought of oversmarting the system. He thought that if he were to talk with Albedo here instead of going to Dragonspine, then perhaps his quest will be completed.
He doesn't know how or why, but just suddenly thought of this loophole.
As if he was a bug trying to find a loophole in the system itself.
'Well, whatever.' He sighed. 'I'll just enjoy the festival and sell as many mangas as possible.'
'Th Windblume timeline doesn't match with the game, but who cares?' He shrugged.
* * *
A/N: I have heard your cries.
