This kind of life isn't so bad... [2/2]

"This isn't good..." Standing before some ruins, Grand Master Varka muttered to himself with a complicated expression.

"Grand Master, we've found more rooms below." A knight approached him and sent a report.

Varka nodded. 'I'll look into it later."

"Yes sir." The knight nodded and left Varka alone.

Varka once again looked at the ruins before him, and the parchment paper in his hands.

Written on it are archaic symbols that resemble a language.

'The abyss mages...' He thought as he caressed his chin. 'They're plotting something...'

The evidence was too very little, and Varka only had a slight understanding of what the recent Abyss Monster activities that have been happening around Old Mondstadt are planning.

'They're no doubt going to attack Mondstadt but from where...?' It was this question that troubled him.

For some reason, the abyss monsters have been very quite active these last few months. It even attracted the attention of a man cursed with immortality to personally investigate it.

Varka then looked into the distance where the howls of the wind can be heard. 'Something's about to happen...'

The Grand Master knew it. They were moving towards Mondstadt, but there was something amiss. Something... wrong.

'...and Something or someone is going to lead them...'

* * *

Albert sat at the side of his bed, with his blanket covering his lower body. Although, by his side, a woman was sleeping peacefully and was also covered in his blanket.

Some of her golden hair was in her face and Albert moved them to the sides.

He looked at her for a few more moments and gently smiled.

He stood up and quickly felt a stinging sensation on his back. He touched them with his hands and felt numerous scratches.

'Oh right...' He then remembered. 'That also happened...'

After thinking this, he shook his head with a smile and put his clothes on before going down the stairs.

Unlike when he first awakened in this world, Albert had already moved out of his previous apartment and bought a house. The money came from work and also the bandits he captured. What? Can he not take a few pocket change for himself?

While walking, he yawned. A flustered smile soon appeared on his face. 'Man... that really happened, huh?'

Truth to be told, he didn't know what went into him. He promised to himself that he wouldn't get attached to anyone because of his circumstances— but it seems like he was too much of a hypocrite for his own good.

He then shook his head. 'I'll worry about my self-promise later... I should cook.'

Because he would occasionally help in the kitchen of Good Hunter, Albert had more or less picked up some cooking skills.

Especially when it comes to pasta-related dishes. His Italian template just goes bonkers when he tries to make those.

Entering the kitchen, he started making breakfast.

* * *

Jean slowly woke up from her slumber. It took a few tries for her eyelids to open as they felt very heavy.

Sitting up slowly, she yawned and looked at the rook around her. Her eyes were still a bit groggy.

"...Huh?" Jean looked around and realized that It was a completely unrecognizable room. "Where—"

Before she could finish her sentence, memories from last night flashed through her mind.

Kissing, climbing, scratching, and even biting...

She did all of those last night.

When she remembered all of these, she hurriedly hid under the blanket in embarrassment. 'What have I done...?!'

She remembered every part of what had happened last night. From wanting to go with Albert to... the stuff.

'Everything was too sudden...!' Every bit of her face became warm and for covered in a red tinge. 'Did I rush things too much?'

After a few more moments, she composed herself and saw her clothes neatly tucked near her.

She grabbed them and put them on. This time, she didn't wear her uniform and just wore a white dress shirt.

However, she suddenly smelled something in the air. 'This is...'

Picking up the smell, she finished clothing herself and excited the room, albeit she felt a little sore.

When she walked down and headed to the source of the smell, she saw the man who was above and below her last night cooking.

He noticed her with his sharp senses and turned around. He then smiled. "Good morning, I made breakfast. Take a seat."

After saying this, he picked up a frying pan and placed it on a plate on the table.

A breakfast complete with eggs, sausages, and some bread on the side. There were also two coffee mugs with coffee in them.

Albert placed the frying pan on the sink and sat down. "Go on, eat while it's still hot."

"A-Alright..." Jean tried to calm herself down but couldn't help but still feel flustered about what happened last night. "Thank you for the meal..."

And so, the two started eating. The morning sun's sunlight shined down from a nearby window, illuminating the room.

"So, are you alright?" Albert suddenly asked as he ate. Of course, with a cheeky smile on his face.

"I... I feel better... right now." Jean knew what Albert was doing. He was teasing her once more.

"That's great." He softly smiled. "I wouldn't want you feeling sore from all the things YOU did last night, after all."

Hearing this, Jean stood up, red as a tomato. "Yo-you...!"

"Haha," Albert cackled. "Alright, I'll stop. Sit down now, I won't mention it again."

"You better..." She said before sitting down, her eyes not leaving his smiling mouth.

It took a while for her to regain her composure, but once she did, she talked to him seriously. "Anyways... since it already happened... You should know the consequences of the decision you've made."

"Of course, of course." Albert slowly nodded. "I'll be sure to be careful. If you want, I can even stop by the Knights of Favonius and train there and see you."

"Really? If so, that would be really great." She felt joy when she heard this. "Why don't you join the knights while you're at it, though?"

"Haha, you know I can't abandon my job." He chuckled. "Miss Lenny still needs her delivery man, you know?"

"Haha, you're right." She giggled.

Albert nodded with a soft smile. "By the way...I just remembered something."

"What is it?" Jean asked as she was about to eat a fried egg.

"Isn't Ludi Harpastum coming soon?" He said before taking a sip from his coffee mug.

"Indeed, it will. I think it will happen next week..." Jean nodded. "The Knights of Favonius are actually going to cooperate with the Favonius Church to make it really big."

"I see..." Albert hummed. He then looked at her with expectant eyes. "If so, do you want to go together there?"

"Just the two of us?" Jean asked. She knew what he meant.

By attending next week's Ludi Harpastum together alone is tantamount to saying to every knight there that they are together.

However, when she thought of it further, she slowly nodded her head. "That... actually sounds nice."

"Then it's settled." Albert smiled cheerfully. "Since the Knights are going to be very involved in the next Ludi Harpastum, this is a great way to show them our relationship and solidify it."

"Yes," Jean said with a gentle smile. She then drank some coffee and gulped it down before standing up.

She walked over to Albert and leaned down to his face. Albert saw it coming and did not resist.

A long passionate battle soon happened...

After a minute, she backed away and cleaned herself. She then asked him, "Where's your bathroom?"

"Over there," Albert pointed at the corridor outside the kitchen. "It's just down the hall."

"Alright, thank you." She nodded before quickly leaving.

Seeing her leave, a warm smile appeared on Albert's face. 'I guess this kind of life isn't that bad.'

However, his thoughts were broken when the sudden notification from his system appeared.

Albert saw this and opened his system and checked the notification. 'Huh? It's been a long time since I received a main mission...'

He was surprised since the last main mission he had was about recruiting other members.

Curious, he opened the quest tab and took a look.

[Quest name: Foil]

[Quest description: The abyss mages have been plotting to steal the Anemo Archon's Holy Lure der Himmel for months, and now, they are preparing to initiate their plan.]

[Objective: Hold off the abyss forces that will invade the Favonius Church and steal the Holy Lyre before the Abyss Mages do.]

[System Note: It is unknown what kind of method the abyss monsters would use to infiltrate the Favonius Church, as such, the host is advised to always be on guard.]

[Reward: Veil of Concealment, Legendary Equipment Peace]

[Time left until the quest starts: 6 days]

'...what?' Albert looked at the system quest with disbelief. 'But...'

'Ludi Harpastum will happen in 6 days...'

* * *

A/N: ...