24 Yaksha's Pain [1/2]

"It's been raining in Fontaine... Isn't Neuvillette getting cold?"

Sitting by the cafe's window, Isaac muttered with a melancholic tone. On his hand was a cup of coffee.

It was still Sunday, and it had been a few hours since he visited Spina Di Rosula.

Taking a sip of the latte in his cup, Isaac rested lethargically while watching the rain outside.

He then reflected on his latest mission.

"If Navia uses the information I gave her wisely, she'll more or less connect some things." He said to himself. "Though I don't know what course of action she'll take, I think the info I gave her would be sufficient enough for her to investigate."

"And..."

"Once Marcel— the boss of the Confrerie and the person that discovered the Waters from the Primordial Sea— finds out that Navia is on his tail, he'll stop producing Sinthe and lay low for a while." With these words, a small faint smile formed on Isaac's face.

Taking another sip of his hot coffee, Isaac nodded to himself. "For now, this is the best outcome I'll ever hope for."

Truth be told, Isaac originally wanted to tell Navia about the true identity of her uncle, Marcel.

However, that would cause the future to shift. Isaac doesn't want this world's timeline to spiral into chaos, as such, he minimizes his influence as much as possible.

'This is just the teaser. I'll leave everything to the traveler in the future.' At this thought, Isaac sighed heavily. He then lightly shook his head. "Yes... Because in the end..."

"I'm merely a witness. I cannot interfere too much with the world's overall story."

The rain soon started pouring much heavier and Isaac felt a slight shiver running up his spine due to the coldness. He then drank his coffee, finishing it in one gulp.

"Ha..." Isaac closed his eyes to take a moment to think before sighing heavily. He then opened his eyes revealing his languid amber eyes. "At least the rewards are favorable for the arduous tasks I do..."

Opening the system interface, Isaac looked at the reward he received from the main mission once more.

"Seriously..." He shook his head as he smiled in amusement. "The system really does live up to its name..."

"Giving me things that make my life easier..."

[New skill]

That's right.

This time, what Isaac obtained was not a system function, but a skill.

"With this..." Isaac rested his head on his hand as he looked at the skill's description once more. "Won't it cover up my lacking combat prowess?"

[A-Rank Skill]

[Name: Misfortune]

[Description: The user can inflict misfortune on a target. Furthermore, the user can manage the intensity of the misfortune and control when it will end.]

[Note: Using this skill consumes willpower.]

"I have the power of Teleport and Misfortune on my side!" Isaac chuckled to himself. "If I'm fighting someone, I can just inflict them with misfortune and I'll gain the upper hand."

"Is it a dirty trick? Perhaps, but you gotta do what you gotta do to survive, right?" He nodded at himself as he said this. "Coupled with my Dendro Vision, I'm feeling quite, ironically, lucky!"

"Haha, what's with this feeling? I feel like I can do the next main mission right now..." Isaac felt the heavy thumping of his heart as he smiled wryly.

Of course, he only said that under the influence of exhilaration.

"Now that I think of it, what IS my next mission?" Curious, Isaac decided to open the mission tabs and looked at the next mission.

He then saw it.

"...what."

What he saw instantly made his eyes vacant. His body froze and it was as if he became a statue.

[S-Rank Quest]

[Type: Main]

[Name: Pious Believer]

[Description: Serve the Hydro Archon Furina for one week.]

"...can I change main quests?" Isaac looked for the skip button, however, he wasn't able to find any. "No way..."

With a complicated expression, Isaac caressed his temples. "I have to be subservient to Furina for one week? With that brat?"

Soon, an image formed inside his mind. It was a scene of him following Furina everywhere doing whatever she wanted. "No way..."

"In the first place, I don't even know how I can get close to her." He felt his forehead's vein throb in annoyance. "This mission seems impossible..."

"I mean—" Before Isaac could continue his ranting, something flew to his cafe's window and got stuck facing Isaac.

His amber eyes then saw the poster blown by the storm's wind.

It was his wanted poster. To be specific, his Gehrman identity.

Right now, its bounty has reached around three hundred thousand.

Below, there were a few words written:

"To those who can provide information about the Masked Fool, Lady Furina herself would hire them as one of her informants!"

...what were the chances?

Due to the prophecy currently circulating in Fontaine, Furina had taken precautions and started hiring private informants to gather information about the said prophecy to learn more about it.

No one knows how many informants she has, nor where they operate— but there's one thing for sure— they are scattered in the seven nations.

During the traveler's journey to Fontaine in the future, they even unknowingly met one of her informants in Sumeru.

'...Seriously, this is too much of a coincidence...' Isaac thought with a wry smile as he saw the poster get carried away by the strong winds once more. 'I don't like too much coincidences...'

"However, when an opportunity hits you in the face..." Isaac soon started standing up while carrying his empty cup of coffee. "You grasp it and never let it go."

Isaac was no fool. Fate was giving him a solution right now, so who was he to ignore it?

"Now, all I need is planning and some waiting..." Shaking his head, Isaac headed to the kitchen to wash the cup.

Isaac entered the kitchen and soon started washing the cup he had on the sink.

"Now that I think about it..." Suddenly, Isaac remembered something. "I remember that there are a bunch of daily quests available..."

"..." Silence descended in the kitchen.

"...I forgor..." Truth be told, Isaac completely forgot about the daily tasks. 'Now I feel bad for those daily tasks...'

Conscious of his actions, Isaac decided to open the daily tasks section while washing the dishes.

'Hm?' His eyes then slightly widened at the available daily task in front of him.

[B-Rank Quest]

[Type: Dailies]

[Name: Yaksha's pain]

[Objectives: Give the character 'Xiao' strong pain relievers.]

"...there's such thing?" Isaac looked at the quest and it looked fairly normal than the lunacy known as his main quest.

Having finished washing the cups, Isaac dried his hands as he looked at the system interface. "Well... It's certainly much easier than catching Furina's attention..."

Looking outside, Isaac thought for a moment while grasping his chin. After a while, he nodded. "Alright... I guess doing this daily quest won't hurt."

"However, how would I even be able to go to Liyue?" Isaac thought solemnly. "My teleport marks can only be placed if I physically arrive somewhere..."

Just then, the system's notification window appeared in front of him.

[The system shall transport the host in exchange for 30 system points.]

"Wha— really?" Isaac looked at the system in disbelief. "If that's the case... If I continue to accept daily missions from all over Teyvat..."

He then imagined himself placing markers on his system map, instantly appearing from Fontaine to anywhere he pleased.

"Why haven't I discovered this sooner...!" Isaac sighed in regret. "If I'd known, I would have gone and accepted them sooner the moment I got the teleport function!"

"That settles it." Placing down the towel he was drying his hands with, Isaac looked at the system in seriousness. "It's time to take a trip to Liyue!"

"However... I shouldn't use my real identity when I get teleported there." Isaac looked at himself as he thought solemnly. "I need another identity..."

"Should I use Gehrman or Moriarty? The latter seems more suiting..." Isaac started pondering. However, while in the middle of his thought, a sudden idea popped up inside his mind.

"Hold on... Isn't this another opportunity?" He muttered with a wry smile. "Yeah... It's the perfect opportunity for 'that'!"

He then immediately opened the system store and browsed the items available. A moment later, he found the item he was looking for.

With a sly smile, he spoke with an exhilarated voice. "System... I accept the daily mission."

"Also... I'd like to purchase these items." He added as he looked at the bunch of clothes in front of him.

"It's time... For a new persona to appear."

---

The Nation of Liyue. A nation of monoliths and ancient history, ruled over by the Geo Archon, Morax.

On a road heading to Wangshuu Inn— one of the nation's tourist attractions, a man suddenly appeared.

It was as if a golden door of light appeared and the man stepped out of it.

The man then looked around, seemingly looking dazed before understanding what was going on.

"I really am in Liyue..." The man muttered with amusement. Looking at the Inn that was visible from the distance, he lightly smiled. "Right... I'm here to deliver a medicine..."

"This persona really does suit this nation and quest, huh?" He said as he looked at his clothes.

He wore a black turtleneck with a white coat embellished with green and golden accents, with a long, green scarf tied around his left forearm. Coupled with it were white pants and black boots with gold buttons and black soles.

As for his appearance, he was a tall, slender man with long blond hair, fair skin, and green eyes.

That's right!

The persona he decided to use this time was—

"The enigmatic traveling merchant, Luocha, has arrived in Liyue."

And he was ready to give out his tarot card to the Conqueror of Demons.