Volume 5 – Chapter 15(Rumors)

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Author Note:

[ ] = When Twilight is speaking.

{ } = When talking through Telepathy.

' ' = When thinking in your mind.

<<  >> = When talking with your Pokémon or Tamed Beast.

--- --- = When describing a certain period of time OR Another place.

** ** = Point Of View i.e., POV

/// /// = In Call

" " = System and when talking to it.

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---Mondstadt---

After giving some thoughts to his plan, Yuuya made his towards the lady as she greeted him with another wave.

???: Welcome to Adventure's Guild, my name is Katheryne.

Yuuya: Hi, Katheryne. I am Yuuya.

Katheryne: Nice to meet you, Yuuya. I actually had my eye on you for a long time.

Yuuya: It's my honor to catch the attention of such a beautiful lady like you, Katheryne.

Katheryne: Oh my, aren't you a smooth talker.

Katheryne let out a small laugh while Yuuya showed his brightest smile.

Katheryne: Anyway, I had my eye on you because I am on the lookout for great adventurers as a part of my job.

Yuuya: Really!? Do you think I can be one?

Katheryne: Of course. I can see potential in you that can rival even the great adventurers of legends. And your battle to ward away Stormterror along with the Traveler while still being on the ground further boosted my case.

He started scratching his cheeks in embarrassment.

Yuuya: Hehe…I am flattered that you see something in me.

Katheryne: Um. Still, to the adventurer, experience is far more precious than potential itself. Hence, you must accumulate Adventure experience to increase your rank in the guild.

Yuuya: Can you explain the ranks?

Katheryne: Sure. In Adventurers Guild, there are seven Ranks. Copper, Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. They are then further divided into 5 stages.

Yuuya kept on nodding his head as every word registered in his brain.

'Yuuya: So, Adventurer system is also different from the game.'

Yuuya: Thank you, I understand.

Katheryne: Good to hear that. Now before I brief you on the quests, please put your hand on it.

Saying she took a crystal ball and put it on her table. Yuuya knew what this crystal ball was for. Jean, the acting grandmaster of the Knights of Favonius also had this with her. She even asked Yuuya and Lumine to put their hands on it so that they could see their level and conclude whether they were strong enough to lend a hand with Four' Winds Temple. In case they were weaker than they would decline their help since it would put their life in danger.

Yuuya stretched his hand and placed it on the crystal.

GLOW!!

The crystal ball shone a little before a number appeared on it. 53.

Katheryne: Level 53, amazing. You are still so young and already finished your first ascension. I was right about you.

Yuuya: Ehehe…Stop, you will make me blush.

Katheryne: With your level you don't have any issue in becoming Iron-level adventurers.

Yuuya: Huh? What do you mean, Katheryne?

Katheryne: Well, it's true that you can increase your Adventure Rank by completing commissions, it only applied to stages. To increase your Rank, you must also complete your ascensions.

Yuuya: You are saying that only someone who has finished their first ascension got the qualification to enter next Rank.

Katheryne: Yes. To be more precise, Iron Rank. If you want to reach Bronze Rank, you must complete your second ascension. And so on.

'Yuuya: Condition of increasing rank is also different. Huh.'

Katheryne: As your Rank increases, you can take higher quests. We can't let new Adventurers take on B-rank or higher commission right off the bat. After all, they are not strong enough to finish them.

Yuuya: Oh, I see. I see. That makes sense.

Katheryne: Here is your Adventurer card and some gifts.

She passed a card and a bag containing some moras and dry rations to Yuuya.

Katheryne: Currently your rank is Copper I. To reach the next rank, you must raise it to Copper V and achieve the first ascension which you have already done.

Yuuya: Yup. Just wait Katheryne, I will be Copper V in no time.

Smiling, she nodded.

Katheryne: Now, please allow me to officially welcome you, our new avid adventurer, into the Guild.

Yuuya: Thank you.

Katheryne: By the way, I was also thinking of inviting Traveler to the Guild too. But she seems to be in hurry. Can you please pass my message to her when you meet her?

At the mention of Lumine, Yuuya expression changed as he let out a deep sigh.

Yuuya: I will.

Katheryne: Is something the issue?

Yuuya: Well…

Seeing that there was something Yuuya wanted to say but was hesitating, she spoke.

Katheryne: Please tell me, Mr. Yuuya. Even if I don't have the solution to your problem, I will still listen to it. I am sure it will decrease your worry somewhat.

Yuuya: You are right, Katheryne. And you can just call me Yuuya.

Katheryne: I will do so, Yuuya. So, please speak.

Yuuya: Um. Actually, I am worried about Lumine.

Katheryne: Traveler? Is she sick or something?

Yuuya: No. You see, during her travels before reaching Mondstadt, Lumine saved a man from some monsters. But instead of feeling grateful and going on his way, that man started following her wherever she goes. At first, she thought that that man wanted to repay her, but he didn't do anything of sort.

Katheryne narrowed her eyes as Yuuya continued.

Yuuya: On the contrary, the only thing he did was eat and sleep. Killing the monster's, making food was all Lumine's duty. The man just takes all those things as granted. I even heard that he reprimanded Lumine many times when he found the food was not to his liking.

Frowning she asked.

Katheryne: Why doesn't Traveler just tell him to go away?

Yuuya: *sigh* She is just too kindhearted. I also asked her the same, but she replied that she just can't bring herself to shoo him away. Because of that he keeps on taking advantage of her kindness.

Katheryne: What a disgusting man.

Yuuya: I know. I am sure that Lumine is also in pain inside. But she doesn't want to tell him leave her away thinking it will hurt the man's feelings. I am even having a feeling that that man would take away all of Lumine's Mora so that he can spend it on gamble and brothel.

Katheryne: To think such a rotten man is living in Mondstadt. Yuuya, please save Traveler from his cutches, the guild will support you. Of course, while remaining hidden.

Yuuya: Really, I appreciate it.

He said with a smile and took a sigh of relief as if a huge burden was lifted off his shoulder.

He then started talking about Katheryne about trivial stuff for some time before deciding to take his leave.

Yuuya: I have to go now, Katheryne. Thank you for listening to my worries.

Katheryne: Anytime, Yuuya. We will have plenty of chances to meet again in the future. So, Ad astra abyss-squeeze, Adventurer Yuuya. With effort, you shall reach the stars and conqueror the abyss.

He then waved goodbye to Katheryne and departed.

On the way, he gazed around and smirked.

Soldiers and Civilians could be seen talking between themselves with low voices so that the other party wouldn't hear them.

Though if someone went near them, they would realize that they were talking about loathsome Primis and poor Lumine.

When Yuuya was letting out his words in front of Katheryne, he made sure that others around would also hear him. And hence, the result.

'Yuuya: It won't be long before these rumors will spread throughout the city, and he will become the most hated person in the entire Mondstadt. I can already see people throwing rocks and tomatoes at him and demanding the Knights to throw him away. And once they do, Lumine will come to me.'

Thinking about the future, he licked his lips when no one was looking.

.

.

.

.

.

.

TAP!

TAP!

TAP!

...

…

Soon Lumine reached the hotel where Primis was staying.

Entering the door, she didn't walk up to the receptionist or someone but directly made her way towards the 2nd floor.

People hurriedly get out of the way so that they won't collide with her. Still, even after she passed by, they kept on looking in her direction wondering why she was in such haste.

Before long she reached the floor and was about to reach Primis room when she saw a blue-haired standing in front of Primis door and stopped.

Seeing her, Lumine's woman instincts started warning her that this woman was dangerous.

The woman turned her head and looked at Lumine.

Eula: You must be Traveler. I am Captain Eula Lawrence, Spindrift Knight, Knights of Favonius Reconnaissance Company. I extend my greetings to you.

Lumine: Oh. I am Lumine, the traveler. Pleasure to meet you too. By the way, are you the one who is stationed here by Kaeya to keep a lookout for Mr. Erste?

Eula: Yes. I received such orders.

'Lumine: I will give you a piece of mind later, Kaeya. For now, I should send her away because I am having a feeling that I can't let his woman go near Mr. Erste.'

Lumine: You have my gratitude for looking after Mr. Erste while I was away. You can leave now. I will take it from here.

Without giving it much thought, Eula nodded her head and decided to excuse herself.

Lumine: Speaking of which, did Mr. Erste wake up while I was away?

Stopping, Eula replied.

Eula: He did. About 2 hours ago. Though he seemed somewhat tired and returned to his room.

Lumine: Really!?

Lumine didn't register Eula's last sentence and hurriedly opened the door in excitement.

CLICK!!

There she saw the man she was thinking about all this time. He was currently sitting on a chair and was reading a book.

As if he heard the sound of a door opening, he moved his head away from the book and looked at her direction.

Primis: You have returned. Welcome back, Lumine.

Lumine: Mr...Erste...…

She then hurriedly ran towards Primis.

Though just when she was halfway through, from the corner of her eyes she saw something that made her stop on her tracks.

There she saw beautiful woman sleeping on the bed. The woman had purple hair and was wearing a white-purplish yukata. There was also a fan shaped accessory on the right side of her head.

The woman seemed to be having a best sleep of her life.

It was also the time when Eula's last words resounded in her mind.

.

.

Though he seemed somewhat tired and returned to his room.

.

.

These words kept on reverberating in Lumine mind as she looked at Primis.

Still, instead of feeling betrayed or disappointed, Lumine pointed at the woman and asked Primis.

Lumine: Mr. Erste, did you take her first because she has bigger breasts than me!?

Primis almost choked on his saliva hearing this.

Primis: HA!

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*A/N: Please throw some power stones.

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