Side story: Suspicious Night
It was currently nighttime and most of the shops in Liyue are close, but not all of them. Some are still open while some are about to close for the night.
On Chihu Rock, there were only a few lights left to illuminate the surroundings.
It was at this moment that two individuals that seem to be sneaking around came to view around Igarashi's shop wearing a dark hood that covered most of their faces.
The two individuals looked around to see if anyone was watching them but were relieved to see that there weren't any.
One of the two men knocked four times then three times on Igarashi's door as if signaling a passcode. After knocking, one of the men muttered something close to the door. "Give up hope, All ye who enters here."
The words themselves sounded like some kind of cult passcode, but it was entirely different from it. No, it was much more... Worse.
The door opened and Igarashi's figure came to view holding candlelight that illuminated his face. And for some reason, he too was wearing a dark hood, acting like a mysterious person.
"What is the accursed number that we would not speak of in daylight?" Asked Igarashi. For some reason, he set up a lot of passcodes just to enter his shop at this hour.
One of the men nodded and took out a paper and read the content. "The accursed metamorphosis, 177013."
Igarashi nodded and opened the door wider, letting the two men inside. "You may enter."
The two men entered and they saw Igarashi's shop. It was dark and only three candles are lighting up the room where people at day would read. And on the couches and seats, other people were sitting reading something. In total, fourteen people were wearing black hoods reading a suspicious book that seem... Different.
Igarashi then closed the door and asked the two men. "What codes or tag would you like?"
The two of them thought for a moment and talked to themselves before nodding and reaching a consensus. "The femdom tag, please."
Igarashi nodded and reached out inside his coat where he took out a book that had an obscene cover. Of course, he took it out of his inventory. "You know the rules, right?"
The two nodded and replied, "Not speak of this openly and invite only those of cultured blood."
Igarashi nodded and handed them the book. "15,000 Mora. No Discount."
"B-Boss isn't that a bit—"
"No discounts." For some reason, Igarashi was really fierce with this price.
The two felt helpless but agreed anyway. They handed him a pouch of Mora and took the manga, no, appropriately, it's Doujinshi.
The two of them thanked Igarashi and went to one of the couches and started reading.
'How did this happen...' Igarashi thought.
At first, he just wanted a secret club for the boys to read cultured stuff, he didn't expect that his club would turn into something like a cult.
'Well, at least we have a strict protocol of not telling anyone unless trusted...' He thought.
A manga shop by day and a Doujinshi Cult at night, the duality of Igarashi's shop.