Socks!?

Lumine agreed without hesitation to allow Barbara stay in their room when he requested for the small favor.

Minutes flew by, and it was time for lunch and yet another terrible blow to Yomite's wallet.

"Rest in peace, Dear." He murmured under his breath, wiping his tears away with his free hand.

"Hm? Did you say something, Party Leader?"

"Nope!" he shook his head sharply and gave out a bitter chuckle.

"Nothing important at all! You go ahead and eat lunch, I'm just going to meditate awhile longer…"

Lumine giggled gently at his crestfallen expression, throwing him a soft smile, before continuing to eat.

"This Jueyun Guoba is delicious."

She responded with her voice full of delight. She had no doubt that the food in Liyue was equally as heavenly as in Mondstadt. Anything better than eating mushrooms in a forest for a whole week...

Yomite bought them all lunch and the party was currently feasting.

The meat Lumine was eating was Jueyun Guoba, one of Liyue's speciality delicacies. Stir-fried ham and Jueyun Chili sprinkled atop a crispy Rice crust created a meaty snack that elevated the simple Rice to a sizzling treat for the travelers from afar.

Yomite took another look at the meat they were offered since Xiangling's familiar, the young girl they had previously rescued, was also nicknamed Guoba.

(Did they fry a panda?)

"Assistant-kun? Why do you have such a light complexion? Do you need to go to the bathroom again? Are you having any issues 'down there' that you're hesitant to tell us about~"

Hearing her vicious words, Yomite retorted immediately, "You said that on purpose, right? That can't possibly be the case, and you should know better than I do at this point!"

"Nyehehe, you might be right～" she chuckled, "After all, my butt still hurts after you impacted it yester—"

"—Kindly stop yourselves when we are feasting!" Fischl scolded them after their inappropriate comments.

Barbara covered her lips using her palm, her cheeks flushed and eyes wide open. "...so mature and obscene..." she managed to squeak out quietly, wiggling in her seat like a small fish thrown into water by its much larger predator.

The people around her were all older and so much more mature than her...

She was still in her growing phase, she could tell that was the case.

Lumine, who had also heard their comment, suppressed a cough and smiled wryly. The two lovers were open about their relationship, and Lumine couldn't avoid hearing about it because they were a group that went everywhere together...

"Womanizer..." Paimon said softly with a disapproving look while slowly stuffing herself with the Ultra Burger.

"Yeah, yeah…my bad. Just like always...right?" Yomite chuckled lowly. "Cuz I definitely wasn't a victim here...Oi Iris! That's my meat! Hand it over!"

"It's not Master's when its already in my stomach." Iris replied back, pulling away from his grasp.

"Since when did you become so disobedient!?"

The girls laughed softly, sharing a knowing look amongst themselves.

And so the rest of the day passed...with a great deal of noise and laughter of his cheerful comrades.

Once the night struck, Yomite went outside to take a breather, leaving Fischl and Hu Tao alone in their room.

"Myom, myom, myom mhmmm." Sounds of meditation from her nose echoed throughout the room, and while she might have appeared to be meditating, Hu Tao wore a slight grin upon her face.

"My Assistant, is a real piece of work."

"Why?" Fischl asked her curiously, with a flushed expression. She took a bath just now and quickly changed to her pajamas while Yomite was out for a walk.

"He is a collector!"

"A...collector?"

"That girl, Barbara. He said she would stay with us only for a while, simply because she healed him, yet I saw through his intentions! She would end up having a permanent residence in our mansion soon enough. He only wants another girl to warm his bed!"

Fischl was in disbelief. "...W-What are you saying!?"

"Just think about it...It was just him and me at first, then he picked up Lumi-Lumi and Paimonon, and then you, Fishy-Fishy, and finally Irisus. There are no guys in his party! Only girls! He is collecting girls like socks!" Hu Tao remarked as she grinned devilishly.

"S-Socks!? Surely that's not the case! He even ignored the advances of Barbara earlier today! I could tell!" Fischl exclaimed while stepping aside in shock, waving her arms around frantically.

She was protecting the vulnerable boy! It was inhumane to spout such lies about her Prince!

"That might be the case...for now...But we don't have to worry about anything! Because we're winning! We're his favorite socks!" Hu Tao boasted loudly, ignoring Fischl's outburst.

Fischl huffed, "Demon King of Salvation! Speak not another accursed word!"

"I'm kidding! I'm kidding! Only I am the special one!" Hu Tao proclaimed while raising her chin proudly, her hands clasped together tightly.

"Hmph! This Prinzessin will let you know just how special she is after she bests you in Magic! Ozvaldo! By royal decree, reveal thyself and relay the cards! The battle of life and death is about to commence!"

The purple raven materialized into existence in front of the duo, his sharp eyes gazing lazily in the direction of Fischl and Hu Tao.

"Mein Fräulein...Lately you never summon me to battle...I want to feel the thrill of battling against actual opponents...I do not wish to take part in your boring little love affai—"

His speech was cut short when he noticed Fischl getting dangerously close towards him with her hands raised. He broke in cold sweat and coughed a few times, "W-Well...if mein dear Fräulein desires so...it shall be done, no doubt..."

"..."