coobybook Chapter 73 Go Home
Chapter 73 Go Home
"That being said, without knowing the identity of the 'Hero of the Night,' nothing can be discussed." The soldiers downstairs were still chatting about this topic with Kong and Paimon when Kaeya, who had just come downstairs, appeared right in front of them.
Kaia: "There's no need to worry so much, Hoffman. Just do as I say."
Hoffman: "Captain Kaia?"
Kaeya: "Lately, Lord Diluc has been filling in as bartender at 'Angel's Gift' every night... All you have to do is keep an eye on him. How about that, isn't it a great job?"
Hoffman: "Of course, that's no problem. But... Captain Kaeya means... 'The Night Hero' is Mr. Diluc?"
"Hmm~? Who knows, maybe it's just my feeling." Kaiya said this without any attempt to hide it from Sora and Paimon. Xuanqing upstairs also witnessed this scene. The childish game Kaiya was talking about…
(This is a challenge, isn't it...) Xuanqing's idea was quickly confirmed. After watching Kaiya and Hoffman walk away, Kong and Paimon immediately ran off into the distance, while Xuanyue flapped its wings on Kong's head and flew beside them...
Xuan Qing left. He needed to find a quiet place to be by himself, even if only for a short while… He just hoped that this time no one would bother him…
Since flying is faster than running, Xuan Yue flew to Dawn Winery ahead of Kong and Paimon. There were a few windows open for ventilation, so he naturally flew in and landed on Diluc's shoulder.
Diluc: "Oh? What news have they brought this time?"
Soon, Sora and Paimon arrived before Diluc and told him what Kaeya had said and the Knights' preparations.
Diluc: "Hmph, Kaeya... I should have realized this sooner. For him, now is the perfect opportunity to get back at me."
Paimon: "You two seem to have some kind of grudge..."
Diluc: "Putting that aside for now, the Knights' idea is pretty much what I expected. Let's just play along for now."
Sora: "Maybe we shouldn't go to the tavern to fill in for now..."
Diluc: "No. Since the Knights already know I'm filling in, not going would only arouse suspicion. This is also part of Kaeya's plan."
Paimon: "What should we do then?"
Diluc: "Quiet down, let me think..."
Diluc glanced at Sora and Paimon, and a method he had never tried before came to mind.
Diluc: "...Since he wants to spy on me, then so be it. Let's create the perfect alibi."
Paimon: "An alibi? What does that mean?"
Diluc: "If you want to know, do me a small favor first."
Paimon: "Why are you keeping me in suspense...?"
Diluc: "To the northwest of the winery is the best ice mist flower growing area in Mondstadt. There are also some scattered around. Could you please help me collect a few plants so I can make some other preparations here?"
Xuan Yue: (Ah, I have all those things here! Plenty!)
Xuan Yue chirped a few times, attracting their attention, and then took out a few Ice Mist Flowers from the spatial bag that Xuan Qing had given him and placed them in Kong's hand.
Paimon: "Hey! Xuan Yue, where did you get that from?!"
Xuan Yue: (I won't tell you...)
Diluc glanced at Xuan Yue, then at the Ice Mist Flower, and finally decided not to investigate further. People always have many secrets, some unknown, and some better left unsaid…
Kong: "Are these ice mist flowers enough?"
Diluc: "Hmm, that's enough. Now come with me, I'll introduce you to someone..."
Diluc led them to a servant and said to them, "Let me introduce you, this is the winery's winemaker... Connor."
Connor: "So many ice mist flowers! I'm already looking forward to 'its' effects!"
Diluc: "Can the purification equipment handle this level of purity? Will there be any problems...?"
Connor: "Wow...wow—the big boss spoke to me personally! Don't worry, sir! I'd be willing to give my life for anything that's your decision!"
Paimon: "This isn't something I could risk my life for..."
Connor: "You guys chat first, I'll get started right away!"
Connor picked up the pile of ice mist flowers and took them to the backyard, I don't know what he was going to do with them.
Paimon: "What did he do with those ice mist flowers?"
Diluc: Here's the thing... A while ago, when the winery was developing new flavors, we tried adding some ice mist flowers to make the taste refreshing. The purified ice mist flowers were indeed very appealing..."
Paimon was still a little confused: "So it's selling very well?"
Diluc shook his head and added, "No, I didn't mean attracting drinkers, but...attracting slimes. Creatures that rely on absorbing elemental power to survive are completely unable to resist its allure."
Diluc: "So I thought, why not use this to my advantage..."
Upon hearing this, Xuan Yue already guessed what Diluc was planning: to use the purified substance to attract the slime and distract the soldier named Hoffman and the other knights, while he faced the real threat from the Abyss Order alone.
To be honest, Xuan Yue doesn't approve of this behavior, but Diluc and Xuan Qing are actually the same kind of people. They will avoid unnecessary sacrifices, but never consider themselves.
Paimon: "But... is this really okay?... all by yourself..."
Diluc: "From the beginning, it was my own persistence... Now, it's time for me to face it alone."
Paimon: "Alright~ Since you've made up your mind. But until then, Sora and I will still help you, right?"
Kong nodded in agreement.
Paimon: "Oh right, and Xuan Yue too. If something unexpected happens, we could ask Qing Yue for help."
Diluc: "It's best not to involve irrelevant people. Mr. Qingyue's identity is actually hidden behind the scenes, and ordinary people cannot obtain detailed information about him. Once he comes to the forefront, the consequences will be far more than just threatening letters."
Sora: "It's that serious!"
Paimon: "Then...then maybe we shouldn't!"
Xuan Yue: "Chirp chirp." (Yes!)
Diluc: "Then let's proceed as planned. We'll meet at the tavern around 7 p.m. tomorrow night."
Sora: "See you tomorrow."
Diluc: "Yeah, see you tomorrow."
The next evening, just as agreed, Xuan Qing had already entered the house and was enjoying the breeze near the second-floor balcony, waiting for time to pass.
He had thought a lot. Returning as "Order" in the battle 500 years ago, he inevitably became entangled with Liyue once more; there was no escaping it. Unless he passed the throne to Xuan Yue again, the karmic ties remained unbroken, but… he couldn't bear to…
"I've been looking for you everywhere, sir." It was almost evening when Kaiya finally arrived and sat down opposite Xuanqing. "I almost thought you were going to stand me up."
Xuan Qing: "You flatter me. I would never go back on my word. I'm just here for some peace and quiet."
“Then please step in, sir,” Kaiya gestured, “the show is about to begin.”
Xuan Qing followed Kaiya to a seat on the second floor where they could see the scene below. Xuan Qing looked around and saw that the first floor was full of people, while the second floor was only occupied by him and Kaiya, a stark contrast to when he arrived in the morning.
"Sir, why don't you continue reading first, and then we can discuss it further?" Kaiya said softly, and Xuanqing nodded.
downstairs--
Diluc: "Mr. Hoffman of the Knights of Favonius, what brings you here at this hour?"
"...Ah, it's nothing, it's nothing. I just took a break from my busy schedule to have a couple of drinks...nothing else." Hoffman was clearly not good at lying, and just then Kong and Paimon walked in with Xuan Yue.
Hoffman: "Oh? Travelers, what a coincidence that you're here too."
Paimon: "Yeah~ I'm in a good mood tonight, so let's go for a walk."
Diluc: "What would you like some?"
Hoffman: "Then let's make 'dandelion liqueur'."
Paimon: "Paimon wants apple juice!"
After Paimon finished speaking, he even touched his pocket, feigning surprise, and said, "Ah... I think I forgot to bring my purse... Do you have any money with you?"
Kong: "I don't think I brought any with me either."
Diluc: "Excuse me, please bring your money before you come back."
Hoffman: "Or... I might as well treat you all..."
Paimon: "No, no, no! We'll be right back!" (If you invite us, what will happen to our plans...?)
Kong and Paimen declined Hoffman's invitation and quickly left the tavern.
"Hoffman is here after all. As planned, let's set up the 'Elemental Decoy' at the side gate of Mondstadt!" Paimon and Sora quietly headed to the quiet side gate in the dead of night.
(To attract the entire Mondstadt army and buy time, the quantity must be large.) Kong made up his mind and poured out all the "Elemental Bait" at once. Sure enough, not long after, slimes gathered here.
Xuan Yue: "Chirp chirp!" (Run!)
"Hmm! Slimes are starting to appear? Let's hurry back to the tavern before we're discovered!" Paimon urged Sora to return to the tavern. Sora nodded and took Paimon back with him.
Meanwhile, in the tavern, Hoffman was chatting with Diluc, while the protagonist of the story was the cavalry captain who was silently watching the show upstairs.
Hoffman: "...Yes, Captain Kaia is powerful, but he always gives us a hard time... Ugh, no, I shouldn't speak ill of my superior like that. What if Captain Kaia hears me..."
Paimon: "We're back! Is my apple juice ready?"
Diluc: "Hmm, just a moment."
Just as Diluc took out his citation tools, another soldier rushed in through the door, looking flustered, probably because of something important.
City gate guard: "Mr. Hoffman, Mr. Hoffman! Something's happened at the side gate! Everyone, assemble at the side gate!"
Hoffman: "What? What happened over there?"
City gate guard: "It's...it's a slime."
Hoffman: "Slime? What's the big deal about slimes? Aren't they common?"
The city gate guard said, "I know slimes are common... but there are more slimes there than I've seen in my entire life..."
"Pfft..." Paimon suppressed a laugh, trying his best to keep himself from making a sound.
"Could this be the Abyss Order's secret weapon? But I have other missions here..." Hoffman's distress prevented him from realizing that he had let something slip.
"Oh? Another mission? Didn't you say you were just here to drink?" Diluc's tone turned sharp.
Hoffman: "Ah, no, no... I mean..."
"Hmph, is this how the Knights of Favonius behave? The Abyss Order is already outside the city gates, and they still have the leisure to drink here. That's why I always say the Knights of Favonius are not trustworthy." Diluc's words clearly expressed his dissatisfaction with Hoffman's behavior, but it was unclear whether it was genuine feeling, superb acting, or—both.
“This… sigh, Mr. Diluc is right, my performance has disappointed you. I’ll set off now, but before that…” Hoffman sighed and walked toward the door, but then he saw the empty space in front of him and had another idea: “Traveler, please come here for a moment, I have something to ask you.”