Be Careful When Agreeing to Terms and Conditions - Be Careful When Agreeing to Terms and Conditions chapter 64

6. Liyue Branch (10)

The after-party of the festival was fun. It was a place where good food, good drinks, and people I liked gathered together. Moreover, the ‘Saemmul Village Gourmet Festival’ achieved such great success that it is hard to believe that it was accomplished in such a short period of time. The preparation period was only about a month, and of course there were a few things that were disappointing, but it would have been overly ambitious to hope for better results than this.

The moon was floating in the sky. Time was quickly approaching late at night, but the drinking atmosphere showed no signs of cooling down. Mr. Duraf’s house could not accommodate the number of people attending the after-party, so they set up a table in the front yard and gathered together.

After a few glasses of alcohol were consumed, a faint sense of intoxication began to appear on everyone’s face. Today’s bartender was Mr. Duraf’s beloved daughter, Diona. Normally, she would have been working at the ‘Cattail Bar’, but today was an exception. For some reason, Diona would hold out a glass of alcohol to me with her young gaze, and then become sullen when I praised her excellent taste for every single drink without exception.

Why is it like that? She decided to do it because a girl’s mind at that age can’t keep track of her. Instead of delving into the heart of an unknown girl, I served ‘Bamboo Shoot Soup’ and ‘Plump Lotus Seafood Soup’ as snacks. The response was good because it was late at night and a chilly wind was blowing. Hot soup used to taste especially delicious on chilly days.

When the alcohol starts flowing and the speed at which the number of snacks slows down, stories bloom at the drinking party. It was the same today. Venti giggled and brought up the story that happened in today’s ‘cooking competition’. The highlight was definitely the story of when I gave Hyangneung a bouquet of flowers.

“Hey… I’m impressed, Siwoo. “I thought it would be okay for you, not me, to give a lecture on love poetry at the Windbloom Festival in the future?”

At the same time, Venti took a swig of cider (disguised as dandelion wine) from the bottle. This useless drunkard god, I felt my heart welling up once again. Grumbling words naturally came out of my mouth.

“No, that’s what I meant in the first place, right? It was a scene that showed respect for one’s partner. “Did I know that things would turn out that way?”

However, the people gathered at the table just laughed it off as if they were not interested in my intentions. Venti skillfully led the story.

“But no matter what your intention, the result is the same, right?”

Okay, I drank my drink without saying anything. The refreshing scent of dandelion wine flowed down my esophagus. Keia, who was watching the scene, added her words.

“But it was novel. “Actually, we made a bet among ourselves, but in the end, no one got the money.”

Speaking of betting, I looked at the people sitting at the table with a shocked gaze. Mr. Duraf spoke first with a sly smile.

“I voted for ‘no one will give it’. Since ancient times, a man loses his freedom the moment he chooses a woman. “I completely understand your feelings.”

Then, Mr. Duraf filled my empty glass with alcohol with kind eyes. It was a word that conveyed the sadness that only a married man can understand. Still, I didn’t know whether to be happy or sad that I had someone on my side.

Next was Keia. Keia was watching people emptying her glass one after another, and then she emptied her full glass in one go. And she said as she held out her empty glass to me.

“For your information, I bet on ‘Honorary Knight’. We, the Knights of Pebonius, support honorary knighthood… Would you say it is loyalty to one’s comrades?”

As I listened to those words, I poured a full glass of alcohol into Keia’s glass without saying a word. The flowing alcohol was almost overflowing, but Keia’s inhuman body took the glass without the slightest disturbance. And immediately emptied another glass. It was an armed protest. It doesn’t matter if you drink as much alcohol as you want.

Keia was one of Mond’s famous temples. Mr. Duraf is like that, and although his drinking is a secret, Venti is also a huge drinker. Of these, I was probably the weakest at drinking. I clicked my tongue and said, “Tsk.”

I’ve never heard of anyone going anywhere to drink too much, but on the Tivat continent, there was a strange amount of alcohol.

Next it was Venti’s turn. Venti poured cider (disguised as dandelion wine) into a glass. I still had dozens of bottles of dandelion wine disguised as cider stored in my ‘backpack.’ Venti’s alcohol consumption was astounding.

Still, I started this because I felt bad about not being able to drink alone at a drinking party, but Venti got a taste for drinking and started coming to see me regularly from then on. Barbatos could not have been a worse god than he could not comfort a friend who was suffering like this, but instead played mean pranks on him.

“I wanted to divide the flowers and give them to three people… Then a legend will be created, right?”

“What a legend.”

I asked, even though I knew exactly what was going to come out. I thought that this topic would end a little earlier. And Venti soon came up with an answer that didn’t differ one bit from my expectations.

“That’s the ‘Legend of the Playboy of Mond,’ right? I’m sure it will be a rumor in the city of Mond for a while.”

In the end, I smiled bitterly and took a sip of my drink. Damn you guys, seeing them respond to Venti’s jokes with boisterous laughter made me wonder if I had made the wrong friends. However, the exciting atmosphere did not last long.

Someone suddenly came between us. Disturbing the chilly night air, I felt the girl’s breath next to me.

“…… “What are you all talking about?”

Light blonde hair that resembles moonlight, and scarlet eyes that seem to mesmerize you just by looking at them. The girl with the white flower decoration on her head is Lumine.

He was my first comrade and the hero who saved Mond from the threat of the Wind Demon Dragon. And today, he was one of the three people who was in a bad mood because of the ‘bouquet incident’.

As soon as Lumine appeared, everyone’s mood immediately calmed down. Lumine smiled brightly upon seeing that. She had a beautiful smile, a smile that made my heart flutter just by looking at it.

“Is it fun?”

In many ways. Those who had been laughing and chatting just a moment ago at her Lumine’s cold words sighed, cleared their throats, and looked away. Even Venti pretended not to notice, tipping her drink and distracting her. Most of the people I was having a drink with had a lot of social experience, so they knew very well that there is nothing more foolish than taking revenge on a jealous woman.

But I was an exception. Anyway, I was in a position that I couldn’t escape even if I wanted to. I finally sighed and asked Lumine.

“Lumine, what’s going on?”

Lumine turned her gaze to my words. Swollen eyes and a pouting mouth. Lumine immediately spoke in a blunt voice.

“…… Hmm, well.”

I’m upset, this is it. It was clearly an embarrassing situation, but Lumine’s behavior in coming to this place to ask for relief was so cute that I suppressed her laughter. I subtly asked Lumine in a humorous voice.

“Are you upset by any chance?”

“…… No, why me?”

Lumine’s voice was full of disappointment. She looked like she was showing off to everyone who saw her. She seemed very disappointed that she did not receive a bouquet of flowers. Although I explained that I was only showing respect to my partner, it was understandable that I felt disappointed at my inability to choose one person.

I could see that kind of expression in Lumine’s eyes as she glared at me. Questions like, ‘You say I come first?’ There was such a delicate side to the human mind. If I didn’t keep proving it, I would get suspicious. And doubts become anxiety, and anxiety becomes disappointment, which accumulates in the heart.

Even when Lumine sensed me raising my body, she glared at me once, and then she just nodded and turned her head. I spoke in a low voice.

“Lumine, look at this.”

“Hmph, I hate it. Anyway, I’m going to sneak away again… “Huh?!”

Lumine was grunting and trying not to pretend to hear me, but she soon ended up making a strange noise out of sheer goosebumps. My hand seemed to be caressing the shell of her ear, and then something in her popped out and a soft, tickling sensation passed through Lumine’s ear.

Lumine took a step back in surprise, and then she looked at me with startled eyes. And then her breathing stopped.

It was a pure white flower. The calyxes, which resemble the color of the clear sea, made the beautifully blooming pure white petals stand out even more. Pollen was fluttering like moonlight from the stamens. A faint scent tickled the tip of her nose along with the pollen.

Lumine looked at the flower in surprise for a moment, then she stammered and asked me.

“…… “What, what is this?”

“Glass lily.”

I said it casually. Before Lumine could even ask what I was saying, my words continued to flow.

“It’s a flower from Liyue. It was a flower that was not precious in the distant past, but most of it disappeared as its habitat was submerged in water. “What remains now are mostly artificially grown flowers, but wild flowers are often found in their former native habitat.”

Lumine was just listening to my explanation with a puzzled look on her face. I smiled slightly when I saw that. It was better than a sad face. Lumine was always beautiful, but her sad face made my heart heavy.

I quietly handed out the flower to Lumine. Even then, Lumine was blank and she was just looking at the flowers.

“…… Do you like white flowers? “I think it will suit you well, Lumine.”

Lumine seemed a little hesitant, but she eventually accepted the flowers. Her face flushed a little. A girl with a blushing face was holding a white flower under the moonlight. That image remained as a landscape painting in my heart.

However, Lumine’s disappointment seemed to have not fully subsided, so she slightly lowered her eyes and muttered. It was a voice filled with disappointment.

“…… “Why don’t you give it to me then?”

I pointed to the sky with my eyes without saying anything. Lumine glanced at me, and then she looked up at the sky. It was a deep night. The moon and stars were scattering light.

The light resembled the color of pollen flowing from a glass lily. I felt the need to add an explanation.

“The glass lily blooms as the night deepens.”

Rumine pursed her lips at my words. I looked at her Lumine. She wasn’t saying anything, but I could tell. The fact that her Lumine’s anger was released.

I sighed inwardly in relief. I was glad that my anger was relieved. I ended my speech with one word.

“…… “Now is the most beautiful time.”

Lumine was quietly looking at the flowers while listening to my explanation. As if they had sensed that Lumine’s mind was slowly relaxing, Venti and Keia continued to provide support fire.

“Isn’t it prettier than the bouquet I prepared today? “Good luck, traveler.”

“Oh, I’ve heard that too. “The story goes that in Liyue, glass lilies that grow in the wild are prized.”

Lumine eventually sank due to the continued praise of Venti and Keia. Lumine’s mouth relaxed as she tried to act a little more upset. She cleared her throat, hmm, and asked as if nothing had happened.

“…… “Is that so?”

However, there was a joy in that voice that could not be hidden. Lumine’s chilly atmosphere quickly melted away, just as the snow she had accumulated throughout the winter melted in her spring breeze. As Lumine, the cause of her depressed mood, was released, the mood of her drinking party naturally relaxed as well.

Soon the bustling atmosphere returned. Mr. Duraf, who refilled his glass, mischievously teased Lumine.

“hahahahaha, the famous honorary knight Nari is so happy that she received a flower? It’s nice to be young! When I was in my prime, my wife and I… ….”

“…… Who, who is your wife!”

Lumine was so shocked by Mr. Duraf’s words that she cried out, but once she let go of her anger, Lumine was no different from a cat that was easy to tease for drunkards. Her words from Lumine just became another source of teasing.

“Ahahahaha, Siwoo. Did you hear? It looks like Lumine doesn’t like you…….”

Venti said while giving me a meaningful look. Then Lumine was startled again and she looked at me. But before I could say anything, Lumine quickly started giving her explanation.

“Well, so…” It’s not that I don’t like Siwoo! We’re not even dating yet, but already my wife… Well, someday… Ugh, uh… ….”

Lumine’s eyes began to swell. She meant that her shame had reached its limit. At this point, she didn’t even know what Rumine was saying. She knew that later she would lie in bed and reminisce about her memories and accidentally hit her pillow.

It was always a reliable partner who appeared in moments of crisis. I don’t know if it’s trustworthy, but a guide who is Lumine’s partner suddenly flies by. It was a child-sized creature with silver hair. The name was ‘Paimon’, and it was our group’s mascot.

“Traveler, you are here! Now, at the table over there, Elder Dairuk’s special “Stacking High” Is…….”

Before Paimon could reveal all the information she had asked with her smug look on her face, Lumine began to walk quickly. Her face was so red that it seemed like steam was coming from her head.

“Yeah, that’s right. I’ll just go! See you later, Siwoo!”

“Huh? Well, those are ‘Bamboo Shoot Soup’ and ‘Plump Lotus Seafood Soup’! Me too, I eat too… Hing!”

In the process, Paimon flew onto our table without notice and started drooling, but soon followed Lumine. It was a look of regret in her eyes, but since Lumine did not turn her back, she had nothing to do as Paimon. Paymon was a guide who cherished his partner very much, no matter what they were like.

After the storm named ‘Lumine’ passed, our table finally regained peace. Mr. Duraf, Keia, and Venti shared drinks with each other. I also drank the alcohol in my glass in one go. I couldn’t help but drink.

The alcohol heated my brain. The pupils opened slightly. Venti, who was watching this, asked me.

“Now that I think about it, Siwoo. “What were you planning to do?”

“…… “What?”

I looked at Venti as if asking what he was talking about. Venti answered with his usual mischievous smile.

“Hey, don’t pretend you don’t know. “What would you have done if Mona had come instead of a traveler?”

A sigh escaped my lips. When asked what the question was, I answered in a slightly shaky voice, drenched in alcohol.

“…… Dandelion. Because that was the first time she became friendly with Mona.”

Mr. Duraf and Keia’s eyes turned to me at those words. It was an interesting look. Venti nodded her head as if she knew that would happen. He asked again.

“Then what if it was Fissle?”

“‘Star Conch’… Fissle likes stars. And although I don’t know my body, my sensitivity is still young, so I’m sure I like conch shells.”

I then drank alcohol. Lumine, Mona, Fissle. All three were precious people to me. If I had to divide my priorities, Lumine would come first, but while I was hesitating between reality and the Tivat continent, two ties arose that I could no longer cut off.

In the end, I had to do something, and it was a time when I was soothing my complicated mind with alcohol. I noticed that the table had suddenly become quiet. When I turned my gaze and looked around, Mr. Duraf, Venti, and Keia were all just looking at me without saying a word.

I frowned slightly because I couldn’t understand the reason. The doubt soon became a question. Soon, I pursed my lips and a question came out.

“What’s wrong?”

At those words, Mr. Duraf and Keia shared a drink with a bitter smile. Only Venti answered me with a slightly awkward smile.

“…… After all, you’re a playboy, right?”

That night, I drank all night long. The next day I had a hangover and couldn’t make breakfast, so I had to listen to Paimon’s resentment, but whatever. I had no regrets.

Because it was the last night in Mond. Now the place I will stay for a while is Liyue.

**

The gourmet festival in Saemmul Village brought me many benefits. First, we were able to secure wild boar meat from Saemmul Village, whose reputation has grown even higher. Of course, the quantity was not as huge as before. Still, this was enough. There were many places in Liyue that wanted wild boar meat from spring water village, and the only place that could handle ‘super fresh wild boar meat from spring water village’ was my shop. Through this, it was possible to expect expansion of influence, especially in the restaurant industry.

Secondly, my reputation as a ‘chef’ became more widely known in Liyue. In most cases, artisans were people who took pride in their jobs. So they were often stubborn. This was because the majority of people treated the words as ‘nonsense from someone who knows nothing.’ However, there was an exception among them, which was the case of partners working in the same occupation. No matter how proud a craftsman was, it was polite to at least pretend to listen to what his co-worker said.

And I was enjoying a high reputation as a ‘chef’. This image naturally affects the top I run. It goes without saying how helpful this image would be when dealing with Liyue’s self-respecting chefs. Even though Liyue was a country of merchants and the influence of the existing merchants was strong, there was plenty of room to exploit the gaps.

In the end, the key was speed. Establishing a position in Liyue was not difficult. However, with the Cheongshin Ceremony ahead, expansion of the business was an urgent priority if Lumine wanted to be able to meet God and ask questions at the Cheongshin Ritual. Liyue was a city of contracts and commerce, so it was natural that the influence of Mora had a direct proportion.

So, on the day I left Mond, I planned the ascent as simple as possible. Just like the first trip I took with Fisle, it was a trip consisting of only me and the escorts. The purpose was to minimize risk and shorten travel time by moving secretly.

Of course, the risk still existed. I was the financial advisor to the Knights of Pebonius and the owner of the caravan. There were plenty of people who would pay attention to my every move. So, if I had to choose an escort, I had to choose the most competent one I knew.

Then there was only one answer. As I was leaving Mond Castle, I asked the girl standing next to me.

“Are you ready, Lumine?”

Then the girl smiled. Her smile sparkled like dew at dawn. It was a beautiful smile, so I couldn’t breathe for no reason.

“Yeah, it’s been a while.”

Me, a girl, and an unknown guide. It was a combination that brought back old memories, so I smiled faintly. Paimon was still in dreamland, clinging to my head as if he was tired. Her neck was sore.

“…… “The three of us, going on a trip.”

At the same time, Lumine smiled mischievously. I smiled bitterly. Actually, that was my intention. Because I missed you too.

The hero of this world was taking a step. Liwolo, the largest trading port in Tivat, ruled by the Rock God. A new story would be waiting there.