There are moments in life where you look back and think: "Yeah… I probably shouldn't have done that." Moments where hindsight kicks in, taps you on the shoulder, and politely—politely—informs you that you are, in fact, an idiot.
Sometimes it whispers.
Sometimes it screams.
Sometimes it shows you a replay in full detail just to make sure you really understand how badly you messed up.
This was not one of those moments.
No, this—this was one of those rare, beautiful moments in life where you look back and think:
"Yeah… I'd do it again."
Without hesitation.
With confidence.
Possibly with improvements.
Because to this day, I still firmly believe that whatever happened between a certain overly serious biceps scholar and a very fiery mercenary was, in fact, a success.
A massive success.
A groundbreaking, history-defining, morally questionable but emotionally satisfying success.
Did things go according to plan?
No.
Was there even a plan?
Also no.
Did it somehow work anyway?
…Yes.
Which, in my opinion, makes it even more impressive.
Was it a date?
Was it a job offer?
Was it an accidental confession disguised as academic recruitment?
Was it a professional discussion that somehow turned into romantic tension without anyone acknowledging it?
We may never know.
And honestly?
I don't think he knows either.
Which makes it even better.
I stretched my arms behind my head as we walked through Sumeru City, letting out a slow breath as the usual chaos of civilization unfolded around us—merchants shouting over each other, scholars arguing about things that absolutely did not require arguing, and somewhere in the distance, someone was probably regretting a life decision that started with the words "just one more experiment."
Peaceful. Suspiciously peaceful. Too peaceful.
It had been weeks since that glorious day of chaos—weeks since I may or may not have altered the trajectory of someone else's love life, and weeks since I peaked as a human being. Honestly, it's hard to top that kind of achievement.
You either retire at your peak… or keep going and make things worse. Naturally, I chose the second option.
"…You're smiling again," Lumine said flatly beside me.
I didn't even look at her, because acknowledging the accusation would only make it worse.
"I always smile," I replied casually. Technically true. Morally questionable, but true.
"Not like that."
"…Like what?" I asked, finally turning to her with my most innocent expression—the kind that had gotten me into trouble more times than I could count.
"Like you're about to ruin someone's day."
"…That is a very bold assumption," I said, placing a hand on my chest as if personally offended.
"It's a very accurate one," she replied without missing a beat.
Paimon floated closer, narrowing her eyes at me like a tiny floating detective who had cracked the case years ago and was just waiting for me to confess.
"Yeah, Paimon knows that face… That's the face you make right before something bad happens. Like really bad. Like 'we should have stayed home' bad."
Nilou tilted her head slightly, her expression gentle, curious, and—unfortunately for me—far too perceptive for my liking.
"Are you thinking about something?" she asked softly.
Greg, currently perched on her shoulder like he owned property there, flicked his tail slowly.
Agreement.
Of course.
I stopped walking mid-step, turned fully toward them, and looked at each of them one by one like I was conducting a very serious investigation into betrayal.
"…Is that how you all see me?" I asked, deadpan, because clearly my reputation needed addressing.
"Yes," Lumine answered immediately, with zero hesitation and even less remorse.
"Absolutely," Paimon added, nodding like this was the most obvious truth in the world.
Nilou hesitated for a brief moment—just enough to give me hope—before smiling apologetically.
"Maybe… a little?"
Greg flicked his tail again.
Then again.
Twice.
For emphasis.
Traitor.
I placed a hand over my chest like I had just been struck by emotional damage of the highest order.
"Wow," I said slowly, shaking my head in disappointment. "I'm surrounded by people who have no faith in me whatsoever. Incredible. Betrayal on all fronts. I can't believe this is my life."
"You lost that privilege a long time ago," Lumine replied calmly, like she had already documented this conclusion in a report somewhere.
"Yeah," Paimon nodded, crossing her tiny arms. "Your thinking has a track record. A very bad one. Like… consistently bad. Impressively bad, even."
"…You two are the last people who should be talking about bad decisions," I shot back immediately, pointing at both of them like I had been waiting for this exact moment.
Lumine raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"
"Yes, oh," I continued, fully committed now. "May I remind you of a certain situation in Liyue involving an ancient sea deity with unresolved anger issues?"
"…That was not our fault."
"Oh really?" I leaned in slightly, grinning like a man who had receipts. "Because from what I remember, someone—" I pointed directly at her. "—may or may not have played a role in unleashing the very angry wife of a certain storm god."
Paimon gasped dramatically. "Hey! That sounds way worse when you say it like that!"
"It is worse," I replied without hesitation.
Lumine smacked the back of my head.
Highly effective.
Immediate correction.
I straightened instantly.
"…Okay, that was fair," I admitted, because survival instincts are important.
Nilou blinked, looking between us with genuine curiosity that somehow made this even more dangerous.
"You summoned an ancient deity?" she asked.
Greg flicked his tail toward Lumine like a tiny, judgmental prosecutor as if to say; Yeah, Blondie, explain yourself.
Lumine sighed, the kind of sigh that carried history, regret, and the burden of being surrounded by idiots.
"It's… complicated."
"Uncomplicate it," I said helpfully, because I contribute to conversations.
She ignored me.
Naturally.
Then she started explaining—what happened in Liyue, the situation, the chaos, the sequence of events that somehow escalated into "this is now everyone's problem." Paimon jumped in occasionally, adding details, exaggerating slightly, and defending herself when necessary.
I nodded along like I was listening to a story I definitely didn't already know.
"…Yeah, that's what actually happened," I said when she finished, because accuracy matters.
Lumine rolled her eyes. "You're enjoying this too much."
"I enjoy many things," I replied wisely, because that was also true.
She stared at me for a moment.
Then sighed.
"…What were you thinking about earlier?" she asked again, returning to the original problem like a responsible person.
Right.
That.
I scratched my cheek slightly, my gaze drifting forward as my thoughts circled back to it.
Because there was something.
Something I'd been waiting for.
A trigger.
A moment.
A certain event that hadn't happened yet but definitely would.
Timing mattered.
And I wanted to try something when it did.
"…Just wondering when something's going to happen," I said casually.
"That's vague," Paimon replied immediately.
"That's intentional."
Lumine narrowed her eyes. "That usually means it's something stupid."
"…Rude."
"Accurate," she corrected.
I opened my mouth to defend myself, fully prepared to deliver a well-constructed argument that would absolutely convince no one—
And then I stopped.
Because someone approached.
I turned.
And immediately grinned.
Oh.
Perfect timing.
The kind of timing that makes you wonder if the world is just conveniently aligning itself for your entertainment, or if you're about to be dragged into something that absolutely will not go the way you expect.
The man looked slightly out of breath, clearly having been searching for a while. Not just casually looking either—this was the kind of "I have been running around asking people for directions and getting progressively more tired" kind of searching. His eyes moved quickly—Lumine, me, Paimon—like he was confirming identities against a mental checklist he had probably memorized out of sheer necessity.
"Huh? Wait—you're that blonde traveler and her idiot companion who's traveling across Teyvat, right?" he said.
I raised a hand.
"In my defense," I began, because I always have a defense, "that description is extremely accurate, but also deeply offensive."
He continued like I didn't exist.
Just… completely ignored me.
Didn't even acknowledge the brilliance of my interruption.
Disrespectful.
"And you're with the floating white-haired fairy, correct?"
Paimon puffed up immediately, outraged. "Hey! Who are you calling a fairy!? Who even are you!?"
The man straightened slightly. "Masrur. And yes, I do need something from you. Actually—" he wiped his forehead. "—I've been looking for you everywhere. I have a letter."
That was it.
That was all I needed.
Everything else he was about to say? Probably important.
But also completely unnecessary—for me, at least.
I stepped forward immediately.
"Hold that thought, scholar," I said, raising a hand like I was stopping time itself.
He blinked.
Confused.
Very confused.
Honestly, I would be too if someone just hijacked my entire explanation like that.
Understandable.
"Give me the letter."
Lumine stared at me. "…You could at least let him finish."
"No need," I replied.
Because I already knew.
Of course I knew.
I glanced at them, grin widening slightly.
"Hey," I said casually, like I wasn't about to derail the flow of events again. "What do you guys think about meeting our friendly neighborhood eyepatch captain again?"
Nilou blinked. "…Eyepatch?"
Paimon tilted her head. "Wait… that sounds familiar…"
Lumine sighed.
"…Kaeya," she said.
I snapped my fingers immediately.
"Bingo."
Masrur was still there.
Still holding the letter.
Still trying to process why the conversation had suddenly gone completely off-script, like he had walked into a play where everyone else had already read ahead except him.
You could practically see the questions forming in his head.
"…Should I… explain the rest?" he asked slowly, like he was testing reality.
"Nope," I said cheerfully.
I took the letter.
Turned.
"Alright, gang," I said, already walking. "Let's move."
And just like that—
We left.
Like legends.
Meanwhile, Masrur?
Still standing there.
Still processing.
Still trying to figure out what exactly just happened and why it happened so fast.
Probably questioning every decision that led to this moment—career choices, life paths, maybe even what he had for breakfast this morning.
Honestly?
Completely understandable.
***
If there was one thing I could confidently say about life, it's that peace never lasts—at least not around me. It shows up, waves politely, and then immediately leaves the moment I get comfortable. Not for long, anyway. Especially not when I'm involved.
We made our way toward Port Ormos like a group of perfectly normal, law-abiding individuals—which, for the record, was already suspicious enough on its own. The streets were lively, the air thick with spice and chatter, and for once, nothing was actively exploding, collapsing, or trying to kill us. A rare occasion. A suspicious occasion.
Which, naturally, meant something was definitely about to happen.
"…So," Nilou began beside me, her tone light but curious, "who is Kaeya?"
Ah.
Right.
I grinned, because this was my moment—my time to be helpful, informative, and absolutely untrustworthy all at once.
"Oh, you're going to love this guy," I said, already assembling the most accurate and completely unreliable explanation possible.
Lumine glanced at me from the side, the kind of glance that said she had zero faith in whatever I was about to say.
"That doesn't sound reassuring," she said.
"It should be," I replied confidently. "Because I am an excellent source of information."
"You are a source," she corrected.
"…Rude," I muttered, deeply offended by the accuracy.
Paimon crossed her arms mid-air. "Yeah, Nilou, maybe let Lumine explain—"
"Absolutely not," I cut in immediately, because if I didn't speak now, the truth might come out unfiltered. "I got this."
Greg flicked his tail once from Nilou's shoulder.
No faith. None at all.
Unbelievable.
I cleared my throat with all the gravitas of a scholar about to present groundbreaking research that would absolutely not pass peer review.
"Kaeya," I began, pacing slightly like I was delivering a formal lecture, "is a cavalry captain from Mondstadt."
"That part is correct," Lumine admitted.
"Of course it is," I said. "I only provide verified information. Selectively verified. Emotionally verified."
She didn't even respond.
Disrespectful.
"He's got a suspicious eyepatch, questionable morals, and enough rizz to destabilize an entire nation if left unchecked," I continued. "Adopted brother of the legendary Flaming Wine Daddy himself—"
"…Diluc," Lumine inserted.
"—yes, that one," I nodded, not missing a beat. "Went to our engagement party, looked like he belonged there more than some of the guests, and I'm about ninety percent sure he could flirt with a lamp post if you put a skirt on it."
Nilou blinked, genuinely trying to process that sentence.
"…A lamp post?"
"Don't underestimate him," I said seriously. "Give him ten minutes and emotional motivation. Maybe some background music."
Paimon covered her face. "Paimon regrets asking…"
"I'm not done," I said, because I absolutely was not.
Lumine sighed, the long-suffering sigh of someone who had seen this pattern before and knew there was no stopping it.
"He probably rizzed someone's auntie on the way here. Maybe two. Possibly a grandmother. We don't have confirmed reports, but the probability is high and increasing."
"That is not accurate," Lumine said flatly.
"That is statistically probable."
"That is made up."
"Details."
Nilou let out a soft laugh, clearly entertained despite herself.
"So… he's charming?" she asked.
"That is one way to put it," Lumine said.
"He's dangerous," I corrected, because accuracy matters when it's dramatic.
Greg flicked his tail in agreement.
Finally.
We reached Djafar Tavern not long after, the familiar hum of conversation and clinking glasses greeting us as we stepped inside. The scent of spices hit immediately—rich, warm, and just strong enough to make you reconsider your life choices if you breathed too deeply. For a moment, everything felt almost… normal.
Then I saw him.
Eyepatch. Blue color scheme. Leaning back like he owned the place—or at least owned the idea of the place. Looking like he was about to casually ruin someone's emotional stability within a three-mile radius and then apologize charmingly for it.
Yup.
That's him.
I grinned.
"Sup, man," I called out as I walked over, already grinning like I was about to cause problems on purpose. "Whose auntie did you rizz today, or are you saving your energy for peak hours? Don't tell me you're pacing yourself now—that's character development and I don't like it."
Kaeya chuckled, setting his drink down with the ease of someone who had seen worse—and probably caused worse. The kind of chuckle that said he wasn't just entertained—he was interested, which was significantly more dangerous.
"Careful," he added casually, eyes glinting slightly as he looked at me. "If you keep spreading rumors like that, I might have to live up to them. Wouldn't want to disappoint your expectations."
"Anyway, what's up? Paimon, Shigeru, Lumine," he greeted smoothly, eyes flicking over to Nilou and Greg with polite curiosity. "Looks like the gods smile upon me after all. And come now, I wouldn't joke about wanting to see my good friends."
He gave Nilou a small, respectful nod. "Hello, Nilou. And to you as well, Greg."
Greg flicked his tail in acknowledgment—measured, dignified, and far more polite than I would have been.
Acceptable.
Paimon flew forward, clearly relieved. "Kaeya! You're really here! Paimon half thought you were playing some sort of prank on us!"
"I'm offended you'd think that," Kaeya said with a smile that suggested he absolutely would, has done it before, and will absolutely do it again if given the opportunity. "If I were to play a prank, I'd at least make it memorable. Preferably dramatic. Possibly involving you."
"…Why me?" I asked.
He tilted his head slightly. "Because you'd make it more entertaining."
…Fair.
I didn't like how fair that was.
Lumine crossed her arms. "If you say so."
Paimon hovered closer, narrowing her eyes. "Wait a second… You must be here on official business, right? What do you think you're doing, spending every afternoon drinking at the tavern? You itching for a lecture from Jean?"
Kaeya laughed lightly. "Not at all. The Acting Grand Master positively terrifies me. Why would I ever do anything that might displease her?"
"Uh huh… Very believable," Lumine said flatly.
I leaned in slightly, because this was important.
"Yeah, and her husband will definitely kill you if you try anything funny," I added helpfully, contributing to the conversation in meaningful ways.
Lumine elbowed me immediately.
Worth it.
Kaeya only smiled wider, clearly enjoying himself at my expense.
"The truth is," he continued, "I'm in Sumeru to learn about the alcohol industry here. So despite how it might look, I'm actually at Djafar Tavern for strictly business purposes."
"Business," I repeated, glancing at his drink like I was conducting a very serious investigation. "You know, most people conduct business without holding a glass like that."
Kaeya followed my gaze briefly, then looked back at me, completely unfazed.
"And most people don't interrogate others about their beverage choices within five seconds of greeting them," he replied smoothly. "Yet here we are."
…He had a point.
I chose to ignore it.
"Strictly."
"Very convincing," I said, nodding slowly like a professional skeptic who had seen too much. "If I didn't know you, I'd almost believe you."
Kaeya placed a hand over his chest dramatically. "That wounds me. Truly."
"You'll recover," I replied.
"I always do."
That was… oddly reassuring and mildly concerning at the same time.
He ignored me.
Again.
Disrespectful.
"Sumeru's spices are famous the world over," Kaeya went on, "and it's long been rumored that this establishment was where a certain popular spiced cocktail was invented."
"That's why the Knights sent me—their foremost expert in alcoholic beverages—to investigate."
Paimon tilted her head. "And how did that go?"
"So far, so good," he said. "I'm already in talks with some spice merchants in Port Ormos about potential collaboration."
"Wow," Paimon said. "That actually sounds like real work."
"It is real work," Kaeya replied.
"…Suspicious," I muttered, because I refuse to trust competence when it shows up this cleanly. "You're being too productive. I don't like it. It's throwing off the balance of the world."
Kaeya smirked slightly. "Should I be less efficient, then?"
"Yes," I said immediately. "For the sake of consistency."
"I'll take that into consideration," he replied, which meant he absolutely would not.
He ignored that too.
Unbelievable.
As the conversation shifted, Lumine asked about his past—about Sumeru, about whether he had been here before. And for once, he didn't joke. Not immediately.
He spoke about being young, about sneaking into a merchant delegation, about curiosity, and about Khaenri'ah.
I listened.
Quiet, for once.
Not because I didn't have anything to say—let's be clear, I always have something to say—but because sometimes the moment calls for it. Rare. Extremely rare. But it happens.
Also Lumine would hit me if I ruined the mood.
Self-preservation is important.
Not because I didn't have anything to say—don't get it twisted—but because some things… you just let land.
"…Khaenri'ah," Lumine murmured.
"Yeah," I said under my breath. "That one."
Nilou's expression softened slightly. "We've been hearing that name more often lately…"
Greg flicked his tail—subtle, but present. Even he knew this wasn't just another casual topic.
Kaeya continued, explaining what little he knew—or thought he knew. His tone was lighter than the subject deserved, but not by much.
And then—
A voice.
Low. Familiar.
"…One Death After Noon, please."
I grinned.
Of course.
Perfect timing.
I leaned back slightly, stretching my arms like I wasn't about to walk straight into another mess of fate, history, and extremely questionable life choices.
"Well," I said, already enjoying where this was going, "you're finally here, our favorite big brother."
I turned slightly, grin widening just enough to be concerning.
"Time for another lore exploration," I said, already mentally preparing myself for information I definitely knew but still wanted to hear again for dramatic effect.
I glanced briefly at Kaeya, then back toward the source of that voice, grin still present.
"Try not to disappear mid-conversation this time," I added casually, because if there was one thing consistent about all of this, it was that things never stayed simple for long.
Because apparently—
Peace was never an option.
_______________
End of Chapter 175
Quests Completed:
*Received an important letter… and immediately ignored the explanation in favor of dramatic efficiency.
*Identified the sender without confirmation and hijacked the interaction like a professional menace.
*Abandoned the messenger mid-conversation, leaving him emotionally and physically confused.
*Successfully convinced the group to follow with zero context and maximum confidence.
*Delivered an extremely biased and highly unreliable explanation of Kaeya that was somehow both accurate and slanderous.
*Maintained misinformation while being fact-checked in real time by Lumine.
*Arrived at Djafar Tavern and immediately initiated verbal combat with Kaeya.
*Attempted to expose "business drinking" while lacking evidence and self-awareness.
*Survived Kaeya's conversational counterattacks without losing confidence.
*Accidentally transitioned conversation into sensitive lore involving Khaenri'ah without derailing it.
*Successfully stayed quiet during an important moment (rare achievement).
*Detected incoming lore presence based solely on drink order.
*Prepared mentally for another chaos-lore hybrid encounter.
Rewards:
*Adventure EXP +7,200
*28,000 Mora (Compensation for confusion caused to NPCs)
*Companionship EXP: +600 (Lumine, Nilou, Paimon, Greg)
*"Letter of Plot Advancement" : (Triggers the next major event regardless of player readiness.)
*"Unverified Information Module" : (Allows confident explanations with questionable accuracy.)
*"Kaeya's Deflection Passive" : (Converts accusations into charm. Effect cannot be countered.)
*"Suspicious Business Aura" : (Increases credibility when claiming "it's for work.")
*"Lumine's Bonk Protocol v3.1" : (Now activates faster. Includes pre-emptive strike.)
*"Nilou's Emotional Buffer" : (Reduces tension and prevents total social collapse.)
*"Greg's Judgment Field" : (Continuously evaluates decisions. Results remain negative.)
*"Cyno's Stored Pun" : (Delayed activation. Damage increases over time.)
*+25 (Sumeru Reputation — "Messenger Confusion Incident")
Achievements Unlocked:
"Skipped the Dialogue (Lore Edition)"
-Interrupt an NPC before they finish explaining, correctly guess the outcome anyway, and proceed as if nothing was missed. Leave the original speaker confused, your party concerned, and the situation moving forward faster than intended—all while maintaining complete and unjustified confidence.