"Misunderstanding, misunderstanding~"
Venti shook his head again and again like a rattle-drum, almost shaking out afterimages.
He hurried to explain with absolute sincerity:
"Taro, you really misunderstood me."
"How could we possibly let you be the one to take that kind of risk?"
"Taro, you know what I'm like. I'm absolutely not that kind of person."
That was the truth.
When something dangerous came up, it was for the bros to think of a way.
There was no way they were going to let Taro go up and tank it.
Taro was the one and only perfect last resort he and the old man had settled on.
Not even the slightest problem could be allowed there.
Let Taro leave Teyvat to go explore and probe some completely unknown place?
Don't even say do it—don't even bring it up.
It was best if Taro never left Teyvat at all.
Forget about whether it was dangerous or not.
If he left and never came back, where were the two of them supposed to go cry?
If they really did run into some fatal danger out there and their one and only way out was cut off, wouldn't the two of them become sinners?
No way. Absolutely no way.
He couldn't wait for Taro to find more soulmates in Teyvat and have a few more kids.
The more the better.
Having someone in your heart, having bonds to tie you down—that was a good thing.
Of course, this wasn't some cold-blooded calculation.
Taro wanted to settle down in Teyvat; naturally, they had to help support that, in every possible aspect.
"So tell me what you have in mind."
After listening to Venti's "explanation," Taro raised an eyebrow and looked at him, half thoughtful.
"Heh-heh…"
Venti rubbed his hands together. "Honestly, I don't have that many ideas."
"But there's no way we can let you be the one to take on anything dangerous."
"Going in yourself is way too risky, right?"
"Both the old man and I can pinch out avatars and incarnations."
"At worst we each make two. Doesn't that give us four chances to try?"
If the avatars and incarnations died, then they just died.
Give it a few years of recuperation and they'd be back; it wouldn't affect their actual combat strength.
Why would there be any need for them to personally charge in?
There are always more solutions than problems.
It was just that—
Venti sighed again.
"Too bad the only person you can send is yourself."
"So this plan of mine probably doesn't really work either."
If he could personally witness what lay beyond this world…
To see those unique sights belonging to other great worlds…
Venti would be a million times willing.
After all, the endless cycles of Teyvat were honestly… mentally and emotionally exhausting.
The Heavenly Principles were okay toward humans—not good, not bad.
But toward gods, or rather toward long-lived races, they were anything but friendly.
Working for humans and still being squeezed dry.
Always cleaning up one mess after another.
In a word: miserable.
"…"
Taro took a small sip of the "Millennium Drunk" Venti had brought.
He didn't interrupt, just quietly listened to Venti vent.
To be honest—
Teyvat, this place, was small.
What kind of crappy little place was this?
If it weren't for a few charming gods and people holding it up, who would even care about it?
At the end of the day, it was just a little ball.
The universe, parallel universes, multiverses, great thousand worlds…
Anyone who'd read webnovels knew that the worlds in their eyes were brilliantly diverse.
What everyone really cared about were one person after another.
Once you took the people away, what would this world still have?
What high heavens? What abyss?
What did any of that have to do with him?
Just an empty shell.
Save the world?
He really wasn't that interested.
But lending a hand in passing to the people he liked—Taro was very much on board with that.
Even if the other party didn't know him at all, that was fine.
It all came down to one line: I like them.
And then? Then nothing.
What else could there be? It was purely acting on his own interest.
Everything had a limit.
He just had that thought; he wouldn't overdo it.
He would give them an opportunity, and only once.
Whether they wanted to save themselves or not was their own business.
Respecting the fate that others chose for themselves, letting go of the excess savior complex—
That wasn't just a kind of self-discipline; it was a kind of wisdom.
Venti was a good person—Taro liked him. They could be friends, and he could lend him a hand.
Zhongli, on the other hand, was a "Sage Lord" who should only exist in fantasy. Strictly speaking, Taro and Zhongli were not the same kind of people.
But that didn't stop Taro from respecting and admiring him. Being friends with Zhongli—so long as there was no irreconcilable conflict—meant you could safely entrust your back to him.
Raiden Ei—seeing how pitiful she was, he was willing to pull her up with one hand; there was also a bit of mischievous enjoyment mixed in there.
Huoliya… she was fortunate; they were mutually attracted at first sight, then slowly got to know each other, and eventually they just naturally ended up together.
Yingda and Fanan had given up their lives for others—they were heroes.
As for what came after… a life-saving grace you couldn't repay, plus Taro's own desire; neither side had rejected the relationship, and slowly, they each carved out a place for the other in their hearts. It all flowed along naturally.
Was that very calculated?
Taro said he didn't know. He only knew that it felt like water flowing downhill.
No need to hide it, no need to dress it up in grand rhetoric.
Keeping a low profile was for living in your own world.
Being high-profile was for living in other people's worlds.
Since he'd chosen to act so high-profile in others' worlds, of course he also accepted their slander and criticism.
He didn't really care whether outsiders liked him or not.
As long as they didn't get in his face and stir up trouble, they could coexist peacefully.
But if you dared to dance on his head like a god-slayer…
Sorry.
He was the kind of person who settled grudges on the spot, never procrastinating.
If he did delay it, that only meant he couldn't beat the opponent yet and needed to lie low for a while and grind a few levels.
"Taro."
"You weren't listening to me at all."
Seeing Taro look spaced-out, Venti casually complained at him.
Looked like this drink had been a waste.
"I heard you."
Taro chuckled softly. "But it's still the same line as before: I just don't have enough ability yet."
"I'm not going to do anything I'm not sure I can handle."
"Besides, isn't one escape route enough?"
"…"
Venti let out a dry laugh. "Well, that… not exactly."
"It's mainly not for our own sake."
Not for themselves?
Got it.
All archons love their people.
Taro could understand that.
"I get it."
Taro raised his glass. "Whether this road works or not."
"Depends on whether you guys work hard enough."
"For you, and for those you love."
"And also, for me."
"No problem!"
Venti's eyes lit up, and he raised his glass as well.
"Taro, bottoms up!"
"To an imperfect tomorrow."
Clink—
The glasses touched with a light ring.
The wine inside was drained in one go.
"Mm, let's call it a day for now."
Setting his glass down, Taro spoke softly:
"I've still got two guests at home I need to entertain."
"Guests?"
Venti's ears twitched, and the smile on his face slowly turned into a smirk.
"I get it, I get it. Then I won't get in the way of Taro's good time."
"Do your best, Taro."
"I'm still waiting to drink your wedding wine."
With that, the drunkard bard grabbed the remaining half-bottle of wine and ran off.
He didn't even think to leave Taro a little.
"…"
Do his best, my ass.
Was he the kind of guy who took advantage of loopholes to squeeze his way in?
Mm… maybe… probably… perhaps… not… right?
Taro shook his head inwardly as his figure slowly faded away.
"The world is unpredictable…"
"Tch, damn this lust at first sight."
(End of Chapter)
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