The morning sun shone over Mondstadt, warming the cobblestones and glinting off the tiled roofs of the city's bustling streets. Henry woke up to find a note on the table beside his bed. Opening it, he saw it was from Eula — she had already left for her early patrol.
After leaving the estate, the first thing Henry thought of was reserving a room at the Goth Grand Hotel.
He arrived at the entrance, noticing something unusual — the absence of any Fatui agents.
"Come to think of it… I haven't seen a single Fatui since I arrived in Mondstadt, "he pondered.
"Probably because the plot hasn't started yet. Or maybe the Fatui don't dare step inside while Varka is still around."
The Goth Grand Hotel's exterior matched its in-game appearance: tall, dark stone walls, sloping roofs with neat tiles, and an imposing main entrance flanked by carved wooden beams.
Henry stepped inside. The lobby retained the Gothic charm of the exterior, with high wooden beams and arched doorways, yet it radiated the warmth of a long-term residence.
Polished wooden floors stretched beneath his feet, and brass lanterns hung from low rafters, casting a soft golden glow.
A single large portrait of Vennessa dominated one wall — tanned skin, amber eyes, fiery-red hair braided elegantly behind her head, her gaze calm and commanding.
Plush armchairs were tucked into corners, small tables held simple flower pots, and sunlight streamed through tall, narrow windows, casting long, warm shafts across the polished floors.
The overall feeling was stately yet inviting, perfectly blending Mondstadt's history with the comfortable life of a resident.
A young receptionist greeted him with a polite nod.
"Good morning, sir. How may I assist you?" she asked.
"I'd like to reserve a room… for a month," Henry replied, trying to sound casual.
Her eyebrows lifted slightly. "A month-long stay? Certainly, sir. That will require full payment upfront."
"No problem," Henry said, pulling out a pouch of Mora. He counted the coins carefully, then handed them over.
The receptionist accepted the payment, stacking the coins neatly, and slid a polished brass key across the counter.
"Room 307, on the third floor," she said. "I've logged your payment. Enjoy your stay."
Henry took the key and stored it in his system space. Safe, convenient, and no chance of losing it,
After grabbing a quick toast and a cup of tea, Henry ate at a small table in front of the stall, finishing quickly. He noticed the cup the tea came in — it looked like plastic.
Must be made with alchemy.
Once done, he made his way back to yesterday's spot to set up his stall again. Carefully, he adjusted the Hello Kitty cover so it didn't wrinkle and neatly stacked rows of instant noodles on top, one above another.
"Looks like materials like plastic already exist in Teyvat, he mused. Probably thanks to the alchemists. Maybe this place isn't as medieval as I thought…"
He remembered a scene from a game quest .
Aether went on a date with Barbara, and they were both holding plastic cups. So it makes sense.
[Henry, are you ready to face the chaos of commerce?]
Henry rubbed his eyes. "I survived Day One. How hard could be day two?"
He exhaled, trying to steady himself. Across the street, a cranky old bread seller bellowed at passing children, shooing them with a broom. Henry stood somewhere in between, a pile of unfamiliar "instant noodles" neatly arranged on his satin-covered table, feeling both out of place and oddly determined.
Henry pinned a handwritten poster he had prepared beforehand to a nearby lamp post: "Instant Noodles in just three minutes" He stepped back, hands on waist, and let out a loud, theatrical shout repeating the previous day tactic. "Get a free sample! Perfect for adventurers, children, and… anyone with taste buds!!"
The first to arrive were children, naturally drawn to food.
Their small hands reached eagerly for the free samples, their eyes wide with delight. Henry barely had time to react before several had dashed off.
"Wait! Only one sample per person!" he shouted.
"Who do these unruly children belong to, bruh? Daring to grab and run away with more samples?"
[Ha ha ha, you got mugged, Henry. And by kids]
From the corner of his eye, he saw a familiar figure approaching. It was Amber, most probably sent by Eula's recommendation, peered at the stall, tilting her head curiously.
Amber from the game did injustice to the one standing before him.
The real Amber who was in front of him was a tomboyish beauty—athletic build, sun-kissed skin, lively amber eyes, and a playful grin that hinted at mischief. Her twin tails bounced as she walked, giving her an approachable, teasing aura.
"You're… selling noodles, right? My friend Eula recommended I check out your stall," she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes!" Henry held out a cup. "instant, tasty, and perfect for adventuring!"
"Do you want to try it now, Miss Amber?" Henry asked.
Amber chuckled. "Just call me Amber. And yes, I'll try it now."
Henry poured hot water into her cup. "We need to wait a few minutes," he told her.
As they waited, Henry tried to make conversation. "So… Amber, you spend most mornings patrolling or running errands for the Knights?"
"Mostly errands and practice," she replied. "I like being active. Can't sit still for too long. What about you? What brought you to Mondstadt?"
Henry leaned against the table casually. "Long story, really. Got here yesterday, sold my first batch of instant noodles, and survived the chaos."
Amber laughed. "Selling noodles, huh? That's… unique. I like it. Definitely not boring."
"You like adventure, right? This counts as adventure in my book," Henry said with a grin.
Amber raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk on her face. "Adventure? How is selling noodles an adventure?"
Henry leaned back, tapping a finger on the table. "Well, for starters, kids keep trying to grab extra free samples and dash off before I can stop them. Then there are people rushing in all at once, some curious, some skeptical, calling my noodles… strange."
Amber laughed, shaking her head. "I can see that. Sounds chaotic, but… kind of fun too."
Henry shrugged, grinning wider. "Exactly. You never know what the day will throw at you. And that, Amber, is the adventure of running your own stall in Mondstadt."
Amber's laughter faded into a smile. "I like your kind of adventure. Makes the city feel alive."
"Well," Henry said, grinning, "I've got to survive if I want to keep selling noodles. And maybe make some friends along the way."
Amber's eyes softened a little. "That's… actually admirable. Not many people would stick to it after the first day. Most would just give up."
Henry shrugged, feigning modesty. "I like to think of it as… perseverance… and good business instincts."
Amber leaned closer, resting her elbows on the table. "Or maybe just stubbornness."
"Stubbornness works too," Henry replied with a wink.
By now, the noodles were ready.
Amber lifted a forkful, then took a small taste of the broth. Her eyes widened slightly. "Mm… not bad. Actually surprised me."
Henry grinned. "Told you. Instant noodles — revolutionary."
Amber laughed, holding up three more cups. "These are good. I'll take them for my patrols." She waved goodbye after paying for the cups, still grinning, and left.
The day passed in a blur. More people came to his stall, curious or enticed by free samples.
[Progress report: Approximately 400 units sold. Efficiency improving.]
Henry collapsed onto a small crate behind his stall, wiping his forehead. "Three hundred fifty… not bad for Day Two, right?"
[Not bad? That's excellent,Emperor of Instant Noodles.]
"Emperor of Instant Noodles, Ha!" ,He laughed, finally letting himself enjoy a brief moment of pride.
"I really did sell a lot of cups today."
As the market quieted and lanterns flickered to life, Henry gathered the unsold packets putting them back into his system space, ready to rest for the day. It had been chaotic, exhausting, … and successful enough to keep him going.
[End-of-day assessment: Business survived. Legend-establishment: in progress]
Henry made his way to the Good Hunter for dinner.
He sank into a chair and took a bite of his meal — a dish called Pile 'Em Up, something like a meat sandwich he'd known back on Earth. The flavour hit just right, a small reminder of home.
[Your business flourished Day Two]
Henry chuckled. "Yeah… sounds about right."
"Orianna, you are not actually assessing me right? you are only commenting?"
[Heh, Henry you just realized this, congratulations! I'm only giving live commentary on your progress. All rewards come from task completion. No EXP, No friendship levels.]
"YOU!". Henry fumed "You were trolling me the whole time! I thought I actually got EXP or friendship points for tasks and interacting with people."
Orianna stopped laughing, sensing his irritation.
[Sorry Henry. Don't worry— I'll make sure the rewards are better for future tasks]
"I hope you stick to your word, Orianna," he muttered, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead.
He smiled, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead. Day Two done.
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