"Will they... really be okay drinking like that?" Sitting at another table with Wendy and watching Miko and Kaito downing glass after glass, Lumine couldn't help but whisper her concern.
She felt that drinking like this, let alone alcohol, would be a lot even for beverages.
"It's fine, as long as they don't die."
Looking over as well, Wendy simply replied indifferently.
There was no helping it; since Miko wanted to drink now, they might as well keep her company.
However, even so, Wendy still wanted to complain that this wine tasted truly awful.
While Kaito was constantly drinking over there, she could only keep drinking her beverage on this side to wash down the lingering taste of alcohol.
"Ah? Uh... is that really... okay?"
Not expecting Wendy to say that, Lumine became even more worried.
Furthermore, there was another thing she found strange, which was that Wendy had already drank a lot of beverages by now. Her capacity for drinks was just too high.
So Wendy actually liked drinking this kind of beverage so much...
She had never noticed it before...
Silently watching Wendy pour herself another glass of her drink, Lumine couldn't help but think this.
"Do you want me to pour some for you?" Wendy suddenly asked Lumine at this moment, still holding a bottle of beverage in her hand.
"Mhm, thank you, Wendy."
Nodding, Lumine handed her cup over.
It was just as well; the drink in her cup was almost finished.
"Good wine..."
Thud—
Accompanied by the exclamation of "good wine," the sound of someone collapsing onto a table suddenly came from nearby.
Without even needing to look, Wendy knew it was Venti.
"Is he okay?"
Not expecting the person next to them to have drunk themselves into such a state, Lumine couldn't help but wonder if they needed to find a doctor for him right now.
"He's fine, he won't die."
Regarding Venti, Wendy directly stated that he wouldn't die.
Lumine: "..."
With Wendy answering her twice in a row with "won't die," Lumine began to worry that Wendy was being a bit too nonchalant.
After all, no matter what, one couldn't use "not dying" as the bare minimum standard.
And just as Lumine was thinking this, Miko at the next table took the glass of wine Kaito had helped pour for her and said, "Mondstadt's wine... is truly not bad..."
At this moment, Miko's cheeks were already tinged with a layer of blush. She was clearly drunk, she just hadn't collapsed like Venti at the neighboring table.
As for Kaito, he realized he actually had quite the tolerance, having not gotten drunk even now.
Of course, he didn't think this was due to some extraordinary natural talent or innate ability to drink; he felt it was highly likely because his body had been enhanced.
From the moment he first obtained the system up until now, he had been enhanced many times.
"To me, all wine tastes about the same." Looking at Miko across from him, Kaito spoke his true feelings.
There was no helping it; he truly couldn't taste how good the wine was, so he could only tell the truth.
"Hah! That's just because you have a dull palate."
Clearly disagreeing with Kaito's words, Miko downed the wine in her glass in one gulp as she spoke.
"Yeah, my palate really is a bit dull."
Kaito also took a sip as he spoke.
He knew that at a time like this, it was best to humor Miko.
"You wouldn't happen to have not been drinking at all, right?" At this moment, Miko suddenly stood up, bringing her face so close it was almost pressed against Kaito's.
At such a close distance, Kaito could already distinctly smell the scent of alcohol on her.
He had to admit, it was truly strong.
"Why? Haven't I been drinking right in front of you this whole time? How could I have not been drinking?"
Looking at Miko, who appeared to be blushing, Kaito was also a bit confused. He didn't understand why she would suddenly say he hadn't been drinking.
"You don't look drunk at all... You completely... completely don't look like... someone who is drinking." As Miko spoke, she carefully observed Kaito, as if trying to spot something.
"Then watch."
Saying this, Kaito poured himself a full glass of wine, then downed it in one gulp under Miko's close observation.
Tastes awful...
After finishing the wine in his glass in one gulp, Kaito couldn't help but think this.
Afterward, Miko seemed to be pondering something as she sat back down in her previous seat.
"I know!"
Suddenly standing up again, Miko acted as if she had discovered something incredible and continued, "You guy... must definitely... definitely have some weird... ability again, right?"
Although she was getting increasingly drunk, Miko still managed to think of this point.
There was no helping it; Kaito's various abilities were truly too strange and had left a very deep impression on her, so she naturally thought of this at this moment.
Gulp... Hmm...
Does this count for me?
Regarding what Miko said, Kaito really did start to doubt himself a little.
After all, his body had been enhanced by the system. Did that count as a strange ability?
This probably shouldn't count...
After thinking for a moment, Kaito spoke up, "Miko, you're drunk. I don't have that many strange abilities."
Even though he already believed Miko was definitely drunk, Kaito still didn't say that sentence in a highly certain tone.
"Whatever, I can't beat you in a fight anyway."
After saying this, Miko directly poured herself some wine and downed it in one shot.
In response, Kaito didn't say anything either, simply continuing to drink with her.
Actually, Kaito originally wanted to eat something, but now he was already overly full just from drinking.
But it didn't matter; it was fine as long as Wendy was eating on her end. He could feel what she was eating on his end, and it didn't take up any space in his stomach.
"Kaito..."
Just as Kaito was silently drinking his wine, Miko, who was sitting across from him, called his name.
"What's wrong? Are you out of wine?"
For some reason, Kaito subconsciously asked this.
"You guy... all you think about is wine all day."
Kaito: "..."
Hearing these words from Miko, Kaito felt she was already drunk out of her mind.
After all, he usually didn't even drink, so where did she get the idea that he thought about wine all day?
But it didn't matter. Since Miko said so, he'd let it be. She probably wouldn't remember what she'd said once she sobered up anyway.
"Let me ask you a question..." Just as Kaito was about to silently accept it, Miko spoke up again, continuing, "Am I... pretty?"
"You're pretty. Very pretty."
Although Miko's question was a bit abrupt, Kaito answered quickly.
After all, in his eyes, Miko was indeed exceedingly beautiful; this was undeniable.
"Really?" Miko looked as though she didn't believe his words.
"Of course it's true."
Looking at Miko, Kaito nodded solemnly.
"Then is Wendy... or am I... prettier..." Immediately after, Miko asked this perplexing question.
He was very confused as to how this suddenly involved Wendy.
But it was actually just as well; if it were anyone else, like Lumine for instance, it would be genuinely hard for him to answer. However, when it came to Wendy, he didn't need to overthink it.
"It's you, of course. Wendy is more on the cute side."
After thinking it over, Kaito still added 'cute' as a descriptor for Wendy.
"Hmph! So I'm not cute?"
Miko seemed dissatisfied with merely being considered 'pretty'.
"As for you... you're more mature. Wendy hasn't matured yet."
After thinking for a moment, Kaito answered this way.
"Then when will she mature?"
Tilting her head in thought, Miko asked another question.
"This... will probably take a few years."
After a bit of consideration, Kaito stated it would take a few years.
Now, Kaito felt that the questions Miko was asking and the things she was saying were becoming increasingly arbitrary, as if she was just asking whatever came to mind.
"Then Mei... is already... already mature, right?"
"Yes." Kaito nodded quickly.
Right now, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was discussing whether certain fruits were ripe with Miko, rather than discussing actual people.
Lumine, sitting at the next table, felt similarly.
However, she was somewhat surprised; Miko hadn't asked to compare herself with Lumine, but had instead asked about Wendy.
Moreover, Wendy seemed completely unbothered by this, acting as if she hadn't heard a thing.
If Lumine were the one being used for comparison, she would definitely pay close attention to their subsequent conversation, but Wendy wasn't like that.
At this moment, Wendy was silently eating the snacks on the table and drinking from her cup, looking completely oblivious to what Kaito and Miko were saying.
She had to admit, she deeply admired Wendy's mindset.
"Why are you looking at me?"
At this moment, Wendy noticed Lumine staring at her, so she asked.
"It's nothing."
Seeing Wendy notice her, Lumine hastily averted her gaze and took a sip of her drink.
I wonder what Lumine is thinking about...
Is she thinking about matters regarding me?
Regarding Lumine's action of staring at her just now, Wendy silently pondered.
She figured it was probably because Miko and Kaito had mentioned her that Lumine looked over.
As for what Lumine was actually thinking, she had no idea.
"I'll go downstairs and get some food, we're almost out." Looking at the table and seeing there was hardly anything left to eat, Wendy decided to head down and bring up some more food.
After that, she stood up and walked toward the stairs.
Tavern ground floor.
Diluc...
Why does he always like to put on this expression all day long, as if someone owes him money?
As soon as she came down to the first floor, Wendy immediately spotted Diluc at the bar counter, and she walked straight toward him.
"Boss, send up some more snacks and beverages." Standing in front of the bar, Wendy said this directly to Diluc.
"Understood, valued customer."
Looking at the Anemo Archon in front of him, Diluc nodded expressionlessly.
The Anemo Archon isn't drinking alcohol?
Or perhaps...
He's fetching it for someone else?
Watching the Anemo Archon's retreating figure, Diluc couldn't help but wonder.
However, he didn't overthink it. After all, the Anemo Archon had nothing to do with him; right now, he just needed to fulfill his duties as the tavern owner.
As for everything else, why should he bother thinking so much about it?
"Oh? If it isn't Master Diluc? How rare... Get me a glass of wine, you know the one." Kaeya, halfway through his sentence, quickly stopped upon seeing Diluc's murderous glare and instead asked for a drink.
Afterward, he sat down on a stool in front of the bar.
"Isn't it your working hours right now? What? Can you Knights of Favonius drink while working now?"
Placing a glass of wine in front of Kaeya, Diluc made this slightly mocking remark.
"Haha, of course not." Picking up the glass and taking a shallow sip, Kaeya shook his head and said, "But isn't it quiet right now? As long as you don't say anything..."
"You'd better drop that false hope."
Diluc cut Kaeya off before he could even finish his sentence.
But he didn't say anything further after that, merely continuing to wipe the next glass.
"I heard the Anemo Archon has returned." A moment later, Kaeya spoke, though it was unclear if he was talking to himself or to Diluc.
"Right upstairs. You can go take a look anytime."
Still wiping the glass, Diluc replied without looking up.
"It sounds like there are quite a few people up there."
Showing no intention of standing up, Kaeya simply made this observation and then took another sip of wine from his glass.
"Could it be you're feeling shy?" Diluc mocked.
"Haha, of course not. I have thick skin."
Not feeling offended in the slightest, Kaeya declared his shamelessness.
Naturally, he wasn't afraid to go up out of shyness, but it would be quite inappropriate for him to just intrude like that. It would be troublesome if he accidentally overheard something he wasn't supposed to know.
Therefore, it was better for him to stay downstairs. Who knows, perhaps the Anemo Archon might need him to run an errand later.
"Indeed. Your skin has always been thick."
Pausing his movements for a second, Diluc completely agreed with Kaeya's assessment.
After all, from his perspective, Kaeya's skin was indeed overly thick.
And while the two of them were exchanging casual banter downstairs, Wendy had already returned from the first floor back to the second floor.
As for Miko, she was already slumped over the table, looking dead drunk and dead to the world.
Sigh...
Looks like it's time to take her back...
Looking at Miko slumped on the table in front of him, Kaito thought to himself silently.
If she hadn't gotten drunk, he didn't know what other strange questions she might have asked.
Afterward, Kaito slowly stood up.
"I'll take Miko back first." Saying this, Kaito walked over to Miko's side. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he looked toward Lumine and asked, "Do you want to head back to Liyue now, Lumine? If you do, I can take you back with me."
Because Kaito now possessed quite a bit of power, bringing a few people along with him at once posed no problem.
"There's no need. I'll just head back with Wendy later."
Glancing at Miko, Lumine stated it would be fine for her to return with Wendy later.
"Alright, then I'll be heading back first."
Nodding, Kaito directly scooped Miko up into his arms and instantly vanished from the spot.
So fast...
Watching this scene, Lumine couldn't help but think this.
There was no helping it; that was truly fast.
____
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