Chapter 143: Alice: Do You Want to Go to Inazuma with Me?
A big guy?
What's going on?
Amon instinctively looked in the direction Liben was pointing.
The next moment, he spotted a monster shaped like a Rubik's Cube.
It was the Cryo Hypostasis.
At that moment, the formless ice monster was rolling and rushing in Amon's direction.
The sheer force of the Cryo Hypostasis's movement caused the ground to quake violently with every roll.
The icy aura it emitted was anything but ordinary. It froze the entire reservoir solid, and even the surrounding flowers, plants, and trees were encased in ice.
Liben, who had never encountered such a situation before, stood paralyzed in fear.
In his mind, slimes were the most terrifying creatures in the world.
But now, after seeing the Hypostasis, Liben suddenly felt that compared to this giant monster—so large it blocked out the sun—the ice slimes were positively adorable.
As the Cryo Hypostasis drew closer, Liben's legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to the ground.
After all, he was just a merchant, without a Vision or any combat skills.
In desperation, he turned to Amon for help.
Amon, however, was baffled.
What is going on?
Isn't the Cryo Hypostasis supposed to be in the snowy mountains? Why is it here in Liyue?
But now wasn't the time to ponder these questions.
Amon readied himself for battle.
The Calamity Queller in his hand ignited once more, the flames burning brightly as he pointed the spear at the approaching Cryo Hypostasis.
However, to his surprise, the Cryo Hypostasis showed no signs of aggression.
Instead, it deliberately avoided him and sped up, rolling toward Sumeru.
In mere moments, it had disappeared from sight.
This left Amon utterly perplexed.
What is going on?
Why does it feel like the Cryo Hypostasis wasn't trying to fight but was running away instead?
As Amon replayed the events in his mind, he recalled a small red object attached to the Hypostasis.
Upon closer consideration, it was clear: it was a bomb.
(T/N: Alice is a menace.)
There was no doubt in Amon's mind—this was the handiwork of the infamous Witch Alice.
Alice had promised not to blow up the snowy mountain, but she hadn't said anything about leaving the formless ice monster alone.
The Cryo Hypostasis must have recognized the power of Alice's bomb.
Terrified, it abandoned its home and fled in fear.
The absurdity of the situation left Amon torn between laughter and disbelief.
No wonder chaos followed Alice wherever she went.
That witch was truly a force to be reckoned with.
Even a creature as powerful as the Cryo Hypostasis was terrified of her.
At that moment, Alice's cheerful voice called out from a short distance away:
"Amon! I didn't expect to see you here!"
"By the way, did you happen to see which direction the Cryo Hypostasis went?"
Alice crossed her arms, pouting in mock irritation.
"That guy was so rude! I just said hello, and before I could say another word, he ran away like a maniac."
"How rude! Do I really look that scary?"
She sighed dramatically. "Oh well, I've got plenty of experimental data to record. I'll deal with that Hypostasis later."
Pausing as if she remembered something, Alice pulled out two bombs.
"This is a new design I've been working on! How about you join me in testing them?"
She frowned slightly. "Mondstadt has been strict about bomb testing lately. And as for Liyue..."
Her gaze shifted to Ganyu, who stood silently nearby.
Incidentally, Alice and Ganyu were acquainted.
This was primarily because whenever Alice showed up in Liyue, Morax would closely monitor her, wary of her antics.
Over time, Ganyu and the others had grown familiar with Alice's presence.
Seeing Ganyu's disapproving shake of the head, Alice sighed and smiled wryly.
"It seems Liyue doesn't allow bomb testing either. What a headache!"
Suddenly, her eyes lit up.
"Ah! Let's head to Inazuma!"
"I haven't seen Yae in ages. It'll be great to catch up with her—and, of course, test these bombs!"
"Yes, that settles it. I'm going to Inazuma."
She turned her sparkling eyes toward Amon.
"Amon, do you want to come to Inazuma with me?"
"We can test the bombs together!"
Amon hesitated.
He had planned to visit Inazuma in a few days for the festival.
But testing bombs? That wasn't part of the plan.
This could end with me being blacklisted in Inazuma, he thought nervously.
But Alice, ever carefree, didn't seem concerned about such details.
As Amon tried to find a polite way to decline, he said, "Alice, I do plan to visit Inazuma, but not for—"
Before he could finish, Alice grinned and clapped her hands.
"Great! It's settled then. See you in Inazuma!"
"I should have a few new bombs ready by then."
Alice's enthusiasm was infectious. For her, nothing was more thrilling than creating and testing bombs.
After a brief conversation, Alice headed back to the snowy mountains for more experiments.
Meanwhile, Liben bid Amon farewell and resumed his journey to Mondstadt.
With everything finally resolved, Amon let out a long sigh of relief.
He opened the Gacha pool.
Chapter 144: Gacha!!!
Amon had no intention of hoarding the three intertwined fates gifted to him by his good brother, Liben. Instead, he decided to use them all at once.
The first draw resulted in a blue sky and a matching blue shimmer.
It was Amon's crystal monocle. Strangely, everyone who met him always assumed he had been wearing one since they first saw him.
The second draw revealed itself when the light faded. What appeared before him was food: "Delicious Tri-Color Dango."
If Amon remembered correctly, tri-color dango was Raiden Shogun's favorite food.
The tri-color dango drawn from the system's pool wasn't just delicious; it also had the effect of resisting the Erosion of Time.
If I visit Inazuma in the future, Amon thought, I can ask General Raiden to taste it.
Then, Amon made his third draw.
This time, he was lucky. A purple light appeared, signaling a high-tier item.
The item turned out to be a decorative hairpin that increased lightning-elemental damage when worn.
However, Amon, being a grown man, couldn't wear a hairpin without it looking odd.
But it would be perfect for Keqing.
As everyone knew, Keqing had both remarkable beauty and incredible damage potential.
Master Ke, who had spent her life scraping together resources, certainly deserved some improvement.
Without hesitation, Amon made a fourth draw.
A blue light descended from the sky. At first, Amon thought it was just another simple pull.
But as he watched, the light transformed into a dazzling golden glow.
It was none other than Raiden Shogun's Musou no Hitotachi.
This was one of the three major Elemental Burst skills in the game.
In gameplay, Raiden Shogun was extremely popular in the Spiral Abyss, thanks to the synergy she brought to the national team composition.
In the lore, her Musou no Hitotachi symbolized the ultimate martial art—a technique that revealed the truth of dreams.
On the Inazuma map, there was a place called Maguu Kenki, which had been shaped by Raiden Shogun's battle when she slew Orobashi.
Although Amon couldn't yet match Raiden Shogun's immense power, he was confident that with this new ability, splitting a mountain with one strike would be possible.
Of course, it was worth mentioning a minor detail:
In the game, Raiden Shogun's sword-drawing pose was... unique.
Amon couldn't replicate her technique.
(T/N: Of course, dipshit! You don't have boobs!)
He could only draw his sword in the traditional way—from its scabbard.
Still, he mused, If there's ever an opportunity, I'd love to discuss sword-drawing techniques with Raiden Shogun.
After finishing his four draws, Amon exited the gacha interface. He wore the monocle as though it were part of his body, then followed Ganyu back to Liyue.
---
When Amon entered the kitchen to check on things, he noticed the water supply had returned to normal.
Not only that, but Ningguang and Ayaka—both wearing aprons—were busy cooking with utmost seriousness.
When they couldn't quite reach something, they would tiptoe with determination.
It was an incredibly adorable sight.
Shen He, Qiqi, and Beidou, who didn't know how to cook, stood nearby, doing their best to help.
The little ones had considered how hard it was for Amon to cook for them every day.
So, this time, they decided to take the initiative and prepare a meal for him.
Kamisato Ayato offered to help, but Ayaka politely declined and asked him to sit outside.
Ayato, slightly touched by her gesture, thought, Little Ayaka has grown up and is starting to care for others.
But Ayaka quickly corrected him, explaining that the meal was specifically for Brother Amon.
If Ayato helped, the sentiment wouldn't be pure.
These words left Kamisato Ayato feeling a bit hurt.
He was starting to suspect that Amon might actually be Ayaka's biological brother.
---
The little girls eagerly ran about the kitchen.
Ayaka, as usual, focused on desserts but also prepared a unique soup from Inazuma to accompany the meal.
Ningguang, on the other hand, cooked her specialties: grilled fish and meat.
Ayaka's desserts had been improving steadily, thanks to her persistent efforts and Amon's encouragement.
As for Ningguang, her background growing up in poverty had taught her how to cook exceptionally well.
In fact, in the game lore, Ningguang had started her journey by selling grilled fish.
The other girls took on various responsibilities, creating a lively and aromatic kitchen scene.
The aroma wafting from the food filled the room, making Amon sigh in appreciation.
"It smells amazing. You've all worked so hard," he said warmly.
Watching the little ones cook so earnestly touched Amon's heart.
This is one of the joys of raising children, he thought. Watching them grow up step by step.
Hearing his voice, the girls turned to him simultaneously.
Their chorus of baby voices called out, "Brother!"
Shen He brought the food to the table and gently said, "Brother Amon, the food is ready. Please eat."
Beidou grabbed Amon's bowl, adding, "Brother Amon, let me serve you some rice."
Little Ayaka blinked her big eyes and asked excitedly, "Brother Amon, how do you like today's dessert? Is it to your taste? And this soup—please have more."
Qiqi held up a bottle and said in her quiet voice, "Amon... eat more... eating is good for your health..."
Ningguang, meanwhile, continued piling food into Amon's bowl.
"Brother Amon, you've worked so hard lately. Please eat more!"
Before long, Amon's bowl was overflowing with food, with dessert and soup neatly arranged on the side.
He couldn't help but laugh.
All he had to do was sit at the table while the little girls took care of everything for him.
Looking at their caring faces, Amon felt all his exhaustion melt away.
There was a saying that daughters are their father's little cotton-padded jackets.
For Amon, he felt as though he were wearing multiple cotton-padded jackets, wrapped snugly and warmly from head to toe.
It warmed his heart completely.
Chapter 145: Why Not Go to Inazuma Next?
In Mondstadt, inside a bustling restaurant, the bard Venti pushed open the door and walked in. Spotting some familiar faces, he casually took a seat at their table.
Sitting across from Venti were three individuals: two men and one woman.
The woman was exceptionally beautiful, her lively and intelligent eyes sparkling with energy. She had a sweet smile and an equally pleasant voice.
As for the two men:
One wore glasses and often folded his arms across his chest, giving off a somewhat silly impression.
The other man sipped from a teacup in silence, exuding the aura of a serious and old-fashioned individual.
These three were Guizhong, Azdaha, and Zhongli.
Venti greeted them cheerfully, "How are you enjoying Mondstadt?"
Azdaha, seated opposite him, spoke up first: "Mondstadt's specialties taste great, and the prices are quite reasonable. My impression is that the food here is both delicious and affordable."
Guizhong smiled, taking out some flower specimens she had crafted herself. "Liyue doesn't have dandelions or windwheel asters. These flowers are truly beautiful," she said with a chuckle.
Finally, Zhongli chimed in.
Setting down his teacup, he nodded slightly. "It's not bad. Since stepping down from my position, I feel more relaxed than I've been in centuries."
Venti laughed heartily. "See, Morax? I told you long ago.
"It's fun to slack off for a while, and even more fun to slack off all the time.
"You didn't believe me back then, but now you've come around, haven't you?"
Zhongli didn't respond, instead picking up his teacup and sipping thoughtfully.
Venti, accustomed to Zhongli's stoic and stone-like demeanor, simply shrugged.
"So," Venti continued, "where are you headed next? Are you going back to Liyue, or do you plan to visit other cities?"
In response, Zhongli glanced at Guizhong and Azdaha.
Azdaha grinned and scratched his head. "Honestly, it doesn't matter to me where we go. As long as there's enough food, I'm happy."
For Azdaha, life revolved around two things:
Following Morax and eating rice.
Guizhong, holding onto Zhongli's arm, chimed in happily, "If it were up to me, I'd choose to explore the outside world.
"I've stayed in Liyue for far too long—it's time for a change of scenery.
"Of course, it all depends on Morax. Wherever he is, I'll be there!" she added with a playful smile.
Hearing this, Zhongli set down his teacup and replied softly, "You're free to decide these things."
Guizhong's eyes lit up, and she hugged Zhongli's arm even tighter.
"In that case, let's visit other cities. Now, where should we go next..."
At this point, Venti interjected with a suggestion. "Why not go to Inazuma?"
"Inazuma's a wonderful place! I've heard they have some excellent wines there, hehe."
Guizhong nodded in agreement. "Inazuma does sound like a good tourist destination.
"And I've heard they're hosting a festival soon. It should be quite lively."
Azdaha and Zhongli, however, showed little interest in the festival.
For them, it was simply a matter of going on vacation.
Venti grinned mischievously. "See? Inazuma is the perfect choice.
"So it's settled—we'll head to Inazuma next!"
Azdaha raised an eyebrow and asked, "We? Barbatos, are you coming along too?"
Azdaha exclaimed, "What a clever guy you are!"
Barbatos truly had a knack for freeloading.
Before anyone realized it, "you" had seamlessly turned into "us."
If I could master this skill, Azdaha mused, I'd never have to worry about where my next meal is coming from.
Zhongli remained calm, entirely unfazed by Venti's antics.
Meanwhile, Venti scratched his head, utterly unembarrassed.
Smiling, he explained, "Aren't you worried about not having a guide? I'm very familiar with Inazuma and can show you around."
"But those details can wait. Let's eat first!
"Boss, bring a bottle of cider!"
Zhongli nodded slightly, as if agreeing with Barbatos's carefree attitude.
At that moment, the restaurant owner arrived with the wine and politely asked, "Who will be paying the bill?"
It was a rather awkward question to ask at this point, but the boss had little choice.
Venti's reputation in Mondstadt was notoriously bad when it came to paying his tabs.
The owner feared he wouldn't get paid this time, either.
Guizhong and Azdaha were engrossed in their own quiet conversation, leaving no one to answer immediately.
Venti looked at Zhongli. Zhongli, in turn, looked at Venti.
The two gods stared at each other in silence.
"Morax, don't tell me you don't have any money?"
"Barbatos, you're one to talk—you don't have any money either!"
Neither deity had even a single Mora on them.
"Well..." Venti began awkwardly, "Boss, how about we sing a song to cover the bill?"
"No? Then do you need someone to wash dishes? Oh, you don't need that either..."
"Oh well, I can't handle my alcohol anyway," Venti muttered under his breath.
...
---
Chapter 146: The Young Man with a Spear
Now, let's talk about Amon.
After dinner, Amon was pondering how to resolve Kamisato Ayato's accommodation issue.
Kamisato Ayato, being particular about family rules, felt embarrassed to stay at Amon's house, so he chose to stay at Yu Jin's hotel next door.
As for little Ayaka, she didn't want to be separated from Amon, so her bedroom was arranged right next to his room.
In her own words, she wanted to see Brother Amon first thing every morning when she opened her eyes.
After completing the check-in procedures for Kamisato Ayato, Ayaka enthusiastically said, "Brother Amon, shall we go to the night market in Liyue?"
"Brother, now that you've finally come to Liyue, it would be a shame not to explore the sights and experience the interesting things here."
Although little Ayaka's heart was filled with affection for Amon,
she still cared about Kamisato Ayato at times,
after all, he was her brother.
It wasn't possible to truly ignore him,
and this consideration touched Ayato's heart a little.
The little girl had finally learned to appreciate her brother, even taking him to the night market.
However, Kamisato Ayato's happiness was short-lived.
The next moment, he heard Ayaka cheerfully say, "Brother Amon, my brother is very rich, so we can just have him pay for everything later~"
Kamisato Ayato: ???
So, he was not just accompanying them to the night market?
He was also expected to act as their wallet?
How could there be a sister who would betray her brother like this?
What a misfortune...
Although it stung, Kamisato Ayato still agreed.
After all, Kamisato Ayaka was his biological sister;
it was reasonable for him to pay for her.
And as for Amon, who had taken care of Kamisato Ayaka and helped the Kamisato family,
there was no issue with treating him as well.
However, Amon simply smiled and shook his head when he heard this. "Little Ayaka, you said your brother finally came to Liyue—how could I let him spend money?"
"Let me handle tonight's expenses."
Why let others handle such matters when he could take care of them himself?
Amon was the first to disagree!
Seeing Amon's firm attitude, Kamisato Ayato's perspective shifted once more.
Mr. Amon is truly a generous man.
To sum it up in two words: good character.
...
Soon, Amon took the Kamisato siblings to explore Liyue's night market.
The night market is undoubtedly one of Liyue's most prominent attractions.
Every evening, the streets of Liyue light up with a dazzling array of vibrant colors.
Little Ayaka wandered through the night market with a carefree, radiant smile on her face.
Seeing her joy, Kamisato Ayato seemed to understand something.
At the Kamisato estate, Ayaka would smile, but it was never this unrestrained or genuine.
No wonder the little girl always yearned to visit Liyue.
Here, she wasn't the Kamisato family's princess bound by strict etiquette;
she was just a normal girl named Ayaka.
Perhaps, a simple and happy life was what Kamisato Ayaka truly desired.
Witnessing this, Kamisato Ayato made a decision.
From now on, he would bear the responsibilities of the Kamisato family alone.
All his efforts would be to ensure Ayaka could live a carefree and joyous life.
...
Amon silently accompanied Kamisato Ayaka.
Suddenly, he felt someone watching him.
He instinctively looked up and saw a young man holding a spear, standing quietly on the mountain.
It was the Conqueror of Demons, Xiao.
Since Amon had given him medicine the last time, combined with Venti's flute playing that cleansed his heart,
Xiao hadn't appeared in Amon's life for quite a while.
Now, Xiao reappeared, wearing his Yaksha mask and standing in a combat stance.
This gave Amon an uneasy feeling.
He asked Kamisato Ayato to look after Ayaka, then quickly approached Xiao.
Xiao gazed at Amon and got straight to the point: "The seal of Osial has loosened. I can feel it."
Osial,
the Demon of the Vortex,
was a demon god sealed at the bottom of the sea by Morax.
His strength was not to be underestimated.
In the original story, even the combined efforts of the Liyue Qixing and all the Adepti failed to re-seal Osial.
In the end, Ningguang destroyed the Jade Chamber to finally seal him again.
This demonstrated how formidable the vortex demon was.
Amon didn't know why Osial's seal had weakened, but now wasn't the time to dwell on it.
The priority was to seal Osial again.
...