Evening. Eula dragged her exhausted body back to Su Bai's place. Recently, for some unknown reason, the Abyss Mages and Hilichurls in the wilds had been exceptionally active. While patrolling the coastline, she had encountered three whole waves of Abyss Mages and Mitachurls. To protect her squad members, Eula had to stay fully alert dealing with these monsters.
"I'm back, Sister Miko. What delicious food did you make tonight?"
Eula set down her Sacrificial Greatsword and headed toward the kitchen. The kitchen was cold and empty, without a trace of cooking. Lifting the pot lid, Eula saw the usual container for leftovers was also bare. Eula's heart sank. It seemed Sister Miko hadn't saved her any food.
'As expected... as a descendant of sinners, even Sister Miko doesn't want much to do with me... I'm used to it by now, so why does my heart still hurt so much?'
"Oh my, little one, you're finally back! We've all been waiting for you."
"We're going to a banquet at the Angel's Share tonight. I heard from Little Bai that the tavern owner seems quite wealthy, so I didn't prepare anything to eat. We'll just eat more once we get there."
"Ever since Inazuma's lockdown, Mondstadt cuisine and ingredients have become so rare back home."
Hearing the door open downstairs, Yae Miko came down to find Eula standing dazedly by the stove, lost in thought. The keen kitsune immediately guessed what was going through Eula's mind.
Considering Eula's tsundere personality, if she pointed it out directly, the girl would probably explode. It wouldn't do for the little one to get embarrassed and angry.
"The Angel's Share? Banquet? I haven't heard anything about this."
"I wouldn't know. That knight named Kaeya came by this morning to notify us."
Eula looked questioningly at Yae Miko. Yae Miko spread her hands—when Kaeya came with the notification, she hadn't asked many questions either. A free dinner was nothing to complain about; why inquire further?
Eula thought it over. Maybe the Knights had decided on this suddenly today. She had been out since early morning—it made sense she hadn't received news about the banquet while outside Mondstadt.
"Sister Miko, the miko outfit you made for Klee fits her perfectly. Little Klee looks just as adorable in it."
"Ara~ ara~, little Klee really does suit miko attire. This cute sight is almost comparable to Little Bai when he was young."
Seeing Klee dressed as a miko brought back memories for Yae Miko. She recalled Su Bai as a child wearing a miko outfit—just as adorable as little Klee before her. Su Bai covered his face. 'Some memories are better left buried.'
When six-year-old Su Bai first arrived in Inazuma, his clothes were filthy. The Grand Narukami Shrine had no young boy's clothing at the time. After searching everywhere, the only thing they found was a small-sized miko outfit.
He never knew if Yae Miko did it on purpose, but after he bathed, his original clothes were taken away to be washed. The only thing available to wear was that tiny miko outfit.
In the following days, all sorts of rumors spread like wildfire—that Guji Yae had a daughter, that Guji Yae's little sister was petite and adorable. The most ridiculous was when little girls visiting the shrine with their parents actually gave little Su Bai several hair clips. Little Su Bai was completely dumbfounded.
If not for Hanachirusato later taking him to get proper clothes made, who knows how long he would have worn that miko outfit. Even now, thinking about it brought back traumatic memories.
"Sister Miko, you were so cruel to me back then. Doesn't your conscience hurt?"
"Oh my, Little Bai, what are you talking about? I can't quite understand~"
Yae Miko crouched down to straighten Klee's miko outfit. She had originally wanted to give Klee a miko's gohei, but Su Bai had apparently made one for Klee while she was downstairs. Only... this gohei looked rather strange.
(T/N: Gohei are wooden wands decorated with two shide (zigzagging paper streamers) used in Shinto rituals.)
As one of the standard tools for miko, gohei came in many versions and sizes. But she had never seen one like this—a wooden stick with a string of miniature Jumpy Dumpties attached.
Anyone unaware this was supposed to be a gohei would never recognize it as such. If this kind of gohei appeared and spread throughout Inazuma, shrines would need renovations every few days.
"What are you looking at me for? Sister Miko, you always wave your gohei around when attacking enemies. I just wanted Klee to better fit the miko image."
"That's just my habit. Don't you dare bring this gohei to Inazuma. The annual funding for the Grand Narukami Shrine is already tight enough. If you brought this thing to the shrine, those young miko would blast a hole right through it."
Yae Miko's words sparked an idea in Su Bai. What if they replaced the Jumpy Dumpties with special fireworks that sprayed sparks, then tied them to sticks? This kind of safe, child-pleasing trinket could probably sell quite well.
(A/N: Where I'm from, we call these "sparklers"—two bucks a stick. During New Year's, I even conned two sticks from my six-year-old uncle. Pretty fun, actually. But when he realized what happened, he told my mom. Got scolded and had to pay him back... He's my elder, technically—why did I get in trouble?! Is there no justice?! Is there no law?!)
Hu Tao was always complaining that the meager Mora the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor had saved up was being drained by Zhongli. When he returned to Liyue, maybe he could share this idea with her. Perhaps Wangsheng could branch out into fireworks sales.
Grrrrrrr~
A protesting growl interrupted Su Bai and Yae Miko's conversation. Eula blushed slightly, rubbing her stomach. From morning until now, she had only eaten two bowls of Bone Broth Noodles. After a full day of combat, her stomach had long since emptied.
"Let's go. Today we're going to rinse Diluc—opportunities like this don't come often."
"I heard people outside saying the Knights of Favonius get free drinks tonight. Eula, you'll have to recommend some expensive wines for me. It doesn't matter if they taste good—just make them pricey."
"Haha, deal. I remember the Angel's Share keeps many good wines not on display. Once we get there, I'll order a few bottles directly."
Eula licked her lips. Recently, the Lawrence Clan had been acting strange. After seeing her uncle embracing some man, thoroughly disgusted, Eula couldn't bear to dirty her eyes further. She hadn't returned home in days, and naturally, the Mora in her pocket had dwindled.
In the past, she used to go to the Cat's Tail for Diona's special blends. Now whenever she craved a drink, she could only afford cheap apple cider from the Angel's Share.
With such a golden opportunity, wasn't it reasonable to freeload some of Diluc's fine wine? After all the Mora she'd spent at the Angel's Share over the years, Diluc couldn't possibly be that stingy.
"Let's go, let's go. Any later and Diluc and the others will be waiting."
"Oh, and Klee—be careful not to let Acting Grand Master Jean spot your gohei. Otherwise, you might end up in solitary confinement again."