"Then... would you mind if I came back to drink here? I quite like this Bar. But a magical place like this must have some requirements for patrons, right?" Eula asked.
Moreover, the owner's objective perspective was refreshingly novel to her.
Drinking was a habit of Mondstadt people, Eula was no exception, but she never enjoyed crowded Bars. After all, being constantly stared at with hostile, exclusionary gazes made even drinking unpleasant.
And now that she knew this Bar existed outside Mondstadt, it felt as though a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
Eula never spoke of such pressures to others, but that didn't mean they didn't exist.
A mystical Bar like this surely had some entry requirements. She couldn't believe it was open to just anyone.
[Ding! New commission received!]
[Eula's Bar]
Reward: 50 Primogems + Random Weapon
Difficulty: 2-stars
"Of course, you're always welcome." Chen Luo smiled warmly at her.
"...Thank you."
It was supposed to be her happy moment, yet the owner seemed even more delighted than she was.
How strange...
For someone who had always been met with scornful looks, this unfamiliar sense of being wanted left Eula feeling complicated.
Hmph. Trying to catch me off guard and embarrass me, are you?
Vengeance will be mine!
[Ding! Mission Complete]
[Obtained: Claymore (Bloodtainted Greatsword)]
"..."
"Uh... Manager, why are you staring at me like that?" Eula shifted uncomfortably under Chen Luo's intense gaze.
It wasn't the staring itself that bothered her—she was used to contemptuous, mocking, and disdainful looks every day. But Chen Luo's expression was... different.
She had almost called him "A'Luo" instinctively, but the intimacy of the nickname made her hesitate.
"Eula, have you ever heard of the Bloodtainted Greatsword?"
"No." She shook her head.
"What about the Royal Greatsword?"
"That one I know. My family owns one."
"And Song of Broken Pines?"
"That's my sword. Why? Interested?"
"Nope, not at all."
"Then why ask?"
"I was just thinking..."
Why, out of all possible greatswords, did I get this one?
Not that it was bad, but...
[Bloodtainted Greatsword]
A greatsword said to have been bathed in dragon blood by the northern hero, granting it indestructible might... though this protection does not extend to its wielder.
Effect: Deals +50% damage to dragonkin and applies a suppression effect.
Where the hell am I supposed to find dragon-attribute creatures?
Stormterror?
Though the ability seemed different from the game's version.
Somehow, the adjusted attributes made the sword both stronger and... weirder.
And now that he had this sword...
[Dull Blade], [Thrilling Tales of Dragon Slayers], [Elfin Bow], [Bloodtainted Greatsword]—just one polearm away from completing the Genshin Impact weapon collection.
"Hey, Eula, how about a handshake? As a token of friendship?" Chen Luo extended his hand.
"Friendship? You're a strange one. Vengeance will be mine." Despite her words, she shook his hand, sensing his sincerity.
For Eula, making even an ordinary friend so easily was an entirely new experience.
It couldn't compare to her bond with Amber, but casual friendships were rare for her.
In Eula's world, people fell into three categories:
Amber (and a very few others)
Those who weren't outright hostile
Everyone else
Now, there was a fourth: ordinary friends.
[Claymore Mastery]
[Cryo Vision]
(22% discount)
Man, Eula really has no friends, huh?
Venti's initial discount was 20%, now 25%. Yet Eula started at 22%.
Those two skills were the most worthwhile purchases from her.
As for [Favonius Bladework - Edel], forget it. Her sword dance fused with ritual movements wasn't suited for men—at least, not in Chen Luo's opinion.
But he wasn't done with her yet. A new guest meant fresh opportunities to farm commissions.
Leaning on the counter, Chen Luo stared blankly at Eula, lost in thought.
How the hell does she even put that outfit on?
The most covered-up yet inexplicably alluring woman in Genshin Impact.
"...What are you looking at?" Eula finally asked, unnerved.
"I was just wondering—does your Reconnaissance Company spend all its time wandering outside the city?"
"'Wandering' makes it sound like we're vagrants. We have duties—pursuing monsters and the Abyss Order beyond Mondstadt and we rarely return to Mondstadt." She took a sip of wine.
"Today was supposed to be a rare break for a drink, but then this bard dragged me into some obscure alley. I thought it was a prank at first, but I didn't expect him to actually bring me to a magical Bar."
Had she refused to follow, would she have never discovered this place?
"You like drinking, then?"
"A better question: Is there anyone in Mondstadt who doesn't? Though not strong liquor. Snezhnayan firewater is too much for us."
Legend has it that Master Diluc once attempted to partner with Snezhnayan brewers, only to black out after a single bottle at the tasting. He canceled the deal the moment he sobered up.
"Then... would you like to try a wine brewed from the Anemo Archon?" Hearing Eula likes to drink, Chen Luo finally bared his fangs.
What kind of Mondstadtian would pass up Barbatos' own brew?
"T-The Anemo Archon? Lord Barbatos?!" Even Eula—a sinner's descendant, a knight who defied conventions—was stunned.
Mondstadtians revered their god deeply. The Church wasn't alone in this; even common folk held unwavering faith. As did most nations toward their respective archons.
As for the Raiden Shogun - that scumbag deity who provoked rebellion through her special decrees - well, she's clearly an exception that need not be discussed further.
In any case, the people of Mondstadt have always loved and worshipped Lord Barbatos, the Anemo Archon - even Eula is no exception.
One can only wonder how her illusions would shatter if she knew the drunken bard sitting beside her was actually Barbatos himself.
"You've misunderstood. The 'Anemo Archon' I mentioned isn't the one you're imagining. It's more of a concept - like wine brewed from the wind itself, a special product of sorts," Chen Luo explained.
"Though if you really want, I could indeed let you experience what wine made from Barbatos would taste like. This is truly universal wine that can mimic any flavor, even those you've never tasted before," Chen Luo said earnestly.
"..." Eula stared at the clear, water-like liquor that had somehow appeared in Chen Luo's hand, her emotions in turmoil.
Though she was a descendant of sinners who constantly sought vengeance against the Knights of Favonius, drinking wine made from the Anemo Archon still felt far too blasphemous.
"Don't worry, Lord Barbatos will forgive you after you drink it. I guarantee," Chen Luo patted his chest confidently.
"He absolutely will not!" Venti, who had been looking horrified this whole time, finally exploded.
While this wine wasn't actually made from him, it could perfectly replicate the taste as if it were.
"A'Luo, are you never going to stop? Can't you find some other way to exploit people? Stop obsessing over your damn 'wine made from archons'!" Venti ranted furiously.
He had thought bringing Eula here would free him from Chen Luo's schemes as a successful customer referral, but instead Chen Luo had only grown more deranged.
"Well, if you don't like the Anemo Archon version, I also have wine made from the Geo Archon. Though the taste might not be as good," Chen Luo muttered.
"I'll drink that!" Venti's eyes immediately lit up.
[Ding! New commission received!]
[Wine Made From the Geo Archon]: The Anemo Archon wants to drink wine made from the Geo Archon. Satisfy him!
Reward: 80 Primogems + random item.
"...No problem." Though Chen Luo desperately wanted to comment on how quickly Venti had accepted the concept of "wine made from the Geo Archon," the promise of Primogems made him wisely keep his mouth shut.
Eula, meanwhile, was staring at this blasphemous youth in shock.
While drinking wine made from the Geo Archon didn't technically violate Mondstadt beliefs, his eagerness still felt... off.
"Spindrift Knight, you should try some too," Venti suggested to Eula.
"Then... I'll have a glass of the wine made from the Anemo Archon," Eula said after seeing Venti's encouraging look, finally making up her mind despite how strange it felt to drink deity-made wine.
"!!!" Venti gaped at this rebellious girl.
Damn it, I was telling you to drink the Geo Archon wine! How did you... Fine, you win.
Just wait - tomorrow I'm definitely turning your family history into a ballad and singing it a thousand times!
A fuming Venti made this resolution.
[Ding! New commission received!]
[Wine Made From the Anemo Archon]: Under the (mistaken) encouragement of the Anemo Archon, the knight who believes in him has decided to try wine made from the Anemo Archon.
Reward: 80 Primogems + random item.
This was truly...
Chen Luo had no intention of clearing up the misunderstanding between Venti and Eula. As long as he got Primogems, all was well.
Since neither wine could actually be produced and had to be substituted with Void Wine, the "brewing" process was remarkably quick. Within seconds, two glasses were placed before them.
Faced with one cyan and one golden glass of wine, both drinkers fell into deep contemplation rather than their usual enthusiastic chugging.
Though they had ordered the drinks, whether and how to consume them became a serious dilemma.
"Drink up! What are you waiting for?" Chen Luo urged.
The commissions required them to actually drink the wine for him to get his rewards.
Chen Luo decided that even if they refused, he'd force-feed it to them if necessary.
"Ding!"
"Hmm? New customers? Oh, boss and I'm here too." Mona pushed open the door to see the two sitting at the bar in deep thought.
[Ding! New commission received!]
"What would you like to eat today?" Chen Luo asked Mona with unusual gentleness.
He had to be nice - Mona was truly well-behaved, coming daily to deliver Primogems and being incredibly easy to please.
"Hmm, let's go with deluxe Yangzhou fried rice then. I've been eating too much meat lately - time for some vegetables," Mona said blissfully.
What a luxurious problem to have.
If she didn't watch her figure soon, she might actually gain weight.
The night before discovering this Bar, Mona had been worrying about starving to death. Now she was fretting over potential weight gain from daily feasts.
The owner is truly godlike!
I absolutely adore the owner!
"I think you should order some meat dishes too. Having vegetarian meals twice in a row would lack nutrition, and your next meal will be tomorrow morning - who eats heavy meat dishes for breakfast? That'd be too greasy," Chen Luo said with concern.
For a regular Primogem-provider like Mona, Chen Luo would naturally be all smiles, even worrying about her health and nutritional balance.
"Mmm, I'll leave it all to you then, owner," Mona nodded, completely trusting Chen Luo's judgment.
Mona wasn't some naive girl who trusted easily - she had used hydromancy to divine that she could safely trust this owner, that he meant her no harm and would consider her best interests.
Ah, where else could you find an owner like this?
May this Bar never go out of business!
"What are you two doing? Not drinking when you have wine in front of you - that's not like you, Venti," Mona remarked curiously from her seat at the bar.
"Ah... yes. I suppose it's time to drink," Venti said with complicated emotions, staring at the golden-hued liquor before him.
"Well then... cheers," Venti raised his glass to Eula.
He silently mourned for whatever version of the Anemo Archon this represented, knowing full well how absurd this was despite the wine being fake.
"Cheers," Eula also raised her glass.
[Ding! Mission Complete]
[Obtained Skill: Divine Archery]
[Ding! Mission Complete]
[Obtained Item: Maiden's Bone Whistle]
Looking at his newly acquired skill and item, Chen Luo silently gave Mona a thumbs up in his heart.
This is why I've treated you so well all along - what perfect timing for your assist!
Especially that [Divine Archery] skill - it would be incredibly useful for him.