In truth, Jibril had never drunk alcohol, not a single drop.
At least, not when she was "Jibril."
She had spent some mora, secured the King-sized room, and logically after flirting a little more with Lumine, it should have been a wonderful night.
...So why on Teyvat did she end up here? And why... was he here too?!
"Here is your Apple Cider."
The red-haired youth calmly handed over the glass. The amber liquid swirled gently inside and slices of Apple still clung to the bubbles.
Although his movements were elegant and proper and his attire clearly extraordinary, that iceberg-like face was truly off-putting.
Jibril carefully took the glass. "Thank you... but I only ordered one."
"Oh, this one is mine." Diluc said in a completely flat tone. "Did you come alone?"
The Flügel nodded blankly. For some reason, she felt the awkwardness of being caught sneaking into a bar late at night by an elder.
She secretly glanced around—
Sure enough, many of the people were already huddled together, whispering as their gazes subtly sweeping toward this direction... It must be because he was just standing there... menacingly!!
Lumine, please save me!
"If you don't mind... why don't you sit down first?" Jibril asked as she calmed herself.
Diluc seemed to "smile" yet his lips remained completely still. "You jest."
He elegantly pulled back the oak chair and sat down, his leather gloves rubbing against the backrest with a faint sound.
"To receive an invitation from such a beautiful lady is naturally... my honor."
Diluc raised his glass to his lips, offered a slight nod to Jibril and the amber liquid slid down the glass wall into his mouth.
"One of Mondstadt's finest wines," Diluc said while shaking his glass and the ice cubes clinking crisply. "The aroma of Apple perfectly blends with the alcohol, utilizing the oldest brewing technique still in use."
"And of course, the Bartender is excellent too."
The Flügel hesitantly observed the bubbling liquid in the glass and then glanced at Diluc's calm, expressionless face. She brought the cup to her lips, taking a small sip but did not swallow.
Even though Jibril held the wine in her mouth without swallowing, she still faintly sensed the magical aspect of this Apple Cider.
That is, it had absolutely no taste of alcohol.
Or rather... It was pretty much just pure Apple Juice!
'Why does this Apple Cider have no taste of alcohol?'
[Idiot! Don't you realize what sort of body you have? I'll have to give you two bottles of water later!] The System's familiar retort exploded with a crackle of static.
Diluc finished half his drink and seeing the Flügel's dazed expression then suddenly asked her. "Is it not to your liking?"
Hearing Diluc's voice, Jibril froze, subconsciously swallowed the liquid in her mouth and parted her lips.
"...It's delicious! I was just, uh... savoring it?"
Jibril looked at his emotionless face, her fingers frantically twisting the hem of her skirt beneath the table. "Um, I still don't know your name?"
"Diluc Ragnvindr. You may just call me Diluc."
"Hello, Mr. Diluc, I'm Jibril~"
"You look like a nobleman, are you here to relax?" The Flügel pretended to be curious. "I feel like everyone's attention is drawn to you, Mr. Diluc..."
Diluc looked at the surrounding people. Indeed, many eyes were occasionally cast over here, but... unfortunately, he didn't think this group of drunks was interested in him.
"Miss Jibril... are you very interested in alcohol?"
The Flügel tilted her head slightly in confusion. "Why do you ask that?"
"To be frank, most of the people here are male." Diluc said as his finger tapped the table lightly making a crisp sound. "A young and beautiful lady like yourself appears less frequently than the Bards."
"Ah... I did hear that there would be a Bard performing tonight..."
Almost the instant Jibril mentioned the "Bard" she clearly caught a flash of impatience in Diluc's eyes.
...So, was he really going to pay off his debt by performing?
"...My apologies, that Bard is probably late... Hmm, that's unusual."
However, Jibril wasn't really paying much attention to the Anemo Archon anymore.
Although that Bard was going to have his gnosis ripped out in a few days, he and The Tsaritsa were consensual partners. Even La Signora was just one part of their little play, so why should she interfere?
What she was interested in now were those two big idiots wearing Fatui masks and wandering around the streets.
And also... "Mr. Diluc, do you have any bar snacks here?"
A gentle breeze surged above the Angel's Share, tenderly caressing it as if stroking its own child.
However, the flowing wind that enveloped Mondstadt tonight seemed to have lost a few degrees of its usual liveliness compared to the previous days.
Who exactly was that girl who blocked Dvalin?
Her power was so familiar yet her appearance was so strange.
Even searching through his own memory, he couldn't find a trace of her in the 2,600 years of flowing wind or even longer.
Thus, Barbatos stopped thinking.
He decided to have a drink first! Then, he would dedicate the most classic, beautiful, and greatest songs to the Bartender who didn't charge him and to the audience who came!
'Alright, what should I drink tonight! Apple Cider? Dandelion Wine? Or... huh!?'
The gentle breeze suddenly became fierce and a green silhouette appeared in the shadows of the alley.
Venti pushed open the tavern door. Before he could respond to Charles's greeting, his gaze swept across the hall, and he froze when he saw Jibril.
Hmm? Why did she come here by herself? Could it be... she came specifically to hear his performance?
While Venti was thinking, he suddenly noticed the young man sitting opposite the Flügel and immediately his muscles tensed up, as if facing a formidable enemy.
"Charles, Charles..." Venti quietly signaled the busy Bartender and instantly received a look of contempt.
"Trying to drink again?" The man crossed his arms over his chest. "Not just Dandelion Wine but Apple Cider is off-limits too."
"You haven't even paid for those ten bottles of Dandelion Wine from last time!"
"..."
----
"Hmm... Diluc, do you want some?"
Diluc silently shook his head as he watched the Flügel, who was shoveling meat into her own mouth while looking at him with a strange, expectant gaze.
The girl's image, it seemed, was... slightly different from what he had imagined.
But Jibril didn't feel that way, after all... this was simply too delicious!
It wasn't sold in the game and she certainly couldn't eat it herself. Only today did she realize that Angel's Share not only had good drinks, but also delicious food.
The firm meat was well-balanced between fat and lean, springy to the bite and not tough. The rich aroma of the premium marinade carried a suitable spicy flavor that tantalized the taste buds and was quite appetizing. Besides this, there seemed to be other ingredients... Unfortunately, Diluc had barely left, otherwise she truly wanted the System to get her two bottles of strong alcohol to try.
[T/L: Bruh now I'm hungry...]
Such premium ingredients, combined with that air of... heroic vigor! It made one unable to resist eating large mouthfuls of meat, drinking large gulps of alcohol and heartily shouting. "Damn it, that's good!"
Diluc looked at Jibril with some concern. "That's the third cup so far.... Are you really alright?"
"Of course... If you have work, then go ahead and attend to it. Thanks for the hospitality." Jibril nodded while tucking a few strands of hair behind her ear. "I'll stay a bit longer to wash away the flavor of the sauce with the taste of alcohol."
"What's wrong?"
"...I think I snuck out to eat alone behind my dear little sister's back but uh... she probably doesn't like alcohol...."
Paimon: If you call her a sister, what more is there to say?
"...Then I wish you a pleasant evening. I'm going to work the counter." Seeming to finally remember the struggling Charles, Diluc picked up his empty glass. "I'll have the waiter send you a sobering drink later."
"Mhm mhm... May your business flourish!"
However, just as she drank the fourth cup, a green figure rushed into her field of vision and stopped beside the table.
Seeing this, both turned their heads and were momentarily stunned when they recognized the newcomer.
"Hehe, Master Diluc and... this beautiful lady, good evening~"
"Good evening!"
Diluc frowned slightly. "This is the Bard performing in the tavern tonight, Venti."
"Thank you for the introduction, Master Diluc," Venti smiled at Diluc and gave a slight bow, his gaze immediately falling upon Jibril and the four glasses on her table.
"It's a bit crowded at the bar. Could I buy a drink from you? Miss..."
"Jibril. I'll treat you, don't be shy~"
The Anemo Archon buying drinks? Maybe when the Geo Archon starts carrying Mora... Seeing the Flügel's generous and selfless demeanor, Venti quickly thanked her, having long forgotten her dangerous appearance from earlier in the day and labeling her a "Good Person."
Slap—
"Ouch~"
Diluc coldly withdrew his hand, glancing at Venti, who was clutching his hand and staring at him pleadingly.
"Do not harass my guest. Go buy Dandelion Wine at the counter yourself!"
"...Pfft."