Genshin Impact: I'm a Slime

Outside the cathedral, Famas was perched on Venti's green hat, munching on a sunsettia.

The fruit had been given to him by Venti, who had probably picked it from a sunsettia tree outside and kept it hidden to share with him.

"Are they still not out yet?"

Famas muttered softly, the sunsettia in his hand almost finished.

"Let's wait a bit longer. There's no commotion inside, so they probably haven't been discovered, right?"

Just as Famas was about to ask Venti if he had any more snacks, two figures came sprinting out of the cathedral's main entrance.

"Looks like they succeeded."

Venti smiled slightly, tossing the sunsettia seed behind him. A gentle breeze carried the seed to the soil outside Mondstadt.

"Me too."

Famas waved his little Slime hand and casually threw his seed on the ground.

Venti controlled the wind, carrying Famas's seed outside the city as well.

"Stop those thieves! And their accomplices!"

While Famas and Venti were littering, Lumine and Paimon had already rushed out of the Favonius Cathedral, chased by three Knights of Favonius guards.

"Follow me!"

Venti shouted, and Famas jumped onto his shoulder.

A gust of wind rose from Venti's feet, enveloping him and Famas.

"Use your Wind Gliders!"

Venti summoned a sandy gust of wind, blowing it toward the pursuers behind Lumine.

A pair of red-and-white Wind Gliders unfolded—Lumine and Paimon.

Famas clung to Venti's shoulder, looking back.

"With such distinctive Wind Gliders, who wouldn't recognize them?"

The group glided away, escaping to the Angel's Share tavern.

Behind the tavern's bar stood a figure with fiery red hair.

Dressed in a black noble-style robe, his equally fiery red eyes exuded a maturity beyond his years.

"Boss, we… need a slightly more discreet spot!"

Diluc was cleaning a glass, glancing slightly at the two hurried figures and the two "mascots" hanging off them. He replied expressionlessly, "If you want discretion, the second floor is less crowded. But aren't you a bard? Why not choose a livelier spot?"

"Ahaha, the performance can wait. We'll head upstairs now. See you later!"

Venti and Lumine hurriedly made their way to the second floor.

As they fled upstairs, Diluc set down his glass. With a bang, the tavern door was flung open again by two reckless guards.

"Ah, Master Diluc, have you seen those two thieves?"

"What's going on? Why are so many people mobilized?"

Diluc frowned, seemingly annoyed by the guards' rudeness.

"Master Diluc hasn't heard? Two thieves actually tried to steal the Holy Lyre der Himmel!"

"Oh? How peculiar."

Diluc's frown eased as he pulled out a bottle of Dandelion Wine from under the bar.

"Right? The Holy Lyre is a treasure personally played by the Anemo Archon himself. Such a precious item…"

"To think someone would be foolish enough to steal something that can't even be sold. They'd have been better off raiding my wine cellar."

A glass was placed on the bar by another bartender, and Diluc slowly poured the delicious Dandelion Wine into it.

"Sorry for digressing. Those two, one in yellow and one in green, seemed to have gone that way."

Diluc casually pointed in a direction, and the two guards nodded, hastily thanking the red-haired man before rushing off.

After the guards left, Venti and Lumine came downstairs and stood in front of the bar.

"Ah, Dawn Winery's Dandelion Wine. Is this for me?"

Before Diluc could answer, Venti grabbed the glass of fine wine on the dark wooden bar and downed it in one go.

"Ah…"

"So good!"

Venti wore a satisfied smile as he looked at Diluc. A few seconds later, his round little face turned red, complementing his teal hair and dark blue braids, making him look irresistibly cute.

"Now that you've had your drink, care to tell me what's going on?"

Diluc asked calmly, his demeanor exuding an air of elegance.

"Mm."

Venti, his face flushed, introduced the red-haired man to Lumine and Famas.

"This is Master Diluc, the big boss behind the tavern. He's quite famous, by the way. I really like the Dandelion Wine from his winery, though most of the time I can only afford the loose stuff…"

"We've met, at the Temple of the Falcon!"

Paimon interrupted Venti's rambling, hiding behind Lumine and peeking out to observe the intimidating Master Diluc.

"Hey, Paimon, don't interrupt me."

Venti licked his lips, seemingly savoring the Dandelion Wine he had just drunk.

"Maybe if Master Diluc hears about our grand mission, he'll treat me to another bottle of Dandelion Wine!"

As everyone chattered away, explaining the situation to Diluc, Famas hopped onto the bar, quietly observing Diluc's Vision. Besides the familiar divine energy, Famas also sensed a human's protective aura and… a hint of ice.

"The Tsaritsa?"

Famas rubbed his chin with his little hand, deep in thought.

"I see…"

Diluc glanced at Famas on the bar. Although the Knights of Favonius had declared that this Pyro Slime named Famas was harmless, Diluc couldn't help but notice how intently Famas was staring at his Vision.

"Your desire is practically oozing from your eyes!"

Diluc shook his head helplessly. Amid the chatter from Lumine, Venti, and Paimon, he had already pieced together what had happened.

"This is an important secret. Why are you telling me all this?"

"Ehe?"

Venti grinned, watching as Diluc refilled his glass, which he promptly downed.

During Venti's explanation, Diluc had already poured him most of a bottle of Dandelion Wine. Even Famas couldn't tell if Venti was pretending to be drunk or actually drunk.

"Why? Well, perhaps because the winds are changing… What do you think, Master Diluc?"

Diluc pondered for a moment.

"Your forces are still too weak. Now that you're wanted by the Knights of Favonius, taking on Dvalin is out of the question."

"So, the rest is up to you, Master Diluc."

Venti suddenly slumped onto the bar, a lyre emitting a faint blue glow appearing in his hands.

As the lyre threatened to slip and fall to the ground, Lumine quickly caught the Holy Lyre they had worked so hard to… borrow.

"Restoring the Holy Lyre's power is such a hassle…"

Venti mumbled drunkenly.

"Tomorrow night, I'll bring someone who can help you. Outlander, since you're not under suspicion due to your ties with the Knights, the guards probably won't come after you. The wanted notice only mentions blonde hair."

"But as for this bard, Venti, it's best if he doesn't leave the tavern."

Diluc glanced at the now-drunk Venti, speaking to Lumine and Famas.

"I'm completely fine! I love the tavern!"

Venti, who seemed to have passed out, suddenly sat up, said this, and then collapsed again.

"Then, we'll meet here tomorrow night after the tavern closes."

Diluc nodded, and a few bartenders helped the drunk Venti upstairs to rest. Lumine hid the Holy Lyre in her clothes, and the three left the tavern, planning to return the next day.

As they left, Famas glanced back at the seemingly drunk Venti, catching a faint, almost imperceptible smile on his lips.

"So you just wanted to slack off, Barbatos!"