Not long after they left, two familiar figures appeared in the alley.
If Lumine were still there, she'd recognize them immediately.
It was Amber and Eula—the very ones who had chased them last night.
The two looked around at the narrow alley.
It was quiet and plain, no different from any other backstreet in Mondstadt.
Worth mentioning, though: during Han Feng's dinner outing yesterday,
Acting Grand Master Jean had already sent people to repair the damage.
So now the alley looked good as new.
"This is the place?"
Eula hesitated slightly.
What kind of person opens a store here?
Unless… like Yanfei said, experts preferred to live in remote places?
Yanfei was from Liyue.
Eula had once saved her from the Abyss Order, and since then, the two had stayed in contact via letters.
Yanfei had once written about how Liyue's adepti often lived in secluded mountains.
"This is definitely the place. Acting Grand Master Jean gave me the address herself."
Amber double-checked again.
"Then let's go in.
If only I had been stronger last night, I wouldn't have let those two thieves get away..."
Eula said with frustration.
Amber felt the same.
After leaving Good Hunter, they'd chased those two relentlessly—
but their targets were fast, incredibly fast.
Eventually, they lost them in the dark.
It was a huge embarrassment.
To let thieves slip away right under their noses…
That failure fueled their desire to get stronger.
So this morning, they'd gone straight to Jean for the bookstore's address.
Now, filled with anticipation, the two stepped into Relief Bookstore.
"You… you're that guy who was at Good Hunter last night, right?"
As they stepped into the manga shop and saw Han Feng behind the counter, Amber's eyes went wide with surprise.
But she quickly snapped back to her senses, her face tinged with disbelief.
"You're the owner of this manga shop?!"
"Nice to see you again, Miss Amber, Miss Eula."
Han Feng smiled and greeted them warmly.
He wasn't surprised to see them.
After all, they'd shown strong interest in the shop back at Good Hunter.
Upon confirmation, Amber's cheeks flushed red in embarrassment.
She'd gushed about the store and its mysterious owner—right in front of said owner.
Now she couldn't even look him in the eye.
Eula, on the other hand, kept her composure, though she was mildly surprised.
So that explained it all.
No wonder his gaze last night had held no disdain.
No wonder he knew about glowing dishes and clothes-exploding cuisine.
Turns out… he wasn't some average citizen—
he was the owner of Relief Bookstore!
That made everything fall into place.
"Here to read manga?"
Han Feng asked.
Both girls nodded without hesitation.
That's exactly what they came for.
"We've got five titles on the shelf. 100,000 Mora per person.
One person, one manga per day."
Han Feng gestured toward the bookshelf as he laid out the rules.
The price didn't shock them.
First, they'd already heard it from Acting Grand Master Jean.
Second, getting a power or item from a manga for just 100,000 Mora?
A total bargain.
"Here."
Both Eula and Amber handed over a pouch each.
Even if the Lawrence Clan had declined, 100,000 Mora wasn't a big deal for Eula.
And Amber had saved up plenty over the years too.
Han Feng accepted the money and waved them toward the bookshelf,
while he casually made himself a cup of black tea.
The two girls stood in front of the shelf and browsed the available titles:
One Piece: East Blue Saga
Cardcaptor Sakura
Digimon Adventure (Season 1)
Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions
Yu-Gi-Oh!
"Which one should I pick…"
Amber muttered, looking a little overwhelmed.
After thinking it over for a while, she picked Cardcaptor Sakura.
She'd heard from Lisa that the manga was filled with magical cards.
If she could get even one, she'd gain that card's power.
"Lisa-senpai got the Lightning Card, right?"
Amber settled into the sofa, excited.
Meanwhile, Eula picked up Yu-Gi-Oh!.
She hadn't heard Amber mention this one before, so it must be new.
And it looked interesting.
As for Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions?
She dismissed it immediately.
Romance manga? No way.
She didn't need it.
Not now, not ever.
Thus, Eula unknowingly raised a massive flag.
With their selections made, the girls sat across from each other.
A peaceful silence settled over the shop, broken only by the sound of turning pages.
Meanwhile…
After leaving the alley, Lumine and Paimon quickly learned the news—
Lumine had officially been wanted by the Knights of Favonius.
Both of them were a little annoyed.
The only silver lining?
The wanted posters only described "a girl with golden hair" and no further details.
"Lumine, as long as we lay low, we should be fine."
Paimon tried to reassure her.
She didn't want to live like a fugitive either.
Wouldn't it be better to read manga and eat good food?
Lumine nodded.
Mondstadt was a big city.
Surely there were plenty of blonde-haired people.
"Still, we need to find Venti. He's got the Skyward Harp, and this needs to be settled."
Lumine sighed.
What even is my life right now…?
"But we don't even know where that bard is," Paimon frowned.
"He should be at the plaza.
Don't forget—he said he'd help promote Han Feng's shop."
Lumine chuckled as she poked Paimon's cheek.
"Oh right!"
Paimon perked up.
If that bard didn't draw in enough customers, they might have to start paying for manga.
And he didn't have a single Mora to his name.
Thinking of what Lumine had said yesterday, Paimon suddenly got excited.
"Let's hurry over! Maybe we'll catch something interesting!"
~~--------------------------------------
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