Zhongli had just opened his manga, ready to see what kind of story this "other world" held,
when a familiar voice suddenly rang out beside him.
Looking up, he saw Venti, and a faint smile appeared on his calm face.
"The Hall Master told me this comic shop was quite mysterious," Zhongli said lightly.
"So I came to take a look."
"Ah, that explains it."
Venti nodded, plopping himself down across from Zhongli and eyeing the book in his hands.
"But that manga you've got—
I haven't seen it before!
I wonder what kind of reward it gives?"
Zhongli's gaze flickered with curiosity.
"You've… seen many rewards, then?"
Judging by the bard's tone, it sounded like this wasn't his first visit.
"Of course! I'm a regular here!"
Venti puffed out his chest proudly.
He'd been introduced to the shop by Traveler Lumine and Paimon, and was among the first customers of Solace Book Store.
Aside from those two, no one was more familiar with the shop's workings than him— not to mention, he was technically the only part-time employee, with special privileges to read for free.
"As a loyal patron, let me tell you about some of the rewards I've seen."
He pointed at the furry creature sitting beside him.
"This is my first reward — 'Meicoomon'.
He's a Digimon from the manga Digimon Adventure."
"A Digimon…?"
Zhongli leaned closer, studying the creature.
It looked somewhat like a cat, yet clearly wasn't a being native to Teyvat.
As an Archon, he could tell at a glance.
"But that's just the start!" Venti continued, grinning.
"Yesterday, someone here got a God Card!
It could summon a monster called the Winged Dragon of Ra!
If I had to guess, its power isn't weaker than Dvalin's."
The bard sighed dramatically, recalling the scene.
They'd been about to witness a grand comeback in a duel— until little Klee accidentally ruined it, turning the entire thing into her show instead.
"A 'God Card'? A monster comparable to Dvalin?"
Zhongli's expression grew serious.
He, of course, knew who Dvalin was— his old friend Venti's loyal dragon, a being on par with the Geo Dragon King himself.
To think that a comic shop could grant a reward of such magnitude…
He had originally assumed the rewards would be simple trinkets, like the "Palm Thunder" Hu Tao once mentioned.
But this… this was on an entirely different level.
"That surpasses even the power of a Vision…"
Zhongli murmured after a moment of thought.
Though both had the word "God" in them, the monsters summoned by those cards were clearly far more powerful.
Seeing Zhongli's astonishment, Venti couldn't help feeling smug.
For a veteran customer like him, there was nothing more satisfying than watching a newcomer's jaw drop.
"And it's not just monster cards!" Venti added gleefully.
"The shop has all kinds of incredible tools too.
Like the one in this manga here—Doraemon.
There's a magical gadget called the Gourmet Tablecloth.
Whatever food you want, it can make it appear instantly!"
He waved the blue-covered manga proudly.
"Such a miraculous item exists?"
Zhongli's normally stoic face once again showed genuine surprise.
The Gourmet Tablecloth might not have the destructive power of the God Cards, but its ability was no less impressive.
To conjure any food one desired… such a feat defied the laws of alchemy and nature alike.
Unconsciously, Zhongli found himself thinking—
"If only I had one."
After all, when it came to food, his standards were… particular.
He avoided spicy dishes, refused seafood, and once personally supervised a chef to ensure the ratio of shrimp to fish paste was perfect in a dish of Moonlight Eggs.
A tablecloth that could produce perfect cuisine to his exact taste?
That would be divine.
Sensing the Archon's growing interest, Venti chuckled mischievously.
"Hehe, sorry old man—
Shop rules: only one manga per day.
If you want this one, you'll have to come back tomorrow."
"No matter. I can return."
Zhongli smiled faintly.
Hu Tao had given him 200,000 Mora, so another visit wouldn't be a problem.
And so, the two gods sat together— reading and chatting leisurely like two retired old men at a teahouse.
Meanwhile, outside the Liyue branch of Solace Book Store…
Not long after Zhongli entered, Keqing arrived with Ganyu in tow.
"I still can't believe you managed to wake up just from the smell of food."
Keqing teased lightly, glancing at her half-asleep companion.
Earlier, when Ganyu had dozed off, Ningguang and the others hadn't disturbed her.
They simply went ahead to enjoy the lunch prepared by Baiwen, who had recently gained Beginner Cooking Skills as a manga reward.
But midway through the meal, a sleepy Ganyu had stumbled in, mumbling about delicious smells.
That's when they realized— the aroma of the food had literally woken her up.
"You can't blame me…"
Ganyu's cheeks flushed in embarrassment at the memory.
"Anyway, we're here. Come on, I'll show you the shop."
Keqing said with a smile.
"Mm!"
Ganyu nodded eagerly.
The two stepped through the door, activating the teleportation formation, and moments later arrived inside the comic shop.
"So this is the place you mentioned? It really does look interesting."
Ganyu's lilac eyes wandered curiously over the decorations— the posters lining the walls,
the beautifully crafted figurines on display.
Everything about the place fascinated her.
"You can admire later. Come, let's go meet the shopkeeper."
Keqing gently pulled her toward the counter.
"Welcome, Miss Keqing, Miss Ganyu."
Han Feng greeted them with a calm smile.
"Han Feng, I've brought you five new customers lately.
Don't I deserve some sort of reward?"
Keqing said half-jokingly.
"Oh? And what kind of reward would you like?"
Han Feng smiled.
After all, he had rewarded Paimon before for bringing in customers— so Keqing certainly deserved one as well.
"Just two glasses of juice, for me and Ganyu. We're a bit thirsty."
Keqing thought for a moment.
She had been busy all day— first scouting Liyue, then escorting Ningguang to this shop, then heading back to the Jade Chamber, and now bringing Ganyu here.
If not for her stamina, she'd have collapsed long ago.
"Something refreshing, huh…"
Han Feng tapped his chin thoughtfully.
A perfect drink came to mind.
Lemon water.
Nothing quenched my thirst better.
And if one glass wasn't enough—
"Then two will do!"
With a flick of his wrist, he summoned two tall glasses of sparkling lemon water from the Gourmet Tablecloth.
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