"Y–You actually figured it out?!"
Diona jumped to her feet, her face full of shock.
Cael looked at the tsundere catgirl and said calmly,
"So you really are Diona. The legendary bartender who somehow makes good drinks no matter how hard she tries to ruin them. That cat from the Cat's Tail."
"I'm not a cat!!" Diona snapped immediately.
Cael didn't bother responding. Instead, he spoke leisurely,
"Come on. Make me a drink."
As he spoke, he took out a sheet of paper and slid it across the counter.
"Follow this. It's milk tea—an Inazuman-style recipe. You can handle it, right?"
Diona picked it up curiously.
"You're such a strange person…"
She glanced over the recipe, then froze.
"So this is milk tea? It's… different from what I know."
Cael smiled faintly.
"Of course. This is something I created—
a drink meant to replace alcohol."
"Replace… alcohol?"
Diona went completely blank.
Cael looked straight at her.
"Just tell me whether you can make it or not. If you can, I'll tell you how to destroy Mondstadt's wine industry."
The moment she heard destroy Mondstadt's wine industry, Diona's cat ears twitched violently, tail swaying back and forth.
"I can! I can do it!"
She practically bounced.
"If I succeed, you have to tell me how to destroy it!"
She rushed off to start mixing.
For a long time, Diona had been fighting this battle alone.
No matter how futile it seemed, she never stopped trying.
Now, she was convinced this was a chance personally granted by Lord Barbatos himself—
proof that her efforts had finally been acknowledged!
Cael stood to the side, watching quietly…
his eyes locked firmly onto the lively cat ears on top of her head.
"All done!"
Diona placed a cup of milk tea on the counter.
The color alone exceeded Cael's expectations—
the presentation was already perfect.
As expected of Diona.
"I made it! Now tell me the method!"
She planted her hands on her hips, staring at him expectantly.
Cael smiled, picked up the cup, and said,
"This is the method."
"…Milk tea?"
Diona blinked.
"What's that supposed to do?"
Cael continued calmly,
"Destroying Mondstadt's wine industry isn't easy. Besides the Cat's Tail, there's also Angel's Share—a giant in the alcohol business. You can't do it alone."
"But if we compete instead—
if we use milk tea to crush wine underfoot, make everyone fall in love with milk tea,
they'll naturally drift away from alcohol."
Diona thought for a moment.
"So… we beat wine with milk tea?"
"Correct," Cael nodded.
But Diona shook her head.
"Alcohol is terrifying. Once adults start drinking, they can't stop. They won't give it up so easily."
Cael shrugged.
"Then we just make the milk tea even more addictive."
"…Huh?"
Diona tilted her head, still confused.
Cael extended his hand.
"Here. Try it."
Suspicious, Diona glanced at him—then took a sip.
The moment it touched her tongue, she froze.
The creamy milk tea flooded her mouth, striking her taste buds without mercy.
The texture, the flavor—
anyone would sink into it instantly.
Her tail started swaying left and right as she stared at Cael in shock.
"S–So good…!"
She was just about to pour herself another cup when she suddenly noticed something strange.
Her stomach felt… full.
"…Weird! I only drank one cup—how am I already full?!"
She looked at him in disbelief.
Cael smiled mysteriously.
"This is Cael-Style Milk Tea.
Not only is it delicious, it's packed with energy.
Two cups are enough to fill a grown man."
"That's amazing…!"
"So?" Cael asked, smiling.
"Do you think this plan can work?"
"I think it can—but…"
Diona hesitated.
"Everything has a price, right?"
Cael nodded approvingly.
"Exactly. I only have one condition."
Diona bit her lip nervously.
If he asks for something weird, I'll refuse immediately!
Cael stared straight at her.
"I want to be able to touch your ears whenever I want."
"…Huh?"
Diona's thoughts derailed completely.
"Y–You… want to touch my ears?"
She asked again, sure she'd misheard.
He nodded firmly.
"Yes. The ears on your head."
"…Really?"
"Really."
That was it.
He genuinely just wanted to touch her ears.
Diona looked troubled.
"I–I mean… I guess I could…
but I don't even let my dad touch them…"
Without hesitation, Cael replied,
"No touching, no help. I've got plenty more milk tea recipes."
"Ugh…"
Diona lowered her head, brows furrowed in deep conflict.
After a long moment, she finally looked up, face burning red.
"O–Okay! You can touch them!"
She hopped down from behind the counter and trotted over.
Shy but determined, she leaned forward.
"…Go on. Touch them."
Her voice trembled with nerves.
Cael did not hesitate.
The hand of a demon descended upon those soft, twitching cat ears.
"Eek!"
Diona's whole body shuddered.
That sensation—
light, floaty, unbearably strange.
Cael wore a blissful expression.
After trekking all the way to Mondstadt,
if he didn't do something therapeutic, the stress would kill him.
"Th–That's enough! No more!"
Diona backed away, face bright red, mortified.
Cael simply smiled.
"I'll be touching them again in the future. Don't think you can escape."
"Hmph!"
Diona turned her head away.
BOOM—!
Suddenly, the sky darkened.
The winds roared as a violent storm swept into Mondstadt, tearing through the city.
"Stormterror?!"
Diona panicked and shouted,
"Don't go! The dragon crisis is serious—people keep getting blown away!"
But before she could finish—
Cael was already gone.
She stared at the doorway, worry flashing across her face.
"…Don't get hurt.
You're my only ally."
Far away,
Lumine—newly equipped with a Wind Glider—looked up at the darkening sky with curiosity.
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