She really was adorable

Kaeya had long wanted a chance to test this "Traveler." Only Acting Grand Master Jean's attitude and the Traveler's unfathomable strength had kept him from setting anything up.

So when his dear brother made the first move, a flicker of dark delight did indeed pass through his heart!

"I..."

"Eigh~ty!"

BANG-!!

...But the greater his delight had been then, the deeper his despair was now.

Gabrielina effortlessly swung the massive hammer in her hands. Weighing several times more than she did, it whipped up a gust and sent Diluc flying, sword and all.

BWAH-!!

He rolled several times before barely managing to steady himself. His expensive formal wear was already covered in dust, and as he propped himself up, disheveled strands of hair clung to his chest. For the first time, his usually icy face wore a look of bewilderment.

"Oh dear?" The angel tilted her head, looking at the still-smoking scorch mark on the hammerhead. "Looks like I didn't hold back enough."

She casually tossed the huge hammer onto the ground, where it landed with a thunderous clang, sending dust flying.

Gabrielina landed lightly on the hammerhead, leaned back a little, and pointed one hand at Diluc.

"Splendid! Splendid! A worthy opponent-even my heart was racing!"

"?"

"Master Diluc really is so handsome," the girl said, half covering her mouth in feigned wonder, though mischief sparkled in her eyes. "Even when you pretend to be weak... you're such a gentleman! It was truly an honor to face you~"

The hand Diluc had braced on his greatsword trembled slightly.

He understood now. This girl was nowhere near as innocent as she looked. She had a wicked streak!

No, she hit wickedly hard, too. That really hurt...

"Was it last night... ahem. Did I do something to offend you, Miss Gabrielina? Or was one of the drinks not to your taste?"

"I just didn't want to waste a precious duel. After all... I doubt I'll get another chance, will I?"

In other words, after losing this badly, he would be on his guard against her. She wouldn't get another opportunity to give him a perfectly legitimate thrashing!

Faced with her breezy expression, Diluc could only sigh helplessly and give his greatsword a casual flick. He also shot a glare at Kaeya, who was still watching from the sidelines.

"It's a waste for someone like you to work for the Knights of Favonius."

"Hey! That's a bit hurtful, isn't it? I was going to help you get back!"

Diluc's brows knitted slightly, and he looked rather displeased.

"I'm not interested in that dragon, the Knights of Favonius' troubles, or whatever lies between you two..." The girl's gaze moved between them. "...Your story. None of it interests me."

"I'm making an effort only because someone wants to help."

Diluc clearly hadn't understood what Gabrielina meant. He looked questioningly at Kaeya, who had come forward to support him, but Kaeya merely shook his head without a word.

"You've experienced her strength yourself, haven't you? Whatever else may be true, she's officially helping us right now!"

With that, Kaeya looked up and smiled at Gabrielina. It was a very punchable smile.

Gabrielina didn't consider herself a violent person, but her hands, which had only just finished their workout, began itching again. She could tell this man had come up with another rotten idea.

Nothing good ever came of his smiles, but he was always smiling...

"Gabrielina, Diluc and I will head back first. We finished here... much too quickly, so I'll leave you a map," Kaeya said, handing her a sheet of paper with a smile.

"I've marked Lisa's location. I also need to check on things inside the city and see if there's anything I can do to help Jean."

Oh, please. He just wanted to slack off!

Although Gabrielina could guess his intentions, she had no plans to call him out just yet. She couldn't exactly force him to guide her, could she?

When she went to Inazuma later, she'd make him lay the road while she watched from the sky.

"Then it's settled. Lisa is right here. Don't worry about Miss Lumine; Amber should be going with her. We'll be off, then~"

Diluc looked at Kaeya, equally helpless. "He's always like this. Never serious. Sorry for the trouble."

"It's fine. At least he's entertaining to talk to, and he looks rather solemn and saintly."

Kaeya: What do you mean, solemn and saintly?

"Good luck. Though with your strength... I'm sure you'll be fine. You're welcome to stop by the tavern more often. Give Charles my name, and you'll get a discount."

After the two left, the girl leaned against the hammer and quietly studied the map in her hands.

Kaeya... he'd planned to sneak off all along, hadn't he?

The next time they met, she would definitely suggest that Diluc charge Kaeya double for everything at the tavern.

Make him share a table with Venti!

"So Stormterror really used to be one of Mondstadt's [Four Winds]? Uh... the Dragon of the Eastern Wind?"

"The [Dragon of the East Wind]!"

Lisa shook her head and looked at Paimon with her arms folded.

"Oh... Paimon remembered it wrong. Hehe..."

"Amber told you that, didn't she?"

Lumine nodded, drawing her gaze back from the distance. "Yes. Miss Amber told us Stormterror was one of the [Four Winds], and... apparently abandoned its own temple?"

"Hmm, it looks like Amber has been studying diligently, too~ Though I've hardly ever seen her visit the library."

Amber: A librarian would naturally know more than an Outrider!

"But... you probably don't know Stormterror's real name yet, do you, cutie?" Lisa gave her a cloyingly flirtatious wink, soft arcs of electricity seeming to flicker through her rose-colored eyes.

Remembering what had happened in bed last night, Lumine shuddered and hurriedly nodded.

"The Dragon of the East Wind's name is Dvalin, and it was indeed once one of the Four Winds. As for why it's constantly attacking Mondstadt now... I think it's probably hatred."

Little Paimon, who had been floating back and forth, tapped her chin curiously and looked at Lisa in confusion.

"Then why did Stormterror, who was supposed to be one of the Four Winds, end up like this?"

Lisa looked troubled. "Ah... as someone from Mondstadt, it's really hard to talk about this. If you're curious, you can read this book."

Lumine accepted the book she offered. It wasn't very thick, and she casually tossed it into her storage space.

Lisa looked up at the sky. Although dark clouds still covered more than half of it, she could at least make out the sun's position now.

"Whether it's Jean's group or Kaeya and your little girlfriend's, someone must have succeeded already. Let's get started, too~"

"Oh... wait, my, my what!?"

Lumine flushed bright red, staring blankly at Lisa's back as she opened the door. Paimon was so shocked that she dropped the apple in her hands.

"Hmm? Then why do you keep sneaking looks at her? And... she seems to care about you quite a bit, too."

"We've only known each other for a day!"

Lisa narrowed her eyes, the corners of her mouth threatening to soar skyward. "A day? So what if it's a day? I've been around the block, you know~"

She suddenly lowered her voice. "Back at the Sumeru Akademiya, I even saw real..."

Her dark purple nails tapped her right earlobe three times, leaving a suggestive pause.

"Even if we don't talk about now, what about later? Perhaps even the gods couldn't resist beauty like hers."

"I... I..."

Lumine felt as if she'd fallen back into that warm, soft bed, her whole body dizzy and weak. Something seemed lodged in her throat, leaving her unable to speak.

"Cutie, just be honest with your heart. I also-"

"I never thought someone who looked so respectable would be such a pervert!"

The sudden voice from above startled everyone.

Lisa snapped her head up and discovered Gabrielina sitting atop the temple doorway. Who knew when she'd arrived? She idly played with a lock of hair, her legs crossed and swinging.

"G-Gabrielina, when did you get here? Are you... all right?" Lumine stammered as she looked at the angel, who had teleported in front of her.

The girl still seemed somewhat flustered, but instinctively stepped forward anyway, gently checking Gabrielina for injuries.

Gabrielina promptly hugged one of Lumine's arms.

"Lisa, you seem to know an awful lot about this~"

Lisa scratched her cheek awkwardly. "Haha... I was just teasing our little cutie. After all, she really looks so... innocent." She tried to change the subject. "Don't you think so, too?"

"Of course Lumine is adorable."

"!!!" ×3

Ignoring the burning gaze beside her, Gabrielina simply held the girl's arm as though nothing had happened and led the way toward the temple's open entrance.

There was, of course, no other meaning behind her behavior. She merely thought Lisa's "teasing" had gone a little too far and wanted to protect her own image while she was at it.

At least, that was what she thought.

"What, don't you agree? Or... do you prefer another type, Lisa? Someone like Acting Grand Master Jean?"

Lisa shuddered and hurried to catch up with Gabrielina. "Uh, no... I mean, I'm very fond of both of you! How about I treat you to dinner once the mission is over?"

"Really!?"

Before either Gabrielina or the still-frozen Lumine could answer, little Paimon rushed forward excitedly, floating back and forth beside them.

"All right, let's go! Hurry, hurry! The food at the Good Hunter last night was really delicious!"