Then Do You Like the Ellin I Am Now?

"Up!"

Clad in her maid's armor, Noelle watched in disbelief as the white-haired girl gave a sharp cry, then raised an ice greatsword high overhead with both hands!

The girl wore a blue, ruffled dress that day, with a thin white jacket draped over it and brown leather ankle boots on her feet.

Her figure was slender and looked soft and delicate, yet that seemingly frail body held tremendous strength!

With just a short cry, she effortlessly lifted the eight-meter greatsword formed from freezing air!

For such a beautiful girl, she showed none of the demure grace one might expect, swinging an ice greatsword wildly out of proportion to her body in sweeping slashes and overhead chops across the training grounds!

Cold air spread around her. With each swing of the ice greatsword, the chill in the air grew heavier, and the surrounding temperature dropped.

Her dress and hair swept through the cold air and ice crystals, dancing with the snow and frost.

Her bold, sweeping combat style did nothing to diminish her charm. Instead, it added a sense of strength and daring to her already adorable appearance, making her all the more captivating.

"So beautiful..."

Watching that dazzling sight and the girl swinging her greatsword amid the ice and snow, Noelle fell into a daze.

She had no idea how much time passed. By the time she came to her senses, Ellin had already dispersed the ice greatsword and returned the Unforged to her system inventory.

"Thank you, Noelle. I've gotten stronger again!"

Ellin took Noelle's hand of her own accord. Honestly, she was coming to appreciate the advantages of being a girl more and more.

For instance, if she were a man, she would never have dared take Noelle's hand so casually. Now, however, she could hold Noelle's hand whenever she liked without even blushing.

"Ellin, how did you suddenly get so clever? You learned my technique in no time!" Noelle exclaimed in amazement.

Ellin rolled her eyes. "What do you mean by that? Did I look stupid before?"

"Ah! No, not at all! That was rude of me..."

Noelle hurriedly waved her hands in a fluster as she explained, "I-I meant that you're really amazing. I'm just so surprised."

"Pfft!" Ellin couldn't help laughing.

Honestly, Noelle was so adorable when she got flustered. Just seeing her like that filled Ellin with happiness.

But Ellin couldn't keep teasing her forever, so she smiled. "All right, I was only joking."

"I learned so quickly because you're such a good teacher, Noelle."

"How about I treat you to lunch as thanks?"

"Ah... but I still have to tend the Knights of Favonius' flower beds at noon..."

Noelle instinctively started to refuse, only to meet Ellin's big eyes.

"Is... is that not okay?" Ellin gazed pleadingly at Noelle.

"Well..." Noelle's heart gave a sudden flutter.

"O-okay. I'll go with you!"

"Yay!"

Ellin immediately beamed and threw her arms up in celebration, though inwardly she was muttering, Wow... this body of mine is a deadly weapon. Works every damn time. Way too powerful.

Should I go to Liyue sometime and try seducing an adeptus?

As Ellin's imagination ran wild, she suddenly seemed to remember something and shook her head hard.

Seriously, what nonsense am I thinking? I'm a man! Not some kingdom-toppling vixen! Why are my thoughts getting weirder and weirder?

Good Hunter Restaurant

Noelle and Ellin sat across from each other.

Feng'er stood primly on the seat beside Ellin, eating the apple slush Ellin had ordered for it.

It was worth mentioning that Hermann and his wife had welcomed Feng'er with open arms.

Quite apart from being Ellin's familiar, Feng'er was an enormous help in a world without refrigerators or air conditioners.

Whenever Feng'er had nothing to do, it would help Ellin's mother keep vegetables, meat, and other food chilled, and cool Hermann's beer for him.

When temperatures rose in summer, it would also release some cold air to cool the house.

One could say Feng'er's standing in the household was now second only to Ellin's. Hermann and his wife absolutely doted on it.

"Ellin, you've changed so much in just a few days," Noelle said, studying Ellin's face.

Ellin chuckled. "Really? What's changed?"

"Hmm... you've become so pretty, and your personality has changed too. You're more enthusiastic, and a little more carefree."

"Really?" Ellin winked at Noelle and deliberately asked, "Then... do you like me the way I am now?"

"Ah! Like you..."

Noelle trembled, and the fork in her hand clattered onto her plate.

She twined her index fingers together, circling them as though she were struggling with her answer, or perhaps simply feeling shy.

After a long while, Noelle finally said slowly, "Actually... I personally prefer the Ellin you are now."

"You're so full of life now, almost as if you're shining. It feels really comforting."

"I see!"

Ellin smiled sweetly, then suddenly pulled something out from behind her and quickly set it in front of Noelle.

"Ta-da!"

"Noelle, I ordered this especially for you. Your favorite, Satisfying Salad!"

"Huh? How did you know...?"

Noelle looked surprised, but quickly collected herself, an apologetic expression crossing her face.

"You even went out of your way to order something for me. You really shouldn't have spent so much."

"Not at all!" Ellin shook her head earnestly. "I heard that when Fischl and I were trapped in the flames, you were ready to rush in and save us, despite the danger."

"So this Satisfying Salad is my way of thanking you."

"Thanking me..." Noelle looked very embarrassed.

"I did want to save you both, but Captain Kaeya stopped me and sent me on another task, so... I didn't actually do anything to help with the incident in the Whispering Woods."

"Hehe, isn't that a good thing?" Ellin smiled, looking into Noelle's eyes.

"If you'd risked your life to save me back then, I might have lost a good friend."

"So I still want to thank you. Thank you for being alive and well."

"Ellin, you..."

For a moment, Noelle didn't know what to say, but she could feel the sincerity in Ellin's words. Like sunlight, that sincerity filled her with warmth.

"How about this? Let's share the Satisfying Salad!"

Noelle picked up her fork, speared a slice of apple, and held it to Ellin's lips.

Ellin froze for a moment, then quickly broke into a beaming smile and ate the apple slice in one bite.

"My turn to feed you!"

Ellin speared a cabbage leaf and held it to Noelle's lips as well.

The atmosphere between them began to change.

Neither of them noticed, however. They simply kept smiling and feeding each other as they chatted happily.

Noelle was already adorable, while the system had declared Ellin the most beautiful girl in Teyvat, so her looks spoke for themselves.

It was easy to imagine what a sight those two girls made, sitting together and feeding each other.

Quite a few diners in the Good Hunter Restaurant were drawn by the girls' silvery laughter and turned to look. Captivated by the beautiful scene, they found themselves unable to look away for a long time.