Outside the cathedral, Farmas lay on top of Venti's green hat, holding a Sunsetia in his little hands.
Venti had plucked the fruit from one of the Sunsetia trees outside and secretly kept it to give to him.
"They're still not out?"
Farmas muttered quietly, nearly finished with his fruit.
"Just wait a little longer. It's quiet inside—so they probably haven't been caught yet."
Venti said.
Farmas was just about to ask whether Venti had more snacks when two frantic figures burst out of the cathedral doors.
"Looks like they pulled it off."
Venti smiled, flicking away the Sunsetia seed. A breeze caught it and carried it toward the city outskirts.
Farmas tossed his own fruit pit as well.
Venti obligingly summoned a gust to blow that one out of the city too.
"Catch those two thieves! And their accomplices!"
While Farmas and Venti were busy littering, Lumine and Paimon came sprinting out of the cathedral with three Knights of Favonius guards hot on their heels.
"This way—quick!"
Venti shouted. Farmas leapt onto his shoulder.
A puff of wind rose beneath Venti's feet, wrapping both him and Farmas in a swirl of air.
"Use the Wind Glider!"
A blast of sandy wind whipped backward, sweeping toward the pursuing guards.
A pair of red-and-white Wings of Wind unfolded—that was Lumine and Paimon.
Farmas gripped Venti's shoulder and glanced back.
"With such distinctive wings, how could they not get recognized…?"
The four of them glided all the way to Angel's Share tavern.
Behind the bar stood a tall figure with flame-red hair.
Dressed in a black aristocratic coat, his red eyes held a maturity unfitting for his age.
"Boss, we—um—need somewhere… discreet!"
Lumine puffed.
Diluc polished a glass, sparing a sideways glance at the frantic pair and the two "mascots" clinging to them.
His expression didn't change as he replied calmly:
"If you want discreet, the second floor is usually quiet.
But you're a bard, aren't you? Why not pick somewhere… livelier?"
"Haha… the performance can wait for next time! We'll head up first—see you later!"
Venti darted upstairs with Lumine.
Once they were safely out of sight, Diluc set down his glass.
BANG!
The tavern door was kicked open by two overeager guards.
"Master Diluc! Did you see two thieves rush in?!"
"What's going on? Why so many of you out searching?"
Diluc frowned, clearly irritated by their rudeness.
"You haven't heard, Master Diluc? Two thieves tried to steal the Holy Lyre der Himmel!"
"Oh? That is unusual."
Diluc's brows relaxed. He took a bottle of Dandelion Wine from beneath the counter.
"Right? The Holy Lyre was played by Lord Barbatos himself!
Such a priceless treasure—"
"Whoever tried stealing something that unsellable must be an idiot. Stealing from my wine cellar would've been far smarter."
Diluc poured a glass of wine with smooth precision.
"S-Sorry for rambling. Those two—one yellow, one green—seemed to run off… that way!"
He pointed casually in a random direction.
The two guards thanked him and hurried off.
When they were gone, Venti and Lumine carefully came back downstairs to the bar.
"Oh! Dandelion Wine from Dawn Winery—this for me?"
Venti didn't even wait for an answer. He grabbed the glass and chugged it in one go.
"Haa…"
"So good!"
His face flushed pink, round cheeks turning rosy beneath his teal hair and dark blue braid.
"Since you've drunk my wine, shouldn't you tell me what happened?"
Diluc asked calmly, every gesture refined and controlled.
"Mhm."
Venti nodded, flushed from the drink, and eagerly introduced Diluc:
"This is Master Diluc—tavern owner and… the big boss behind the scenes!
Very famous, you know. I love his winery's Dandelion Wine, though I usually can only afford the cheap bottled stuff…"
"We've met before—back at the Temple of the Falcon!"
Paimon reminded him, peeking from behind Lumine's back while avoiding Diluc's intimidating aura.
"Hey, Paimon—don't interrupt me!"
Venti licked his lips, savoring the leftover wine.
"If Master Diluc learns about our grand mission, he might even treat me to another bottle!"
As everyone chattered, Farmas hopped onto the bar counter and discreetly studied the Vision on Diluc's hip.
Beyond the familiar echo of his former godly flame, Farmas sensed something else—
a protective warmth… and a faint hint of Cryo.
"…The Tsaritsa?"
Farmas touched his chin thoughtfully.
"So that's how it is…"
Diluc glanced at the staring slime.
The Knights had already announced that the speaking Pyro slime called Farmas wasn't dangerous—
but the way it stared at his Vision made Diluc feel its greed was practically spilling from its eyes.
He sighed.
After hearing the entire chaotic story from the trio, he finally asked:
"This is important and confidential. Why involve me?"
"Eheh?"
Venti grinned stupidly. He downed another cup that Diluc poured.
At this point, Diluc had already given him over half a bottle.
Even Farmas couldn't tell whether the bard was pretending to be drunk or genuinely drunk.
"Why? Hmmm… maybe because the winds have begun to change.
So—Master Diluc? Will you help?"
Venti asked softly.
Diluc pondered for a moment.
"You are all far too weak. And now that you're wanted by the Knights, facing Stormterror is impossible."
"That's why the rest… is up to you, Master Diluc."
Venti slumped onto the bar, and a lyre glowing with faint teal light appeared in his hands.
The lyre nearly slipped off—
Lumine lunged forward, snatching the Holy Lyre der Himmel just in time.
"It still needs its power restored… such a hassle…"
Venti mumbled, thoroughly intoxicated.
"Tomorrow night, after closing hours, I'll bring someone who can help you."
Diluc said.
"Traveler—because of your unusual identity, the guards didn't suspect you. The wanted notice only describes 'blonde hair.' They likely won't pursue you."
"But this bard—should not leave the tavern."
"I'm totally fine! I love taverns!"
Venti suddenly sat up, declared loudly, then passed out again.
"Tomorrow night. After closing."
Diluc nodded.
Two bartenders carried the drunk bard upstairs.
Lumine hid the Holy Lyre carefully under her cloak, and the three prepared to leave.
Before exiting, Farmas turned back.
He caught a glimpse of Venti's face.
The supposedly unconscious bard had a tiny, sly smile at the corner of his lips.
Farmas narrowed his eyes.
"So you really just wanted to slack off, didn't you… Barbatos?"