"A blonde girl? She's over there playing cards."
Han Feng gestured toward the card table nearby.
Diona glanced over, then shook her head.
"Not her. The other one—the one who was playing an instrument earlier."
"Oh, her, huh?"
Han Feng immediately understood.
The one who played the instrument was none other than Paimon.
It was just that earlier, she had transformed into Kaori Miyazono.
"She's in the corner over there. You can just go find her.
But why are you looking for her?"
Han Feng asked with some curiosity.
"I want to invite her to be a resident performer at the Cat's Tail Tavern!"
Diona said with a smile.
"Then I'll head over now. Thanks, Boss!"
"Invite Paimon to perform at a tavern…?
Is this cat-eared girl serious?"
The purple cat looked utterly incredulous.
That screechy, wood-sawing violin sound— you're telling me customers would like that?
Wouldn't they all just run away?!
What kind of deep hatred do you have for the Cat's Tail Tavern?
Is it really worth hurting them like this?
Or… could it be that Mondstadt people actually like this kind of music?
Thinking of that possibility made the purple cat's expression even stranger.
Meanwhile, Han Feng showed a look of sudden realization.
"So that's her plan."
She had clearly taken a liking to Paimon's… "talent" with the violin.
She wanted to use that 'exquisitely beautiful' sound to carry out her 'evil scheme'.
"Tsk tsk… if you add the kuchikamizake she just got to the mix, this could get really interesting."
Han Feng's lips curled into a smile.
He couldn't help but wonder—
would Mondstadt's people actually enjoy such a "treatment"?
After learning Paimon's location, Diona hurried over.
But she didn't see the blonde girl.
Only Klee and a floating creature were playing games there.
"Huh? Didn't the boss say she was here?"
Diona frowned in confusion.
After thinking for a moment, she decided to ask Klee.
As the Spark Knight of the Knights of Favonius, and the infamous "Mountain-Burning Prevention Archon" of Mondstadt,
Diona naturally knew her.
"Klee, have you seen a blonde here?
The one who was playing music in the shop earlier."
Diona gestured as she asked.
"A blonde? Klee hasn't seen one!"
Klee shook her head.
Only she and Paimon were here.
"Someone who played music?"
Paimon, however, poked her head up curiously.
Wasn't that… her?
Was this cat-girl looking for her?
Thinking that, Paimon spoke up.
"Are you looking for me?"
"Yes! Oh—eh?! You… you're that blonde girl?"
Diona was happy when someone responded—
but froze the moment she saw it was Paimon.
This tiny thing was the blonde girl?!
"You mean Kaori Miyazono, right?"
Paimon understood immediately.
Without explaining, she simply proved it with action.
With a thought—
poof!
She transformed into Kaori Miyazono.
"Alright, what did you need me for?"
"Whoa—Paimon can transform?!"
Klee blinked in amazement.
Her eyes spun excitedly, as if she'd just discovered something very fun.
No one knew what dangerous ideas were forming in her head.
"Yes, you're exactly the one I'm looking for!"
Seeing the familiar blonde girl, Diona grew excited.
She didn't question the transformation at all and quickly invited her.
"The Cat's Tail Tavern needs a resident performer.
Would you like to come and try?"
"E—EH?! You're inviting me to perform at a tavern?!"
Paimon was stunned.
She had performed earlier.
And judging from everyone's reaction—
she had at least a little self-awareness.
Yet someone was still inviting her?!
Did this tavern have beef with you or something?!
Paimon looked at Diona with a strange expression.
"Cough, cough… well, um… I think your performance was… okay!
And just because they didn't like it doesn't mean you played badly.
Maybe they just don't understand the beauty of your music!"
Diona coughed lightly and began spouting nonsense with a straight face.
If she told the truth—that she wanted to destroy Mondstadt's alcohol industry—
she'd probably get beaten to death on the spot.
For her safety and her dream, deception was the only option.
She'd apologize properly later.
"That… actually makes a lot of sense!"
Paimon's eyes lit up.
Right!
Everyone has different tastes.
Heck, even poop has fans.
(Not the best metaphor.)
But the more she thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed.
Maybe Boss Han and Lumine just didn't know how to appreciate her genius!
And anyway, trying it wouldn't cost her anything.
"Alright, I'm in!"
Paimon agreed immediately—
without even asking about payment.
Having a place to showcase her talent was already more than enough!
"That's great! Then let's go to the Cat's Tail Tavern.
I just got a new alcohol recipe too—we can try it out!"
Diona said excitedly.
"I'm fine, but…"
Paimon glanced at Klee.
She'd promised to play games with her.
Leaving like this felt a little bad.
"Hehe, can you take me with you?"
Klee asked eagerly.
She didn't quite understand what was going on—
but it sounded fun!
And Klee loved fun things!
"Of course! Let's go together!"
Diona agreed immediately.
Maybe Klee could even help later.
"Then let's go! I'll let Boss Han know!"
Paimon, now excited, rushed to the counter to explain.
Then she led the two little girls out of the shop at full speed.
"…She actually got invited."
Han Feng was genuinely surprised.
He couldn't help but wonder—what kind of chaos would happen when these three got together?
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