Just as the audience inside the inn was buzzing with discussion, a young adventurer appeared at the entrance.
It was Bennett, who had come all the way from Mondstadt after reading the light novel.
Though Bennett was an experienced little adventurer, he had only ever adventured within Mondstadt's borders before. He had never left Mondstadt.
This was his first time leaving Mondstadt and coming to Liyue.
Halfway there, he had gotten lost.
Fortunately, a strange wind had pointed him toward Wangshu Inn.
When Bennett appeared, the audience inside the inn turned to look at him with curiosity.
They immediately recognized the young adventurer as the Bennett who had appeared in the storyteller's tale just a few days ago.
"It's little adventurer Bennett—"
"I knew he would come to the inn. I just didn't expect him to arrive so quickly!"
"Is there anyone else with him?"
"What about his teammates from Benny's Adventure Team? Oh, sorry—I remember now, Benny's Adventure Team only has one member."
"Didn't anyone else from Mondstadt come with him?"
"Bennett, come sit over here!"
"Ah, look at Bennett's arm and his head. What happened? Did he break his arm? Was he struck by lightning?"
"It's his misfortune!"
"Just as the storyteller said, Bennett really is born with misfortune!"
"Anyone who stays near Bennett will also suffer harm!"
"Who would dare sit next to Bennett?"
"Forget it, don't sit next to me. I'm scared!"
"I'm scared too. Better keep my distance."
When the audience saw Bennett, they began to discuss him.
At first, they were full of goodwill and sympathy for him.
But when they saw the bandages on his arm and the marks of lightning on his head, they became a little afraid.
Being too close to someone so dangerous was a risky thing.
Fortunately, Bennett had heard this kind of talk many times before.
He was already used to it.
If no one liked Bennett, then Bennett would like himself.
Besides, he hadn't come to Wangshu Inn to make people like him. He had come to find his dad.
So Bennett ignored the murmurs.
Instead, he said loudly and happily, "I heard they're telling stories about my dad here. That my dad isn't really dead—has he come back?"
Hearing Bennett's question, before the storyteller on stage could answer, the audience had already replied for him.
The audience sighed.
"Kid, your dad hasn't come back yet."
"The stories aren't finished. We're already at the fourteenth life. I think it should be soon."
"The Raiden Shogun isn't even in a hurry, so why are you?"
"Just wait patiently. According to the storyteller, once all the stories are told, your dad will definitely come back."
"Find a seat and sit down."
The audience had already given Bennett his answer.
Hearing this, Bennett felt a little disappointed, but he didn't lose heart.
As long as his dad could come back, he was willing to wait—not just until the stories were finished, but even if it took a year or two.
But those answers had all come from the audience.
Bennett couldn't fully trust them.
He wanted a definitive answer from the storyteller himself.
So Bennett walked forward a few steps into the inn.
He looked at the storyteller on stage and asked seriously, "Storyteller, please give me a clear answer. Can my dads really come back?"
Over the years, Bennett had grown used to life without his dads.
But his longing for them had never diminished.
The thought of seeing them again filled him with excitement—more excitement than finding the most precious treasure.
Beside him, the audience members near Bennett, seeing his injuries, grew frightened.
Afraid of being infected by his misfortune, they quickly backed away, clearing a space around him.
On stage, Li Mo looked at Bennett's serious expression, barely concealing his excitement.
He could only sigh helplessly.
"I promise you—"
"After all the stories are told, your dad will definitely come back."
"But not all of your dads can come back. Only the reincarnated one."
As had been told in the eighth life, Bennett had seven adventurer dads, and only one was Li Mo's reincarnation from that life.
Hearing Li Mo's affirmative answer, Bennett was overjoyed.
But when he heard that only one dad could come back, a flicker of disappointment crossed his face.
But he quickly let it go.
The other dads had already entered the underworld.
They had found peace.
After receiving Li Mo's confirmation, Bennett immediately decided to temporarily put his adventuring on hold.
He would stay at Wangshu Inn to listen to the stories and wait for his dad to return.
Then Bennett looked around for a suitable seat.
But after scanning the room, he only saw the panicked expressions of the audience. He didn't see any seat left for him.
If he forced his way next to those people, it would only cause chaos and bring misfortune and harm to those around him.
Seeing the looks in their eyes, Bennett could only back away, step by step, until he reached the entrance of the inn.
One more step back, and he would be outside.
Perhaps an adventurer like him wasn't suited to sit inside the inn to listen to the stories. Maybe he could only listen from outside the door.
After hesitating for a moment, Bennett decided to sit at the entrance to avoid causing trouble for others.
As long as no one drove him away, that was enough.
But just as Bennett lifted his foot to leave the inn, a familiar voice called out from behind him.
"Bennett, you're here too!"
"Did Klee and Barbara come with you?"
It was the voice of the Traveler Lumine and Paimon.
Bennett quickly turned around.
Sure enough, he saw Lumine with her hands on her hips and little Paimon floating beside her.
Bennett said happily, "Ah, you're here too! After I read the stories in the light novel, I grabbed some food and rushed over to Liyue. I forgot to call Klee and Barbara."
If he had brought Klee along, he might not have made it to Liyue at all.
After all, with Acting Grand Master Jean around, she definitely wouldn't let Klee wander too far.
Lumine noticed Bennett's predicament and smiled. "You haven't found a seat yet, have you? Come sit with us. We're all over here."
Bennett hesitated.
He was unfamiliar with this place.
He didn't want to cause trouble for the Traveler with his misfortune.
---
New Fanfics out:
Honkai Star Rail: The Trailblaze Journey of the Worldbearing Phainon
The Pure Saintess Would Never Play Dead and Fail