VIII.

"Eh? A letter from the Cat's Tail?" asked Paimon, as Katheryne simply nodded. "Strange that the Adventurer's Guild has become a post office of sorts regarding the Traveler's letters, but indeed, it is a letter delivered by no other than Margaret herself." She replied. Lumine read the contents of the letter.

"What's it say, Lumine?" asked Paimon, and she handed the letter to her. "Diona made a new drink using milk as its base, and she wants us to taste it." She explained.

"And she even invited Master Diluc?! That's very bold of hers…" remarked Paimon, but she was then confused. "Wait, didn't she say that she was going to destroy Mondstadt's wine industry?" she asked, and Lumine shrugged her shoulders.

"She probably made it good by accident again. For all we know, she could've used expired milk…" replied Lumine, and Paimon was taken aback. "S-Surely Diona wouldn't go that low!" spoke Paimon, as she was actually looking forward to tasting the new drink.

"We'll just have to see. Thanks, Katheryne!" then spoke Lumine, waving at her. Katheryne simply waved back with smile. "No worries, Traveler! Ad astra abyssosque!" she replied.

Paimon then floated about. "I thought there would be more people who'd be invited, but it seems its just Master Diluc and us…" then said Paimon as they stood in front of the Cat's Tail.

"Maybe she made too much and just wanted to share?" replied Lumine, and Paimon was merely annoyed. "You're strangely optimistic today, did something happen between you and Amber after that contest?" asked Paimon, and Lumine was whistling as she knocked on the tavern's door.

"Hey! Don't ignore Paimon's question!" Paimon spoke, and the door opened. "Huh? It opened on its own?" Paimon then spoke.

"You idiots! I know I'm short but you don't have to rub it in!" then yelled a different voice.

"Wah! D-Diona! You were the one that opened the door!" then spoke Paimon, as she and Lumine looked down. Diona was glaring at them, clearly annoyed.

Lumine smiled and patted her head. "Sorry~" she sweetly spoke, and Diona ruffled her own hair, not wanting the Traveler's hand on her head. "Well I'm glad you came. Go take your seats at the bar." She spoke, and the two of them followed.

Margaret was there to greet them. "Ah hello you two!" she greeted. The two of them greeted them and took their seats…well Lumine did. Paimon continued floating.

"Why are you at the bar and not Diona?" asked Paimon.

Margaret gave them two shot glasses and brought out the bottle of the newly made drink that Diona made.

"Well, she insisted that she greets her guests." Replied Margaret, as she took out another shot glass.

Another knock was heard on the door, and Diona opened it. "Ah, so you've come, owner of the Angel's Share!" greeted Diona.

Diluc was confused as to where the voice was coming from, but then he looked down. "Ah, a good day to you too, Cat's Tail's prized bartender." He replied.

Diona was looking even more annoyed than usual. "I don't know if you were genuine or if that was a jab, but whatever! Hurry and get seated!" simply replied Diona, as she closed the door again.

Diluc went on to sit beside Lumine, the one where Paimon was floating about. She then settled on Lumine's head.

Margaret then stood aside as she let Diona take center stage. She hopped onto a stool and cleared her throat. "Thank you two for coming today in an empty Cat's Tail. Truth is, I told Margaret that we'd be closed for today to let the two of you taste my newest brew." She spoke, as she took the bottle that was already present.

Paimon clapped and so did the Traveler. Diluc merely crossed his arms and listened.

Margaret kept on smiling.

Diona was beaming proudly, but then set the bottle back on the bar counter. "…I don't have a name for it yet…" she softly spoke.

"Hm, so you plan on selling this, after all? I thought you were all about advocating against alcohol?" Diluc then asked, and Diona was annoyed yet again, pouting even.

"I-I have my r-reasons! While its true that I failed yet again in creating the worst wine, I made this one with the Traveler in mind!" she retorted.

"Eh?" asked Paimon.

"Huh?" asked Lumine.

Diluc was silent, still pondering, still crossing his arms.

Margaret smiled nervously.

Diona took a few minutes to realize what she said, and blushed hard. "T-That's not what I meant! NOT WHAT I MEANT AT ALL!" she then yelled, and Diluc simply sighed. Paimon laughed nervously, while Lumine blushed too.

"Alright, then continue." Spoke Diluc, and Diona cleared her throat again.

"What I meant is, this new brew's target demographic would be those like the Traveler who can't drink alcohol! They would be enticed with the fact that I made this almost solely with milk, not knowing that this at least has 8% alcohol in it, enough to make them drunk with just two shots!" she then explained.

"D-Diabolical!" exclaimed Paimon, and Lumine thought of it. "But wouldn't that just increase sales?" asked Lumine.

"That is true: knowing of Diona's caliber as a bartender, Mondstadt's wide industry would be even more booming if she was indeed serious about this prospect." Commented Diluc.

"Then, Master Diluc, when that happens, do you think the Cat's Tail would be able to have an advantage against the Angel's Share?" Margaret then asked, and the tension between them rose.

Diluc opened his eyes, looking at the owner of this tavern they were in. "It all still depends on how much Mora this new drink would make."

"H-Hey cut it out you two!" then butted in Paimon. Lumine then looked at Diona, and she looked like she was just stabbed in the heart.

"T-They're right…if this became a new drink then the people would surely become even more enamored with alcohol…w-what have I done?!" Diona then cried out.

'Maybe a shot wouldn't be that bad…?' thought Lumine, as she took the bottle, opened it, and poured one onto her glass.

"Ah Traveler no!" then cried Diona. "Lumine!" added Paimon.

She downed one shot, and she gave out a small burp. Her cheeks suddenly became a bit flushed.

She smiled. "This taste really good~!" she spoke, as she took the bottle again.

"Someone stop her!" cried Diona. Paimon went to do so, but Lumine was quicker. She ended up being pinned down by the bottle…on top of her face.

"Ah, what the heck Lumine! Paimon doesn't like this at all!" she cried out.

"I see that even though the Traveler's alcohol tolerance is low, the drink is working as expected. Astounding work, Diona!" remarked Margaret, giving her a thumbs up. "Don't give me that now!" replied Diona.

Diluc then took the bottle from Lumine once she filled her shot glass with another. He, too, filled his own.

He drank the new wine Diona made and as he set his glass down, the three of them waited for his response.

He opened his eyes. "I see. It was indeed just a simple brew. I can make this better." He commented.

"What do you mean better?! You're clearly mocking me!" simply spoke the annoyed Diona.

"So even Master Diluc liked what Diona made!" then added Margaret.

"That's good and all but please someone help me! Lumine's going for a third shot!" cried out Paimon, while the Traveler's cheeks were getting redder.

"Well, they've left to help the Traveler sober up at Good Hunter. How are you feeling, Diona?" asked Margaret, as she was changing the sign at the door to 'open', as her bartender insisted that they still open even when the day was coming to an end.

There was no response.

"Diona?" called out Margaret, and she looked at the bar again.

There was a smile on Diona's face.

"Even though there was still alcohol in the drink, she still decided to try it…" Diona spoke, looking giddy as she wiped the glasses and placed two more bottles of her newest brew in the bar counter.

Margaret giggled. "Young love huh?" she quipped. Diona looked at her, and blushed. "W-What are you looking at me for?!"

"Nnnngh…I feel heavy…" spoke Lumine, her face planted on the table.

Sara was concerned, but Diluc reassured her that she merely drank a bit too much. "Well, if Master Diluc says so, then I'm happy to serve her some light snacks to sober up!" she simply spoke.

Paimon then floated towards them, as Sara gave her Chicken Mushroom Skewers. She drooled.

Diluc was the one paying, and somehow, he gave a small smile seeing Paimon urging the Traveler to eat.

"Come on Lumine, eat up! Else Paimon'll gladly chow these all down!" spoke Paimon.

Lumine grumbled in pain as a bad headache washed over her. "Nnnngh…feed me, Paimon." She requested.

Paimon giggled. "Alright you big baby, aaah~!" she said, and Lumine lifted her head, opening her mouth. "Aaaah…" she repeated.