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Chapter 18: Setting up School

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At this point, I should just create a House of the Hearth here in Mondstadt too.

I mean, I blame early development for the story to not have that already there. And yes, I mean literally that Mondstadt was such an easy location to establish the house itself. And I kind of that when I decided to be a bigger arse than needed. Buying one of the unusued buildings in Mondstadt, I turned it into a proper 'drug store'. I made sure to sell just non-Mondstadtian stuff to prevent any competition and ill feelings from the local shops, the gesture getting me in a rather good standing with the locals.

Having an Anemo Vision also added to my 'Mondstandtian, but not' Charm.

That being said, the building had indeed the goal to act as a pseudo-school since Mondstadt didn't have a legit education system as far as I could tell and... I smelled the money. The good ol' Mora that was waiting to be put in my pockets and wallets. And Collei was Student 1 and Vice-Headmistress or whatever.

Girl had some basic stuff already memorized between being born in Sumeru and having read some books from time to time, but she sure as heck took the role as my Padawan very earnestly. The same didn't extend by my propensity to be a smuggler.

"I still don't like it."

"And you don't need to," I found myself assuring once again. "After all, you are doing something unrelated that is for the greater good."

"With money you made from smuggling," Collei argued, pouting. "It's still... so wrong."

"Hey now, don't get all moral about me. It's not my fault that Mondstadt is quite backwater when it comes to financial laws. Their fault, not mine. Can't be illegal if there is no legal punishment to it."

Sorta true. There is such a thing as 'fraud', but it was such a sketchy and general point that a good lawyer (which I could afford) could easily disprove.

Now, back to the House of the Hearth project I had in mind. Looking at Mondstadt's census paper I 'borrowed' a while back, there was indeed a lack of orphanages as the Church tended to pick them young and put them through religious education. Not exactly a fun option, thus making the idea of a 'legit secular school' a bit more pleasant if not convenient despite having a teensy fee to it.

Not even a day making this publicly known through a nearby board that I got my first 'legit student'.

"I don't need to go to school, dad!"

Little Diona was miffed. I couldn't fault her considering the deep irony behind her predicament. Out of the father-daughter duo, she was the most reliable. She was even the one that, dubiously so, got a clean job career as a bartender. Is child labour allowed in Mondstadt? I should look into that.

Still, the reason why it was ironic and why Diona had a fair reasoning to not come to school was in front of me in the form of her daddy. I didn't speak much to Draff but... boy, I could smell the booze despite him being sober. I understand there may be some unknown lore to why he is such a drunkass, but I don't understand how he just happily goes sober for long and then go back to booze after 'forgetting' why he stopped.

So, by the time the cat-dad left, I turned to a very upset pink-haired cat-girl. I tapped by the counter and hummed. "Do you know that doctors can prescribe a legal request to forbid patients from consuming alcohol?"

My question drew Diona's attention. "What?"

"I have heard of you. A fascinating and noble goal is within your reach, but I have to be honest and say that your methods are not good," I replied calmly. "You are fighting alcohol by trying to take over the production, but you are a single girl trying to make the difference."

"Alcohol is bad," She scoffed and I rolled my eyes. "It is."

"Obviously it can be bad without moderation. Why, your father may eventually develop jaundice for kidney failure if he keeps chugging beer when possible," I flatly argued, seeing her tense up. "Do you know what's the next step after kidney failure?"

Her cat ears dropped. "I-I don't want to know."

"Well, if you do want to become a doctor, you could in theory have authority to stop him," I pointed out and shrugged. "Which is one of the courses we offer here at the House of the Hearth."

Diona frowned, looking away from me for a moment as she contemplated my offer. "Is it going to make a difference? Like, what if dad-"

"If he pushes it, he will be sanctioned by the knights. Sounds harsh, but when it comes to an addiction, it is best to be hated for a while rather than let the addicted die for it."

She... huffed. Then walked up to the counter. "Fine, I will study to become a doctor and get dad off the wine!"

"Good goal. And I suppose you could do the same with other parents that have similar issues."

Her smile picked up at this possibility, raising the stakes for her plans over this course of studies, and she walked off to follow Collei to the classroom.

A few more kids joined along through the day, and I thought that Diona would have been the only one of importance to tag along. Timmie was also there, but... yeah, memery aside he was just the average kid. As I was about to get the first day started, I was surprised when I saw a red little elf-sized projectile smashing through.

"Woah, this place is huge!" Klee squeaked loudly, turning to me and walking up to the counter. "Mister, is this the school? Is this where Klee can learn to make boom booms?"

"If you mean learning to be an engineer, then sure."

"Yay!" The girl bolted for the classroom, Collei blinking in surprise at such excitement for school.

Shortly after, a very tired but still very 'determined' Acting Grandmaster stepped into the reception area.

"Is she... already in the classroom?"

I nodded. "Oh, lady Jean. To think you can be such a doting auntie to such a giddy child. Be aware we will keep her busy."

She offered a smile, sleep bags validated by what she perceived as a promise of disciplining the child from becoming even worse in terms of explosive matters. But the only promise I could offer with my eyes was that I would keep little Klee from Sparkle and Yoimiya. That I was willing to do.

But deny such a cute firecracker the means to develop her pyromaniac skills? Never!

As she paid the fee and left, I looked at Jean's shoulders sagging as she retreated, perhaps truly 'freed' from the responsibility of sudden parenthood mixed with suddenly being the head of state of Mondstadt as a whole. And we were still in the Pre-Stormterror Crisis circumstances.

Poor Lady Jean, that paperwork was going to become the bane of her existance but...

Oh well, I am willing to keep my shady businesses hidden to preven more papers to weigh upon her groaning wooden desk.

And now, to shape the future of Mondstadt into fine gentlemen and gentlelady... all the while forgetting that the Fatui in town are going to notice an unsanctioned House of the Hearth had opened in Mondstadt. And the local Harbinger may have something to say about it.

AN

Next time, theEighth of the Fatui Harbingers faces the illegitimate Twelfth of the Fatui Harbingers. La Signora meets Brighella!