Mondstadt Tavern Tales

Synopsis:

Feng Lixi only found out, just before graduation, that she still hadn't completed the credits for one of her electives. Normally, all that mattered was earning enough elective credits, whether or not she finished the course. But, as luck would have it, she hadn't earned enough. For Feng Lixi, who had just survived a life-or-death battle with her graduation project, this was like a bolt from the blue.

After finally lying down to enjoy the fruits of her victory, she sat bolt upright as if on her deathbed, scrambled out of bed, and opened the textbook for the bartending class her thoughtful older brother had recommended.

"The Mondstadt Tavern Tales?"

Feng Lixi, a staunch supporter of the school's old-fashioned education system, said, "Wait, isn't this a game? I can't accept this as a study guide! And it's an old game from 500 years ago!"

Her brother reassured her. "Nothing matters more than graduating. Besides, this game is 500 years old, so in a way, it fits your old-fashioned principles, doesn't it?"

"What's more, the people at this game company played it 500 years ago, too. And don't you want to work at the same company as your dear friend? If you have to delay graduation, don't come crying to me about it."

Under the pressure of graduation, and because Feng Lixi really did want to work at the same company as her dear friend, she held her nose and installed the textbook.

And so she became the new owner of a tavern whose proprietor had died, whose eldest son had run away from home, and whose young second son was unable to manage the business and had to sell the tavern. She was also saddled with a contract clause requiring her to raise the young second son.

But... "What shiny thing? Where? I don't see anything!"

"Stupid game! It gave me a bug right from the start!"

"Hmph! I don't need these credits anyway!"

Then she looked up at the second young master, who was at least fifteen centimeters taller than she was and, according to the game, had been assigned to her as a free bonus because he was young and had no one to look after him. "?"

The second young master bent his knees and leaned down with a smile. "Hi, are you going to be my new mom?"

Feng Lixi firmly refused.

But Feng Lixi, whose only concerns were her credits and her dear friend, kept going anyway! Because she discovered that she could catch glimpses of traces her friend had left in the game by listening to the customers.

"Hmph! A little tavern like this is a piece of cake!"

"What? The runaway eldest son of the Dawn Winery is back, and he wants to buy back my tavern and his little brother?"

"Dream on!"

"Until I finish the main quest, become Teyvat's liquor industry tycoon, and go to Sumeru to marry my NPC friend, nobody's taking my tavern from me!"

PS: The game has no romantic pairings. The heroine is a Fourth Calamity, and all she cares about is her credits. Romance in a game would only slow down her score grinding, so she has no interest in romance in the game and naturally earns credits quickly! But she likes her friend and wants to be together forever. The main quest in Mondstadt Tavern Tales has three parts: 1. Collect shiny things. 2. Become Teyvat's liquor industry tycoon. 3. Raise the young second son until he comes of age.

A short story, starting a new project in the Year of the Snake! A snake-like heroine (nope). Hope you like it. I'll try to finish before cpgz07 (that's the dream).

Theme: Kindness and courage