Lucian turned around to look.
Brown hair tied up in a bun, black stockings covering her legs. Cold, indifferent eyes fixed on him—the person who had called out to him was none other than Chiori.
Lucian hadn't seen her during the trial, likely because she hadn't attended. She was probably here now to seek inspiration for new fashion designs. Or perhaps she was providing costume guidance for an upcoming opera troupe?
"What's the matter?" Lucian asked curiously. Why would she actively call out to me? Chiori and I only have a one-sided acquaintance at best.
He couldn't think of anything about himself that might catch Chiori's attention. She wasn't interested in fortune-telling, after all.
"May I ask where you bought the clothes you're wearing?" Chiori inquired.
Ah, so that's why she stopped me. It was because of the modern-style clothing he had on.
Lucian hadn't transmigrated into Teyvat as a soul—he'd arrived physically. That was also why he claimed to be an outlander rather than a native of Teyvat. Naturally, he'd been wearing clothes when he crossed over—the very ones he had on now. Although he'd bought some local outfits for changes after arriving in this world, he still preferred wearing this modern set for its convenience and comfort.
"So she's interested in my clothes?" Lucian mused silently. His attire wasn't particularly flashy, nor did it have any standout design elements. It was simply a style Chiori had never seen before.
"This outfit? Well, I'm the only one who has it. You can't buy it anywhere," Lucian answered truthfully. It truly was unavailable—after all, its place of origin was Earth. If Lucian had a way back, he could've helped Chiori order some, but unfortunately, he didn't.
"Only one set? Unavailable?" Chiori's expression remained neutral, but she tilted her head slightly, tapping her chin with her index finger in thought.
Unaware that Lucian came from another world, she interpreted his words as: "Unavailable, only he has it" = He's the designer, and only made this one set.
With that in mind, Chiori handed Lucian a business card for Chioriya Boutique. "If you have time, we could exchange ideas and learn from each other."
"Exchange ideas?" Lucian didn't quite follow.
"Yes, regarding clothing design," Chiori nodded. She seemed eager to engage in a creative exchange with him.
"? What the hell do I know about clothing design? Well, I can draw, though. Maybe I'll just sketch some anime-style outfits for her later. Come to think of it, back when I worked at Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, it was thanks to my drawing skills. My job back then was creating promotional artwork and slogans for Director Hu. Occasionally, I'd even accompany her in composing a couple of playful rhymes.
Aside from the system—his ultimate cheat—Lucian had another minor advantage after transmigrating: An exceptionally sharp memory, with every detail in his mind crystal clear. That was how he managed to write the Genshin Impact storyline.
With that in mind, Lucian replied, "Sure, let's exchange ideas when we get the chance."
Watching Chiori walk away, Lucian couldn't help but reflect. Outlanders really do get buffs, huh? It's only my second day in Fontaine, and I've already met almost all the major characters. Should I commit a crime next, like stealing Furina's cake? That way, I could meet Clorinde, Wriothesley, and Sigewinne too.
After some thought, Lucian dismissed the suicidal plan. Why would I willingly go to prison? Better to let things happen naturally.
The day had been eventful, and dusk was already settling in. Returning home, Lucian didn't rest but began drafting the plot for Chapter 2. He worked well into the night before finally going to bed.
Lucian and his editor had agreed on a release date two weeks later. Due to the time needed for printing and distribution, the two-week gap was necessary. If nothing unexpected happened, Lucian should have Chapter 2 finished within those two weeks. By then, Chapter 1 would be on sale, and Chapter 2 could enter the printing phase. Readers would finish Chapter 1 just in time for Chapter 2's release—what a satisfying serial experience!
The days that followed were quite comfortable for Lucian, as he no longer had to worry about money. The next day, Chenee even sent him a letter. Informing him that the stall application had been approved, she mailed the relevant documents to Lucian. He replied with a thank-you note. However, since he no longer needed the income, there was no reason to continue street vending.
After storing the documents away, he headed out to the Opera Epiclese. As expected, Furina was present for that day's trial as well. Once the trial concluded, she provided Lucian with another 100 Emotional Points. His total now exceeded 1,000 points.
"System, exchange for Hydro abilities and a Vision replica," Lucian commanded upon returning home. (He possessed an inventory space.)
"Exchange successful. 1,100 Emotional Points deducted." Hydro powers cost 1,000 points, while the Vision replica required 100. If he wanted to acquire a second elemental power, the cost would increase from 1,000 to 2,000 points.
A Hydro-blue Vision materialized in Lucian's hand. Though indistinguishable from a real one at a glance, this Vision held no elemental power. It was merely an ornament. Casually, Lucian clipped it to his waistband—the same spot meant for a belt. Thankfully, the Vision wasn't heavy, or his pants might've slipped right off.
Eagerly, Lucian began testing his Hydro abilities. Bringing his hands together, he summoned forth a tiny water dragon... no, a water snake. The miniature serpent measured about 30 cm in length and a mere 5 cm in width. Not even as big as Itto's Ushi.
"This..." Lucian felt slightly disappointed. He'd thought gaining elemental powers would make him significantly stronger. But this little water snake's offensive power probably wasn't much better than a water gun. In hindsight, Furina was truly a genius. Right after receiving her Vision, she managed to flood her entire house. Meanwhile, even if Lucian wanted to flood a room, he couldn't. Not to mention Furina's three Hydro constructs. Those entities could persist indefinitely and even possessed intelligence—utterly unbelievable.
"Sigh. It's a long road ahead," Lucian mused as he manipulated the water flow. The reason he'd chosen Hydro as his first element was to aid Navia as soon as possible. Conducting large-scale searches for evidence against Vacher would only alert him. A targeted search would require prolonged underwater exploration—facing dangers while remaining undetected by Vacher. Thus, mastering Hydro was essential.
"Well then, I'll go practice on some Blubberbeasts." Lucian decided to head outside the city to find Blubberbeasts. These creatures were sluggish on shore, rarely fighting back. Plus, their Hydro resistance made them perfect training dummies for his abilities. Of course, he had no intention of killing them—they were too adorable. He just wanted to practice the feel of elemental combat.
And so, Lucian's daily routine expanded beyond collecting Emotional Points at the Opera Epiclese. Now, it included trips outside the city to bully Blubberbeasts.
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Character Voice: Lucian • Chat • Blubberbeasts
"You know, I owe my current skills to the Blubberbeasts. You could even call them my mentors. Haha, aren't my teachers adorable?"