Standing at the doorway of the Solace Book House, the three women froze in place.
What… did they just see?
An Abyss Mage sitting in the shop… reading manga?!!
And from time to time, it even let out strange, eerie noises…
Were they the ones who'd gone mad, or was it the world itself?
Amber rubbed her eyes in disbelief.
Where was the Abyss Order's dignity?
Where was that arrogance it had shown at Starsnatch Cliff, controlling the Stormterror?
And this is what they got instead?
For a moment, all three women suspected they'd walked into the wrong place.
Or maybe this Abyss Mage was just some idiot in disguise?
"You're here too? Come in."
Han Feng chuckled at their stunned expressions and waved them inside.
He already guessed why they had come.
No doubt, it was because of this Abyss Mage.
Yet here the creature was completely absorbed in manga…
Hearing his voice snapped the women out of their daze.
They entered one after another, greeting Boss Han politely.
Neither Amber nor Eula noticed, however, that Jean's cheeks had flushed faintly, her expression a little unnatural.
"Boss Han, that thing is really an Abyss Mage?"
Amber still couldn't quite believe it.
As an Outrider Knight, she'd dealt with the Abyss Order many times.
She'd encountered plenty of Abyss Mages too.
Every single one of them had been arrogant and overbearing.
But this one—what on earth was going on here?
The whole vibe was completely wrong!
"Yes."
Han Feng nodded and added calmly:
"To me, it doesn't matter who the guest is. As long as they're here to read manga, I treat them all the same."
With those words, Jean and the others immediately understood his stance.
Enemy or ally, it didn't matter— as long as they caused no trouble and were only here to read, he wouldn't interfere.
Well, at least not inside the shop.
The women exchanged glances, making a silent decision.
Since the owner wanted to do business, they would wait patiently for now.
They could deal with matters once they were outside.
Besides… they were curious too.
What sort of reward would an Abyss Mage even get?
Watching them settle onto the sofa, Han Feng couldn't help but sigh inwardly for the mage's fate.
As the shopkeeper, he would protect the store's environment and ensure customer safety.
But once anyone stepped beyond that door— it had nothing to do with him anymore.
It was like in Genshin's storyline:
the Raiden Shogun allowed the Traveler to walk out of Tenshukaku on her own two feet.
She did keep that promise.
But the moment the Traveler crossed the threshold, what awaited her was Musou no Hitotachi.
Half an hour passed.
Jean remained calm and collected on the sofa.
But Eula and Amber were already fidgeting.
On one hand, sitting idle without manga was boring.
On the other, the Good Hunter restaurant was supposed to serve its special Golden Fried Rice with Egg tonight.
If they arrived late, they might miss it.
That would be a terrible shame.
Thinking about it, both women's gazes at the Abyss Mage grew increasingly unfriendly.
Fortunately, they didn't have to wait too long.
Before long, the Abyss Mage finally finished the manga.
"So nostalgic!"
It set down Cooking Master Boy, its tone strangely complicated.
It had once thought that, after becoming an abyssal creature, its cravings for food had disappeared forever.
But today, here— with that intoxicating aroma in the air, and after reading this food manga…
the Abyss Mage realized something: there was still irresistible cuisine in this world.
For a moment, it almost felt human again.
"If only I could taste it with my own mouth—then I'd have no regrets!"
It sighed wistfully.
But then it remembered— Reading manga here came with rewards!
The owner had said before: the fragrance in the shop came from Mapo Tofu, and that dish came straight out of the manga.
The thought electrified the Abyss Mage.
It was as though the food itself were beckoning to it.
"Boss, my reward—wait, you?! What are you doing here?!"
Just as it was about to ask Han Feng for its prize, it noticed three familiar figures sitting on the sofa, staring at it with smiling eyes.
Its heart skipped a beat.
Damn it!
It had only meant to sneak a quick read, but had ended up so immersed that it hadn't even noticed Knights entering the shop!
Panic flared, and instinct told it to flee.
But then… something felt odd.
Judging by their demeanor, these three hadn't just arrived.
So why hadn't they captured it yet?
Could it be…
Unlike hilichurls, Abyss Mages were intelligent.
It quickly pieced things together.
"Is it because the shop owner is so powerful that Mondstadt's people don't dare act here?"
That possibility steadied its nerves.
As long as it stayed inside, nothing would happen to it!
With renewed boldness, it drifted right past the three women, even casting them a look full of disdain.
"Argh, that arrogance!"
Amber gritted her teeth.
Yep, there it was—the same old Abyss Mage behavior.
"Hmph, making me wait this long? I'll remember this grudge!"
Eula leaned back with a huff, her face full of dissatisfaction.
"Patience. Its arrogance won't last long. Once Boss closes shop, it'll regret it."
Jean chuckled softly.
Oblivious to their plotting, the Abyss Mage floated up to Han Feng.
"Boss, what's my reward?"
In front of Han Feng, its arrogance vanished entirely, replaced by genuine respect.
Practically the same deferential tone it used with "His Highness."
Han Feng could only shake his head.
You're strutting around now, but you'll regret it later.
Did you really think you could stay in here forever?
Still, as the shop owner, he wouldn't deny a customer their prize.
He glanced at the system.
The interface refreshed.
[Customer: Abyss Mage has finished reading Cooking Master Boy. Reward granted — "Mapo Tofu, Shao An's Version."]
[Mapo Tofu, Shao An's Version: Prepared by Shao An. Exceptional texture and flavor—a top-tier combination of tofu and meat.]
"Shao An's version of Mapo Tofu?"
Han Feng raised an eyebrow.
Klee had gotten Liu Maoxing's dish, but this Abyss Mage received Shao An's.
Though Shao An wasn't on Liu Maoxing's level, his cooking was still quite good.
In the manga, a certain bigshot even stacked his tofu one person tall without it collapsing.
A worthy delicacy, no doubt.
What piqued Han Feng's curiosity, however, was— how was the Abyss Mage even going to eat it?
In-game, once it took off its mask, there was no face beneath.
Buzz—
A dazzling light descended from above, and a delicate platter of Mapo Tofu appeared before the Abyss Mage.
"This one's made by Shao An."
Han Feng explained casually.
"Oh, it's his!"
The Abyss Mage recognized the name.
Shao An was the one who, at the beginning of the manga, challenged Liu Maoxing and tried to seize the Chrysanthemum House.
Only to be defeated later.
Still, the Abyss Mage wasn't disappointed.
As Boss Han said, to it, Shao An's Mapo Tofu was still a feast worth savoring.
Thrilled, it carried the dish back to the sofa— even pausing deliberately in front of Jean and the others, as if taunting them.
"Damn that Abyss Mage! It's not getting away with this later!"
"Another grudge added to the list!"
Eula and Amber were fuming, practically grinding their teeth.
They had originally planned to dine at Good Hunter.
But thanks to this Abyss Mage, they'd been delayed.
Now, after all this waiting, they even had to endure its provocation.
Unbearable.
They silently vowed: once outside, they would make sure this creature paid dearly.
~~--------------------------
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