Paimon burst through the door of Galehaven Comics, her voice full of excitement. "Harlan, we're back with a new friend!"
Wendy followed Lumine and Paimon, his sharp eyes examining the shop's modern design with a mix of awe and curiosity. The polished shelves, comfortable seats, and bright portraits felt new yet welcoming, a clear change from Mondstadt's old stone. As Barbatos, his divine senses tingled—a subtle, strong energy pulsed within these walls, warning off any potential trouble.
Harlan sipped his tea behind the counter, his smile warm and steady. "Good to see you again, and welcome to our latest guest."
Lumine tilted her head, curiosity in her golden eyes. "Boss, we saw Barbara leaving with a fluffy white creature—was that one of your rewards?"
Paimon nodded vigorously, her hands clasped in delight. "It was adorable—no girl could say no to something that cute, unless it's a creepy crawler!"
Harlan set his cup down, his voice casual but precise. "That was Snowballmon, an infant Digimon Barbara earned from Digimon: First Frontier." He explained it calmly, knowing that keeping customers interested meant showing them the shop's wonders.
"Digimon: First Frontier?" Lumine repeated, her voice rising with excitement at the new title's arrival.
Paimon's face lit up, her eagerness spilling over. "A new comic already—I'm dying to dive in right now!" Their joy faded as Harlan's one-book-a-day rule appeared, causing them to sigh together.
Paimon zipped to Harlan, her expression pleading as she hovered in front of him. "Boss, I brought you a new customer—can't you stretch the rules so we can read more each day?"
Lumine joined in, her voice earnest. "The stories are too amazing to limit to one—please, just this once, for bringing Wendy?"
Harlan pinched Paimon's cheek, his refusal firm. "No bending the rules—it's set by the system, not me." He would enjoy having them stay daily, getting more rewards, but the system's strict control applied to him as much as to his guests.
Paimon's pout deepened, her soft cheek a fleeting comfort as Harlan looked at Wendy's quiet figure.
"Welcome, Wendy, Mondstadt's most celebrated bard," he said, meeting the bard's watchful stare with calm assurance. He had noticed Wendy's earlier scrutiny but didn't let it bother him—within these walls, he was in control, safe from any threat.
Wendy gave a charming grin, his voice light. "Word is your comics are a delight, so I thought I'd see for myself." Beneath his relaxed manner, doubt stirred—Harlan seemed like an ordinary person, without any elemental trace, yet this shop's magic defied that simplicity. Surely a man who could create such wonders had power beyond even a wind god's grasp, he thought silently.
Harlan gestured to the shelves with a practiced sweep. "We've got One Piece: East Sea Saga, Cardcaptor Sakura's Magic, and Digimon: First Frontier—100,000 Mora per read, once a day." Repeating this explanation for every new customer was getting old, making him think of putting up a sign or getting an assistant.
Wendy's jaw dropped, his voice cracking. "A hundred thousand Mora—for just one read?!" Paimon's chatter outside had not included that detail, leaving him shocked by the price.
"This is a tough spot," he groaned, rubbing his temples as the cost fully registered. Objectively, 100,000 Mora for a chance at rewards like Lumine's wind powers was a good deal, even a steal. But as Barbatos, his wallet was always empty—earnings from songs disappeared in tavern tabs as quickly as they came.
Paimon tilted her head, suspicion narrowing her eyes. "Wait, are you saying you're broke?"
"Hey!" Wendy chirped, his usual saying slipping out before he could stop it.
"Hey what?!" Paimon snapped, confused by his repeated exclamation as Harlan tried to hide a chuckle. The phrase reminded Harlan of a meme from a past life, a nostalgic memory he hadn't expected to encounter here.
Wendy turned to Lumine, his grin pleading. "Honorary Knight, how about a loan—I'll repay you with hard work, promise?" Having just saved Mondstadt, she must have a lot of Mora—or so he hoped.
Paimon's eyes bulged, her voice shrill. "What?! You're trying to freeload off us?!" "Y-you can't give it to him, Lumine, or we'll run out of money for new comics!" she added, panic in her plea.
Lumine hesitated, then gave Wendy an apologetic glance—200,000 Mora daily for her and Paimon already stretched their funds. More tasks were needed to keep their comic fund alive, leaving no room for charity.
Wendy sighed, turning to Harlan with a sheepish shrug. "Boss, how about credit—just this once?"
"Pay first, read after—that's the rule," Harlan replied, shaking his head with firm resolve.
"Rough day," Wendy muttered, his two rejections stinging as he thought hard about his options. Borrowing from Morax in Liyue crossed his mind—the Geo Archon made Mora, so he surely had plenty to spare. But the journey was long, and time too valuable, so he put that plan aside with a reluctant grimace.
Then Paimon's words sparked an idea, his face brightening. "Boss, what if I work here—no pay, just free reads?" He leaned forward, eyes gleaming with hope, mentioning his fame as Mondstadt's three-time favorite bard. His songs could spread Galehaven Comics' name far and wide, a benefit to any shopkeeper's business.
"An employee?" Harlan thought, his brow furrowing as he considered the ridiculousness of a wind god on his payroll. Wouldn't Barbatos risk being made fun of if his divine identity slipped during a shift? Wendy shrugged internally—it would be Wendy the bard working, not Barbatos, so what's the harm?
"System, can this work?" Harlan quietly asked, testing the proposal against the system's strict rules.
The reply flickered back: "Viable, but limited to one employee."
Harlan nodded to himself—Lumine had brought in a few well-known guests, but the shop's fame was still small-scale. Wendy's voice, famous and powerful, could echo beyond just alleys, speeding up his goal of thirty customers. A wind god selling comics in person? The thought amused him, a chance too good to pass up.
Still, he wouldn't agree easily—Wendy needed to earn it. "Alright, temporary job—if your promotion fails, you're back to paying."
Wendy's face split into a grin, relief washing over him. "No one tells a story like me—consider it done, boss, thank you!"
Paimon gasped, her voice rising. "Wait, he gets to read for free just like that?!" She and Lumine exchanged stunned looks—they had helped set things up, yet Wendy got the reward.
"I'm Mondstadt's top bard—perks come with the title," Wendy teased, winking at Paimon's frown.
Paimon huffed, clenching her fists. "You're so annoying—I'm calling you 'Songster' from now on!" The pain of his daily 100,000-Mora savings—her lost feasts—fueled her petty revenge.
Harlan interrupted, his tone sharp. "Enough—comics are on the shelf, Wendy, one a day, pick your choice."
"Got it!" Wendy chirped, moving to the shelves with a hum, then pausing. "Boss, which one has that Gourmet Tablecloth?"
"That's in Doraemon—not here yet," Harlan replied, settling back with a shake of his head.
Wendy nodded, not bothered—time would bring it, and he could wait. After a moment, he chose Digimon: First Frontier, the newest story promising fresh excitement for his bardic soul.
Across town, Barbara reached the Knights' headquarters, cradling Snowballmon with a grin. "Jean's going to freak out when she sees you, Snowball." She hurried inside, her steps light with the joy of sharing this comic-born wonder.