9 Match, Part 2

The sound of sizzling meat coupled with talkative voices filled the air of Liyue's plaza.

"Hey, that smells really good!"

"I know right? My neighbor said he ate some and it was heavenly!"

"Man, this meat is perfect! I've never had such a delicious meal before! This must be what the adepti eat!"

"Hmm. While not what the adepti feast, this is truly worthy of recognition. I may dislike seafood, but this dish tastes nothing like it."

And the center of it all was the Wanmin Restaurant.

"Hey Chef Mao! Another dish of this please!"

"Oh, the exclusive Soft Omurice? Of course!"

"Chef Mao! It seems you're busier than ever tonight."

"Ah, Lady Ningguang. What a surprise to see you here. Say, would you like to order something?"

"Oh, nothing in particular. I simply came to see what all the bustle was about. While Wanmin does get its fair share of customers, tonight's amount was quite shocking."

"Indeed Lady Ningguang. Although it is all thanks to our new, temporary chef here."

"Oh? And who may he be?"

"Someone the Traveler, Lumine, dropped off earlier today. He has been in the kitchen ever since. I tried asking him to take a break, but he refused. He's more stubborn than Xiangling!"

"Hmm. What an interesting fellow. A chef that Lumine knows who refuses to leave the kitchen. May I talk to him?"

"Of course. You know where to find him."

"Mm."

Walking gracefully into the small kitchen area, Ningguang finally got a clear view of this new chef. Wearing a black apron and matching gray clothes, the chef stood a good head above her. Looking up at the chef who was facing towards the stove, Ningguang noted white hair, dark skin, and muscular limbs.

He isn't from here, she thought, before the chef spoke, cutting into her musings.

"Hello. If you are here to order food, please go to Chef Mao as he is taking orders. I'm simply a chef here."

"Hoho. Simply a chef you say, yet Chef Mao cites you as the reason for the sudden increase in customers."

"...I'm flattered."

"While good chefs who are impartial are hard to find, finding a foreigner in Liyue's signiture restaurant is a little shocking. If it wasn't for the increase in customers, I'd have asked Chef Mao to kick you out."

The chef seemed to pause for a moment, before setting down whatever cooking tools he had. Turning around, the chef faced Ningguang, a guarded look on his face.

"And you are?"

"I am Ningguang, the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing. I own the Jade Chamber you see floating in the sky above Liyue harbor. I also happen to finance this restaurant."

"Lady Ningguang hmm? A pleasure to meet you. I am Archer, a traveler from elswhere, similar to the Traveler Lumine."

"So I have heard. Well, do disregard my earlier statement. I was merely testing the waters. Say, may I order a dish?"

"Of course. Take your pick."

"What exclusive specialties are you serving?"

"Omurice and Tempura, two dishes from a country named Japan in my world. Hamburger, a dish from America. A couple different types of stew from numerous places around the world. And, anything that either Chef Mao, Lumine, or you have the recipe of."

"Well, well. What a wide arrange of choices. Since there's so many, I'll let you choose for me then."

"...Very well. Any preferences?"

"Slow-cooked bone soup over some cabbage leaves is one of my staples. I assume you could choose a couple dishes based off that info."

Nodding, Emiya turned back towards the stove, already knowing what dishes to cook.

"Then I'll go and find a seat. You'll be able to find me when my dishes are done."

Turning, Ningguang graciously walked out of the kitchen and settled down on a seat next to a certain someone.

"So you have also come to appraise the new chef's cooking, Lady Ningguang."

"Zhongli. You came as well. I see you have already tried some of his dishes."

"That I have. Truly, they are worthy of the high praise given by the people. A traveler from a land afar that Lumine met a couple days ago. He had brought a partner with him although right now, they are not in the city."

"Oh? A partner? Do tell."

"Very well. If perhaps the largest difference between the two is that the other carries a bright red spear. While I do not recognize such a design, anyone could tell with a glance that that spear is no ordinary weapon. If anything, it is at least on par with an adepti's lance."

Pausing, Zhongli took a drink before continuing on with what he had noticed.

"That one is called Lancer. This one, our new chef, would also seem to be a warrior of the battlefield. While he carried no weapons, he himself acts like someone who has seen far too much bloodshed. Earlier, he was wearing a bright red cloth and what seemed to be armor."

"Hmm. I believe Archer was his name. If those two are from other worlds, then that cloth and armor would also not be made of anything you would recognize right?"

"Correct. That armor seemed to be imbued with some sort of otherwordly power while the armor...."

"Yes?"

"Whatever it is made of, I have feeling it is something that does not exist."

"What? Zhongli, even if you are a renowned figure within Liyue, even you must not sport such uncanny remarks."

"Perhaps. Consider it intuition then. After all, only those two would know exactly what they have and are no?"

"Mm. True."

As the two watched the busy restaurant, the flap to the kitchen suddenly flew up, revealing Emiya holding a couple smoking hot dishes. Emiya looked around for a bit before spotting Ningguang and Zhongli sitting by a table.

"Lady Ningguang. Here are your dishes," he said, having made his way to their table.

"Wonderful. Thank you. Say, what are these dishes."

"They are-"

"Hey Archer!"

Cut off suddenly by a loud yell, Emiya turned his head, an exasperated look on his face.

"Lancer. Couldn't you have waited just a little longer."

"Haha. No way! How could I when you're clearly cheating on a certain someone."

"Lancer. I am not."

"Well, what can I say? It's all your passive skills' fault!"

"Hey E- I mean Archer!"

"Hello Lumine and Paimon."

"Hello. Oh, hey Ningguang and Zhongli. Seems you two ended up meeting the two travelers."

"Greetings Lumine, Paimon, and Lancer."

"Greetings."

"Hey hey! Paimons never seen Wanmin so busy before! You must be making some good food. Quick! Cook Paimon one!"

"Paimon, what do you say?"

"Pleaseeee?"

"Sure, sure. Any preferences?"

"Paimon doesn't care! Anything Archer makes taste amazing!"

"I am in agreement with that statement."

"Say, Zhongli", Lumine said turning to face the man, "and Ningguang, what are you two doing here?"

"Well, we both heard the ruckus here and came to take a look. Archer just finished his dishes for me."

"Oh, that's great! Have you eaten something already Zhongli?"

"Yes, I have."

"Hmm. Paimon got a feeling that you two weren't just here for that. But anyway! Lancer has some news for you Archer!"

"You do?"

"'Course! Got it during the fight with Tartaglia."

"Oh you fought the Harbinger? How was it?"(Ningguang)

"Pretty fun. I won 'course, but, no offense to him, that fight didn't beat the fight I had with Archer."

"Oh. Interesting."

"Eh, well, Archer."

"Yes?"

"Da Vinci contacted me. It seems we're going home tomorrow evening."

"Oh. So they finally made it."

"Huh? You don't seem to suprised."

"Of course, why would I be? Chaldea literally has numerous geniuses working on trying to locate us and get us home. How long did you think it would take, a month?"

"Er....I guess not."

"And this is why you're in the backlines whenever we go on missions."

"Hey! If you wanna insult me like that, fight me instead! I'm pretty pumped after that fight with Childe!"

"Lancer. You know that if we fight, we'll ruin a bunch of places here."

"Ruin? How so? Pray, do tell."(Zhongli)

"Well, I mean, Archer here has arrows that are more explosive than Klee's bombs while Lancer's spear, based on the fight from today, could literally destroy a mountain if he wanted to."

"You used your Noble Phantasm?"

"What? I didn't use the stabbing one. Plus, I had weakened myself so that it would be a fight between skill rather than power."

"....sigh."

"You two otherwordly beings sure are powerful. A shame that you're leaving so soon."

"Well, because their leaving, Paimon can't eat Archer's food anymore! Archer, you have to prepare food to last Paimon until the end of time! Please??"

"And what about me?"

"Er, Lumine too!"

"Haha. Sorry Paimon, but no food would last that long. And even if they did, they would quickly loose their nutritional value so I decline."

"Aww."

"Well, since you two are leaving tomorrow evening, Ningguang and I best not take anymore of your time. You two probably have some people you wish to bid farewell before you go."

"Well, yea, I guess. We got Mondstadt's knights to say goodbye too huh."

"Mm."

"Well, then we're off to Mondstadt! It was nice seeing you two around here in Liyue. See you two later then!"

"Of course, farewell until next time Traveler. And farewell Archer and Lancer."

"Farewell, Lancer, may your travels be kind. Archer."

"Yes?"

"Your armor from earlier...it is not something that has been found yet correct?"

"I'm impressed that you noticed, Zhongli. That is correct. As we are from another world, my items do not register in this world as something recognizable."

"I see."

"Well actually, his armor is from the future in our world too."

"Lancer."

"What? It's not like knowing is gonna change anything."

"Sigh."

"Goodbye, Miss Ningguang and Mr. Zhongli. Twas nice meeting ya'."

"Ah, please wait a moment."

Walking back towards the restaurant, Emiya tapped Chef Mao's shoulder.

"All the dishes that were ordered earlier are done and in the kitchen. I will be taking my leave now, Chef Mao. Thank you for letting me stay."

"Ahaha! No problem kid. Say, thanks for stopping by and cooking so many dishes. If you ever think of coming back, just know that Wanmin will always welcome you!"

Smiling warmly, Emiya said another thanks before rejoining Paimon, Lumine, and Cú. As the four began their trek out of the city and towards Mondstadt, Chef Mao cupped his mouth and shouted.

"Hey, customers of Wanmin Restaurant. As our temporary chef has just left, all exclusive dishes will no longer be served! Thanks for coming!"

"Aww."

"Damn it. I never got to try the legendary omurice!"

"I know right? I wanted to eat that hamburger!"

"Well. I guess we'll just have to hope he comes back."

"Yup."