Chapter 158

Diluc also gave Takumi a taste of the sparkling water he had prepared.

After tasting it, Takumi touched his chin.

"A little too mild on the sourness," he commented. "You can add more lemon juice. Also, the sparkling water doesn't have enough bubbles. It needs to be fizzier."

Hearing Takumi's feedback, Diluc nodded. At this point, he fully trusted Takumi's suggestions and decided to refine the drink further.

After some adjustments, Takumi took another sip.

"Much better," he remarked, savoring the explosion of bubbles in his mouth. It closely resembled the taste of cola from his previous world.

Diluc also took a sip and nodded approvingly. "It's actually really good. It would taste even better with ice."

Saying this, he prepared more and added ice cubes. This time, he poured servings for everyone.

Paimon had been watching Takumi and Diluc the whole time, eager to try the new drink. Seeing their satisfied expressions, she couldn't hold back any longer. She grabbed a cup and took a big gulp.

"Hmm~!" Paimon's eyes lit up. "This is amazing! Refill, please!"

She quickly handed over her cup, prompting laughter from the others.

"What do you think?" Takumi asked Diluc. "Do you think this could be sold as a commercial drink?"

Diluc considered for a moment before nodding. "Definitely. The cost is low—just a few mora to produce a large barrel."

After a rough cost calculation, Diluc realized this could be quite profitable.

"If we package it properly, we could sell it in bottles," Takumi suggested. "Glass bottles would be best."

"We already use alchemical glass for wine bottles, but they're expensive. Ordinary glass would be much cheaper," Diluc observed.

On Mondstadt's side, glass was primarily an alchemical product, making it expensive and inaccessible to common folk. Most people still relied on paper or other materials for windows, while only the wealthy could afford glass.

Diluc nodded. "Alright, I'll take this business venture seriously. We can also start bottling other prepared drinks."

This idea was indeed promising. Unlike Liyue, Mondstadt didn't have many commercially available beverages; most drinks were made fresh at individual shops. The primary issue was the high cost of packaging. But if they could mass-produce glass bottles, this could change.

Takumi and Diluc quickly drafted a business plan. Takumi would provide the glass-making techniques, and Diluc would handle production and sales. Their interests aligned perfectly.

After finalizing their discussion, everyone continued drinking and enjoying themselves. Takumi didn't leave the tavern until after ten in the evening.

Despite drinking a considerable amount, Takumi felt no signs of intoxication. It had been a long time since alcohol had any effect on him.

After returning to the hotel, both he and Lumine took showers and went to rest.

The next morning, when Takumi woke up, he found the house already lively.

Klee, Qiqi, Yaoyao, and Diona had arrived early. Even Noelle was there, diligently tidying up while preparing breakfast.

As soon as Takumi stepped out of his room, Klee excitedly ran up to him. "Brother Takumi! Good morning!!"

Seeing Klee's bright and cheerful face first thing in the morning immediately lifted Takumi's spirits.

"Morning, Klee. How did you get here so early?"

Klee giggled. "Brother Takumi's business is done, so I came to take you out to play! Captain Jean said I should take you on a tour of Mondstadt!"

She clapped her hands together, eyes twinkling with excitement. "Brother Takumi, let's go to Cider Lake and blow up some fish! The fish there are super delicious!"

Takumi blinked. "Wait, your idea of 'taking me out to play' is… blowing up fish?"

Klee nodded enthusiastically.

Takumi sighed, but he couldn't refuse the eager little girl. "Alright, alright. Besides, I have some things to install around Mondstadt today. We can go on a tour."

"Yay!" Klee cheered. "Then hurry up, Brother Takumi! Brush your teeth and eat breakfast first! Noelle already made food!"

She was practically bouncing with excitement.

Seeing her enthusiasm, Takumi smiled and made his way to the bathroom. "Alright. Klee, go wake up Lumine and Paimon too. Tell them we're going out."

Klee saluted. "Roger!"

She immediately jumped off the sofa and ran to Lumine and Paimon's room. Without hesitation, she knocked loudly on the door.

Inside, Lumine groggily opened her eyes and stumbled to the door. As soon as she opened it, she was greeted by Klee's bright smile.

"Sister Honorary Knight! Time to wake up!!"

Seeing Klee's adorable face first thing in the morning was enough to wake Lumine completely. She rubbed her eyes and smiled. "Klee? What are you doing here?"

Klee giggled. "I came to find Brother Takumi! He's already up, and we're going out to play! So you and Paimon need to wake up too!"

Then, she grinned mischievously. "Or else, Brother Takumi will eat all the breakfast!"

At the mention of food, Paimon, who had been sleepily mumbling in bed, shot up instantly.

"Wait! There's breakfast?! I'm up!" she declared, bolting out of bed.

Lumine shook her head in exasperation. "You and food…"

She sighed and began preparing for the day while Paimon hurried to the bathroom.

Meanwhile, Klee stood proudly, hands on her hips. Mission accomplished.