Draconic Impact Chapter 37

Edited by: Priapus

“I called because I thought it had been a while since we talked…” I comment after a few seconds of silence. “But now I’m not sure if I should be bothering you. You look awful.”

My sister consistently ensured her self-care was meticulously maintained. She was always dressed properly, no matter the situation, and well-rested despite how many responsibilities she had. She was always in peak physical and mental condition as her job demanded it. It was impossible to see her in this chaotic state I’m seeing. To say that I am surprised by this would be an understatement.

“I’ve had a rough week.” She sighs deeply, tiredly rubbing her temples.

The usual optimistic and professional Carmine is nowhere to be seen. In her place is a disheveled mess with visible bags under her eyes and messy hair, wearing nothing but a black crop string top and sports shorts of the same color. Something she only wears during the extremely rare times she goes on vacation. Or, as I’ve come to know it, her ‘don’t bother me or else’ alone time.

Seriously. She is far less tolerant during ‘alone time’. Even Mother stays far away from her.

I resist a shudder. Never again.

What I’m trying to say is this is an indication that she is not having a good time wherever she is. Because Carmine going on a vacation means she’s extremely burned out, and that doesn’t bode well for anyone.

“I can tell,” I reply. “I’ve not seen you like this in ages. What’s happening on your side? Everything alright?”

“Overall, yes. Thankfully.” She mumbles. “It’s just a lot of things going on.”

That is a loaded sentence.

“I see.” I hum. “I can lend an ear if you’re willing to talk, Carmine.”

She hesitates before sighing, taking me up on the offer.

“I don’t know where to start.” She says. “Thing is, I’m convinced that she sent me here as punishment.”

“How come?”

“Because this whole world runs on pure and utter stupidity.” She huffs. “There’s not a lick of logic anywhere, 90% of the people are braindead morons who aren’t able to think more than two minutes ahead, and the supposedly ‘intelligent’ percentage are incapable of following basic orders.”

“Are you sure it’s not you having too high expectations?” I try to argue. Not to say I have an idea what it’s like over there, but she tends to expect absolute perfection from the people around her. “Not everyone is as capable as the Ama Clan elites.”

“My ‘party’ consists of a masochist who couldn’t hit a stationary target if her life depended on it, a brat who only knows one spell that leaves her exhausted after a single cast, and an actual, sub-70 IQ ‘goddess’.” She lists off. “The only normal person in that so-called ‘adventurer party’ is an opportunistic, perverted scumbag who made everyone in town think I’m a working dominatrix.”

I barely contain my laughter once I hear that, seeing how upset she is. Carmine? A dominatrix? That’s amazing.

“No, Crimson. It’s not funny.” She glares at me. “They still call me that even after correcting them, and I’m not about to hear it from my own brother.”

“Sorry, sorry. That just caught me off guard.” I clear my throat. I will call her that when she’s in a better mood. “So, this strange party of yours?”

“Hah. I swear there hasn’t been a single mission we went on that they didn’t somehow get us in all sorts of trouble. Despite my VERY clear instructions, one of them would find a way to fuck up.” She continues complaining. “But you know what’s really upsetting about this whole thing? It’s that they have fantastic potential as a party, even without me. Seeing them not utilize their skillset and realize their true potential pisses me off to no end.”

“If they’re causing this much grief, why not leave them?” I ask. “You’re not obligated to help them out, are you? And last I checked, you preferred to work alone. I’m surprised you joined a party at all.”

Again, Carmine hesitates.

“It’s… complicated.” She avoids answering with a grimace. “They’re not bad people, at the end of the day. If anything, outside work, I’d say I even enjoy their company. They’re just… very frustrating when on the job.”

“Ah, so they’re like me.”

“Somehow, they’re worse.” She says. “You are intentionally frustrating to work with because you want to annoy me. They are comically incompetent for no reason. It gets so baffling sometimes that I can’t help but laugh.”

“That’s certainly something,” I mutter in mild surprise.

This was all very new. A side of her that I’ve never seen. Yes, she has dealt with incompetence before, as well as me, for most of our lives, but for it to get to this point is almost inconceivable. Not that long ago, she was all excited to try out this system we’ve been given, and now she almost looks like she’s regretting taking our mother’s offer. All of this happened in the span of a little over a month.

She went from ‘very eager’ to ‘nearly burned out’ in about 40 days. For reference, she usually only reaches her ‘burnout’ state after a few centuries of nonstop working.

Despite my concern for her well-being, I also feel somewhat threatened by this. Are these people this much more annoying than me? This is the first time I’ve ever heard her say that, and I would’ve ignored it had she said she hated them. But she doesn’t— she thinks they’re charming, meaning she does not loathe them. That’s not right. If there’s no hatred involved, it means they’re true annoyances, and I can’t have someone snatch the Crown of Nuisances from me. But how to beat someone like that?

“Um…” Carmine notices my worried expression. “Why do you look a little troubled all of a sudden?”

“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

Seems I’m facing professionals at work here. I salute them, whoever they are.

Suddenly, Eula barges into our tavern room with an impatient look, ready to scold me.

“How long are you going to stay in there—” She freezes as she sees the holographic screen emitted by my watch, meeting Carmine’s confused gaze with one of surprise. “Oh…”

“Ah, Eula.” I greet her before pointing at my sister. “Come say hi to Carmine.”

“You’re Eula Lawrence?” Carmine tries to give a polite smile, despite how tired she is. “Crimson told me all about you. It’s nice to finally meet you, and I’m sorry for everything you had to deal with. I know what he’s like.”

“How rude. Saying that in front of me.” I call her out half-heartedly.

“Er, no, he’s been great,” Eula replies, looking uncharacteristically nervous.

“Yeah, I’m sure.” Carmine rolls her eyes before addressing me. “I have to get going. Thanks for checking up on me. It’s… nice. Having someone to talk to about all of this.”

“Anything for my beloved sister,” I respond.

“If I didn’t know you any better, I would’ve called you gross.” She scoffs playfully. “Talk to you later.”

And with that, she ends the call, prompting the holographic screen to disappear. I get up from my bed afterwards, looking at the surprised Eula expectantly. However, before I ask what’s on the agenda today, she speaks.

“So that’s the twin sister you always talk about…” She says, meeting my gaze. “You look nothing alike.”

“Carmine looks like a younger, nerdier version of our mother, while I take after our grandfather far more than either of our parents.” I shrug. “Genetics is confusing.”

More so when dragons are involved, so it always was a wonder to me how my mother’s non-dragon genes were the dominant ones. I look nothing like my father’s side of the family. Not that I care, of course.

I like the red eyes I got from Gramps.

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– Ningguang –

“And so?” She started, looking directly at her fellow Qixing member in intrigue. “What did you learn?”

Keqing remained silent for a moment, taking some time to phrase her response, which Ningguang was highly interested in. After all, this so-called dragon was a very elusive and quite terrifying individual. Not even the best agents in Liyue could keep an eye on him without being noticed. A cause for concern, to be sure— just what were they dealing with here? Who was Crimson, and what was he after?

Questions she hoped her colleague would be able to answer now that she had spent a good few hours and managed to have a proper conversation with him. To tell the truth, Ningguang was a bit worried about Keqing, as the girl in front of her wouldn’t know subtlety if it slapped her in the face. She was extremely straightforward, and that had its pros, but for something like this? The Tianquan wasn’t so sure.

She wouldn’t put it past the girl to easily piss him off. To those who weren’t very familiar with her, they usually took her bluntness as disrespect. Even though usually, they couldn’t do anything about it, considering her political position. But the alleged dragon? Why would he possibly care about who she might be?

Thankfully, Keqing had returned safely and, seemingly, with no complications. Ningguang had admittedly sighed in relief once she saw the young girl walking around in the Jade Chamber. Good news for once, thankfully. First time since Morax’s death.

“He is… strange,” Keqing answered simply. “Rather, not at all what I expected a dragon to be.”

“Really now?” Ningguang hummed. “Well, it is odd how he is seemingly content to work as a typical merchant. I’d expect a dragon to be too proud for such an insignificant job. But could you explain what you mean?”

“Like you just said, you’d expect a proud and pompous personality, aware of his power. Or perhaps a being wise beyond his years. But he just seems human.” She said. “Playful, temperate, oddly polite. I almost dismissed the Adepti’s claim that he is a dragon.”

“Almost?” Ningguang noticed her peer’s odd choice of words. “So, something confirmed their claim?”

“His power.” Keqing nodded. “He tore a Lawachurl’s leg off in a single attack, without a weapon or vision to aid him. And he did it in a way where I couldn’t even see him moving.”

Ningguang didn’t immediately respond, blowing a cloud of smoke after inhaling from her pipe. That was certainly worrying. Not only was he sharp enough to instantly notice anyone spying on him, but he was also that powerful? Of course, defeating a Lawachurl solo wasn’t the most impressive accomplishment ever, but the way Keqing described it…

“Something tells me this isn’t even close to what he is truly capable of.” She added. “He is dangerous. In a way I never even imagined.”

Equal to the adepti at least… She thought.

The only human she knew of that was capable of a similar feat was perhaps Beidou, who had been monstrously powerful even before receiving a Vision. So, on the off chance that this Crimson ever decided to be an enemy, he could do untold harm before they were able to put him down.

Of course, this is still a big ‘if’. Despite her claims of what she had witnessed, Keqing didn’t seem as anxious as one would expect. In a way, she seemed oddly relieved.

“Do you believe he is hostile?” Ningguang questioned.

“No. Thankfully.” Keqing shook her head. “I spoke to and asked him about his intentions directly.”

Not how I’d go about such a delicate subject… Ningguang resisted an exasperated sigh.

“He told me he was from another world. Like the Traveler, allegedly.” She continued. “And he had come to Teyvat on a vacation. In his own words, he seeks food, drinks, and women. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“A vacation where he decided to work for a small business?” The Tianquan raised an eyebrow.

Though she kept his ‘interests’ in mind. Hedonists were very easy to please, so she was glad to hear that was the case for him.

“I did think it was odd as well.” Keqing agreed. “And while I don’t think he was telling the whole truth, I don’t believe he was lying either. He is not here to make an enemy out of anyone.”

As ominous as that might sound, given that he was ‘not telling the whole truth,’ it ultimately put most of Ningguang’s concerns to rest. After all, tricking Keqing was damn near impossible. Even the best liar in the world couldn’t get past her gut feeling. She was something else.

And as long as whatever he planned did not hurt Liyue and its citizens, Ningguang couldn’t care less what he did. If anything, his business was benefiting her and the region. Nine Lives was rapidly gaining popularity among the locals. So, perhaps, there was an opportunity there.

“I see.” Ningguang leaned back on her chair. “So, knowing all of this, what do you suggest? How do we handle this dragon?”

Keqing paused for a moment before answering.

“At first, I thought that a hands-off approach might be our best bet. We don’t bother him; he doesn’t bother us. End of story.” She said. “But now, I believe that you were right. Becoming his friend might do us well.”

“Oh? And why the change of heart?”

“Because while I don’t entirely trust Crimson, I trust the Fatui far less.” She replied simply. “I have a feeling that whatever they're doing here will eventually clash with our interests. A powerful warrior like him in our back pocket would be invaluable when the time comes. Whether he is a dragon or not is irrelevant.”

“Understandable. If he truly is as powerful as you make him out to be, then I’d love to have him on my side.” Ningguang nodded. More so, considering he’s able to act with freedom the adepti otherwise didn’t have. “In case the Fatui turn out to be the traitorous scum that they are shaping up to be.”

Ningguang shared that feeling with Keqing. The fact that the Fatui would betray them was an inevitability, rather than a possibility. Subtle as they may be, they’d always been a sketchy bunch, and Ningguang had never liked their Tsaritsa. Something about her always felt off, and the Tianquan hadn’t gotten this far by dismissing her gut feeling.

So, assuming they did betray Liyue with whatever it was they planned to do…

Well, blindsiding them with a sudden dragon attack sounded hilarious.

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– Crimson –

Perhaps I should’ve seen this coming. As lazy as I can be, I can only ignore my responsibilities to a certain extent.

As a few more happy customers walk away with a couple of bottles, I lean back on my chair and rest my legs on the stall. Especially when the woman I brought with me won’t let me slack off. It’s rude of her to leave me here all alone while she goes on to complete a few commissions on her own, but there’s no one to blame but myself, I suppose. Makes it more annoying that she has a good point.

I can’t realistically grow my business if I don't put in the effort. Honestly, I’ve neglected my stall for too long. Leaving it unmanned for extended periods would waste Diona's potential and cause me to lose loyal customers and business opportunities. Not that I’m happy with what I have to do.

I should’ve hired someone to do this for me a while ago.

Then again, there have been far fewer people in the market today compared to the rest of the week, and other stall owners have taken the day off. I’m not sure why exactly, but I’d heard a few people speaking about a fleet of some sort returning from an expedition. The ‘Crux’, I believe they’re called. The excitement among the civilians is palpable— local celebrities, perhaps?

I lazily look to my right, where the pier is, seeing a great ship that I’d never seen before anchored near the dock. Civilians surround said ship, and I can hear their cheers from all the way over here. Admittedly, I’m highly intrigued, and I’d like to see what the commotion is all about. Unfortunately, I did promise Eula that I wouldn’t let anything distract me from my job this time…

I turn my gaze toward the stall in front of me, then the stacked crates of various alcoholic drinks next to it, and get an idea. Seeing there’s barely anyone here, I might as well temporarily relocate my business to a populated part of the city and spread the word myself. I doubt Eula would complain about this.

I get off my chair, pick a few select choices that are becoming popular with the locals, and proceed towards the pier. Once I get close enough, I see a crew of sailors unloading supplies from their ship— ornate chests and tattered bags, some jingling softly with every movement, indicating precious contents 

No, not mere sailors. They’re pirates, that much I can tell after seeing their leader telling the tale of acquiring these treasures besides an open chest filled to the brim with shiny gold and silver. Glimmering gems and expensive jewelry of all sorts, from rings and necklaces to tiaras and brooches.

But what’s really fascinating here is their captain. A tall, well-toned, and fit woman with long, waist-length dark brown hair and a right eye that is deep red in color, uniquely shifting into gold. Her left eye is covered by a red eyepatch. A proper pirate, I suppose. Only missing a peg leg and a hook.

And beauty aside, I can easily tell that this woman here might just be the most powerful human I’ve laid eyes on thus far. Equal or perhaps surpassing Eula, who only got as powerful as she currently is because of my help. Very fascinating. I thought I had already seen the strongest mortals this world has to offer, and the only foes that could prove to be worthy were the gods.

Of course, this woman is nowhere near as powerful as I am, but seeing her makes me hopeful.

“Aha, Crimson! Fancy seeing you here.” Hu Tao says, patting me on the back with surprising force. “Interested in the great Beidou, I see?”

“You could say that. I noticed many were rushing to the pier, so I thought I’d relocate my business for today.” I gesture at the crowd. “So, you mean to tell me that all of this is that woman’s doing? Quite the celebrity, isn’t she?”

“Of course. No upstanding citizen of Liyue would turn up their nose at our beloved captain.” She nods. “Queen of the Crux Fleet and Uncrowned Lord of the Ocean— a free-spirited pirate whom not even the mighty leviathan could oppose.”

I can’t tell if this is merely exaggerated boasting or if there’s merit to her words, so I don’t comment on that. I’m not even sure what’s deemed a leviathan in this world, so there’s no real weight behind those claims, at least to me.

“So she is a pirate.” I hum.

“Well, kind of. She doesn’t plunder or attack innocent people, if that’s what you’re worried about. She’s closer to a mercenary. Independent from the Adventurer Guild.” Hu Tao shrugs. “Though she violates many other laws instead, and always ends up having to pay a hefty fine upon her return.”

“What sort of laws does she break?” I ask, a little interested.

“Oh, you know, public intoxication, property damage, disorderly conduct, a few drunken brawls here and there…” She lists off. A woman after my own heart. “Pirate things.”

A free spirit through and through. I can respect that. Who doesn’t break a few laws every once in a while? Though I’m surprised she’s still popular with the locals. Then again, I’m quite popular back home as well, so perhaps not that unexpected.

Regardless, I can use this. If I get her hooked on my drinks, her popularity would propel my business even further than I had initially anticipated. Moreover, she’s a pirate who I’m pretty sure travels a lot—a straightforward way to spread my product throughout Teyvat.

But most importantly, she’s very cute, and I like pirates. I’ve never met a pirate who didn’t want to have fun.

As I’m about to ask Hu Tao a few more questions, wondering if there are certain things I shouldn’t do, I quickly realize that the girl has suddenly disappeared. I look around for a moment, spotting her walking away with the little zombie girl I met in the pharmacy over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

“Time you moved on to the next world, little one.” Hu Tao says. “I know, I know. No need to thank me.”

Although entirely expressionless and unmoving, I could feel overwhelming rage emanating from the undead girl, telling me I should maybe do something about this and stop her before anything terrible happens.

…Oh, I’m sure it’ll be fine. Doesn’t concern me anyway.

Now, to get in the good graces of Ms. Pirate…

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– Beidou –

Another day, another successful voyage across the seas. Even more so than usual, seeing the amount of treasures they’d plundered this time around. Enough gold and silver to spend an entire week dedicated to feasting and partying. What else would a sailor like her do?

Ah, but the loot was only half the fun. Beidou was a free-spirited adventurer, first and foremost. She enjoyed exploring uninhabited islands and old ruins, discovering the ancient history of past civilizations. She loved defeating monsters and treasure hoarders alike, helping those in need along the way. The sense of freedom to do whatever she wanted— that’s why she’d worked so hard to get her beloved ship.

True, their ‘voyage’ mainly had been under Ningguang’s orders this time, as treasure hoarders had been getting a bit too brazen and decided to test her patience, as well as the rumors of the Abyss Order operating somewhere at sea, but that didn’t exactly go against Beidou’s desires.

Although she held a great deal of respect for that woman, she wasn’t exactly Ningguang’s subordinate. Instead, they were partners: Beidou handled some of her dirty work, and in exchange, the Tianquan granted her and her crew more leniency. Despite not being officially affiliated with the Qixing, Liyue was still her home. She had been born and raised here, after all, so she couldn’t exactly leave those lunatics hellbent on destroying the world unhandled.

The only reason they’d returned to Liyue Harbor was that they were running out of supplies. If it were in her hands, she would’ve continued searching and looting island after island until they’d either found and dealt with the Abyss Order, or the ship couldn’t carry any more booty. Not to say she dreaded such a thing— quite the opposite. Sharing tales of their victories with the civilians as they partied until dawn was one of her favorite pastimes.

And, naturally, Beidou and her crew constantly yearned for Liyue’s delicious and nigh-unrivaled cuisine after weeks at sea. The tough salted meat, hardtack, and raw fruit had lost their appeal very quickly, and it didn’t take them too long to desire the flavors of stir-fried dishes and steaming dumplings.

Food is food, of course, and as someone who grew up in poverty, she never complained. But even she had to admit that having jerky for breakfast, lunch, and dinner was starting to drive her insane. But now, they were back home, where all their cravings could be satisfied.

As the sun set on the horizon, her crew, as well as a few familiar faces, gathered aboard the ship around a long table, where they danced, laughed, and enjoyed the finest of Liyue’s delectable cuisine, a feast prepared by the region's most esteemed chefs—a well-deserved reward for their bravery.

As for their captain? Naturally, she had her fill of Xiangling’s finest, but at the moment, she was far more interested in the half-full bottle of rum in her hand.

“When you said the best I’d ever taste, I imagined it was the mere, baseless boasting of a merchant.” She said. “But you were right. This is something else. I’ve never had anything like it.”

She glanced at said merchant sitting in front of her. An admittedly handsome man with messy black hair and red eyes, wearing nothing more than a white shirt, dark leather jacket, and light blue jeans. A modest outfit— usually, merchants wore something more eye-catching. He seemed like the kind of person who very easily blended in with crowds.

This man, who went by the name of ‘Crimson,’ had approached her in an effort to sell her some of his merchandise, in which she typically would be very interested. Alcohol? Made and produced in the highly esteemed Mondstadt? What reason would she have to refuse?

Well, she had two reasons. One, she simply saw no reason to humor him, seeing that she already had all the rum she could want anyway. Why waste her money on alcohol when she could drown in her own supply?

Two, the man seemed a little… slimy for her taste. Beidou was a good judge of character, and while she could tell he wasn’t exactly malicious or evil, he did seem rather opportunistic. Was this a bad thing? No, not really. But she didn’t exactly like dealing with his type. Not when he looked a bit too interested in her body rather than her money.

Not to say she blamed him. Beidou was aware of her beauty, and every single merchant she met was the same. Regardless, she had been ready to decline his offer until he offered the first bottle for free. At which Beidou had thought, ‘Why not? What’s the worst that could happen anyway?’

Now she realized she might’ve made a little mistake, because his rum tasted utterly divine. It made everything before it taste stale and boring.

“The lady I work for has quite the magical touch.” He responded. “I take it you like it, then?”

“Like it? It’s the best thing I've ever tasted, and I’ve traveled far and wide. I’ve seen the best Teyvat has to offer.” She answered truthfully. “This is on an entirely different league.”

“High praise coming from you.” He smiled gratefully. “Then, I assume you are willing to do business?”

Truthfully? She was. If all of his products are the same quality, then the next few days here would be far more enjoyable. They’d party harder than they ever had before. Moreover, it wasn’t guaranteed that they’d find Crimson in Liyue the next time they came from their journey. He was, in his own words, a traveling merchant.

But still…

“5,000,000 Mora for a single bottle is a steep price.” She admitted with a sigh. “I don’t usually pay this much for rum. Honestly, I would’ve smacked you across the face over this ridiculous offer had I not tasted this first.”

Moreover, rum was usually cheap.

“Very understandable. This here is part of my finest selection, after all. I expect only nobles or royalty to afford it.” He nodded. “However, I am willing to give you a discount.”

“What’s the catch?”

“None at all.” He answered. “As long as you spread the word, I’m happy.”

Beidou paused, thought about it for a moment, then decided to humor him.

“Let’s hear it.”

“I’ll give you one keg worth of the rum — equaling roughly about a hundred bottles – for only 100,000,000 Mora.” He offered. “That’s about a fifth of the price. Get a second keg of any of my other products, and I’ll sell it for half the discounted price.”

“So 150,000,000 for two kegs…” She hummed. “You drive a hard bargain…”

But that’s equal to about a quarter of all the loot they’d gathered. Was she really willing to spend that much on alcohol? She wasn’t sure. Half of her crew would beg her to do this, and the other, rational half would… probably also tell her to take the offer. It was still too much, though—way too much to spend on drinks.

…Then again, beside paying her fines and maintaining her ship, what use did money have?

She stared at the bottle in her hand, then switched her gaze to Crimson, who patiently waited for her answer. She looked him up and down, her lips curving into a smile as she had an idea.

“Are you a gambling man, Crimson?”

He blinked and raised an eyebrow.

“Oh? What do you have in mind?”

“Usually, I’d suggest a game of cards. Or even a coin flip.” She said. But something tells me that’s a bad idea. “But how about a test of strength instead? A good ol’ arm wrestling contest, and if I win, I get two kegs of my choice for free.”

“Rather skewed in your favor, isn’t it?” He pointed out, tilting his head. “How could I possibly measure up to the Queen of the Crux Fleet?”

“I have a good eye, Crimson.” She replied. “I know a warrior when I see one.”

“I can handle myself, that much is true.” He admitted. “But how could I, a humble merchant, stand a chance—”

Before he could finish the sentence, Beidou, without even moving from her seat, unsheathed the greatsword strapped on her back and swung it at the ‘merchant’ in front of her. As expected, Crimson, not moving from his seat either, casually caught the blade with one hand, not one bit bothered as crackling sparks of lightning lashed out at him.

This caused the wooden floor beneath them to break apart, prompting everyone around them to stop what they were doing to look at them in a mixture of confusion and surprise. Had they not been drunk out of their minds, her crew would’ve been brandishing their weapons the moment Beidou had gripped her sword’s handle.

“I don’t like it when people lie to my face, Crimson.” She said, her tone challenging and dangerous. “You can keep the humble merchant act all you want, but I know better.”

Instead of feeling threatened, however, the ‘merchant’ chuckled.

“Fair enough.” He conceded. “I suppose trying to conceal such a thing was impolite on my part.”

Hearing that, Beidou pulled her greatsword away and sheathed it. A signal that told her crew to go back to whatever they were doing.

“So what do you say?”

After a moment, Crimson replied.

“Very well.” He agreed. “But if I win…”

He stared at her directly in the eyes and smirked.

“You will become my woman.”

That she hadn’t expected. Yes, she was aware that he’d shown physical attraction to her, but to outright say something like that?

He was brave.

“You’re rather daring, aren’t you?” She said. “Though I thought you’d want me to pay the full price for the two kegs instead.”

“You just said you hated lies, no? Well, here I am being true to you. And to myself.” He replied. “Wealth is everywhere in this world, and for someone with my abilities, acquiring it is laughably easy. But women of your beauty and status are rare, and I’m a simple man.”

Beidou said nothing.

“If I see something that interests me, I take it.” He added. “I’m sure a pirate like you would understand.”

In a way, she did. Sure, he sounded very scummy with the way he said it, but she could at least respect his honesty. Again, Beidou knew she was attractive, and she wasn’t some chaste virgin who wouldn’t dare put her own body on the line to get what she wanted. She technically already did that every single time she stepped up to fight dangerous beasts and bandits anyway.

But even she wasn’t ready to bet more than she was willing to lose.

“My freedom is too important to me to risk like this, so I can’t accept that deal.” She said. “So let’s meet in the middle and say I’m yours for the next three days. Or whenever I set sail for my next adventure.”

Scum or not, he was brave enough to say something like that to her face, and he immediately dropped the ‘humble and sincere merchant’ act the moment she called him out on it. More than made up for the fact that she wasn’t dealing with someone squeaky-clean. Not that she was the most moral person around, either.

Besides, he was pretty handsome…

Crimson thought about it for a few short moments before quickly agreeing.

“A fair compromise. Very well. You have a deal.”

This prompted a smile from Beidou as she extended her arm forward, resting her elbow on the table in front of them. Crimson did the same, taking her hand in his with a firm grip. She could tell that while this wasn’t going to be easy, it would be very fun. 

“Hey, look at that!” One of her crew exclaimed. “The merchant is challenging our captain!”

Before they had begun, onlookers noticed and gathered around them, most naturally cheering for the Queen. Beidou’s first mate approached and put his hands around theirs, acting as their referee.

“You two ready?”

Both nodded.

“This upstart merchant ain’t shit!”

“Yeah! You got this, captain!”

“Show ‘em what the Crux Fleet are made of!”

Beidou appreciated their words of encouragement, but quickly tuned them out as her first mate pulled his hands away.

“Begin!”

In an instant, the table partially shattered under their combined strength as neither party even budged. With an equally confident smirk as her opponent, Beidou stared deep into Crimson’s eyes. She knew he wasn’t to be trifled with the moment she laid eyes on him, but to match her power like this?

Naturally, she didn’t think she was guaranteed to win when she’d suggested this challenge; otherwise, she wouldn’t have, as it wouldn’t have been fair. Nonetheless, it still came as a surprise. Who was this man and where had he come from? She never heard of him before today, and she was far more well-traveled than most. He didn’t even have a Vision as far as she was aware.

The longer their contest went on, the harder Beidou tried to win, pushing him ever so slightly. However, each time she would do so, Crimson would immediately match that level and push back. It almost felt like he was toying with her, and that admittedly annoyed her quite a bit.

She kept her cool, however, and as her Electro Vision responded to her desires, glowing a faint purple, that was when she made progress. Electricity danced around her, boosting her strength even more— almost supercharging her muscles as she began to slowly overpower her opponent.

It wasn’t exactly intentional on her part. This thing had a tendency to respond to her needs whenever it felt like it, with or without her permission. Was this cheating? Thankfully, her opponent didn’t think so, as, even though she was winning, he hadn’t bothered to call her out, so she took this as a sign to rely on her Vision.

Though it didn’t seem like he needed it, as the closer she got to beating him, the harder it was to push him. Up until he was less than an inch away from touching the table, because that was when he started to push back.

Beidou gritted her teeth as she struggled to stop him, veins on her forehead threatening to pop. On the other side of the table, Crimson’s expression hadn’t changed one bit. The same smirk he’d had since the start of their match. Not a hint of struggle present anywhere on his face.

Which was both frustrating and frightening.

Beidou was on the back foot. It was becoming harder to push back the longer this went on. Her arm was rapidly growing tired, and not even the Vision was giving her the strength she needed anymore.

And eventually…

She growled in annoyance as the back of her hand touched the table, before sighing deeply and gracefully accepting her loss. Her crew was at a loss for words, not believing their captain had been beaten by this ‘upstart merchant’ as she heard one of them say while cheering for her.

Beidou retracted her arm, her expression turning into one of discomfort before she turned toward the audience.

“What?” She questioned. “Why the long faces?”

“Er, no…” One of them was brave enough to respond. “We didn’t think you’d lose…”

“I wouldn’t have done this if I knew I’d win, boys.” She said, grinning widely. “This man proved himself, so you'd better cheer and drink in his name for the rest of the night.”

Seeing their captain lighten up caused the intended effect as, one by one, her crew did as they were told. Faces went from shocked to cheerful and joyful in the span of a few seconds. Though if they knew what was at stake, she doubted they’d let Crimson leave their ship unscathed.

They were a protective bunch, her crew.

“Hah… I don’t remember the last time someone beat me.” She said, her face dropping into one of disappointment. “I hate losing.”

“Don’t we all?” Crimson responded.

“You look like you barely tried.” She called him out.

“On the contrary…”

He pointed at his right arm, which was when she noticed it was trembling heavily. So she had made him work for his victory. That relaxed expression of his had fooled her.

…That was one way to soothe her bruised ego, at least.

“Though I still won.” He added.

“Yeah, yeah…” She sighed, getting up from her seat. “Follow me.”

As she led the merchant to her private quarters, she was reminded that there was no one to blame but herself. Then again, so what if she fooled around every once in a while? She’d spent too long at sea with no proper outlet, so she didn’t get a lot of chances to let loose.

So she might as well enjoy this while it lasted.

It didn’t hurt that Crimson was one hell of a catch.

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The moment they made it to Beidou’s bed, Crimson didn’t waste a second and immediately pushed her down toward it, leaning closer to her face. Although she hesitated for a bit, she didn’t stop him from stealing a kiss, responding in kind as he invaded her mouth with his tongue. He was surprisingly gentle, but it was becoming very clear to her as he pulled down her top that he wouldn’t leave until he was satisfied.

Free from their confines, Beidou’s soft breasts bounced, and she sighed in pleasure once she felt him cupping and kneading them. He was just rough enough to make this enjoyable for her. She enjoyed letting him toy with her body, shivering as his hand brushed past her toned thigh to her crotch.

She let out a soft moan as he dragged his knuckles over her slit. She didn’t know if it was the alcohol, her pent-up sexual frustration after a three-month dry spell, or if Crimson was just skilled, but Beidou thought becoming so aroused just a few minutes into this was embarrassing. Thankfully, her partner didn’t comment. Not yet.

Instead, after rubbing her slit through the flimsy piece of cloth for a little while longer, he effortlessly tore her underwear to reveal her wet and needy pussy. She wasn’t a virgin, but this still was mortifying considering the context of them getting to this point. All because she’d lost a bet…

Her breathing grew heavier, legs quivering and convulsing as he toyed with her pulsating clit, pinching and flicking without an ounce of mercy. Eventually, though, he stopped, and as Beidou thought he’d become tired of foreplay, he suddenly inserted his finger inside her, making her flinch and yelp in surprise.

“I barely even touched you, Ms. Pirate.” He asked, his tone extremely smug. “Is someone frustrated, I wonder?”

There it is… She huffed.

“Do you really have to ask?” She replied, wincing in pleasure as he continued to play with her breasts. “Not a lot of opportunities at sea, you know?”

“None of your crew could provide, is it?”

“Sleeping around with my own crew would cause too many problems.” She answered. “Besides, it’s weird. They’re all like siblings to me…”

“So instead you’d look for a stranger to fulfill your needs?” Crimson’s smirk widened. “Naughty~ I wonder what your crew would think about their beloved captain making love to strangers?”

“Stop bringing them up—?!”

All of a sudden, he went from gently pumping his finger in and out of her to fucking her with it like a piston, prompting a silent and surprised gasp out of her. Despite her labored breathing and uncontrollable quivering, Beidou managed to bite down a moan and instead growled at him in annoyance. 

“Disappointed that their ‘Queen’ would spread her legs over alcohol? Or perhaps happy that she’s so much of a slut that they think they might have a chance?” He suggested. “That would be something, wouldn’t it? That this crew you seem so proud of only follows you for the chance to bend you over.”

“That’s not—?!”

Once again, Crimson interrupted her by increasing his pace, this time prompting a loud moan out of her. She gasped and glared at her smirking partner, and although she knew he was just teasing her by saying those things, that didn’t stop it from being annoying to her. How dare he even say such a disgusting thing about them?

“Too bad for them, hmm? That I, this ‘upstart merchant’, get to enjoy your body like a piece of meat.” He whispered in her ears, making her shudder. “You know, it would be within my right to drag you outside and fuck you in front of them.”

Beidou’s eyes widened, knowing what he meant, why it would be ‘within’ his right to do such a thing. 

This son of a bitch… She thought. He wouldn’t!

It scared her, of course, having to be humiliated in front of her crew. Yet, she could barely focus on that thought as the pleasure very quickly overwhelmed her senses. She opened her mouth to tell him to stop messing around, but all that came out was a groan nearly drowned out by the schlicking noises of Crimson’s fingers pumping in and out of her.

“After all, you didn’t agree to have sex. You agreed to be mine for however long you plan on staying here.” He said. “And I’d love to show you off to your own crew.”

Mind clouded by pleasure, Beidou said nothing in response as she firmly gripped him by his shirt. She wanted to tell him to stop. To think this through, knowing she wouldn’t be able to show her face to them if he were to do that.

But she couldn’t, as she only yelped and moaned while Crimson showed her no mercy. She quivered, convulsed, and groaned, holding onto dear life as he brought her closer and closer to her limit. Until…

“I want to show them what’s mine and what they can’t have.” He told her. “So shall we?”

That was when Beidou couldn’t hold it in anymore, arching her back and cumming harder than she ever had. With a silent cry of immense pleasure, she orgasmed for the first time in months, squirting and staining her bed with her juices. Gasping, she fell back down and panted for air after what felt like hours of continuous orgasm, glaring at the cheeky merchant next to her.

His playful grin told her everything she needed to know.

“Bastard…” She breathed. “I thought you were being serious…”

“Haha, I’m not that evil.” He laughed. “I wouldn’t ruin your reputation over something silly. I don’t want you to hate me, after all.”

She sighed in a mixture of relief and frustration.

“I’m a bit surprised you got off to it, though.” He said, making her blush. “I didn’t expect this sort of kink from you.”

“I-I didn’t get off to this!” She quickly denied. Gods, I hope I didn’t. “Ah, screw it. My turn.”

She lunged at Crimson and pushed him down on his back. He didn’t bother to get back up, certainly not after she got on top of him. Seemed to her that he didn’t mind it if that infuriating smirk of his was anything to go by.

Without wasting any more time, Beidou pulled his pants down, paused at his erect member, and smiled.

“You know, with skillful fingers like yours, I was starting to think you were compensating for something.” She admitted, grabbing his unusually large cock and positioning it toward her entrance. “Glad that’s not the case.”

“I aim to please.”

Beidou gently lowered herself, biting her lips as she felt the head spreading her lower lips apart. She pushed down until the whole length was inside her, moaning quietly while feeling it twitching every once in a while. Once she adjusted to its size, Beidou began moving, slowly bouncing on it as she supported herself on his chest. It had only taken her a few more seconds of riding him before realizing that she’d really needed this.

As she repeatedly impaled herself on his dick, feeling it stretching her velvety walls in ways they hadn’t before, Beidou couldn’t hide her groans of delight anymore, even if she were to try. Her pace gradually increased, and not long after, she lost herself in pleasure, having several mini-orgasms each time she felt him throbbing.

Crimson rested his hands on her sides as he matched her tempo, thrusting into her with equal enthusiasm. Beidou flinched but didn’t stop him once she saw him enjoying this as much as she was. Even considering the… ‘unorthodox’ way they’d ended up here, she wanted him to have fun as well.

Even if she thought he was kind of a piece of shit.

“Mhmmm!” She moaned. “Fuck!”

Feeling herself on the verge of orgasm, Beidou reflexively slowed down. However, her lover didn’t. Instead, he thrust into her even faster, eliciting louder cries of pleasure from her. Even after she came, he had no intentions of showing mercy or stopping.

“W-wait, Crimson— Ah!” She started. “S-slow down! I’m— I’m going to—?!”

He didn’t even entertain the idea of slowing down. Rather, he wrapped his arms around Beidou’s waist and brought her toward him. This position allowed him to fuck her harder than he already had, and as she went to ask him to stop before she lost her mind, he silenced her with a kiss.

Afterwards, Beidou lost her ability to speak, only moaning, groaning, and crying in mind-melting pleasure. She let him take the lead as he fucked her brains out, but even he was reaching his limit if his constantly throbbing cock was telling her anything.

And eventually, she felt him slow down to a halt as he started to cum, filling her womb and painting it white. Each rope hitting her most special place forced another orgasm out of her, making her eyes roll into the back of her skull. Still quivering, Beidou panted, resting her head on his chest as she slowly but surely regained her senses.

That… She thought silently. Was something else.

…Maybe taking that bet wasn’t a good idea. She could get addicted to this…

“You up for another round?” Crimson asked, making her grin.

Definitely wasn’t a bad idea either, though.

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– Short Story: Importance of Alone Time –

This story took place a very long time ago. Eons have gone by since, but I still remember it as if it were yesterday. How could I forget the time when I realized that Carmine might actually be even scarier than my mother?

Now, I’m not ashamed to admit that I wasn’t always the most… ‘modest’ person around. Like most dragons my age, I was aggressive and hot-headed. A lot more bombastic. Flashy. Even in simple things like dress code and whatnot. Always strutting around in classy suits and expensive jewelry like I owned the place.

In other words, I was an insufferable brat and thought I could get away with anything.

Those traits persisted for quite a while, as is expected. Being the first son of my mother, a nigh all-powerful goddess and the leader of one of the most powerful and feared organizations in the multiverse, did inflate my already-massive ego. You know, practically being a dragon prince and all that.

Perhaps it wasn’t always bad, however. My impulsiveness and tendency to intimidate others often proved rather beneficial to me and the organization I worked for. Whether in battle or meetings, I was always one of my mother’s first options— her spear for a reason, and admittedly, I am still quite proud of that fact. True, the current me would complain and whine that it’s too much work when I’m asked to do something, but ultimately, it is a great honor to be relied on this much.

Unfortunately, just as much as it’s benefited me, my impulsiveness has also gotten me in quite a lot of trouble. Sometimes I was tricked, and it wasn’t always entirely my fault due to my inexperience. Other times, it was pure and utter stupidity. I’m not exactly unerring. After all, I wasn’t always a god, and even then, divinity doesn’t make one perfect. 

This time, though? I was an idiot who didn’t understand what ‘boundaries’ meant. Nothing more, nothing less.

I kicked the door open, entering my mother’s office with my hands in my pockets. Typically, I only visited my mother either to inquire further about certain important matters or, more often, to bug her. Yes, I am and was very aware of the consequences. Yes, I’m still doing it to this day because it’s funny.

My mother, very used to me being annoying on purpose, didn’t even bat an eye, busy with her paperwork.

“What did I say about kicking doors open?” She said tonelessly. “Do it again and I’m kicking your ass for a change.”

She never went through with that promise. Honestly? She is the only person who understands my sense of humor.

“Sorry,” I responded half-heartedly.

Despite her status, her office was anything but luxurious. It was a tiny room with her desk at the far end of it, behind a coffee table in between two couches. A few pots, shelves, and old family photos decorated the office, with a big window on the right side of her desk. It took us ages to convince her to get a bigger place. Frankly, I think it’s because this was the office where the clan was first conceived. I think she had just grown attached.

She can be surprisingly sentimental.

“I’m sure you are.” She snorted. “You better have a good reason for coming here this time, Crimson. I’m too busy to deal with your brand of bullshit today.”

For a while, I didn’t answer. I was a bit too preoccupied with the stack of pizza boxes in the corner of the office. I never could comprehend how someone of her rank and power would always settle for pizza from a local restaurant. She could get the finest chefs in the multiverse to cook her whatever she wanted. It wouldn’t even be that difficult to do. Not only would it be a great honor to work as her personal chef, but the pay would be fantastic. However, for a long time, greasy and cheap junk food was the only thing that seemed to satisfy her.

Though after a long, long back-and-forth between us, Carmine and I eventually convinced her to eat healthier and get a proper chef.

But I suppose that’s a story for another time.

“I was wondering where Carmine disappeared off to,” I replied. “I looked for her everywhere. Thought you might know something about that.”

“Carmine is on vacation.” She answered.

I was surprised upon hearing that. After all, that was the very first time my twin sister ever went on vacation, at least without me or our parents. Utterly unheard of behavior from my workaholic of a sister.

“Carmine? Vacation?” I leaned forward. “That Carmine? Are you sure? You haven’t gone senile already, have you?”

“I’m surprised myself. Really, with a son like you, it’s a miracle the stress hasn’t gotten to me yet.” My mother scoffed playfully. “But yes. She’s on vacation. She said she feels burned out, so I gave her a few months off.”

“Really now?” I chuckled. “That’s odd. I thought for sure she’d work herself to death, and death itself would be her ‘vacation.’ Any idea where she went? I want to see what she’s up to.”

For the first time since I entered, my mother glanced up at me.

“Don’t bother her.” She said. “For your own sake.”

As ominous as she sounded, I was still extremely curious. I thought ‘Really, what could my massive nerd of a sister possibly do during a vacation? What did she do for fun that wasn’t working?’ and wanted to involve myself in whatever it was. Not purely out of the urge to annoy her. Of course not. I loved my sister to death, after all, and wanted to see this new side of her.

“Is that an order?” I asked.

“It’s a warning, Crimson.” My mother replied. “She explicitly told me that she didn’t want anyone to bother her. Not even you.”

“You know, saying that only makes me more interested.” I pointed out.

“And I’m telling you, it’s a bad idea.”

Her insistence on keeping me away from Carmine was rather odd to me at the time. It felt as if she was in fear for the life of her son. But really, how could that be? Carmine, as easy as it was to provoke her, was too precious to hurt me in any way. I ignored the very obvious signs that this was the case in favor of my own highly self-destructive curiosity.

In hindsight, perhaps I shouldn’t have done that.

“Well, you can’t blame me. This is very new, and I want to see what she’s up to.” I argued. “Whatever it is she’s doing, I want to be a part of it as her twin brother.”

My mother stared at me in silence and, after a while of contemplation, she sighed in reluctance.

“How does she expect me to deny him when he says something so sweet?” She muttered to herself. “Alright, fine. But whatever happens, you don’t get to blame me for anything, got it?”

Another sign that told me I should not be doing this.

“Sure, sure.”

At that, my mother snapped her fingers and opened a portal to wherever Carmine was; however, before I could step through, my mother gave me another sign. This time, the most significant, most glaringly obvious sign that this was a terrible idea.

“You found the place on your own.” She said, looking uncharacteristically nervous. “I had nothing to do with this. Understand?”

“Uh…” I blinked. “Yeah, sure.”

“I’m serious. You mention me, and you can kiss your Master General position goodbye.”

“Okay, I got it.” I roll my eyes.

And like the fool I was, I refused to see it.

Wilful ignorance is one hell of a drug.

As I stepped through the portal, it closed behind me a bit faster than usual. I didn’t know what to expect— Carmine shared my mother’s odd avoidance of extravagance. Not to the same degree, but she wouldn’t get an entire palace or castle for herself. Unless she could turn it into a super mecha. That nerd.

Though I also never expected a simple, empty neighborhood. I stood in front of a modern-looking house, took a few seconds to look around, then decided to enter it. It was dark inside— all the lights were off. Moreover, I could barely hear a thing. I could feel Carmine’s presence, so I knew she was here, but not the overwhelming danger I was in, so I casually strolled and, like I did before, without an ounce of self-preservation, kicked the door to her bedroom wide open.

Her bedroom was a mess, which was saying something. I’ve always known her as a tidy and orderly individual who would refuse to go out if her suit were ever so slightly wrinkled. Seeing the clutter of cans, bottles, bags, and old clothes thrown around everywhere should’ve been another sign telling me to get the hell out of there NOW.

Unfortunately, I was mildly bored.

“Rise and shine, Carmine— Oh…”

And there she was. Wrapped in several blankets while sitting on an office chair in front of three giant screens attached to the wall, my neat freak of a sister, with bags under her eyes and unkempt hair reaching down to her waist, didn’t even acknowledge my existence. Perhaps it was my supernatural luck working in overdrive, trying to keep me alive by masking my presence from her entirely. Or maybe Carmine felt merciful not to immediately punt me across infinite dimensions.

What I knew was that I should’ve turned around and left right there and then.

But I’m sure you already guessed what I did instead.

“Huh. I don’t remember the last time I saw you with long hair… I have to say, I prefer the short style.” I said, getting closer while trying to avoid the garbage littering the floor. “So, I heard you took a vacation. Out of your own volition for a change. I couldn’t believe it.”

Carmine didn’t verbally answer me, but her right eye twitched, making me realize that, yes, she was aware of my presence, unfortunately. Her refusal to reply prompted me to look at what she was so focused on. Now, I didn’t play a lot of video games during my youth— I always thought it was pointless, seeing how I can just travel to these worlds and have a more authentic experience, but I played enough to understand the appeal.

Unlike me, Carmine was hardcore, as each screen showed completely different things. Grand Strategy, a multiplayer shooter and an MMORPG. She was playing three different video games of utterly different genres at the same time.

Using one controller.

Hardcore was underselling it a bit, I think.

“What do you want?” Carmine asked. Her usually soft and tempered voice was raspy and tired. Almost as if she hadn’t spoken in years. “How did you even find me? Did Mother send you?”

Now, I was VERY tempted to confirm that despite Mother’s gentle threat of demoting me. Purely to be a nuisance and get her in trouble, but perhaps that was when my neurons fired the first time that day. That or it was my honor that prevented me from making an even bigger mistake.

“No. She had nothing to do with it. I have my ways,” I cover up for my mother, blissfully unaware of Carmine’s rapidly growing irritation. “So, then, what have you been doing since?”

Showing me the patience of a saint, Carmine managed to bite down a painfully scathing response that would surely hurt my feelings.

“…Playing.” She answered.

“This whole time?” I raised an eyebrow. “Aren’t you bored? You’ve been at this for months already.”

It was clear she had already gotten tired of me.

“Please go away.” She pleaded.

“But don’t you want to do something else?” I tilted my head. “You know, anything that’s not… whatever this is.”

It was a miracle she didn’t kill me yet.

“No.” She answered curtly. “Now leave me alone.”

“Oh, come on. Give it a try. You know me, Carmine.” I tried to convince her. “No one in this world knows how to kick back and relax better than I.”

This time, she said nothing and only exhaled deeply. Yes, I was rather pushy. After all, everyone has their idea of ‘de-tressing’. For me, it’s as simple as alcohol and partying. For my mother, it’s spending time with friends on a nice sunny day at the beach.

For Carmine, it’s staying holed up in her room playing video games.

“A few hours in my city would surely help you unwind,” I added. “What could you possibly lose?”

As it turned out, I was the one who stood to lose something from this, as that was when I made the biggest mistake that day. Despite the many signs telling me that I might genuinely die, the countless chances to cut my losses and not have to deal with the terrifying monster known as a ‘Very Furious Carmine’... 

I still dared to grab her by the arm. Forcefully. With no intention to let go.

I would rather not relive the harrowing beatdown I suffered after this by describing it, but let’s just say it was brutal enough that I avoided Carmine for a while, even after she was done with her vacation. Mind you, not even my own mother, the scariest and most powerful person I know, had gotten this strong a reaction from me during any of her punishments. Because, despite everything, I still try to bother her for fun.

But Carmine?

I’d honestly sooner quit drinking than ever fuck with her again.

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This chapter was supposed to be 5k words only lol. It doubled in size, thus the longer wait