"It's nothing, just a feeling of familiarity at first sight. Say, Mr. Nathan... have we met somewhere before?"
Tartaglia shook his head, his eyes filled with confusion.
"I apologize, Childe, but this should be our first meeting. I really can't recall ever meeting you before."
Nathan also showed a puzzled expression. This was his first encounter with the Fatui since arriving in the world of Genshin.
When he first crossed over and had no power, he would always keep his distance whenever he saw people wearing Snezhnayan attire.
After all, the Fatui's reputation, whether in reality or in the game, wasn't particularly good.
At that time, without the ability to protect himself, he couldn't guarantee that all Fatui members would act with the same style as Tartaglia.
"Nathan... this person is strange, let's ignore him!"
Hu Tao, who was staying close to him, suddenly spoke up, trying to interrupt their conversation.
She emanated intense hostility toward the blonde man before her.
Mainly because Tartaglia's earlier behavior could easily be interpreted as trying to flirt with Nathan. ( ;-; )
In Hu Tao's view, even if it was a man, she needed to be on guard. ( ;-; )
"Mr. Zhongli, your Wangsheng Funeral Parlor Director seems to harbor quite a bit of hostility toward me."
Tartaglia helplessly looked at Zhongli, who had just taken a small sip from his teacup.
However, as a Fatui Harbinger, he was already used to the hostility from those around him.
"Perhaps Childe, you've... crossed one of Director Hu's bottom lines!"
Zhongli set down his teacup and said calmly.
Hu Tao nodded firmly at this explanation.
Everything related to Nathan was an uncrossable red line in her heart.
"But... I was just talking with Mr. Nathan, and haven't offended Director Hu at all?"
Tartaglia helplessly waved his hands, putting on an innocent expression.
But in the next second, a sharp spear was pressed against his throat.
"Stay away from Nathan. This is the Director's final warning."
Gripping the Staff of Homa tightly, Hu Tao spoke with undisguised hostility.
"Hahaha, Mr. Zhongli, the customs of your Liyue people are really quite fierce!"
Even with a spear at his throat, Tartaglia remained unhurried in his speech.
His original personality was quite battle-crazy, and now that someone dared to challenge him, he could barely contain his excitement.
However, before that, Tartaglia still wanted to understand where this familiar feeling about Nathan came from.
"Alright Hu Tao, put down your weapon. Childe hasn't done anything to me!"
Nathan was quite bewildered by the girl's sudden aggression.
These two were clearly meeting for the first time, so why would Hu Tao harbor such strong hostility toward Tartaglia?
Nathan hadn't realized it was because of himself, but he still wanted to calm the girl down.
He grabbed her fair wrist, transmitting his palm's warmth to her.
"Hmph, this time the Director will let you off, but remember not to mess with my Nathan..."
With her delicate hand captured by Nathan, Hu Tao finally calmed her emotions.
As she withdrew her weapon, she didn't forget to issue a threat to Tartaglia.
"Hu Tao, don't be willful!"
The girl pressed herself against him in the next second, resting her soft body entirely against Nathan.
"How is the Director being willful?"
She pressed her delicate cheek against Nathan's waist, speaking as if throwing a tantrum.
"You say you're not being willful, but since when did I become yours?"
He felt particularly helpless about Hu Tao's last statement, that phrase 'my Nathan.'
"Hehe, you're the Director's personal assistant, so how are you not mine!"
The silly laughter from his waist showed Hu Tao trying to get away with it through cuteness.
In the girl's heart, even if Nathan wasn't hers now, she would eventually claim him.
"You... never mind..."
Seeing how Hu Tao had completely hidden herself in his embrace, Nathan couldn't say anything more.
Looking up at Tartaglia nearby, he apologetically said,
"I'm sorry, Childe. Hu Tao can be a bit willful sometimes."
"It's... it's nothing. This is what true personality is about."
Tartaglia returned a stiff smile. Having witnessed everything, he felt like he had been force-fed tons of dog food as a single person.
However, seeing Nathan and Hu Tao's intimacy, this Fatui Harbinger felt something was off.
It seemed that the girl clinging to him shouldn't be the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor Director, but rather should be someone he, Tartaglia, knew.
As for who that person was, the memory was too blurry for him to recall.
"Childe, are you sure you've seen me somewhere before?"
Noticing Tartaglia's unusual behavior, as he had been saying he felt familiar since earlier.
This feeling was just like what the girls in those life simulation games would often say.
Could it be... that Tartaglia was also part of the life simulation side story?
No... not with a man!!! ( ;-; Nathan X Tartaglia )
Nathan quickly shook his head, trying to throw this thought out of his mind.
Cute girls were fine, but if the protagonist of the life simulation was a man, Nathan would absolutely not accept it.
"It feels very familiar... yet very vague."
Tartaglia tried hard to recall in his mind, seeming to want to grasp that ethereal feeling.
But the more deeply he thought about it, the more futile it became.
"However, Mr. Nathan, your strength seems quite impressive!"
Coming back from his thoughts, Tartaglia suddenly thought of another method.
"Uh... my strength is just barely enough for self-defense!"
Not knowing why the other had changed the topic, Nathan chose to respond modestly.
With the various rewards and enhancements from the system, his current strength was definitely not just for mere self-defense.
But the person before him was a battle maniac, and Nathan didn't want to attract too much of his attention.
"Mr. Nathan is being modest. Even from this distance, I can sense your great power."
Tartaglia's gaze fell on the Vision at the other's waist.
He was telling the truth. Even though Nathan wasn't doing anything, he could already feel an incredibly powerful pressure.
"So what are you suggesting, Childe?"
Wariness flickered in Nathan's eyes, feeling that the other's words suggested he wanted to fight.
"Let's have a sparring match. I might be able to recall more things based on Mr. Nathan's power?"
Sure enough, Tartaglia smiled slightly, the battle intent in his eyes no longer hidden.
a/n - Read 45+ Chapters ahead on my patreon
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