“No, seriously, you narrow-minded white-haired bread roll, was that really necessary?!”
Catching his breath, Vinny clutched at his sore, swollen backside and groaned, glaring at Aesphyra still rinsing her mouth at the stream. The sight only made his temper spike.
How many days had it been? What was the point of rinsing this much now?
If she’d done it that day, maybe it would have made sense—but back then Aesphyra had been unconscious, completely out cold. At this point, the only effect was psychological.
And yet she’d just chased him through that ridiculous “great escape marathon,” which proved her pettiness was on another level. Just like her chest size—no wonder it was that small!
...Okay, to be fair, Aesphyra wasn’t that small—perfectly within normal range. But comparisons were inevitable, and next to Mirecia or Isatia, she was definitely a smaller model. And compared to Wen Nisha? Forget it.
Tch—so she’d been biding her time all these days, eh?
Ahhh, what a sly, white-furred short nut.
“Huu, huu...” After who knew how many rinses, Aesphyra finally seemed satisfied, taking out a disposable silk kerchief to delicately dab the corners of her lips.
“They say in books that the instinct to seek benefit and avoid harm is natural to all living things. Seems true—Vinny, I never realized you had so much potential. To run that fast... ever considered becoming a professional sprinter?” she teased.
“Go to hell! Sprinter?? Why don’t you just have me race a horse while you’re at it?!” Vinny shot back.
“But really, Vinny—how’s it feel to finally get some exercise after so long resting? Don’t you feel all loose and refreshed? It’s wonderful—you got your workout and the disgusting bug on your head is dead. Two birds with one stone~” Aesphyra said with a smile.
“Refreshed, my ass! Two birds with one stone? The only thing I got was an exhausting beating—tell me what else I supposedly gained, huh?! You’re the only one feeling refreshed! And you—if that bug was on my head, why the hell were you kicking my ass the whole time?! Just admit you wanted to hit me! Not even pretending anymore?!” Vinny glared at her.
“Oh? But didn’t Vinny seem to be enjoying himself too?” she said, voice dripping with amusement.
“Enjoying my ass! You’re the only one who enjoyed it, you damn white-haired sadist! Just you wait—I’m reporting you for classmate abuse when we get back!”
“Don’t say that~ I really did see a disgusting bug on your head. And knowing how terrified you are of insects, I of course had to hurry and knock it off you.” Her delivery was flawless—Oscar-worthy, even—making it sound like the gospel truth.
“Terrified of insects? Me? Don’t joke! A man like me, afraid of a tiny bug? Stop spreading lies!” Vinny snapped like a triggered reflex.
“But back when we entered that snake pit, you were startled by all the dead magic snake bodies,” Aesphyra tilted her head.
“How’s that the same?! Tell me—are snakes and bugs the same thing? And I wasn’t ‘scared’ then, I was just caught off guard!” Vinny protested.
By now, his breathing had evened out. He straightened and took a deep breath.
Thankfully, she hadn’t actually used much force—her kicks were light, more playful provocation than punishment. Otherwise, he would be bedridden for days.
...Not that Vinny would ever admit her kicks had actually felt kind of nice.
“So... where exactly are we now? You didn’t do this on purpose, did you? We have no idea where we are.”
“You say that like we knew where we were before. At least now we’ve left that forest.” She glanced around, then fell silent, seemingly thinking.
“Your teleport... it’s random? You don’t know where we landed?” Vinny asked.
“Normally, no. But under those circumstances, yes, it had to be random. Still, we’re definitely on the Southern Continent. That very beautiful fox lady won’t be chasing us.” Aesphyra stroked her chin.
“Very beautiful? Tch. She nearly killed us both, and you’re praising her looks? Guess your morals follow your eyes—already forgot she almost sent us to the grave?” Vinny scoffed.
“Being beautiful is an objective fact. So is almost dying by her hand. Those facts don’t conflict.”
“Tch—typical face-worshiper,” Vinny said with disdain.
“That’s not quite accurate. In truth, both humans and demons are visual creatures. Rather than calling someone a ‘face-worshiper,’ it’s more correct to say it’s ingrained in the genes of the entire species.”
“You’re good at making excuses for yourself... Whatever. Let’s focus on figuring out how to get back to the academy. By now we’re probably about to miss the deadline to hand in our practical assessment.”
“We should be in the outskirts of some city in the Empire’s southeast,” Aesphyra said.
“Huh? You can tell that? Just from looking at the dirt?”
If she could pinpoint location by soil alone, she’d be some kind of legend.
“See that spire in the distance?” She pointed.
“Huh? Oh—yeah, guess there is a tower there.” Vinny squinted. Her eyesight really was sharp—he could just barely make out the tip.
“So you figured it out just from that spire?”
“Do you know what that spire is for?”
“Don’t quiz me—you know I suck at history.”
“That’s the Tyrelis Clocktower—an iconic structure of Tyrelis Empire cities. In the Old Tyrelis Empire, they built one in the center of every city they founded or conquered. It wasn’t just to broadcast emergencies instantly—it had special significance to the royal family. The old imperial crest of House Carilliman even had a clock face as its base.”
“After the Old Empire fell, the Tyrel Empire claimed to inherit all its legal rights, so they kept the tradition—every major city gets a central clocktower taller than all other buildings.”
Vinny didn’t know if she’d learned this from books herself or from her Galathus family tutors.
“So how do you know exactly where we are?”
“Because that clocktower clearly predates the Tyrel Empire—it’s Old Empire style. Only the Old Empire’s southeastern cities have ones this well preserved, untouched by war.”
Vinny rubbed his head.
Yeah, he didn’t have that kind of knowledge. Guess history study was actually useful.
“So what now? Head for the city?” he asked. She was the leader here—he’d just follow.
“If that’s Lucassen City, there probably aren’t direct magic-coach lines to the Empire’s north.”
“I think the problem is less whether there’s a coach and more that even if there is, we can’t afford it. Or did you forget we left all our luggage back in Lake ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) Village? We don’t have a single coin.”
“Is that so?” Aesphyra only smiled.
“...Don’t tell me you actually have money on you?” Even if she’d had a few silver coins, they’d have been melted in the fighting.
Without explaining, she walked ahead.
Vinny knew she was in “riddle mode” again and trailed after her.
Eventually, they reached an absurdly luxurious clothing shop.
“Damn, this place is huge! That little-town store can’t compare.”
“Hmm? Vinny, didn’t you notice?”
“...Notice what?”
“Not just this one—this whole market district belongs to my family.”
...The words my family knocked Vinny speechless.
What kind of confidence did it take to casually say, “This whole area is ours”?
Poverty really did limit his imagination.
Even fallen, the gap between noble houses was massive. The Carillimans still had capable, loyal retainers like Galathus. The Facilis family? Only traitors who’d kick them while they were down.
“Coming, Vinny?” she called from the shop door.
“I’ll wait outside.”
It was her family’s store—most staff were basically her servants. If they saw her come in with him, the rumors... last time’s misunderstanding had been bad enough.
“This is my family’s business—what’s there to hold back for?” She stepped up to him.
“My attendants are well trained. None would dare disrespect a friend I brought home.” She brushed back a lock of hair, silver in the moonlight, smiling like a painting.
“...Unless, Vinny, you’re waiting for me to formally invite you in?”
“Uh, no need. Let’s go.” He followed her in.
Wait—did she just call him her friend?
Did he hear that right... or remember wrong?