In the café, as the two went over notes and mulled over how to write their practice report, neither realized that at the next table over, a tall, blonde, twin-tailed girl sat in silence, motionless with her coffee in hand.

Mirexia.

Every word the two had exchanged just now, Mirexia—sitting there by sheer coincidence—had heard, without missing a single syllable.

The reason she happened to be here at this very moment was purely chance. She wasn’t a regular café-goer. Anyone who knew her knew she usually holed up in the Student Council President’s office. She hardly had any free time at all.

On the rare occasions she did, she would find a café like this one, sip coffee, and reflect on what methods and approaches to use for upcoming work—or on what aspects of her own studies and strength still needed refinement.

This time, her assigned practice assessment was the same as always: solo. And just like before, with her ability, she dispatched the second-year task flawlessly, in no time at all. While her classmates still struggled over their assignments, she had already finished hers, returned to campus, and even written her report.

When she went back to the Student Council, she found she was the only one who had returned. Students of every grade were still out, none yet back.

Vinny included.

Of course, she knew—Vinny wouldn’t fail something as small as a first-year practice task. But even so, she couldn’t help but wonder. This was his first practice assessment since enrolling. How had he managed?

Still, with Wen Nisha as his safety net, it couldn’t have been too bad.

The written exam for finals was already over. In the days since she’d returned, Mirexia hadn’t been idle—she kept training, trying out new magic, and handling administrative affairs.

The workload was still heavy, but compared to before, it was far more manageable. At the very least, she now let herself rest when she grew tired.

And every so often, she remembered what Wen Nisha had told her. Remembered those scenes that, even in memory, left her cheeks flushed crimson.

It was still mortifying to think about. But… how to put it?

She could feel the balance of her emotions shifting. Shame no longer dominated as it once had. Instead, another emotion—called “expectation”—was stronger.

Whenever she noticed this, Mirexia wondered if she had fallen ill.

Had she always been this way? Or was it only now, some hidden switch finally flipped?

Maybe… maybe it was only because it had been so long since she’d seen Wen Nisha, and her stress was piling up again. Right?

Next time she saw Wen Nisha, she’d ask her… to help her again. That was normal, wasn’t it?

Wen Nisha had been right: if this was a “sickness,” then it needed treatment. And of course, when it came to healing sickness, there was no one better than a Saintess.

So—if she was sick, going to the Saintess for treatment was perfectly normal.

Speaking of which—when would Vinny be back? He’d been gone so long. Did he run into trouble?

Unknowingly, her fingers tightened slightly around the handle of her coffee cup. She hadn’t even realized that while thinking of work, her mind had strayed further and further… until it wandered into absurd places.

Until the clear, delicate chime of the bell above the café door rang out.

Two familiar voices snapped her out of her thoughts.

When she realized who it was, Mirexia held her breath, joy fluttering across her heart.

To be thinking of someone… only for that person to return right then, and appear at your side—that feeling was like a little rabbit thumping wildly inside her chest.

Just as Mirexia was about to stand and greet them, she caught her own name in their conversation.

When she heard Aesphyra say Vinny had once liked her, her cheeks flushed. She remembered his confession. And then came Aesphyra’s next words—

“Vinny’s the real playboy, you know?”

“On the road this time, when I wore that gown you like, he couldn’t look away. Tsk tsk.”

“…” Mirexia fell silent. The coffee in her cup rippled.

In that instant, she gave up the thought of going over to greet them. She stayed in her soft seat, wordless, listening.

So they’d both drawn the double-partner practice assessment? And been paired together??

And along the way… had gone through incidents she hadn’t even heard about.

Mirexia stayed quiet.

“I’m telling you, you little white-haired nut—if we write this report honestly, then did we complete the task, or not?” Vinny’s voice drifted over.

“Vinny, you still dare to call me that right in front of me?” came Aesphyra’s amused reply.

“What else? You’re the one who said it was my endearment for you. Since it’s an endearment, how could I not use it often?” Vinny snickered, tossing her own words back at her like a boomerang, tone full of playful mockery.

But in Mirexia’s ears, their banter didn’t sound like that at all.

It sounded suspiciously like flirting. And under her lens, their exchange was dripping with ambiguity.

An endearment. And in that tone. Just what exactly had happened between them on this trip??

[Virtue +300]

[Current Virtue: 2794]

Hah??

Meanwhile, Vinny stared at the sudden increase, baffled.

Wait. He called her “white-haired nut” all the time. Why such a big reaction now??

Was it because he’d teased her with the “endearment” thing?

That must be it. Poking at Iron-Blood Green Eyes about being linked to a man—of course it’d set her off.

But hold on—she was the one who brought it up first!

So only she was allowed to say it, since she knew she was joking… but no one else could?

What a double standard.

Unless… unless another heroine was nearby??

The thought crossed his mind, and he glanced all around. Nothing. The café was quiet. No one else but him and Aesphyra.

No, that didn’t make sense.

What heroine would explode in Virtue points just because of a few throwaway lines with Aesphyra??

Well… maybe Shicodale would. But that silly kid was still in the dorm. No way he’d run ahead to spy on them here. That wasn’t his nature. He didn’t have the guts for tailing people—unless someone egged him on behind the scenes.

The other option was Mirexia. But if she were here, why wouldn’t she come greet them? Both he and Aesphyra were her friends. Seeing them back, why hide in a corner and eavesdrop instead? Was that possible?

Besides, their conversation was harmless. Nothing worth such a big reaction.

Honestly, Vinny still didn’t understand Mirexia’s Virtue-explosion mechanics. With her, sometimes just talking long enough made Virtue spill out. Sometimes she’d explode points just sitting there silently.

He still couldn’t figure her out. She was his Number One Big Sis, sure—but her system remained a mystery.

“Vinny, giving people childish nicknames is something kids do.” Aesphyra’s voice was calm, busy as she was wording the next section of the report. No sign of mood swings.

Yeah, exactly. This seasoned actress—if she had emotions, you’d never see them. That’s why she was the seasoned actress.

Outwardly unfazed, inwardly stewing.

“By the way, Young Lady, that dress—did you take it back to store away?” Vinny asked.

“Oh? Want to see me wear it again, Vinny?” Aesphyra teased.

“Who’d want to see a nut like you wearing it? That’s just a nut with clothes on. What’s so great about that?” Vinny shot back.

“Pffft. Is that so? Then what about this outfit I gave you, Vinny? Will you keep it safe in your collection at home~?” Aesphyra laughed.

“Nope. First thing I’ll do is toss it.” Vinny raised his brow.

Of course, she knew he was just being stubborn. With his finances, he’d never throw out something so valuable.

[Virtue +200]

[Current Virtue: 2994]

What??

Vinny blinked at her strangely.

She had to know he didn’t mean it. So why such a spike??

Something wasn’t adding up.

He glanced around again, even stood and craned his neck like a sloth.

“What are you looking for, Vinny? There aren’t any peaches here for you to eat.” Aesphyra chuckled.

“Shut it! You think I’m a monkey or something??” Vinny snapped.

Meanwhile, at the next table, Mirexia stared at her cup, unable to pin down her feelings.

It looked like… their relationship was really close.

Which was normal. She already knew Vinny and Aesphyra were close.

Two of her trusted friends being close—that was supposed to be a good thing, wasn’t it? Then why did it feel so suffocating?

Close enough to give each other clothing as gifts?

Her thoughts tangled endlessly.

From there, Vinny and Aesphyra’s conversation grew more normal—focused on the practice assessment and their report.

But Mirexia didn’t hear a single word. Her mind was elsewhere, entirely consumed by other thoughts.

By the time she noticed again, the sky outside had already darkened. Her coffee had gone cold. And the two who had been at the next table were gone—their cups and plates cleared, as though they’d never been there.

She lifted her cup, dazed, and ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) took a sip.

For some reason, it tasted more bitter now. More sour.

[Virtue +100]

[Current Virtue: 3094]

What the hell??

On the way back to the dorm, Vinny stared at the Virtue gains, weirded out.

He wasn’t even with Aesphyra anymore. Why was it still going up??

Like hell. Which heroine was it? Who kept blowing up Virtue like this??

He looked left and right, up and down. The streets were almost empty. Not a single familiar face in sight.

“I’m back, Dale.” Vinny unlocked the door and entered the dorm—only to find Shicodale curled on the sofa, knees hugged to chest, staring blankly at him.

What the hell? What was this creepy vibe??

“…Vinny, can you still see me?”

“Huh??” Vinny blinked, baffled. “See you? What’s this about? Did you drink Invisibility Potion or something? Why wouldn’t I be able to see you??”

“Good. As long as Vinny can still see me. That’s enough… as long as you can still see me…” Shicodale tilted his head.

“Dale, come on, what’s wrong with you now?” Vinny shivered at the sight.

“Vinny, did you just come back from your date with that nut?” Shicodale’s voice was faint, tinged with a fragile break.

“I’ll date your head!” Vinny walked over and flicked him on the forehead.

“Ah! Ow!” Shicodale yelped, holding his little head pitifully.

[Virtue +50]

[Current Virtue: 3144]

“Dale, how many times have I told you—be a man, think bigger! What’s with all this nonsense? A date? Didn’t I say before we left, we were finishing a practice report!” Vinny shot him a look.

“You’re lying… You two… you even had an endearment…”

“Oh, so you know the word ‘endearment’? Not bad, you silly kid, learning vocabulary. But let me tell you, that was Aesphyra messing with me, got it?”

This dumb elf… suspecting anyone else was fine, but suspecting Aesphyra had feelings for him??

What a joke. If she heard, she’d probably think he was spreading rumors about her again—and then she really would come after him with a holy sword.

Even if the world ended tomorrow, there was no way that Iron-Blood Green Eyes, unbendable as steel, would ever have thoughts about him, a man.

“B-but…”

“No buts. Don’t worry. Aesphyra would never like me. I’m not in her range of partners. And I would never like her, either.”

The real concern should be the opposite: whether this silly little elf had been sniffed out and targeted by that green-eyed predator.

“Eh? R-really?” Shicodale blinked his big eyes.

[Virtue +100]

[Current Virtue: 3244]

“Why would I lie? Think about it, Dale—if I had a girlfriend, would I be this quiet? You think I’d hide it? Please. The moment I got a girl, I’d be shouting it to the whole world. I wouldn’t keep it under wraps.” Vinny rolled his eyes.

“Eh… e-eh??”

After a while, Vinny managed to calm Shicodale down, pulling him back from those absurd thoughts.

“Then… Vinny, that outfit you’re wearing?”

“She gave it to me. I saved her life this time,” Vinny explained. “I saved her—she can’t just not show any gratitude, right? It’s like you, Dale. If I help you, you’d show something in return, wouldn’t you? You wouldn’t just ignore it, right?”

Eh? That… actually made sense.

Shicodale put his little brain to work and decided it really did.

That line of reasoning succeeded in pulling him back on track.

Vinny could understand. The kid just lacked any sense of security. He’d grabbed onto Vinny, the one person willing to help him, like a lifeline—and couldn’t let go.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep