Vol 2. Chapter 57: Chat King Vinny

“I’m telling you, could you be a little more self-aware? Who here invited you to sit down?? Aesphyra, you really need to work on your thick skin, okay?” Vinny frowned as he spoke.

“But this is the academy library—a public space provided by the school for students to use. Since it’s a public area, anyone can sit anywhere. There’s no ownership of seats, right? Or does this chair have Vinny’s name engraved on it?” Aesphyra smiled sweetly, tilting her head with a teasing, somewhat sarcastic undertone.

Damn it.

Seriously, how can this white-haired shorty have such thick skin? Neither of them had much to do with her, yet she insisted on sitting here just to hit on girls.

Vinny often thought his own skin was too thin, lacking the thick hide of someone like Aesphyra—which is why he often got the short end of the stick. The saying “thick skin wins” definitely applied.

“That may be true, but Aesphyra, you coming over like this looks quite abrupt and catches everyone off guard. Isatia and I still have serious matters to attend to, so if you have nothing better to do, please don’t come here and stir up trouble.” Vinny waved his hand at her like shooing flies.

“Serious matters? What serious matters?~ If it’s convenient, could you tell me about them?” Aesphyra blinked her beautiful eyes like a curious baby—but this cute act didn’t work on Vinny.

“Sorry, we can’t discuss that, Aesphyra. Don’t think just because you’re short that people will treat you like a baby. We said they’re serious matters, and you asking about them is really impolite.” Vinny looked at her with disdain.

“......”

Virtue +80.

“......”

Oh?

Vinny realized he’d apparently found another sensitive spot to attack Aesphyra with—her height issue.

Looks like she actually cares about her height quite a bit.

“But I clearly saw you sitting there with nothing to do just now, trying various ways to chat casually with Isatia?” Aesphyra feigned puzzlement.

Tsk, this sour little orange—does she think he’s like her? She was projecting.

Besides, wasn’t it Isatia who first started the conversation?

“So what? What’s it to you? We talk about whatever we want, why do you have to butt in?” Vinny raised an eyebrow.

Isatia watched silently, observing the two bickering as if no one else was around. The two seemed utterly absorbed in their spat, as if no one could interrupt them. Compared to that, she felt like the one interrupting their conversation.

“No problem, we’re classmates after all, see each other every day. Why not study together before finals? And didn’t Vinny say he’s pretty close with me?” Aesphyra replied.

“Who’s close with you? That was just a polite lie back then, can’t you understand that?”

Watching the two argue, Isatia was surprised by their surprisingly good relationship. They didn’t seem to socialize much normally, yet privately got along well?

“We’re classmates too. I want to interact more with Isatia, and Vinny has to control even that?” Aesphyra tilted her head like a ragdoll cat, her beautiful eyes like perfect agate.

Heh, no more pretending, huh? Straight up admitting you’re using me as a stepping stone to hit on girls?

This little white-haired flirtatious cat—did she forget she was cuddled and flirted with just a few days ago?

That vile sea queen—if she were just a sea queen, Vinny wouldn’t bother complaining. After all, he’s not involved in her building a crystal palace. But that day’s incident still left him very annoyed.

Imagine, a true manly man getting totally crushed by a girl barely bigger than a loli—what a loss of face.

So he had to retaliate, block Aesphyra’s flirting, and ruin her good deeds.

Then, Camella’s scheming king Vinny had a brilliant idea.

“Heh, still pretending to play dumb?” Vinny snorted coldly. “Since the banquet on the carriage, your love confession to this young master was rejected, yet you’ve been relentlessly pursuing me, trying all sorts of ways to get my attention.”

“Using such a transparent excuse—do you think this young master didn’t notice? Your focus has always been on me.” Vinny ran his hand through his hair, speaking with self-importance and a smug expression.

“Oh well, I can only say learn to accept it. There are plenty of girls who love but can’t get this young master. You’re just one of the unlucky ones holding a ticket in that line.”

“........” x2

Virtue +20.

Current Virtue: 6,484.

Virtue +70.

Current Virtue: 6,554.

This round? Vinny just gave an on-site lesson on how to shut two destined heroines up with just a few sentences.

At this, even Isatia’s eyes shifted with a subtle change—mostly directed at Aesphyra, not Vinny.

Vinny’s words carried a lot of weight. Combined with rumors often circulating at the academy, even the normally gossip-immune Isatia had passively absorbed some.

Haha, how about that? I, the Camella Kingdom’s notorious bad boy, am no joke at mental attacks.

Compared to others, he’s no good, but in the disdain department, Aesphyra was still too naive.

“Vinny, you’ve been especially dumb today, more than all your previous days combined,” Aesphyra said with a fake smile noticing Isatia’s expression change.

Oh, she’s finally getting upset!

“Huh? Dumb? Didn’t you say so yourself? You asked me to give you a chance, and this young master spoke nothing but the truth. Don’t pretend—everyone in the class knows. There’s no outsiders here; we can even ask those nobles who were present. If you don’t believe me, we can ask them now.” Vinny feigned ignorance of Aesphyra’s meaning, frowning.

Now Vinny completely blocked any chance Aesphyra had at flirting.

From then on, any move Aesphyra made would be twisted as ‘interest in Vinny.’ Even if Isatia didn’t fully believe it, it didn’t matter—his goal was achieved by muddying the waters.

After saying this, where Isatia couldn’t see, Vinny gave Aesphyra a triumphant, provoking look.

White-haired little bread, are you mad? Are you mad??

Heh heh heh, I love seeing you want to hit me but can’t.

Ah, is this what satisfaction feels like? Feels good.

If Isatia weren’t right there watching, Vinny probably would’ve laughed out loud by now.

“Hope I’m not disturbing you two.” Before Aesphyra could say anything else, Isatia suddenly spoke.

“No, no disturbance at all, Isatia. Didn’t I just say? Although Aesphyra has been pursuing me fiercely, unfortunately, I have no interest in her type.” Vinny glanced casually at Aesphyra’s chest.

“I, if I were to like someone, it would be someone like Mirexia. Aesphyra, you still have a few years of growing left—hurry up, maybe you can catch the last train. Then this young master might consider you, haha.” It doesn’t always rain, but it always pours—Vinny never stopped.

Aesphyra smiled silently, but her fists clenched ever so slightly, unnoticed by herself—maybe because Vinny’s words carried a hint of coveting her crystal palace.

Yes, Vinny definitely wouldn’t have dared say this before. He dared now only because he’d gradually figured out some of Aesphyra’s personality.

For example, as long as you don’t have bad nature or ties to the Demon God Pillar or its followers, you don’t need to worry about Aesphyra killing you. At worst, she’d mess with you, play tricks, and annoy you now and then.

Of course, Vinny didn’t really mean this. After being teased by this little white-haired demon so much, he was venting his bottled-up anger and now demanding payback—with interest.

Virtue +100.

Current Virtue: 6,654.

Oh wow, that really affected Aesphyra’s mood—such a big increase.

“Alright, Isatia, don’t mind this white-haired little bread. Just ignore her. Let’s continue our conversation.” Vinny was in a great mood, feeling avenged and turning back to smile at Isatia.

“Vinny, there’s a question I want to ask you. I wonder if you’re willing to answer.” Isatia wasn’t too interested in Vinny and Aesphyra’s banter, so she hadn’t paid much attention and returned her gaze to the book, resuming the previous topic.

“Oh? Go ahead, I’ll answer whatever I know,” Vinny said confidently.

Aesphyra didn’t say anything more, sitting properly as if she wanted to hear what they had been discussing.

She was here for this, after all.

After all, Vinny walking with Isatia was strange enough for her, who knew some of the background.

“But as you can see, to be honest, I haven’t really read much of this book. If you’re asking about its content, I might not be able to answer.”

“That’s not what I’m asking.” Isatia shook her head.

“Oh? Then what?” Vinny was curious what question she wanted to ask.

“It’s not something I can’t answer, nor does it involve privacy.” Isatia looked at Vinny. “What do you think about what happened a few days ago?”

“A few days ago? Specifically what?” Vinny frowned.

“About the recent manifestation of the Radiant Goddess.” Isatia’s tone might have no hidden meaning, but Vinny felt a subtle weight to it—as if she spoke each word carefully.

For a moment, Vinny wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but Aesphyra’s gaze seemed sharper too.

“Oh, that. I thought it was something else. So Isatia is still interested in that incident a few days ago?” Vinny pretended to think. “But I have to say, I’m not very well-informed about it.”

“Do you think that was really the Radiant Goddess manifesting?” Isatia asked with her steady gaze.

Aesphyra watched Vinny seriously and silently.

Regarding such matters, Aesphyra knew Isatia was asking Vinny because he was the current heir of the Fasylis bloodline—whether truly or just apparently.

“Well, if you want my opinion,” Vinny pondered, frowning. Soon, he reached a conclusion.

“My view is, the Radiant Goddess’s manifestation might be possible, but from a historical and rational analysis, it’s somewhat unlikely.”

“......” x2

“I think I’ve already seen the brilliance and deep foundation of the Fasylis bloodline.” After a long pause, when no one knew how to respond, Isatia spoke.

She picked up the book and stood, seeming to find no need to stay longer.

“Vinny, do you remember the question we discussed before?”

“Which one?” Vinny asked.

“About if the ancient Tyrellis Empire had sincerely united with the Radiant Church.”

“Oh? What about it?”

“Though the ancient empire has fallen, the Tyrellis Empire continues. Regardless of empire or ancient empire, no one can refuse such a powerful force.”

“........” Hearing this, a strange expression flashed on Vinny’s face.

He suddenly guessed that maybe he shouldn’t have thought Isatia finding him was just coincidence or to find a quiet place to read.

Maybe she had her own thoughts and deliberately sought him out.

“However, so far, the situation is quite regrettable.” Saying this, Isatia lifted her skirt and bowed to both of them.

“Well then, I won’t disturb your privacy anymore.”

After saying this, Isatia turned and left.