Vol 2. Chapter 90: How much magic power did you use?

“Alright, you must be hungry too, huh? You haven’t eaten in days—any longer and you might shrink again.”

When Vinny said that, his gaze flicked briefly to Aesphyra’s chest—deliberately double meaning his words.

[Virtue +10]

[Current Virtue: 1,864]

“But I can’t move.”

“Then what else can we do? If Lady Aesphyra doesn’t mind, I guess I’ll just have to feed you myself.”

Vinny pouted. “If you do mind, well, there’s nothing I can do about that.”

“How could I possibly refuse if Vinny-classmate is personally serving me my meal?” Aesphyra smiled brightly.

“So you’re just treating me like your servant, huh?” Vinny raised a brow. This little white-haired shorty never missed a single chance to take advantage of him—whether it was making him act like her servant or call her “mother.”

He got a fire going inside the cabin and set a big pot of water to boil.

It was lucky he’d found this little cabin, and that it still had daily essentials like a big cooking pot stored away. After a quick wash, it was usable. If not for that, since they hadn’t had time to grab their tent during the retreat, they would’ve been stuck out in the rain for days. With Aesphyra’s condition at the time, things could have gotten even worse.

For that alone, the original owner of this cabin deserved a full kowtow from him.

Vinny started gutting the rabbits, draining the blood. Aesphyra, unable to move, had nothing to do but watch him prepare the game.

“Vinny-classmate, your skinning technique is far too rough—look at all those uneven patches.”

“Tch. What, you’re criticizing my technique now? Do you even know how to do this? Quit yapping—my skinning is a family heirloom craft.”

“Heirloom? You’re clearly not used to it. You’ve left plenty of skin still on, and you’ve even cut away chunks of meat along with it. Vinny-classmate, you haven’t spent much time surviving in the wilderness, have you?”

Her brows lifted slightly.

“Sorry for disappointing you, milady. Out here in the middle of nowhere, you should be grateful we even have meat to eat.”

He shot her a glance and went on cleaning the rabbits.

He really shouldn’t have prepped them in front of this white-haired shorty. With nothing else to do, she was channeling all her energy into nitpicking him.

“I’m starting to think you’re not hungry at all—you’ve got plenty of energy to pick on me,” Vinny muttered, dropping the cleaned meat into the boiling water.

“Vinny-classmate, do we have any seasoning?” Aesphyra suddenly asked.

“No.”

“You don’t carry seasonings with you when traveling?”

“And do you?” he shot back.

“I do, but they’re in my luggage,” she replied.

“Exactly. We’re lucky to have anything to eat at all—you’re worrying about flavor now?” He rolled his eyes.

“Even when camping outdoors, Vinny-classmate, you live far too without refinement.”

“Yes, yes. My life is crude, bland, and boring—can’t compare to the dazzling life of Lady Aesphyra.”

Vinny’s tone was pure annoyance.

“Alright, enough talking. This young master is tired. I don’t feel like entertaining you.”

He turned back to watch the boiling pot.

For a while, the cabin was filled only with the sound of their breathing and the bubbling of the cooking meat.

Lying on the wooden bed, Aesphyra watched him tending the pot, then closed her eyes. For some reason, the scene felt oddly warm.

She had always traveled alone. She’d never felt the need for anyone to take care of her—or to have someone with her. In fact, anyone else was just a burden.

[Virtue +50]

[Current Virtue: 1,914]

Hm? Another Virtue gain?

Vinny frowned. At this point, the only one who could be giving him Virtue was Aesphyra.

What was this? Had she learned Mirecia’s “do nothing and give Virtue” passive skill?

While he was still wondering about it, Aesphyra spoke up.

“Vinny-classmate, the meat’s done. Any longer and it’ll overcook.”

“I know, I know. You think I can’t tell?”

He put out the fire, scooped the meat out with a ladle, and placed it in one of the plates left behind in the cabin.

“I’ll feed you then?” He speared a piece of rabbit meat and held it to her mouth.

“Vinny-classmate, if I’m not mistaken, this rabbit just came out of the pot—it’s still steaming. How about you try a bite first?” She smiled.

“Fine, fine—want me to blow on it?” he asked.

“Can’t you just wait for it to cool?”

“See? You’re even picky about me blowing on it—worried I’ll get spit on it? Even though when I was giving you medicine before, you...”

He trailed off, still doing as she wanted, setting the plate aside to let the meat cool.

Once it had cooled enough, Vinny brought the plate back, speared a piece, and held it out again.

“Alright, now? Conditions aren’t great—just eat, milady.”

“I can’t chew it.”

“You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?” His mouth twitched.

“I don’t have the strength right now,” she said softly.

“Can’t win with you...”

He cut the meat into tiny pieces and mashed them up into minced meat.

When he finished, he wiped the sweat from his brow.

“Now it’s fine, right?” He scooped a spoonful to her lips. “I haven’t eaten a thing yet, you know.”

Aesphyra didn’t complain this time—she obediently opened her mouth and accepted the bite.

For some reason, Vinny felt like he was feeding some pampered white princess-cat from a noble household, painstakingly preparing food fit for her refined tastes.

But... it was strangely satisfying. Especially knowing he’d hunted and cooked it himself. Well—if you could even call that cooking; he’d basically just boiled it.

“If it’s still too hot, tell me and I’ll let it cool more,” Vinny reminded her.

She didn’t answer—eating in silence. Which meant it must’ve been just the right temperature.

[Virtue +50]

[Current Virtue: 1,964]

Huh. Feeding her added Virtue too?

“How is it?” he asked after a few spoonfuls.

“Terrible,” she said bluntly.

“That’s the right answer. This kind of food being tasty would be a miracle.”

He shrugged. “I wasn’t asking if it tasted good—I’m asking if you feel any stronger.”

“More or less,” she said vaguely.

Vinny kept feeding her.

“I’m full.”

“Really full?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Alright, then.” Finally, he could eat himself—he hadn’t had a bite all this time.

Since there was only one set of utensils, Vinny just ate with his hands. It wasn’t like he cared about table manners, and in this situation, what was the point?

“Don’t worry—I’ve been eating with my hands these past days. I never used the utensils I gave you.”

He noticed her gaze on him and figured out what she was thinking.

[Virtue +80]

[Current Virtue: 2,044]

Right on the mark.

When he was done, he cleaned the dishes and stretched out on the wooden floor to sleep. He was used to sleeping anywhere, so long as it wasn’t wet.

Aesphyra, of course, was the type who couldn’t stand going days without a bath. But she knew this was an emergency and didn’t push for more.

“Aesphyra-classmate, want me to take off your shoes?” Vinny asked suddenly.

“Why?”

“Well, we haven’t bathed in days, and you’ve been wearing the same clothes this whole time. Your feet have been trapped in stockings and loafers—it’s probably gotten a bit... ripe,” Vinny said seriously.

“Vinny-classmate, no one ever told you that’s not something you say to a lady?”

Her voice carried a smile devoid of warmth.

[Virtue +80]

[Current Virtue: 2,124]

“Oh, sorry. But why are you so quick to deny it? Is there really a smell?” Vinny guessed. “Don’t tell me it’s gone a bit sour?”

“Vinny-classmate, you really don’t understand a girl’s mind at all.”

[Virtue +80]

[Current Virtue: 2,204]

He could picture her not-quite-smiling face even without looking. That was her usual expression when irritated.

Honestly... he wouldn’t say that to just any girl. But if it was Aesphyra?

Well, just like she seemed addicted to watching him get flustered, he was starting to enjoy provoking her too.

“Alright, alright, I won’t bother you. I was just asking out of concern. If you like keeping them on, then keep them on. Watch out for athlete’s foot, though.”

[Virtue +50]

[Current Virtue: 2,254]

“I’m not like Vinny-classmate—I don’t sweat easily,” she said, exhaling as if holding back her temper.

“I don’t either, alright?” Maybe because of his high ice-element affinity, Vinny’s body temperature was on the lower side.

Silence returned.

Vinny knew she wasn’t going to let him take her shoes off, since it meant touching her.

“Well then, Vinny-classmate, I’ll leave it to you~”

“Huh? What?”

“Vinny-classmate’s earlier concern and good will—I’ll accept it.” Her voice came from the dark.

Uh... was she serious? Or was this a setup to tank his Virtue score?

“What, Vinny-classmate isn’t going to help after all?” she teased.

“Didn’t you just say you minded?” he asked flatly.

“Nope. Since you offered, how could I refuse?”

“What, you think I’m scared to take your shoes off?”

“Tch, who’s scared? I’m just afraid of the smell!” Vinny grumbled, getting up. By moonlight, he carefully slipped off her loafers without touching anything but the shoes, and set them aside.

There was no smell—only her familiar cold rose fragrance.

“What, do I smell?”

“Yeah. You haven’t bathed in days—you almost stink to death.”

He turned his gaze away, resisting the lure of the black stockings and the graceful arch of her feet, his tone deliberately stubborn.

It didn’t fool her.

“Oh~? Is that so? Well then, thank you, Vinny-classmate~”

[Virtue +50]

[Current Virtue: 2,304]

This little white-haired shorty really couldn’t take a single loss—had to jab back instantly.

She’d only let him remove her shoes because she knew he was all bark and no bite.

“Alright, comfy now? Time to sleep.”

He avoided looking at her moonlit, breathtaking face, swallowing hard as he retreated to his spot on the floor.

“Vinny-classmate, are you asleep?”

“Asleep! Leave a message.” he replied °• N o v e l i g h t •° irritably.

She barely let him lie down before asking.

“Vinny-classmate, when you healed me before, you used the rest of that half-bottle of elixir, right?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Oh. And aside from that... how much magic power did you use?”

In the moonlight, her eyes showed not a trace of sleep.

“I... what the hell are you talking about? Magic power?”

He almost answered on reflex, but caught himself in time, instantly alert. His tone was shocked—but that just happened to hide the truth.

“Magic power? Why would I use magic power? What are you on about?”

His acting hit full throttle, wearing a baffled “are you even awake?” look.

Inside, his mind was reeling.

Holy crap—this little white-haired nut was trying to get him to spill something while he was half-asleep!

If he hadn’t been the Idea King of Camella, he might’ve fallen for it.

Even without life-threatening danger, being around Aesphyra meant you had to be on guard every second.

“Vinny-classmate, when you saved me, you didn’t draw on anyone else’s help or power?”

“No. Out here in the wilderness, where would I even get help? Who could’ve helped us?”

So she was suspecting he’d sought aid or borrowed someone’s power.

“Really none?”

“None. I told you, there’s not a soul out here, and I don’t even know where we are.”

“Then Vinny-classmate didn’t use any healing scrolls or alchemy potions?”

“What are you even talking about? You think this young master’s a joke? You know my finances—I’m broke! You gonna give me the money, milady?”

“Maybe... it was given to you by someone you’d never want to admit you knew?”

Her voice was laced with meaning.