Li Yue’s bewildered reaction made Clo laugh as they walked. She had completely shed her usual cold and impatient demeanor. During her time with Li Yue, even a small, amusing interlude could keep her in high spirits for a long time.
“Comparing a person to food... isn’t that a bit too creepy...?” Li Yue felt somewhat helpless as she watched Clo playfully stick out her tongue.
“But that’s just the kind of person A Yue is. Even though you look cold on the outside, you’re a very delicate and sweet person at heart.” Clo swung Li Yue’s hand back and forth as they walked. The latter was forced to swing her arm along with her. Though she looked resigned, whether she was secretly enjoying it was another matter entirely.
“I don’t think so... I...” Li Yue’s face flushed slightly. Thinking of the countless lost souls beneath the Death Abyss, the hint of shyness in her heart transformed into a touch of guilt.
“Alright, don’t think about certain things anymore.” Clo seemed not to care at all. “By the way...”
The swinging motion of her arm stopped. She brought a finger to her lips and leaned in close, pressing against Li Yue’s side to whisper in her ear.
“A Yue, what do you think I taste like?”
Li Yue froze, momentarily at a loss for how to answer. She turned her face away, only for Clo to sway right back into her field of vision.
“If the God’s remains are all sealed, you shouldn’t be the God of Death right now, but rather half a blood demon,” Clo mused. “What did you used to eat when you were hungry?”
“Blood crystals... things like that.” Li Yue thought about it and suddenly realized she had left her most important belongings in her ring. Most of the items she used to look down upon seemed to have been lost during the process of absorbing the God’s remains.
For instance, the blood crystals she used to keep on her person, and the money Helen had given her when she left Yakutsk.
This is bad...
“Blood crystals are actually very expensive in the academy. After all, to trainees and apprentices, a blood demon is an extremely terrifying killer.” Clo leaned in, grabbing her own collar with one hand to reveal her fair neck. The pulsing veins were faintly visible beneath the skin. A devilish smile played on her lips; though she was in the posture of prey, she looked very much like a hunter.
Li Yue swallowed hard. A hunger she hadn't felt in a long time actually began to surge within her. With great effort, she tore her gaze away from Clo’s pale neck and looked at the bushes by the side of the road.
I didn't eat enough for breakfast... That must be it... right?
She deceived herself this way, completely ignoring the massive breakfast Clo had brought her this morning. Perhaps this was the pinnacle of self-delusion.
As for her blood magic... she should avoid using it in the academy if possible. She would just use some basic magic instead. Although they were vastly different from her own magic branch, they were still just basic spells. She was a Great Mage, after all; handling such minor magic would be easy enough.
“Let’s go pick out some clothes. Aside from what you’re wearing, your wardrobe is full of clothes for the sea, and some of them are just too thin.” Clo took Li Yue’s hand and led her toward a shop that was decorated with an ancient yet luxurious style.
At first glance, Li Yue had even mistaken the place for some kind of grand hall.
“When did you go through my wardrobe?” Li Yue asked, feeling a bit flustered and annoyed.
“While you were sleeping,” Clo chirped with a giggle.
The two stayed in the shop for quite a while. By the time they were done, evening was approaching. In the end, Clo simply had ten or so daily outfits custom-made for Li Yue. In Clo’s words, different clothes were meant for different occasions.
As for the price, Li Yue saw a figure of twelve magic gold coins. As for the actual total, Clo seemed to gloss over it, leaving Li Yue unsure of how many zeros followed that number.
“About the money... I’ll work hard to pay you back.” Li Yue spoke somewhat timidly. She had felt uncomfortable—or more accurately, embarrassed—being watched by Clo the entire time her measurements were being taken in the small cubicle.
Her figure had been showered with praise. If the other person hadn't been a professional tailor, Li Yue might have suspected they were a shill hired by Clo. Ultimately, they ordered many dresses, formal gowns, and casual wear, and even outfits for evening banquets, horse riding, and balls...
Li Yue strongly suspected that Clo had dragged her into the boutique just to play a dress-up game. She was the model, Clo was the stylist, and they were playing the version with all outfits unlocked.
“I’m an assistant professor now, so this amount of money is nothing. Besides, my savings can be considered joint marital property.” Clo didn't seem to care. In reality, such a massive expense was something even a professor wouldn't dare to make for a full set of clothes. Having a few decent suits was usually enough. To order so many clothes from a high-end shop like Schustal was incredibly extravagant.
Li Yue shook her head, treating the second half of that sentence as a joke.
“Is there any work that pays quickly?”
“Go tell the principal you’re a Calamity Warlock—the Favored One kind. Tell him if he doesn't give you money, you’ll self-destruct right there. You’ll have unimaginable wealth instantly.”
“That won't work...”
“Tie yourself up at the entrance of the Academy to claim your own bounty?” Clo recalled. “I remember your bounty is currently the highest on the seas.”
“That might have worked before, but not now...”
Li Yue sighed. Given the strength of a trainee or apprentice, the speed of earning money was indeed extremely slow. Normally, even if she went out to hunt demon beasts now, the value of the prey she could catch wouldn't be much.
“There are chambers of commerce in the market that exchange magic coins and regular currency, but you don’t seem to have any savings left.” Clo thought for a moment. “You can only trade once your student ID or magic user certificate is issued.”
“Why are the rules so complicated? Does the academy not trade with the outside world?”
“The point of the magic coin system is to minimize the circulation of magic materials among ordinary people. After all, the side effects of unprocessed materials are immense.”
Clo pondered.
“Only trainees with identification can perform exchanges. Think of it as the academy turning a blind eye. Legitimate organizations on the continent still use normal currency with the academy.” Clo took out a magic gold coin. “Actually, the difference between magic coins and regular coins is just a special way of infusing them with mana. If you remove the mana, a magic coin just turns back into a regular coin.”
“It’s just that the processing method is a top secret, so we don’t know it.” Clo smiled. In truth, she had the authority to know; she just hadn't cared about secular money before.
If she wanted to, she could spend a fortune just to make her beauty smile, though she suspected she would mostly receive an eye-roll from Li Yue for her wasteful behavior.
“Would the two masters like to come in for a meal?” A young lady dressed in a maid’s outfit stood at the entrance of a classically decorated coffee shop, holding a tray and wearing a sweet smile.
“No, thank you.” Clo waved her hand with a smile, comforting Li Yue, who was still biting her fingernail and wondering if she should go out and find a job. Li Yue looked up at the coffee shop. She saw several busy figures inside, looking like they were struggling to keep up with the work.
Service industry... I’ve done that before.
“What are you thinking about? Are you hungry?” Clo leaned in. “I’ve booked a restaurant for tonight. Let’s go together.”
“Mhm, okay.” Li Yue pulled her gaze back from the shop as Clo pulled her toward their next destination.
We were supposed to be touring the academy... Why does this feel like a date...?
Rate on N.U.
