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Chapter 51: Xue Nuo Wants to be Softer

The Saint’s Day, akin to a Christmas combined with Thanksgiving from Roy’s previous life, is a holiday created by the goddess for people to express their gratitude.

It is said that on this day, the goddess bestows the Holy Meal as a reward for people’s hard work throughout the year, allowing them to enjoy a day off and relish moments with family.

However, the religious atmosphere in the Western Continent isn’t very strong. For Roy, the biggest significance of this holiday is simply getting a break.

But on this legally recognized holiday in Veszyra, Roy found himself up bright and early, before dawn, heading to the outskirts with Xue Nuo to hunt down the Windfang Wolves that threatened road traffic, as per the Academy’s commission.

The boy unleashed all his pent-up frustration about not having a day off on the foolish beasts, letting them truly savor his suffering.

The duo didn’t take too long to handle the beasts.

Especially Xue Nuo, who possessed the golden lineage of Ice Spirit.

In just a few breaths, she froze the surrounding pack of wolves, and with a simple wave, they shattered into sparkling shards, like diamond dust.

With hair flowing and breath steady, the girl appeared effortlessly elegant, her snow-carved features untouched by a single drop of blood, pure and pristine.

However, Roy knew that for Xue Nuo, this was merely the beginning.

“Teacher Xue Nuo, where are we headed next?”

“Continue hunting magical beasts? Return to the Academy for experiments? Or go to the Academy meeting?”

Xue Nuo turned back and said, “My schedule for today ends here.”

“Huh? Is that it?” The sudden announcement threw Roy off balance.

Then, his smile gradually spread across his face.

Does that mean he could finally have a break today?!

But then Xue Nuo looked over seriously and asked, “Do you have any other plans today?”

“Uh, well…”

When a teacher asks if you’re free, it’s always code for wanting to assign a task!

He had to find a subtle excuse to decline!

After all, isn’t it acceptable to sneak a day off on the annual Saint’s Day?

Under Xue Nuo’s serious gaze, the boy chuckled dryly, “Actually, I have a few things to do. I’m kind of busy.”

“…I see.” Xue Nuo cast her eyes down, appearing somewhat disappointed.

Everyone kept saying she should be a little gentler with Roy, take him out to relax, but if he was busy, she couldn’t just interrupt him, right?

“I was going to take you out for a stroll; since you’re busy, we can save it for next time.”

Huh? Wait, what?!

Roy was taken aback.

Not for experiments, not for meetings, and not hunting magical beasts.

Xue Nuo wanted to take him… out to play?!

He had no idea how her icy brain suddenly clicked, but Roy knew that missing this chance would mean losing out.

After all, going back home meant doing nothing all day long.

As for makeup classes and work, he could easily ditch those, but if it meant going out to play, he was wide awake!

Seeing the silver-haired girl about to turn away, Roy quickly spoke up, “Oh, wait! I just remembered, I’m actually busy tomorrow, today is pretty free.”

Xue Nuo leisurely turned back, her long eyelashes fluttering, and her ice-blue eyes sparkled brightly. Her tone lightened, “Really?”

Roy nodded vigorously, “Really!”

“Then let’s go now.”

“Ah, wait! I might need to change my clothes.”

Having just finished slaughtering magical beasts, he couldn’t exactly walk around in blood-stained clothes.

But after a moment of thought, Xue Nuo said, “No need.”

“Just buy a new set.”

Under Xue Nuo’s strong insistence, Roy found himself at the Blue Moon Merchant’s clothing store.

Having frequently accompanied Charlotte and others to shop, he was somewhat of a regular here.

However, he rarely came specifically just to buy clothes for himself.

With the recommendations from the salesgirl, Roy quickly fell for a well-tailored, pitch-black mink coat.

Low-key luxury, warm, and easy to move in, he was quite fond of it.

“This gentleman has great taste; this is a pure handmade coat from the Tailor Master of the South Sea Kingdom! It can be yours for just 1,000 gold coins!”

Whoa, are you robbing me?

Having dabbled in adventure, Roy was more familiar with the prices of raw materials than the average noble.

A black-furred magical mink of excellent quality would only cost around 10 gold coins, and this was jacked up a hundredfold — that’s absurd!

Though he could afford it, he had already splurged on a special outfit for his little maid, making him cautious about money lately.

Especially when it came to clothes; he was always willing to spend on girls but rarely treated himself.

Uh, at this point, wouldn’t it be better to pretend he didn’t like it and just say he’d think about it?

However, just as Roy was about to set the coat aside, Xue Nuo decisively chimed in, “We’ll take this one.”

“Huh? Isn’t that a bit much? I don’t want to trouble you with buying clothes for me.”

“Don’t worry about it.” As she said that, Xue Nuo had already begun pulling out her magic crystal card to pay.

Talk about being generous.

“Since it’s the holiday, as your mentor, it’s perfectly fine to give a little gift.”

“Moreover, I have land taxes in the empire, so this amount isn’t a big deal.”

Xue Nuo anticipated that her thoughtful and studious apprentice would be polite, so she had already prepared her response.

With the mentor’s goodwill so forcefully behind it, Roy really had no choice but to accept.

A few minutes later, the boy emerged from the fitting room in the mink coat.

The sleek, black coat draped down, exuding understated luxury, and paired with his handsome and refined looks, it caught the attention of girls and ladies in the store, drawing many sideways glances.

The silver-haired girl stared intently, evaluating him for a moment before striding over.

A faint whiff of blue roses wafted from her flowing silver hair, leaving Roy a little flustered, “Teacher Xue Nuo?”

“Don’t move.” Xue Nuo reached out, adjusting his collar, lapels, and hems.

After stepping back, she gazed at the boy and nodded in satisfaction.

The gaze she had, as if appreciating a piece of art, made Roy feel a bit bashful.

Today, Teacher Xue Nuo seemed a bit different.

Her voice was softer, less chilly than usual, carrying a hint of barely noticeable tenderness, “Do you like it?”

“I quite like it.”

“That’s good.”

The silver-haired girl’s lips curled up in a delightful smile.

To avoid being disliked by the apprentice, a mentor should be a bit gentler.

She wasn’t very adept at this, but it seemed she was making a good start.

Everything was going as she had planned—

“Teacher Xue Nuo, aren’t you buying new clothes?”

“…Me?” Xue Nuo was taken aback.

“Yes, aren’t you, Teacher Xue Nuo?” Roy asked as if it were a natural question to ask.

From Roy’s personal experience, it was as impossible for girls to go shopping without wanting to buy clothes as it was for cultists to not be serious.

You had to know that even Alice, who always declined, would be delighted for half a day when she received new clothes.

Roy had made up his mind: “How about I buy a piece of clothing for Teacher Xue Nuo?”

“This… this doesn’t seem right…” Caught off guard by an unexpected situation, Xue Nuo felt flustered.

It was supposed to be her pampering her apprentice; how could she accept a gift in return? Was that appropriate?

“What’s wrong with that? Just think of it as a return gift for Saint’s Day.” Roy echoed Xue Nuo’s previous lines, gently nudging her towards the women’s section to pick out clothes.