Flirting

For some reason, the resurrected Little White had shed the rough, dull fur he'd had as an old dog and grown a soft, sleek, glossy coat.

Little White had returned to the way he'd looked as a young dog.

As an ordinary dog, Little White had no idea what miraculous change had happened to him. He only knew that when he opened his eyes, his beloved owner was right beside him.

The cute little white dog bounced around on his four short legs, circling Cana again and again as he whined affectionately without end.

Cana lovingly stroked Little White's fur, letting him nuzzle against her.

Cana had been only five when her mother died. She'd been very sad then, but after crying and fussing for a while, she'd felt better.

That was how children were. Their understanding of death was vague, and they thought their lost family members might come back one day.

But as she grew older, Cana gradually understood how naive she'd been as a child. Her mother wasn't coming back.

That was why she cherished Little White, who'd been by her side for twelve years. Even after she developed a drinking problem, Cana did her best not to drink at home.

"Noah, thank you."

Holding Little White, Cana offered Noah her most heartfelt thanks.

As if sensing his owner's feelings, Little White gave Noah a soft "woof."

Noah rubbed the fluffy little dog's head and looked at Cana with a faint smile. "Don't just say thanks. Give me something tangible."

"I saved your Little White. Charging you a million isn't unreasonable, is it?"

Cana froze as if she'd been struck by lightning. When she and her mother had bought Little White at the pet shop, he'd only cost a few hundred. And now he wanted a million?!

"Why don't you just go rob someone?!"

"Would that make money as fast as this?"

Noah gave her a wicked smile and took Little White from Cana's hands. The dog didn't resist, obediently letting this stranger he'd just met pet him.

"And besides, Cana, don't forget how much the Soul Resurrection card could fetch on the market. As a Card Mage, you should know."

Noah's answer left Cana with no way to argue. It was true that his card had brought Little White back to life.

Although the Soul Resurrection card could only revive "ordinary creatures," ordinary people without magic were included in that category. Plenty of wealthy and powerful people were ordinary, too.

If it went up for auction, countless big shots who spent money like water would compete to buy it. A mere million wouldn't even be enough for the opening bid.

Cana sighed. She knew she might not save that much money in a lifetime. Since that was the case, she might as well try another approach...

Cana put on a flattering smile. "Noah, you know I'm broke. How about this... I'll make a little sacrifice and be your girlfriend."

She deliberately rolled her shoulders, letting the fabric slip and reveal the smooth skin of her shoulders.

Cana figured she was pretty charming. Noah was only an eighteen-year-old innocent boy, so if she praised him a little and sweet-talked him, she could easily get him to let the whole thing go, right?

The girl struck what she thought was a seductive pose, but Noah stayed cool as a seasoned veteran. Back when he'd been cooped up in the palace, he'd already read plenty of novels with scenes like this.

This was nothing. She was way too naive.

Noah flashed a wicked smile and suddenly leaned close to Cana, breathing into her ear. "Your attempt at flirting is way too stiff, Cana."

The intensely masculine aura made Cana's face turn scarlet all the way to her ears. She wanted to get away, but she was already in the corner of the bedroom, with the wall behind her. There was nowhere left to retreat.

What do I do...? This is nothing like I imagined!

Was she really going to end up giving herself to him...?

Realizing she'd underestimated Noah, and that he was absolutely no innocent boy, Cana could only cast a panicked look toward Mira for help.

Help me, Mira!

But Mira was just sitting in the bedroom's only chair, legs crossed as she munched on sunflower seeds. Ignoring Cana's desperate plea, she looked completely content to watch the show.

Damn it, how could I forget that Mira's a devil who loves stirring up trouble and can't wait to see me embarrass myself?

In the end, I can only rely on myself!

Cana raised both hands in front of her chest and gave an awkward but polite smile. "Um... Noah, I was only joking just now..."

"Oh~ A joke worth a million?"

Noah stared at Cana with a knowing smile, continuing to move closer. With nowhere to run, Cana shut her eyes and pressed herself against the wall.

"Woof?"

The embarrassing scene she'd expected never came. Cana opened her eyes and saw Little White tilting his head in confusion.

Noah handed Little White back to her. He'd only been teasing her in return because she'd tried to flirt with him.

He hadn't expected that Cana, who usually seemed so bold, would turn into a passive heroine from a romance novel in a situation like this, doing nothing but wait.

How interesting.

Holding Little White, Cana slid down the wall and sat on the floor, her face still bright red.

At last, Mira spoke up. "Noah, you're so mean. You knew all along that Cana was all talk, but you still deliberately bullied her."

"You didn't stop me, either."

Noah glanced helplessly at the sunflower seed shells around Mira's feet.

Mira giggled. "Cana's always bragging about her romantic experiences at the guild, but she's barely even held a man's hand. The only time she's ever had any physical contact with a man was during a guild brawl."

Hearing Mira expose her tall tales, Cana felt more embarrassed than ever. She gave up and flopped face-down onto the bed.

Things had already come to this. What else could she do but give up?

Noah shook his head. Give up? Had she asked him first?

But Noah hadn't actually wanted Cana to pay him. He was just using the "tear down a wall to open a window" approach, hoping Cana would naturally choose what he really wanted.

"Cana, I don't need you to repay me in any particular way. Just answer one question, and we'll call it even. How does that sound?"

Cana rolled over and looked at Noah. "What question?"

"Yesterday, I saw the name 'Ivan Dreyar' in a book in the library. What's his relationship to the guild master and Laxus?"

Noah had made up the book where he'd supposedly found Ivan's name. If anyone asked later, he could always pretend he'd forgotten which book it was.

"Ivan Dreyar? He shares a surname with the guild master and Laxus, but I've never heard of him," Mira said, puzzled.

Cana, however, answered matter-of-factly. "Of course you've never heard of him. The guild master personally expelled him from the guild before I joined."