The All-Purpose Zoldat

"D-Don't worry, we'll compensate you for the damage inside the shop!" Roxy said with a somewhat forced smile to Leola as she pushed Cain, who had pursed his lips.

"Idiot apprentice, don't do things that trouble people! Honestly!"

Seeing Roxy plant her hands on her hips and puff out her cute cheeks, Cain slowly exhaled, took his hand off his sword hilt, and looked at Roxy with slightly pursed lips.

"I'm sorry."

"You don't need to apologize."

Roxy shook her head, smiled at Cain, and blinked.

"Any experienced adventurer would get angry after hearing something like that. It's perfectly normal."

"After all, merchants have always used such despicable tactics—hoarding magical tools that could save lives in dungeons or inflating their value for huge profits."

"But when I heard that she wanted to keep it in her collection forever, I got a little angry too."

Roxy pursed her lips as she looked at Cain.

"But idiot apprentice, killing someone isn't as simple as you think. I don't want you to leave me so soon because you're wanted..."

Roxy was afraid that Cain would be wanted for murder and eventually driven out of the Ranoa Kingdom.

Cain saw the reluctance on Roxy's face and the deep concern in her azure eyes. After staring blankly for a moment, he nodded gently.

"I promise, Teacher."

Cain looked at Roxy seriously, finding it somewhat amusing inside.

Idiot teacher. It's not like I wanted to kill anyone in the first place, and how could I possibly do something like that in front of her? Could she have a little more faith in me? Besides, I'm the Sword God, no matter what. Killing a few defenseless people would be an insult to the title of Sword God.

Ten minutes later.

"Hey, you two, could you stop making more work for me? Honestly..." Zoldat said helplessly as he looked at Cain and Roxy. Behind him, a group of workers was repairing the shop.

"It's not like I'm shorting you on the money." Cain crossed his arms and pursed his lips.

"I heard you... Honestly, Cain, do you really think I'm all-purpose?"

Cain glanced at the dissatisfied Zoldat, took five Asura Gold Coins from the money pouch in his arms, placed them in Zoldat's hand, and looked at him seriously.

"I feel like you are."

Zoldat looked at the five Asura Gold Coins in his palm, quickly slipped them into his pocket, and pursed his lips.

"If you say so."

After the repair costs, he could still make one Aras Gold Coin. Zoldat really wanted to say, You sure know how to judge people!

"Idiot, don't waste money." Roxy tapped Cain on the head with her staff in dissatisfaction.

"Then we welcome you back next time. Remember to come pick up your armor in three months." Leola waved a handkerchief as her rabbit ears bobbed, bidding the two farewell.

The matter of the Magic Armor was basically settled. Cain and Roxy wandered around, somehow ending up at the same dessert shop they had visited last time.

Well, actually, Roxy was craving something sweet.

Cain watched as Teacher Roxy stared fixedly at the little cream cakes displayed in the dessert shop, nearly drooling. Amused and helpless, he took out a handkerchief and wiped the corner of Roxy's mouth.

"Is Teacher Roxy hungry?"

Roxy pursed her lips, blushed, and nodded slightly.

What was this idiot apprentice doing just now? How embarrassing!

Cain smiled faintly, took Roxy's small hand as her face flushed red, and led her into the dessert shop once more.

"Hey, young man, why were you in such a rush last time? Your bill came to one Aras Gold Coin and two silver coins, so you still owe me two silver coins."

Cain shrugged, took out five Aras Gold Coins, and slapped them onto the counter.

"I'll take all the little cream cakes from last time."

"Mm~ I-Idiot Cain is wasting money again, mm~"

You're eating the cream cake I bought and still criticizing me. Isn't that a little unfair, Teacher Roxy?

Cain watched Roxy beside him eat cake with an intoxicated smile, finding it both amusing and helpless.

Spinning a fountain pen in his hand, Cain rested his chin on one hand as he flipped through a magic book, occasionally looking at the magic recorded within and occasionally looking at Teacher Roxy eating dessert beside him.

Ah, if I tell Teacher Roxy that I've learned Advanced Healing Magic, will she be happy or sad?

Cain smiled faintly, closed the page in the magic book that recorded Advanced Healing Magic, and took out the account book to do some calculations.

Their spending this time had indeed been rather extravagant. All the reward money they had just received had been invested in making the Magic Armor.

Now, aside from the 100 Asura Gold Coins that he and Roxy shared, he had only a little over 30 Asura Gold Coins left, while Roxy had only a little over 80.

But when Cain thought about how he had possessed only one Asura Gold Coin a little over two weeks ago, he felt a sense of accomplishment.

If the Magic Armor required more money later, he might not have enough. Cain did not want Teacher Roxy to pay for him again. He would really be too ashamed to show his face.

Hmm, it looks like I need to take on more commissions to earn money. After all, we'll need funds when we set out in the future. As Cain thought this, he looked at Roxy beside him savoring her cream cake in small bites, and a smile unconsciously appeared on his face.

Teacher Roxy really looked adorable when she ate desserts.

Thinking this, Cain looked at Roxy, coughed twice, and put on a somewhat serious expression.

After all, eating too many desserts was unhealthy, and Roxy's cold had only just gotten better. She needed to take care of herself for a while.

"After you finish that one, you're not allowed to eat any more, Teacher Roxy. You've already eaten three cakes."

Cain spun the fountain pen in his hand, opened one eye, and spoke to Roxy with a serious expression.

"Eh! B-But..." Roxy looked at the large bag of cream desserts beside Cain, licked the cream from her lips with her small tongue, and pursed her lips. Her blue ahoge swayed in the air as she looked at Cain with an intensely longing expression.

Cain looked at Roxy's sparkling, captivating blue eyes and her adorably pleading expression. He pursed his lips slightly, but in the end, he still gave in to his teacher. Smiling helplessly, he slowly nodded.

Roxy's resistance to sweets was basically nonexistent...

Didn't we agree on only three a day? Honestly, idiot teacher, I can never do anything about you...

"O-Okay, but I'll only let you have one more at most."

"Thank you."

Roxy smiled happily at the helpless-looking Cain, accepted the little cake he handed her, licked her lips, and began eating with relish. With every bite, she wore an utterly blissful expression, looking as though she enjoyed it immensely.

Whenever Cain saw that blissful look on Roxy's face, he could not help stopping the fountain pen spinning in his hand to admire that instant when she made such a cute expression.

Healing. Happiness.

"U-Um, Cain, why are you looking at me like that... I understand. I'll pay half the cost of these little cakes..."

Roxy blinked at Cain's helpless smile, licked the corner of her lips, and felt a little uneasy.

"I-I understand. I'll pay seventy percent..."

As Roxy spoke, she took four Asura Gold Coins from her clothes, but Cain smiled faintly and placed them back in her palm.

"No need. I'm already full. This time, I'm treating Teacher Roxy."

Well, in a sense, I am full.

"Eh? B-But Cain, you haven't eaten even one cream cake, right? And..."

Roxy pursed her lips. Over the past few days, she and Cain really had been spending rather freely.

"Anyway, Teacher can treat me next time. This time, let me pay."

"O-Okay." Roxy blinked. Seeing Cain's smiling yet resolute expression, she finally sighed helplessly and nodded slightly.