Seeing Roxy regain her spirits, a hint of relief appeared on Elinalise's lips.
She knew that Roxy, who had been used to hardship, was not the kind of person who could be easily defeated.
Although her dejected appearance yesterday evening was heartbreaking, Roxy is still Roxy. After a good night's sleep, the spirit in her eyes returned.
Then... she was dragged out by Roxy to buy groceries.
Pufferfish are poisonous, and few shops are willing to sell them. The two of them had to travel across most of Milcion to gather the ingredients.
Roxy asked from shop to shop, from the fish stalls on East Street to the market on West Street. Some shopkeepers waved their hands as soon as they heard the word "pufferfish," directly and simply indicating their refusal.
Roxy wasn't annoyed. After being rejected, she simply bowed, said "excuse me," and turned to continue to the next store.
Elinalise followed behind, watching her earnestness, and couldn't help but shake her head and smile.
Midway through... they encountered Nanahoshi, who had just seen Randolph off.
Nanahoshi stood at the hotel entrance, still clutching the packet of seasoning Randolph had given her, studying it intently.
Upon hearing about what Roxy was going to do next, Nanahoshi became interested, and her eyes lit up. "Excuse me, may I join you?"
"Yes, Nanahoshi!"
"But won't this be a hassle for you?"
"No... After all, Miss Roxy has taken care of me during this time, hasn't she? I also want to find an opportunity to repay this kindness. Please allow me to join you."
"Great! If Nanahoshi is willing to help, that would be wonderful."
Roxy nodded slightly, seeing her serious expression.
So the Nanahoshi joined in, forming the Roxy Squad.
Some people were responsible for finding ingredients, some for buying seasonings, and some for carrying things and helping out. They were busy all day long.
Nanahoshi is meticulous in her work; she even examines each scallion individually when picking them, which Elinalise finds too dawdling.
Then, Nanahoshi, in a professional tone, criticized Elinalise for being irresponsible... and then earnestly talked about the importance of seasonings.
Both the heat control and the steps were very methodical...
Hearing these technical terms pop up every now and then, Elinalise's head was spinning. Her expression was one of utter bewilderment. What on earth are you babbling about?
In her mind, you could just cook pufferfish in a pot after some simple processing and eat it, right?
In the end, the two even argued over their differing opinions, but it was the understanding Roxy who stepped in to smooth things over and end the farce...
These three people, with such different personalities, came together by chance, bickering and making quite a scene.
In the afternoon, with the help of Nanahoshi and Elinalise, Roxy finally cooked a pot of fresh "pufferfish soup".
The soup was bubbling away in the pot, its delicious aroma filling the entire room.
Looking at her work, Roxy couldn't help but smile.
She took a small spoonful and tasted it. The umami flavor melted on her tongue and slid warmly down her throat—it was cooked just right.
Luo Ge would definitely love this pufferfish soup, wouldn't he?
This was Luo Ge's favorite food since he was a child.
She remembered that back in Buena Village, Luo Ge's foolish apprentice had been poisoned to death once by eating pufferfish.
I can't help but think of that stupid apprentice, foaming at the mouth after eating pufferfish.
Roxy couldn't help but give another bitter laugh, her eyes revealing the nostalgia she felt when she first met Luo Ge.
Luo Ge was better when he was a child; back when he was a tutor in the Buena Village, Roger always liked to pester him.
But as time went by...
Although Luo Ge has grown up and become more outstanding, an invisible distance has grown between him and his master.
This distance isn't because the master-disciple relationship has grown distant; it's more like a restraint learned as one grows up.
... Just like many children who love to cling to their parents and act cute when they are young, but as they grow up, they gradually find that they will eventually talk less and less to their parents.
The pufferfish soup was served.
Roxy immediately set off to find Luo Ge.
But when she brought the soup to Luo Ge's room, she found that Luo Ge was no longer there.
Roxy carried the pot around the hotel for a while, and only after asking Paul, who was passing by, did she learn that Luo Ge had left very early that day.
"You've gone out?"
Where did you go?
Roxy asked.
"I didn't go into details, but you should be able to find it if you look around..." Paul shrugged and then went about his business.
Roxy stood in the corridor, holding the pot, and remained silent for a while before taking a deep breath and regaining her composure.
It's okay, we'll keep looking for it.
So, after inquiring about Luo Ge's whereabouts, Roxy finally found the shore of Gran Lake in the afternoon.
It's windy by the lake.
Ripples spread across the water's surface, and she could see Luo Ge's figure in the distance.
Overjoyed, Roxy was about to quickly step forward.
"Huh?!?"
Then she froze.
Because there were other people by the lake besides Luo Ge; Lara was there too...
The two of them appeared to be having a picnic; a cloth was spread out on the ground with some food laid out, and they were chatting and laughing.
Luo Ge said something that made Lara laugh so hard she almost fell over, and she reached out and slapped his arm.
Luo Ge didn't dodge; a smile played on his lips.
That relaxed expression was rarely seen on Roxy's face.
Lara leaned closer and pointed at the lake, saying something. Luo Ge looked in the direction she was pointing, narrowed his eyes, and then nodded.
The two of them chatted back and forth like old friends who had known each other for a long time.
Seeing them laughing and chatting happily, and their good relationship, Roxy's expression gradually turned somber.
She clutched the pot of pufferfish soup that had been simmering all day tightly in her hand, biting her lip... and never went forward to disturb the two of them.
Turning around, Roxy came quietly and left quietly, without taking away a single trace of her presence.
As Roxy walked back step by step, she hadn't gone far when she bumped into Elinalise and Nanahoshi, who had followed her to see what was going on.
"... Roxy?"
"Did you deliver your gift? Was Luo Ge moved to tears?" Elinalise asked eagerly, not noticing that Roxy's expression was growing increasingly grim.
Roxy didn't look up, but simply shoved the pot of pufferfish soup into her arms. "Here... you can have the soup."
After saying that, Roxy didn't even glance at the two people there, and turned to leave alone.
?????
Elinalise, holding the pot, stood frozen in place, exchanging bewildered glances with Nanahoshi.
She lowered her head, tasted a sip of the soup, and muttered, "It tastes really good... What's wrong with Roxy today?"
Nanahoshi waved his hand, giving a look that said, "I don't know, don't ask me."
She watched Roxy's retreating figure, then glanced at Luo Ge's silhouette in the distance by the lake, and frowned thoughtfully. Things didn't seem as simple as she had thought.
On the other side.
On the street, people came and went... but Roxy walked back to the hotel all by herself, her steps slow, her mind filled with images of Luo Ge and Lara chatting and laughing by Gran Lake. She accidentally bumped into someone on the way and apologized several times.
She couldn't forget what had happened before.
Clearly... we've encountered this situation before, and Luo Ge and Nanahoshi were laughing and joking around back then.
She used to think it was nothing; she was happy that Luo Ge had found friends... But today, seeing Luo Ge and Lara chatting and laughing on the beach, her mood turned sour.
The sun is setting.
Unbeknownst to her, she had already returned to her hotel room alone. Along the way, people greeted her, this Water King Rank magician, but Roxy ignored them.
She closed the door, sat on the edge of the bed for a while, and then sighed softly.
"What am I doing...?"
She was talking to herself, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible.
In the evening.
Luo Ge returned to the hotel.
He looked much better. As soon as he entered, he saw Elinalise sitting in the lobby, holding the pot of pufferfish soup in her hands, her expression somewhat subtle.
"What's wrong?"
Luo Ge asked.
Elinalise glanced at him, hesitated, and finally handed the pot to him. " Roxy made this for you. She was busy all morning, and you, on the other hand, were out fooling around with other women."
Where's the soup?
"I'll drink it for you."
"???"
Luo Ge was taken aback.
Elinalise's words make her sound like a scumbag, which is really baffling.
And even if I'm a scumbag, you, Elinalise, aren't much better, are you?
Where is the teacher?
Elinalise glared at Luo Ge, annoyed. "You still ask? I don't know..."
After thinking it over, Elinalise changed her story. "After Roxy came back, she locked herself in her room."
"Hmph, you figure it out yourself."
Luo Ge stood there for a while, then carried the pot upstairs.
He went to Roxy's room first and knocked on the door.
After a few seconds of silence, Roxy's voice came through, sounding a little muffled. "Who is it? Is it Elinalise?"
"Teacher, it's me."
A few more seconds of silence followed.
Then the door opened a crack, and Roxy, wearing pajamas, poked half her head out, her face still showing signs of weariness.
Upon seeing it was Luo Ge, her expression became so complicated that she didn't know how to react, and she seemed somewhat at a loss.
"Teacher, I've come to visit you!"
"Visit?"
Roxy tilted her head, looking puzzled. "By the way, Luo Ge... didn't you go with Lara?"
"I think the teacher's affairs are more important."
"Won't Lara have any objections?"
"Her? Why ask her? That's strange... but..."
"Excuse me... may I come in, teacher?"
"Yes, that's fine."
Luo Ge arrived at Roxy's room and sat down opposite her, while Roxy, dressed in her pajamas, sat upright on the edge of the bed.
Looking at her turned profile, Luo Ge suddenly asked with a hint of doubt, "Teacher, is something on your mind today?"
"I heard from Elinalise that you seemed to be in a bad mood today? Did someone upset you?"
"That's not true. I'm a Water King Rank magician. Besides, everyone here is very kind to me. Nobody bullies me."
" Luo Ge, you don't need to worry about me!"
"I'm fine... It's Luo Ge who needs to take care of his health and cherish himself... May he live a long and healthy life!"
"May the teacher live to be a hundred!"
"This? Our race has a very long lifespan; theoretically, we can live to be two hundred years old..."
"..."
Luo Ge.
Looking at Roxy, who could talk so freely with him, Luo Ge always felt that she seemed to be hiding something from him.
Was someone bullying you while you were away?
It might be fine elsewhere, but this is Milision, the capital of the Holy Kingdom of Millis.
The conservatives in this country have always discriminated against demons.
And her teacher, Roxy, happens to be a demon...
Although there are papal factions in this country who advocate peaceful coexistence with the demons, there are also many conservatives who suppress and discriminate against the demons.
As far as he knew, his maternal grandmother's family was part of the conservative faction that suppressed the demon race.
Perhaps, for Teacher Roxy, living in a country that discriminates against demons is something she wouldn't be used to?
After all, Roxy was an adventurer, and Luo Ge knew that his greatest hobby was exploring dungeons.
When she was little, she was willing to run away from home for freedom. Do I really want to keep bothering her with my family problems?
Moreover, Ms. Roxy has already done enough.
So, to comfort Roxy, Luo Ge said, "Teacher, if you really don't like being here, there's no need to force yourself to stay for my sake. You can confidently pursue your dreams."
"Huh?"
"... Let me pursue my dreams?"
Luo Ge's attempt to comfort her only made things worse... Roxy's ahoge (cowlick) twitched a few times, and her mind started wandering.
A moment later, as if she had suddenly thought of something, a wave of sadness washed over her.
Ms. Roxy, let's stop contacting each other.
I'm afraid Lara will misunderstand.
In her mind's eye, there was a future day when Luo Ge would stand before her, holding Lara's hand.
After all, he and Lara look so alike, and Luo Ge wanted to take care of his wife's feelings... He was in a hurry to leave, no! Perhaps it was to avoid suspicion.
Roxy suddenly understood; Luo Ge was all grown up now and had the right to pursue his own happiness.
"Ugh!"
" Luo Ge, I understand... I think I know what to do next." Roxy took a deep breath and nodded seriously to Luo Ge.
Seeing Roxy's appearance, Luo Ge breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't expect his teacher to cheer up so quickly.
"Teacher Roxy... you have to keep it up!"
"Yes, Luo Ge, may you be happy forever!"
The two encouraged each other.
Watching Luo Ge get up and leave his room, Roxy couldn't help but lower her voice and murmur something softly.
"Turn out to be..."
" Luo Ge has grown up and no longer needs me!"