Chapter 16: Chapter 16: Noelle's Spring Has Arrived
Thinking about the unknown whereabouts of the monster cave, Kuroha couldn't help but feel a headache.
However, before he could snap out of it, Noel, who had been tightly holding onto him, suddenly woke up.
"What... What is this place? Why did you bring me to this room? This is inappropriate!" Noel cried out.
Normally, at this point, a group of lecherous men would have rushed in, ready to intervene.
Not for any heroic rescue, but just to be bystanders and watch the scene unfold.
However, after accepting the small amount of drinking money from Kuroha, the militia clearly treated it all as a form of amusement.
Seeing Noel startled, Kuroha helplessly rolled his eyes and said, "My noble lady, you're the one who held me asleep all the way, and there are saliva marks all over my clothes, making them half wet. Shouldn't it be me who is calling this inappropriate?"
"What?"
Noel was stunned, recalling the scene that happened not long ago in the tavern. She quickly let go of him, blushing, and said, "I... I didn't do it on purpose. If this young lady willingly held you to sleep, then you've already gained a great advantage."
Seeing Noel suddenly adopt an arrogant attitude, Kuroha immediately reached out and flicked her forehead hard, saying, "In that case, I guess I've taken advantage of you too."
"Anyway, I'm also a bit tired. Let's just sleep here together for the night."
Feeling a pain in her forehead, as well as Kuroha's sudden embrace, Noel covered her forehead and quickly backed away.
However, after taking a few steps, something hidden in her sleeve fell to the ground with a clink.
A magic ring?
Kuroha raised an eyebrow, looking at the ring embedded with a water-element gem, clearly surprised.
This was a high-grade magic ring. Considering that Noel had been rejected and expelled from the royal castle by Solid and Nabura...
Every month, aside from receiving some basic allowance, she couldn't afford such a magic item.
Moreover, her overly protective brother, Nozel, didn't want to see Noel, who resembled their mother, using magical equipment to enhance her magical control and participate in combat. He feared losing her.
However, thinking back to what had happened at the adventurers' tavern, Kuroha furrowed his brow and said, "Is this magic ring the reason a royal lady like you went to take on a task and got bullied?"
Seeing the ring that had fallen to the ground, Noel's expression changed, and she hurriedly picked it up, looking around cautiously before saying, "This is a magic ring that helps enhance the precision of magical control."
"It's a level two magic item, worth 30 gold coins. In three months, I'll take the Magic Knight Corps exam, and I plan to join and show everyone what I can do."
Saying this, Noel clenched the ring tightly in her hand, her face showing a hint of determination. "But don't think that just because you saved me, I'll repay you."
"No, wait until I join the Magic Knight Corps. That's when I'll have money to repay you. Right now, I'm a little hungry..."
"And how did you know I'm from the royal family? What if you killed someone at the tavern? Shouldn't I go back and ask my brother for mercy?"
Watching Noel transform into a sea of questions, Kuroha helplessly rolled his eyes. He casually rummaged through his pouch and pulled out two biscuits, handing them to Noel.
"I only have this. If you're hungry, and as a royal you don't mind, just eat this for now. We'll be starting the monster-slaying task soon."
"Also, it seems two nobles have arrived in East Mountain Town, and you'll need to be of use later."
Before Kuroha could finish his sentence, Noel, who had already grabbed the biscuits, began devouring them hungrily.
Kuroha had no idea how much Noel had suffered to get that magic ring.
However, according to the original story, Noel inherited her mother's magical attributes and possessed an extraordinarily powerful magic, nearly on par with that of a squad leader.
It was precisely because Noel awakened such a powerful magic from birth that she lacked the proper control and had never received formal training.
Eventually, with her siblings' rejection, she went down an increasingly twisted path.
In the end, her magic became completely uncontrollable.
Trying to control a beast with a piece of rope? That was ridiculous.
Right now, Noel had scraped together enough money to buy a magic ring to enhance her control, but for the immense power of magic lying dormant inside her, the ring was barely a drop in the bucket.
"By the way, I successfully completed a task at the tavern. It seems I got a reward." Kuroha suddenly remembered the sign-in task at the tavern.
With a thought, he opened his attribute page for the first time.
Host: Kuroha
Magic Level: Zero Domain
Magic Control Level: Perfect Control
Magic Book Level: One Leaf Grass Magic Book
Magic Type: Ice Shaping Magic (Beginner)
Able to increase magic power level based on the magic book's level.
Pet: None
Martial Arts: None
Special Abilities: None
...
Items: Two bottles of High-Level Magic Control Potion.
Looking at the nearly blank attribute panel, Kuroha finally scrolled to the last section and saw the potions quietly lying in his storage space.
He looked at the so-called High-Level Magic Control Potions and their usage instructions, his eyes suddenly lighting up.
This was truly Noel's springtime.