Chapter 63: An Accidental Encounter with Alice

“Wow! You little keycap!!!”

Liyakade clutched the spot where she’d been scratched, then glared furiously at the cat frantically scurrying away on all fours.

She stomped the ground hard with her little leather shoe.

A gust of wind rose from the earth, instantly scaring the cat into activating its Spinyback Dragon Form.

But even in Spinyback Dragon Form, it couldn’t escape Liyakade’s control, as she used wind to blow it even higher into the air.

“Meow!!!”

Now the cat realized it was in danger, shrieking and twisting wildly in the air.

But Liyakade wasn’t about to let it off the hook.

“Go back.”

Liyakade extended her hand toward the cat, controlling the Wind Element to gently lift it to a higher tree branch and set it down.

She couldn’t help but marvel at her growing mastery over Magic.

Even when using Magic on a weak creature like a cat, she could control it without causing any harm.

With this, she was confident she could search using Magic without injuring the cat.

“Hehehe, I’ll let you down later.”

With that, Liyakade turned away, waving her hand and ignoring the keycap’s pitiful meows for mercy, then went off to search for the Client’s cat.

Instinctively, Liyakade wanted to quickly heal her wound, but she suddenly stopped.

“No, I’ll keep the scratch. When I go back, I’ll say her cat did it. I’ll swindle her out of some Gold Coins, 20 Gold Coins—no, make it 50!”

Liyakade clenched her small pink fist, making a secret decision.

“But, where exactly is the Client’s cat?”

As Liyakade was lost in thought, a figure approached from ahead.

It was Alice.

“Eh? Miss Liakade? What happened to your arm?”

Alice was on her way to eat, but unexpectedly bumped into Liyakade.

She also noticed the wound on Liyakade’s hand.

“Was that from a cat?”

“Yeah, I found a cat stuck in a tree just now. I kindly rescued it, and it scratched me as soon as it came down. Seriously, I can’t believe it.”

Liyakade complained to Alice, her tone full of indignation.

“Let me heal you, Miss Liakade.”

As she spoke, Alice prepared to cast Light Magic.

“Wait, wait!”

Liyakade hurriedly hid her hand behind her back.

“Don’t heal me! This is a work injury—I need someone to compensate me later.”

“Work injury?”

Alice recalled the little flyers Liyakade had posted yesterday.

“Oh, are you doing odd jobs for other nobles? Want me to help out?”

“Eh? Sure! The Client’s cat ran away, and she asked me to find it. It’s a Maine Coon, brown, with a collar and bell.”

Hearing that Alice was willing to help, Liyakade was happy to accept.

“Alright, but I want to eat lunch first.”

“No problem, go ahead.”

Liyakade understood—it was already midday, time to eat.

At that thought, Liyakade’s stomach let out a pitiful grumble.

“Miss Liakade, you haven’t eaten yet?”

“Actually, I haven’t.”

Liyakade scratched her head awkwardly.

Her stomach had already given her away; how could she deny it?

“Then let’s go eat together first. Afterward, we can look for the cat.”

Alice suggested.

“Uh… Actually, never mind. I’ll eat after I find it.”

Liyakade thought it over and decided against it.

She’d spent almost all her remaining money yesterday posting those flyers; now, she only had enough for a few meals.

She couldn’t waste it carelessly.

“The Client is still waiting for me.”

“That’s not good.”

Alice gently wrapped her arm around Liyakade’s and began to lecture her.

“You have to eat to complete the job well. How can you starve yourself for the Client’s sake? Come on, let’s go eat.”

With that, Alice pulled Liyakade to her side.

Liyakade felt helpless, but when she thought about it, Alice was right.

She hadn’t eaten since morning and had already used up a lot of Magic and stamina.

If she skipped lunch, she’d have no energy left to search in the afternoon.

Besides, once the job was done, she’d have enough Gold Coins to live comfortably for a while.

So she stopped struggling and let Alice lead her by the hand.

Alice held Liyakade’s small, soft hand, suddenly feeling a strange flutter in her heart.

Her fingertips brushed against Liyakade’s fingers, and Liyakade seemed to tremble slightly.

But she soon adjusted to Alice’s touch, and before long, their fingers were interlocked.

“Isn’t this kind of thing a bit inappropriate inside the Academy?”

Liyakade, recalling Alice’s feelings for her, lowered her head and asked, embarrassed.

“Everyone’s watching…”

“What are you saying?”

Alice didn’t seem to mind.

Although her heartbeat quickened the moment their fingers entwined.

“Holding hands between girls is totally normal. Why are you so nervous? I bet you’re thinking something weird, which is why you feel it’s wrong.”

Faced with Alice’s reversal of blame, Liyakade was speechless.

Because what she was thinking really was about love between girls.

Holding hands between girls was normal, of course.

But interlocking fingers…

Honestly, it happened plenty, but when you knew the other person was a girl who liked you, it felt a bit ambiguous.

Liyakade didn’t dare look up.

She let Alice lead her forward, afraid to see the reactions of those around them.

In reality, no one was paying attention, but Liyakade couldn’t help but worry that if she looked up, she’d see Alice or someone else staring at her blushing face.

Liyakade felt the walk to the cafeteria was longer than usual.

Her heartbeat and breathing grew louder and clearer.

Come to think of it, what exactly did Alice like about her?

And how was she supposed to respond to Alice’s feelings?

Though she was under control at the time, she had almost taken that step, and they’d already seen each other honestly.

Alice had accepted her.

So, what was she supposed to do now?

“Hey? Miss Liakade? Wake up.”

Alice shook Liyakade’s shoulder for a while before she snapped out of her daze.

“We’re here.”

“Ahaha, I zoned out just now.”

Liyakade only then realized Alice had let go of her hand.

They were already at the cafeteria entrance.

“Sigh, Miss Liakade, honestly. You even zone out while walking. Such a dummy… But actually, it feels like the walk was much shorter than before.”

“It’s your fault… I don’t want you calling me a dummy…”

Liyakade now felt she’d gotten a better sense of Alice’s true self.

Although Alice was always polite, always using honorifics with everyone—even with Irina Zi, she usually called her by name—sometimes she was a bit airheaded, almost saintly.

But this person might actually be a hidden black-bellied type.

Well, whatever.

For now, let’s eat.

Liyakade felt her head getting a little hot.

It was summer, and midday, but today felt hotter than usual.