Sour in the Air

Xia Lun maintained a perfectly appropriate distance from Ankula.

But as the daughter of the city lord, Ankula was already eye-catching enough on her own. Walking beside her was like standing under the brightest spotlight.

"It's Lady Ankula."

"Who's that man with her?"

"Could he be Lady Ankula's boyfriend?"

"No way! Lady Ankula would never take a boyfriend. I refuse to believe it!"

"Tsk, but that guy is quite handsome. He actually looks like a good match for Lady Ankula..."

"Ah, I remember now! He's the adventurer who defeated the Crimson Dragon! He’s the one who helped Lady Ankula solve the plague crisis..."

"If they're out together like this, could they really be..."

As the so-called "flower guardian," Xia Lun drew even more attention than Ankula herself.

Xia Lun sighed inwardly. He really didn’t want any rumors spreading between him and Ankula.

"Sorry about this… I didn’t think it through," Ankula whispered apologetically, clasping her hands together. "But this is actually the first time I’ve gone out with a man my age."

"It’s fine," Xia Lun waved it off. "We’ll be leaving Olie City soon anyway. The misunderstanding will clear up by then."

"Is that so…" Ankula’s expression didn’t exactly brighten at his words. "Oh, Xia Lun, let me treat you to a meal! There’s a really nice restaurant in Olie City—you’ll love it!"

Before Xia Lun could respond, Ankula had already quickened her pace ahead. Left with no choice, he hurried after her.

The restaurant before them was lavishly decorated, yet with a slightly retro style. Through the pristine glass windows, the elegant and refined interior was clearly visible.

Clearly, dining here wouldn’t be cheap. The patrons coming and going were all well-dressed nobles or wealthy merchants—it might as well have had "No Commoners Allowed" written on the sign.

Ankula had already pushed the door open and found a rather secluded table, waving Xia Lun over.

Surely… nothing would go wrong, right?

But at this point, Xia Lun had no choice but to brace himself and follow, taking a seat across from her.

He cleared his throat softly.

It was just a meal. Nothing would happen.

Stare—

Yet the moment Xia Lun sat down, he felt an intense gaze burning into him from the side.

"A… Aina? What are you doing here?" Xia Lun asked, startled as he noticed her at the neighboring table.

"Why can’t I be here?" Aina replied coolly. "I was here first… I’m just having a meal. Don’t mind me."

Despite her words, Xia Lun couldn’t shake off a sense of unease.

He hadn’t noticed Aina when he first entered, meaning she had deliberately concealed her presence…

What was she up to?

Meanwhile, Ankula narrowed her eyes slightly. She had sensed earlier that Aina seemed to be targeting her, whether intentionally or not.

This one wasn’t here with friendly intentions.

But as far as she knew, there was no special relationship between Xia Lun and Aina—just ordinary teammates.

That meant they were on equal footing as rivals.

Ankula smiled inwardly. She had full confidence in her own charm.

Handsome, powerful, upright… Ankula knew very well that if she were to choose a partner, Xia Lun was undoubtedly the best candidate.

She wasn’t about to let someone else take him.

The food arrived quickly. Ankula hadn’t ordered much, but each dish was exquisite—just enough for two.

Aina, on the other hand, had only ordered a dessert: a honey-drenched pancake so sweet it looked nauseating. After just one bite, she silently set down her spoon.

"Oh, Xia Lun, would you like to try this? It’s really delicious." Ankula speared a piece of perfectly seared lamb with a silver fork, leaning forward slightly to offer it to him.

"Th-thanks." With Ankula going this far, Xia Lun couldn’t very well refuse.

He barely tasted the lamb before hurriedly swallowing it.

Then, he stole a glance at Aina’s table.

Aina still appeared composed and elegant, seemingly focused on her battle with the honey pancake, showing no other reaction.

Except, for some reason, there was now a spoon on her table with its handle twisted into a corkscrew.

Warning bells rang in Xia Lun’s mind.

Danger. Extreme danger.

He couldn’t let things escalate further.

Taking a deep breath, Xia Lun sped up his eating, devouring his portion like a whirlwind before wiping his mouth neatly.

"I’m full. Please take your time, Lady Ankula. Don’t worry about me."

Ankula blinked in astonishment, then puffed her cheeks slightly, shooting Xia Lun a reproachful look.

Honestly, it was adorable—enough to make anyone want to pull her into a hug.

But Xia Lun remained oblivious, his reaction disappointingly wooden.

Perhaps not wanting to trouble the waitstaff, the twisted spoon on Aina’s table had returned to normal… though the honey pancake remained untouched after that single bite.

"Xia Lun… what are your usual hobbies?"

"Training and swordsmanship."

"Really? I could prepare some body-tempering elixirs for you. They’re quite effective."

"No need, Lady Ankula. Strength gained through elixirs and strength earned through training are fundamentally different," Xia Lun explained matter-of-factly. "Besides, tempering elixirs are more suited for novice warriors. I’ve long since passed that stage."

Under her hood, the corners of Aina’s lips curled slightly.

This was Xia Lun, after all—the man had zero skill when it came to talking to girls.

Well, as his teammate who had been by his side all this time, she was the only one who could keep up with his way of speaking.

"Is that so? You’re amazing! How long have you been practicing swordsmanship? And you have the Goddess’s blessing, right? What does that feel like…?" Ankula’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

Xia Lun hesitated. "Well… it’s nothing special, really. I’ve been swinging a sword since I was old enough to remember. As for the Goddess’s blessing… it’s an innate power. I don’t really know what it’s like for those without it…"

The faint smile on Aina’s lips faded.

It seemed her opponent wasn’t an ordinary one—she was actively engaging Xia Lun, even keeping up with topics like this…

"Then, could you tell me about your adventures? Since you can’t take me with you, will you come back to Olie City and share your stories with me every time?" Ankula rested her chin on her hands, her eyes shimmering as she gazed at him.

Xia Lun didn’t think much of it. "Of course, Lady Ankula."

But the moment the words left his mouth, he regretted them.

A heavy pressure settled over him.

Along with a faint, unmistakable scent of vinegar in the air.