Half for You When I'm Done

Bang—

Without a word, Nanako closed her eyes and delivered a sharp flick to her disciple's forehead with her small hand.

What a troublesome fellow.

Even though he knows eating too much of this stuff can lead to senile dementia, he keeps feeding it to his master.

He's really rotten to the core!

Besides, haven't you been listening to what your master is saying?

Master is talking about those knights right now! With such an indifferent attitude, how can I properly eavesdrop on your thoughts?

Hmph!

Lynn pushed aside the ice cream, picked up a fruit, took a bite, and shrugged helplessly:

"Master, how would I know about things that even you don't know?"

"If Master really wants to understand, you can ask the lord of this place directly. Master, you're an executor of Winter Spring Valley. Wherever you go, even kings will show you respect once you reveal your identity."

Nanako nodded, supporting her chin with her small hand, pondering:

"That makes sense!"

However, Nanako had no intention of actually going.

Although she was an executor of Winter Spring Valley.

Without an invitation, Winter Spring Valley's rules strictly prohibited them from interfering in these countries' internal affairs.

This was to maintain Winter Spring Valley's neutral position and prevent them from being manipulated by other powers.

Clap—

Nanako pulled out two silver coins and said generously:

"Shopkeeper, keep the change from the two copper coins!"

After speaking, her light body jumped off the seat, and she bounced away.

"Disciple, follow me! Let's walk around together. It would be such a waste to return so quickly when we rarely come here!"

Lynn shrugged and was about to leave.

But he suddenly paused, turned around, and looked at the approaching shopkeeper with dead fish eyes:

"Exchange those two copper coins for two plain ice cream cones."

The shopkeeper was stunned: "But that young lady said to keep the change..."

"..."

A brief silence.

Accompanied by a series of clattering sounds.

After about ten seconds, Lynn walked out holding two plain ice cream cones without any additives.

Nanako asked curiously: "What was that sound just now?"

Lynn licked his ice cream cone and said: "The shopkeeper was too enthusiastic, insisted on kowtowing to me several times. I couldn't handle it and knocked over some chairs."

Nanako didn't think much of it and bounced forward.

But at that moment.

Lynn's gaze swept toward a certain corner, then casually returned as he followed behind his master.

[Heh, interesting, an Abyss Warlock, and a Grand Magus level at that.]

[Seems they've noticed my little master's identity and secretly sent someone to follow us.]

[Indeed, those knights didn't appear without reason. Since there's a Grand Magus level warlock in this city...]

[Looks like they're planning to summon a spatial gate to let those abyssal monsters in, heh...]

Lynn thought carelessly while licking his ice cream cone.

And Nanako, walking ahead, immediately perked up her ears.

An Abyss Warlock?!

Summoning a spatial gate?!

Nanako's heart suddenly jumped.

And there's even a Grand Magus level warlock following her?!

Without hesitation, Nanako's heart immediately leaped to her throat. If it weren't for hearing her disciple's thoughts, she might not have noticed at all.

After all, mages aren't omnipotent. She specialized in ice magic, excelling in battlefield control and combat.

She wasn't particularly skilled in detection.

But after getting the hint, Nanako immediately focused her attention, sensing the movements of everyone around her in a way that others could hardly notice.

[Oh? Has the little master noticed too?]

[No way! Given little master's ditzy personality, she probably wouldn't notice an enemy even if they were standing right in front of her?]

[Amazing! Amazing! Looks like master isn't as stupid as I thought!]

Lynn clicked his tongue in admiration internally.

Crunch—

Nanako closed her eyes and clenched her small fists.

"This awful disciple, how dare he look down on his master like this! How infuriating!"

Nanako ground her teeth.

But now wasn't the time to deal with this troublesome disciple.

He could afford to be casual, but she couldn't.

Although Winter Spring Valley executors couldn't interfere arbitrarily, if someone was really planning something that could harm the citizens, she absolutely wouldn't stand idly by.

In the next instant.

Nanako's spiritual power caught the trace of that Abyss Warlock.

"Found you!" Nanako's ahoge twitched.

...

In the alley.

A man wearing black clothes with a large hood stared grimly at Nanako and Lynn on the street.

One could faintly see his blood-red eyes, and his face was covered with dense green patterns.

His gaze followed Nanako until she disappeared around the street corner.

"That mage showed no unusual behavior," he said in a low voice:

"Winter Spring Valley probably hasn't noticed our plans yet. If they knew we were summoning an Abyssal Blood Demon, they wouldn't send just one executor!"

A raven slowly descended onto his shoulder.

The raven's eyes were equally blood-red, flashing with wisdom and indifference completely unlike a normal raven.

"To prevent unnecessary trouble, keep watching. The ritual has reached its final step, and I won't allow anyone to disrupt my plans during this time!"

The black-clothed man lowered his hand, his eyes flashing red as he said: "Yes, Master, but what about those knights? Should we deal with them?"

The raven spoke in a detached voice:

"Ignore them. Once the spatial gate opens, they will become the most delicious sacrifices for my lord."

"At that time, the entire city will turn to ashes!"

Caw caw—

A series of harsh raven cries.

The raven spread its wings and soared high into the sky.

The black-clothed man narrowed his eyes, then decided not to think further about it, and suddenly turned to walk out of the alley.

But just as he turned.

Instantly.

Their eyes met.

A young man holding an ice cream cone happened to be standing at the alley entrance.

They were literally a hair's breadth away from an extremely intimate close encounter.

After seeing the other person's face clearly, he was instantly startled.

Isn't this the low-level mage accompanying that Winter Spring Valley executor?

Could it be that he had been discovered?

His heart immediately jumped to his throat.

Lynn looked at the nervous black-clothed man before him, casually licked his ice cream cone, and brightened up:

"Are you here to take a dump too?"

The black-clothed man choked.

He didn't know how to respond to such a question.

Lynn smiled and patted the man's shoulder, pointing at the alley, saying cheerfully:

"No worries, there's plenty of space. Want to do it together? I have paper, I can share half with you."

"..."

"..."