The Noble in Water and the Drenched Witch

The stream outside Buena Village appeared exceptionally clear and piercingly cold in the biting winter wind.

The river surface wasn't completely frozen over; only a thin layer of ice had formed at the edges. In the middle, the rapid current still surged noisily, crashing against the black rocks and stirring up white foam.

"This water temperature looks thrilling just by looking at it."

Lynch stood by the river, rubbing his hands together as he baited his homemade fishhook—it was made from a mutated earthworm, said to have a fatal attraction to fish.

"But for a pot of boiled fish, it's worth it."

He did not notice that Felsy, standing not far behind him, was currently staring at his back with a scrutinizing gaze.

Felsy wrapped her wool shawl tighter around herself, her purple eyes flashing with a thoughtful light.

The scarecrow named "Abyss Gazer" from yesterday had shocked her far too much.

The casual construction of an ancient cursed totem was simply not something an ordinary human could master.

"Lynch... are you really putting on a disguise, or are you truly just a lucky ordinary person?"

Although the "Primordial Demon God in Hiding" theory in Felsy's mind was tempting, rationality told her it was highly unreasonable.

If he really was a Demon God, why would he break out in a cold sweat when facing a mere Tier 3 magical beast? Why would he trip over a rock while walking just now?

"Only in moments of life-and-death crisis will a creature expose its true instincts."

Felsy narrowed her eyes.

She decided to give him a push.

"Lynch."

"Eh? What's wrong, honey? Are you cold? If you're cold, you can head back first..."

Lynch was just about to turn his head when he suddenly heard a short gasp behind him.

"Ah."

The voice was very flat, the acting incredibly clumsy, as if reading from a textbook.

Immediately after came a loud splash.

Lynch abruptly turned around, only to see that the spot where Felsy had been standing was completely empty. In the rushing river, a flash of long silver hair was bobbing up and down.

"Felsy!!"

Lynch's mind went blank with a buzz.

He had no time to think about why his wife, a local, would fall into such an obvious river, nor did he have time to wonder why she wasn't calling for help.

Without the slightest hesitation.

Splash!

Lynch didn't even take off his coat. He leaped straight into the piercingly cold river.

The water instantly submerged his head, and the knife-like chill tried to drill into his bones.

Underwater.

Although Felsy was "struggling," her entire body was actually covered by an extremely thin magic shield that isolated her from the cold and the feeling of suffocation.

She kept her eyes open, watching the figure who had jumped down with no regard for his own safety.

"He jumped down? His reaction is quite fast."

Felsy thought to herself.

"But this isn't enough. A water current of this level can be handled by anyone who knows a bit about swimming. I want to see your limits."

Her fingers twitched slightly underwater.

The originally rapid river water suddenly seemed to be stirred by a giant, invisible hand.

Rumble—

A bizarre undercurrent formed at the bottom of the river, instantly turning into a massive vortex. Carrying a terrifying tearing force, it swept toward Lynch, who was struggling to swim over.

This was a weakened version of the Tier 4 Water Magic—[Abyssal Vortex].

If one did not use high-tier magic power for protection, or display extraordinary physical strength, an ordinary person would absolutely be dragged to the riverbed, or even torn to shreds.

"Come on, Lynch. Show your power. Will you use spatial magic to teleport? Or use divine power to suppress the water current?"

Felsy looked at the figure with anticipation.

However.

In the face of that terrifying vortex, Lynch appeared incredibly small. He paddled desperately, trying to resist the suction, but his body was uncontrollably tossed about, and he choked on several mouthfuls of water.

"Glug glug..."

Looking at the man struggling miserably in the water, his face flushed red from holding his breath, yet his eyes still fixed firmly in her direction.

Felsy's heart suddenly clenched.

"He... didn't use magic?"

"Could he really just be... trying to save me with a mortal body?"

Just as Felsy felt a trace of regret and was preparing to dispel the magic to fish this idiot out.

In Lynch's mind, the system that always appeared at critical moments finally came online.

[Ding!]

[Detected that the host is engaged in a great rescue operation!]

[Facing your drowning wife and the sudden bizarre rapids, you have displayed Titanic-like deep affection!]

[To prevent you from becoming a wronged soul at the bottom of the water, the system hereby unlocks an emergency environmental adaptation reward!]

[Congratulations on obtaining the title: Aquatic Noble]

[Title Effect: When wearing this title, your posture in the water will be as elegant as a noble. You will gain "Advanced Swimming Mastery," ignore water resistance, increase your lung capacity by 500%, and come with a built-in soft-focus filter while underwater.]

[Note: Although you are not a premium brand of mineral water, you still possess an aura that makes the currents submit.]

Lynch, who was currently swallowing water, almost choked on his breath.

"What the hell is an Aquatic Noble!"

Complaints aside, the changes to his body were real.

The moment the title was equipped.

Lynch felt the originally violent and raging water around him suddenly become docile.

The feeling of powerlessness, where no matter how hard he tried he couldn't exert any strength, vanished. It was replaced by a sense of ease, like a fish in water.

He felt as if he had turned into a slippery swimming fish, or a vigorous dolphin.

"Haa!"

Lynch kicked his legs forcefully.

The magic vortex that had originally made it impossible for him to move a single inch was surprisingly pierced through by him like a sharp arrow, using an extremely bizarre yet incredibly elegant posture.

The water flow automatically parted around him, as if making way for this "noble."

Felsy widened her eyes.

What did she just see?

That man, relying on pure physical control, actually drew a perfect arc in the water, ignoring the tearing of the vortex, and instantly appeared in front of her.

The next second.

A somewhat cold, but extremely strong hand grabbed her waist.

"Hold onto me!"

Lynch could not speak underwater, but his firm gaze conveyed everything.

Then, he treaded water, bringing Felsy breaking through the surface, and swam toward the shore.

Splash—

The two finally climbed onto the cobblestone beach by the shore.

As the cold wind blew, Lynch shivered from the freezing cold, but he didn't care about himself at all. He immediately turned to check on Felsy.

"Cough, cough... How are you? Did you choke on any water?"

Lynch didn't even bother to wipe the water droplets off his face as he nervously patted Felsy's back, checking her from head to toe. "Look at you, what were you doing spacing out by the river! The water is so fast, do you know how dangerous that is!"

His tone was aggressive, carrying obvious anger.

But Felsy couldn't bring herself to be angry at all.

Because she saw Lynch's pale face, his eyes red with anxiety, and the hand tightly gripping her wrist that was still trembling slightly.

He was afraid.

Not afraid of dying, but afraid that something would happen to her.

A massive wave of guilt instantly overwhelmed the heart of this witch.

Even though she was the one who fell in on purpose.

She was clearly the one who had created that whirlpool.

Just to test a boring hypothesis, she had almost caused this ordinary man—who only knew how to cook and farm—to drown in the river.

"I'm fine..."

Felsy lowered her head, her voice as quiet as a mosquito's hum. Her wet silver hair clung to her cheeks, making her look like a drenched little kitten. Where was the majestic presence of a world-destroying witch?

"I'm sorry... I was careless..."

"Sigh..."

Seeing her looking so pitiful, the anger in Lynch's stomach vanished in an instant.

"Forget it. As long as you're okay."

Lynch let out a sigh and reached out to brush the wet, messy hair away from her cheek.

Looking at that small, delicate face—which seemed exceptionally pale from the cold and guilt, yet so touching—Lynch's heart softened. Driven by some inexplicable impulse, he leaned in and planted a firm kiss on her icy cheek.

"Smooch."

The sound was crisp.

The sound made Lynch himself blush like an old man. He quickly said:

"If you're this careless again next time, your punishment will be no meat for a day."

Felsy was stunned.

She covered her cheek, her purple eyes staring blankly at Lynch.

Given her strength, let alone a surprise attack like this, she could even dodge an assassin's instant kill strike.

But just now... she actually didn't dodge?

And...

The lingering sensation on her cheek was warm and moist.

It wasn't unpleasant.

In fact... it made her heart start pounding uncontrollably, as if a little deer were thrashing about in her chest.

It was the same when he held her tightly in the water just now—that sense of security, that determination to save her even if it meant putting himself in danger...

"What's going on..."

Felsy felt her face burning up; not even the freezing river water could cool it down.

"He's clearly just a weak human... He's clearly just a landlord I found for cover..."

"Could it be..."

The young girl lowered her eyelids, looking at their clasped hands. The thought she had always denied finally broke through the soil of her mind.

"Could it be... I really fell in love with this idiot?"

"Achoo!"

Lynch's sneeze shattered the romantic atmosphere.

"No, no, it's too cold! Let's hurry home and change clothes, or we'll both catch a cold!"

Lynch scooped up the still-dazed Felsy into a bridal carry and took large strides toward home.

Felsy curled up in his arms, listening to the strong heartbeat in his chest.

This time, she didn't struggle, nor did she secretly use magic to lighten her weight.

She reached out, gently wrapped her arms around Lynch's neck, and buried her face into that soaking wet yet incredibly warm embrace.

"Idiot..."