Chapter 224: Breakfast for Three

On a bright, sunny morning, the streets were bustling with people.

Ansu led a sleepy-eyed Vera, while a light-footed Freya walked beside them as they headed out for breakfast.

"Brother... does breakfast really have to be eaten in the morning...?" Vera's eyes were half-closed, her voice slurred as if she hadn't quite woken up yet.

"What are you talking about, girl?" Ansu glanced at her. "If you don't eat breakfast in the morning, are you supposed to eat it at night?"

"Oh, right..." Vera muttered, letting out a long yawn.

Freya watched the amusing interaction between the siblings and couldn't help but let out a soft laugh. "Vera isn't fully awake yet. I think... she's complaining about Lord Ansu forcing her out of bed!"

"Freya is the only one who understands me!" Vera broke her stride beside her brother to affectionately link arms with Freya, coquettishly leaning her head against the girl's shoulder.

"I finally looked forward to the weekend so I could sleep in a bit... Why go out for breakfast! Can't this breakfast be eaten a little later?"

Ansu rolled his eyes helplessly. He had practically dragged the girl out from under her covers. "Look at the time. You're still sleeping in. If I didn't pull you out, would you have slept until the afternoon and skipped lunch too?"

Vera pouted, her heart filled with resentment.

"It's all the school's fault for having so many classes every day that require waking up early..."

I hate school...

Why didn't that Safe Magic Crystal No. 1 just blow up the United Academy?

The morning sun was warm and gentle. Freya looked at Vera, who was leaning against her in a half-dreaming state, and then at the helpless Ansu beside them, her smile growing softer.

The shadows of the three were stretched long by the light, merging together.

Freya quietly edged a little closer to Ansu, her heart swelling with a strange joy as she watched their shadows nestle against each other.

It’s so nice, just like a family of three out for a stroll~

"The streets are so lively on the weekends." Vera woke up a bit more, rubbing her eyes as she muttered, "If it weren't so early... it would actually be quite nice to come out for a walk with Brother."

"It is," Ansu said, his gaze sweeping over the noisy markets of Norvigel.

The clamor of the crowd and the shouts of street vendors intertwined. Carriages drove slowly by, and occasionally, a few cute demihuman girls could be seen running around. Everything felt vibrant and full of life.

However, tomorrow would be a completely different story.

"So, where exactly are we eating?" Vera noticed that as they walked, they were heading toward the Old Western District of Norvigel.

"The Mutual Aid Tavern," Ansu replied.

"Oh." Vera understood. She guessed her brother was going there to handle some business, likely regarding Valger and his group; the meal was just a secondary thought.

Freya, however, was a bit surprised. "We're... having breakfast in a tavern?"

"Yes." Ansu nodded. "The cook there is surprisingly talented. You'll like it."

After walking for a while, a two-story building with a weathered wooden sign appeared before them.

As they pushed open the door, a bell chimed softly, and the aroma of food mixed with a faint scent of barley beer wafted toward them.

Although the Freya from the simulation had encountered the Northern Magic Mutual Aid Association, this was the first time the current Freya had been here. Upon sitting down, she began to curiously look around.

"Ansu and Vera are here?" President Brenda, her hair streaked with white, saw the group arrive and walked over with a smile, personally pouring steaming black coffee for the three of them.

Ansu had spent quite a bit of time here making himself a familiar face. Combined with his unconditional donation of a batch of new alchemy equipment to the association, his relationship with the Northern Magic Mutual Aid Association was now quite harmonious.

Because of this, the president herself was serving them coffee as if he were some grand lord.

Ansu had moved everyone with his sincerity (money).

"And who is this beautiful girl? Is she your girlfriend?" President Brenda looked at Freya, then playfully turned her gaze toward Ansu.

Freya's cheeks turned slightly red as she lowered her head. Out of shyness, her explanation was so soft it was almost inaudible. "I'm not..."

President Brenda's gaze swept over the faint silhouette beneath her hood, seemingly recognizing her demihuman identity at once. She said with a gentle smile, "Don't be a stranger here at our Mutual Aid Tavern. Just treat it like your own home."

"Quite a few demihumans come here often," Ansu explained to Freya in a low voice at the right moment. At this hour, several were already seated in the tavern. "The president's food is affordable, and the tavern lists many adventure commissions, so many mages and demihumans love to visit."

Freya nodded gently upon hearing this. No wonder the atmosphere here was different from other taverns.

Vera propped her chin on her hand, holding the warm coffee and taking a quiet sip.

Setting down her cup, her gaze first fell on the kindly face of President Brenda, then she peeked at Freya, whose cheeks were still flushed as she whispered with her brother.

A sudden wave of inexplicable emotions rose in her heart.

When she first came here with her brother... why hadn't she been mistaken for his "girlfriend"? Yet Freya was misunderstood almost at a glance...

Did she and her brother really have that little chemistry?

Why is that?

Vera's gaze drifted toward the two. Her brother was leaning slightly toward Freya, his eyes smiling as he explained the history of the tavern, all while smoothly pushing the freshly served food toward her. Every movement carried a subtle air of care and consideration.

Vera suddenly froze.

She realized... the relationship between her brother and Freya seemed to have grown much closer.

Although her brother usually took care of her as well, the sense of intimacy right now was special... there was a subtle atmosphere that she couldn't quite put into words, one that felt difficult to break into.

For a moment, Vera's heart was a whirlwind of emotions.

A bit of bitterness, a bit of confusion.

After all... wasn't this exactly what she wanted?

Her brother was supposed to be snatched back by them...

And yet...

Vera silently lowered her head, burying half her face in the steam rising from her coffee cup so that no one could see her current expression.

I'm so frustrated.

...

"Oh, Ansu, you're here so early?" While the three were eating breakfast, Valger's voice suddenly rang out.

Ansu looked up to see Valger, wearing glasses and looking slightly tired, leading a little girl as he nodded a friendly greeting.

"I wanted to have a good chat with you about Professor Duncan's research project last time, but things just kept piling up, and I couldn't find the time." Valger walked to the table, his tone full of regret. "That's Duncan Adams, after all! And you mentioned a mysterious big figure is funding it, bringing together several masters..."

Previously, Ansu had revealed to the Northern Magic Mutual Aid Association that he was participating in a major research project regarding the magic pollution problem.

While most people didn't take it seriously or remained pessimistic, Valger had held onto hope.

Ansu smiled. "I don't have much going on usually, so I come here almost every day. If you want to talk, just find me anytime."

"So... have there been any breakthroughs in the research lately?" Valger adjusted his glasses, unable to resist asking.

Ansu gave a mysterious smile but kept him in suspense.

He planned to wait until the magic formula composed of the basic purification rune was fully formed and the results were shocking enough before making them public.

Thus, he said, "I can't reveal the specific progress, but rest assured, everything is moving in a good direction."

"Oh..." Valger nodded helplessly, though his anticipation only grew.

Ansu's gaze slowly shifted to the little girl he was leading, and he asked curiously, "Is this child the daughter everyone often mentions?"

"Yes!" Valger looked down at his daughter, his voice softening considerably. "This child has been in poor health since she was little and doesn't go out much, so people rarely see her. I've been very busy with research these past few days and can't look after her, so I'm planning to send her to stay with her grandmother for a few days."

As he spoke, he gently tugged his daughter's small hand. "Heidi, be polite. Come and say hello to the older brother and sisters!"

This was also the first time Ansu had seen his daughter. The girl named Heidi looked two or three years younger than Vera. Facing so many unfamiliar faces at once, she seemed exceptionally timid, practically shrinking against her father's leg.

She was thin and small, with light brown freckles scattered across her face. Though her appearance was plain and ordinary, her large eyes peeking at her surroundings made her look quite adorable.

Heidi quietly observed the three people at the table and said "Hello" in a volume that was almost inaudible before lowering her head again.

The father and daughter whispered to each other for a few moments. Heidi would occasionally lift her eyes shyly, peeking at everyone with a timid gaze.

After a moment, Valger smiled at everyone apologetically. "Don't mind her. Heidi actually likes you all very much. She said the brother and sisters are all too good-looking, like they're glowing... She was so nervous she didn't dare speak..."

Ansu teased with a compliment, "Thanks for the praise. Heidi is quite the smooth talker, isn't she?"

Vera had heard about Heidi and knew that Valger's family was very important to her brother. So, she intentionally put on a bold front, patting Heidi's thin shoulder like a little adult. "Don't be nervous, Heidi! Big sis has your back from now on! No one in all of Norvigel will dare bully you!"

Heidi froze for a second, then tilted her small face up, blinking in surprise at this cool older sister.