For reasons unknown, Xiaobai—Kana's beloved dog—shed the rough, coarse fur of his old age and now shone with soft, smooth, snow-white fur.
Before long, the little white dog had returned to his youthful appearance.
As an ordinary pet, Xiaobai didn't understand the miracle that had occurred. All he knew was that when he opened his eyes, the master he longed for was by his side.
The puppy barked happily, bouncing on his small paws, circling Kana over and over, letting out playful cries.
Kana stroked him tenderly, holding him close as he rubbed against her in affection.
She was only five years old when her mother passed away. Though she cried a lot at the time, children often cannot fully grasp the meaning of death. She once thought her mother might come back someday.
But as Kana grew older, reality sank in: her mother would never return.
That was why she cherished Xiaobai so deeply. For twelve years, he had been her only family. Though Kana developed the bad habit of drinking, she always tried to restrain herself from doing it at home—for Xiaobai's sake.
"Noah, thank you…"
Lifting Xiaobai into her arms, Kana bowed her head in gratitude. Her voice trembled with sincerity.
Sensing her feelings, Xiaobai wagged his tail and barked softly at Noah.
Noah patted the little dog, chuckling. "Don't just say thank you. How about something practical?"
He leaned back lazily. "I brought your Xiaobai back. Charging one million jewel isn't too much, is it?"
Kana froze as if struck by lightning. She and her mother had bought Xiaobai for only a few hundred jewel from a pet shop. And now Noah was asking for *one million*?
"Why don't you just go rob someone!!"
Noah gave a wicked grin, snatching Xiaobai out of her arms. The pup didn't resist and calmly wagged his tail at him.
"And Kana, don't forget how much a revival card like this would sell for at auction. As a Card Mage, you know it's worth far more than one million."
Her chest tightened. He was right.
Even if only "ordinary creatures" could be revived, nobles and wealthy aristocrats—ordinary non-magic folk—would pay anything for such a miracle. At an auction house, the bidding would be fierce enough to make one million look like pocket change.
Kana sighed. She would never be able to earn that kind of money—not even in a lifetime. Which left only one option…
"Then…" Kana gave him a sheepish smile. "Since I'm broke, how about I… take the loss and be your girlfriend?"
With exaggerated confidence, she slid off her coat a little, baring her smooth shoulder.
She thought herself quite pretty, and Noah was only an innocent eighteen-year-old boy. Surely, if she teased him a bit, his resolve would crumble.
But Noah had read enough of these "seduction" scenes while shut inside the castle to know exactly how they went.
"Seduction?" He smirked. "Too naive."
Leaning closer, Noah blew softly into her ear. "Your movements are too stiff, Kana."
His low whisper and the faint masculine scent overwhelmed her. Kana's blush spread across her face, ears burning red. Backed against the wall, she had nowhere to run.
*This is completely different from what I imagined! Am I really going to… No way! He's not naïve at all—he's dangerous!!*
Kana looked desperately toward Mira for help.
*Mira-chan, please!!!*
But Mira just sat comfortably on the lone chair, legs crossed, munching seeds with a devilish smirk as if watching theater.
*Damn it! I actually forgot—Mira is a devil who lives to enjoy my misery!*
Left with no choice, Kana clutched her chest nervously and forced a weak smile. "Um, Noah… I was just joking…"
"Oh? A joke worth one million jewel?" Noah's lips curled into a half-smile as he continued leaning closer.
Kana panicked, shutting her eyes tightly.
"Woof?"
When she dared to look again, she saw Xiaobai wagging his tail in her arms. Noah had placed the dog back into her hands instead of taking the joke further.
He had only teased her in return.
The bold Kana, who always acted fearless, had turned into the heroine from a cheap romance novel the moment she was faced with real pressure.
Noah found it… amusing.
Kana sat down against the wall, face still crimson, hugging Xiaobai like a shield.
At that point, Mira finally spoke. "Noah, aren't you going too far? You know Kana's just talk. Yet you bully her anyway."
"You didn't stop me," Noah replied dryly, pointing to the seed shells at her feet.
Mira chuckled. "Kana brags at the guild about all her love experiences—but truth is, she's only ever held a man's hand. The most 'contact' she's had with a guy was during guild brawls."
Kana's heart stopped. *Why is Mira exposing me like this?!* Mortified, she dove face-first into bed, pulling the blanket over herself.
Noah shook his head. "Giving up already? Did you even ask what I want?"
The truth was, Noah never intended to demand payment. He had only played along to push her into his real goal.
"Kana, I don't want money or anything from you. Just answer one question."
Suspicious but curious, Kana peeked out from under the blanket. "...What question?"
"Yesterday in the guild library, I came across the name 'Ivan Dreyar.' Do you know his relation to Master and Laxus?"
If anyone pressed him, Noah could just pretend he misremembered from a book. But he wanted to know.
Mira tilted her head in confusion. "Ivan Dreyar? He has the same surname, but I've never heard of him."
Kana sighed, as though it were obvious. "Of course you haven't. He was expelled from the guild by the Master himself before I even joined."
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