The retro-style exquisite wooden tables and chairs were arranged inside the restaurant. Since it was still early, there weren't many customers in the shop at the moment.
Sitting by the window in a corner seat, Iuno rested her cheek on one hand, her long legs crossed. Her gaze frequently drifted toward the window or the entrance, as if waiting expectantly for someone.
Finally, a figure wearing white casual clothes stepped through the door. Iuno, who had been waiting for a long time, immediately lit up and waved at the newcomer:
"Unwritten One! Over here. You're quite punctual~"
When Noah sat down, Iuno smoothly pushed forward an exquisitely wrapped gift box. Her posture seemed casual, but the corner of her eye secretly observed his expression:
"Here~ A small gift. Open it and take a look."
"You look like you've recovered well."
Noah looked Iuno up and down. Her complexion was rosy and her movements natural, as if she had returned to her original tsundere self.
"Stop looking. Hurry and open it."
"Then I won't hold back."
After unwrapping the package, inside were two moon-shaped bracelets, only slightly larger than the ones Iuno wore, seemingly the perfect size for him.
"These bracelets are specially made. They can store anchoring Resonance power and prevent you from running out of Resonance power and getting dragged into the Chaos again."
She wouldn't tell him that these two bracelets were specially commissioned from a craftsman overnight, and she had rushed to finish them just in time for this "date."
Right now, both moon-shaped bracelets were filled with her own Resonance power.
"Put them on. It won't always be someone coming to save you if you accidentally fall into the Chaos again."
"Those are minor issues, but thank you for the gift anyway."
Noah played with the bracelets for a moment before tossing them into his backpack.
"Eh!"
Seeing the bracelets disappear, Iuno was stunned. She looked left and right but couldn't find where they had gone:
"Where are the bracelets I just gave you?"
"I put them away."
So he had a personal storage space? No, that wasn't the main point.
"You're not going to wear them?"
Please, these bracelets matched the ones she was wearing. If they went out shopping together later, outsiders would think they looked like a couple.
"They're so big. They'd be uncomfortable to wear."
Noah answered matter-of-factly as he opened the menu:
"Oh, it's actually Huanglong cuisine. I'll treat this meal. What do you want to eat?"
This idiot! Iuno bit her lip in slight annoyance and said stubbornly:
"Anything."
"Sweet and sour pork ribs?"
"The texture is too sticky. Doesn't it feel spineless?"
"Then how about cold mixed fragrant perilla?"
"Soft and mushy cooked plants? What's good about that?"
"What about Jinzhou spicy hot pot? Most people from Jinzhou like regional specialties."
"Too oily. Next one."
"Next one?"
Noah's mouth twitched. After thinking for a moment, he recalled that Iuno liked fresh fruits, preferably ones that had just ripened on the tree.
But as a proper person from Earth, Noah found it hard to accept having fruit as a main meal.
With that in mind, he handed the menu to Iuno:
"You order first. I'll order after you."
"Fine."
Iuno took the menu.
Iuno began selecting.
Iuno flipped to the next page.
"Laureate!"
A surprised voice suddenly rang out. Iuno's gaze left the menu and saw the impossibly refined blonde girl running over and naturally sitting down beside Noah.
"I had a nightmare yesterday."
Cartethyia tightly grabbed Noah's hand, her eyes misty:
"I dreamed that you disappeared from the world. It was too scary."
As she spoke, Cartethyia patted her chest, looking as if she still had lingering fear:
"Thankfully, when I woke up, you were still here."
"Looks like that dream was pretty realistic, huh."
Noah awkwardly pulled his hand back:
"Little Cart, it's mealtime. Let's eat together."
"Is that okay?"
Only then did Cartethyia slightly turn her head and look at Iuno across from her. Her beautiful eyes widened slightly, as if she had just noticed the person opposite:
"Won't this be too much of a disturbance for you two?"
"...It's fine."
Iuno bit her lip slightly, feeling uneasy.
This was clearly supposed to be her "date" with Noah. Why did this blonde show up?
Although she felt a bit unhappy, she still put on a generous appearance in front of Noah and handed over the menu:
"What do you want to eat? My treat."
Taking the menu, Cartethyia immediately passed it to Noah. Her watery eyes fixed firmly on him:
"Laureate, help me choose. By the way, weren't you two still… yesterday? How did you suddenly end up eating together today?"
"It's a long story. Let's talk while we eat. I also wanted to ask where you went last night. I didn't see you at the Hunter's Den."
Noah took the menu and flipped through it casually:
"Little Cart, do you want sweet and sour pork ribs?"
"Yes!" Cartethyia answered immediately: "Anything Laureate chooses for me is definitely good."
Hearing this, Iuno's eyes widened instantly.
Wait, sister!
Something's off with you!
Her rival radar was sounding alarms like crazy.
Iuno secretly clenched her fists, thinking this was bad.
This blonde… was a formidable opponent!
Across from her, Noah marked two dishes he liked on the menu and then handed it to Iuno.
This time, having learned from experience, Iuno handed the menu back and imitated the tone:
"Unwritten One, you should choose for me too."
As soon as the words left her mouth, she keenly noticed Cartethyia's eyebrows furrow imperceptibly across from her.
Un… written One?
Just those two words, and Cartethyia realized that Iuno was no longer the tsundere Iuno from yesterday toward Noah.
She had only taken her eyes off Noah for one night. How did this blue twin-tailed girl's attitude toward him seem to have done a complete 180-degree turn?
What exactly happened?
"I'll choose for you?" Noah hesitantly took the menu:
"Alright then. What do you want to eat?"
Iuno: "Anything."
With those two words, Noah felt a bit troubled. He flipped through the menu for a while before tentatively suggesting:
"How about stuffed tofu?"
"Sure…"
Iuno originally wanted to imitate Cartethyia's style by giving affirmation and then praising, but she simply couldn't bring herself to say the flattering words that followed.
Aaaahhh! How could that blonde say such coquettish things so naturally?
As a heaven's chosen prodigy since childhood, she wasn't good at complimenting others at all!
Finally, the dishes were ordered. Cartethyia originally wanted to bring up the Sentinel, but after glancing at Iuno across from her, she changed the subject:
"Laureate, the high tide period in Septimont has been resolved. When are we going back to Ragunna?"
"It's the same whether in Septimont or Ragunna. It's just one teleport away anyway."
Noah laid out his plans completely:
"I plan to observe for a few more days in Rinascita, then head to the Black Shores."
"Ah, this…" Cartethyia's heart tightened. She quickly spoke:
"The Black Shores is full of researchers. You don't have much in common with them, Laureate. Let's pick somewhere else instead."
"Somewhere else?"
Where else was there to go?
Before Noah could reply, Lupa's surprised voice came from the entrance:
"Teacher! You really are here!"
"Lupa?"
The trio at the table all turned their heads toward Lupa, each with different expressions.
Iuno: Why is she here too?
Cartethyia: Isn't she Noah's student?
Noah:
"Lupa, how did you know I was here?"
"I saw a short video someone posted on Quick Tone. It had you in it, so I followed the lead and came over."
So that's how. Cartethyia understood. She had also come after seeing Noah on Quick Tone.
Lupa quickly walked to the table, breathing heavily:
"Teacher, let's go!"
"Huh?"
Noah was stunned.
Wait, I haven't even eaten yet!
"You've gone viral, Teacher. Ever since you showed your skills in my live stream yesterday, Quick Tone has been full of videos about you."
Lupa explained urgently:
"Just now, someone filmed you entering this restaurant. That video has already become the top trending topic in the Septimont region. Soon, lots of small bloggers and Septimont reporters will come rushing over to ride your popularity!"
"This… is it really that exaggerated?"
Releasing his perception, sure enough, within his vast sensory range, dozens of figures carrying cameras and equipment were rushing toward the restaurant.
Seeing this, Noah's expression changed slightly.
He had seen countless times in the game how crazy these people were when interviewing Lupa.
If he, who was currently at the height of popularity, got entangled by these people, the trouble would likely be several levels higher than Lupa's.
"I'm leaving first. Goodbye!"
A flash of teleportation light appeared, and Noah's figure vanished. In just a few short seconds, dozens of figures burst through the restaurant entrance and swarmed into the hall.
"Hero Noah, I'm a reporter from Septimont Daily. May I interview you?"
"Hero Noah, I want to apprentice under you and learn martial arts."
"Hero… where is he?"
Everyone scanned the restaurant but couldn't find Noah's figure. Only Lupa and the two girls by the window remained.
Iuno gripped the chopsticks in her hand tightly. Her brows were furrowed, and her once bright eyes now looked like stars covered by dark clouds, filled with coldness.
So frustrating. Just because of these people, her first date with Noah was interrupted like this!
A microphone was thrust toward Iuno's lips.
"Priestess Iuno, I'm a reporter from Septimont Daily. May I interview you?"
"Stop!"
Iuno's shoulders trembled slightly, as if trying hard to suppress her inner displeasure:
"Rude fellow, can't you see I'm eating?"
Outside the window, a few petals of Red Spider Lily drifted past.