Roxy looked slightly surprised.
"…Boreas Greyrat? You…"
Allen smiled.
"Surprised I'm a noble?"
Roxy quickly shook her head, then seemed to recall something.
"Are you… by chance heading to Buena Village?"
Allen raised a brow, acting casual.
"…How did you know?"
Roxy stared closely at his face—but there was no resemblance to the other Greyrat boy she knew.
Rudeus had soft features and neat hair that framed his face. This boy, by contrast, had sharp, striking eyes and messy hair slicked back, with only a few strands hanging forward.
Allen could tell what she was thinking, and found it funny.
He and Rudeus weren't even from the same Greyrat branch. Let alone looking alike, their entire "heritage XP" was different.
Paul of the Notos line had an obvious preference for big-breasted women—Allen hadn't seen proof firsthand, but the novel made it abundantly clear. Meanwhile, the Boreas branch? Yeah…
Allen was living proof of their taste for beastkin.
Of course, Rudeus probably didn't inherit his family's tendencies because he was a reincarnator—his bloodline was diluted. Exhibit A? The blue-haired little lady standing right here.
…Wait. Hold up.
Allen himself was also a reincarnator, wasn't he?
Then why did he still have a thing for beast girls?
…
While Allen was spiraling in self-doubt, Roxy continued, unaware:
"To tell you the truth, I've been working for a knight in Buena Village—Paul Greyrat—as a home tutor for his son, Rudeus Greyrat…"
She paused.
"Don't tell me… you're heading there to live with them?"
Allen snapped out of his thoughts and replied with feigned surprise:
"What a coincidence! Honestly, I got into some trouble back in Asura Kingdom's capital so I came here to lay low at Uncle Paul's place. It's quiet and remote, after all… So, uh, Roxy-san, if you're headed to the capital, please don't mention me to anyone."
He clasped his hands together in a pleading gesture.
Roxy let out a breath of relief. She'd been worried—given Allen's ragged state, it looked more like a vendetta than a visit. But if he was just hiding out after stirring up trouble at home…
Boreas? And from the capital? That meant he was probably the heir of the Boreas house. Philip Boreas Greyrat—the mayor of Roa in the Fittoa region—only had one known child. A notoriously troublesome young lady.
If that girl made a mess in the capital… then yeah, this kid might've just been dragged into the fallout and exiled to cool things down.
Allen seemed mature, didn't look like the type to stir up trouble. But wait—he flirted way too smoothly for his age. Maybe it was that kind of trouble? Like, messing around with someone's daughter, and then her noble family chased him out?
Yeah… the Greyrat men were known flirts. Family-wide trait, apparently.
Scandals and messed-up love affairs were common among Asuran nobles. She'd even heard rumors that aphrodisiacs were openly sold on the streets there. Definitely not like Milis.
If something scandalous had spread, nobles would often exile the offending party quietly and bring them back once the gossip died down. That would explain why he had no guards.
Allen had no idea what she was imagining, but seeing her face shift through several expressions, only to land on a disgusted, "ugh, rich kid" face before sighing in understanding, he pretty much figured it out.
Honestly, Roxy's brain working overtime was helpful. Saved him the trouble of explaining.
And hey—smart girls who could think on their own? Always a plus.
So what if she saw him as a scumbag?
Being handsome and called a scumbag was fine.
After all—every man here is a scumbag.
Roxy finally responded, voice confident:
"I'm just planning to travel through the capital, then head to the Dragon King Mountains. The only long-distance carriages seem to be based there, so I won't be staying long. I probably won't hear any rumors about you—don't worry!"
Worry? Lady, you already made up the whole drama in your head.
"Thank you. Oh—by the way, I've been traveling through the forest to avoid being seen. What about you? Why didn't you take a carriage or something?"
Roxy blinked at the question.
Allen arched a brow.
"…Don't tell me… you're broke? Is Uncle Paul hiring under-the-table child laborers?"
Roxy did her usual cheek-scratch.
"Sir Paul already paid me. But long-distance travel is expensive… and, well, I didn't have quite enough."
Allen's mouth twitched.
The God of Poverty strikes again. In the Taiwan translation her name's "Roxy" with a "K." Figures. "K" for "kuso" luck.
He fished around in his swordman's coat and pulled out a few coins—three silver pieces and one gleaming gold coin.
Then he held them out to Roxy.
"Here, take it. Think of it as payment for helping me—and hush money. You know how nobles are. No need to worry about the cost."
Roxy refused.
"You don't need to pay me for that. And hush money… this is too much…"
"How's it too much?"
"It just is…"
"No—it isn't."
"It is."
"It really isn't."
"…Fine."
Blushing, Roxy quickly snatched the money and looked away toward the woods.
"Then I'll count it as a loan. Truth is, traveling the world drains your savings. The Asura Kingdom is okay, but on the Milis Continent, someone like me has no way to earn money…"
"The magic university drained the last of my savings. I'm really short on cash right now… but if you're Paul-san's relative, you can ask him about my reputation."
"So…"
She looked up cautiously.
"If you could just leave me an address, I promise I'll pay you back."
Allen stared at her dazed face.
She looked genuinely panicked—like she'd seen too much poverty for a divine being. And yeah, now that he thought about it, Roxy had always struggled financially. Just two silver coins a month to hire her as a tutor?
Part of that was Asura Kingdom's fault—their economy was small and based on agriculture. The government regularly culled local monsters, meaning adventurers had little work, forcing her into home tutor gigs just to survive.
And, of course, prejudice. Her blue hair had always made her a target—even far from the Demon Continent.
Allen's eyes glinted as he watched her still holding the gold coin, hesitating on whether to stash it or not.
"No need to return it. I do have one small request though… think of it as the price for the loan."
Roxy blinked.
The night wind rustled the leaves. The fire crackled.
A lone boy and girl stared at one another.
"As the cost of that money… You wouldn't want to…"
Allen leaned forward slightly.
Roxy's eyes went wide. She flinched back.
Then Allen pointed to his blood-stained clothes.
"…Smell that? Could you use some Water Magic to clean my swordman's uniform? Maybe my hair, too? Drying it would be great. It's kind of gross to show up at Uncle Paul's place smelling like pig guts…"
"…Oh—and if you could wash the boar meat too. I hear this kind of monster has decent flavor."
GRRRRRLLE.
A rumbling stomach interrupted him.
Allen looked at the legal loli as she panicked and clutched her belly. He chuckled.
"Looks like…"
"…You've agreed."
(End of Chapter)
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