Seeing ViniVini sobbing uncontrollably, I felt a pang of guilt in my heart.
After all, when I’d teleported out of the newbie village with nowhere to go, it was ViniVini who took me in. She was just too naive—so naive that after only three and a half days together, she’d ended up treating me as her master and herself as my servant.
Thinking carefully, I realized my relationship with ViniVini was exactly like Anjelit’s and mine not long ago.
Back then, I’d hated Anjelit’s rudeness and bossiness. But now…
Ah~ This feels amazing! Being on top of others is seriously the best!
Wearing a blissful smile, I stroked ViniVini’s head like she was my pet—though technically, I was also petting my summoned Pikaball. Still, ViniVini seemed to love having her head rubbed.
“Let’s go shopping,” I said.
“Mhm~ Okay~ Shopping time~”
ViniVini sprang up and eagerly pulled me toward the bustling city center.
Since we’d entered through the East Gate near the warehouse district, it was only a ten-minute walk to get there. But traveling from the East District to the city center was much farther.
Luckily, horse-drawn carriages—like taxis—lined the roads. ViniVini waved her hand expertly and flagged one down. Even so, it took us over half an hour to reach the liveliest part of Goinbair City.
“This place is packed…” I grumbled as soon as I stepped out of the carriage.
It was far more vibrant than the East District, but “vibrant” meant crowds—people jammed shoulder to shoulder everywhere!
“It’s crowded, but the city center is super fun~” ViniVini coaxed me, tugging my arm as she plunged into the throng. We vanished instantly.
…
Later.
We ate steamed buns at a shop, arguing endlessly over whether meat buns or red bean buns were better.
We watched a play at the theater, nearly coming to blows over whether it was melodramatic trash or deeply moving.
We even visited a fortune-teller who claimed to predict fate. When her reading said “great luck” for her and “great misfortune” for me, I demanded she tear up her slip—while she fought back fiercely.
Our bickering never stopped. I always won in the end, and after pouting briefly, ViniVini would “forget” our fights entirely. Then we’d hold hands again, weaving through the sea of people.
By the time we left the city center, the sky had turned crimson. The sun was setting.
Exhausted, I sat on a roadside stone, massaging my sore shoulders.
Who said girls have less stamina? ViniVini still bounced with excitement!
“ViniVini, let’s find a place to rest today. The Adventurer’s Festival still has six days left—we’ll have plenty of time to play…”
I was drained. My energy and strength were gone, and the crowded streets had left me dizzy.
“Okay…” ViniVini pouted but agreed when she saw how tired I really was.
I stood up from the stone. My eyes caught a glimpse of soldiers rushing urgently down the street’s end.
Patrol duty?
I paused briefly but didn’t dwell on it. With ViniVini, I found an inn. I’d wanted two rooms—I was rich now, with ten gold coins—but ViniVini insisted it was wasteful. I had no choice but to book one room with two single beds.
…
After that.
Day two, three, four, five…
No wonder they called it the Adventurer’s Festival. Goinbair City truly thrived on adventurers. Over four days, I’d seen this world’s professions in all their complexity: mages and their subclasses, scholars and their offshoots, thieves and their variants, gunners and their specialties… even the Temple Knights Anjelit dreamed of becoming—proud knights in spotless silver armor who’d still bend to help an old woman who’d fallen on the road.
Learning about these jobs felt fulfilling, but it was also torture. The sheer exhaustion made me feel like I’d ascended to heaven.
I had to follow the hyperactive ViniVini in and out of every shop. Plus, I had to keep the airheaded girl from getting lost…
Like last night: while chatting with a “Gunslinger”—a gunner subclass—ViniVini got lured away by some food smell. She let go of my hand and vanished into the crowd. I searched frantically.
Luckily, she’d gotten smarter. She waited for me back at the inn.
When I found her holding cotton candy with one hand, grinning mischievously and flashing a victory “V” sign, my anger flared. I gave her a sharp flick on the forehead.
She got mad too. All evening, she pouted, furrowed her brows, and refused to talk to me.
Even so, I felt our bond growing closer…
Then, early on the sixth day.
“Rogied! Let’s go shopping!”
ViniVini—blessed with a seven-second memory for misery—bounced onto my bed and plopped down on my stomach.
Still wrapped in blankets, I sleepily pushed her off with limp arms.
“No… too tired… Go alone today…”
“Come on, come on~ There’s an adventurer arena tournament today! We can sign up! Winners get loads of cash! Super rare gear! And so much—”
“Not interested. You go…” I cut her off, rolling over to sleep.
But ViniVini kept pestering me, wiggling her little butt on my stomach until I snapped.
I yanked the blanket off my head and sat up, glaring at the troublemaker.
“ViniVini! If you bother me again, I’ll spank you!”
“What’s ‘spank’?” ViniVini tilted her head at a perfect 45 degrees, confused. Her rosy cheeks, glistening nose tip, and pouting lips…
Suddenly, she looked incredibly cute. Irresistible…
…A strange warmth welled up in my chest…
I couldn’t help pulling the girl sitting on my stomach closer.
“Ah!” she shrieked, tumbling into my arms.
She stared at me, wide eyes watery with tension.
I gazed back, dazed. My head slowly lowered on its own…
But just centimeters away, I stopped myself, gripping my own head.
“Damn it, Rogied! Are you some lustful pig?! Don’t take advantage of her innocence!”
I scolded myself inwardly, trying to let go of ViniVini. But—
A force from the back of my neck shoved my head down…
…Softness brushed my lips. Warm breath tickled my nose. Before me, the girl’s shy eyes…
Lips met lips. Noses touched. Eyes locked…
ViniVini’s arms had somehow looped around my neck. Her eyes snapped shut, long lashes fluttering faintly above her closed lids.
…Was this… an accident?
