Chapter 12: A Warm Moment

After Pela and Venti had each taken their portions, a quiet but not dull meal began.

This wasn’t the first time the two had eaten this kind of food, which was relatively rare in the upper districts.

For Pela, it was because her mother had been a great explorer, so she had been exposed to all sorts of novel things from the outside world or the lower districts since childhood.

Though her mother had since passed away, the lessons from her childhood had shaped Pela into an outstanding adult with a strong openness for new experiences.

As for Venti, his reasons were much simpler and tied to a certain purple-haired woman from the lower districts.

His first taste of roasted lizard had been her treat, supposedly to celebrate his successful "settling in" to the lower districts.

The pained expression on her face when she paid the bill was still fresh in Venti’s memory. He wondered if she had eaten yet.

After deciding to check on his team members’ "situation" in a few days, Venti swallowed a bite of lizard meat, licked his oily lips, and was about to raise his hand to order a glass of iced black bread beer.

But a certain lady with much more refined table manners pushed her glasses up slightly. Despite the warm, dim lighting, Venti felt a cold glint in her gaze.

...Yikes, she noticed.

Venti reluctantly put his hand down and obediently sipped his soda instead.

Seeing his childlike demeanor, Pela couldn’t help but smile slyly, like a cat that had just caught a fish.

"Hmm? Did you want to say something just now?" she teased.

"If there’s something you want to eat, go ahead and order. Just don’t waste it."

"Really? Sister Pela?"

Thinking he had a chance, Venti immediately took the bait.

Seeing his eager expression, Pela chuckled softly.

"Of course, but no alcohol."

"Eh—why not?"

Venti’s voice dragged out, his expression instantly deflating.

"So, why do you like drinking so much? You clearly don’t look old enough to drink."

"It’s not that I like drinking. I just enjoy the burst of inspiration that comes with being tipsy."

"Most writers who get into trouble because of drinking use that as an excuse."

"I wouldn’t do something like hit-and-run, you know?"

Venti looked into Pela’s calm, lake-like eyes and spoke honestly.

"After all, I don’t even have enough money to buy a car. Sometimes I even rely on kind-hearted people like Sister Pela for dinner."

"If you know that, then save your money. Don’t spend all your earnings the same day you get them."

Pela gave him a helpless glance and complained.

"I don’t want to wake up one day and find you frozen stiff next to a trash can on the street."

"While life is full of surprises, I’ll make sure not to let those surprises turn into shocks."

Venti smiled gently, gaining a new appreciation for the girl’s kindness and concern.

"But I still want to thank you for your thoughtfulness."

"...There’s no need to thank me for something like that. Don’t think I’d be too upset. I just feel that such things would unnecessarily drain the Silvermane Guards’ energy."

Miss Pela, her ears slightly red, averted her gaze and muttered softly.

After this round of banter, the atmosphere between them became as harmonious as honey drizzled over a pancake.

Afterward, Venti began discussing his thoughts on the borrowed book with Pela.

However, she wouldn’t let him read the sequel here, worried that the pages might absorb the smell of food.

This girl was undoubtedly a true book lover in every sense.

Incidentally, perhaps because of his dual memories, Venti’s reading experience was also doubled. His interpretations were always felt nove to Pela.

"...I never thought it could be interpreted this way. I almost thought you had discussed it with the author and watched him write the manuscript firsthand."

Pela marveled.

"Isn’t it normal for everyone to have different takeaways from a book?"

Venti didn’t think much of it.

He didn’t know the talented author personally. He was just an avid reader with a bit of experience, that’s all.

"If it’s just about feelings, then yes, a thousand people see a thousand Tears of the Gorgon. But how should I put it…"

Pela tapped her slightly chubby cheek, troubled, and said,

"To quote Miss Anna from the book, you see things from a completely different angle than we do. Or perhaps ‘perspective’ would be a better word."

At this point, she paused, as if carefully considering her words before continuing.

"Though it’s not about which is better, those who haven’t experienced it firsthand lack that genuine insight.

So when discussing issues, they often rely on the perspectives of those who have truly seen it. For me, this is a fascinating feeling.

It’s like I’ve left the giant walls that sheltered me as I grew up and arrived in the distant outside world I’ve only read about, witnessing the beauty that still exists in this world."

Hearing this, Venti looked at Pela with some surprise.

The mix of longing and timidity on her face was like that of a girl trapped in a stopped clock.

Perhaps one day she would step out of the city gates herself to see the beautiful landscapes described in books, but…

Jarilo-VI was still in an ice age. Beyond the walls, there was likely nothing but endless snowfields, hardly anything to fulfill a girl’s fantasies.

Noticing his expression, Pela tilted her head slightly and asked in confusion.

"What’s wrong? Did I say something incorrect?"

"It’s not that you said something wrong, but rather that it’s only natural to think that way—

Of course, please don’t tell anyone I said that. I don’t want the Silvermane Guards breaking down my door tomorrow morning and dragging me to the tribunal to read out my crimes."

Seeing Venti’s fearful and timid  expression, Pela couldn’t help but laugh.

"Pfft. What do you think the Silvermane Guards are? Villains from a story?

Besides, even if some books are banned from public reading due to current policies, there must be a good reason behind the Supreme Guardian’s decisions.

How could someone be declared guilty just for yearning for and dreaming the beauty of the outside world?"

"Whew—that’s a relief. I almost thought this meal was my last supper."

Venti patted his chest and let out a long sigh.

He really didn’t want to end up back in that dark prison, even if there was good wine!

"I think it’s more suspicious that you’d suddenly think of such things. Did you really do something wrong? Just so you know, even if we’re close, we have to settle accounts clearly. Confess, and you’ll be treated leniently; resist, and you’ll face the full force of the law!"

Seeing Pela suddenly turn serious, Venti quickly defended himself, managing to calm her investigative instincts after much persuasion.

After the meal, the two finally discussed the last matter.