Chapter 15: Twist, Lick, and Dip

Tier.

Normally, Eleanor would have received an E-rank certification, and Yvette an F-rank.

However, while holding hands with the girl, Eleanor discreetly cast a subtle enhancement spell, barely pushing Yvette’s third-tier stats to fourth-tier.

As a result, they both received E-rank certifications.

1 ~ ~ ~

The clever Miss Eleanor always enjoyed playing a few sly tricks.

“Miss Nicole, what’s the highest-level adventurer task you can issue?”

Eleanor asked gently, looking at Nicole.

“Me? Although I’m only third-tier, as a staff member, I can officially issue C-rank tasks corresponding to fifth-tier on behalf of the guild.”

“Is there anything I can help you two with?”

Wondering why the girl asked this, Nicole tilted her head cutely while looking at Eleanor.

The girl exuded an elegant aura, her soft lips glistening like jelly under the sunlight, paired with a perfectly poised, graceful smile. For a moment, Nicole was entranced.

“So beautiful,” Nicole sighed inwardly.

Could she be a noble?

Such poise wasn’t something ordinary people could fake—it was confidence and grace etched into her very being.

With her keen eye, Nicole had already secretly confirmed the girl’s identity—a noble lady traveling incognito!

Too bad, I saw through it, she thought. Reading so many books really pays off; I can spot the truth in a glance.

But~~~

Nicole was wrong.

Eleanor wasn’t some noble lady.

It was all intentional—she had coordinated with Yvette before entering to create an aristocratic air, leading the receptionist to misjudge and give them preferential treatment.

Yvette had mentioned something about nobles before: in the Solenston Kingdom, the noble class held immense power.

Even if you didn’t curry favor with them, you couldn’t afford to slight them.

So~~~

Why not borrow that identity for a bit? Besides, Eleanor’s own charisma was already quite remarkable.

Thus, she clasped her hands behind her back and flashed Nicole a sweet smile.

“Sister Nicole~”

“Our guild must be short on double-headed tiger materials, right~~”

Her sweet yet not cloying voice, coupled with a tilted head and the innocent, deep crimson eyes of the sword spirit, radiated pure charm.

“So~~~”

“Why not issue a couple of C-rank tasks to collect some?”

Λ

It turns out, an old soul acting cute is still pretty adorable.

Perhaps influenced by this body, the darn female hormones were invading her brain, softening her behavior bit by bit.

But it wasn’t bad—Eleanor wasn’t entirely sure why.

At least Yvette thought it was pretty nice.

Strolling leisurely through the town’s streets, the girl and the sword spirit now had small badges pinned to their chests.

Two bold “C” letters were engraved on them.

C-rank certified adventurers, signifying their ability to independently complete C-rank tasks.

Since Eleanor had already crafted the tiger hide and fangs into equipment for Yvette, the double-headed tiger materials they submitted only included damaged tiger claws and a charred tiger tail.

Though products of a sixth-tier beast, their poor condition qualified them only for a C-rank task.

But that was perfect, as Nicole didn’t have the authority to issue C-rank tasks anyway.

Eleanor and Yvette gained gold coins and ranks, while Nicole boosted her performance.

A win-win!

They casually settled into a dessert shop, where the girl and the sword spirit began tallying their assets.

Kingdom gold coins: 17.

Silver coins: 53.

Copper coins: several.

They had a decent amount of money, but to maintain the lavish expenses of a high-end inn like Rabbit, it would only last less than two months.

“But it’s so soft and cushy,” Eleanor said reluctantly, taking a sweet pastry and tea from the waiter.

“I just want to lie in that bed forever…”

Eleanor had been utterly captivated by that darn bourgeois bed—she felt she could sprawl on it all day, a phenomenon dubbed the “man-eating duvet incident.”

“Then we’ll need to take on some tasks from time to time,” Yvette said softly, placing an extra pastry from her plate onto Eleanor’s empty one.

“Let’s do it. Don’t you need to find your parents, Little Yi?”

“If I remember correctly, S-rank adventurers can issue world tasks, published in every adventurer’s guild worldwide. We can post a missing person notice together, pinch~”

Thanks to the delicious pastry, Eleanor squinted happily, even shamelessly raising her voice to let out a mischievous “pinch~.”

“You’re mistaken, Teacher. A-rank adventurers can already issue world tasks,” Yvette corrected, her gaze lingering involuntarily on Eleanor’s puffed-up cheeks.

[What would happen if I poked them?]

Yvette wondered but didn’t act on it.

Respecting her teacher—she understood that.

“A-rank, huh? My mistake, but that’s even better, isn’t it?”

“Mm,” Yvette nodded, waving to the waiter to order two more servings.

“Don’t you like desserts, Yvette?”

Eleanor asked.

The girl ate very little—maybe she disliked sweets?

Kids should eat more; not eating enough could stunt growth.

Eleanor picked up a filled pastry, dipped it in her tea, stirred it until it softened, and extended her arm.

“Here, try it. It’s less sweet this way.”

Yvette didn’t refuse or reach out; she simply tilted her chin up and took a bite from Eleanor’s hand.

“Is it good?”

“It’s good.”

“Then eat more.”

Watching Yvette chew slowly, Eleanor picked up a round filled pastry and recited a quirky phrase from her mind:

“Twist it, lick it, dip it.”

Like the slogan “Give the gift of ● Platinum,” the human brain always clings to trivial yet oddly catchy things.

Yvette watched as Eleanor twisted the pastry open, stirred it in her tea, and then offered it to her.

[Why didn’t Teacher Eleanor lick it like she said?]

A strange thought popped into Yvette’s mind.

Her heart thumped a few times.

She recalled a citrus novel she’d bought from a passing missionary as a child.

The Lily Knight Under the Hawthorn Tree

…( >…