If this doesn’t impress a cultivation plant, nothing will.
He turned toward the Demonica Moonburgh with a smile on his face.
Noah addressed the plant with a joking tone.
"Let’s see what you do when I feed you this. You must know I’m feeding you an expensive drink; this is worth twenty golden coins."
"Don’t disappoint me, alright?"
Twenty golden coins of liquid mana enhancement. If this doesn’t trigger something spectacular, I’m returning you to Vex with a complaint.
The plant maintained its silence, neither acknowledging his words nor showing obvious signs of anticipation.
You are the strong, nonchalant type. Got it.
Noah tilted the bottle carefully, watching the cold tea flow toward soil that had probably never experienced anything more exotic than demon realm groundwater. The iced tea disappeared into the dark soil.
Within seconds, Moon was no longer silent.
The sakura-like leaves began vibrating.
What started as gentle trembling escalated into visible vibration, as if the plant’s entire circulatory system had suddenly awakened from dormancy.
Each leaf seemed to glow with internal light, and the air around the plant began glowing with energy that Noah could actually feel against his skin.
"It’s working. Good job, Moon!"
With no immediate customers demanding attention, Noah settled into his meditation position beside the counter.
The Demonica Moonburgh’s constant energy release created the perfect cultivation environment—mana thick enough to taste, let alone feel.
Time to see if expensive plant food translates to an actual magical breakthrough.
He closed his eyes and began the familiar breathing exercises Elara had drilled into him. Feel the mana, don’t grasp for it, let it flow through consciousness like water finding its level.
The mana-rich atmosphere made everything easier—what once required intense concentration now felt as natural as breathing.
Moon is definitely earning its keep.
Thirty minutes passed in meditative silence.
No door chimes interrupted his focus, no customers demanded magical bread or iced tea. The unusual quiet should have been concerning, but Noah found himself grateful for uninterrupted practice time.
Some peace to actually concentrate.
His mana control had been approaching Level 5 for days.
And Noah’s thoughts were simple. He needed to turn the theoretical knowledge into a real, practical one.
He wanted to access his storage rings, perhaps conjure some basic spells, and actual magical competency instead of fumbling around with invisible forces he could sense but not use.
Come on. Just a little further.
Noah opened his eyes slowly, his eyelashes fluttering as his consciousness returned to the physical world.
The sensation was unmistakable; he could feel power flowing through his pathways that had previously been somewhat blocked.
It felt like energy was responding to his will rather than remaining frustratingly elusive.
I can feel it. I’m getting closer to finally becoming a novice mage. I just need an extra push to break through.
He glanced at Moon, still glowing with energy beside him.
The plant had created the perfect cultivation environment, accelerating his development beyond anything he’d experienced during Princess Elara’s lessons.
Maybe the expensive plant food was worth every golden coin.
Noah reached out to stroke the pink leaves like some kind of mystical pet, earning a subtle vibration of approval from his plant companion.
"Good work, Moon. Keep this up and I’ll feed you iced tea every day."
Though technically, I already am. For the next two days at least.
Although he was satisfied with his progress in reaching level 5 in mana control, a different concern emerged.
Noah turned toward his shop entrance with growing confusion.
"Why is nobody coming into my store?"
Thirty minutes had passed without a single customer. In Sin City’s busiest plaza? That’s... unusual.
A voice suddenly sounded beside him nearly gave him a heart attack
"It’s because there’s a royal parade outside."
Noah spun around so fast he nearly knocked over Moon’s pot, his heart nearly attempting to escape through his throat.
Lola lounged against his wall with elegance, her arms crossed, and ruby eyes sparkling with amusement at his obvious shock.
"Why are you so scared?"
How long has she been there? How did she get in without me noticing?
Noah stammered, his voice cracking embarrassingly. "Y-You... when did you get here?"
"Whilst you were practising, I got here."
Her smirk suggested she’d enjoyed watching his meditation session more than was probably appropriate.
"You looked so peaceful. Didn’t want to disturb your... concentration."
She watched me meditate. For how long?
System! Why didn’t you notify me that someone entered my shop? What if she stole something or tried to hurt me?
[Host, she displayed no malicious intent. There was no need to interrupt your concentration. She simply observed your training.]
Simply observed. Right. Because that’s not creepy at all, especially when I don’t know. Acting like Edward Cullen, all that’s left is for her to watch me sleep...
Noah really couldn’t argue with the system’s logic, much as he wanted to.
Lola’s presence had been genuinely non-threatening—she’d just... watched. Like some kind of supernatural guardian angel with questionable boundaries.
Noah asked, latching onto the explanation for his missing customers rather than dwelling on surveillance issues of the system.
"Annual celebration," Lola replied.
"The royal family stand on their castle balcony, displays themselves, citizens pretend to be impressed, and everyone gets the day off work. Very traditional."
"Why aren’t you there?" Noah raised an eyebrow with genuine curiosity.
"Seems like the kind of event someone like you should attend. Considering you are at the top of the hierarchy here,"
Lola shrugged with nonchalance before a smirk slowly formed on her face.
"Parades are... complicated for me...Besides, I would rather be...alone...with you."
There it is. The verbal trap I walked straight into.
Noah didn’t turn pink on her clear flirting this time. Although it was still difficult to immunise himself from her sultry words, he was no longer easily swayed.
Her looks don’t help either. If she were an ugly demon...I wouldn’t care. But her words really make all kinds of ideas pop inside your head...