39 Blood Red Resolve

Nova and Freyana walked through the shopping district, garnering the attention of many.

『..Is that Genesis Academy's uniform?』

『Oh my, isn't that Nova? Has he become a mage?!』

『Is that his girlfriend? Goodness! She's a real beauty!』

Freyana stayed close to Nova the entire time.

『..I thought that school uniform dates would be more fun.. But all it does it make others look at you..!』[Freyana]

Her ears were growing a light pink.

『Haah… Let's just get to the restaurant. I think uniform dates should be done on a weekday instead of a weekend..』[Nova]

Realizing the fact that weekends were not a typical time for students to wear uniforms, she began to grow a deep red.

『...I'm sorry. I got too excited...』[Freyana]

Nova looked at her, before giving her a smile.

『...It's alright. Let's go.』[Nova]

He took her hand and dragged her along.

After some time, they arrived at the restaurant.

『..Oh! I haven't had ramen in a long time! It smells just like dad's!』[Freyana]

Nova was suddenly unnerved at Freyana's words.

「...I sense a disturbance somewhere...」[Nova]

Regardless, he pushed open the door to the shop.

『Yo! Old man, you here?!』[Nova]

The chef was keeping an eye on some noodles in the back.

『Oooh!?! That you, Nova? I've got ramen with your name on it!』[Ramen chef]

『Really?! Then, can you make that two?』[Nova]

He began to walk into the store with Freyana.

『Oh? You bring your gir-?』[Ramen chef]

When he turned around, he immediately stopped his sentence.

『...Freyana?!』[Ramen chef]

「Oh.. Man. I had a feeling something was gonna happen.」[Reischneid]

『Dad?!』[Freyana]

Nova was in a complete state of shock.

「What?! What do you mean?!」[Nova]

『What are you doing here?!』[Ramen chef]

「Old man has waaaaaay too much mana for a civilian. 」[Reischneid]

「And you didn't tell me?!」[Nova]

「Eh. He uses his seed to make noodles taste better. As far as I know, he's just a dedicated craftsman.」[Reischneid]

『I'm here with my.. B-b-boyfriend!』[Freyana]

Nova stared in horror at Freyana.

『...』[Nova]

『Oh? Really? Where is he?』[Ramen chef]

The patrons laughed their heads off when they heard her.

『Come on, man! You know who it is! The good old son of the shopping district!』[Patrons]

The chef glared right into Nova's eyes, with an almost demonic stare.

『Oh..? Nova? You want to take a seat?』[Ramen chef]

『Uh.. okay! 』[Nova]

He quickly scrambled over to a nearby empty seat, then Freyana sat herself down right next to him.

『So, who was that girl you brought last time..?』[Ramen chef]

Freyana's ears perked a little, and Nova felt a chill run down his spine.

『I told you, she's a friend! I swear on my life!』[Nova]

He maintained the stare, before the chef eventually broke his gaze.

『..Hmm.. You're lucky you aren't Rai. I would've clobbered you.』[Ramen chef]

『Uh… Yes!』[Nova]

He turned to look at Freyana.

『And you. The first place you visit when you can put your wings away, and it's not your dad?』[Ramen chef]

She shook her head.

『No! Dad! I DID visit you first! I'm right here, aren't I?』[Freyana]

『Did you KNOW I was here?』[Ramen chef]

『Uhm… no?』[Freyana]

『Okay. Have you seen the guy that hangs out with this guy? Rai?』[Ramen chef]

『Uh.. The person with the whole "too cool for school vibe"?』[Freyana]

『Hahaha! That's him!』[Patron]

『Yeah. How do you feel about him?』[Ramen chef]

『He's Nova's best friend, so I don't particularly dislike him..』[Freyana]

『Wait. Old man, you were a mage?』[Nova]

『Of course I was. Don't you know my full name? Bana Shaylon.』[Bana]

『Wait, then that means that Freyana and her mom..?』[Nova]

『Also Shaylons. You met Frey already?』[Bana]

『Uh.. Yeah. She said to call her Frey, though.』[Nova]

『Hmm.. Sounds just like her! So, when did you meet?』[Bana]

『A few days ago..』[Nova]

『And when did you and my little girl meet?』[Bana]

『A little over a week ago?』[Nova]

A strange glint filled Bana's eyes, before he continued with the questions.

『...Then, did you complete her challenge?』[Bana]

『Yes.』[Nova]

Freyana's eyes began to shine before she started an outburst of compliments.

『He was really cool! Midway through when he was getting full, he started to burn his own mana in order to eat more! That's when I knew he was the one!』[Freyana]

『Woah! Weren't you the same little girl that hid behind me all those years ago?』[Bana]

『No! I'm a fully grown girl now! I'm going to grow up and marry Nova!』[Freyana]

The noodle strainer that Bana was holding suddenly cracked, before it snapped and fell apart in his hands.

『...Do you want to say that one more time?』[Bana]

When the strainer snapped, Nova and Freyana winced, and the rest of the patrons felt a strange pressure fill the shop.

『I-I-I'm going to marry Nova!』[Freyana]

Then, he turned to Nova.

『And.. you?』[Bana]

『..If she'll have me.』[Nova]

A large vein was now showing itself on Bana's head.

「No! NOOOO! PARTNER! YOU ARE MAKING A MISTAKE!」[Reischneid]

「...Sometimes, a man has to take action, Reischneid.」[Nova]

「...I'll pray for you from the side of the living.」[Reischneid]

「...Please do.」[Nova]

『...Fine. Since you're the son of the shopping district, I'll approve of it. You're lucky I've known you since you were a little boy.』[Bana]

『Of marriage?!』[Freyana]

『God, no. Dating. I'll approve of marriage when he becomes a man that can protect you.』[Bana]

「...He's right, partner. You're still really weak.」[Reischneid]

「...I know.」[Nova]

『Wait! Dad, you've known him since he was a little boy?』[Freyana]

『Hmm.. I'll tell both of you the story later.』[Bana]

He picked up a new noodle strainer.

『Here, let dad make you some ramen! On the house! Even for you… "son".』[Bana]

Nova felt so utterly disturbed by that last part, that his face became several shades paler.

『...Old man, please. Have mercy..』[Nova]

But it was too late for Nova.

Bana had already been preparing a bowl of ramen for Nova.

He placed two massive bowls of ramen in front of the two of them, but when comparing the two there was a massive difference.

Freyana's bowl was a beautiful milky white broth, with a lot of toppings.

Nova's was also filled with toppings… but the broth was a bloody crimson red.

「...Isn't this the "Demonic Manifestation" ramen challenge that put someone in the hospital?」[Nova]

『Old man.. please?』[Nova]

『...There was a test from the other two.. Right?』[Bana]

『But.. Spicy foods aren't my thing!』[Nova]

『Listen.. Do you want my little girl, or not?』[Bana]

Nova looked at Freyana, and she was returning a look that was a mixture of pity, expectance, and concern.

『...If I must.』[Nova]

He raised his chopsticks and spoon and began to dig in.

There was immediate regret.

「Guh..! It feels like I'm biting into micro-sized razor blades! I can feel so much pain in my mouth, it might as well be the equivalent of eating razor blades!」[Nova]

He persisted with the eating.

「I.. I really don't think that I've even made a dent in this thing!」[Nova]

After a certain point, Nova felt his entire body screaming in pain.

He swallowed the bite he was working on, before shouting out.

『BLESSED FLAME REBIRTH!』[Nova]

The patrons all watched in shock.

『Nova?! Are you gonna be okay?!』[Patron]

『Nova..! Bana was just kidding! Relax!』[Patron]

『Holy shit..! I need to take a video of this!』[Patron]

After Nova ignited his blue flames, he began to eat at an even faster pace.

「As long as I keep eating, I can maintain these flames!」[Nova]

Each time he finished a mouthful of ramen, his flames would heal his tongue, then he would immediately eat another mouthful.

「This is damn painful!」[Nova]

After a few more bites, he lifted the bowl up and downed the rest of the ramen.

『No way… Nobody has ever completed that before!』[Patron]

『He's.. The conqueror!』[Patron]

『The Conqueror with blue flames!』[Patron]

Nova ignored the patrons and stared at a shocked Bana.

『...So?』[Nova]

『..You pass, kid.』[Bana]

『I knew he would!』[Freyana]

She latched onto his arm, then he felt more murderous intent leak from Bana.

『...Please never give me spicy food ever again.』[Nova]