I Don't Know the Original, I'm Too Busy Trying to Make a Living-Chapter 166

Penelope quickly finished the remaining ice cream, but it still managed to melt and drip onto her fingers.

"The ice cream is great in the middle of summer, but this part is inconvenient."

She licked between her fingers while scanning her surroundings. She distinctly remembered approving the construction of a public restroom nearby during her development plans for the territory.

Her eyes landed on a secluded building near the park. It was unmistakably a public restroom.

When Penelope suddenly stood up, Ahwin looked up at her, slightly startled and seemingly a little flustered.

"Where are you going?"

"I just want to wash my hands."

"Is that all? Just washing your hands?"

"Yes, that’s it."

As Penelope answered, Ahwin grabbed her right hand. It was sticky from the melted ice cream.

The moment she frowned slightly, a refreshing sensation spread through her hand as it cooled down.

"Ah...!"

Penelope's eyes widened in surprise. Transparent water was swirling around her hand!

"Show me your other hand too," Ahwin said.

Slowly, Penelope extended her left hand. The water that had been encircling her right hand flowed over to her left.

Captivated by the marvel, she stared at the water rippling over her hands. A shiver ran through her entire body.

"Right, Ahwin is the Tower Master, after all!"

The reason mages were revered in this world became clear—they could create something out of nothing. Penelope was convinced of it now.

When Ahwin had taken her flying through the air, she had been impressed by his power, but not particularly enchanted by magic itself. She had reasoned it was achievable with a zero-gravity state.

But when water cascaded from his fingertips, it completely overturned her perspective. It was an extraordinary power that transcended all reason and natural laws.

When the author in the original story constantly proclaimed that the Tower Master was the most powerful being in the world, she had simply nodded along, accepting it as fact. But now, she could feel it in her heart, not just her head.

"Some things you have to see with your own eyes to truly understand."

Penelope gazed at her now spotless hands, deeply impressed.

At that moment, Ahwin found himself captivated by Penelope’s sparkling eyes. They gleamed as though adorned with the most exquisite jewels in the world.

"She’s beautiful..."

For the past three days, Ahwin hadn’t been able to sleep properly. His mind had been consumed by the memory of their lips meeting.

Even when he closed his eyes to try and rest, all he could see was her lips—how soft and warm they had been. The sensation and the memory replayed endlessly in his head.

"How could she be so bold?"

To Ahwin, a kiss was an act that required asking for permission and gaining clear consent. But Penelope had bypassed all formalities, kissing him with a fearlessness that was both startling and passionate. It was a memory so vivid it haunted his dreams.

As a result, he had spent three sleepless nights, his thoughts a whirlwind every time he recalled her lips, leaving him flushed and restless.

To make matters worse, Penelope had buried herself in work in the study during that time, barely sparing him a glance. When she finally sought him out, her words had left him utterly dumbfounded.

"Has your affection for me faded? Even if you’re busy with work, how could you say something like that?"

Ahwin couldn’t fathom what thought process had led Penelope to that conclusion. While he often found her unpredictable, this time, her assumption was completely absurd.

Just then, Penelope broke the silence with a question.

"This water... can you drink it?"

"Really? Of course," Ahwin replied.

"Wow! You're amazing, Ahwin. Magic is truly the best!" Penelope exclaimed, her awe evident.

Ahwin found himself wanting to peek into her thoughts once again. He had never expected such fervent praise for a basic spell.

"Is this the most impressed she's ever been with my magic? I can't figure out what exactly astonishes her."

Despite his shoulders involuntarily lifting with pride, Ahwin was curious about Penelope's standards. Understanding them would help # Nоvеlight # him showcase magic that amazed her every time.

"Now that we've rested enough, shall we head somewhere else?" Penelope extended her hand. Without hesitation, Ahwin grabbed it, feeling as if his feet were floating off the ground. A stray thought crossed his mind—one that had been lingering since he’d seen her licking her fingers earlier.

"I want to kiss her."

After their stroll through the marketplace, the two entered a restaurant for lunch.

Although she thought the ice cream would suppress her appetite, the sight of glistening roast chicken on their table reignited her hunger. The chicken, slow-roasted over a wood fire, had all its excess grease cooked off and looked irresistibly delicious.

Penelope shut her eyes tightly and offered Ahwin the chicken leg.

"I'm only giving this to you because it's you."

Ahwin tilted his head in slight confusion before breaking into a gentle smile. Then he offered her the chicken breast in return.

"This is my favorite part."

"What?! I gave up the drumstick, and he gives me the driest piece in return!"

Penelope was both shocked and mildly horrified by Ahwin's food preferences.

She stared intently at the chicken breast on her plate before glancing sideways at Ahwin. He was meticulously cutting the meat off the drumstick with a fork and knife.

Penelope cleared her throat.

"I’ve been thinking, and there’s no need to eat something you don’t like. If you don’t enjoy the tougher meat of the drumstick, we can switch back."

"But you gave it to me, so I’ll eat it," Ahwin replied with a shrug.

"No! You really don’t have to eat it."

Penelope widened her eyes, silently pleading with him. Do you really want me to eat this dry piece of chicken for your conscience to be clear?

Perhaps her desperation was so palpable that her unspoken plea miraculously got through to him.

Ahwin chuckled softly and said, "On second thought, maybe switching back is a good idea."

"Right?"

With a radiant smile, Penelope pushed her plate toward him. The neatly carved drumstick was placed in front of her, and the two of them finally ate the parts they enjoyed most.

"Now that I think about it, this isn’t bad at all. Actually, it’s perfect compatibility!"

Penelope decided that they would never argue over chicken again.

After their meal, they wandered aimlessly.

It was their first time exploring since the territory had changed, so neither of them had a clear destination. They left their course to chance, enjoying an impromptu date.

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The pair strolled through the plaza and eventually entered a market.

Stalls overflowed with vegetables and fruits, revealing they had reached the fruit market. As it was the height of summer, seasonal fruits were being sold at affordable prices.

"So southern merchants are coming all the way here to sell fruit," Penelope thought, intrigued by the discovery.

Despite the inconvenient transportation system, merchants were making the effort to bring their goods to Halo. Naturally, the city’s growing population was fostering a thriving market economy.

Penelope couldn’t take her eyes off the plump peaches and juicy plums. They all looked so fresh and appetizing.

"Do you want some?"

"Yes."

Ahwin promptly paid the vendor and bought two peaches. After a quick glance around, he rubbed the peaches with his hands. To her astonishment, they became perfectly clean—another display of the magic she had seen earlier.

"Only Ahwin would use magic to clean fruit," Penelope mused, once again marveling at his abilities. She bit into the peach, the crisp flesh delighting her with its refreshing sweetness.

When she glanced sideways, she noticed Ahwin frowning slightly.

"Do you not like peaches, Ahwin?"

"They're not bad, but I prefer the softer ones."

"What?!"

To Penelope's shock, Ahwin liked soft peaches!

As someone who preferred firm peaches, she was more shaken by this revelation than she had been by the chicken breast incident.

"Wait, so you don’t like dry textures? Then why on earth do you enjoy chicken breast but not crisp peaches?"

Once again, Penelope found herself baffled by Ahwin's food preferences.