Chapter Three: Repaying Kindness with Enmity

“Ruby, do you have…”
Mayoona bit her lip, her long legs pressed tightly together. After finishing two large bottles of medicine, her body felt somewhat better, but a new problem had arisen. To make such a request to someone she’d only just met, and a man at that, was unbearably embarrassing.

“It’s perfectly normal to need the restroom after taking medicine. It’s right over there.”
Ruby pointed to a small door nearby. Mayoona dashed inside, only to come rushing out moments later.

“Are you making fun of me?”
Her cheeks puffed with indignation; there was nothing in that room but a piece of art—how was she supposed to relieve herself?

“It’s right there.”
“You mean you usually… on that white stone thing?”
“I… You people from other worlds, really. That’s called porcelain.”
Ruby was at a loss for words, suddenly remembering that toilets didn’t exist in this world. ‘White stone’ was simply the term for porcelain here, and it was considered a rare treasure, as its manufacturing process had long been lost; modern mages couldn't produce it. All surviving pieces were antiques. To Mayoona, being told to use one for a bodily function was a tremendous challenge to her worldview.

“Do you want me to show you how to use it?”
Ruby spoke irritably. The technology tree of this world was truly bizarre—no sewers at all. People here usually found a secluded spot, set up a simple purification array, and... waste would disappear on contact with the array. Ruby thought whoever invented that spell deserved an Otherworld Nobel Prize for their contribution.

“No, that won’t be necessary.”
“When you’re done, remember to press this. Understand?”
Ruby knew full well Mayoona wouldn’t think to flush, so as he left, he pointed deliberately at the button on the toilet.

“Hurry up and leave!”

Three minutes later—

“What… what is this? Water is coming out of it!”

Mayoona’s startled voice rang out from the bathroom, soon followed by the sound of something shattering.

“What are you doing?”
By the time Ruby sensed something was wrong and rushed in, it was too late. The toilet’s water tank had been smashed, water flooding the floor, while Mayoona ransacked drawers and cabinets in search of something.

“Where are you hiding the spirit?”
Mayoona showed no sign of guilt for her actions. Instead, she grabbed Ruby by the collar and demanded an answer.

“Spirit?”
“If you can use water at home without water magic, it must be an elemental spirit. Let it go!”
Mayoona was furious. She’d thought Ruby was a decent person, but now realized he’d imprisoned an elemental spirit. Thanks to their magical talents, even elderly people here could produce pure water with their own magic, so no one kept water in their homes. For someone without magic to have water gushing forth, Mayoona immediately suspected an elemental spirit.

Elemental spirits were the manifestation of various magical elements in the air. They usually hid themselves well, and since their vast magical reserves were invaluable for research and training, their appearance always sparked fierce competition among mages.

“Primitive people! Listen, this is called a water tank. It stores water and releases it. Get it?”
Ruby was exasperated. This was exactly why he chose to live far from the city—explaining science to these primitives only earned blank stares.

“Really?”
“If you don’t believe me, keep looking for your spirit.”
“Alright, I was wrong. I’ll compensate you for what I broke.”
Having searched in vain for some time, Mayoona could only apologize. Upon reflection, she realized that even a magical novice could sense an elemental spirit’s energy, so hiding one here was impossible.

“Take your medicine,”
Ruby grumbled about primitives, but still set his homemade tablets on the table, poured Mayoona a glass of water, and went off to cook.

“Ugh, so bitter!”
The moment she put the tablet in her mouth, an unbearable taste assaulted her tongue. She quickly took a sip of water, casting a resentful look at Ruby, wondering if this was his revenge. Just then, she noticed him walk to a platform and flip a switch, causing flames to burst from beneath it.

“Fire is coming out… a fire spirit…”

Mayoona, seeing the stove light itself, eagerly approached Ruby.

“If you dare take apart my gas stove, get out right now!”
Ruby saw her intentions and barked a warning.

“I wasn’t going to take it apart… Why so angry…”
Mayoona pouted and flopped onto the sofa. Except for her teacher, no one had ever scolded her before. Ruby’s reprimand, oddly enough, felt just like her teacher’s. It made her nostalgic.

“It smells so good!”
Soon, the aroma of food lured Mayoona back to the kitchen. The skillet was filled with a savory fragrance; noodles cooked in red sauce, chunks of magical beast meat mixed in, and finally, a fried magical beast egg placed on top. Her empty stomach growled as she watched.

“Spaghetti.”
Ruby answered simply. Mayoona returned to her seat, full of anticipation, waiting obediently to be fed.

“This is all I get?”
Reality hit hard. Mayoona’s white eyebrows nearly twisted together in displeasure as she looked from her own bowl of porridge to the plate of spaghetti in front of Ruby.

“Your stomach is injured.”
“Unbelievable, so unfair.”
She knew perfectly well how unwell she was—she’d even vomited blood—but she swore to herself that one day she would taste that unfamiliar dish.

“Now that you’re full…”

Draining the last of her soup, Mayoona wiped her mouth, walked over to Ruby, and raised her hand. “Advanced Magic: Mountain.”
With medicine and food restoring her strength, she could now cast some lower-level spells without difficulty—no surprise, given her background as an Archmage.