Roxy’s Confession and the Goblin Aesthetic

“……”

“……”

“……”

As Roland’s words fell silent, the students who had been observing nearby scattered.

They fled, as if fearing contamination by an aura of idiocy.

Fluwu, standing before him, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine, his expression turning utterly bizarre.

While Roland’s initial mention of the Shadow Assassin League had startled him, the subsequent string of nonsense led him to an undeniable conclusion.

This person was utterly insane.

‘He had actually been intimidated by a madman…’

Fluwu suddenly found the situation laughable and utterly devoid of interest, losing all desire to converse with the fellow before him.

He could only surmise that Roxy, after whatever she had endured, must have lost her mind as well, to allow such a lunatic to be by her side.

He straightened his school uniform, casting a glance at Roland that held both pity and disdain.

“I truly don’t know how you got involved with Roxy,” he declared. “But let me tell you, her reputation in this academy is utterly ruined. You might help her for a moment, but you cannot help her forever.”

Shaking his mage’s robe, he left that harsh remark hanging in the air as he brushed past Roland.

Once Fluwu had departed, Roland’s previously concentrated magical energy finally relaxed.

‘Good, that idiot didn’t rush things. I won’t have to fight him.’

He shook his head, unperturbed by the strange glances from those around him.

Following Roxy’s magical aura, he set off to find her.

After passing flowerbeds, small corridors, and groves of trees, Roland finally found Roxy beside a deserted lake.

The blue-haired girl sat curled up on a patch of grass, her head buried in her knees, her magic hat pressed onto her head like a pot lid.

Roland stopped beside her, then quietly sat down, careful not to disturb her.

Roxy removed her magic hat, lifting it just enough to peer at Roland through a narrow slit.

Her eyes were red and swollen, her cheeks streaked with tears, and her nose bubbled slightly, yet she fiercely suppressed any sound of weeping.

“I’ve already tried my best to conceal my magical aura,” she stated, implying her surprise that he had still found her.

Roland pondered for a moment, then spoke without reservation: “I felt the technique was rather crude. I could still detect it. It would be better if you paid a little more attention to the details when concealing your aura.”

“……”

Roxy offered no reply, merely burying her face in her knees once more.

“I’ve already taught that fellow a lesson for you,” Roland said, picking up a pebble.

“He felt deeply ashamed after hearing my criticism and ran off, embarrassed.”

“The nobles of the Kingdom of Engler are all shameless idiots,” Roxy declared, a snot bubble emerging as she spoke.

“They never feel shame, no matter what they do.”

“Alright, you’ve seen through my bluff,” Roland chuckled, tossing the pebble he held onto the lake’s surface.

“Actually, he let me go after I caused trouble, and even threw a few threats my way before telling me to scram.”

The pebble skipped several times across the water, then plunged into the depths with a splash.

“……”

Roxy watched the continuously spreading ripples, her gaze complex. After staring at Roland’s face for a moment, she suddenly said, “Actually, your talent should be quite good as well.”

“It’s alright, I suppose,” Roland shrugged. “But I don’t understand what you teachers and students are talking about.”

“Everyone has their strengths,” Roxy said, removing the ‘pot lid’ from her head.

“At your age, reaching LV25 is something only a handful of people on the Teyvat Continent can achieve.”

“Is that so? I thought I was rather slow?”

“Mana levels generally increase with age,” Roxy explained earnestly. “Unless one can continuously slay monsters in battle or absorb Silica from the Demon Realm, raising one’s magic level can only be achieved through slow, arduous effort.”

“This is no longer a time of war, and Silica is something only official organizations possess in stock. Therefore, for you to reach LV25 without absorbing such a substance, it can only mean your talent is exceptional.”

“No, I merely…” Roland sighed, his expression complex. “It’s simply thanks to the good fortune of the one in my household.”

‘If that little Demon Lord hadn’t obtained that pill, I wouldn’t have improved so quickly…’

“Why did you let your wife enter the academy?” Roxy asked, wiping away tears from the corners of her eyes.

“Was it truly just to help me avoid facing my roommate?”

“More or less; I just wanted to lend you a hand,” Roland replied. Seeing that she wasn’t crying anymore, he offered a smile, hoping to lift her spirits.

“It feels quite a pity for a genius alchemist girl to be expelled, you know.”

“I deserve it,” Roxy retorted, turning her head away, her expression hidden from him.

“Don’t ever use that title in front of me again; it’s quite laughable.”

“Alright, alright,” Roland said helplessly. “I won’t mention it again, then.”

“……”

Roxy fell silent for a moment, then picked up her magic staff beside her, looking at Roland with a serious expression.

“Have you truly thought this through?” she asked.

“What are you referring to?”

“Your wife, Freya,” Roxy stated. “From your description, she is exceedingly beautiful.”

“Indeed…” Roland recalled the appearance of that little Demon Lord. “That is an undeniable fact.”

“That is not a good thing,” Roxy shook her head. “Magic can empower people, but it also inflates their desires. There are some in my academy as well… sigh, I think you understand what I mean.”

Roland frowned, thinking, ‘Should I retract my previous statement now? Wouldn’t that be incredibly embarrassing?’

She slowly stood up, looking down at Roland. “However, there is a way.”

“What way?”

“You should enter as well.”

“Huh?” Roland tilted his head, asking again, “Huh?”

The two ‘Huhs’ vividly conveyed his confusion and bewilderment, emphasizing his urgent desire for an answer.

“There are still four months until the entrance exam,” Roxy explained, her tone resolute.

“Before then, my teacher might be able to help her recover some memories, but it will certainly be too late to find a solution for the Rofenia Herb.”

“Because this problem has persisted for centuries.”

“What?”

“Otherwise, why do you think such a thing still exists?” Roxy countered. “Why is there a continuous supply of Rofenia Maiden’s Potion being sold on the black market and flowing into brothels?”

“If there truly were an effective remedy, how could there still be so many courtesans in the world?”

“This…”

“What if… her symptoms flare up while she’s at school?” Roxy leaned closer, allowing Roland to see her nearly flawless skin.

“She would be expelled from the academy, and your status as her husband would come to an end.”

“……”

Roland’s face twitched. He forced a smile. “No way…”

Realizing she wasn’t joking, he let out a helpless sigh. “Alright then… I suppose… I’ll reluctantly give it a try…”

‘Sigh, a Hero bringing a Demon Lord to an entrance exam…’

‘That’s just too preposterous, isn’t it?’

“Mm…” Roxy patted the ash from the grass off the back of her robe. “It’s getting late. If we don’t hurry back, the academy will revert to its closed state.”

Roland also stood, glancing at Roxy’s still somewhat red and swollen eyes. “We shouldn’t run into those annoying fellows on the way back, right?”

“How about… I walk ahead this time, and you just follow behind me?”

“Follow behind you?” Roxy placed the ‘pot lid’ back in its original position, then frowned as she looked at Roland.

She then walked behind him, considering his offer. With one hand, she gripped her hat brim, pressing it down slightly, while the other hesitated in the air for a moment before catching the corner of Roland’s clothes at his back.

“Hm?” Roland chuckled. “Why are you grabbing my clothes?”

“I can’t see the way,” Roxy replied, patting his back. “I’m borrowing your body for a bit, now let’s go.”

Roland, resigned, had no choice but to slow his pace on the way back to ensure Roxy wouldn’t lose her grip on his clothes.

As they walked, Roxy initially worried this method might be inconvenient, but after covering some distance, she realized it was much safer than before.

She no longer had to fear tripping or bumping into people, and a sigh of relief escaped her. She lifted her hat brim slightly, glancing at Roland.

“Which way do we go next?” Roland mumbled, scratching his head when they reached a fork in the path. “I remember when we came…”

“Left,” Roxy stated, pulling her hat brim down. “After passing the Bat Belfry, follow the Dawn Avenue for 300 meters, and you’ll be out.”

“Oh, oh, oh, you remember it very clearly,” Roland said, turning left. “I thought you had no sense of direction, otherwise, why would you…”

Suddenly realizing he was treading on sensitive ground, Roland instinctively clamped his mouth shut.

“……”

Roxy remained silent for a long time this time, only her grip on the corner of his clothes tightening considerably.

It wasn’t until they had exited the academy gates that Roland felt the hand behind him finally release its grip.

“Shall we head back to the Moonlight Hotel together now?” Roland asked, hands on his hips.

“Mm,” Roxy nodded, glancing at Roland. After a moment’s hesitation, she opened her mouth. “Actually…”

“Huh?”

“Goblins’ aesthetic sense is the same as that of ordinary demons,” Roxy said, turning her head to the side, her expression filled with resignation.

“I discovered this idea in an article titled ‘Early Loran Biological Research Survey.’ It stated that, apart from humans, the thoughts and aesthetics of most creatures are identical to those of common demons.”

“Ah… and then?”

“Then… when I was kidnapped before, I found this to be true…” Roxy explained, a hint of embarrassment in her voice.

“They only chose women with peculiar appearances for their specific methods of retaliation… Those women were truly pitiful; I was always beside them… constantly hearing their wails.”

Roland was utterly dumbfounded.

“I can’t explain this to my classmates, or even if I did, they wouldn’t believe me,” Roxy said, settling her hat back on, her expression complex.

“I haven’t even had a chance to tell my teacher yet. For now… I’ll let you know first.”

Roland remained dumbfounded.

Roxy sighed. “Because you are my savior, I hope that at least you won’t misunderstand certain things anymore…”

She paid no mind to the stunned Roland, turning and walking away.

However, after only a few steps, another question came to her mind.

Back then, there had been a white-haired girl. She was clearly beautiful, so why had she been targeted?

That didn’t align with the goblins’ aesthetic sense at all.

‘Could monsters also have a fetish for ugliness?’