However, Asta's speed, having opened the 'Gate of Opening', had more than doubled. Consequently, no matter how anxiously Noelle sweated to catch up, she couldn't keep pace.
"I can't catch up at all; I might as well just give up!" Noelle thought, pouting.
"Noelle, now I'll teach you another trick: never give up!" Seeing signs that Noelle was about to give up, Asta immediately spoke with boiling passion, as if possessed by Might Guy.
"W-what?" Noelle might not have even realized she had inadvertently shown an expression of wanting to give up, but now, after Asta's sudden dose of 'chicken soup' for the soul, she suddenly felt full of strength again.
"That's more like it. Even if you know it's impossible, you must seriously exceed your limits—that is youth!" Asta said, curling his lips. No wonder Might Guy loved encouraging people; it turned out that seeing someone about to give up regain their drive was such a satisfying thing!
And poor Little Noelle was thus constantly coaxed by Asta into exceeding her limits, right up until she eventually lost the race.
"I lost!" Noelle looked at the two dug-out river channels and admitted defeat.
"Then a bet is a bet!" Asta said, nimbly lying down on the knitted sofa, then signaled Noelle not to just stand there, but to hurry up!
"Fine, I'll massage you! But I've never massaged anyone before, I'm telling you that in advance!" Noelle pouted as she came to Asta's side.
"So this is Noelle's first time..." Asta said thoughtfully.
"So what if it's my first time! I learned the steps you used earlier!" Noelle said defiantly, then placed her small hands awkwardly on Asta's body.
"Hiss..." Asta instantly gasped, feeling goosebumps all over his body. This was also his first time being massaged by a girl; it felt light, soft, and quite comfortable!
"That's enough!" After massaging for a while, Noelle crossed her arms and said aggrievedly.
"Are your hands tired?" Asta asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Yeah!" Noelle nodded.
"Give them here!" Asta said, taking Noelle's hands without question, and then channeled a gentle stream of Chakra into Noelle's hands. Noelle instantly felt much better.
"Asta, is this your recovery magic? It's so amazing!" Noelle exclaimed.
"There's something even more comfortable than this, want to try it?" Asta smiled.
"What is it?" Noelle immediately became curious.
"That is, soaking your feet in hot water that challenges the limits of humanity!" Asta said seriously.
"L-limits?" Upon hearing this suggestion, Noelle's heart skipped a beat. Are you sure I won't be scalded to death?
"That's right. Now, let's fire a makeshift foot-soaking basin!" Asta finished speaking and took two large clumps of yellow clay from the dug-out river channel. He molded them into a foot basin with a hollow bottom, then performed a hand seal. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!" He spat it out, and soon the yellow clay became sturdy under the intense heat.
"Stupid Asta, you scared me!" Noelle was startled by the sudden burst of fire and retreated to the side, nearly falling over as she dodged.
"Don't worry. Now pour some water into it; I'm going to move the sofa!" Asta said, moving the sofa to his side, then looked at Noelle with excitement.
"I really give up on you!" Noelle reluctantly tossed two small water orbs into the foot basin. "What should I do next?"
"Watch me!" Asta said, spitting two small fireballs under the foot basin. Soon, the water in the basin began to steam. Then, Asta took out a bottle of recovery potion and dripped a few drops into the two basins. He looked at Noelle and said, "What are you still standing there for? Didn't you say your feet hurt? Soak them in here now, and I guarantee all your fatigue from the day will vanish!"
"Really?" Noelle asked in surprise.
"That's for sure!" Asta said, reaching out to take off Noelle's shoes, but Noelle hurriedly dodged in a panic.
"I'll do it myself!" Noelle said, blushing as she took off her shoes and socks, revealing her small feet, as fair as the moon. Asta noticed that the soles of Noelle's feet indeed had a few small blisters.
"It might hurt a little in a moment, but I've already added the recovery potion, so these small blisters will disappear soon!" Asta said with a smile.
"St-stupid! Why are you so concerned about me!" Noelle said, blushing.
"Because we're teammates!" Asta said, patting Noelle's thin little shoulder.
"Is it just that simple?" Noelle asked in surprise.
"Of course." Asta nodded.
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