Chapter 78: A Thousand Tricks To Flirt

The starship restaurant Daisy had so highly recommended really did live up to its reputation.

These travel ships all ran on fixed routes, and whenever they arrived at a new region or world, the ship’s buyers would head down to the surface to purchase the freshest local ingredients.

In the hands of witch chefs, these exotic ingredients from countless worlds were transformed into dishes that perfectly showcased their flavors.

Some followed Western techniques, highlighting the natural taste of the ingredients.
Some used Eastern cooking styles, harmonizing and layering flavors.
And then there were the truly unusual ones—like the fermented cuisine of the Kiliare Region.

Those looked terrible, smelled worse—something between a swamp and a rotting carcass—but surprisingly, they tasted quite good.

Still, Jiang Cha couldn’t quite stomach it. She took only a few polite bites before setting her fork down.

Her sense of taste, rooted in her past life in Huaxia, demanded harmony in color, aroma, and flavor.
That fermented dish, though flavorful, failed the first two categories miserably.

“Hahaha! Huaxia witches really are so conservative,”
Daisy laughed loudly. “You’ll miss so many experiences that way.”

Daisy was from Iceland.
Fermented food was practically her neighbor’s national dish.
No wonder she found it easy to enjoy.

But her half-lidded gaze and teasing tone seemed to carry a double meaning.

“Maybe so,” Jiang Cha replied with a gentle smile,
“but the world’s big enough that missing a few things just means you have room to enjoy the ones that truly suit you.”

Her words, soft and poised, carried their own layer of meaning.

Everyone knew that battle witches were… liberal, in many senses.
They were the most uninhibited type of witch —
wild parties, “multi-participant music nights,” and all sorts of consensual chaos were practically commonplace.

Some even joked that “whoever moves first wins” —
especially when it came to bringing outsiders into their squads.

Daisy herself came from the Red Dragon family, famous for producing warrior witches — and equally famous for their fierce temperaments.
So her boldness was perfectly in character.

Smoking, drinking, flirting — those were her trademarks.
Witch tobacco, which boosted focus like a stimulant;
magical liquors from distant worlds that strengthened mana flow;
and, of course, a casual approach to romantic conquests.

She lit her pipe, inhaling the faint herbal scent with practiced ease —
looking every bit the image of a relaxed, confident woman.
But Jiang Cha could tell she was just trying to mask the awkwardness of being turned down.

The younger witch simply kept her polite smile.

Daisy’s teammates, however, had no intention of sparing her pride.

“Captain, stop pretending to be a suave flirt. You’re hopelessly straight,”
Misa said bluntly, grinning.
“You trying to charm a girl is like watching a swordfish trying to knit.”

“Cough—cough!”
Daisy choked on her smoke, almost turning red.
“Hey, I’m still practicing! Someday I’ll be able to win a girl over with just one look!”

Kelly, as usual, stayed silent — her cute, blank expression making it clear she wanted no part of this conversation.
But then, out of nowhere, she shot Jiang Cha a meaningful glance.

The girl caught on quickly.
Having finished her meal, she took the opportunity to stand and leave the restaurant —
its walls of pure light reflecting the breathtaking starstream outside.

“I thought you were the innocent type, Kelly-senpai,” Jiang Cha teased softly.
“Didn’t expect you to sneak off too.”

Kelly’s cheeks flushed pink. She said nothing, just looked up with wide, luminous eyes.
Then, as if remembering something, she stretched out a hand and traced the air before them.

A pulse of magic surged forward — a beam of light bursting into a dazzling explosion across the starry expanse outside.
It scattered like a shower of fireworks, coloring the silent corridor of the void with brilliant hues.

The silver-armored witch puffed her chest proudly, then wagged a finger in front of Jiang Cha’s nose,
her expression saying quite clearly: “Pretty, huh?”

“It’s beautiful,” Jiang Cha murmured, stunned.

The “fireworks” weren’t ordinary at all —
they were formed from pure mana, crafted with such delicate control that Jiang Cha could only stare in awe.
They were the most exquisite fireworks she had ever seen.

“Even so,” she added playfully, “I’m afraid I still can’t agree to spend the night with you, Senpai. I’m too young to give away my first time so easily.”

Kelly’s face went scarlet. She stomped her foot, glaring, flustered beyond words.

“I’m kidding,” Jiang Cha laughed softly.
“Thank you, though. Really.”

She extended her hand, smiling warmly — sincere gratitude in her eyes.

That little trick Kelly had just shown her wasn’t something you’d ever find in textbooks.
If Kelly hadn’t demonstrated it herself, Jiang Cha might never have learned it at all.

Kelly blinked, then smiled, reaching into her bag.
From it, she produced a book and held it up high.

The title read: “A Thousand Tricks to Flirt with Girls!”

She flipped to the “Confession” chapter and raised it like a shield, the book hiding most of her face —
only those bright, mischievous eyes peeking over the edge, twinkling as if to say:

“Don’t fall for bad women so easily! I only learned that move from a book!”

“Thanks,” Jiang Cha said with a playful tilt of her head.

Kelly had probably seen Daisy’s earlier attempt at seduction and decided to warn her —
worried that the inexperienced Jiang Cha might be swept off her feet by one of those worldly veterans.

Kelly nodded proudly, her face lighting up with a smile that was pure sunshine.

She really did seem pleased with herself.

Jiang Cha, of course, didn’t actually need the warning.
She might be young, but she wasn’t naïve.
Even if she ever did get caught up in her emotions,
her innate magic would pull her back to calm in an instant.

If anything, she was more likely to trick another girl than fall for one herself.

“So… do you have any more of those tips?” she asked with mock curiosity.

Kelly blinked, then shook her head rapidly.

“Alright,” Jiang Cha chuckled. “Then, could I borrow that book?”

Flirting guides weren’t exactly “useful knowledge,”
but curiosity was one of Jiang Cha’s strongest traits.

And there were still ten hours of travel left —
plenty of time to kill before they reached their destination.

Kelly just grinned, shoved the book into her arms,
and waved her hands like: “Don’t mention it — it’s yours now!”

“Thank you,” Jiang Cha said again, smiling softly.

Yes.
This strange, unpredictable journey —
it had definitely been the right decision to come along.