Chapter 152

As I lounged around with nothing to do during the free time, the weekend crept up on me.

The weekend was the day I was supposed to buy my outfit, as promised. So, I arrived at the plaza just in time for our meeting.

“Ah, there they are!”

“Shivar! Over here! Here!”

When I reached the meeting place, everyone was already there except for me, and ten minutes were still left until our scheduled time.

I waved my hand as I walked towards Eli and the others who were happily greeting me. They were all the people we had agreed to meet beforehand.

‘Hmm. It seems I’m the only guy among all these girls.’

And not just any girls, but they all looked like stunning beauties. Even their personalities were distinct.

It’s no wonder rumors were circulating. After all, two of them even made quite a splash during the Final Exam when they went boom! with their stamps.

Fortunately, there was no awkward tension in the air, but I couldn’t shake off the fluttering in my chest. It seemed like they didn’t care.

“Did you eat yet?”

“Yeah, I had a meal with Rize.”

“What did the Saint give you?”

“Meat.”

Rize usually took care of most meals. But soon, she’d be returning to Byzantium.

Once she leaves for Byzantium, I’d have to handle meals on my own. Not that I’d mind since I’m interested in cooking.

I had already added various herbs for flavor while living in the forest. If anything, civilization surely has even more spices.

“Eli, I think it’ll be tough to adjust your clothes right away. They’ll probably need to be custom-made, which will take too long.”

“Eh? Why’s that?”

“Think about it while putting your hand on your chest.”

“Ah. I get what you mean.”

As we made our way to the clothing store, we chatted about this and that.

The Final Exam was over, and the only task left was the freshman’s banquet.

Everyone shared rudimentary plans for what they wanted to do during vacation.

“What are you planning to do during vacation, Grace? Are you heading back to your family?”

“Probably. I’d love to stay, but my position doesn’t allow it. Eli, you’re staying, right?”

“Yeah. It takes me a month to get back home.”

“… Where exactly do you live?”

“In Baton-to Village.”

“…?”

Some funny moments arose, especially the conversation between the noble Grace and the commoner Eli.

Grace came from a Duke’s family, second only to the Emperor in authority, while Eli was from a rustic village even more remote than Luna’s home.

Maybe that’s why it was amusing to hear a conversation that felt both connected and disconnected. Plus, both of them were picks of Chaos.

“So, Grace, you won’t be able to hang out with Shivar during vacation then?”

“Y-yeah. That’s the part that bothers me the most…”

“It’s okay! Seeing Shivar’s face every day is nice but seeing family isn’t so bad either, right?”

“…”

There are cases where someone can be clueless, though.

Currently, family for Grace was nearly as distant as strangers. It was like stepping on a landmine.

Of course, Eli probably intended that as comforting. She couldn’t help it, not knowing any better.

“… I’ll just have to sneak out.”

[Faith is increasing!]

I’m already feeling uneasy about this. As expected from the followers of the Chaos.

I sensed that the world was full of chaos. And combining that with Luna’s chatter would just be icing on the cake.

Fortunately, Luna remained tight-lipped, seemingly having nothing to say.

“Luna, you’re planning to go to Byzantium during vacation, right?”

“Hmm? Ah, yeah. I’ll go with Shivar. Want to join?”

“No, I’m okay. Gathering herbs during vacation can be tough. With Ratatosk around, I won’t be in danger. What about you, Kara?”

“Of course! Even if it’s not Shivar, I’ve always wanted to visit at least once.”

For the record, Tartar has a very favorable view of Byzantium. Their recognition as a country largely came from the aid of Byzantium.

Byzantium is the only place where a Temple, not just a church or altar, has been established. If someone has sufficient faith, they can receive prophecy directly from God.

As is often the case with religiously inclined nations, Byzantium is definitely a neutral country. Plus, its tolerance is broad enough to accept anyone who isn’t a heretic.

“Speaking of which, Tartar also recognizes Gulrak as its state religion, right? At least you won’t hear any discriminatory remarks there.”

“That’s what I like best. Whether you’re a barbarian or whatever, being religious is enough to get by.”

There’s a phrase used to describe Byzantium: the most non-discriminatory nation in the world.

If you believe in Gaia, Chaos, or Gulrak, it doesn’t matter who you are. Everyone is welcomed with open arms.

This aspect was evident in Tartar’s process of being recognized as a country. Hector himself showcased Gulrak’s power when he visited Byzantium.

While it might have seemed like a display of force, Byzantium rather coolly just ‘acknowledged’ it. Rumor has it that they gave a few harsh words in return.

“I assume there’s a Temple for Chaos, too? Shouldn’t Shivar go there?”

“You can ask the Saint. She probably knows more about religious matters than we do.”

“Right now, let’s focus on getting Shivar’s clothes fitted. We’ve almost arrived.”

As we chatted, we soon reached the clothing store, located on the bustling street filled with various shops.

The Academy has originally been an educational institution, but as it grew, all sorts of odd buildings were incorporated into the layout. So, it has everything.

Ding—

“Welcome! How may I assist you?”

“I’d like to fit this gentleman’s formal attire. Do you have anything suitable? You don’t need to worry about the price.”

Oh wow.

To say I didn’t need to worry about money felt so sweet. As a noble, the elegance just rolled off me.

As the employee heard Grace’s request, her eyes sparkled before shifting her gaze to me. Then she quickly scanned me from top to bottom.

“What a charming gentleman! Got it. Do any of the others want something?”

“Is there formal attire that would fit me?”

“The lady… um…”

While I passed over the inquiries smoothly, the employee was hesitating when it came to Eli.

The employee’s gaze was fixed firmly on Eli’s chest. It was a face so stuck on the problem it looked like her head was going to burst.

At least she was a woman, so it would have been tragic if she wasn’t, lest she be mistaken for a perv.

“… Let me check both your body types first. Please come this way?”

“Sure. What about you, Luna?”

“… I’ll do mine later.”

Luna responded while glancing at Eli’s chest. Then she looked down at her own chest.

Honestly, I felt kind of sorry and wanted to cheer her up.

“Luna.”

“Hmm?”

“Go get ‘em.”

“…”

So I actually said it. I could see her eyes twitching, as if I’d struck a nerve.

She looked like she wanted to punch me right away. Just like I thought, messing with Luna is always entertaining.

“Hmm… You’re quite tall, sir. And your shoulders are sturdy. What type of formal wear are you looking for?”

“I’d like something in black, please.”

Getting fitted wasn’t difficult for me. My body shape was within the human range.

The problem was Eli. Once the employee measured Eli’s chest with the tape, she gasped.

“Wow… Miss? Isn’t it uncomfortable for you?”

“I’m used to it, so I’m fine. Do you have clothes that would fit me?”

“I’m afraid it’ll need to be custom-made. We probably only have two sizes smaller than what you need.”

“Even that would…”

“The dress would burst.”

Eli quickly gave up. In the end, she decided to attend in casual clothes.

After that, the employee brought out the formal attire for me, checking for any discomfort.

The upper part was fine, but there was an issue with the lower half. The pants were a bit short.

While I could have tailored the short hem, the biggest problem was the crotch area.

“… It’s too tight. Uncomfortable.”

“Y-yeah, I see…”

“It’s big. Ahem…”

I had no clue where this was made, but that area was particularly accentuated.

It was far from what I expected. Others were uncomfortable just witnessing this.

“Seems a little small, doesn’t it? Or is it just me?”

“I-I’m sorry. I must have made an error. Hohoho.”

Fortunately, it was determined to be small. As the employee returned with a different outfit, it fit perfectly.

Honestly, I wasn’t even that embarrassed. I had shown everything during the mid-term exam.

After they fitted me with the pants, Grace paid for it. The price was quite substantial, but she acted as if it were nothing.

“If you want anything, Luna, feel free to choose. As I said before, I’ll buy it for you.”

“Really?”

“Do I look like the kind of person who’d go back on my word?”

“Thank you! What should I pick?”

Luna seemed to be quite a girl after all. Seeing her choose and try on various dresses made that clear.

Or maybe she was more focused on the free part. Unlike me, she picked a white dress.

The delicate fit suited her slender figure beautifully, resembling a fairy.

Moreover, the design revealed her shoulders and back, giving her plenty of feminine charm.

‘Is this just a coincidence?’

It was the most opted-for dress among the users in the Soul World. I had chosen it, too.

People’s eyes all tend to be similar no matter where they are. And Luna’s fair skin matched perfectly with it.

“Thank you! Please come again!”

After buying all our clothes, we stepped out of the store. With plenty of time to spare, we decided to wander around.

I would probably return to the dorm only after dinner. We could chat about various things while we explored.

“Who’s attending the freshman banquet? I heard some high-ranking folks will be there?”

At that moment, Eli brought up a potentially sensitive topic — who would attend the freshman banquet.

Usually, it’s typical for only the freshmen to attend. But as banquets often go, they’re closely tied to politics.

Just the two of them, Grace and Kara, were in positions that couldn’t escape politics. Plus, other people aside from freshmen would likely attend.

“There will surely be many people. High-ranking officials from various countries will come. Think of it as an extension of the Benefactor’s support.”

“Do you know who’s coming from your country? Because as far as Tartar goes, it’s just me.”

“Well, I heard a rumor about the Crown Prince potentially attending…”

“The Crown Prince?”

Upon hearing the Crown Prince would attend, Kara’s eyes widened. The others reacted similarly.

I feigned indifference on the outside, but I was all ears. The Crown Prince of the Matra Empire needs some serious attention.

“Yes. It’s just a rumor, but given his track record, we can treat it as 99% likely. It’s just…”

Grace paused for a moment to scan the surroundings, as if she was checking if anyone was listening.

Fortunately, we were in a café, with our own private room rented out.

No one could overhear us, so Grace continued speaking candidly.

“… he’s a little insane.”

“I heard he’s a weirdo?”

“I can’t deny that.”

Even with Kara’s candid description, Grace didn’t refute it. She nodded in agreement, which indicated she accepted it.

Just hearing this wouldn’t paint a good first impression of the Crown Prince. However, he was a rather peculiar individual.

“Only by being deprived of freedom can one truly understand freedom. It’s a saying he often keeps on his lips, which doesn’t reflect well on him.”

“But I heard his abilities are exceptional.”

“That’s the biggest problem. Just how unsettling that can be…”

After that, Grace turned to look at me. Her eyes conveyed the concern she felt deeply.

“I really hope he doesn’t take an interest in Shivar… That might be troublesome.”

“Given the things he’s done, it’d be hard for him to not be interested.”

There’s no need for her to worry too much. It’s true the Crown Prince is a nutcase, but at least he can communicate.

Rather, it’s another person who poses more of a problem. The one causing trouble isn’t the Crown Prince.

There’s a high chance of friction with Kara, especially with those coming from the eastern country.

‘Looks like I’m going to be busy.’

Seems there won’t be any days of rest. That’s what I thought to myself.

“By the way, Grace, what kind of outfit are you planning to wear for the banquet?”

“Well…”

Grace, who said that, looked at me and smiled sweetly. Her fierce gaze softened, leaving behind a refreshing smile.

The subtle blush on her cheeks suggested she was preparing something special.

“You can look forward to it. I’m putting my all into it.”

I remembered her wearing a simple dress in the Soul World.

But from what she said, it seemed it wouldn’t be ordinary this time.

‘Will it be similar to Kara’s dancer attire? Maybe even better?’

It probably wouldn’t be that extravagant.