Chapter 166
Chapter 166
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 166
Chapter Title: 47-4. Their Possessiveness is Strong
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Walk straight out of Grand Hearts Academy, and you'll come across a clothing store.
"Welcome. This is the [Atelier of Spiders]."
The shop was run by a noblewoman in a golden dress, her hair pinned up elegantly.
This place belonged to an owner who resembled a gleaming golden tarantula.
"Whoa, Kainel... these are all dresses?"
"...I didn't expect this much variety."
It was originally a place where you could change your appearance.
"I'm the proprietor here, Rackne. Please feel free to browse."
An NPC that every village had at least one of. In this game, she was the golden version.
"Let's pick one out each."
Because of her similar appearance, players commonly called her and her kind the Spider Sisters.
The one I frequented was the Black Widow Spider.
"Oh my, you're students from the Academy."
Rackne, with her multiple arms, beamed at us.
Clack, clack. The sound of her heels echoed as the spider woman approached slowly.
"If only you didn't have that helmet... it might look a bit better."
"Can't remove it, unfortunately."
In the game, I'd come here to match outfits with characters. Couple looks are great, right?
"...Licht."
"What's up, Pine?"
That was when it happened. Tug. Pine pulled at my sleeve.
It felt like a magnet drawing in its opposite—a tiny, cute pull.
"You just had weird thoughts about that woman, didn't you...?"
Ugh, how'd she know? Pine glared at me fiercely as she spoke.
"No, never."
A lie slipped out. I'd been thinking of matching an outfit to the color of Pine's hair.
"...Liar."
The pressure shifted from my sleeve to my arm. She was grilling me now, holding on tight.
Blood flow to my arm felt cut off.
"I was just thinking of you, Pine..."
"...Really."
Only then did Pine release my arm. I hadn't lied. How does she always sense it in moments like this?
"Pine, what kind of dress would you like to wear?"
Come to think of it, what style would suit Pine? I'd prefer avoiding black if possible.
"Still deciding."
A short reply. She hadn't settled on one yet. As a princess, she might be choosing carefully.
"Ariel, isn't this one too fancy?"
"Why? I've always wanted to try something like this!"
Ariel slipped into a subtly shimmering crimson dress.
The elf, shedding her mage robes, looked captivating enough to draw everyone's eyes.
'...Not that one.'
But my impression was different.
Matching outfits by each other's colors was a sign of becoming lovers in this game.
It'd be better to match Kainel's hair or eye color.
"Miss Ariel. How about this one? It might suit you better."
I pulled a golden dress from nearby and held it out.
Not pure gold, but close to someone's hair color.
"Yeah, you wear a lot of reds anyway. I think that one's prettier too, Ariel."
"...Reaally?"
Kainel smiled softly at his girlfriend beside him.
"Wait for me, Kainel!"
Nice one, Kainel.
With the golden-haired hero's approval, Ariel snatched the dress from my hands.
"...."
Pine bit her lower lip watching it. She looked dissatisfied.
"Licht."
"...What's wrong, Pine."
Pine stepped in front of me, blocking my view, and pulled my body close.
"Recommend a dress for me too."
I was planning to anyway. No need to grab my tie, Pine.
Lately, Pine Granasia found herself increasingly on edge about something.
'...I'm anxious.'
Whenever Licht got involved with another woman, her heart ached like it was freezing over.
Poke. Like an ice pick stabbing her.
Even entering this clothing store for the first time had felt that way.
"For a white dress, I'd recommend the one with frills. Black Knight, sir."
The shop owner smiled at Licht in his pristine white Academy uniform.
"Ah, thank you."
Earlier, when he'd touched his visor, all sorts of thoughts had exploded in her mind.
Don't touch it. Don't show your face to any other woman but me.
"Pine, how about that one...?"
"...No."
That's why she'd grabbed his sleeve to stop him. And now he was even without his helmet.
The reason Pine was deliberately sulking toward Licht right now was the same.
Unwanted thoughts kept surfacing.
Delusions of Licht abandoning her for another woman, laughing and chatting with her, tormented Pine.
"Licht, what about this?"
"Black might be a bit..."
Licht shook his head at Pine in the backless black dress.
"...Be honest."
"It doesn't match your hair, Pine."
She'd clearly seen his neck flush while looking at her just moments ago. His words and actions didn't match.
'Of all colors, white...'
Pine recalled a scene from a romance novel she often read.
The black-dressed sub-heroine stealing the fiancée's place.
What if Licht had a hidden fiancée?
It made sense—the tragic heroine from the novel Pine read wore a pure white dress.
'Why am I like this...'
Once a small suspicion arose, a sharper pain than any sword cut stabbed from inside her ribs—cold and agonizing.
She'd endured far worse training her swordsmanship. Why this?
"Pine, just try this one on once."
"...."
Licht was holding out a cute frilled dress, pleading. Normally, she'd happily accept.
"Yes, it would look amazing on a student like you."
She hated the woman saying that from behind Licht. She'd gotten mad earlier watching him recommend for Ariel too.
"Pine, won't you even grant this request?"
Noticing her pout, he gently stroked her hair.
"Nooo..."
He'd lifted his visor, showing his face only to Pine.
"I really want to see you in a white dress..."
His fingers tickled her wolf ears as he petted them. She resented how well he knew her.
'...Such a playboy.'
He seemed to know exactly what wolfkin liked and disliked.
"Fine, Licht..."
In the end, Pine surrendered. She returned to the changing room and donned the pure white dress.
The dress Licht picked had cute decorations, as if chosen with care for her.
"...How do I look?"
Pine Granasia, pure white from head to toe, like the first snow from the heavens.
"Licht...?"
Aside from the Manarose ornament from him, she was flawless white.
Thud. Licht froze at the sight of her.
"...Is it weird?"
"Ah. Uh, well..."
No answer. His face reddened like boiling water.
"P-Pretty... really."
The words came out mangled, like he'd bitten his tongue. Anyone would think he meant the opposite.
"Hehe, what's with that reaction? It is weird, right?"
"No, really... beautiful."
Pine felt awkward at this new reaction from Licht. Why over just a white dress?
Tears welled slightly. They said you'd get punished for crying then laughing.
"Pine, all dressed up!"
Just as Pine started suspecting that minor detail, Ariel called her.
"Ariel, watch your step."
"Hehe, you look stunning too, Pine!"
The elf mage beside her wore a dress matching the hero's hair color.
Anyone could see they'd attend the ball as partners.
'I wish I could wear black too...'
Pine clenched her fist, expressing her disappointment.
This ball invitation stemmed from Pine's possessiveness, but also...
Her own consideration—to make him not worry about trivial burn scars.
A few days later, he'd be the princess's partner. Who would dare mock or point fingers?
"Licht, could you help with this...?"
Twitch. Pine perked her ears and tail, whispering to him as a good idea struck.
"Pine, this is a choker...?"
A black choker. She shoved the item bought in the wolfkin village right in front of Licht's eyes.
"If not a black dress, then at least this."
"A ring would be better, Pine."
He mentioned another accessory, looking at her shaking her head vigorously.
"No, please... Licht."
But Pine didn't back down. She placed the choker firmly in his hands with both of hers.
Making it impossible for him to refuse.
"...Alright. Turn around."
Pine gathered her hair up with both hands. Her slender neckline exposed clearly.
Thump, thump. Her heartbeat pounded louder than ever.
Click. The metallic sound echoed in the shop.
"There. All done, Pine."
A slight tightness around her neck. Pine slowly touched the choker.
The exact color of Licht's hair. Just knowing her precious person had fastened it made it special.
"...Hehe."
While the hero couple matched accessories far off, Pine felt relief.
She already had the amethyst ring. What more were they picking? Back then too, Licht bought for everyone but her.
'Now, I have this too.'
A comforting sensation like when she'd hugged Licht spread through her body.
In the mirror, Pine's face smiled differently from before.