Chapter 223: Rest (6)
Chapter 223: Rest (6)
Entrusting one's aesthetics to someone else's hands.
It was truly a lamentable state of affairs, but thinking back, I was the same way when I was a newbie.
I used to frequently post comments like "What outfit is that?" on the screenshots of veterans showing off their avatars.
Back then, I didn't know what clothes existed, what looked good, or even how the basic dyeing system worked.
There was one veteran player who helped me out quite a bit during those days.
Thanks to them, I—who had just finished my first playthrough and was lurking around the strategy forums—successfully made my debut into the world of cosmetics obsession.
…It would have been a wonderful memory if that person hadn't turned out to be a guy posing as a girl.
Even now, I shudder when I recall the soap opera (involving only men) that included the administrator and served as the catalyst for the official forum’s total meltdown.
"Dear? Why are you suddenly shivering? The sun is out, and it’s not even cold."
"It’s nothing. I’m fine now."
I shook my head to bury those past memories in a corner of my brain and turned my gaze toward Elisha’s eyes, which were as clear as the blue sky.
"Anyway, you wanted me to pick out a swimsuit for you, right?"
"Oh? I didn't say that, but I’d be grateful if you did."
Having reached the rank of Intermediate Magician, Elisha’s confidence was currently soaring through the roof. She struck a subtle pose.
One leg half a step forward, shoulders squared, left hand on her hip, and right hand behind her head.
To put it simply, it was a pose that emphasized her chest and the lines of her legs.
For someone who claimed she didn't say anything, she sure was quick to show off her body.
I let out a small chuckle, looked her over carefully, and then spoke.
"Elisha, why don't you try this one on?"
"This is… huh?"
Elisha’s mouth hung open as she took the slingshot swimsuit I handed her. Before long, a sense of betrayal began to well up in her blank eyes.
"You! You said being erotic and looking good on someone are two different things!"
"Hmm. I did say that. But this does look good on you."
"Are you saying that such lewd clothes suit me better?!"
"Exactly. However, I’m not saying lewd clothes suit you; I’m saying clothes that reveal your body suit you. There’s a world of difference between the two."
"…Why don't you explain exactly how they're different?"
Elisha crossed her arms and put on a grumpy expression. Was she warning me that she’d sulk if she didn't like my answer?
But I had made this decision with total sincerity.
"Elisha, you know your body is beautiful, and you take a certain pride in that."
"Ugh…."
Was she embarrassed to hear it directly? The back of Elisha’s neck turned bright red, and her momentum faltered slightly.
"It’s only natural. You probably grew up among elves, a race that is fundamentally slender."
High Elves are born with a massive amount of vitality, and as a result, their already long lifespans become even longer.
If they are born with an especially large amount of vitality, they either develop well like Elisha or stop aging altogether like Iris.
"A voluptuous figure and a nose held high as if the world belongs to you. Plus, that confident attitude of yours—in a good way, of course. Naturally, wouldn't clothes that actively reveal your curves suit you best?"
"I-Is that so?"
Elisha stared intently at the swimsuit with an intrigued expression. Good. She’s halfway convinced.
Actually, I had been thinking for quite a while that a slingshot would look good on Elisha.
Just imagine it. Elisha, wearing a swimsuit that was little more than V-shaped strings, puffing out her chest and laughing her signature "Ohoho!"
Unfortunately, H&A didn't have the usual character costume DLCs, and for some reason, user-made skins couldn't be applied either.
I had spent many days in the past daydreaming: If a swimsuit DLC ever comes out, what would the design be? Is it finally coming out this time? Just take my money and give me the swimsuits!
I had my fair share of drinking the Kool-Aid back then, but finally, the opportunity to dress her myself had arrived.
Patience pays off…!
A gentle smile spread across my face from the sense of pride and satisfaction welling up from deep within.
"W-What is it? Why are you making that weird face… Did you really want to see me wearing this that badly?"
"Yeah. I’d even like you to change into it right now if possible."
"No matter how much you ask, changing in such an open space is a bit…."
"It was just a figure of speech. Change into it later with the others and show me."
"If that’s the case, then fine."
Elisha nodded and clutched the slingshot swimsuit to her chest. As she stepped aside next to Carla, Iris hopped into her spot as if filling the void.
"Master! What about me? Hmm? What kind of clothes do you think would suit me?"
"This."
Without a moment’s hesitation, I held up a one-piece swimsuit.
"…Shouldn't you put a bit more thought into it?"
"Thought has nothing to do with it… this is the only option left."
Since I had bought fairly expensive items, they were naturally enchanted with a size-adjustment function, but even that had its limits.
At most, it could transform to fit a body type; it couldn't make an adult’s clothes fit a child.
I held up a reasonably sized bikini top to Iris’s chest.
It shrank down, but at a certain point, the size remained fixed. It was as if the garment itself was insisting that this was its minimum limit… and yet, it was still a bit loose on Iris.
"Uggghhh…."
Iris took the one-piece swimsuit, trembling with rage and humiliation.
Well… maybe a micro-bikini with a small surface area would have worked somehow, but that already had a designated owner.
"Professor Iona, this is for you."
"Heh. Heh. So, Student Yandel, you wanted to put me in something that would show everything if I made even the slightest slip-up?"
"Yes. I thought that Professor Iona, who can control her every movement, would be able to pull off such a risky outfit."
"…It’s no fun when you admit it so coolly."
Iona pouted as if her fun had been spoiled and took the micro-bikini. With that, everyone’s swimwear was decided.
Should we tan our skin first, or play at the beach first?
I hadn't checked, but according to Fay, the cream wouldn't wash off even if we went into the water.
Maybe it’s possible to just apply the cream and tan naturally while playing?
I was busy making happy plans for what to do next when Fay, who had been hiding in the corner wearing only nipple patches and a thong, tugged on my finger.
"Junior… you thought this was the end, didn't you?"
"It is the end. Lady Helena is busy, so no one else is coming."
"No. There’s still one person left, right? And the most important one at that."
Lowering her voice meaningfully, Fay poured a large amount of men’s swimwear out of her subspace pocket.
"Why on earth do you have these?"
"Why? For the same reason as you, Junior."
Fay let out an ominous laugh, as if she had been waiting for this exact moment.
I thought it was strange… even if she had messed up, she had been far too compliant about putting on those nipple patches.
"Were you planning to make me wear something too?!"
"Bingo! Actually, I’ve been preparing this bit by bit ever since you brought up the tanning cream!"
"…That’s embezzlement of sponsorship funds."
"Oops."
Fay scratched the back of her head with an awkward expression. Every time she did, her breasts bounced with total abandon.
Since there was no underwear to hold them in place, they really moved that much….
While I was momentarily distracted by Fay’s chest, Iona approached from behind, slid her arms under my armpits, and locked her fingers behind my neck.
My body was suppressed in an instant. Fay’s lips curled into a wicked grin as she began to strip my clothes off.
"Hehehe… it’ll only take a second, so stay still, Junior!"
"Aaaagh! At least let me choose what I’m going to wear!"
"No way! I’ve already decided what to put on the current Junior, who looks a bit like a delinquent with that tanned brown skin!"
Fay pulled out a pair of slightly loose board shorts, an Aloha shirt, and a pair of sunglasses from the pile of clothes.
I recoiled at the suspicious combination and twisted my body, but….
Iona unfairly used her Blood Force, forcing me to surrender my back.
*
I carefully examined the man reflected in the mirror.
Pitch-black hair without a single stray strand. Purple eyes that symbolized nobility. But what if you added a strangely mischievous expression, solid muscles, and bronze-tanned skin to that?
The original impression was flipped on its head, completing the look of a scoundrel who would go around causing trouble, relying solely on his good family background.
And that guy was now wearing a floral-patterned Aloha shirt, sunglasses, and appropriately loose swim trunks.
"…It suits me damn well, unfortunately."
No matter who looked at it, I looked like a black-haired, tanned delinquent loitering around the beach.
I let out a deep sigh and stepped out of the villa. The women greeted me, as if I were the last one out.
Seeing them all in their different swimsuits, my previously gloomy mood suddenly brightened up.
"Now this is living."
I had suffered enough until now; I deserved to rest properly today.