Chapter 47
Chapter 47
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: Tailored Suit and Tense Encounter
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1
“It suits you perfectly.”
An elderly gentleman with snow-white hair, dressed in a sharp suit, smiled warmly.
Bearing the weight of years, he put away his measuring tape and stroked his chin.
“The jacket should be a two-button style. A clean single-button vest would pair well with it. Please choose a tie pin from these.”
The old man presented a case neatly arranged with tie pins.
Ahaha, ahahaha. My mouth let out an awkward laugh, but my hand refused to move.
We were just supposed to go shopping for clothes.
So why had I been dragged so naturally to a tailor shop?
He was casually getting a suit fitted.
After selecting the lining and buttons so effortlessly, I zoned out for a moment.
The reflection in the mirror felt utterly foreign.
A sharp gray suit with defined edges fit my body like a glove.
The shirt was thick yet soft. The vest over it hugged my frame firmly, and the jacket looked straight-lined yet felt completely comfortable.
The clothes themselves were exquisite.
It was just that I’d never had occasion to wear something like this before, so it felt awkward.
This was the first time in my life I’d personally chosen the fabric, let alone the jacket lining and buttons, for a custom-made suit.
The design was similar to a uniform, but it was entirely different.
In Winizden, custom-ordered clothes like this were typically attire for high-ranking mages.
They weren’t mere decorations but special suits imbued with all sorts of effects.
Of course they’d be expensive.
I didn’t even want to know the price.
“I recommend this simple tie pin.”
Noticing my frozen state, the old man astutely suggested one.
I nodded stiffly, and just as I was pinning it on… Choco was swinging a staff gripped in her front paw back and forth beside me.
For some reason, not just me—Choco had new clothes too.
A cape embroidered with stars, a witch’s hat, and a staff topped with a star-shaped ornament.
It looked like a kid’s magician set, but it suited Choco surprisingly well.
“Hm, it looks good on you. No issues for the conference. Your craftsmanship is impeccable as always, Master.”
“You flatter me. It’s only possible because the original is outstanding.”
The old man smiled kindly at Bailey’s praise.
In the meantime, Choco trotted over to Bailey and poked her knee with the staff.
“Ah, of course you look great too, Choco.”
Only then satisfied, Choco placed both paws on her hips and puffed out her chest.
She’d clearly be engrossed in magician play instead of knight games for a while.
“How would you like the additional options?”
“We’ll match it to the occasion. Add everything possible. Oh, and expedited order?”
“Of course. About an hour?”
“As expected of the Master. We’re on the same wavelength.”
How do you custom-make a suit in an hour?
If that thought crossed your mind, you’re still bound by common sense.
This was a fantasy world, a broken one with a few screws loose somewhere.
With magic, an hour was more than enough to craft a bespoke suit.
“Alright, Master. Prep it right away?”
“Certainly. We’ll handle the payment here.”
At the word “payment,” my hand twitched involuntarily.
I should at least find out how much.
Not knowing might be worse…
I sidled up to Bailey as she went to pay.
And the price I heard was…
…
…
Fine, pretend I didn’t hear that!
This suit cost more than the federal activity funds I’d blown through in Bayford without a care—and I know nothing about it!
I barely clung to consciousness to avoid fainting.
In that moment, hearing Choco’s outfit price had completely blanked me out too.
But Bailey paid without batting an eye.
“Then, let’s proceed with the finishing touches.”
Dazed, I let the old man lead me back in front of the mirror.
He carefully removed the pre-tailored fabric.
Having someone dress me for the first time, and witnessing such an exorbitant sum spent so casually—it made my hands tremble.
Paying out that kind of money without a second thought. Just how loaded was Bailey?
This wasn’t something that could end as a mere mental debt.
It was way beyond what I could handle.
Ah, whatever.
She insisted on buying it, so I’ll just not think about it.
As long as I don’t feel indebted, there’s no debt.
Still, since she bought the clothes, I’ll behave at the conference.
Once it’s over, I’ll bolt without looking back.
2
The conference hall hosting the academy event was utterly conventional.
A stage for presentations took up the front of the vast hall.
The remaining space featured a buffet of simple finger foods and desserts, with several round tables arranged for comfortable enjoyment.
Expensive chandeliers on the ceiling scattered light, while waiters wove between tables carrying trays of champagne.
“I’m Drey Hoyman, handling the final presentation.”
By the time I’d rushed to get the suit fitted and arrived, the presentations were already winding down.
The man on stage appeared to be about 18 or 19, with blond hair.
His height matched mine, but his build was slighter.
Unlike his curly blond hair, his features were sharply defined.
He had the look of a natural mage.
“The core of this presentation is my new theory on energy supply. Energy sourcing has always been a hot topic. If we could secure energy more stably than now, it’s clear the entire continent’s quality of life would improve. To achieve this, I’ve developed a new theory inspired by the sun…”
His delivery was smooth for his age.
Capping off the conference, his confident speech and complex theory discussion… He must be some kind of genius.
Drey Hoyman.
I racked my brain, but the name didn’t ring a bell.
No helping it.
I’d sunk hundreds of hours into the Broken World, but most of that was sightseeing.
I didn’t know every detail outside the main story or setting guides.
Especially side stories like this, unmentioned in the main plot—I had no way of knowing them.
“Yawn…”
Strip away the mysticism, and magic was ultimately science.
Specialized science talks in an uninteresting field made the perfect sleeping pill.
Listening to jargon about theoretically infinite energy had me yawning.
I covered my mouth, but it wasn’t polite, so afterward I clenched my teeth to stifle them.
The presentation ended shortly.
Drey Hoyman bowed and stepped down.
Now it was time for free networking; everyone rose from their seats.
I slipped out amid the clusters chatting in groups.
Might as well enjoy some desserts and champagne while I’m here.
“Quite an enlightening session.”
“Yes, though I wondered about that last presentation…”
“Our technology should improve the continent’s life? Why should we chosen ones step up for the worthless masses?”
“Heh, Drey the mage is still young. We were all like that once.”
“Even so, presenting unproven theory as fact? The conference has really gone downhill.”
Unwanted snippets of conversation drifted in.
Groups gossiping, as expected.
So the “open exchange of ideas for progress” was just a facade.
“I’ll wander around alone for a bit. Gotta greet some boring folks.”
“See you soon.”
I parted ways with Bailey briefly.
Sipping champagne, I felt a piercing gaze prickling my cheek.
I glanced over.
For some reason, Drey Hoyman was glaring at me.
Our eyes met, and he strode over, speaking in a thorny tone.
“I’m Drey Hoyman, disciple of Ian Kellergar, top mage of the Third Magic Tower.”
“…Theo Agrit, disciple of Professor Bailey.”
Ian Kellergar’s disciple?
I’d heard that name.
One of the continent’s greatest mages.
“A new face.”
“Not a mage…”
“Was my presentation that boring?”
His biting remark explained Drey’s prickliness.
Some stranger shows up late to my hard-prepared talk, yawns through it—anyone would be offended.
“This conference is an honored gathering. Such boorish behavior tarnishes your master’s reputation. Mind yourself next time.”
Drey stormed off without waiting for a reply.
I gritted my teeth, but… surprisingly, it was advice.
Maybe the guy wasn’t so bad?
“Theo, come here for a sec?”
Bailey’s voice called from afar.
A hassle, but I headed over with Choco.
3
Drey Hoyman was a genius.
Entering the Third Magic Tower at a young age, he shattered records left and right.
Youngest enrollee, youngest perfect score on evaluations, youngest published paper…
Not only the youngest disciple of top mage Ian Kellergar, but also the youngest presenter in conference history.
His talent shone like light itself.
But light attracts bugs.
Many in the Third Magic Tower resented Drey Hoyman.
Assigning him the closing presentation was likely their scheme.
Dumping the crucial finale on him to make him crumble under pressure.
Knowing this, Drey steeled himself for a flawless delivery.
His new theory was revolutionary enough to upend the continent if proven.
‘Yawning during that…’
The problem arose from an unexpected source.
Theo Agrit, yawning midway through the presentation.
The blatant dismissal boiled Drey’s blood.
Once heated, everything about Theo Agrit grated.
Similar height but a sturdier build, a cold demeanor indifferent to the world, sharp black eyes scanning and assessing—everything scraped his nerves.
If not mid-presentation, he might’ve clutched his neck.
But finishing the talk came first, so he endured.
He held back purely for the presentation.
Thus, snapping at Theo Agrit emotionally afterward was inevitable.
He knew it was a mistake.
A mage must always stay calm.
Getting swayed by emotions makes one half a mage.
He recognized it as venting frustration.
Voices around had echoed, dismissing his meticulously prepared talk as baseless fantasy.
‘Apologize, I guess…’
Admit fault, apologize—it’s common sense.
He knew, but his feet wouldn’t move.
The pride of being the Tower’s youngest genius was his shield.
“Theo, come here for a sec?”
Meanwhile, Theo was summoned by Bailey.
Bailey Slivia, a rising star dubbed the next Tower Lord.
In hindsight, Theo had called himself her disciple.
What was their connection?
Drey’s ears perked instinctively.
“This is Theo. A spatial magic aptitude holder, no less.”
Bailey’s words to the other mages froze Drey.
Spatial magic, a legendary art said to exist only a millennium ago.
Theo Agrit held its aptitude?
‘Un… unfair…’
The world was unfair.
But rationally, it wasn’t his place to complain—his hands just trembled.
‘But… of all people, him for spatial magic…’
The issue wasn’t worldly unfairness.
Proving Drey’s new theory required spatial magic indispensably.
He’d planned to restore or mimic it after theorizing.
But now, no need.
A true aptitude holder could enable proof.
Yet their first meeting? Drey had snapped irritably while desperate to build rapport.
His gut screamed failure; his hands shook harder.
He knew he should apologize.
If mere venting, he’d have done so coolly, but considering cause and effect, Theo started it, right?
Apologizing now?
Regardless of fault, it’d look like bowing to a millennium’s miracle aptitude holder out of pride.
Either way, impossible.
Faced with the insoluble dilemma, Drey covered his face with his hands.
“Ah, Drey. Mind joining us if you’re free?”
Then Bailey called him.
At the summons from a distant senior, Drey splashed his face and nodded.
‘It’s not because of that guy. Bailey-senior called me. Of course, that’s it.’
With elaborate self-justification in his head, Drey approached Theo.