Chapter 575: First Date
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 575: First Date
I’d been lost in a marathon of sex with Ana since the early morning, and it was only around noon that I finally crept out of bed.
Of course, we had a brief round two in the bathroom afterward, but that couldn't be helped.
It wasn't that I lacked self-control.
It was that Ana was just too damn irresistible.
In any case, I carried Ana, whose hips were still trembling faintly, back to bed, and we made small talk for a while.
We would have to part ways for a bit soon, so this peaceful time felt incredibly precious.
“...The 3rd Circle?”
“Yes!”
As we chatted, I learned that Ana had reached the 3rd Circle.
At first, I found it hard to believe.
She was at the 1st Circle just the other day, and now she'd jumped two whole levels in a mere two days?
Sure, I had reached the 6th Circle in less than a year, but that was largely thanks to the app's help.
Ana, however, was growing at a much faster rate than even I had.
Is this even possible...?
Of course, the real test would be how quickly she could break through the wall of the 6th Circle, but Valentina had clearly stated that Ana's talent surpassed her own.
With an archmage's intensive private tutoring added to that talent, it seemed unlikely she would get stuck or struggle much, even when facing the walls of higher realms.
The thought that I would have to work relentlessly if I didn't want to be overtaken lingered in my mind.
Still, it's one hell of a motivator.
After getting out of bed, I took Ana into the city of Moscow by car, just as planned.
Perhaps because it was her first time in a city in 23 years, the nervousness was plain on her face as she gazed out the window.
But her excitement seemed to match it, as she couldn't tear her eyes away from the scenery outside.
After a thirty-minute drive down the open road...
“Whoa...”
Arriving in the heart of Moscow, Ana looked around, her mouth agape.
Her cute reaction made me chuckle in spite of myself.
Well, 23 years is enough time for a metropolis to spring up from an empty field.
To Ana's eyes, it must have looked as if the world had completely changed while she was confined to the mansion.
And as she stood there, people's gazes began to pour in her direction.
“Wow...”
“Am I... still drunk...?”
“Damn... that's unreal. Is she a model? Or an actress?”
“...I don't know about that, but one thing's for sure—I almost stopped breathing.”
“Would it be rude to ask for a picture...?”
“Of course it would. Besides, I don't think she's a celebrity. She has a face you'd never forget once you've seen it.”
A crowd had formed around us, drawn as if mesmerized by Ana's face.
It was large enough that an onlooker might have mistaken it for a street-side fan meeting.
“S-Sir Hyun-woo...”
Seeming burdened by the attention from strangers, Ana shrank back slightly and urgently clung to my arm.
The sight, which made us look for all the world like a couple, caused the crowd's murmuring to grow even louder.
I paid them no mind and wrapped my arm around Ana's shoulders as I usually would.
“...Fuck, I'm so jealous.”
Leaving behind the gazes of men filled with a mixture of envy, jealousy, and longing, I led Ana away from the spot.
Only then did she let out a sigh of relief.
Our next destination was a trendy Italian restaurant.
Thanks to my reservation, we didn't have to wait in line.
Moreover, I had booked a private room, so we didn't have to worry about prying eyes.
“How is it? Is it good?”
“Yes, it's delicious.”
I ordered every item on the menu and served Ana small portions of each.
Whenever she seemed to particularly enjoy a dish, I would gently slide it in front of her as we continued our meal.
I could just eat whatever was left over, so I wanted her to have as much of the tasty food as possible.
“And the restaurant's atmosphere is lovely, and I'm even happier that I get to be on a date with just you, Sir Hyun-woo.”
“I'm glad.”
Ana smiled, a genuine smile without a hint of pretense, and carefully set down her silverware.
I took out a napkin and gently wiped the sauce from the corner of her mouth.
“If there's anything you don't like, tell me anytime. I want to know all of your preferences.”
“...Okay.”
A faint blush crept onto Ana's cheeks.
For the past 23 years, a "meal" for Ana had been nothing more than soup, eaten once or twice a week.
Any other nutrients had to be supplemented with elixirs or potions.
As a Korean who believes a proper meal is everything, it was only natural for me to feel sympathy for her.
Normally, after 23 years of such a diet, one's digestive system would be severely weakened. But she, who carried the strong blood of the ice fairy tribe, had recovered in just two days to the point where she could digest solid food without any issue.
“Shall we go get dessert now? I heard there's a famous cupcake cafe nearby.”
“Cupcakes...!”
In that instant, Ana's eyes sparkled.
Her adorable reaction made the corners of my mouth lift.
Her love for sweet desserts made her seem just like a teenage girl.
After leaving the restaurant, we headed to the dessert cafe, where I once again ordered one of every item on the menu.
There was also a minor incident where I got an earful from Ana for trying to cut off only the parts with topping to give to her.
“You have to eat too, Sir Hyun-woo. I can't be the only one eating.”
“...I'm fine, really.”
“Well, I'm not fine. Besides, you said it yourself just a moment ago. That I should tell you if there's anything I don't like.”
“...”
“Here, say 'ah'.”
Ana held out a bite-sized piece of cupcake to me.
After a moment's hesitation, I accepted it.
Only then did she seem to cheer up, a soft smile gracing her lips.
“This one, too.”
Oh my god, it was an eggplant cupcake.
Should such a food even exist in this world?
...I should have just ordered the popular items.
I squeezed my eyes shut and accepted the cupcake.
“Heehee, being like this makes us feel like a married couple on a date.”
...Don't people usually say 'a couple'?
Ana blushed shyly and cut the next cupcake.
This time, it was a carrot cupcake.
My world went dark.
˙
˙
˙
Having lost all track of time while talking, we left the cafe and went for a walk to aid our digestion.
To avoid attracting unwanted attention, I used perception-hindering magic. As if she had been waiting for it, Ana immediately clung to my arm.
Anyone would have thought we were a couple.
I started walking toward a park I had looked up beforehand.
All the while, our small talk never ceased.
“...So, are you going back to Korea tomorrow, Sir Hyun-woo?”
“Yeah. I wasn't planning on staying in Russia for long anyway. I was going to leave after learning magic from Valentina for two or three days.”
“Ah...”
At that moment, a deep shadow fell over Ana's face.
Her eyes, looking at me, were filled with an unconcealable mix of anxiety, worry, and impatience.
“Th-then when will you be back...?”
“Well...”
As I stroked my chin and feigned ignorance, her eyes began to well up with tears.
I quickly wrapped my arms around her shoulders to soothe her.
“I-I'm just kidding. No matter what, I'll be back soon.”
“...Really?”
“Of course. Don't you trust me, Ana?”
“...”
Ana slowly shook her head and buried herself in my embrace.
But she seemed to be having a hard time composing herself, rubbing her face against my chest for a while without a word.
A wave of guilt washed over me.
There's a time and a place for jokes, and I had been clueless.
“...I'm sorry.”
I slowly stroked Ana's hair and looked up at the sky.
It seemed I would have to tell her that tonight.
*
As we spent time strolling through the park, it was suddenly 5 PM.
The sun was slowly beginning to set, so I hailed a taxi with Ana and headed to a department store in the city center.
No sooner had we stepped into the department store than seven employees bowed their heads in unison to greet us.
“Welcome, Great Mage. My name is Petya. I will do my utmost to ensure you have a comfortable shopping experience today.”
“Thank you for your help.”
I kept my arm around Ana's shoulder and followed them.
“S-Sir Hyun-woo, what is...?”
Ana, looking bewildered by the situation, clung tightly to my arm and glanced around.
For context, the Valentina family was once one of the wealthiest in all of Europe.
Though they were now semi-ruined, the family had been prosperous, at least until Ana was cursed.
And here was the sole heir of such a family, flustered by a situation like this.
Of course, in my eyes, she just looked adorable.
“I wanted to buy my girlfriend a few presents.”
“...What?”
“The clothes you're wearing today are Valentina's, right? You need to get some of your own.”
“...I'm fine, really.”
“Well, I'm not. And I have plenty of money, so don't worry about it and pick whatever you want.”
This department store had an alliance with the Magic Tower for all its security-related matters, so any mage of the 5th Circle or higher could receive treatment equivalent to a VVIP, even on their first visit.
A dedicated personal coordinator was waiting for us in the VIP lounge we arrived at shortly after.
“My name is Sofia, and I will be your personal coordinator, Mage Kang Hyun-woo. What kind of products are you interested in seeing today?”
“I'm fine. Could you show me clothes, shoes, and accessories that would suit my girlfriend? Oh, and a few bags as well.”
“Understood.”
Sofia subtly turned her head and gave a look, and the staff, as if on cue, began to bring in mobile clothing racks.
In an instant, the VIP lounge was filled with expensive merchandise.
Even to me, a complete novice when it came to women's clothing, every single item looked like it would suit Ana perfectly.
“Your skin tone is so fair that black would look stunning on you. This dress is a new arrival from Brand S. Would you like to try it on?”
“Wh-what? Ah, I... well...”
“How about this one? The design cinches the waist slightly, which will accentuate your figure. Plus, the fabric drapes naturally, creating a beautiful line when you move.”
“Oh... it's, it's pretty...”
“For shoes, I'd recommend flats rather than high heels. Your proportions are so good that heels might be a bit overwhelming. This pair, in particular, has a slim last, so it makes the line of your foot look very beautiful.”
“I-is that so...?”
“And since you have such a lovely neckline, a simple necklace design like this would suit you much better. Oh, and for a bag, I recommend the 20xx FW model from Brand N. It has a firm shape that helps anchor the whole outfit, and the storage compartments are well-organized, making it a very satisfying model for practical use.”
“...S-Sir Hyun-woo.”
Surrounded by the female staff, Ana finally sent me an SOS signal.
Perhaps because she had spent so long cooped up inside, Ana was extremely shy around strangers.
I smiled faintly, stood up, and walked over to the clothing rack.
“Hmm, how about you try this, and this, and put it together like this?”
“...What?”
For a moment, Ana's eyes wavered slightly.
As it was my personal choice, the outfit was quite revealing.
“...Is this kind of style your preference, Sir Hyun-woo?”
“Well... that's part of it, but more than that, I thought it would look great on you.”
“...”
Seemingly pleased by the surprise compliment, Ana blushed and headed for the fitting room.
In the meantime, I picked out a gift for Valentina with the help of a staff member.
About five minutes passed.
“Um... Sir Hyun-woo...”
“Hm? Are you done chang—”
“D-does it look good...?”
“...”
A sleeveless turtleneck sweater, tight short shorts, and thigh-high boots to top it off.
Paired with Ana's innocent looks, the destructive power of the outfit was off the charts.
As I admired the sight, I gave her a thumbs-up.
“Yeah, you look so fucking ho—I mean, it looks really good on you.”