Outing (1)
“What do you think of this?”
Rana emerged from the changing room, and I scowled the moment I saw what she was wearing.
“Try something else on.”
“Doesn’t it suit me?”
“Nope.”
Dark clothes just didn’t match her bright personality and looks. She’d insisted on trying them anyway, so I’d picked out what I thought might work okay, but it still looked off. The clerk clearly agreed, chiming in right away.
“That previous outfit suited you much better, miss. Your boyfriend’s got a good eye.”
“We’re not dating.”
“Oh, sorry about that, miss.”
“Hehe.”
Rana just grinned ear to ear for some reason.
“Just wrap up the ones I picked.”
“Right away, sir~”
The clerk grabbed the three outfits I’d chosen and headed to the back. Rana didn’t seem interested in buying anything else. Unlike typical nobles, she wasn’t wasteful, flashy, or vain—she only dressed up when it was truly needed.
“Here you go~.”
The clerk returned with the wrapped clothes. Rana handled the payment. The clerk narrowed her eyes suspiciously, but I didn’t have the cash to cover more, so I ignored it.
As Rana paid, my gaze drifted downward to her shoes. They weren’t worn out, but they were caked in dirt. She visited the Contract Land every single day without fail, trudging over that muddy ground. It’d be weirder if they stayed clean. The dorm maids cleaned them, but that wasn’t enough to scrub off the deep grime.
Her size was 240, right?
I scanned the display of shoes and picked one similar in style and size to what she had on.
“Huh? Kyle, what’s up?”
“Take those off and put these on.”
She just stood there blankly, so I knelt down and swapped them for her myself. Perfect fit, and they actually looked good. Not for casual wear, maybe, but great with her uniform.
“Ho ho, good call~”
“Whatever. Just ring it up.”
I wasn’t about to play along with the clerk’s fake sales act.
“All done? Let’s go.”
“Uh, yeah? O-okay…”
And with that, we left the clothing store.
“Thanks, Kyle…”
“Then keep ’em clean. No messing them up.”
“Got it!”
It was already 3 p.m. We’d just eaten and done a bit of shopping, but time had flown by.
“Enough playing around. Let’s hit Dessert Kingdom.”
Everything sold out by 4 there.
“I wanna hang out more…”
“Don’t forget why we came out today. And we can always do it again.”
“We’re going out again? With me?”
“Yeah. Now come on—get too late and the whole outing’s wasted.”
“Okay!”
Her cheerful voice rang out as we headed to Dessert Kingdom.
The rest went smoothly. I thought we’d miss the cakes, but they let us snag some after learning they were for regular customer Ruina Lindel—with a delivery request thrown in. Essentials from a decent shop, magic tools at a discount from a place Rana knew well. Then off to Ruina Lindel’s workshop.
“This is the last time.”
Gifts and delivery cake arrived together, so she grudgingly let Rana in. With conditions: no knocking on the workshop door.
“Sorry, senpai…!”
And one more: no hugging. Delivered with utter disgust on her face.
That wrapped up workshop business. We grabbed dinner with Rana and chatted casually before parting ways.
Back at the dorm, I sorted my purchases. Then I headed out, chopped wood into planks, returned, and started repairs.
Ripped up the floorboards, nailed down fresh-cut ones to spec. About an hour of hammering later, all the damaged spots were fixed.
“Colors don’t match perfectly, but it’ll do.”
No time or resources to match shades exactly.
Next: windows and curtains. No pre-made frames, so I bought solid glass sheets.
“Hoo…”
Sword in hand, stance set. 50cm wide, 100cm tall—eyeballed it. Four clean swings.
Perfect cuts, no shattering. Removed the old window, fitted the new one. Lucked out on size—no redo needed. Hung the curtains last, and boom: a window worth looking at.
“Finally…!”
I was overcome. The room finally felt like a room. Living in this filthy dump had been hell—sometimes roughing it outside seemed better.
“That’s enough for today.”
Small stuff could wait. The bed was dusty but usable. Tossed the trash messing up the place, cleaned up, and crashed.
“Yeah, this is it.”
Cozy vibe now. Repairs even improved the smell. But joy was short-lived—I dove into the immediate problem.
Rustle. Pulled the note from my pocket and unfolded it.
[Cuckoo's Shelter]
The only line written. Probably the meetup spot.
“What a pain.”
Painfully so. Could ignore it and ghost them, but no dice. This was Kyle Arden’s karma.
Bullied students. Faked grades. Trafficked drugs. All my sins.
But weird, right? A talentless slacker like that pulling off those crimes? A little thought shows it’s impossible solo. Too weak to bully, too dumb to rig scores. Drug running? Even noble heirs need backup for that.
“Nobody seems to care, though.”
Everyone fixated on the punk’s crimes, ignored the rest.
Anyway, those deeds needed accomplices. Crime syndicate Kantia. They’ll kill or rob for cash, bold enough to plant roots in the capital. I issue “requests” as orders; they carry them out. Behind every crime of mine.
“What to do with these guys…”
I pondered. Expected their appearance—novel timeline has Kyle’s revenge in two weeks. They set up Evan’s death and back Kyle. But I hold no grudge against Evan; won’t lift a finger. Day-one transmigration vow.
Doesn’t sever ties with Kantia, though. Why back the punk? Easy prey. Eldest son of a great house, ripe for fleecing. Pet his ego, grant favors, cash flows. They won’t drop a golden goose.
“Guess I’ll meet ’em.”
Contact inevitable. I’d half-planned for Kantia already. Set an alarm on my watch.
“Dawn should work…”
Elraim’d be asleep then. Closed my eyes, waiting for dawn.
Dawn, when all slept. Alarm woke me. Moved stealthily, even tweaking vibrations with magic. Upper Expert knights react to tiny sounds. Changed, slipped out, reached dorm entrance.
Elraim’s temp quarters to the left—lights off. Listened: steady breathing. Asleep for sure. Cast full-body Silence for safety. Ran east, dropped magic once far enough.
Central area. Student Council Hall still lit, a few training stragglers. Tianis Academy wasn’t that strict—dawn exits fine. Some camp at training grounds for days.
Passed them, headed to walls. Guards at gate, as expected. Dawn capital outings forbidden, even here. But ways around.
“Around here, yeah.”
31m from cracked wall section, nearby bush. Tree beside it. Probed roots up to chest height—soft spot. Pressed hard.
Crack opened silently, no sound, vibe, or mana shift. Man-sized gap. Four seconds to dash through before it shut.
“Phew.”
Door closed right behind. Close call—0.1s slower and splat.
“Emperor made this crap, huh.”
First emperor’s work. For stressed students sneaking out. Library book hides it—few know. Profs use it too.
Strolled capital streets. Dawn vibe worlds from day. Day had life and bustle; night screamed adult district.
“Urp—!”
“Enough booze, buddy.”
Drunks reeking of booze everywhere.
“Hey kid, wanna play with big sis~?”
“I’ll show ya a good time~”
Red-light workers luring clients.
“You bastard!”
“I’ll kill you!”
Brawls breaking out. Empire’s underbelly, unseen by day. Quiet spots existed, but booze zones? This vibe.
“Man, beer sounds good.”
Tried hurrying past, but tempted. Frothy mugs, chilled brews, blissed-out faces. Gulped involuntarily. Looked damn tasty. No job, I’d dive in. Couldn’t.
Shook it off, escaped straight. Arrived at meetup.
[Cuckoo's Shelter]
Sign half-erased, matching memory. Dive bar on its last legs—camouflage, obviously.
Screeech!
Threw open the door. Rusted hinges screamed.
Dim inside. Few candles pierced dark. Burly thugs at side tables—two muscle pigs, ugly as sin. Placed for me, bad intentions. Intimidate the punk into submission. Obvious how the old Kyle groveled.
Approached central bartender. Strongest here—handles mana, unlike the scrubs. Expert level, still.
“Welcome.”
“Cut the crap. Lead on.”
Acted the bullying punk, arrogance maxed.
“Understood.”
Bartender bowed deep, pressed under-table switch. Bar floor split.
“This way.”
Followed inside. Tunnel brighter—luminous stones overhead. Walked on, stopped at door.
“Straight in.”
“Tch, long way.”
Faked annoyance, opened door.
Flashy room inside—VIP treatment vibe. Table laden with booze and snacks. Man sprawled smug on sofa.
“Ahahaha!!”
Bellrum. Kantia crime boss, mid-boss like Ruina Lindel.
“Young master. Been well?”
Villain through and through.