11. How on Earth Did These Three End Up at the Clothing Store Like the Takhyeon Uguan Brothers?
How on earth did these three end up together at the clothing store, like the Takhyeon Uguan brothers stumbling into the same spot?
Iris just knows students' tastes inside and out too well.
A bit earlier that morning. After a light breakfast, I stepped out to the front desk, and Iris was already there waiting.
"You're out earlier than our appointment time. Hope I didn't keep you waiting."
"Nah, I had some business at the front desk anyway."
For some reason, the inn manager's face didn't look great. Probably just my imagination. Not my problem.
"Iris, this is my little sister Silbi. Silbi, this is Iris, head of the academy's swordsmanship department."
"Hello."
"Nice to meet you, Silbi! You two really look like siblings!"
Yeah, right. She's got killer looks, but I'm not on that level.
Grid wasn't ugly by any means. Silbi was just on another plane.
"Mind if I call you Silbi casually? That okay?"
"Sure."
At least she answered with a nod instead of ignoring her completely. Impressive.
Iris, with her natural charisma, kept pushing the conversation, while Silbi barely managed to respond. It was like putting an extrovert and a total shut-in in the same room.
"Anyway, let's start with the clothing store."
"Sounds good?"
"…."
Silbi looked so pitiful fending off Iris's barrage of questions that I changed the subject to give her a break. Thank me later.
About a 15-minute walk from the inn brought us to the store.
A five-story building? That's huge for a clothing shop.
Made in Andre
"This is the hottest spot for students right now."
Yep, figured as much. The name still makes me wanna slap a 'Kim' at the end.
"No idea what department Silbi's aiming for, but unless it's divine studies, her clothes won't stay intact."
Spot on. With all the practical classes at the academy—weapons training, magic lessons, alchemy labs, mock battles, sparring, personal workouts—clothes get wrecked constantly. It'd be weirder if they lasted.
They should've issued uniforms, but as I mentioned before, the budget's tight.
That's why this place, with its durable yet stylish designs, is so popular. I figured Iris would recommend it, and sure enough.
"Let's head in! They'll pick out the cutest stuff just seeing my face."
She puffed out her chest with such confidence. And it wasn't just her expression—her upper body... ugh.
"Sorry, but we have a full-day reservation today, so you'll need to come back another time."
"What? Who's it for? The rental fee here isn't cheap."
Renting out a whole clothing store... No clue. Never been in this situation before.
"Nothing we can do. Tomorrow's a holiday too, so maybe then..."
"Tomorrow I'm busy! Sending you two alone would kill my escort cred!"
"Hmm..."
"Whoever booked it, we can at least ask nicely!"
Iris explained our situation to the troubled clerk.
If it were me, I'd get shot down flat, but her status made them at least consider it.
Silbi just watched quietly, looking totally uninterested. We were here for her clothes, though.
A moment later, permission came through thanks to the renter's generosity. We could shop after all.
Gratitude first, then shopping. We headed to the fifth floor, where the current customer was picking outfits.
And who was up there? None other than Leperi.
"Grid? Iris? Who's that next to you...?"
"…."
"Leperi, what the hell happened over break?"
And that was the whole story.
"I had so many outfits to buy, and a crowded store would've been a hassle, so I asked Dad to rent it out for the day."
Apparently, her rapid weight loss left her without academy-appropriate clothes. Women do take forever picking outfits, so it made sense.
"I see. Must've cost a fortune, but thank you for letting us shop."
"Hah...! No, no! The clerk said you were hard to refuse, and with the rental fee... Dad says the grocery savings more than cover it—ah...!"
Leperi trailed off in panic mid-sentence. Her face turned the same red as her hair again.
Yeah, talking about eating a ton in front of her professor would embarrass anyone.
"Speaking of, Leperi... like I asked earlier, what happened over break to change you like this...?"
Iris still couldn't believe her student's transformation, scanning her up and down.
Her disciple had gone from "might topple if pushed" to stunning beauty. No wonder she was stunned.
"I-It’s thanks to Grid here...! I got back to my old self!"
Iris shot me a surprised look, then nodded in understanding.
"Sounds crazy, but with you, Grid... I can see it."
Probably because she'd experienced the bulgogi sauce miracle firsthand. Quick on the uptake.
"Like I said before, I didn't do much. Just gave Lady Leperi a tiny assist with her hard work."
"Th-th-thanks to my... eff-effort... heh... hehehe..."
Just when her color was normalizing, she turned bright red again—Hongik Man reborn.
She hid behind her twintails and burst into sudden laughter.
Weight loss must feel that good.
"We won't disturb your shopping, Leperi. We'll pick out my sister's clothes and go."
"N-No! Don't mind me—shop freely!"
"Thank you. Silbi, any outfits catch your eye?"
She shook her head vigorously.
"As long as it doesn't get in the way."
Exactly. Clothes just need to not be hot or cold. Smart girl, Silbi.
"Oh no, you don't! Wearing whatever with looks like that is a crime!"
Guess not.
Iris got more fired up than disinterested Silbi, who was eyeing the clothes without much enthusiasm.
"A crime?"
"Yes, a crime! Slopping around disrespects that face! Grid!"
"Yeah?"
Why me all of a sudden?
"If it's okay, I'd love to pick outfits for Silbi. Cool with you?"
"I don't mind."
"He says yes! What do you say, Silbi? Leave it to me?"
"……."
Silbi turned to me, expression blank as ever, but her pupils were shaking if you looked close.
What could I do? I shrugged helplessly.
"Go ahead. Girls probably vibe better together anyway."
"But..."
"It's fine, right? Right? Okay, I'll borrow Silbi for a bit, Grid! Let's go, Silbi—from floor 2 to 5, try everything on!"
"……!"
In the end, Silbi got dragged off by Iris's grip.
Sorry. But if I'd picked, it'd all be black. Better than that, right?
Now that they were gone, I had a problem. What do I do?
Normally I'd tag along, but this wouldn't end with one or two try-ons.
Maybe kill time at a cafe—
"Um... Grid...?"
"Yeah?"
"If it's not too much, could you help me pick outfits...?"
Leperi suddenly wanted my opinion. She seemed to be doing fine already, though?
"You're at the point where clothes are just wings for you. Would my taste even help?"
You know how some people look gorgeous no matter what, as long as it's not a total mismatch?
Silbi, Iris, Leperi—they were all that level.
"No! I really want you to see!"
"True. The lady hates everything I pick... oh."
"Nanny!"
I see. She wanted an outsider's view, not just yes-men.
From what I saw at the count's mansion, everything she did got blind praise.
"No plans till Iris and Silbi return anyway. Not sure if I'll help, but if you're okay with me."
"Thank you! I'll change and be right out!"
She bolted to the changing room, buzzing with excitement.
I waited a bit, and Leperi emerged in her new outfit...
Whoa...
"H-How's this? P-Pretty...?"
Not her usual training gear from the dojo—a tight red dress that hugged her toned, athletic figure from all that exercise. Barely any skin shown, but I couldn't look away.
Clothes really are wings. Ten outta ten... perfect.
"Grid?"
I snapped out of staring at her voice.
"Ah. You look so stunning I rudely gawked. Sorry."
"No! I asked you to look!"
"It suits you perfectly."
"Hehe... Next one, then!"
Beaming, she ducked back in.
He said I'm pretty, pretty! What do I do, he's so sweet, Nanny was right about this outfit, now I can redeem my old image!
Something weird echoed from inside, but I couldn't make it out.
After about 15 more try-ons, the fashion show wrapped.
I got an eyeful—nothing looked bad on her.
Just then, Iris and Silbi returned to the fifth floor, outfits in hand.
"Jeez~! Silbi, we haven't even tried half of them yet!"
"Done. Wanna go back. Tired."
Iris brimmed with energy, arms full of clothes; Silbi looked utterly drained, like her soul was sucked out.
What the hell happened?
"Picked enough. No more."
Silbi rushed to me with desperate eyes, like she was fleeing.
Probably dress-up doll session: on, off, on, off...
"Forty tries and calling it done? Trying on is the key!"
Yup. Leave her be, and she'd get dragged back.
"She just got to the empire yesterday, so travel fatigue probably. She's wiped."
I owed Iris from before, but time to bail Silbi out.
"Like you said, dorm outings are tricky, so buy the rest later?"
Iris deflated politely. Her ears drooped visibly—easy read.
"If she's tired, no helping it... I'll have the good ones packed and sent to the inn."
"Thanks."
Silbi sighed in relief as doll time ended.
We had plans for stationery and dorm essentials, but Silbi's battery was dead, so we wrapped the first shopping trip.
Busy store, big spend—but worth the investment.
I talked Leperi out of insisting on paying for Silbi's stuff as thanks, and we called it a day.
After Grid's group left, only Leperi and her nanny remained in the store.
"Nanny."
"Yes, miss."
"Why was Professor Iris with Grid?"
"Who knows. I heard he's staying at her inn..."
"Suspicious."
"Suspicious how?"
"The professor isn't that chummy with anyone during term—not even me."
She was nice to students, but never gave up her days off for them.
So why was Iris shopping with Grid on a weekend?
Scenarios started brewing in Leperi's mind.
"No way... Is the professor after Grid too?"