It Doesn't Have to Be at Home
She stared intently at my chest, then nodded. She seemed satisfied. The store clerk, witnessing our interaction, looked like she was about to burst with joy. "You two are just so sweet together."
In an instant, Cardia’s crimson eyes sparkled, and she gave a quick, enthusiastic nod. Nod, nod. The clerk beamed at us, grinning from ear to ear. "You’re both just so adorable."
A moment later, the clerk led Cardia to the lingerie section. Then, a gasp echoed from behind the fitting room curtain. "……Whoa! Wow, whoaaaa!"
‘…….’
"Seriously, what is that figure? Is that waist measurement for real? And how are her breasts and hips just……"
Meanwhile, outside the fitting room, I had no choice but to pretend I couldn't hear a thing.
A short while later, the curtain parted slightly. Cardia poked her head out and whispered. Her voice was so quiet that I had to lean in close, straining my ears to hear her. "Master." Whisper, whisper. "Yes?"
She continued, her expression dead serious. "Do human women normally wear such small scraps of fabric over their chests?"
"W-well, generally, yes…… though it depends on the type (?)."
"Hmm." After a moment of contemplation, Cardia spoke quietly again. "Then, I shall wear what you prefer, Master."
"……???"
My heart began to race violently. She followed up with another question. "Between a scrap of fabric that is wide and one that is narrow, which do you prefer?"
I screamed internally.
Immediately after choosing the lingerie, the real coordination began. A white shirt. Black slacks. A long coat. A knit sweater. Even a dress. The clerk put her heart and soul into it. And the important thing was, no matter what Cardia wore, it looked absolutely stunning on her.
"……."
At one point, I found myself blankly staring at her in a white shirt and black slacks—a ‘very modest’ outfit. Is it really modest? Why does it look so dangerous? Is it just my imagination that her figure is even more emphasized? Her leg length is insane, and her waistline is insane. Besides, if just a few buttons on that shirt were to pop off, it would be a fatal blow to my heart.
Meanwhile, the clerk was muttering, looking almost dazed. "Wow…… you really look like a goddess!"
Cardia, who had been looking at her reflection in the mirror with fascination, finally turned to look at me. 'How is it?' Her eyes were asking.
I honestly gave her a thumbs-up and replied, "It looks amazing on you! You’re beautiful, so beautiful!"
No sooner had I finished speaking—Whoosh! Sparks flew from the tips of Cardia’s hair. 'M-Master…… praised me again…… hehehe.'
The clerk, having witnessed a sight that defied all logic, flinched and rubbed her eyes. "Uh……?"
Fortunately, since it was just a tiny spark, it left no trace behind. I hurriedly wrapped my arms around Cardia’s head and shouted, "S-s-static electricity! Why is it so bad today?"
The clerk, momentarily flustered, soon regained her smile. "Hohoho…… I guess the static is really bad today~!"
After many twists and turns, we finally managed to leave the clothing store. At this moment, Cardia was a completely different person. Women’s lingerie, various basic clothes, casual wear, and even simple cosmetics. Dressed in a white shirt and black slacks, she radiated a modest yet elegant charm. The only side effect was that her insane proportions and figure were even more emphasized.
The people around us were completely losing their minds.
"Whoa……."
"Who is that woman?"
"Is she an actress?"
"Her body is seriously insane."
All eyes were on her. Again and again. Breaking into a cold sweat, I hurriedly pulled a hoodie over Cardia’s head. "Let’s wear this instead!" I also put her sunglasses back on. Cardia bowed her head, looking touched, and muttered, "The way you worry about me, Master…… *sniff!*"
At that moment, two high school girls passing by looked at me as if I were trash. "What the, did he just make that girl cry?"
"That poor woman……"
No, that’s not it. I hurriedly grabbed Cardia’s wrist and moved deeper into the shopping mall. Still, the good news was that I had achieved today’s goal. I had secured the supplies for Cardia’s adaptation to human society. Now, all that was left was.
"Are you hungry?"
Cardia’s eyes sparkled instantly. It was visible even through her sunglasses. She nodded her head rapidly. Nod, nod, nod. I chuckled and opened my mouth. "Alright. Then, let’s eat here before we head back."
Suddenly, Cardia whispered. "Here…… you say?"
"Yeah."
"Just the two of us with you, Master?"
"Of course."
Whoosh! Sparks flew fiercely from inside the hoodie. "A date…… with Master!"
"……."
"A meal out, just the two of us with Master!"
"I mean, that’s true, but."
"A date!!!"
"Why do you keep jumping to that conclusion?!"
But Cardia was already in a state of perfect happiness. As I led her, still in her hoodie, to find a suitable restaurant, I suddenly realized one problem.
"……."
Money. The expenses over the last few hours had been no joke. Women’s clothing, lingerie, basic cosmetics, shoes, and various other female items (?). Since these were expenses that didn't exist before, the impact was even greater.
"My living expenses for this month are truly gone."
Honestly, it was quite a stretch for an E-class hunter’s income. However, I felt no regret at all. In fact, I even thought it was only natural. 'Considering what Cardia has done for me…….'
Not only did she save me in the Nightmare difficulty, but the value of the various byproducts, including the top-grade magic stones she handed over, was astronomical. Although, there was the fatal problem that the value of these byproducts was far too high for an E-class hunter to have collected. It was the moment I realized I needed to avoid the Association’s eyes and secure a sales route. And the means to get money right now was……
'I’ll have to run the Easy Tower again starting tomorrow.'
If it was the Easy difficulty tower that I could clear solo, I could easily earn a few months’ worth of living expenses just by running the first floor a few times.
A while later, we stopped in front of an Italian fine-dining restaurant.
"This place looks good."
Honestly, the price was terrifying, but I had tomorrow’s Easy difficulty tower. So, for today, I really wanted to treat her properly. "Let’s go."
Cardia, from behind her sunglasses, shone her crimson eyes and nodded. The moment we stepped inside the restaurant, exclamations flowed from both of us.
"Wow……."
Soft lighting. Calm jazz music flowing through the air. Even the night view of Seoul visible through the window. It was the perfect date course. Moreover, this space, which could be called the height of luxury, suited the existence of Cardia perfectly. Even with a hoodie and sunglasses on, her flamboyant aura couldn't be hidden. The staff were also secretly glancing in her direction.
"Master." Cardia whispered quietly. "This place feels like a banquet hall."
"Well, maybe it’s similar."
She looked around the interior with fascination, her crimson eyes sparkling. I took a seat with Cardia and opened the menu, pondering for a moment. What kind of food would a dragon like? Perhaps…… "Steak?"
Dragon. Meat. It’s not a bad combination. I called the waiter. And I ordered the steak set that looked the most standard. Meanwhile, Cardia, sitting across from me, was staring only at me the entire time. A satisfied smile hung on her lips.
"……Why are you staring like that?"
"I am watching you, Master."
"It must be boring."
"Not at all. Even if you just sit still, Master, you make me happy. Hehehe!"
This dragon flirts so naturally. Though she doesn't seem to have any awareness that it’s ‘flirting’ at all.
A while later, the food arrived. Sizzle. A savory aroma spread over the thick steak. Cardia’s crimson eyes lit up. "Oh……!"
A smile naturally formed at her cute reaction. Soon after, I taught her how to use a knife and fork. "It’s much easier than using chopsticks."
Cardia nodded with a serious expression and began to follow exactly what I did. A moment later, Cardia carefully put a piece of steak into her mouth. Chew. A strange light appeared in her crimson eyes. "Mmm……!" Nod, nod.
"Is it delicious?"
At my question, Cardia nodded again. I leaned in slightly toward her and whispered, "You can talk as much as you want here."
After chewing on her steak for a while, she opened her mouth. "It is truly delicious. Though it is not as good as the ramen you made for me……."
"……."
'Huh? She likes the ramen I made better than a high-end fine-dining steak?'
Why does that short sentence make my heart flutter so much? Feeling my throat grow hot for no reason, I muttered, "……It’s just ramen."
"No, it is not." Cardia added seriously. "It is food that you made for me, Master. There is nothing more important to me than that."
This is truly dangerous. This dragon. In more ways than one. Moreover, that serious expression and gaze told me that her words were 100% the truth.
A while later, as the meal was coming to an end, she spoke to me with a seductive wink. "Since I have filled my stomach, I shall satisfy you nearby, Master."
I almost spat out the water I was drinking. Her finger was pointing toward the restroom inside the high-end restaurant. I felt my heart pounding violently and whispered to her, "Th-then, y-you go in first. I’ll follow you in a little while."
"Hehehe! As you wish."
Fortunately, the restroom was unisex. No one would immediately suspect anything if a man and a woman entered the restroom with a little time in between. After confirming that Cardia had disappeared into the restroom, I tried to calm my breathing, which had become rough with excitement. A lot of blood had already rushed to my lower body. 'This is driving me crazy, seriously!'
Five minutes later. I walked slowly into the restroom where she would be waiting. From the very last stall in the restroom, Cardia, having taken off her hoodie, poked her head out. "I am here, Master!"
With a trembling heart, I approached her. Soon after, Cardia, who had locked the door inside the stall, sat me down on the toilet and whispered, "Then, I shall begin my service, Master."