Chapter 49
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Transfer System
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I arrived at the commercial district first and wandered around a bit.
I'd only slept with Isteir once.
After that, we'd exchanged sweet texts, but we never talked about dating or anything like that.
Even so, I was certain we both had feelings for each other.
The reason I hadn't asked Isteir out yet was Sua.
Sua was a Valkyrie, but she was undeniably a living, breathing presence by my side.
I had no idea how things would progress between Isteir and me.
If she asked what we were, I wouldn't even know how to answer.
As I paced around like that, I spotted Isteir.
Her shining golden blonde hair swayed as she approached, and her looks were absolutely insane.
She wore a black checkered skirt with a pink knit sweater, and she looked stunning.
"W-whoa... you came...?"
I stuttered without realizing it.
"Did I keep you waiting long?"
"No. I just got here myself."
Isteir waved at me with a bright smile.
Looking at her outfit, I suddenly felt like mine was way too sloppy.
Glancing down at myself, I realized I'd come straight from hunting in the Gray Cemetery, looking all grimy and unkempt.
"Should we go shopping for some clothes first?"
"Clothes? Sure! I'll help you pick."
My outfit clearly didn't suit a date, so I suggested shopping, and Isteir happily agreed.
Then she came over and slyly took my hand. Her soft fingers slipped into mine and intertwined.
I didn't mind at all, so I followed her lead.
The place she took me was lined with flashy luxury stores.
There were Balenciaga, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and others I'd seen in the real world.
What the hell...? This stuff exists here?
Come to think of it, Isteir's outfit looked just like something from reality too.
I hadn't paid much attention before, but while the setting was medieval, people's clothes weren't exactly like that.
"This place looks crazy expensive...?"
She was dragging me into a store that screamed money at first glance, and my true feelings slipped out.
"Pilots can shop here, no problem."
But Isteir said it casually as she pulled me inside.
The first store she went into was Louis Vuitton.
It matched the style she was wearing right now.
As we entered, the staff looked a bit surprised at first, then quickly composed themselves and greeted us warmly.
They'd glanced at my shabby clothes initially before their eyes shifted to Isteir.
Isteir casually browsed the store and pulled out several outfits to hold up against me.
"Wow... seriously... you look so handsome that clothes just suit you perfectly."
She marveled as she held them up. The staff nodded in agreement.
"Your skin is so fair and smooth; this tone would look great on you."
The staff joined in, and Isteir seemed to like the clothes they brought, trying them against me too.
She looked genuinely excited, like she was playing with a doll.
"This one's pretty, right?"
"Totally. It suits you so well since you're such a hunk."
The two of them were perfectly in sync, giggling away.
In the end, I was holding three tops, three bottoms, two pairs of shoes, two jackets, and one coat.
"Try the first set on first."
"This one?"
"Yeah, that."
The first one she handed me was black jeans, a white long-sleeve tee, and a denim jacket to go over it.
I went into the fitting room, changed, and came out.
"Whoa..."
Both women let out gasps of admiration.
"You look amazing...?"
Isteir wasn't holding back on the compliments anymore.
After that, I kept changing at Isteir's and the staff's requests.
Every time I came out, they'd gasp in awe.
"We'll take these. How much?"
Isteir seemed pretty satisfied and stepped up to pay.
The staff smiled brightly.
"Three tops, three bottoms, two pairs of shoes, two jackets, one coat—totaling 35 million gold."
It was a jaw-dropping amount.
Last time at the hotel with the Cellys, they'd dropped 30 million gold without batting an eye.
"Isteir, let me get it. I can afford that much."
"No way. I really wanted to treat you today."
35 million gold wasn't pocket change, and it made me feel burdened.
"No, it's too expensive."
Our relationship wasn't defined yet, and I worried she might think of me as her boyfriend.
"Kai, don't feel bad about it. I'm not expecting anything in return. I just really wanted to buy these for you."
I got serious, and she matched my tone, explaining she didn't want anything.
She didn't seem to think of herself as my girlfriend yet.
I'd planned to give her diamonds as a gift when we met, explain the transfer system, and pull her to my side.
But I hadn't expected her to buy me gifts first.
If that was how she felt, gifting her diamonds seemed fine. She already felt like she was on my side.
We'd planned to shop around multiple stores, but the Louis Vuitton staff was so attentive that we bought everything there.
"I'll get dinner."
"Really? Thanks!"
She'd spent over 30 million gold on me, but she lit up like a kid at the idea of me buying her a meal.
Since she'd given me expensive clothes, I wanted to take her somewhere nice.
No restaurants came to mind at first, but then I remembered the hotel with the Cellys.
A place like that would have a restaurant.
This time, I took Isteir's hand and headed to the hotel.
She followed at first, but when she realized where we were going, her face turned red with embarrassment.
When we passed the lobby and went to the restaurant, she realized her mistake and blushed even harder.
We ordered expensive steaks and wine.
"Thanks for the meal."
Isteir seemed thrilled just to be eating with me.
"How've you been?"
"Good. Like you said, I skipped the Colosseum and focused on growing stronger."
Isteir said she'd been patient and steadily improving, just as I'd advised.
"Good job. No summons lately?"
"I tried once... but nothing came out."
She looked a bit down at my question.
"Do you know why I wanted to see you today?"
"'Cause you missed me...? Hehe."
Her gloom vanished as she beamed at me.
I could hardly believe this was the same aloof girl from before.
"That's part of it, but I wanted to give you a gift."
"A gift...? What is it?"
"Diamonds."
"Ehhh?? Like a ring? Necklace?"
She flailed around, looking touched for some reason.
"No, something you'd like even more."
"Earrings...? Bracelet...? What...?"
She had no clue. Of course not—this world made transferring diamonds unthinkable.
"We'll talk after dinner, inside."
"Inside...?"
She looked shocked and flustered.
"Eat first. It's good."
I said casually as I cut my steak.
"O-okay..."
Around me, Isteir turned into an adorable girl.
We finished eating and headed back to the hotel lobby.
It wasn't as pricey as the one the Cellys booked, but I got a room for a million gold a night.
Holding Isteir's hand, we walked to the room.
The first time we'd come together, alcohol had muddled everything, but sober and hand-in-hand, the mood felt even more charged.
Once inside, Isteir gave me a suggestive look.
"Should I shower...?"
"No, I have something to talk about first."
"Huh?"
Her face was full of question marks all day.
I led her to the terrace, wine in hand. The view was pretty nice.
"What is it? You said you had something to say?"
We sat facing each other on the terrace, and she finally asked what she'd been wondering since dinner.
I pondered how to explain the transfer system properly.
I'd been thinking about it ever since it appeared.
I was a blatant bug exploiter. Would she fully accept it?
Part of me wondered if I should just avoid transfers and grow solo.
But after agonizing over it, I'd decided to build allies.
My power here was still weak. No matter how strong I got, I couldn't handle groups alone.
Creating true allies seemed like a good idea.
"Isteir, what if I said I could give you diamonds—not rings or jewels, but ones to summon Valkyries?"
"Th-that's possible?"
"Yeah. Hypothetically. If I could, would you be fully on my side?"
She looked puzzled at first, then broke into a radiant smile.
"What are you talking about? I've been on your side since the moment I first saw you."