Chapter 636: Guwon, the Devoted Man
Chapter 636: Guwon, the Devoted Man
Anyway, after spending some sweet, leisurely time with Leia and getting ready, we followed Vanessa, who had come to our room, to the dining hall.
To be honest, considering how we parted yesterday and the fact that it wasn't without precedent, I was a little worried about whether Vanessa would show up. Fortunately, it seemed she had no intention of neglecting her duties again, as she came herself this time instead of sending a maid.
“Vanessa.”
“…What is it?”
Just like that. She hadn't completely let her guard down.
Hey, come on. I'm not going to suddenly kiss you in front of Leia, especially not right after spending the night with her. So relax.
I told you as much yesterday, didn't I? I asked if it was okay to kiss you when no one was around. In other words, I'm not going to force a kiss on you if someone's watching.
Besides, with Vanessa acting this way, even Leia was looking at us with a slightly bewildered expression.
She must have thought we'd properly made up, since she even smelled Vanessa's scent on my lips yesterday. So of course she'd be puzzled by Vanessa's still-stiff attitude.
No, it's not that we haven't made up. If I had to say, it's because she's embarrassed right now.
Though with that expression, she doesn't look embarrassed at all.
Anyway, I felt like this was going to lead to another unnecessary misunderstanding, so I decided to just tell Vanessa what I needed to.
“Come to think of it, I didn't tell you, but I'm planning on going to the dungeon today.”
“…I am aware.”
As soon as I said that, Vanessa finally relaxed her guard a little, her face seeming to say, ‘Oh, so that's all it was.’
Well, she was still expressionless. But for some reason, that's the feeling I got from her.
Anyway, her answer took me by surprise.
“Huh? You knew?”
“Yes.”
No, I mean, I'm asking how you knew. She's always so short with her answers.
“Do you have a listening device planted under the dining table or something? Ha! C-Come to think of it, you knew how to find me that time I was sneaking around using Stealth! That must be it! There are surveillance cameras all over this mansion…!”
I made a big fuss, even bringing up an episode that would surely embarrass her, just to put her on edge, but my comment sent a spark flying in an unexpected direction.
“Huh? Using Stealth…? Guwon-ssi, you did something like that?”
My angel had taken an interest in my story.
“The maid I left in charge of serving you! Told me!”
Fortunately, Vanessa's quick-witted response managed to smooth things over.
It seems Vanessa is also embarrassed about this topic coming up.
Which makes sense, considering what happened after she found me while I was in Stealth.
Looking back on it now, that incident wasn't just something to be hidden; it was the event that sparked this relationship between Vanessa and me. Still, it's a little embarrassing to bring up in front of others.
“Ah, I see. So… there really aren't any surveillance cameras? Then how do you always appear the moment I call for you?”
“What is a camera?”
Oops. Guess I have to start by explaining that.
It made sense. Diana had only just designed the necessary magic tool when Felicia and I were filming our lecture video. It was only natural, when I thought about it.
…Huh? Wait a minute. Didn't she just subtly dodge the question of how she always shows up when I call?
Well, not that it really matters.
“Anyway, just know that we're going to the dungeon today. Oh, and don't worry about supplies this time. I know this is sudden, so today, we'll take care of it our—”
Before I could finish saying we’d prepare them ourselves, Vanessa cut me off, looking at me as if to ask what I was talking about.
“They are already prepared.”
“Uh, huh?”
“Surely you didn't think I prepared everything on the day of, did you?”
Vanessa said to a flustered me, her tone slightly dumbfounded.
Hey, Butler-nim. Come on, now. That's not a look a butler should be giving her master.
Well, she's expressionless. But I can still feel it!
“……No. Of course not.”
“The only things I prepare on the day of are meals and maintenance for the equipment that you, Guwon-nim, only take out on that same day.”
I quickly averted my eyes from Vanessa and tried to heal my spirit by fixing my gaze on my angel's chest, but since I hadn't plugged my ears, I couldn't stop Vanessa's cold voice from piercing through.
Hey, doesn't her tone seem a little thorny? Jeez. I said I was sorry.
Or is she mad because I'm staring at my angel's chest? If so, that's actually pretty cute.
“…Right. I'll take care of the maintenance myself.”
Of course, if I'd actually said that, it looked like beams would shoot out of Vanessa's eyes, so I stopped joking around and spoke obediently.
And so, thanks to our capable butler, we decided to head to the dungeon after a simple equipment check, without having to worry about supplies.
Not that an equipment check was any major undertaking.
The backline basically never came into contact with monsters, so there was little need to check their gear.
At most, we’d check the condition of Sara’s bowstring.
It was a similar story for the frontline.
Matilda’s role was to stick with the backline and prepare for the moment Silvia and I were breached, so she rarely had contact with monsters. As for Silvia and me, who fought monsters directly, our equipment was in excellent condition.
Lately, I’d been making use of my job’s characteristics to focus on evasion rather than blocking attacks with my body, and Silvia was skillful enough to block everything with her shield.
Besides, even on the rare occasion an attack landed, my armor was a masterpiece crafted from the materials of 5th-floor monsters we’d gathered with the Arachne Clan.
And Silvia’s was the ridiculously high-class armor used by the Royal Guard.
A mere graze from a 3rd or 4th-floor monster wouldn't do much damage.
Of course, we’d still do a check, but unless we found something unusual, it wouldn’t take long.
If anything, the most time-consuming task would probably be sharpening Silvia's sword.
Anyway, for that maintenance, we left our equipment with Hanna and departed from the blacksmith's.
We were told to come back for it in an hour or two.
“So, what should we do to kill time?”
“Hmm… good question. Since we're all here together, how about some shopping?”
As Sara said this, she looked me up and down for some reason.
For the record, I was once again wearing my plain, featureless cloth clothes.
Come to think of it, I’ve only been wearing cloth clothes since we got back from the dungeon.
I mean, at the end of the day, they’re just the most comfortable.
“What's with that look? D-Don't tell me…!”
“That's right. Since we're here, you're coming with us to buy some more proper clothes.”
Sensing danger, I tried to take a step back, but Sara grabbed my arm as if to say she wouldn't let me escape.
“She's right. You should dress in a way that befits your station as the Saint… You'll look even more handsome…”
Backing Sara up, Matilda clung to my other arm, completely blocking my escape route.
She’d slipped into her pink-colored mode halfway through, so her grip wasn’t very strong, though.
“Hey, what are you talking about? You guys have already been buying me clothes whenever you get the chance. I saw you'd even filled up an entire wardrobe.”
I can't become a dress-up doll! Ugh, the forgotten nightmare of the past…!
I clutched my aching head and argued desperately, but of course, it was completely useless against Sara.
“What's the point if you barely wear them? The designs we picked must not be to your taste, right? Then you can just come with us and choose for yourself.”
Hearing that, I realized Sara was under a massive misunderstanding.
Come on. If I actually cared about design when getting dressed, I wouldn't be wearing cloth clothes all the time, would I? I just wear them because they're comfortable.
Something had felt strange. I remembered Leia telling me that the girls had been buying clothes for me in secret. The reason they hadn't told me was because they were worried I'd become even more handsome.
Of course, Leia had just apologized for being too jealous, but knowing her personality, she wouldn't have silenced the others over her jealousy alone.
In other words, Sara and Diana must have thought the same thing and kept quiet about the clothes.
For Sara to be trying to buy me clothes now meant she thought I didn't like the ones she'd picked.
She was probably planning to use this opportunity to get a better grasp of my tastes.
Well, I was partly to blame for Sara's misunderstanding. I had only worn them occasionally, as if out of a sense of duty.
When in reality, it was just because they were less comfortable.
“No, of course not! I love that you bought me clothes. There's nothing wrong with the designs. But… it feels like a waste to just wear them casually. You all went to the trouble of buying them for me, so what if they get worn out in the dungeon…?”
Naturally, I couldn't tell them I didn't wear them often because it was a hassle to change, so I tried to counter with as much flattery as I could muster.
“Idiot. That's what clothes are for. And flattery won't work.”
Hey, how can you call that flattery?! I mean, it is flattery, but still!
Damn it. She's way too perceptive!
What's wrong with cloth clothes?! They're comfortable! And since they're all the same design, I don't have to worry about what to wear each day!
And most importantly, I have a great figure, so I look good in anything!
You guys know that too, which is why there was a time you deliberately bought clothes for me without telling me, right? You might think I don't know, but I heard everything from Leia.
“Hmm. So, according to your excuse, there would be no problem if you bought them yourself, correct? Then you shall buy them this time. We will merely help you choose what looks best.”
On top of that, Diana seemed to be on the same page as Sara, joining the fray with her own argument.
Kuh! Damn it! I can't refute that logically! Was making that excuse a mistake?!
I-If this keeps up, I'll really become a dress-up doll…!
Th-That's right! I still have one last excuse! The ultimate excuse, one they can't possibly deny!
“W-Wait. Just wait a second. Calm down and look at me carefully.”
“Calm down? I was never worked up in the first place. So, what are we supposed to be looking at?”
“Even in plain cloth clothes, I'm handsome, right?”
“……”
The moment I said that, Sara and Diana both stared at me with expressions that said, ‘Did he eat something weird?’
Guys, that look actually hurts, you know? I may not look it, but I have a delicate heart.
Well, I know that's not what you really think.
Like I said, I heard everything from Leia.
“M-Matilda! I'm handsome, right?!”
“Yeees… So handsome… Ahh… You are…”
But it didn't seem like I was going to get the answer I wanted from them, so I had no choice but to drag the pink-moded Matilda into it to finally hear the words I was looking for.
…Even my angel seems to be looking at me with a bit of pity. No, right? My angel wouldn't do that. It's just my imagination, right?
“Ahem. Even in just cloth clothes, my face shines…”
“Haaah. Guwon.”
“W-Wait, just hear me out! Imagine someone as handsome as me walking around all dressed up. Women already flock to me even when I'm dressed like this! Right?! See? I'm doing this for you guys.”
“……”
Heh. I've won. I've won!
At my logical persuasion, everyone stared at me as if they'd been struck dumb.
Just as I thought. Since they had a history of not telling me about the clothes for that very reason, they couldn't refute the fact that I was handsome and that women flocked to me.
Of course, that was my delusion.
There was no way the brilliant Diana would be unable to counter such a flimsy excuse.
“Even if women flock to you, you just have to turn them down. My philandering husband who doesn't turn away any woman who comes on to him.”
Diana touched her forehead as if her head was starting to ache, then let out a deep, exasperated sigh.
“I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. So please, just spare me from becoming a dress-up doll. I'll wear the clothes you bought me more often from now on. No, if you want, I'll throw away all my cloth clothes.”
In the end, I had no choice but to bow my head, confess my true feelings, and beg for mercy.
It would be a waste to throw out my cloth clothes, but it would only make the process of getting dressed a little more cumbersome.
That was far better than becoming a dress-up doll right now.
“Hmph. I guess it can't be helped. This idiot. You should have just been honest from the start.”
Thankfully, my true feelings seemed to have gotten through, because Sara sighed and gave up on the plan to buy me clothes.
And she didn't even tell me to throw out my cloth clothes.
My argument that dressing up would just make more women flock to my handsome self must have had some effect. I want to believe it did.
“Right! We don't have a ton of time anyway, so let's just relax today instead of shopping! So, what should we do now?”
I hurriedly tried to decide on our next activity before Sara could change her mind.
Perhaps finding my frantic behavior rather cute, Leia covered her mouth with one hand and giggled, coming to my rescue.
“Hehe. Ah, if you don't mind, how about we get some tea? I saw a lovely café open up over there recently.”
“Let's go right now!”
It was only after we arrived at the café that I was finally able to calm down a little.
Phew. That was a close call. I don't know what would have happened without my angel's salvation.
And I'm not just playing on words. Though, it wouldn't be wrong to call me my angel's salvation.
Anyway, just as Leia said, the café had a wonderful atmosphere.
It's hard to describe, but how should I put it… it was the kind of atmosphere that women would love.
In fact, most of the tables inside were occupied by female customers.
“A friend from the temple told me. Apparently, the chocolate cake here is highly recommended.”
Leia seemed to be in a very good mood to be here with me, her tail peeking out from behind her chair and swaying gently as she spoke in a happy voice.