Test

The next day.

As promised, we gathered in the club room and shared the snacks Aria had brought.

Aria insisted that there should always be snacks, jellies, and drinks in the club room, and surprisingly, Kane and even Luna nodded in agreement.

While drinking coffee and eating snacks, and listening to Aria’s plans for decorating the club room, I casually brought up the topic of the ball.

,You guys know there’s a ball next week for the Emperor’s birthday?”

As if she had been waiting for me to say that, Aria’s eyes lit up and she shouted.

,Of course!”

She continued, wearing a mischievous smile.

,I’ve already got my dress perfectly ready.”

Next to Aria, who was shrugging her shoulders, Kane wore an annoyed expression.

,Why bother with such annoying things~? You have to find a partner to go with, too.”

I agreed with that. Having to find a partner was a very difficult task for me.

,I have a lot of people asking me to be their partner, though~”

With her good personality and pretty looks, it was no wonder Aria was so popular.

,I’ve had requests for partners too, but I feel awkward with people I don’t know. And it’s a pain to get close to them.”

Kane had a sickly, thin body, but her long, curly hair and decadent looks were quite attractive to the opposite sex.

,I’m going with my fiancé.”

When Lakar said that, Aria asked with a surprised face.

,You have a fiancé?!”

,Yeah, didn’t I mention it?”

While Aria was eagerly asking about his fiancé, Lakar scratched his head as if it was nothing.

I quietly turned my gaze to Luna, who was eating snacks.

As usual, Luna had a book in her left hand and was diligently eating snacks and drinking with her right hand.

,Are you all ready for the ball?”

Startled by the sudden question, Luna put down the snack she was holding and shrank back.

,Ah, I’m….”

She trailed off, and I bit my lip, flustered by the way she lowered her gaze slightly with her left hand.

Could it be that she’s not attending the ball because she’s not feeling well? Was I asking a pointless question? I regretted it belatedly.

Avoiding the awkward atmosphere, I got up from my seat and said to the club members.

,Since it’s Sunday today, let’s only search for an hour. We should enjoy our Sunday weekend.”

Everyone nodded in agreement, so I added.

,I’m going out today to copy the club room key and give it to each of you. That way, even when I’m not here, you can come to the club room anytime to rest or do club activities.”

Everyone looked happy at my words. Having their own hideout in the academy was enjoyable, even for those of us who were adults.

We left the club room and continued the search we had started yesterday. An hour later, we returned to the club room, and as before, we had no results. But everyone looked happy, as if just doing club activities was a fun thing to do.

While Aria was lying on the bed in the club room eating snacks, Kane was taking out reagents from the table where the alchemy tools were and doing something.

I sat on the plush sofa, watching Luna read the book she was holding in her left hand for a moment. As Lakar and I left the club room for our outing, Aria, who was lying on the bed, shouted.

,Bring me something to eat when you come back!!!”

,Okay.”

After parting ways with Lakar, who had a date with his fiancé, I received an outing pass and went out into the streets of the capital.

I moved to the magic engineering shop I had found out about in advance and asked the clerk to copy the key.

,This is a key with magic engraved on it, isn’t it? It will cost 8 gold coins to copy 4 keys.”

I was a little taken aback by the higher-than-expected price, but the pouch of gold coins I received from Roel contained a lot of gold coins, enough to pay the price.

I left the store after the clerk told me to come back in 2 hours, and headed straight to the street with clothing stores.

Near the clothing stores, there were several students who seemed to have gone out to buy clothes to wear to the ball, just like me.

I opened the door of the clothing store that Lakar had recommended before we parted ways, and a woman with slightly heavy makeup approached me.

,Welcome to ‘Pommel’s Clothing Store’. You seem to be a first-time customer, what kind of clothes are you looking for~?”

I didn’t mind the strong perfume scent that wafted over me.

,I’m looking for clothes to wear to the upcoming ball….”

,I guessed as much from your uniform.”

Before I could finish my sentence, Mrs. Pommel pointed to the clothes and explained.

,This is the latest fashion design in the Empire. Based on aristocratic sophistication, it uses magical thread, so you don’t have to worry about stains or wrinkles. The lace on both sides adds a point, starting from the line on the back…. Oh, you don’t like this one? Then how about this one? It’s a design that’s popular in the north….”

After listening to her explanations for about 30 minutes and shaking my head diligently, she finally seemed to understand my taste and showed me a neat black suit.

,This is a suit for men who pursue perfection. It’s a suit made directly by the magic engineering fashion designer Loopra, with a sophisticated shawl lapel design and a perfect finish with magic….”

,Yes, I’ll take this one.”

I didn’t understand what she was saying even after listening to the explanation, but this was the best one I had seen so far.

,Then shall we adjust it to fit your body right away? Oh, if you’re planning to wear it to the ball, you won’t need a back vent, will you?”

I scratched my head and nodded vaguely. Mrs. Pommel put her hands on her hips and raised her eyes.

,That’s why men are like this…. Just leave it to me. I’ll make you look your best.”

I thanked her and nodded diligently. As she said, Mrs. Pommel altered the clothes to fit my body with magic while constantly talking.

,Perfect. Let’s add a bow tie here. Oh, you’re not planning on keeping that shaggy fringe that covers your forehead at the ball, are you?”

,Uh… well….”

I answered stupidly to the sudden question. Mrs. Pommel gave me a pathetic look and brought out a container with a cool phrase written on it from somewhere.

,This product is from ‘Lavlan’, the most famous pomade shop in the capital. It’s about a 10-minute walk from here, down the chocolate shop alley to the right of the central fountain.”

She applied pomade to her finger and neatly swept back the hair that covered her forehead, and I didn’t move, as if I had turned to ice, as she adjusted each strand of hair.

,Perfect. Your gloomy impression has improved a bit.”

I felt a little tired as Mrs. Pommel muttered to herself and adjusted the angle of the bow tie, running around me and pouring out her passion.

After a long time, I was able to change back into my uniform after receiving instructions on how to care for and wash the clothes, and even a container of pomade as a service, and then I paid and left the store.

I went outside and put the clothes and pomade in my space storage. It wasn’t time to pick up the keys yet, so I walked around the streets and bought snacks to give to the club members.

After the practical training, I developed a habit. I couldn’t feel at ease unless I had a certain amount of food stored in my space storage.

It was very convenient that food in the space storage, like an inventory, didn’t spoil or cool down.

I put in cheap jerky bundles and a large amount of chocolate. I also bought chicken skewers and drinks for everyone, and after sightseeing, I returned to the magic engineering shop on time to pick up the keys.

I returned to the academy and headed straight to the club room, where I saw Aria deeply asleep and Luna still reading a book.

I sat next to Luna, who was reading a book. Luna took her eyes off the book and turned to look at me.

,You got your hair done nicely…?”

Luna’s words reminded me of the pomade, and I scratched the back of my head.

,I went to the clothing store and they did it as a service….”

,It suits you.”

I felt a strange feeling, like heat haze rising from somewhere in my heart, at Luna’s words and pretty smile.

In the club room, where only Aria’s regular breathing could be heard, we made eye contact without saying a word for 3 seconds. Then, feeling an unknown embarrassment, we turned our heads and avoided each other’s gaze.

,…Here’s a present.”

I handed her the copied key, along with chicken skewers and drinks from the space storage. Luna smiled happily and thanked me.

,Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”

She put it in the space storage as soon as she received it, so the still-warm chicken skewers tasted like they had just been bought.

Afraid of burdening her, I got up from my seat and nudged Aria’s arm, who was sleeping.

,Wake up.”

,Ughh…. Just 5 more minutes….”

,I bought delicious chicken skewers…?”

I whispered in Aria’s ear, who was acting sleepy. Aria jumped up from the bed and looked at me with drowsy eyes, holding out her hand.

,Give it to me…. Hehe.”

Aria, who received the chicken skewers and drinks with sleepy eyes, praised the warmth and taste of the chicken skewers, which seemed freshly made, and then looked at me with half-closed eyes.

,What?”

,Is it possible to have dinner delivered too….”

,Go to the cafeteria and eat.”

I gave her a flick on the forehead for saying something cheeky. She made a strange sound, ‘Aku-!’

,Oh, and don’t lose the key.”

I took the key out of the space storage and handed it to her. Aria, who received the key, held it close to her chest as if it were precious and lay back down on the bed.

There was nothing more to do, so I left the club room and headed to the dormitory. But an unknown student stopped me.

,Ross, Bella-seonbae is looking for you. She wants you to come to the lab.”

I thanked the unknown student for delivering the message and changed direction to Bella’s lab.

Is the preparation finally over?

With anticipation, I knocked on the door of the lab. Bella’s voice told me to come in.

I opened the door and went inside. There, I saw Bella drinking tea with a woman who appeared to be a knight.

,I’ve prepared the Spear of Destruction as agreed.”

Bella said, kicking a long box placed under the table with her foot.

,I got it with great difficulty. So, I think I need a little insurance as compensation.”

,Insurance, suddenly?”

I asked, frowning. Bella’s golden eyes sparkled and she gave me an attractive smile.

,It’s a loan, not a transfer of ownership. So, we have to consider the possibility of someone else taking it.”

With those words, Bella sent a look to the knight sitting in front of her. The knight got up from her seat and looked at me without a word.

The knight, with blonde hair and green eyes, had a cold impression and a slightly chilly gaze.

,If you succeed in attacking the 4th Imperial Knight Order’s Claire even once, you’ll pass the test. I think this is not a bad condition, right?”

I sighed at Bella’s snake-like smile.

,Okay. But I’ll have to receive separate compensation for this, right?”

It could be simply to test me, or she might not be planning to give me the Spear of Destruction.

Knowing Bella’s personality, she definitely had something up her sleeve.

But if it’s just succeeding in attacking once. I could pass the test easily with my abilities.

,Good, what compensation do you want?”

Bella, who seemed satisfied that I had accepted her offer, smiled. I raised one corner of my mouth and said.

,Let’s talk about that later. I need time to think about it too.”

,Good, if you can pass the test, that is.”

I smiled back at Bella, who was giving me a mocking smile.

What should I get this time?