episode_0011

Last night, Rose made a big decision.

To somehow captivate Rudy.

To be more calculating and thorough in her actions.

Her first strategy for him.

The current situation.

“….”

“….”

Rose walked silently, matching Rudy’s pace.

She dressed up for today.

She got makeup that suited a maid.

She even chose casual clothes that she usually didn’t wear.

She used to find it bothersome to look up, but now that she put on heels, she was somewhat satisfied with her height matching Rudy’s.

‘Is this different enough?’

To wash away the twisted first impression.

Because of the first impression when she fought with the tree spirit covered in dirt.

He might mistakenly think that he’s not her type.

‘…But why isn’t he saying anything?’

It seemed like they had been walking for quite a while, but Rudy was walking in silence, looking straight ahead with an unreadable expression.

On the other hand.

Rudy couldn’t understand the current situation.

Since a while ago, Rose had been walking beside him, keeping her lips sealed.

Seeing her heading towards the food alley, it didn’t seem like they were going to purify the dark magic of the Shadow Mage.

Rudy glanced at the Rose beside him.

Her clear features stood out with makeup.

Her cute appearance, which he used to think was adorable, was upgraded to look like a beautiful girl.

Her moist cherry lips looked plump, as if she had applied lipstick. It kept catching his attention.

…He didn’t feel pressured before because of her short height, but now that she put on heels, he felt tense as her eye level rose.

‘Why did she dress up like this? Could it be…’

A date?

No, it can’t be.

Hasty judgments are not good.

It was more plausible that she was taking him somewhere where he needed to be on his best behavior.

Just as Rudy was nodding his head to calm himself down.

“….!”

“….”

Oh no!

Did he stare at her for too long?

She noticed his gaze and was looking at him.

Her sparkling eyes, like rubies, were staring at him, looking puzzled.

As Rudy tried to quickly avert his gaze, Rose broke the silence and asked.

“Is there anything you want to eat?”

“Uh, what?”

“I’m asking if you want to eat something.”

“Um….”

A flustered Rudy pointed ahead and said.

Since they were in the food alley, he meant to pick something randomly.

Rudy was an omnivore, so it didn’t matter.

He just wanted to get through this crisis quickly.

“I, I want that.”

“Huh?”

However.

“You want to eat… that? Seriously?”

“….”

Among the many street foods,

The place Rudy pointed to was a skewer stall selling orc tartare.

*

“Your taste is really unique. Is it delicious?”

“…It’s surprisingly good.”

In reality, Rudy ate the orc tartare disgustingly.

The orc tartare sold in this world was like Korean fermented skate that had been aged for a year.

It was a hardcore and maniacal food.

As Rose found it difficult to understand Rudy the more she got to know him, they soon entered a store.

It was a clothing store.

They sold high-end dresses and shirts suitable for nobles.

As well as fancy decorations and accessories.

Stunned by the grand carpet and majestic statues from the entrance, Rudy followed behind Rose.

When Rose stopped in the men’s clothing section, Rudy stood still and turned around.

“Choose.”

Hearing the words that a wealthy chairman in a drama would say, Rudy was moved.

He could easily understand what she was asking him to choose.

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“They all look expensive though.”

“You always wear shabby shirts that are falling apart. You’re going to enter the academy in a month, and you’re going to show up looking like that, making me look bad?”

“……”

There was a point to be made.

No wonder I was feeling uneasy.

I had transmigrated to this world to repay a debt from my past life, but I hadn’t been able to buy a proper outfit.

“Well, I’ll graciously accept. But why does my reputation suffer just because I dress shabbily?”

“Oh, didn’t I mention it? You’re technically my disciple.”

“Your disciple…?”

“Yeah. If you’re not even my disciple and you’re seen coming in and out of the mansion, what kind of rumors do you think will spread? Use your head.”

“……”

I wanted to retort in anger, but since she was buying me clothes, Rudy decided to endure it.

Even though my appearance had changed, I realized that people remained the same.

“Well, then….”

A few minutes later, Rudy picked out a few outfits.

But there was one problem.

“Before the transmigration, I thought I dressed fairly well in the previous world, but….”

I was clueless about the fashion knowledge in this world.

Each shirt and pair of pants looked nice individually.

I was unsure about which combinations worked well together and what was currently in style.

I never had the chance to choose clothes because I was always working hard to repay my debt.

Rose said with a disappointed expression, “….You picked these out?”

“Is there a problem?”

“They’re terrible. It looks like a combination from 20 years ago….”

After glancing at Rudy, Rose walked away and quickly returned with a few outfits.

“Try these on.”

A while later, Rudy emerged from the fitting room wearing the outfits Rose had chosen. Rose smiled slightly, looking satisfied.

“They suit you well. Is it because you’re the real deal?”

“I guess I’m somewhat good-looking.”

“…Try one more outfit. You should wear something you like, too.”

“Okay.”

Even if I liked something, the clothes in this world were just okay.

Thinking this, Rudy rummaged through the clothes.

Rose, looking puzzled, said, “Wait, these are women’s clothes? Hmm, the combination is decent, but… Huh! You, do you have that kind of preference-”

“Please don’t have strange thoughts, Rose.”

“…Huh? Why mine?”

“I thought it would suit you. Your usual mature clothes are nice, but I thought a lively outfit would also look good on you.”

“……”

“…? You don’t like it?”

“No, it’s just….”

Rose was a little flustered.

Was it not just a superficial compliment when I called her cute?

The dress and hat Rudy brought were surprisingly stylish, considering the tacky men’s clothes he had chosen earlier.

“Well, if you put it that way, I’ll try it on.”

It was the first time I wore clothes chosen by a man.

And it was the first time a man sincerely called me cute.

Rose’s face seemed to be getting warmer little by little.

My pride was hurt.

“Well, if I peek, I can clear my debt-”

“I won’t look.”

Although my pride was hurt.

I didn’t feel too bad.

***

“…Do they suit me?”

After finishing shopping, watching a play, and having dinner.

Rose returned to the mansion and immediately locked her door.

Wearing the new dress, Rose looked at herself in the mirror, observing herself carefully.

Looking at the front and turning around.

“It feels awkward for some reason….”

She was hesitant because she had never worn this style before.

Casual wear for her was just clothes she wore to meetings or social gatherings as the national chief spirit master.

She had always chosen to wear mature clothes that exuded dignity and elegance, and wearing such a youthful and lively dress was a first for her.

“It makes me look like a child, he didn’t choose it to make fun of me, right?”

Rudy’s personality made it entirely plausible.

-Tok tok.

“Huh?”

As a sound of knocking echoed.

Rose turned her gaze towards the direction of the sound.

-Flap flap!

Stitch was outside, vigorously knocking on the window, gesturing to be let in.

“Stitch…?”

There were very few people who personally exchanged messages with her…

As she opened the window and took Stitch in, Rose’s expression suddenly turned grave.

‘Empire Grand Alliance’

The sender was the Empire Grand Alliance.

Stitch was in black.

Black Stitch was mainly used by the Empire Grand Alliance in urgent situations.

“….”

Rose’s expression while reading the Stitch was not good.

***

Why did I really go out today?

Had a blast.

Sitting on the bed, Rudy pondered deeply.

Rose suddenly dressed up.

She didn’t go anywhere with him except for hanging out.

That fact only made Rudy more confused.

‘…Could it be, we really went on a date? Today?’

There was some kind of promise, but was it canceled and we just hung out?

Or was she just taking him out for fun?

Couldn’t figure it out.

‘Ha, what should I do….’

His heart was racing, but he couldn’t show it.

As mentioned before, Rose is a national Grand Mage.

A figure who rules on the political stage, adept at handling many people under her command.

She wasn’t the heroine of the world she possessed now, so he had to be even more cautious as she was unpredictable.

Maybe… she could be a more dangerous figure than he thought.

‘Anyway.’

Finally, he would be entering the academy in a month.

He felt strange.

‘Having gone through all sorts of troubles due to false accusations, becoming a debtor and even facing a lawsuit… and now, re-enrollment!’

His teeth chattered.

Seeing the faces of the heroines again!

His life was ruined because of the heroines.

And this mess was all because of the heroines.

Perhaps, it was safe to say that he was entangled with Rose because of the heroines.

‘If, if Rose is truly a villain trying to use me…’

The excitement he felt just moments ago vanished in a dark assumption.

“….”

Rudy, with heavy emotions, shook his head.

“Let’s not think about it now.”

Rudy pulled up the blanket and lay down on the bed.