Ch.30Meeting (5)

Wearing a suit seems to have the effect of making oneself look several times more attractive. In my previous life, though I rarely wore suits, whenever I did, I looked more handsome.

But what if you already have a handsome face and a good physique that perfectly complements the clothes?

It fills you with confidence beyond satisfaction, making you feel like you can do anything. As some actor from my previous life said, “Being handsome is the best!” The importance of appearance goes without saying.

“Looks good.”

I stood in front of a full-length mirror, observing myself in a suit—or as they call it here, formal attire. In the mirror, a handsome man with crimson hair was adjusting his scarlet formal wear while smiling.

The attire lacked the decorations that nobles typically engrave to flaunt their wealth and reputation, and it didn’t even have common patterns—it was plain and ordinary. Other nobles might mock its simplicity, but formal attire is so ridiculously expensive that buying something costly was out of the question. Besides, I was satisfied with it since it resembled the suits I wore in my previous life.

It wasn’t entirely modest though, as I wore a white scarf around my neck. The scarf was embroidered with an eagle pattern—the symbol of the Empire of Minerva—in pure gold.

A modest yet distinctive fashion statement. It perfectly complemented my eye-catching red hair.

‘Style… let’s keep it this way. Nothing else needs to be touched.’

I don’t know how to apply makeup anyway, and trying to dress up further would only make things weird. I’m handsome enough as it is, so there’s nothing else to adjust.

Instead, I visited a salon earlier to keep my hair neat. When I arrived, the salon was packed with students deliberately dressing up for today’s gathering, and among them were some familiar faces.

Rina, Cecilly, and finally Marie. Unlike other customers, these three had 4-5 employees attending to them, making them look like they were undergoing some kind of surgery.

‘The Imperial Princess, the Duke’s daughter, and the Demon Princess. They must be busy.’

I finished quickly since I only needed to neaten my hairstyle. Originally, all staff were focused on those three, but Rina noticed me and arranged for someone to attend to me first.

Even so, I only needed a slight trim, so one person was enough. Before leaving the salon, I was looking forward to seeing how they would appear.

‘The gathering starts at 5:30…’

I looked away from the mirror to check the time. It was exactly 5:00.

I should start heading to the grand hall now. The distance from the dormitory to the grand hall takes less than 10 minutes, so I can walk at a leisurely pace.

After putting on the dress shoes that are essential with formal attire, I went outside and headed toward the grand hall. Outside, the sun was beginning to set, making it somewhat dark.

‘I’m a bit nervous.’

There were freshman welcome parties in my previous life too, but this is a similar yet different freshman gathering. Some might laugh and chat excitedly, while others will have to work hard to build connections.

Fortunately, I’m closer to the former, but the world doesn’t always go as planned. The biggest variable is Jackson.

I don’t know what he’ll do to give me a hard time, but I should be well-prepared.

‘Rina and Marie will be there too, so he can’t openly insult me…’

I looked around on my way to the grand hall. It’s natural to see many people coming and going on weekends, but today I noticed people wearing stylish suits or beautiful dresses everywhere.

As I’ve mentioned before, the gathering is an event attended not only by literary students but also by martial students. Senior students and teaching assistants representing their majors can also attend, so there will be quite a crowd.

‘Wow… that person is really handsome.’

Occasionally, I saw people so impressive that I couldn’t help but admire them. Judging by their tall stature, long legs, and sturdy build, they must be martial students.

I couldn’t make out their detailed appearance due to my poor eyesight, but their handsomeness was evident even from a distance. Certainly, martial students are all in good shape, so they’d look good in anything.

‘I wish I were taller.’

I’ve grown about 1cm since coming to the academy. Still, it’s sad that I’m not even 173cm.

The only consolation is that I’m still in my growth phase. In my previous life, I was 175cm tall, so I’d be more than grateful if I could reach that height.

“Issac?”

“Hmm?”

Just before reaching the grand hall, a familiar voice called me. When I turned my head, I couldn’t help but be slightly startled by the face that came into view.

Leort, the handsome man with tiger-like features and the Crown Prince of the Empire of Minerva, was looking at me with curiosity in his eyes. It’s worth noting that Leort was also wearing formal attire.

Unlike me, Leort was wearing splendid formal attire befitting his status as Crown Prince. Overall, it had a harmonious blend of white background and gold, and it looked much more impressive than the formal wear Jackson had bought last week.

I quickly scanned his appearance and then spoke with a puzzled voice.

“Lord Leort?”

“Indeed, it is Issac. I saw red from a distance and followed it, and it really was you.”

“What brings you here?”

Though I said that, I had a pretty good idea. Leort was probably heading out to attend the freshman gathering too. After all, Leort was one of the representative students of political science.

And as I expected, Leort voiced the answer I had anticipated.

“You must have guessed from my attire? Of course, I’m here to attend the gathering. Judging by your appearance, you seem to be heading to the hall for the gathering too?”

“Yes.”

“Hmm…”

After hearing my simple answer, Leort stroked his chin gently and looked me up and down. Compared to his formal attire, which was almost at the level of a uniform, mine was modest to the point of being plain.

But Leort smiled gently and complimented my appearance with a pleasant voice.

“It suits you very well. Not many people can pull off red, you know.”

“You flatter me. And compared to you, Lord Leort, I look quite shabby.”

“No. In my eyes, you look much better than nobles who wear unnecessarily expensive clothes just to flaunt their wealth.”

“Th-thank you.”

I felt even more embarrassed because his words were sincere, not just empty flattery. Leort laughed softly when I scratched my cheek.

“Since we’re here, let’s go together.”

“Would that be alright?”

“Who would dare say anything? If anyone tries to intimidate you, I’ll personally step in.”

“I… understand.”

Refusing any further might offend Leort. When I reluctantly accepted, Leort started walking first.

As he walked ahead, I followed behind, occasionally glancing around. Walking side by side might undermine his authority. This is one of the etiquettes I learned at home.

“Issac. By the way, have you read the recently published Biography of Xenon, volume 8?”

Leort turned to me and asked. Honestly, I was wondering when this question would come up.

Since I had anticipated this question, I could answer without hesitation.

“No, I haven’t read it, but I saw the newspaper. It mentioned that volume 8 includes criticism of nobles and introduces a transportation method called a steam locomotive.”

“Yes. While the criticism of nobles is one thing, even I was surprised by the steam locomotive. If such a transportation method were truly invented, the world would change dramatically.”

“Do you think it can really be built, Lord Leort?”

The steam locomotive was one of the representative inventions of the “Industrial Revolution” in my previous life. Moreover, the “Industrial Revolution” didn’t just appear out of nowhere; it emerged like a comet after technologies had been gradually accumulated over time.

Therefore, for an industrial revolution to occur, a certain level of technology is required, but in this world, there’s a subtle imbalance between science and magic.

Simple principles like refrigerators can be replaced with magic, but complex machines like steam locomotives cannot be substituted with magic. Moreover, even that is magic, not engineering.

Leort seemed to be aware of this point as he expressed his somewhat negative opinion.

“Well… sadly, fiction should be viewed as just fiction. The novel might have explained the general principle, but that’s far from enough. To move that massive piece of iron by its own power without magic requires much more complex theories. Besides, if one had the technology to create a steam locomotive, they could use that technology to invent various other things.”

“So it’s difficult, you’re saying.”

“Indeed. But the very idea itself is remarkable. How rich in knowledge and experience must someone be to imagine such a thing? I can’t even begin to fathom.”

It’s not about being rich in knowledge and experience; it’s about having lived in another world. Since I possess knowledge completely different from the people of this world, many people, like Leort, would think this way.

Still, it’s somewhat disappointing to hear that creating a steam locomotive is difficult. Most evaluations in the newspaper also suggest that rather than doing such foolish things, it would be better to research magic.

“I’d like to peek into his mind once. Sometimes I wonder if he’s lived in another world. Both the Biography of Xenon and this steam locomotive thing.”

“…”

Though he said it casually, it was a truly dangerous statement for me. Thankfully, Leort was looking ahead; if he had seen my face at that moment, it would have been disastrous.

I tried my best to restore my composure, which had drained of all color. Without checking in a mirror, I knew my face had turned not just pale but almost blue.

‘This was completely unexpected…’

As I was thinking anxiously, the entrance to the grand hall came into view, and Leort said to me:

“It’s best we part ways here. I have other matters to attend to.”

“I understand.”

“Then I hope you have a pleasant time at the gathering. Oh, by the way, is Nicole attending?”

“No, my sister dislikes gatherings, so she’s not participating.”

“Hmm… so she’s still dwelling on that incident…”

Leort muttered in a small voice after hearing my answer. It was barely audible, but I heard it clearly.

It seemed there was a specific reason why Nicole wasn’t attending the gathering. If Leort, who entered the academy later than Nicole, knew about the incident, it must have been quite famous within the academy.

“Anyway, I understand. I’ll see you later.”

“I hope you have a pleasant time too, Lord Leort.”

When I greeted him according to the etiquette I learned at home, Leort waved his hand and left. I watched his retreating figure for a moment before shifting my gaze toward the grand hall.

Though not as large as the training ground, it was still quite substantial. I hadn’t been here since the entrance ceremony, so seeing it now felt somewhat new.

‘I wonder how they’ve decorated the inside?’

The interior was also very spacious, like two gymnasiums connected together. I walked toward the entrance of the grand hall with anticipation.

The official event starts at 5:30, but there’s no issue with waiting beforehand, so there was no one at the entrance. As I passed through the entrance and entered the grand hall:

“…Amazing.”

I couldn’t help but express admiration when I saw the overall interior of the grand hall.

Chandeliers, which I didn’t know when they were installed, hung from the ceiling, brightly illuminating the interior. Below them were long tables with delicious-looking food.

Notably, the center was empty, suggesting it was a space for dancing, like a ball. It felt more like attending a party hosted by a high-ranking noble rather than just a gathering.

‘There are… quite a lot of people.’

Since the gathering was attended by both literary and martial students, the place was bustling with people. I know attendance was voluntary, but many students had shown up. Among them would be not only freshmen but also senior students and teaching assistants representing their majors.

I swallowed hard, feeling the immense pressure, and moved forward.

“Hohoho. Really? That’s such an interesting story.”

“Thank you. You look truly beautiful when you laugh, my lady.”

“Really?”

As I approached the platform, snippets of conversations reached my ears, but there wasn’t anything particularly noteworthy. Finding a familiar face was my priority now.

Of course, I had no intention of approaching them recklessly just because I recognized them. Those I know would surely be surrounded by numerous people.

Rather than making things awkward by pretending to know them, it’s better to just stand around awkwardly.

‘Should I just eat? I’m hungry anyway…’

Just as I was thinking that and was about to slink over to the food table:

“Issac!”

“…”

“Issac! Over here! Here!”

Damn this cursed red hair.

I lamented inwardly as soon as I heard the familiar voice. Judging by how far the voice sounded, the person was definitely at a distance, but they had clearly recognized me.

Well, with my red hair and red suit, it’s impossible not to notice me. I just didn’t expect them to call out so loudly.

Half-resigned, I turned my head toward the source of the voice. As I did, I saw someone approaching me.

Judging by the pitch-black hair like the night sky and the horns—the symbol of demons—protruding from her head, it was Cecilly. It seemed she had finished all her makeup at the salon and…

“…Huh?”

However, my thoughts stopped there. As Cecilly got closer, her provocative outfit became more apparent.

For a moment, I had to rub my eyes, thinking I might have seen wrong. But Cecilly’s dress approaching me wasn’t going to change. I slightly parted my lips as I took in her beautiful figure.

If my hair is a bright crimson, her dress was a darker cherry color than red. It might be a color that suits her well, but the issue is the dress itself.

Typically, a revealing dress might show the back and shoulders completely or slightly reveal the chest, but Cecilly’s dress was more extreme.

From the waistline, the fabric split into a V-shape, partially covering Cecilly’s chest, but it was only nominally covered; due to her overwhelming presence, her chest was almost completely exposed.

And that’s not all. Every time she approached me, her chest swayed slightly, stimulating impure thoughts.

“You came later than I expected. Didn’t you leave before us?”

“…”

“Come to think of it, Issac, you’re wearing red clothes like me? It suits you well.”

Cecilly, who had now approached me, greeted me familiarly as always. But despite her warm greeting, I couldn’t easily regain my composure.

Not only her attire, but she must have applied perfume as the scent of roses stimulated my sense of smell, and the subtle sensuality she exuded threatened to bring my hidden lustful desires to the surface.

Is this what it feels like to face a succubus? I couldn’t decide where to place my gaze.

“How do I look? Does it suit me? Others have complimented me, but what about you, Issac?”

Regardless, Cecilly, unaware of my feelings, asked while lifting the ends of her dress. Her voice was filled with anticipation and her characteristic playfulness.

I closed my eyes tightly at her question, then looked at Cecilly straight again. And…

Gulp-

Instead of answering verbally, I swallowed hard. Was that enough of an answer?

“Pfft.”

“…”

Cecilly covered her mouth with one hand and laughed seductively. Then she teased:

“Issac, your face is extremely red.”

“…”

If there’s a man who doesn’t blush after seeing her like this, that person is definitely either impotent or gay.