This sort of thing… is it supposed to be clothing? Looking at my reflection faintly in the glass, I couldn’t help but mutter under my breath. It was enough to make me temporarily forget how small Akashi had been acting tough just moments ago.
What’s the point of this outerwear that barely covers anything, and undergarments that are practically just bandages? And these things they call pants—so short that they don’t even hide the underwear strings—it made me want to grab the collar and shake whoever came up with such a design.
I wanted to yell at whoever thought it was a good idea to make clothes like this. But my anger was drowned out by confusion and shame.
Previously, what I wore around might have technically been considered underwear, but since there wasn’t anything else, I didn’t feel particularly embarrassed about it. After all, it was underwear, so naturally, it would show quite a bit.
But… if this is supposed to be clothing, not only does it fail to cover anything, it’s practically no different from underwear. At this rate, I might as well just go around naked.
Moreover, this outerwear subtly reveals what’s underneath—it’s truly despicable how it was designed. Is this supposed to cover or reveal?
“Haa… You lizard, your clothes always tear during fights, yet you want to wear something like this?! You don’t even need armor with how sturdy you already are!!”
Little Akashi was nervously tying the laces of my outfit while muttering complaints under their breath. Their irritation was so intense it felt like they could lash out at any moment.
Though, if they did lash out, maybe it’d be fine. But I was too embarrassed to even consider it. What kind of state am I in… This is no different from what those Demon Tribe members wear…
“Sigh. Fine. You. How can you be embarrassed now when you’ve been walking around like that until just now?! Hmph, seriously! What is that look for? Do you think it’s my fault?!”
Little Akashi continued to throw a tantrum until the end before shoving me away and sitting on the bed. Hmm, so I guess I do have to show it…
“M-Mungho, can you take a look? How does it look…?”
Not knowing where to put my hands, I crossed them neatly in front of my chest. Myungho slowly turned around, seemingly trying his best to maintain composure as he stared at me expressionlessly.
However, his lower half betrayed him. Whatever calmness he had managed to regain disappeared as soon as he looked at me again, his arousal slowly rising.
“Uh, well. It’s good. The pants, no sleeves, and I’m not sure about durability, but it looks comfortable.”
So, he wasn’t shocked by the size. I once saw an incredible guy in the military whose size made me wonder if he might belong to another species altogether, so it isn’t strange that his is large too…
How is Myungho smaller than that guy but still similar in size? While it’s not important, it’s just surprising.
The more pressing issue is that it seems I’m the one responsible for Myungho’s condition. Though I care for him as a friend, it seems Myungho harbors feelings beyond friendship towards me.
Romantic love—a feeling entirely foreign to me. To me, Myungho is still a reliable friend who, despite being somewhat disappointing as a man, is the best friend I could ask for.
I thought I treated him the same way I treat Yuna…
But after living without certain needs for a long time, morning urges don’t make one grow that big. It must be lust.
“Uhm, right. Thanks. Uh… why is Little Akashi so angry…?”
Avoiding eye contact due to embarrassment, I fiddled with my hair and changed the subject. He eagerly seized the opportunity to unleash a torrent of words.
“Oh, apparently Big Akashi told Little Akashi about your… characteristics. Then Little Akashi complained about how such things could even be made. Seems like they’re upset because the clothes they made keep tearing and breaking.”
“They’re mad about THAT?! If they don’t specify exactly what they want and suddenly demand something like this, what are they expecting?!”
“There are other reasons too, but that’s the main one. Yeah…”
While trying to steer the conversation elsewhere by talking about how well-ventilated and comfortable it looks, he eventually fell silent and stared at the wall again.
“Hmph, not even a fight. Looks like they were just annoyed. Little one, stop sulking and let’s leave here. Haven’t you already given the clothes?”
Until now, Akashi had remained silent, clicking their tongue in annoyance before urging Little Akashi to leave.
Little Akashi grumbled some final complaints before leaving the room, leaving me sitting quietly on the bed, feeling awkward.
“If you want to pierce someone, just say so. Why are you groaning like you’ve fallen in love for the first time? Oh, wait—have you never had sex before?”
“Just shut up already!”
“Ouch, looks like I hit a sore spot. Well, as someone who’s done what you haven’t, let me give you some advice: if you want to, just do it. Personally, I prefer men over women and reading over sex, but that’s my advice. That’s all I’ll say. Continuing would just get messy. I’m off.”
Big Akashi delivered this absurd speech while placing a hand on Myungho’s shoulder before leaving.
Once alone with Myungho again, the only sound was the commotion outside.
…What should we do on our journey ahead? I understand. If I’m more careful and confess, I can politely decline.
Unless he grows to the size of a Sun Hero, I can’t even imagine marrying Myungho as he is now.
Still, rejecting him outright feels like it might hurt our friendship… I sighed deeply while staring at the thing that was neither clearly clothing nor curtains.
It’s not entirely the clothes’ fault, but I want to blame them anyway.
—
Without reaching any significant conclusion with Alterra, I spent some aimless time before quietly slipping into my clothes and sneaking out of the room.
She seemed to want to say something but avoided my gaze and didn’t stop me as I left, leaving me with a troubled heart as I moved to the next room.
“What’s this? Are you running away? Afraid of failure, you’re fleeing with your tail between your legs? Pathetic.”
“What do you know? Just shut up… Haa. Wake Yuna up. We need to head toward the elves’ forest today.”
Akashi greeted me with a distasteful smile, clearly amused by the situation. Yuna, still passed out from drinking too much yesterday, smelled strongly of alcohol.
“Mari, do you have anything to help Yuna sober up?”
After silently blinking for a moment, Mari flipped Yuna onto her back and kissed her abruptly. Surprisingly, Yuna woke up startled and flailed around.
“Puha, hah. What was THAT?! Did you put something in my mouth?!”
Seemingly as shocked as the rest of us, Mari hummed happily while informing me she had administered a hangover remedy orally.
“Couldn’t you have made it into a pill or something?”
According to Mari, due to potential oxidation issues and immediate preparation needs, this was the best option available, which made me shiver at how foul the ancient Dwarves’ preferences must have been.
“It’s nothing serious, Yuna. Just a hangover cure… Are you feeling better?”
Yuna tested her ability to count backward and declared herself surprisingly normal.
“Although I question whether it had to be delivered that way… Yes, I’m free of the hangover now. So, what’s going on? You wouldn’t wake me up without reason, right?”
“We’re heading to the elves’ forest today. We need to buy essentials, spices, maps, books, and also collect rewards from the clients who commissioned the giant tortoise hunt. Plus, we need to hitch a ride on their carriage, which leaves tomorrow morning.”
Giant tortoise hunts aren’t usually accepted by guilds unless there’s a special reason. In exceptional cases, the guild takes on the request.
Such as when the tortoise’s path threatens villages or cities—or when something important is at stake. In this case, it’s the latter.
A massive turtle that spends its life traveling between plains and mountains has been spotted heading toward the elves’ forest, prompting the elven nation to place a hefty bounty on its head.
If the turtle reaches the forest, it will no longer remain a forest.
“So, we’re leaving today? I thought I’d go a bit later. Have you already received the equipment?”
“Yeah, I just got it. So there’s no reason to stay longer. The clients are leaving early tomorrow morning, so we should go.”
Since Alterra eliminated the giant tortoise, it’s a good outcome for the elves.
Alterra hasn’t been paid yet, nor have I. So, the plan is to meet the clients and the elves directly to claim our rewards and secure a ride.
Truthfully, it’s just an attempt to mask my awkwardness. How can I maintain composure after showing my crush such a sight?
“Alright… In that case, Alterra and I will head down first and wait. The puppet, the garbage mage, and the luggage will follow shortly.”
Yuna quickly got out of bed, stretched, and started packing her belongings. Despite wearing similar undergarments, her lower body showed no reaction.
“Anything else you want to say?”
“Ah, never mind. I’ll head down first.”
Then… I should pack my things and head down too.
But I need to talk to Alterra first. I’m worried about making another mistake. The first time can be excused as morning confusion, but starting from the second time, there’s no excuse.
Alterra’s outfit perfectly matched my taste—clothes that revealed outlines, incredibly short pants… I tried to think if it was wrong for her to dress this way, but since she didn’t order such attire herself…
Ultimately, let’s just blame everything on Akashi.
Taking a deep breath at the door before knocking and entering,
“Good morning!”
Alterra immediately greeted me with a cheerful “Good morning!”
I momentarily wondered what was going on before realizing through quick deduction what her intention was.
“Oh, good morning.”
Pretending like nothing happened.
Her implicit suggestion to act as if we just woke up was accepted.
…As for what to do with my heart, let’s deal with that later.
