Chapter 199: I'm Very Familiar with the President of This Chamber of Commerce
This isn't just a little awkward.
It would be more accurate to say this is absolutely not a place he should be!
Because this was the women's lingerie section, and from the moment Claire dragged him in here, countless shocked and bewildered gazes had converged on them.
Not only that, but the dazzling array of products displayed on the shelves looked somewhat familiar to him.
As the Seven Shadows grew older, their bodies gradually developed. Although they had slime suits that could adjust size according to their mood, they inevitably reached the age where they needed to wear underwear underneath.
However, the underwear in this world was too crude and monotonous. To ensure these growing young ladies could wear something comfortable...
He ended up using alchemy to recreate modern styles and fabrics for underwear.
Not only were they lightweight and beautiful, but they could better support figures with excessive development like Delta and Zeta.
But now, he was seeing variant designs based on those original styles here, even including particularly bold T-back designs.
As expected of you, Gamma...
Your keen business sense really seizes every opportunity.
"Sigh, I'll wait for you outside," Mahiro said, turning to leave this secret exhibition area, only to have Claire grab his wrist.
"You're not allowed to leave."
"Look, can't you see everyone staring at us?"
"It's fine."
Claire expressed indifference, then said with a serious expression: "I need your opinion, Sensei."
Hiss—
A teacher helping a student pick out underwear? Isn't that a bit too stimulating?
He wasn't sure exactly how stimulating it was, but what he was clear about was that the surrounding customers had already begun whispering among themselves.
Whatever, it doesn't matter...
"W-Wait! Alexia, isn't this one using a bit too little fabric?! And it seems like you can see through it in various places...?! As a member of the royal family, how could you possibly wear something so shameful in public!"
"No problem, Elder Sister! I'm quite confident about the development of my buttocks!"
"That's not the point!!"
Suddenly, this even more stimulating conversation caught Mahiro's attention.
Looking over, he saw a silver-haired beauty with perfectly proportioned jade legs wearing flesh-toned white stockings. Her gaze was fixed intently on a rather bold T-back on the counter, her wine-red eyes showing intense interest.
[Proud of her Curvaceous Beauty] Alexia CV: Kana Hanazawa
And behind her...
Was a slightly more mature-looking beauty.
Her posture was dignified.
Her hair was as bright red as blazing flames.
Under the lighting, her brilliant red hair cascading down her back shone with luster, while her wine-red eyes showed a flustered expression as she tried to stop the silver-haired girl.
A shop attendant nearby was smiling as she explained the various benefits of the product.
However, after finishing her explanation, the red-haired girl clearly blushed, her face burning as red as her hair.
She shyly averted her gaze, only to accidentally meet Mahiro's eyes.
"...?!"
Why is he here?!
Isn't this area off-limits to men!
At first, the red-haired girl was somewhat flustered, but when she noticed the girl in Midgar Academy for Dark Knights uniform beside him, she understood.
They must be a couple, right?
Then, looking again at his handsome face with its gentle smile, she felt he looked somewhat familiar.
Like she'd seen him somewhere before...
"You must be Iris Midgar, the First Princess of the Midgar Kingdom, correct?" Mahiro asked with interest as he proactively approached with Claire to greet her.
"You are...?"
"Pleased to meet you. I'm Yotsuba Mahiro, currently employed at Midgar Academy."
Hearing this, Iris did indeed remember.
"I know of you. Viscount Zenon has mentioned you before."
But to be honest, Princess Iris was still somewhat surprised, because Mahiro's appearance was far too youthful—he wouldn't look out of place even if he were a student.
"It seems Princess Iris has encountered some trouble?"
"No need to be so formal, Mahiro-sensei. Just call me Iris. As for trouble... well, there is a little bit..."
Iris looked rather troubled as she glanced at the silver-haired girl.
That was her younger sister, Alexia. Since Iris was usually busy with official duties and rarely had time to accompany her, and because of certain matters, the relationship between the two had become somewhat distant.
So Iris wanted to mend their relationship. Having heard that the Arcadia Trading Company was very popular in the royal capital, she thought of taking her sister out shopping.
But she never expected that Alexia would take a liking to such shameful underwear, and no matter what she said, Alexia refused to let go of it!
If she wore such shameful underwear, the dignity of the Midgar Royal Family would be completely lost!!!
"Pleased to meet you. You must be the Second Princess, Miss Alexia, who Viscount Zenon mentioned as his fiancée?"
Suddenly being addressed, and with the title of "Zenon's fiancée" no less, Alexia turned around with displeasure, though her hand never released the pale red T-back.
Seeing the somewhat young-looking Mahiro, she asked:
"And who are you?"
"I'm Yotsuba Mahiro, a swordsmanship instructor at Midgar Academy."
"Elder Sister's teacher?"
"No, Princess Iris's teacher is Zenon Griffey. I'm responsible for teaching first-year swordsmanship. So, what can I do for you?"
"It's nothing particularly important. I just accidentally overheard your conversation with Princess Iris, and I have a small, perhaps immature suggestion."
"How perverted, eavesdropping on a private conversation between sisters."
Perhaps because of his earlier way of addressing her, a somewhat displeased smile appeared on Alexia's face, and her words became a bit sharper.
But Mahiro didn't mind this, stating directly:
"I actually agree with your perspective, Miss Alexia."
"Eh?" Alexia was slightly taken aback.
"I think Miss Alexia's hip line is indeed perfect, and your aesthetic sense is outstanding as well."
"Right, right! It seems you have good taste too. I knew this would suit me!"
She was just like a child.
After receiving validation, Alexia immediately showed an excited smile.
"Well, if we're just talking about physical development, there's indeed no problem. But Miss Alexia, have you considered your age? This style might not be quite appropriate for someone your age. In a few years, such a style would better accentuate your feminine charm. What do you think?"
"...Well, I've considered that too..."
Alexia's eyes wandered somewhat, and she gradually released her grip on the T-back.
Actually, it wasn't that she specifically had to have that particular piece.
It was just her rebellious nature—she didn't want to completely follow Elder Sister Iris's plans, just like how she disliked the fiancé arranged by the royal family, Viscount Zenon!
And she was also seeking a sense of validation.
Mahiro had precisely seen through this.
Taking advantage of Alexia's slight softening, he said to the shop attendant nearby:
"Please select a few suitable styles for Miss Alexia. Just put the bill under my name."
"Of course, no problem, Mahiro-sama."
The shop attendant gave him a slight bow, then turned back to the counter to make selections for Alexia.
However, his actions left the two princesses completely stunned.
"W-Wait a minute, isn't this a bit inappropriate?!"
Alexia's face immediately turned red, and even her speech became stammering.
A man she just met, who was also a teacher at the academy, giving her underwear as a gift?
Isn't this development a bit subtle?
This was something even Zenon Griffey had never done!
And how can you act so natural about this?!
Alexia instantly felt her sense of shame skyrocketing.
Princess Iris nearby also agreed, though she was too shocked to speak.
Having lived this long and handled plenty of Knight Order affairs, what kind of situations hadn't she seen before?
Sorry, but this particular situation was one she truly hadn't encountered.
But seeing her younger sister actually compromise, her feelings became somewhat subtly complicated...
She knew exactly how willful Alexia could be. Who would have thought she'd be so easily handled by a man she just met?
"Don't worry, no need to be polite. Consider it a gift for our first meeting."
After offering this triple reassurance, Mahiro quickly pulled Claire away and headed deeper into the store.
Only after completely leaving the sisters behind did Mahiro let out a heavy sigh of relief.
That was indeed a bit stimulating...
"Sensei, are you familiar with the staff here?"
Claire, who had been silent until now, examined him with her crimson eyes, her sharp gaze seeming to see right through him.
Using the address "Mahiro-sama"—no matter how you looked at it, this relationship didn't seem ordinary.
"Well, I'm not particularly familiar with the shop attendants, but I am quite familiar with the president of the Arcadia Trading Company," Mahiro said indifferently.
"Liar."
She had never seen Mahiro visit the Arcadia Trading Company before.
And judging by his demeanor, this seemed to be his first time here too. How could he possibly be familiar with the president here?
"By the way, let me remind you, Sensei. This is the VIP section. The products here are all very expensive—even a single piece costs hundreds of thousands of zeny."
"It's fine. If you like something, I'll get you a few pieces too."
Although he said this, Mahiro couldn't help but click his tongue inwardly.
This stuff is actually this profitable?
A single piece costing hundreds of thousands of zeny, and this many people are buying it?
As for Claire, she had already happily started making selections. Although the smile on her face wasn't very obvious, you could still tell from her demeanor.
Soon, she was holding a black one, a purple one, and a red one.
As she passed by him on her way to the changing room, she muttered quietly:
"Back then, Sensei said black didn't suit my age at the time. So it should be fine now, right?"
Mahiro: "..."
Hearing this, he couldn't help but chuckle wryly.
He never expected Claire to hold a grudge like this—she'd remembered an offhand comment until now.
But he had to admit, Claire really did follow his teachings, even if she put on an unconvinced front.
At the very least, since he mentioned it, Claire had switched from her original black to white, and never did high leg lifts while wearing skirts again.
Soon, rustling sounds of changing clothes came from the changing room. Through the gap under the curtain, he could see her jacket, top, and skirt falling to the floor one by one.
Mahiro: "..."
Maybe I should move away from here?
If I stay any longer, I feel like all the women around here are going to start thinking I'm a pervert.
Just as he was wondering where to wait for a while, someone suddenly spoke to him—a shop attendant.
"Excuse me, sir. You seem to be feeling rather troubled. We offer private VIP lounges here. Would you like to rest in one?"
She had deep brown hair and eyes of the same color. Her face looked elegant and refined—she was a high-level beauty.
She wore a uniform—an indigo one-piece short dress with simple cuts, embroidered with the Arcadia Trading Company logo.
Her proper, elegant attire and polite manners showed professional qualities that were completely on par with the flight attendants he'd seen in his previous life.
"Me?" Mahiro asked curiously, pointing at himself.
"Yes. After that young lady finishes selecting her items, I will personally bring her to the VIP room to find you. No need to worry."
The shop attendant's tone was very sincere, but when he met her gaze, Mahiro read other meaning in her eyes and immediately understood.
"Then please lead the way."
"Of course, please follow me."
After saying this, the attendant led the way in front.
He followed behind.
The direction led deeper into the VIP section, but they passed through a staff-only door.
Beyond the door was a bright, spacious corridor paved with red carpet. At the end stood a door with elegant carvings.
Just one glance was enough to make someone exclaim, "Whoa, this is really exaggerated."
Two beautiful women stood like door guardians on either side of the door. After bowing to him, they slowly opened the door.
If this was meant to be a single-person lounge, the space was a bit too large.
The interior was spacious enough to host a small party.
On the table in the center, various desserts were already prepared. The poured black tea still emitted a warm, fragrant aroma.
On the sofa opposite sat a beautiful elf with long blue hair.
Dressed in a bewitching black evening dress, she had a model-like figure and an elegant, lovely appearance. Especially the beauty mark near the corner of her mouth added a touch of alluring charm.
The moment she saw Mahiro enter, the elf quickly stood up and knelt on one knee toward him.
"I have been awaiting your arrival for a long time, my Master."
"Long time no see, Gamma. You seem to be doing well."
"All thanks to you."
Gamma looked up and smiled at him.
Different from Alpha's holy beauty...
Gamma had a face that looked full of intelligence, and deep blue eyes that emitted an intellectual quality.
Just one glance was enough to know she was as elegant and wise as ever.
But...
As for her flaws... they were also as ever...
"My Master, it has been so long since I last saw you... I've missed you terribly..."
Gamma stood up, tears glistening in her eyes as she walked toward Mahiro with elegant model-like steps.
She walked with provocative hip-swaying movements, each step accompanied by the crisp sound of her high heels.
But the next second, her left foot suddenly tripped over her right heel.
"Blegh!"
She fell on completely flat ground.
"Th-These shoes are just too high."
Then she blamed her high heels.
"Are you okay?" Mahiro asked with concern.
"I-I'm fine."
Gamma did her best to get up and showed him a reassuring smile, acting as if nothing had happened.
But a trickle of bright red was already flowing from her nose.
The attendants nearby moved with swift efficiency to change her into lower heels and quickly wiped away her nosebleed.
"D...."
Even Mahiro couldn't help but sigh.
There was no helping it—this was just how Gamma was.
Her mind was sharp, and her magical power was surprisingly strong.
But her only flaw was... her motor skills were basically zero. She could trip while walking on flat ground.
By the way, her combat ability was also basically zero. When she fought, it was purely through brute force.
One could say that within the entire Shadow Garden, Gamma was one of only two people he couldn't properly teach.
Making him thoroughly understand that no matter how smart the brain was, if there were no talent points allocated to combat aptitude, it was useless.
As for the other one he couldn't teach, that was Delta—pure beast instinct in combat. No matter how he tried to teach her, it was useless.
It wasn't without reason that Zeta called her a stupid dog.
"Th-Then, my Master, please come over here."
With blushing cheeks, Gamma invited him to sit.
Mahiro picked up the black tea on the table and took a small sip, then picked up a macaron and began eating.
"As expected of you, Gamma. The trading company is doing very well," Mahiro praised somewhat indistinctly through his food.
"No, this is all your grace. Without you, Mahiro-sama, with my own meager abilities, I wouldn't have been able to recreate these products."
A hint of nostalgia appeared in Gamma's moving eyes.
She still remembered how weak she used to be. Although she held the third seat among the Seven Shadows, that was only because she was the third to join.
In reality, her strength was completely at the bottom.
Every time she got beaten up badly by Delta during training, she would cling to Mahiro with a tearful face, wanting to hear about new and interesting things.
Over time, Gamma kept these things firmly in her heart, hoping that one day she could recreate them for Mahiro-sama and prove her worth.
The fact proved that she had indeed done very well.
So Mahiro ended their business pleasantries and asked directly:
"By the way, Gamma, you specifically had someone guide me here. Is there something important?"
"Yes, Mahiro-sama. There are mainly two matters I need to trouble you with.Gamma put away her smile and said solemnly.
"Okay, then let's hear them."
"Of course. The first matter concerns Eta. She said she wants to study your handgun, and I was wondering if that would be possible..."
When Gamma said this, her heart was extremely anxious, one could even say cautious.
After all, that was Mahiro-sama's weapon. For them to just casually study it...
But Eta said Mahiro had previously promised her she could study it.
Hearing this, and with Eta's persistent pleading, Gamma finally dared to bring it up.
During the brief silence, Mahiro swallowed the food in his mouth and said something that surprised Gamma.
"I thought it was something major, but it's just this?... Next time, there's no need to go through so much trouble. Just send someone to my dormitory to pick it up."
As he spoke, he took Nightmare out from his coat and placed it on the table under Gamma's astonished gaze.