"It looks so good on you."
"It doesn't."
"It does!"
"Sighs."
Here I was, dressed up like a clown.
Well, not technically a clown, but I looked ridiculous in this weird outfit.
Why does she have weird taste just like Selena?
"You look so cute."
I couldn't see her face clearly given the scarf wrapped around her, but I could tell—she was happy.
Was she really enjoying this trip that much?
Well, whatever.
"Heh."
She adjusted a pair of glasses that balanced a little too well on my nose.
By now, I wasn't wearing the scarf anymore. We had moved into so sort of boutique. Well, it wasn't like most of the stalls here, which is why I chose a different word. It felt more like a closed-off space where custors could browse in privacy, unlike the bustling outdoor market outside.
I had no idea why this place in particular caught her interest, but she had dragged in without hesitation.
"Alright, let's see it," I muttered under my breath as Ariana finally finished dressing up.
I stepped forward, approaching the mirror.
"…Okay. This is hilarious."
"It suits you."
From the mirror's reflection, I saw Ariana approaching from behind. She wrapped her arms around my waist, pressing her face against my back.
I was dressed in a fitted blue top, paired with an oversized white sweater that extended past my fingertips. It felt… girly, for so reason. The black trousers I wore were fine—nothing too bad about them. And I had to admit, the shoes were actually nice.
I wouldn't lie—these shoes were good.
But then there were the glasses—too big, making my face look rounder than it actually was.
"You look so adorable! I just want to eat you up!" Ariana squealed, tightening her grip around as if she wanted to lift off the ground.
She couldn't.
I was taller.
…Then again, she probably could if she really tried.
"OKAY, NO."
No way in hell was I walking out of here dressed like this.
If Ariana was already reacting like this, I didn't even want to imagine how Selena and Nelia would react.
Those two were worse.
"Why?!" Ariana whined, looking genuinely devastated.
"No ans no."
"Co on! Alright, just this one thing, and I swear—no more shopping."
"Oh?" I raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you say that four stores ago?"
She looked away.
"…But this is really the last ti," she mumbled.
I sighed, rubbing my forehead.
The things I do for this girl.
"…Fine."
Her face lit up instantly.
She removed the glasses from my face, replacing them with a sleek black mask she had picked up from the last store.
"Perfect."
She grabbed my wrist and pulled out of the Spatial Testing Room we had been in.
Yes—spatial room.
That was the only reason this shop was so much bigger on the inside.
From what I had observed, there must have been a strict limit on shop sizes in this market, which forced certain stores to use spatial manipulation techniques to increase their interior space.
This particular boutique had three additional rooms, all made possible by enchanted spatial expansion.
"I see you really took it," the shopkeeper—a sharp-eyed woman—spoke with a knowing smile. "Great choice."
Ariana stepped forward, and the bargaining began.
I watched in silence as they haggled back and forth, exchanging numbers like professional traders.
This felt just like any other market, except for one glaring difference—
Everyone here was hiding their faces.
Ariana had warned before coming here:
"Don't be fooled by appearances. The clothes sold here aren't just expensive—they're enchanted."
One of the items she picked for —an inner top—was supposedly capable of absorbing damage to a certain degree, protecting the wearer from attacks.
That sounded incredibly useful.
Which ant it was definitely expensive.
"Fine, I'll leave it at five thousand points." The shopkeeper finally caved in.
FIVE THOUSAND?!
I nearly choked, but before I could yell, Ariana's hand was already over my mouth.
"Co on, this isn't my first ti," Ariana said smoothly. "Let's not waste ti—I'll give you two thousand."
…TWO THOUSAND?!
Just how much money does this girl have?!
The shopkeeper sighed. "Three thousand five hundred. That's the lowest I can go. These are custom pieces made by The Enchanter. His products are rare."
"I'll take it!" Ariana suddenly blurted out.
The woman's eyes widened slightly, as if realizing she had just made a mistake.
"…I see," the shopkeeper said cautiously.
Ariana and the woman walked off to finalize the purchase, but sothing about that felt off.
I didn't catch everything the shopkeeper said, but from what I heard—
Ariana had been here before.
More than once.
…Oh well.
This was my chance.
I quickly slipped out of the shop.
I had one goal.
Find that item before Ariana caught up to .
There was no way in hell I could buy it in front of her—she'd definitely suspect sothing.
According to the novel, the path Lorelle took was straight ahead from the entrance.
I rembered the entrance. I could find it.
I hope.
I reached the entrance pathway and took off.
Left.
I turned left, keeping track of my steps.
Left again.
After a set distance, I turned left again.
Right.
A long walk forward, then a sharp turn right.
Left.
Turn. Walk. Turn. Walk.
I was navigating these streets too well.
I shouldn't rember this place this clearly.
Sothing about this felt unnatural.
And yet, I kept walking.
Until—
"A dead end?" I frowned.
No. Not quite.
At the very end of the path, there was a passage. A cave-like entrance.
I stepped inside.
And that was when I realized sothing.
Where Ariana had been walking around earlier?
That was nothing.
This was the real black market.
I swallowed hard.
This better work out well.
....
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give more motivation!
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give more motivation!
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give more motivation!
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