"Your Majesty, I'll take my leave~"
After bidding the Elf Queen farewell, Kurose Akira strode out of the elven palace, preparing to open a portal back to his guild.
But the moment he stepped past the palace gates, he spotted Princess Alina approaching with light, graceful steps.
Her breathtakingly beautiful face was lit with a bright, delighted smile—as though his arrival alone had put her in a good mood.
"Hey, you jerk~ long time no see~"
Alina skipped over to his side, circling around him like a lively little deer.
"Didn't we just meet yesterday?" Akira replied with a faint smile.
"So boring~ you really have no sense of romance~"
She rolled her eyes at him, then curved her lips into a radiant grin.
"That thing—was it your creation?"
"…What thing?" Akira asked, confused.
"Don't play dumb! I mean the magic potions the Rose Duchess sent!" Alina pulled out a pink vial from her pocket and waved it in front of him. "The moment I opened it, I could smell your scent. Don't tell me it has nothing to do with you!"
"Uh…"
Akira's gaze immediately drifted away.
Behind him, Loserine stood silently as always, her clear eyes fixed on him, waiting for instructions like an obedient machine.
"Loserine! We're out of here!"
Without hesitation, Akira grabbed her and bolted toward the teleportation array.
"…Understood."
Like a perfectly programmed construct, Loserine followed his command without question.
They didn't linger for even a second—escaping at full speed.
"Hey! Don't run!"
Alina tried to chase after them, but a flash of white light swallowed the pair, and they vanished without a trace.
"That guy!"
She stomped her foot in frustration. She hadn't expected him to flee the moment she brought it up.
There was definitely something fishy going on!
...
In the blink of an eye, Akira and Loserine returned safely to the guild.
But to his surprise, the guild hall was completely empty.
"…Strange. Where's Lucia and the others?"
He looked around, searching for any sign of them.
Sure, he had told everyone they could act freely—but for no one to be here at all…
…Well.
When he pushed open the bedroom door and saw Canlutiya sleeping soundly inside a coffin, he could only shake his head helplessly.
"…Seems like they're not in the guild," Loserine murmured, equally puzzled.
"Hold on, I'll ask."
Akira immediately activated long-distance communication magic and contacted Ivsha.
"Where are you guys?"
"Oh~ Mr. Akira~"
Ivsha's voice quickly came through.
"We're at a women's swimsuit shop in the Holy Church district, picking out swimsuits."
"…Swimsuits?"
Akira's brow lifted slightly—his interest instantly piqued.
"Yes~ Lucia said it was recommended by Saint Delori. It's owned by the Celestial Consort Guild, and they carry many 'ahead-of-their-time' designs."
"…Xu Feiyan's swimsuit shop!? 'Ahead-of-their-time'?"
Akira immediately leaned forward.
"Ivsha, can I access your live view?"
Outside of missions, observing an adventurer's perspective required their consent.
"…That…"
Ivsha hesitated for a moment, then softly replied,
"…Of course~ but don't tell everyone I sold them out~"
"Don't worry. You trust me, right?" Akira said, patting his chest confidently.
"…Alright~"
As her voice fell, her perspective streamed into his mind.
A blue screen unfolded before him—and the figures of Lucia and the others appeared.
A slow smile crept across Akira's lips.
At the same time, their conversation filled his ears—
Beatrice: "Sister Lucia, does this swimsuit look good?"
Lucia: "Mm, it does."
Beatrice: "Then I'll take this one! The Guild Master will definitely like it!"
Alice: "Look at me! Look at me!"
Lucia: "…That one looks a bit… too childish. Alice, it doesn't suit you."
Alice: "Then what about this one?"
Mare Lyne: "Strange… why does my chest feel so tight?"
Ivsha: "Miss Lyne~ that style is too small for you~ how about this one?"
Mare Lyne: "Is that even a swimsuit? It's just two pieces of tape! There's no way I'm wearing that!"
Ivsha: "But~ it's very charming, isn't it?"
Virola: "Agreed!"
"..."
While they continued picking out swimsuits, Akira leaned back on the sofa, poured himself a glass of fruit wine, and grabbed a plate of snacks.
Watching the "scenery" while sipping his drink—he was more than content to wait for their return.
As for his chosen pastime, Loserine didn't quite understand it.
Her ghostly eyes stared at the screen, watching Ivsha and the others try on swimsuits.
For some reason… something stirred faintly within her.
Though she usually acted like an emotionless combat machine—
She wasn't entirely devoid of feeling.
And when faced with something beautiful… even she couldn't help but feel a ripple in her heart.
"…?"
Akira naturally noticed the fluctuation in her emotions. Her soul-body shimmered faintly with starlight whenever she felt something.
"Ivsha."
"Mm~ I'm here~"
"Pick out a swimsuit for Loserine too. As for the style…"
"Oh~"
Akira knew full well—Loserine would never choose one for herself.
So he'd just have to do it.
As for the style…
That, of course, would be entirely based on his preferences.
After giving the instruction, Akira raised his glass and took a sip.
He didn't particularly like alcohol, but the fruit wine in the guild was brewed by Virola and Alice—low in alcohol, with a faint, sweet fragrance reminiscent of young girls.
"Oh? Seems you quite enjoy the taste of life."
Suddenly, Mira Aure's voice echoed in his mind.
"…?"
Akira paused mid-sip and frowned slightly.
"What do you mean, 'the taste of life'?"
"The taste of life~ is everything that stems from life itself," Mira Aure explained, her tone tinged with excitement. "For example—love…"
"Cough, cough—"
Akira coughed awkwardly.
He really didn't need to understand that instantly.
"Hehehe~ that Mare Lyne… who would've thought such a petite frame had so much to offer~"
Mira laughed teasingly.
"Though~ she's still no match for me~"
"..."
Her blatant self-praise sparked a flicker of curiosity in Akira.
It made him wonder—
Between the two dragons… who really came out on top?
Judging from how Mare Lyne kept calling her a "big-breasted dragon," Mira Aure's assets were probably on an entirely different level…
Maybe even rivaling the Elf Queen herself?
About an hour later, Lucia and the others finally finished their shopping and returned to the guild.
As the teleportation array flashed, Akira quickly shut off the shared vision.
"Guild Master! We're back!"
Beatrice dashed toward him excitedly and threw herself into his arms.
"Welcome back~"
Akira smiled and patted her head. The unique fragrance of the elves mixed with the lingering scent of fruit wine in his nose, creating a strangely intoxicating effect that brought a faint flush to his cheeks.
"Guild Master, why is your face so red?" Beatrice asked curiously.
"Kids shouldn't ask about adult things."
Akira pinched her nose lightly, then shifted his gaze toward Ivsha.
She instantly understood.
But instead of handing over Loserine's swimsuit in front of everyone, she simply smiled and asked,
"Mr. Akira~ would you like to admire the swimsuit I picked out?"
"Of course."
He knew exactly what she meant.
But the moment he agreed, Alice and the others surrounded him.
"Master! Master! Look at mine!"
"Guild Master, I picked a really nice one too…"
Faced with their enthusiasm, Akira accepted them all—but he had to maintain his composure.
In a calm tone, he said,
"Everyone, come to my room. Let your Guild Master properly evaluate your choices."
"Okay~!"
Under his lead, the group rushed toward his bedroom, eager to show off their swimsuits.
Only Lucia and Mare Lyne remained seated in the guild hall, unmoved.
"A bunch of children…" Mare Lyne crossed her legs on the sofa, scoffing. "My charm doesn't need his approval."
…Probably.
As for Lucia, she simply couldn't bring herself to do it.
As the Pope, letting someone "evaluate" her swimsuit…
No matter how she thought about it, it felt strange.
Meanwhile, as the others rushed off, Loserine turned toward the training room, intending to continue practicing her swordsmanship.
But just as she was about to leave—
Ivsha appeared silently behind her.
"Loserine, come too~ I picked one for you~"
"…For me?"
For once, surprise flickered across Loserine's face.
"Mm~ come on~"
Ivsha took her hand and gently pulled her into the bedroom.
"Guild Master! Does it look good? Does it look good?"
Beatrice and Beatrice's sister spun around in their matching skirt-style swimsuits—one red, one blue—perfectly reflecting their personalities.
The frilled hems made them look lively and adorable, radiating youthful energy.
"Looks great." Akira nodded approvingly, then shifted his gaze to Alice.
Her choice was completely different—a pink bikini that boldly showcased her graceful figure.
"Master~ what about mine?"
She hugged his arm, eyes full of expectation.
Akira glanced at the butterfly decoration on her swimsuit, which subtly concealed just enough to make it even more alluring.
"Perfect."
"Then~ what about me?"
Ivsha stepped forward as well.
The moment Akira looked at her—
Something primal stirred awake inside him.
"…My god…"
She had chosen a dark purple monokini that hugged every curve of her body, accentuating her stunning figure to perfection.
Combined with the lightly swaying golden heart-shaped tail behind her—
Even holy light seemed to flicker instinctively in response.
"Well?" she asked, pressing herself against him.
The softness against his arm nearly overwhelmed him.
Her breath brushed his ear as she whispered,
"There's a special opening too~"
"…!"
Akira's eyes widened as his temperature spiked.
Th-this—
How was he supposed to endure that!?
In the end, he could only give a firm thumbs-up—the simplest way to express the strongest approval.
While everyone else eagerly showed off their swimsuits—
Virola stood off to the side, looking uneasy.
She was… shy.
And due to certain reasons, a centaur couldn't exactly wear a normal swimsuit.
"Virola, where's yours?" Akira asked gently, noticing her nervous shifting.
"I… I…"
She hesitated, at a loss.
"Virola! Show the Guild Master! Yours is really pretty!" Beatrice encouraged her.
"Yeah, yeah!" Alice chimed in.
After a moment of hesitation, Virola finally gathered her courage and changed.
And the moment she did—
Akira's eyes lit up.
"Your swimsuit…"
It looked like two leaves delicately covering her body—pure, natural beauty at its finest.
"…D-does it look good?"
Her gaze wavered shyly under his scrutiny.
Akira smiled softly.
"I like it."
"Really!?"
Her eyes sparkled with joy.
"Of course."
He stepped closer.
"Come on, Virola—turn around. Let me see the back."
"W-wait!"
Her face flushed instantly as she tried to stop him—
But it was too late.
The clever Guild Master had already moved behind her and gently lifted—
"…?"
He blinked.
…She wasn't wearing anything underneath?
"Waaah…!"
Virola covered her face, her entire body turning red like a ripe apple.
"Cough! I didn't mean to!"
Akira quickly stepped back.
"I-it's okay…"
She shook her head slightly, not blaming him.
She was just embarrassed—being exposed like that in front of everyone…
"Alright~ Mr. Akira, don't tease Virola anymore~"
Ivsha smoothly shifted the attention.
With a smile, she said,
"Why don't we take a look at the swimsuit I chose for Miss Loserine~?"
"…Alright."
Akira responded, turning his gaze toward Loserine—
And froze.
…Where was the swimsuit?
Was this the emperor's new clothes!?