Kays Translations
Just another Isekai Lover~
Chapter 42: Shopping Date with Celia
After repeatedly defeating Julian in duels, I approached my date with Celia with a large amount of gold coins.
Despite living in the same building, for some reason we met at the school gate again and took a carriage to the royal capital.
Our destination was the main street in the royal capital, where shops catering to the wealthy are concentrated.
Ordinary nobles usually have shopkeepers come to the academy for shopping. However, since you never know when interruptions might occur…
Even if it’s considered un-noble, this time we came to the store ourselves. Wandering around is fun. Especially when it’s with Celia.
“Alright, Celia. Your hand.”
“Yes.”
I got out of the carriage in front of the clothing store and escorted Celia. To the onlookers, it might look odd for a noble child to escort a maid. But I don’t care about others’ opinions. They can laugh if they want. All I need is Celia.
“Um, Leonhart=sama…?”
“Yes?”
“I’m a little embarrassed…”
I held Celia’s hand and led her into the clothing store.
“Welcome. Oh?”
The store clerks looked at us as if they were seeing something unexpected.
“I want to buy clothes and dresses for this young lady. Please discuss the details of the design with her directly.”
“…Understood. Please, miss, this way. First, we’ll take your measurements. Sir, you must be tired. We’ll prepare a room for you.”
“Yes.”
As expected from a store located on the main street of the royal capital, which is a hotspot for intense competition, the clerks swallowed their doubts and focused on their work. Thanks to that, we avoided unnecessary scrutiny.
“Leonhart-sama…”
“Celia, let’s get about five outfits. Also, let’s order two dresses. We have the money, so feel free to dress extravagantly. You heard that, right? Make her the most beautiful princess in the royal capital.”
“Understood.”
“Sir, this way please.”
“Yes.”
While Celia as busy with measurements and choosing clothes, I was being entertained in a lavishly decorated room. It was probably a reception room for nobles. The room was adorned with fabrics, frills, and ribbons fitting for a clothing store, and there were three mannequins dressed in what seemed to be sample dresses.
“By the way, our store requires payment in advance…”
“I said I have the money, didn’t I?”
I placed the leather bag filled with gold coins, which the coachman had carried, with a thud on the table.
“Apologies for that. I will have drinks prepared immediately. Is there anything specific you would like?”
“Let’s have some tea. I’d like milk tea.”
“Understood.”
Afterward, tea and sweets were served, and the store owner came to greet me. Surprisingly, the time passed without becoming dull.
Merchants are quite smooth talkers. They seem to know a lot of things, and I was impressed by their knowledge and conversational skills. It’s been an enjoyable time, but it might be time to take a break.
“Store owner, I shouldn’t be my only conversation partner. I’m a bit tired of talking, so let me have a rest.”
“I see. I apologize. It seems I’ve been a bit too chatty.”
“No, it’s been a pleasant time.”
After seeing the shopkeeper bow and leave, I picked up a cookie and washed it down with milk tea while turning over my thoughts.
It’s about how far my game knowledge will be effective and what goals I should set.
Recently, or rather, since entering the academy, the game and the developments here have diverged significantly.
In the game, the protagonist challenges Leonhart to a duel over Celia’s release and wins. However, Leonhart resists and claims the duel invalid, leading to multiple duels with the protagonist, which he loses every time.
Thus, Leonhart’s honor falls into disgrace.
Eventually, under Anneliese’s orders, he’s forced into a situation where he has to gamble Celia’s freedom, and the protagonist ends up taking her.
But I think to myself:
There’s no way Leonhart, who has inherited the power of Ifrit, should lose to a level 1 protagonist.
Indeed, I’ve worked hard to avoid such a future. I’ve tried to learn magic quickly and have been studying swordsmanship. I’ve also been diving into dungeons to level up.
But if Leonhart can wield the power of Ifrit, there’s no reason he should lose to the protagonist.
So why did he lose?
In the game, Leonhart was despised as a failure who couldn’t use magic properly. He only used magic once in the game—when he sacrificed himself to defeat the evil god.
However, if Leonhart really were a failure who couldn’t use magic effectively, I should have struggled much more with magic myself. It doesn’t make sense.
So, I came up with a hypothesis:
Leonhart could use magic, but he deliberately chose not to.
The reason for this――――
Perhaps, he was unable to fully control the power of Ifrit.
The power of Ifrit is so formidable that it makes the magic used by humans seem like toys. It’s truly divine power. Maybe he never even considered trying to control and make it his own?