NOVEL WEB Chapter 45
“It’s been pretty chaotic around here!”
We’ve had our fair share of surprises lately—visits from our classmates in the Hunter department, upperclassmen dropping by, and even surprise interviews on the way to school.
But somehow, we’re managing to hit the weekend without any major disasters.
Or maybe the moment I got ambushed for that sudden interview was already a huge disaster?
Lately, with everything blowing up all the time, I feel like I’m getting numb to all these events.
I can’t tell if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. Let’s just consider it a good thing—there are bound to be a lot of shocks ahead, and I can’t be surprised by everything.
“They said they’d be waiting at the fountain in front of Thumb-Up Statue by Yongmun Tower… Jinhyeon, but seriously, what even is a Thumb-Up Statue?”
“Isn’t it just what it sounds like? It was sent by Ageha, so I assume it’s a statue of a person giving a thumbs up.”
Jinhyeon and Yeonhwa were trying to figure out the way using a map.
If you’re wondering where Lapiz is, she was on her way to pick up Minho and Seolhwa.
Yeonhwa expressed a strong desire to actually walk there this time.
Honestly, I couldn’t understand why Yeonhwa was so keen on walking.
It’s not like I’m some kind of luxury-loving person, but once you’ve experienced a limousine seat that’s way comfier than your mattress in a rented room, you’d think so too.
I’m not kidding; the seat adjusted to fit my body just right—it was comfy!
“Right? You think so too, don’t you? It’s just gotta be a person giving a thumbs up, right? Not, like, a giant thumbs-up statue… right?”
But there it was: a massive thumbs-up statue standing right in the middle of the fountain.
Well, to be precise, it was a hand giving a thumbs up—but you couldn’t put it any better than that.
“Ah, Miss Blanca! You finally made it!”
Ageha, who arrived first, greeted us alongside Lapiz.
“What on earth is such a statue doing here? Is someone going to report it for lowering property values…?”
Instead of being as excited as Yeonhwa, I asked Ageha why that eyesore hadn’t been taken down yet.
“Huh? Well, to me, it looks just fine!”
Ah, right.
She does have a taste for these kinds of things.
As Ageha began singing praises about how striking and avant-garde it was, I quickly suggested we head to the store instead.
There were too many eyes around us.
“Isn’t it good for aspiring heroes to have plenty of eyes on them? Oh, is that why you dressed like that?”
“No, I just threw on what I could find at home. Though, I can’t deny that…”
“I see. Then let’s not waste any time and get going, everyone!”
“Huh? Are we already leaving…?”
“No, I meant we’re going to look for clothes, Lapiz.”
I just hoped her skewed sense of aesthetics wouldn’t reflect on her hero costume or the clothes I’d end up wearing.
Ageha led us to a clothing shop tucked away in the corner of the plaza. Once we walked in, a truly strange sight unfolded before us.
Instead of the typical clothing store filled with warm lights and lots of clothes, it looked more like a place selling electronic appliances, with random machines and an all-white interior standing out oddly.
“Welcome… Oh my! Miss Ageha! Are these the friends you mentioned?”
“Yep, this is Louis. We’re here to buy clothes for Blanca. Hope you have something that suits her today!”
Ageha introduced the person who might be a shopkeeper, hugging her like they were close friends.
“This is Louis. The owner here. Since I’m a regular, we’re pretty chummy.”
“Wow, Ageha. You’re impressive. And rich too. I’m a little jealous.”
With Seolhwa’s comment, Ageha blushed a bit, then nudged me forward to introduce me to Louis.
“This is Blanca… Wait, Blanca? You’re a first-year, right? Is that true?”
Without missing a beat, Louis took out a measuring tape and started measuring me while muttering in disbelief.
“…That’s right.”
It felt strange to be treated so casually while she measured me like it was the most natural thing in the world.
But no one seemed to raise an eyebrow at it, so I guess it must be normal?
All I could do was flinch a little from the odd sensation.
“Your height and body maturity… frankly, I could believe you’re an adult. Ageha, you’re also quite tall for your age, but Blanca…”
Should I take that as a compliment or an insult? I had no idea.
What do you even do when dealing with a same-gender outfit exchange like this?
It’s the same confusion I feel in the shower; there’s just no data for situations like this.
So, as I stood there stiffly, Louis cautiously asked, “Um, is this too sensitive a topic?”
“Ah, no. That’s not it—it’s just… it’s a bit unfamiliar.”
“Unfamiliar…? Could it be…?”
Just as Louis was about to say something thoughtless, she suddenly closed her mouth, realizing her mistake and apologized.
She must have totally misunderstood something.
“Just… stay still. It makes it easier to measure your size.”
I see. Note taken: when at a clothing store, you remain still when the staff touches you.
“I have student sizes prepared, but… Hmm, with this, I could fit you in adult sizes as well.”
Louis said that before leading me into some sort of machine setup.
“I’ll briefly explain how this works since you probably don’t know.”
She started explaining something long and complicated that seemed somewhat understandable yet incredibly difficult to grasp.
“First, I’ll set up some outfits that go well with you, so you should start with those.”
“So, I just press this button, right?”
“Yes. Just take off your clothes and put them here. Then, I’ll be waiting for you.”
I understood how the machine worked perfectly, but the fashion jargon she spouted was completely lost on me.
While blankly putting my clothes into the basket, I fiddled with the floating holographic pad.
This is fascinating. But the more I touched it, the weirder it felt, even to me.
It’s probably best to follow the shopkeeper’s recommendations since she knows fashion best.
Pressing the start button, I heard something clattering behind the machine, and soon, outfits resembling previews began popping out.
…I was waiting with my arms outstretched, expecting someone to dress me, but that’s oddly realistic!
Wearing the clothes that still felt warm, I couldn’t help but notice they felt a bit tight.
I started to wonder if the shopkeeper accidentally set the size too small.
Once I managed to put them on and tighten the belt, I thought maybe this was correct since they claimed it suited me.
I whispered to myself that it’d be fine and opened the machine’s door to step outside.
“Um, how do I look…?”
The friends I came with were just staring at me in silence.
“Honestly, I think if you had a more student-like outfit, you wouldn’t have suited it at all! You look great, Blanca! Really!”
“Guys…?”
“Whoa, wait, hold on, I mean… Wow.”
Minho seemed stuck on some words while Jinhyeon turned away, his hair transformed into a lovely pink.
What even does that color mean?
Yeonhwa maintained a stiff smile, while Seolhwa shone with excitement, giving a thumbs up.
“Wow, it’s even… taller than a grandmother…”
Lapiz mumbled that.
And finally, Ageha opened her mouth.
“That’s just cowardly!”
“Cowardly?”
“And shameless too!”
“Are you saying it doesn’t suit me?”
“No, it suits you so much it’s a problem!!!”
…Was that a compliment?
“Louis, just go ahead and ring that up for me, okay? Next, let’s try something pure and innocent!”
Whether that was a compliment or a sharp jab, I still couldn’t tell as I was again pushed into the machine’s interior.
* * * * *
“There’s nothing wrong with the official summary, but the footnotes are a bit convoluted. Just hold on, let me move this sentence here and erase the useless bits… See? It looks way better.”
“Well, that was just a notebook I was using for myself… I didn’t need to write it so other people could understand…”
“But isn’t it better to write it simply and clearly? Even small stuff becomes a habit.”
“B-Blanca. Saying that while dressed like this makes you sound like a teacher…”
“A homeroom teacher?”
“Uh, no. A teacher, a professor? A mentor…? Anyway, someone like that…”
Ah, I thought she was comparing me to Justitia and freaked out for a second.
After sipping a cup of white chocolate, I stretched my arms wide.
Maybe it’s because I had something warm, or maybe it was because I was studying; I was starting to get sleepy.
I massaged around my eyes to shake off the drowsiness and handed the notes to a few dudes huddled in the corner just sipping coffee.
“Stop just sipping coffee and participate actively, okay? You’re at the same table; why are you two sneaking off to another one?”
While I enjoyed my break with the girls, I peeked at what the guys had summarized.
Sure enough, the topic of their chat was me.
“Ageha, is it okay for you to spend that much money?”
“It’s totally fine, I’m good. It’s not even close to my monthly allowance. Not a bit wasted!”
Ageha had just splurged 2 million won on my clothes.
From the first outfit to skirts and dresses I’d never even heard of, she bought everything without hesitation.
So, when it’s time to head back, I’m definitely going to need Lapiz’s help.
There’s no way I can carry all this on my own.
People’s stares would be too much if I took the subway with these.
“So jealous… Ugh, I’m so envious. If I wore something like that, it would look awful on me, right?”
Yeonhwa sighed heavily, poking at my chest with her finger.
It tickled and hurt a little, so I dodged a bit to signal her to stop, but she sighed deeply again.
“It’s fine, Yeonhwa. Everyone has their own taste.”
Seolhwa made a comment like she was trying to uplift her mood, but it didn’t seem to resonate well.
“Life’s so unfair…”
Suddenly stating the obvious. As I held back from saying something, I thought to myself how complicated girls’ conversations always are.