“Master, you do know we will be using my money, right?”

“Yes, the selfsame money I had generously given you.”

The maid rolled her eyes at his retort and quickened her steps to avoid any more bickering with him but that ended up in failure as he caught up to her.

“Praised by any and all, I can’t say I’m not excited.”

“You could be recognized, Master. Fleur Rouge may be just a Tailoring Company on the surface but it has ties to the Global Azakin Empire as well as the Despot Collective. They have no shortage of powerful people for protection.”

“Come now, it’s not like we’re going to rob them. We’re just two customers looking for a new change of clothes.”

“...”

With the Bloated Murderer killed and possessed, Arthur decided to rest for one day and take time to enjoy what Blackcrest had to offer. The past week or so he spent masquerading as Randy Ronvorld to fool the Vampires and the killer, but now that his objective was completed, he could relax for a bit.

His first destination was Fleur Rouge, which was the biggest Tailoring Company in all of Astria. Not only does it offer ludicrously expensive but exceptionally well-made clothes, but it also sells magical artifacts and Knight armors.

Arthur did not have any hidden intentions for his visit, he truly wanted to buy better clothes for himself and Evelyn. He was berated by the maid due to his poor appearance after leaving the Maga Venari Village, therefore, he changed his perspective and opted for a better outlook, fitting for a relatively handsome man like Leonis Sanguis.

Ironically, Evelyn, the one who caused this, wasn’t keen on going to Fleur Rouge. While it was true that Leonis Sanguis wasn’t famous, he was still distinguishable due to his characteristically dark red hair.

The Fleur Rouge headquarters was second to none in terms of extravagance and size. It was slightly smaller than Terden’s castle, but it was divided into smaller shops, like the malls on Earth.

For a world not as technologically advanced as Earth, Arthur was fascinated by the welcoming sight of Fleur Rouge.

The entrance wasn’t even guarded and civilians were flocking in, excited to begin a shopping spree.

Of course, a renowned establishment like Fleur Rouge was meant only for those with enough money to buy exquisite sets of clothes made of rare materials.

Evelyn and Arthur entered the enormous buildings and soon got to see the neatly ordered shops on both sides. Surprisingly, there were even Tea Shops and small but crowded fancy restaurants.

“You seem as fascinated as I am. Is this your first time too?”

“As you know, Master, I’m but a frugal maid. Fleur Rouge was and remains beyond my monetary capabilities. However, even at a first glance, the products on display are of the highest quality.”

Her earlier reluctance and adamance notwithstanding, Evelyn was intrigued by the products and would stop every couple of steps to inspect something. Arthur did not follow the current fashion nor did he have a good or bad taste, therefore, he let her unwittingly drag him from one shop to the other.

Eventually, they stopped at a relatively large shop: It was clean, spacious, and even the clerks were purposely young and beautiful girls, dressed in seductive but not overly-revealing outfits.

“Greetings, how may I help you?”

Upon noticing them, one of the clerks approached Arthur and Evelyn and performed a respectful bow.

“Oh, we’re just browsing. Thank you, though.”

The girl did not insist, she smiled and backed away, though she did follow them with her eyes and kept her ears perked in case they needed any assistance.

Evelyn took a couple of steps and stopped before a mannequin wearing a long black dress made of Silk, Cotton Tulle, and Cashmere around the shoulders… all of those were raven-black.

Arthur ogled the dress then suggested,

“Why don’t you try it? They have changing rooms.”

“...”

The maid did not respond, she kept looking at the dress for a bit then, with a quieter voice, said, “It does look like my now-ruined maid clothes. I admit that it’s good…”

She stretched her hand and caressed the dress in a daze, “But it wouldn’t sui-”

“Hey! Yes! She would like to try this dress, please.”

Before she could finish, Arthur had already called the clerk. Arthur dragged the startled Evelyn to the changing room and pushed her inside while the clerk girl brought the dress.

“This is unnecessary, Master.”

“Ehm, I don’t think so. Shouldn’t a maid of your caliber look the part?”

“...”

There was only silence coming from the closed curtain. Soon enough, Evelyn was handed the dress while Arthur patiently waited, his eyes sweeping across the other customers.

Two minutes passed by and, at last, Evelyn revealed herself. The black maid-like dress suited her perfectly; It wasn’t too revealing and it matched her characteristically cold appearance.

With a smile, Arthur motioned for her to look at the mirror, which she did.

“See? What did I tell you? I’ve got a good eye for these things.”

“I was the one who picked it, Master.”

“Irrelevant! You didn’t have the balls to try it.”

“I’m a woman, Master, I don’t have ball-”

“For the love of- ahh... Do you have to retort every time?” He turned around and asked the nearby clerk.

“What do you think? Isn’t she gorgeous?”

“Yes, sir. It’s as if the dress was designed for her.”

The girl agreed on the spot while lightly clapping then proceeding to name the materials from which the dress was made of.

As for Evelyn, she kept staring at her reflection, seemingly absent-minded. It felt too surreal that she was trying on an expensive dress from Fleur Rouge, a place she had never expected to visit in the first place.

“Isn't it exhilarating to indulge oneself’s desires once in a while, my dear Evelyn?”

“...”

The woman glanced at him then returned to the changing room only to see a faint light emit from her casual clothes. She closed the curtains and took out the shining Sky Bloom, momentarily mesmerized by its green hue.

While Arthur went to the reception to pay, Evelyn kept looking at the flower in a daze, only snapping out of it when she heard a familiar yet obnoxious voice of an old friend.

“I really hate this place.”

With his hands behind his head, Jack strolled behind a black-haired young man wearing what could only be described as ‘aristocratic’ clothes.

“Shut up, will you? You’re not here to talk but to do your job.”

The young noble snarled at his protector then continued his brief tour around the shop, eagerly looking at the new products.

Without even changing into her former clothes, the maid left the changing room and walked behind the busy Arthur, her eyes following Jack and the young man.

Her old friend Jack noticed her too, he stopped walking and stared at her with surprise.

‘The fuck?’

Evelyn, with narrowed eyes, gave him a piercing glare and signaled for him to not cause trouble. Fortunately, apart from grinning, Jack shrugged and walked back to the young man’s side.

Alas, within less than a minute, the matter got more complicated. The young man, Thomas Sidus, son of the Duke, caught sight of Evelyn.

“Oh?”

With rapid steps, he approached her but did not act rudely, instead, he elegantly bowed and said,

“Greetings, Miss. I am Thomas Sidus, I was wondering if you’re interested in…”

Thomas stopped talking as he noticed a middle-aged man with dark red hair turn around, a confused frown plastered on his face.

Arthur did not even need an explanation, he first glanced at the quiet Evelyn then at the young noble.

‘Well… of course this would happen.’

He was about to speak up only for Evelyn to coldly say,

“I’m not interested.”

Since he did not know her, Thomas did not dare to be forceful, especially not in a place like Fleur Rouge, which did not tolerate things like this. He bowed again and excused himself thereafter, though his eyes never left Evelyn.

“Would you look at that. Love at first sight.”

“He’s the son of the Duke, Master.”

“Is he now? Doesn’t look bright.”

“Are we done here, Master? I think it’s best if we leave.”

Arthur glanced at Jack, who was also eyeing Evelyn, and nodded. Since the dress was already paid for, Evelyn left wearing it.

The rest of their tour did not last long and, with the maid’s help, Arthur bought a couple of casual clothes for both of them.

…

“Jack! Who was she?”

“No idea.”

Still mesmerized, Thomas was dazedly looking at the shop’s entrance while remembering Evelyn.

Upon seeing the youth stand there and do nothing, Jack suggestively said,

“Do you want me to go after her and see which family she’s from?”

“Y-yes yes! Do that! I’ll wait here.”

Evelyn had rejected his offer earlier, nevertheless, Thomas was someone easily smitten by beauty and liked to fool around rather than be responsible and train. However, Terden attributed his son’s immaturity to his young age and, for now, let him do whatever he wanted. As long as Jack was protecting him, nothing could go wrong.

****

While the parasite and his maid were having delicious meat at one of the restaurants, someone came to their table and unceremoniously pulled a chair then sat down.

Arthur wasn’t bothered, he glanced at the man, recognizing him from before. Seeing how Evelyn reacted and from what he already knew, it wasn’t difficult to guess who the man actually was.

While he kept his silence, Evelyn was giving Jack a threatening glare, one which made him burst out in laughter.

“Don’t look so gloomy, Eve. I’m here just to chat.”

With that said, Jack turned his attention to ‘Leonis’, who was nonchalantly eating his meal as if nothing happened.

“Dark red hair is something uncommon, even amongst nobility. I take it you are Leonis Sanguis, yes? I thought you killed yourself during the Blood Purge.”

“Could have happened, my memory is hazy.” Retorted Arthur, still unperturbed.

“This is Jack. Please excuse his rudeness and-”

She was interrupted as the parasite raised his hand, signaling for her to stop.

“This is the friend whom you told me about, right? The pleasure is mine, Jack. As you can see, I’m having a lovely meal with my dear Evelyn, so unless there is something important to discuss, I suggest you leave us.”

‘My Dear Evelyn?’

Jack creased his brows, his complexion changing ever-so-slightly. However, he did not lash out angrily, he merely smiled.

“The fact that a supposedly dead person, a noble no less, is standing before me should be important enough, wouldn’t you agree?”

“I suppose so. But I don’t see how it has anything to do with you.”

“Evelyn is a dear friend of mine and I wouldn’t want her to be embroiled in things like this. She has gone through enough alr-”

“Enough, Jack.”-Evelyn

“...”

Arthur proceeded to ignore the man and continued his meal, oblivious to the tense atmosphere lingering in the air.

Jack sighed and left after leaving those final words.

“Just like I have recognized you, don’t doubt for a second that more people will. If I were you, I would leave the city.”

…

“You have such a good friend, my dear Evelyn. He even worries for your safety. I mean, is it really that bad to be traveling with me?”

“I can’t say that it’s not dangerous. However, I find it more interesting than being just a maid.”

Evelyn unknowingly let out a faint smile as she gave an instinctive response.

“I wish I had friends like that. I’m kind of envious.”

“Friends aren’t always a good thing to have, Master.”

“That’s debatable. Aren’t you my friend too? Imagine if I was traveling alone… it would be insufferably boring. Plus, who wouldn’t want to travel with a gorgeous woman.”

“Your compliments will get you nowhere, Master. If you’re horny, Blackcrest has a reputable red district.”

“I was being genuine, though.”

“...”

***

Minor Explanation about the System and Stats.

Put simply, the System granted to Arthur Bilgart has no tangible effect on the environment nor does it facilitate the execution of skills (Which include, but not limited to, Spells and techniques).

The System provides numerical and exact values of a person’s physical and magical capabilities. Additionally, it offers explanations regarding new and old skills through the use of ‘System Management’.

The following are the standard ‘stats’ included in the System: Strength - Agility - Dexterity - Intelligence - Wisdom - Vitality

Strength: gauges the user’s physical prowess(For example: the ability to lift heavier objects). The capacity of exertion and endurance, the power to resist force.

Agility: gauges the user’s velocity, the speed of one’s movement or attacks. Quickness of motion.

Dexterity: gauges the user’s senses and accuracy(It should be noted that Dexterity is closely tied to Agility and the two are highly reliant on each other for better stability and execution). Dexterity affects not only precision but one’s sight, hearing, and the natural survival instincts.

Intelligence: gauges the user’s Magic power. Generalized terminology may give rise to misconceptions, however, the Intelligence Stat has nothing to do with one’s actual learning and understanding capacity. It is only a visual and numerical representation of the following: Mana Pool - Mana Purity - Outgoing Magical Power - Mana Control.

Wisdom: gauges the user’s Mana Recovery. It is an accurate depiction of an individual’s ability to absorb ambient Mana and replenish his/her Mana Pool.

Vitality: gauges the user’s rate of physical recovery. Vitality is literally the state of being active and strong, it is the energy allowing one’s body to recover from fatigue and injuries.

-

Blackcrest:

Blackcrest city is the second oldest main settlement in the Militant Syndicate. It took five years to build the towering walls and the famously unbreakable thick gates.

In the year 1002 of the 6th Era, people started flocking into Blackcrest after the notorious White Skin Disease that broke out in the capital.

Before the Aristocratic Consortium could dispatch one of their own, a local noble took charge of the city and raised people’s morale: It was a man by the name of Frederic Yun Sidus, who would later join the Consortium as a permanent member.

Frederic saw the potential of a city strategically built in what could only be described as a perfect place. Excluding the abundance of fertile soil around Blackcrest, there also existed a mine rich with regularly excavated silver.

But, a single mine wasn’t enough for Frederic, who spared no small amount of resources and men to thoroughly search every corner of his new territory. Eventually, a second mine was located South-East, dangerously close to Hollow Creek. The second mine had gold in it, which pushed Frederic to hire hundreds of people to build a wall-like fence that separated the mine from Hollow Creek and its ghastly and eerily empty forest.

Unfortunately, the Gold mine did not sustain Blackcrest for long and was abandoned in Year 1126. Therefore, George Sidus, son of Frederic Yun, changed the fundamental tactics for rapid income that his father had relied on and, instead, switched to Tailoring and Farming, which were profitable, stable, and much more self-sufficient. George Sidus would sell all the mined Silver and bring the best artisans from all the corners of the Human Continent, somehow managing to aid in the birth of the largest tailoring company in Astria.

Relying on his new benefactors, George Sidus expanded the farms and provided them with protection and reasonable annual tax, which garnered more respect and, later on, earned him a position in the Aristocratic Consortium.

The chain of good luck did not last indefinitely for the Sidus family as George’s son wasn’t as bright as he was. Despite inheriting the status of a Duke, the son was an incompetent and greedy person, almost causing the downfall of his family and leading to a disastrous economical collapse of Blackcrest. However, George’s grandson, Terden Sidus, turned the tides and through distinguished military accomplishment as well as a bright mind, was able to recover the dwindling honor of his family and even get recruited into the Consortium at the age of 40, less than a year after his retirement from the military.

While it has seen better days, Blackcrest remains one of the four pillars of the Militant Syndicate and it accounts for a staggering 35% of the nation’s net worth, all thanks to the presence of Fleur Rouge Tailoring Company Headquarters in it, as well as the amicable relationship between the Sidus family and Fleur Rouge.

-

*The Chamber of Choices:

Subsequent to the rise of races that could evolve, mutate, or physically enhance themselves, the System reacted accordingly by offering ‘The Chamber of Choices’. In essence, it is a useful sub-system meant to facilitate self-improvement as well as avoid any unnecessary complications.

User ‘Arthur Bilgart’, as a Blood Parasite, was granted the Chamber of Choices Number 32OF61264.

Ever since its creation, only 32 living beings were granted the Chamber of Choices, with Arthur Bilgart being the most recent.

32OF61264 translates into Num.32 of the 6th Era year 1264.