The inside of the store, where the dresses displayed on the sign were scattered all around, was truly dazzling—this was the best way to describe the place.
Although I had somewhat expected this, since it was a luxury clothing store, it still far exceeded my expectations.
So much so that I got so absorbed in the sight of it all that I only snapped back to reality when I heard the staff member’s puzzled voice.
However, that was, in a way, inevitable.
Compared to the shabby closet of the humble Cheonggung, which was worse off than even the capital’s upper class, this place was like a completely different world.
As the situation of Cheonggung, where the noble Yuria had to painstakingly repair and wear an old, torn dress, came to mind, my mood naturally sank, but that was only for a moment.
Determined to make sure that this time, I would help her spread her wings wide, I lit a fire in my eyes and set out to begin my search in earnest.
First, I carefully reviewed the clothes through the luxurious catalog the staff member had brought.
Fortunately, the price range, which I had been most concerned about, was within a reasonable range.
In fact, not only did this resolve Cheonggung’s financial situation in one fell swoop, but the considerable funds left over to purchase such top-tier dresses revealed just how large the commission Riel had offered.
With that in mind, I felt a deep sense of relief as I focused intently on the catalog in my hand, slowly opening a virtual fitting room in my mind.
Her exact measurements… ahem, her body size, specific impressions, and atmosphere, etc.
The vast information in my mind, filled with details about Yuria, was almost perfect, so finding a dress that suited her was not difficult.
Ultimately, the dress I chose was a long black gown that perfectly matched the color of her hair.
An off-shoulder design that revealed her delicate shoulders and deep collarbone.
Moreover, it was a seductive design that revealed just the right amount of cleavage, and the side slit revealed one leg every time she walked.
The intricate silver leaf embroidery on the black background, along with the overall design, created a perfect harmony with Yuria, who had a mysterious goddess-like atmosphere.
Most notably, Yuria’s pale skin, which was her only flaw, actually formed a sharp contrast with the black dress, adding to her noble appearance.
The staff member standing beside me also mentioned that the latest trend in the capital was dresses with side slits and praised my excellent taste.
As a result, I was almost drooling at the beautiful image of Yuria in this dress, a mischievous smile creeping onto my face for a while…
Anyway, after safely completing the purchase, I took the box with the dress and stepped out of the store.
Well, there was still the possibility that the size might not fit perfectly since I had bought it without trying it on, but I could easily alter it myself.
Confident in my skills in this area, I was only focused on figuring out how to make the surprise special.
I lost myself in pure happiness, walking down the street with a feeling as if I might fly.
Now that my main goal was accomplished, all that was left was to return to Cheonggung.
However, perhaps because I had so much money left, I found myself suddenly considering shops I would never have dared to enter due to Cheonggung’s financial struggles.
I hesitated for a moment before turning my steps toward them.
I bought new cleaning tools, remembering the old and broken ones in Cheonggung, and boldly bought all the specialized books that Yuria had shown interest in.
I also grabbed pretty and cute accessories I had secretly wanted.
Moreover, although Yuria was already beautiful naturally, I figured she would still need some basic makeup, so I purchased various makeup equipment and products that weren’t available at Cheonggung.
As I continued shopping like I was enchanted, time passed swiftly.
Finally, I bought snacks to bribe the guards near the hole in the wall.
By the time I had filled up my new backpack, I finally regained some sense of control.
At that moment, I couldn’t help but feel a little sheepish, wondering if I had spent too much.
A late alarm went off in my head, but it was already too late.
Still, since these were all necessary items and I hadn’t splurged, I walked carefully through the crowded streets, feeling happy once more.
Sadly, that lazy, happy feeling didn’t last long.
At the moment I was worrying about how to carry all these items without Mark noticing, something suddenly rushed out and collided with my defenseless back.
***
Thud!
“Ahhh!”
The strong impact could have easily knocked a normal girl over on the spot.
Moreover, I was carrying quite a heavy load, so I nearly had a disaster on my hands, but, relying on my natural physical ability, I quickly regained my balance and immediately began to assess the situation.
However, the person who had bumped into me had already disappeared into the crowd, out of sight.
To cause such a dangerous accident and then disappear without even an apology…
I frowned at the absurd situation, but at least I was relieved that the box with the expensive dress had remained undamaged.
That was a small comfort, though only for a moment.
As I was checking to make sure I hadn’t dropped anything and assessing my physical condition, I suddenly realized one thing and couldn’t help but open my eyes wide.
Nothing… nothing’s there!…
The heavy sensation that should’ve been in my pocket was completely gone, replaced by a strange, hollow emptiness.
I reflexively started to feel around the area and only then did I realize the situation.
I clicked my tongue in frustration.
A pickpocket disguised as an accident.
It was a crime that happened frequently in the crowded streets of the capital, and I had become its target.
I had heard about it from the store owners I frequented, but this was the first time I had actually experienced it, so the shock filled my mind.
Moreover, if there hadn’t been much money in the stolen wallet, it might’ve been different, but I had spent so much yet still had a significant sum left, so simply giving up was a tricky situation.
And in that moment, I made a swift decision.
‘If it was just a small amount, I might have given up without a second thought, but I couldn’t afford to lose such a large sum so easily.’
‘Moreover, how had I earned that money…? It was from the commission I got after narrowly escaping death, and there was no way I could just let it go.’
‘Of course, catching the pickpocket who had already fled through the thick crowd was nearly impossible, but that wasn’t a big problem for me.’
***
The complex and noisy sounds of the surrounding crowd filled the area.
With my senses heightened to the extreme, I began to focus and search through the noises.
Among the calm footsteps of the crowd, I could hear the frantic, fast-running footsteps of someone, and I could track that they were getting further away from where I stood.
There was only one noise that met all these conditions.
And since that meant only one thing from the start, I didn’t hesitate for a moment and immediately began my pursuit.
However, the obstacles of the massive crowd, along with the heavy load I was carrying, made chasing the already distant thief an extreme challenge.
The pickpocket must have taken those conditions into account when choosing me as his target.
But there was one thing he had overlooked.
Unlike other ordinary girls, I had the ability to continue the pursuit under such harsh conditions.
“Ahh!”
“Screeech!”
What is this!!
“Excuse me~ Excuse me! I need to get through!!”
I sprinted through the crowd, adjusting my backpack to keep my things from falling off while dodging people, slipping through the street with speed.
Naturally, because I was pulling off such an unbelievable stunt, the distance between me and the thief, who had already been far ahead, quickly began to close.
Moreover, the thief didn’t even realize I was chasing him, and as he left the crowded area and headed towards a place with fewer people, the gap between us closed even faster.
With a gaze filled with certainty, I locked onto the thief’s presence, which I couldn’t see, and continued my pursuit until I reached a place.
That place was none other than a dark alley with very few people.
It was far from the usual places I passed by, with a dark and eerie atmosphere that made me uncomfortable.
Yet, for some reason, there was something strangely familiar about it, making me question why I felt that way.
Finally, as I was pondering this unpleasant feeling, I managed to catch up with the ungrateful thief.
Breathing heavily after running without rest for so long, I found a figure standing in the middle of the alley.
“Huff, huff, huff…?!! What, what?! How are you here!!?”
“The game of tag ends here? If you don’t want to see the worst of it, hand over the wallet you stole…”
The man, startled by the sensation of someone behind him, turned around and was shocked to see me standing there.
As I thought about how to deal with this troublesome guy, just then, I heard the sound of many footsteps approaching from deeper inside the alley.
One by one, several large figures of people began to emerge in the narrow, dark alley.
They appeared to be the thief’s companions.
From their appearance, it was clear that they weren’t the type with whom normal conversation would be possible, and I sighed lightly, thinking this was going to be a hassle.
Soon, I found myself frozen in place.
At the front of the group of these individuals was a large man, probably the leader.
And as soon as I saw his face, an intense headache shot through my head, as if it had been waiting for this moment.
The sudden change in my body left me struggling to maintain my composure, but one thing was certain.
I had definitely seen that figure before.
Though I couldn’t remember when exactly.
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