The Yellow-Haired Villain in Soaring Phoenix's Novels Also Desires Happiness

“So nobody really came to disturb us?”

Ariel was not the only one puzzled. Muen was too.

To be honest, drawing lots had been the last resort of all last resorts. After all, something like that had no real binding force. Whether someone was willing to accept it or not depended entirely on the individual.

After yesterday’s result came out, Muen had stayed on edge for quite a while... although at the time, he had no idea where his heart and courage had been flung off to, but in the end, he was still afraid those beautiful girls might find some loophole. They might not go so far as to turn hostile and deny the result, but they ought to have at least pulled some little tricks to obstruct things, or made a fuss.

But unexpectedly, after Ariel won, whether it was Senior Sister or Liya, or even An, whose tolerance for this kind of thing was the lowest, all of them had calmly chosen to leave.

No fuss.

No entanglement.

No little tricks.

It was as though they had completely accepted the result and reality, obediently withdrawing just like that, leaving both space and time entirely to him and Ariel.

“That shouldn’t be right...”

Muen swept his wary gaze over the surroundings, but just like Ariel, he found nothing abnormal.

“What’s wrong?”

Ariel naturally leaned over. On the surface, she seemed to be asking out of concern, but in reality, she was taking advantage of Muen “not paying attention” to gently grab his broad hand.

Naturally, that tiny movement could not escape Muen. While answering normally with, “Nothing,” he suddenly closed his large hand around hers, completely wrapping Ariel’s small hand in his palm.

That small hand, which usually swung a greatsword, was now absurdly soft, smooth and tender, without the slightest roughness that should have come from long years of sword training. It felt like a treasure found by chance, something one could hardly bear to let go of.

“Is that so? I thought you were thinking about other women again.”

Ariel’s cheeks flushed faintly. Muen’s occasional little strokes across her palm made not only her hand itch, but even her heart as well. But how could she expose her weakness so easily? Wouldn’t all her training during this time have been for nothing?

So she forced herself to remain calm and looked straight ahead, as though something interesting there had captured her attention.

Unfortunately, the street, empty of pedestrians and anything interesting, still betrayed that trace of shy embarrassment she thought she had hidden so well.

“How could I? I’ve said it many times. I’ve always been devoted. Since this is a date with you, then there’s only you in my heart.”

Ariel’s slightly “immature” movements made Muen want to laugh, but he did not point them out. Otherwise, the opening prize of today’s date would probably be the unsheathing of Skyfire from a girl who had grown much stronger and could now even cut space apart.

“Hmph. I’ll believe you this once.”

Ariel gave a “cold” little hum. “Where are we going next?”

“Where do you want to go?”

“Isn’t this the kind of thing the man is supposed to arrange? Are you even a gentleman?”

“Indeed. As a gentleman, I should have arranged the itinerary properly before we went out. But as a gentleman, I would rather be someone who loves you.”

Muen gently tugged Ariel’s little hand and met her catlike, flustered, evasive eyes.

“So, my dear Miss Ariel Bugaard, where do you want to go?”

“So cheesy!”

Ariel stuck out her fragrant little tongue, looking as if she did not fall for that trick at all, but the affection deep in her eyes was practically melting into water.

“Aren’t you embarrassed? Saying something that cheesy in the middle of the street?”

“All right, starting off with something that strong really is a little blush-inducing.”

Muen rubbed his nose. “But I did sincerely want to ask. After all... to be honest, I fainted a little too early last night, and I really didn’t have time to research anything.”

First, he had run into remnants of the Salvation Society.

Then he had fought the pure-white person and had his head removed hundreds of times by them.

After that, he had gone through the ups and downs of a whole series of romantic battlefields, even resorting to time stop to find those three “most beautiful flowers in the world.”

And at the very end, he had experienced a super giant spinning wheel, its speed reaching a point where it could genuinely send him ascending to heaven on the spot.

...If he went through all of that and still had enough energy afterward to arrange a happy, romantic date, Muen felt he could already be called inhuman.

At that point, forget one-on-one. Even fucking all five of those shameless hussies into submission would be no problem. Why would he need to be so “humble and deferential” then?

Unfortunately, the current him had not yet reached that realm.

“Hmph, that’s what you get for being so flirtatious!”

Thinking of Muen’s sorry state yesterday, Ariel could not help laughing too, though she also felt a little heartache. She did not know that Muen had already gone through a great battle before that. If she had known, she would not have used that much force at the time.

But he deserved it too. Hmph. Who told him not to bring me!

“If I have to choose the place...”

Returning to the main topic, Ariel herself had not actually imagined in advance where they should go on a date. First, because she was completely unfamiliar with Saint Blancfazesiya, and second, because she really had no experience.

Although she had read a huge pile of books, when it came to actual practical dating... she could only be considered a fledgling among fledglings.

But speaking of places...

“There is somewhere I want to go.”

“What place?”

“A tailor shop!”

“A tailor shop? You want to have clothes made? That’s rare. You actually... wait!”

Muen’s expression suddenly stiffened. “Which tailor shop do you want to go to?”

“Hmph, the one you brought An to, of course! I heard it’s the best tailor shop in the entire western district!” Ariel raised her head. “I want to go too!”

“This... is that necessary? Aren’t you wearing new clothes right now? They’re really beautiful!”

The word beautiful came straight from Muen’s heart. Earlier, because he had been too wary of the others possibly following them, he had not looked carefully right away. But now that he had calmed down and noticed...

Ariel was outrageously cute right now!

What was going on with that cute dress? What was going on with those cute little heeled leather boots? And what was going on with that cute ribbon on her head?

Damn it. Was this really Ariel?

Not some strange creature from another world in disguise?

Girl, you smell amazing!

“Don’t tell me that instead of exploring ruins during this time, you went off to some isolated noble bride academy?”

Muen rubbed his chin. “And remodeled yourself into...”

“Get lost!”

All right. It was still that Ariel.

“Hmph. Clothes or no clothes, that doesn’t matter. I don’t care about some so-called best tailor in the western district either. But...”

Ariel stared into Muen’s eyes and said seriously, “If they have it, I want it too!”

“...”

All right. Now she did not seem like that Ariel again.

That damn jealousy!

“I know, I know, my dear young lady.”

In any case, Muen ultimately chose to compromise.

What else could he do if he did not compromise? Refuse to communicate with this fragrant, soft Ariel right now and wait for her to pull out a Skyfire greatsword bigger than him and chop him?

“Let’s go.”

Muen extended his hand like a gentleman.

And Ariel, with elegant steps, gently placed her palm into Muen’s hand. Their pace gradually aligned, and the two disappeared into the thin morning mist.

...

Western district.

Slums.

That familiar tailor shop.

Jingle, jingle.

As the door was pushed open, the bell at the entrance rang as well, disturbing the old woman dozing behind the front counter.

“We’re not taking customers. Closed for the day... didn’t you see the sign outside? Annoying.”

The old woman was bleary-eyed, two huge dark circles making her look like some kind of rare animal. Having only vaguely seen someone enter the shop, she was already yawning and impatiently chasing them away.

“It’s me.”

“I don’t care who you are. Even if you’re that bastard Tyron... huh?”

Hearing that familiar voice, the old woman froze, then hurriedly picked up the reading glasses hanging at her chest and put them on.

When she saw that the person who had come was Muen, her expression changed at a visible speed. The impatience from moments ago vanished in an instant, replaced by the warmth of an old neighborhood auntie.

“Ah, so it’s Young Master Campbell... you came again! Look at me, I didn’t notice it was you, and accidentally...”

“It’s fine.”

Muen waved his hand. “I don’t care about those things.”

“As expected of that person’s acquaintance. Truly broad-minded.”

After her usual round of flattery, the old woman quickly returned to the main point.

“Young Master Campbell is here for the clothes ordered yesterday, yes? Ah, you came too early. Where in this world can a fine garment be made that quickly? I stayed up all night last night, and only managed to cut out the basic frame. It’s still far from finished.”

“No.”

Muen smiled. “This time, I’m not here for yesterday’s clothes, but to have another new outfit made.”

“A new outfit?”

The old woman froze, then was overjoyed.

“Of course, of course you can! My shop welcomes you anytime. Ah, quality customers like you, Young Master Campbell, really are rare. You’re willing to spend money, and you’re willing to let us show our abilities. No matter how many outfits you want made, I’m willing!

Still yesterday’s measurements, then? What style do you want? This time, if you have any requirements, anything at all...”

“No.”

Muen was still smiling. “The measurements this time are very different.”

“Hm?”

The old woman froze again.

The measurements were very different? What did that mean?

If she was making clothes for the same person, and only one day had passed, how different could the measurements be?

The old woman was puzzled, so she pushed up her reading glasses and naturally looked toward the girl beside Muen...

“...”

Silence.

Silence.

Silence was tonight’s tailor shop.

An invisible atmosphere flowed through the tailor shop, as though silently accusing something, making Muen unconsciously rub his nose in embarrassment again.

Fortunately, after being a tailor for all kinds of royal and noble families for so long, the old woman could still be considered experienced and knowledgeable. She quickly reacted and enthusiastically grabbed Ariel’s hand.

“This young lady truly is beautiful. Such a lovely face, such long hands and legs, even your... such a lovely face, such long hands and legs. If you had a garment tailored specifically for you, you would definitely be unimaginably beautiful!”

“R-really?”

Ariel was made somewhat embarrassed by the old woman’s enthusiasm. Even though she could casually charge through ancient ruins, this time she actually retreated half a step by instinct.

After all, growing up, it seemed she had never had any clothing specially tailored for herself.

She had once wanted to have something made, but what she had chosen back then was still a neutral-style men’s formal outfit... One could only say the world was truly strange. If the Ariel from before meeting Liya in the Holy City had known that her future self would actually look forward to a women’s outfit, perhaps her eyes would have popped out on the spot.

“Of course! ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) Come, come, come with me. I’ll measure you right away!”

The old woman dragged Ariel toward the inner room. Before leaving, she even secretly looked back and gave Muen an “I understand” look.

Don’t worry.

I’m a professional. I absolutely won’t expose what you did yesterday, Young Master!

—Muen read that meaning from her eyes. Unfortunately, this kind of thing could no longer really be called exposed or not exposed.

True masters... only play with open cards.

“Sigh. No matter what, I still hope today can go a little more smoothly. Please don’t let anything unexpected happen.”

The old woman and Ariel went inside first. Looking at the empty little shop, Muen could not help sighing once more.

Fortunately, everything was going smoothly for now.