Tenebrous Wolf-Chapter 29: Pleasant Shopping Experience

The Grand Mall loomed like a glittering monument to consumerism. Its superior air conditioning, a combination of installed units and standing ACs, was a welcome relief compared to the stifling, overcrowded train carriage. By means unknown to the public, the Sanctuary seemed to be powered by a source of limitless energy as there had never been a single recorded blackout.

Without a shadow of a doubt, the Imperial City stood at the pinnacle of humanity's technological and developmental achievements.

To Briar, who had come from a far less advanced world, the Imperial City was nothing short of an artificial heaven. The scenery was a drastic change—overwhelming in its grandeur. Even though it had been a few weeks since her accidental summoning, she still hadn't fully adapted to this foreign world.

Who would have thought that humanity had surpassed the demon race to such an extent?

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Briar thought grimly. Even she couldn't deny that the human world was a hundred times more advanced than the demon realm. The realization left her feeling strangely embarrassed, as if her homeland was little more than a primitive backwater.

Demons prided themselves on being the superior species, but who were the ones that had been defeated and sealed away? Who were the ones so lacking in technology and development that their world seemed pitiful in comparison?

But that had nothing to do with her. From the very start, she had hated the demon race for her own reasons.

Just like humans, not all demons were united, and that division had only ever led to tragedy and misfortune.

Briar was one such victim of that tragedy. Inadvertently, memories of her time in the dream realm surfaced and darkened her mood.

"...."

"Hey, is something wrong? You're unusually quiet."

Klaus must have noticed her unease, as he regarded her with a raised eyebrow. For a moment, she was caught off guard before regaining her senses.

Shaking her head, she offered a simple reply.

"Nothing."

"Well, if you say so."

Receiving her reply, Klaus simply shrugged and continued eating his chili fries.

The Imperial City was alive with energy, bustling with both young and old. Being the weekend, the shopping mall was already packed with people.

Briar wasn't particularly fond of crowded and noisy places, especially not one filled entirely with humans. As a demon in disguise, it was only natural for her to remain cautious, even if she tried not to appear tense. However, her unease gradually eased as she watched Klaus absentmindedly stuff his mouth with chili fries across from her.

What a strange human, she thought to herself.

She had suggested they have lunch first, eager to try human food, and Klaus had readily agreed.

It was just before noon, so they still had plenty of time for shopping.

Given her circumstances, she knew she couldn't be reckless with her food choices. Demons and humans had vastly different physiologies, and there was always the possibility that something might upset her stomach if she ordered blindly. Moreover, she had no idea how much money Klaus had on him, and she wasn't about to go overboard.

But he didn't seem the least bit concerned about their expenses.

Perhaps he had already decided that this trip was a necessity. After all, I don't have many clothes.

Despite looking like nothing more than a pervert, Briar had determined that Klaus was a calculated individual. She didn't know his full story, but she chose to trust her instincts as demons, after all, were creatures that placed great faith in them

To survive in this world, she would have to get along with him. And while this human had his own eccentricities, he also had his strengths.

She supposed he wasn't too bad.

After finishing their meal, they set off for the main event of the day, which was buying clothes.

Upon entering a fashion mall that was famous enough to be considered a landmark—

"Wow..."

Briar mumbled in awe as she swept her gaze over the rows of designer boutiques and luxury shops. The mall was packed with young women browsing the latest trends, and the lively BGM added to the energetic atmosphere.

"This place is huge."

"Told you as much. Even I feel overwhelmed by the Sanctuary sometimes."

"Have you been here before?"

"Not really, per se, but it shouldn't be too difficult. C'mon, I'll show you the way. Make sure not to get lost, okay?"

Klaus sounded confident.

However, a problem arose as they made their way toward the elevators. Though they briefly passed by various shops, the truth was that he had no idea where they should go.

Okay, so this is going to be difficult. Klaus frowned slightly.

As he had admitted, he had never actually been to the Grand Mall before, and even if he had, he certainly wasn't familiar with any women's clothing stores. His assumption was that if they had came here, they'd naturally stumble upon something suitable for Briar.

Technically, the first floor had an information booth, but to be honest, he wasn't even sure what to ask for.

Wavering about what to do, Klaus showed a weakness for the first time.

"Hello~ Are you looking for something~?"

Suddenly, a clerk from a nearby shop called out.

As Klaus and Briar turned their heads, the woman continued.

"Excuse me for suddenly calling out to you~ You looked troubled, so I just wanted to help."

The female shop clerk spoke with a carefree smile.

"What are you here for today? You seem kind of hesitant, so are you just looking around without a specific goal?"

"No. Actually, we're here to buy clothes for her."

Klaus gestured toward Briar, and the female shop clerk nodded in understanding.

"In that case, why not take a look at our sales? We've just stocked up on our new winter collections."

"That would be great, but my friend here has a bit of a problem. Most clothes don't seem to fit her properly, so could you help her out?"

"Hmm."

The female shop clerk examined Briar from head to toe, making her shift slightly in discomfort. Then, as if she had pinpointed the root of the issue, the woman muttered an "Ah" as her gaze finally settled on Briar's lower body.

"Ah, I see the problem now," the shop clerk tilted her head and tapped a finger against her chin . "You have a rather unique physique, yes?"

Briar stiffened slightly at the remark. She didn't particularly appreciate being scrutinized so closely, but she remained silent.

"That's not really a bad thing," the woman added quickly, noticing Briar's reaction. "It just means we'll have to be a little more selective in finding the right fit for you."

"So, do you have anything that would work?"

The shop clerk smiled, then gestured for them to follow her.

"Of course! We carry a variety of brands, some of which specialize in custom fits. If you don't mind, I can take your measurements first. It is also part of my job to help people dress up. That way, I can suggest styles of clothing that will suit you best."

Briar hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded.

"Alright."

"Great! Come this way."

Klaus leaned against a nearby display rack, watching as Briar was led to the fitting area. As he watched the woman take measurements, he silently wondered what kind of malicious measurements would appear.

As the shop clerk worked, she made an 'O' sound as though she was deeply shocked. "Oh my, how interesting. Your proportions are a little unusual. your waist is quite small, but your hips and thighs are far more developed. It's a striking silhouette, though! Very elegant."

Briar remained silent, unsure how to respond to the compliment.

"Forgive me if I'm asking a sensitive question but do you play sports or Or is this just your natural build?"

Klaus almost laughed as he overheard the question. If only the woman knew that Briar wasn't human. Furthermore, he knew the real reason why she was asking such a question. Sports had nothing to do with anything.

"I suppose you could say it's natural," Briar answered vaguely.

The clerk nodded. "I thought so. Well, with these measurements, I have a few ideas in mind. Let me grab some pieces for you to try."

She quickly disappeared into the racks in a flash and left Briar standing there, almost blindsided.

Klaus casually walked up to her with both hands in his pockets and nonchalantly asked,

"You good?"

"She talks too much."

"Well, there's also that. But don't take it heart. It's not everyday that she sees someone with a figure like yours."

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

"I'm simply saying that you're unique. Don't worry too much about it. Uniqueness is a good thing. It's a also a form of currency, that's why the Imperial City is lively."

"Ehm... Is that so? If so, then I suppose I can bear with it a little."

A few moments later, the shop clerk returned, holding several outfits over her arm. "Here we go! These should fit you nicely. The fitting rooms are just over there, so feel free to try them on. Do you need any assistance?"

"Um... Yes..."

"Alright! Let's head over there."

Since Briar wasn't familiar with how to put on the clothes properly, the shop clerk accompanied her into the fitting room to help. It wasn't unusual for clerks to offer assistance when customers struggled with certain outfits as it was part of their job, after all.

Even so, this particular clerk was quite lively. Klaus noted with a wry smile.

He had already figured out her true intentions. Like shop clerk had mentioned earlier, this was the season when the new winter collection had just launched. It was the most profitable period for the shop, which meant that sales quotas were stricter than usual.

Because of that, some clerks became particularly persistent in pushing their merchandise onto customers. And this one was no exception.

But that was none of Klaus's business. He simply needed to buy Briar some clothes and a few necessities. Besides, the succubus needed to experience a few minor misfortunes so she could gain experience points. This was a necessary processs to adapt to humanity.

Huh? That is...

As Klaus began to relax, his gaze inadvertently landed on someone standing in front of one of the female shop stands.

It was a tall, slender girl around his age, with icy gray eyes and a detached expression. Her natural silvery-white hair was cut short into a bob, and her skin had the rich tone of light tan. Dressed completely in black, from her long-sleeved shirt to her form-fitting pants, she exuded an effortless coolness. She calmly listened to music while the shop clerk eagerly presented her with different outfits.

Even so, she didn't give off the impression of an easy prey.

There was something about the silver-haired girl that truly made her stand out. The word beautiful didn't quite suit her, not because she lacked it, but because in the Imperial City, the Sanctuary, beauty was commonplace. The female customers, the shop clerks, everyone here could be considered attractive in some way. The word dignified felt more fitting. That was the air she exuded, as if she existed at a slight distance from the world.

She looked confident and self-sufficient. But at the same time... a little lonely.

Klaus only observed her for a brief moment before shifting his gaze away. She was just a stranger and moreover, someone he didn't know, so staring for too long felt inappropriate.

This world is indeed rather small. Who knows? I might see her again. But that's just wishful thinking.

With a quiet sigh, he turned his attention back to the changing room.

"Hey, look. What do you think about this?"

The curtain rustled as Briar stepped out, spinning lightly in front of Klaus.

"Mh? Hoo... Nice. These kinds of clothes suit you."

Klaus inadvertently let out an admiring remark, prompting Briar to soften her expression with a pleased Mm. It was a rare sight, Briar's expression as a normal girl, which she would never show him on a normal day.

But that just meant she was in a good mood, which made Klaus smile genuinely in return.

Who knew a demoness could wear such a smile? he thought.