Chapter 245 Chapter 57.1 - We do a little bit of 'shopping'
After the talk with Maya, there wasn't much I needed to do in terms of responsibilities. Until the practical assignment next time, I was basically free. Thus, I had spent the entire time training and honing my skills as well as progressing with learning magic.
Knowing that the location we were going to visit was Phantom's Land, I was getting ready to meet the possible situations that could occur right there.
After all, Phantom's Land was a place that was an enigma even in the game.
It was not a place that could be explained by the logic of physics or anything. It was a phenomenon itself, something directly related to the rules of the world.
It couldn't be contained by logic; neither one needed to do that. It had its own rules inside, its own existence, and its own order. Basically, that place is a world inside a world.
One can even say that it is a subspace underneath another, though that wouldn't quite fit the definition.
In any case, at the end of the day, the Phantom's land was something that needed preparations.
As players, we would explore that place in the second year of the academy, and by that time, many students would already be strong enough to deal with all those things.
However, right now, the timeline doesn't directly follow the game. We are first-year students, and this is just our first semester in the second quarter.
Therefore, it is almost impossible to predict what kind of situation awaits us since that place is an everchanging experience that doesn't follow the linear time flow.
'Well, everyone seems to be working on the assignments.'
I was pretty sure that, even if the people weren't able to find the location of the assignment, they would still be taken to the place. The theory part and the practical part are graded differently, after all.
'But, they will be a little late.'
Considering how hard the assignment was, I doubted most of the students would even be able to find the correct location in any case.
"Could it be Iron Mountain Range?"
"Why?"
"Well, these lines do match, don't they?"
"Hmm? I don't think so?"
Passing through some of the students, I overheard their conversation. They were in the wrong direction, and many others were like that as well.
Even in the forums, there weren't any clear answers in any case, and that alone shows the difficulty.
'Well, not that I care.'
I just needed to get ready myself. After all, even though that place was dangerous, there were also many things that could be gained from there if one looked close enough.
Thus, I needed to be as ready as possible.
There were two things that I would need to get myself.
First, materials that could help maintain consciousness and delay the onset of sleep are essential for navigating the unpredictable realm.
You will soon see the reason for that.
And the second one is….
A selection of holy scrolls and materials effective against ghosts and souls.
"I also need to get some clothes."
I normally disliked buying clothes from the academy shops since they were rather expensive, in my opinion, but recently, while training, some of my clothes were all torn down.
[Unknown's Armor] could actually be used in real life as well, but it can become highly suspicious if the clothes I wear are not in my wardrobe.
Also, changing clothes has a refreshing feeling psychologically, so it is good for my mental health.
However, upon reaching my room, I came across someone I wasn't expecting at all.
******
Irina's recent days had been quite simple, to be frank. She had been gaming, studying, and training all the time.
Thanks to them finishing the assignment before others, she also didn't need to work like other students, so in the end, she had much free time.
[Irina: Guys, anyone wants to play?]
She sent a message to the group looking for possible duos for the game since she was rather bored thanks to rising toxicity, but contrary to herself, others weren't free at all.
[Julia: We rea wrkoing fro asisgnemtns.]
[Lilia: I didn't finish the assignment as well.]
[Ethan: Same here.]
[Lilia: Did you finish yours, Irina]
Seeing her friends' messages, Irina couldn't help but think about how they could finish it that fast. It was mostly because of that guy, but even then, this achievement was remarkable enough to enter the eyes of the teachers.
Even the highest-ranking students were having a hard time because of that alone. Lilia didn't seem to complete it either.
'Sigh…..'
[Irina: We just scribbled something. I am not sure if it is correct.]
Thanks to the ultimatum from Eleanor, her hands were tied in this case.
'Should I buy some clothes?'
Thinking that she needed some time alone, she decided to buy some clothes. It had been a while since she had done that, and for some reason, her clothes seemed to look old in her eyes.
'Yes, I should do it.'
And in an instant, she made her decision, though getting out after preparing wasn't as easy as making the decision itself. Also, with how she was being constantly compared to Seraphina, she was certainly not having it easy on herself.
After spending almost an hour preparing, Irina finally left her room with a mask on her face, ready to venture out to the academy shopping center.
She chose a casual yet stylish outfit, pairing a comfortable hoodie with a pair of well-fitted jeans.
The Academy shopping center was a bustling hub of activity, with students browsing through various shops and boutiques.
The air was filled with a mix of laughter, conversations, and the occasional sound of bags rustling as new purchases were made.
Seniors were a little bit different from the first years, as their time for the assignment had yet to come.
'Hmm….'
Irina strolled through the center, browsing the displays of different stores with a mask on her face.
The vibrant colors and trendy designs caught her eye, and she found herself drawn to a boutique showcasing the latest fashion trends.
Entering the store, she was greeted by a friendly sales associate. The racks were filled with a variety of styles, from casual wear to more formal outfits.
Irina began exploring the options, pulling out a few pieces that piqued her interest.
As she browsed through the clothes, she couldn't help but think about the recent events in her life.
After some deliberation, Irina settled on a couple of outfits that reflected her style and added a touch of freshness to her wardrobe. The cashier rang up her purchases, and she left the store with a satisfied smile.
But just at that moment, she felt a subtle feeling.
FLINCH!
She couldn't shake the feeling of eyes on her. She discreetly glanced around, trying to identify the source, but a familiar figure soon caught her attention in the periphery of her vision.
Astron.
'That guy?'
Their eyes met briefly, and for a moment, Irina felt a jolt of surprise. Instinctively, she averted her gaze, not wanting to draw any attention.
'He doesn't know it is me, right?'
The idea of being spotted by Astron while shopping for clothes was mildly embarrassing. As she completed her purchase and headed toward the exit, she couldn't help but feel a sense of relief.
However, just as she thought she had successfully avoided any further interaction, she noticed that Astron had also averted his gaze. A strange tension lingered in the air, and Irina had a sudden inkling that he might have recognized her despite the mask.
'No, he knows!'
With a mix of curiosity and a desire to put an end to the unspoken acknowledgment, Irina decided to approach Astron. She adjusted her mask, trying to maintain a semblance of anonymity, and walked over to where he stood.
"Hey," she greeted casually, her mouth hidden behind the mask.
"..."
Astron, who had been leaning against a nearby pillar, glanced in her direction. His expression remained impassive, but there was a glint of recognition in his eyes.
Irina couldn't help but feel a bit exposed under his scrutiny, even with the mask covering part of her face.
"Hey," Astron responded in a calm tone, acknowledging her presence.
Irina decided to address the unspoken acknowledgment directly. "You do know it's me, right?" she asked, lifting an eyebrow inquisitively.
Astron's gaze lingered for a moment before he replied, "Of course."
Irina couldn't decide whether his nonchalant response irritated her or amused her. She crossed her arms, leaning against the same pillar he was using. "And here I thought I was being stealthy with this mask. You really have sharp eyes."
Astron tilted his head slightly. "Your fiery red hair is quite distinctive. Plus, your eyes give you away."
Irina smiled inwardly, for some reason feeling a bit relieved(?). "Fair enough. So, what brings you to the shopping center? Need a fashion upgrade?"
Astron's response was characteristically brief. "Just passing by."
Irina arched an eyebrow, not entirely convinced by his answer. "Really? Just passing by, and you happen to notice me shopping for clothes?"
"Coincidence, I suppose."
"Are you sure you are not stalking me?"
"I don't have that much free time."
"...Then why are you loitering around?"
"….."
"Right?"
"I am here to prepare for the upcoming trip."
"Trip? Ah…."
Considering they had already found the location, it made sense.
"Why, though?" She asked. Was there any reason?
"Did you not research anything?" But seeing his expression, it seemed she asked the wrong question.
"Did I need to?"
"Sometimes I don't know if you are smart or stupid."
"Hey! Who are you calling stupid?"
"You, of course."
Irina huffed, crossing her arms in mock offense. "I'll have you know I'm ranked third in this whole academy."
"If you really think intelligence is correlated with academic success, then I wish you good luck in the future."
Irina rolled her eyes. "Enough with the smart or stupid debate. Just tell me what I need to know."
"If you really want to know, I suggest you start researching," Astron replied, his tone not giving away much.
Irina frowned but decided to change the topic. "All right, fine. So, what are you doing now? Can I follow you around? I still need to buy some stuff."
Astron looked at her for a moment, considering. "Will you be fine covering your face with that mask?"
Irina nodded and then took off the mask, revealing her face while placing it inside her bag. "See? No mask. Now, can I follow you around?"
"Just make it quick. I don't have the patience for a long shopping spree."
Irina grinned. "Deal." She quickly put her purchased items into her spatial ring and gestured for Astron to lead the way.
However, what Astron didn't see coming his way would be the fact that on the first day, he would witness how dangerous a woman on a shopping spree could be…..
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