Chapter 423
"In the end, women choose men based on looks!!"
"Hahaha! That's certainly true for some, but saying it like that is super rude♪ Also, you've had too much to drink. Gurgle-kun, your face is bright red!"
"Shut up!! Do you have any idea how I felt thinking you were a woman only to find out you're a man!"
After revealing his true identity and pulling him back to reality, Shalia found Gurgle to be surprisingly interesting once they talked again.
A love novice, clumsy in many ways.
After realizing Shalia was a man, he desperately tried to accept reality, but Shalia's appearance was so impeccably well-put-together that he couldn't quite believe it.
"Sorry for being too cute♪"
"Dammit!! Even as a last resort, putting you in men's clothes just makes you cuter, damn it! Why do you have to be a man!!"
Perhaps because Liberta had originally instructed her to get along with him, Shalia thought she might as well continue the conversation if possible.
Worst case, she thought it might end just with tea, but he seemed to genuinely like her appearance, and now they were at a tavern with private rooms, sharing drinks.
At Gurgle's insistence, he had said, "Dress more manly," and she put on the tails he provided. But even with her hair styled in a masculine way, she only looked like a beautiful woman in men's clothing, which conversely captivated the female patrons at the tavern in a different way.
"Was I really that much to your liking?"
"Yeah! The moment I saw you, it hit me like lightning—I wanted to marry a woman like you!"
"Hahaha! Well, I am cute, after all."
"Dammit! I can't deny it! Hey! Another round!!"
"Ah, me too!"
If this weren't a private room, they'd be gathering even more stares.
Even with high-class stats, Shalia's cheeks reddened with alcohol.
Moreover, complaining it was too hot, she loosened her tie, and her disheveled appearance, showing her collarbone, exuded a dangerous allure.
"Dammit, why does my ideal have to be a man?"
"There, there. I'm sure you'll find a good wife someday."
"It's not about someday! It's now! Do you have any idea how I feel turning thirty this year!? How I feel with my old man and mom about to give up on me ever getting married!!"
It was precisely because of that allure that Gurgle, frustrated beyond measure that Shalia was a man, downed his drink and slammed the glass hard on the table.
"Hmm, you want to get married that badly?"
"I do!"
"What kind of girl?"
"A beauty with a good disposition, and if she's well-endowed, perfect!"
"Hahaha! Aiming high, aren't you♪"
"Shut up! I know that better than anyone!"
Gurgle's rampage could only be described as drowning his sorrows.
But it also showed he trusted Shalia enough to spill his true feelings like this.
Listening to Gurgle's ideal woman, it sounded exactly like the kind of ideal a guy who's messed up with love would spout, and Shalia laughed heartily.
"What about you, then! Don't tell me that getup means you're aiming for some ideal woman?"
"Hmm, maybe a homebody? You see, as an adventurer, I go to various places, but I still want a place to call home♪ So, a kind girl who welcomes me warmly when I come back would be nice."
"And looks?"
"Hmm, never really cared about that♪"
"You were totally popular! Seeing you in this outfit, there's no doubt you were popular!!"
One was a frog-face, the other a stunningly beautiful woman in men's clothing—a strange pair having a conversation like high school boys.
It was the kind of chat that happens when a non-popular guy and a popular guy become friends, and Gurgle slumped onto the table in despair.
In his mind, he instantly understood that the women approaching Shalia were all above average in looks, and that Shalia was in a position to choose a "kind girl" from among them.
"Well, I used to keep my distance from girls, you know. Because of how I looked."
"Liar!"
"No, it's true♪"
When Gurgle pointed out he must have had his pick, Shalia waved her hand denying it while sipping her glass.
Shalia smiled and brushed off Gurgle's shouts of disbelief.
"Damn, I want to live a popular life like you. And then smile modestly and say, 'I'm not that popular.'"
"I can certainly understand the kind of dream you're talking about."
Gurgle sighed deeply, expressing his wish.
Was the dramatic mood swing due to the alcohol?
"Hey, Sherry. How do I become popular like you?"
He asked Shalia as if seeking life advice.
In the realm of popularity, Shalia wasn't exactly experienced.
In fact, because her features were more feminine than androgynous, she was teased by men and adored as "cute" by women, but had surprisingly little experience being seen as a romantic interest.
Dressing like a beautiful woman in men's clothing just made her popular with women in a different way; she wasn't that popular.
"Popular, popular..."
Her own experience wasn't very helpful, so she thought of someone around her who was popular with women—her employer's face came to mind.
"Hmm, being smart?"
"I do study! I was actually at the top of my class in school! But I'm still not popular!"
"It's because your actions are completely transparent with ulterior motives, you see♪"
She had a vague idea why Liberta was popular.
He wholeheartedly supported Nell and Amina's dreams, helped Esmeralda in a pinch, and treasured Ingrid.
Shalia suspected Claudia was also in the running.
Probably, she was about to transition from being a rival he could fight on equal terms to the next stage.
From that perspective, she could see that Liberta acted using his knowledge and didn't add any vulgar ulterior motives, which was why he was popular.
Looking at Gurgle, it was clear that just being smart wasn't enough.
"Damn! And my clothes! I spent a fortune ordering the highest quality from the royal capital! Why!"
"First of all, those clothes don't suit you at all♪"
"Guh!?"
Looking at Gurgle's outfit again, she could tell it was an elaborately decorated piece, as befitting an expensive purchase.
Probably his Sunday best, but it sparkled so much it actually looked vulgar.
Shalia genuinely wondered why he didn't realize it was tailored by a shop only thinking about grabbing his money.
"D-don't suit me? The shop clerk praised it highly!"
"That's just the shop doing business, you see♪"
"Guh!?"
The answer to that question was simple. He was probably flattered and took their words at face value.
How pathetic. When Shalia confronted him with reality, Gurgle slumped over again.
"Maybe if you picked out clothes yourself, it would be a bit better♪"
"I've never had that kind of sense! If I could, I wouldn't be struggling!"
"What about using the clothes around you as a reference? Or having your servants pick things out for you♪"
"Those kinds of clothes don't suit me. The servants always bring safe, bland stuff, and it just doesn't feel like it would 'get me girls'."
"You're being picky♪"
He was probably trying in his own way, but the direction of his efforts was wrong.
It wasn't that everything was wasted, but everything he did backfired.
The information she gathered from interacting with him so far all matched what Liberta had told her in advance.
Shalia never thought she'd get an opportunity to reaffirm her vow never to make an enemy of Liberta at a time like this.
"If you wear safe clothes, at least they won't look bad on you. You should use that as a baseline for choosing outfits♪"
"If that's the case, you pick out my clothes! You look like you'd be good at that kind of thing."
"Hmm, I'd say looks have nothing to do with it, but if you're asking whether I can or can't, I can. However, I don't work for free."
"Money?"
Among the information from Liberta was a "Gurgle Makeover Plan for Popularity that Anyone Can Do."
Could he have anticipated this too? Shalia felt a cold sweat at Liberta's predictive accuracy as she steered the conversation towards accepting Gurgle's request.
"How about putting in a good word about the Shine Moss as payment♪?"
"I figured you'd say that! But 'putting in a good word'... It's not that easy, so how about this: if I get a wife thanks to the clothes you pick out, then..."
"I'll kill you♪"
"Eep!? J-just kidding! When you smile like that in that outfit, it's terrifying!?"
She put a damper on Gurgle's attempt to weasel out as a joke, and since she'd be in trouble if something weird came out, she suppressed her killing intent for now.
"B-but just picking out clothes is too much to ask for putting in a good word for our product! Plus, to convince my parents, it wouldn't mean anything without the impact of something like, 'I got a wife thanks to Sherry's taste.'"
"Hmm, that's true too."
Gurgle had a point.
In reality, just picking out clothes might not be enough to convince the family that maintained an exclusive deal to part with their goods.
More importantly, it could ruin her relationship with Gurgle.
"Alright then. How about I also supervise your movements for popularity and support you until you get a girlfriend? If you get a girlfriend thanks to my advice, then you put in a good word for me. How's that?"
"...And maybe, could you also do a background check on any women who approach me...?"
"That'll cost you extra♪"
"You can do that!?"
Deciding it would be pointless if she didn't achieve her goal, Shalia remembered registering the Transfer Pendulum coordinates in Areiya and began considering regular visits.
If she explained the reason to Liberta, he'd probably support her.
"Ughhh, I guess I have no choice. Can you cut me a deal?"
"Work properly, compensation properly. It's the basics of business♪"
"F-fine."
"For now, the drinks stop here. I'll come pick you up at the inn tomorrow morning, so make sure you're awake."
"Starting tomorrow!?"
"A popular man's morning starts early♪"
Stretching things out too long wasn't a good strategy.
Gulping down her drink in a manly fashion, Shalia left the bill to Gurgle and walked him out of the shop.
After making sure Gurgle was safely back at his inn, Shalia returned to her own room.
She finished her skincare routine, stretched, and quickly fell asleep that night.
The next morning. She ate fruit for vitamins, toned her skin with lotion, applied natural makeup, and checked her clothes.
She spun around on the spot.
"Cute today too."
Boosting her confidence with self-praise, she left the inn.
And today, as always, gathering stares from those around her, she went to pick up Gurgle at his inn.
"You actually woke up on time."
"I had a feeling breaking my promise with you would end badly."
"A man who keeps promises is popular. First lesson learned♪"
"We're starting already?"
She already knew where they were going. Immediately setting off, she headed for their destination with the guards.
"This is a tailor's."
"Yep, I checked out the shop in advance, so let's go in."
"When did you check?"
"Trade secret. Becoming beautiful takes effort."
It was a tailor with a calm atmosphere, the kind nobles who prefer flashy clothes wouldn't go near—just as Liberta had told her.
Wondering what would happen at this shop, Shalia pulled a nervous Gurgle inside.