Chapter 85: Dark Demon Can Actually Enjoy Youthfulness Too
Saturday morning was bustling with people.
Scott walked among the crowd, a hint of gloom on his face. He was a second-year student, assigned to the Nobles' House due to his pureblood noble status.
But that was all in the past. On this day last year, just in his second month at St. Marian Academy, his family fell into dire straits due to his father's political downfall. The huge psychological gap from being a noble to a lowly commoner had twisted Scott's mind.
St. Marian Academy wouldn't reassign students based on changes in their family circumstances after enrollment.
Scott became the family's only hope. And the only commoner in his grade in the Nobles' House.
Although his classmates, out of noble etiquette, never mentioned this, they were surely mocking him unscrupulously behind his back, right?
Thinking this, Scott gradually encased himself in a cold, dark leather suit. His father, through a shop assistant on Traveler Street, frantically wrote him letters, finally making him realize the heavy burden on his young shoulders. Becoming a qualified magus could change his family's situation. Even if not a noble, they could live well. If he could further become an outstanding magus, he might even be able to return to the noble circle.
His mother always sent her voice to him through magic letters, calling his name over and over again.
"Scott! Scott! Scott!"
"Ahhhhh!"
Under the dual pressure from within and without, Scott collapsed. A drastic change in family circumstances at a young age could indeed make some people grow up instantly, but not every 12-year-old boy could bear such a heavy burden. Scott did not grow and break through according to his parents' expectations; instead, he fell into a muddle.
His grades worsened, and his temper became increasingly strange.
Until Christmas Eve last year, the girl he had a secret crush on responded to a senior's invitation and became someone else's dance partner at a romantic and magnificent ball. So he fled the scene, which was brimming with youthful energy, and rushed into the deepest part of the castle.
And the one who extended an olive branch to him at that time was the leader of the Cult.
"Found him!"
Scott's gaze pierced through the gaps between people, finally capturing the heretic who had a girl on each arm.
...
Velvet Tailor Shop.
Dark Demon was pulled into the crowd by Diana.
He never expected that before nine o'clock, the shop's business would already be this good. Perhaps this was the legendary "reputable shop"!
If he had come by himself, he would definitely have switched to another shop immediately after seeing so many people. But in reality, most people liked to squeeze into crowded shops. This might be based on herd mentality, or perhaps just the belief that shops with good business wouldn't have poor quality goods.
A little later.
Dark Demon was pulled to a corner of the shop, standing in front of a mannequin. He couldn't help but ask, "Is this the Dark Night Prince set you were talking about?"
Diana nodded her head like a chick pecking rice.
Dark Demon, however, couldn't help but twitch the corner of his eye. It wasn't that the quality of this "Dark Night Prince" set was bad; rather, the quality was too good, so good it was flamboyant! Black velvet fabric, a fur collar made from snow mountain black fox fur, and a fluffy fox tail hanging at the back. The two rows of buttons were actually made of obsidian, and the shoulders were even adorned with cat's eye stones. Could the feathered cape hanging on one shoulder be made of black crow feathers? That was an ominous symbol of the night!
Although this outfit displayed a very high-class sense of layering with different shades of black, it ultimately couldn't escape the fact that it was entirely black. Wearing such an outfit onto the Christmas stage would probably instantly make him the focus.
Dark Demon actually didn't want to be so conspicuous.
"And this, a half-face black crow mask."
Unexpectedly, Diana excitedly pointed to the black crow mask inlaid with black diamonds on the nearby counter.
Dark Demon couldn't help but be stunned: Is this thing meant for humans to wear? Which country's prince would really dare to dress like this? This isn't a world derived from a Galgame!
Emmm...
Dark Demon remembered the kingdom's only great prince; that fellow indeed seemed to have this kind of dressing style. So, has the public's aesthetic been led astray by him?
Dark Demon's eyes flickered, and suddenly they lit up as he found a reason to refuse.
"Hiss~" He sucked in a breath of cold air, "399 credits!"
This price, it seemed those obsidian, cat's eye stones, and black diamonds were all products of magical technology. But for a first-year student, it was still an unattainable price!
"To buy this thing, I'd rather buy bug-tree fruit!"
Thinking this, Dark Demon prepared some words, about to refuse.
Unexpectedly, Diana suddenly showed a smug smile and pulled him to another mannequin on the opposite side.
"Look, the Dark Night Princess set!"
Dark Demon's eyelids twitched.
This black velvet princess dress worn by the female mannequin was truly worthy of being the namesake set of the "Dark Night Prince set." Not only was it full of various flamboyant decorations, but it was also covered in ruffles, as if the more ruffles there were, the more princess-like it was!
Dark Demon was just thinking about what to say.
Diana then pointed to one of the tags: "Couples' outfits, 50% off!"
Dark Demon's eyelids twitched as he saw it: Well now, so you were waiting for me here, huh?
...
On the other side, Rose Flotly cheekily picked out a white officer's uniform and a peacock feather half-mask. She was clearly aware of Diana's scheme.
Dark Demon ultimately bought the "Dark Night Prince" set. After the 50% discount, the 200-credit set was still within his acceptable range. Besides, excluding everything else, the fabric quality of this set was very high. After the shop owner cast a spell to shrink it, it was very comfortable to wear. If possible, he could even keep it until the Christmas ball, saving an expense then.
After leaving the Velvet Tailor Shop, Dark Demon, along with Diana and Rose Flotly, strolled around various shops and finally arrived at a high-class restaurant. This music restaurant named "Waltz" was quite famous among students, mainly promoting a sense of "style."
Dark Demon specially ordered the most expensive dessert ice cream for Diana and Rose Flotly, while he himself had a slightly smaller cup of ice cream. He was already adept at such little tricks to restrain [Gluttony].
The three of them enjoyed sweet ice cream in the cool autumn, savoring a pleasure distinctly different from summer. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows were maple leaves falling with the wind and a bustling crowd. The aura of youth, like a kite with a broken string, soared higher and higher.
Scott, leaning against a maple tree like an old-fashioned detective, using a newspaper to disguise himself, was made green in the face by that overwhelming youthful aura, his eyes overflowing with a snake-like sinister coldness.