Chapter 57: The Swimsuit Launch and the Looming Crisis

The venue for the swimsuit launch was packed with people, and large, colorful posters of the elven woman named Branniel were everywhere. She seemed to be a renowned fashion designer, though it was only in recent years that she'd begun to specialize in swimwear.

On several makeshift display platforms, models with full, well-proportioned figures showcased various fairly standard designs. Reporters recorded the event with magical image-capturing devices, adding their commentary as they went.

This world also possessed magical devices similar to televisions, called Magic Mirrors, though they had only become popular in the past few years. For television signals, the local government had to spend a fortune constructing special magic web relay stations. As a result, in remote inland cities like Piltover, even if you bought a Magic Mirror, it was useful for nothing more than an actual mirror.

Since Artoria was currently dressed in her blue gown as the Holy Swordbearer, the staff backstage were seeking approval from their superiors about whether to let her in. In contrast, Ele, already in her swimsuit, looked even more the part of a model.

“The event lasts a long time anyway, so there’s really no need to save a few minutes, is there?” Ele asked, a little puzzled.

“This is work! We must take it seriously!” Artoria replied, her expression stern.

Ele turned to Zhaotian, pouted, then smiled at him. He smiled back and nodded.

“Sorry, sorry, it was a spur-of-the-moment decision, so I forgot to notify my assistants,” Branniel soon walked out, her face apologetic. She wore a black bikini, with a black tasseled scarf at her waist. As she moved, her snowy thighs flashed tantalizingly through the swaying tassels.

“It’s fine, let’s get to work,” Artoria nodded.

“Oh, of course, we still have half an hour before we start,” Branniel replied, nodding, then looked at Ele with amazement. “And this lady is... Oh, by the World Tree, I can’t believe it! The ‘Heart of the Abyss’ swimsuit I left in my shop has found such a perfect owner!”

“Huh? Your shop?” Zhaotian was momentarily taken aback, then suddenly recalled that the shop was indeed called Branniel’s Fashion Beach.

“Yes, and sir, you are quite generous with your girlfriend. No wonder...” Branniel’s gaze lingered between Ele and Zhaotian, her expression meaningful.

“Don’t misunderstand, we’re just comrades-in-arms,” Artoria said expressionlessly, while Ele looked away.

“All right, all right, I understand,” Branniel said, gesturing a frame with her hands and gazing at Ele with rapt admiration. “I thought this creation was too extravagant for anyone to handle, and the price was too high. But I never imagined that this young lady... Ah, simply stunning...”

“So, could I ask this young lady to join my show as well?” Branniel clasped Ele’s hands, her large eyes blinking imploringly.

“I—I don’t know anything about this sort of thing!” Ele refused, her cheeks blazing.

“No problem! All you have to do is walk the runway once! Just like Miss Artoria. Both of you are a perfect fit for my designs—and they’re the two most expensive and notorious pieces, too...” Branniel muttered under her breath.

‘So I really was ripped off, wasn’t I?’ With his sharp hearing, Zhaotian caught her words and felt a twitch of annoyance.

“Of course she can,” Artoria suddenly interjected. “But her pay is the swimsuit.”

Artoria pointed at Ele’s swimsuit. “And the money Ahe paid earlier must be refunded as well.”

“No problem, thirty gold. That’s what we agreed,” Branniel replied. In truth, the swimsuit cost ten gold to make; the difference was Ele’s real pay. Still, it was a considerable sum—Zhaotian’s annual income was barely over three gold (in this world, a year is 303 days, divided into ten months).

“All right, I suppose...” Ele felt the pressure of Artoria’s remarks about financial woes; after all, this swimsuit alone was worth a month of Zhaotian’s salary.

The two beautiful heroines headed backstage. Since all the staff and workers there were women and the atmosphere was quite relaxed, men were forbidden from entering.

‘Have I become too picky from being around Ele and the others? I’m not reacting at all...’ Zhaotian grabbed some snacks and a drink from the buffet table, munching as he wandered around.

Yet the models on the display platforms, striking pose after pose, failed to stir even a flicker of desire in him. They were all exceptional beauties—elves and half-elves among them, the kind who could dazzle crowds on Earth without even makeup—yet Zhaotian found them uninteresting, and so turned his attention to eating and drinking.

He did have quite the appetite—after all, his daily work was all physical labor.

“Hm?” Zhaotian frowned. He had just noticed something odd about a man who’d passed by him.

‘What’s that unpleasant smell? It’s oddly familiar... And his body temperature is so high, his breathing rapid. Is he ill?’ Zhaotian wrinkled his nose, edging away from the man—the odor was unpleasant, though not strong enough for ordinary people to notice.

‘Attending a swimsuit show while sick? That takes some willpower.’ Although Zhaotian disliked the man’s smell, he couldn’t help but feel a trace of admiration.

“Oh, isn’t this the new hero, Mr. Zhaotian?” A burly, imposing man approached him and greeted him. “Hello, I’m Mark Red, head of the Sea of Flowers Trading Company’s Saint Rose Port branch.”

“Hello,” Zhaotian nodded. The company’s name sounded familiar, though he couldn’t quite recall what kind of organization it was.

“Ha, are you interested in Master Branniel’s latest works? Where’s your companion?” Mark asked, then leaned in with a mischievous grin. “Would you like me to introduce you to a few models who are great admirers of the hero?”

“No need. My two companions have been specially invited by Branniel to model; they’re in the backstage area right now,” Zhaotian replied, his mouth full.

“Oh, impressive! For Master Branniel to choose them means they’re more than just beautiful,” Mark nodded knowingly—it seemed he knew Branniel well.

“Mm.” Zhaotian nodded, continuing to eat. He was wary of this overly familiar fellow—a reflex honed by years as a die-hard geek.

At the same time, his sixth sense began to tingle.

After his training with Pixie, Zhaotian’s sixth sense had grown keen, almost as sharp in his everyday state as his other senses.

‘What’s this? A sense of danger? Something threatening is watching me? That can’t be, this is a civilized society, not a dungeon...’ Outwardly, Zhaotian showed no reaction, but inwardly, he was on high alert. With Artoria and Ele both absent, he couldn’t afford to be reckless.