River stood in the middle of a clothing shop.
Which already felt wrong.
More wrong, somehow, than fighting floor guardians.
Around him, neatly arranged outfits hung from polished racks while Friedrich held up different shirts and jackets with the focus of a man preparing for war.
Somehow—
Arthur had also found his way here.
And now he stood behind River with a pair of scissors, carefully trimming his hair.
"I wanted to handle this myself, pest," Friedrich said, glaring at Arthur.
Arthur didn't even look offended.
"You have no eye for these things," he replied smoothly. "This is our comrade's first date. A historic occasion."
He adjusted a lock of River's hair with exaggerated care.
"I doubt he's even kissed a girl before."
River immediately turned red.
"I have kissed a girl before," he said, glaring at Arthur.
Inside the Bible, Buer snickered.
"Lying is a sin, my dear contractor."
His voice turned smug.
"I'm so proud of you."
River slowly looked down at the bookmark.
For one brief, beautiful moment, he seriously considered throwing it into the nearest fire.
Friedrich, meanwhile, ignored the chaos and held up another outfit against River's body.
"Well, don't worry," he said calmly. "I've already arranged dinner reservations."
He nodded to himself, clearly pleased.
"And once we finish making you look presentable, everything will go perfectly."
River sighed.
"We don't even know if she'll say yes to the date."
Arthur clicked his tongue.
"Fortune favors the bold, my young friend."
He stepped back slightly, studying River's hair.
"So be bold."
A grin spread across his face.
"Ask her."
"I'm sure she'll say yes."
He snipped the last strand and smiled proudly.
"There. Much better."
Friedrich gave a short laugh.
"She'll say yes."
He folded his arms confidently.
"I'd bet the entire city's economy on that outcome."
River looked between the two of them.
"…That somehow feels less reassuring than you think."
"Tsk, tsk. Less complaining, more confidence," Arthur said, folding his arms as River disappeared into the dressing room.
A moment later—
River stepped back out.
Gone were the dirty, torn, half-burned clerical robes.
In their place was an outfit that actually fit him.
Clean.
Sharp.
Simple, but handsome.
Even River had to admit—
He looked a lot better than usual.
Friedrich gave an approving nod.
"He cleans up surprisingly well, don't you think?"
Arthur placed a hand over his chest and sighed dramatically.
"Yes, yes. Entirely too well."
He looked at River with exaggerated devotion.
"I fear he has bewitched me, body and soul."
River immediately frowned.
"Please calm down, both of you."
But despite the embarrassment, a small smile still tugged at his lips.
Then his expression softened.
"…Still."
He looked between them.
"Thank you."
Friedrich waved that off like it was nothing.
"Good. Then get moving."
Before River could react, Friedrich planted both hands on his shoulders and started steering him toward the door.
"Go ask Celestia out."
Arthur raised a hand in farewell.
"Carpe diem."
His grin widened.
"Seize the day, River. Seize the day."
River let out one last helpless sigh as he was shoved out of the shop.
Then he started walking toward the inn.
Toward Celestia.
River stepped into the inn.
Celestia and Azura were sitting at a table near the corner, playing some kind of card game.
Or rather—
Celestia was trying to play it properly.
Azura, on the other hand, clearly had no idea what the rules were.
And somehow—
She was winning.
Entirely through luck.
And by making moves so random that Celestia couldn't predict a single one of them.
River stood there for a moment, watching in silence.
Then he took a breath.
"Celestia…"
The two girls looked up.
River scratched his cheek, his face already starting to redden.
"I was wondering…"
He swallowed.
"…if you'd like to go on a date with me."
A brief pause.
"…Tonight."
Celestia froze.
Completely.
Her cards slipped from her fingers and fell onto the table.
Azura glanced down at them.
Then quietly glanced away, pretending not to notice that Celestia had been losing horribly.
For one long second—
Celestia said nothing.
Then—
"Give me one minute."
A puff of dark smoke suddenly burst around her.
River blinked.
Azura blinked.
When the smoke cleared—
Celestia was already dressed.
A beautiful red dress clung perfectly to her figure, elegant and striking. Her hair had somehow been styled flawlessly, and her entire presence now radiated the energy of someone who had been waiting for this exact moment her entire life.
She stood up immediately.
"Yes."
Her voice came out almost too fast.
"Of course."
A bright smile spread across her face.
"I would gladly go with you."
Her crimson eyes practically sparkled—
No.
At this point, it honestly looked like they had turned into hearts.
Azura slowly looked between them.
Then quietly began gathering up the cards while pretending she wasn't witnessing history.
Later that evening, River and Celestia made their way to the restaurant Friedrich had reserved for them.
The place looked… completely empty.
Not abandoned.
Just reserved.
The entire restaurant had been cleared out for the two of them alone.
At the entrance, a single guard stood watch, keeping anyone else from entering. He leaned against the wall casually, smoking a cigarette.
River blinked when he got a closer look.
It was Alexander.
"What are you doing here?" River asked.
Alexander exhaled smoke and shrugged.
"Friedrich banned me from entering the dungeon for a week too."
He looked away, clearly annoyed.
"So I'm doing this for easy money. Don't read too much into it."
With that, he stepped aside and let them enter.
Inside, the atmosphere was warm and elegant. Soft lights glowed across the room, and a violin-and-piano duo played in the corner, filling the air with gentle music.
A restaurant manager quickly approached them.
At least—
River assumed he was the manager.
The man had a thick mustache that looked so suspiciously fake it was honestly distracting.
"Please, take a seat," the man said smoothly.
"Your waiter will be with you shortly."
River and Celestia exchanged a glance before sitting down.
For a moment, everything actually felt perfect.
The quiet music.
The candlelight.
The soft smile on Celestia's face.
Then—
"Hello there, old sport!"
River looked up.
And froze.
Arthur stood beside their table, dressed as a waiter.
He held two menus with far too much confidence.
"Here are your menus," Arthur said cheerfully.
"And what may I get you two to drink? Wine? Water? Juice? Whatever your hearts desire."
River stared.
Celestia stared.
Both of them did a double take.
Arthur smiled brightly.
"No need to worry."
He waved a hand as if this were the most natural thing in the world.
"We're simply here to ensure this evening goes perfectly."
He turned dramatically and snapped his fingers.
"Waitress, water for the lovely couple!"
A moment later, Azura came hurrying over.
She was wearing a waitress uniform.
Slightly crooked.
A little too big.
And she looked one wrong step away from tripping over herself.
She carefully raised her hands.
Using water magic, she filled both of their glasses.
"…Here you go," Azura said softly.
Then she stood there for a moment, clearly unsure if she was doing a good job.
River slowly looked from Arthur to Azura.
Then back to Celestia.
The "private" date suddenly felt a lot less private than advertised.
At that moment, River and Celestia looked around the restaurant more carefully.
And then they realized—
Hana was the one playing the violin.
Rose sat beside her at the piano, surprisingly elegant as her fingers moved across the keys.
River slowly turned his head toward the kitchen.
And there—
Wearing a chef's hat—
Was Friedrich.
River stared for a long moment.
"…Seriously?"
Arthur let out a small laugh.
"Well."
He glanced toward the so-called manager.
"The jig is up."
The "manager" sighed.
Then the illusion around him faded, revealing Alicia beneath it.
"So it was you," River said.
Alicia crossed her arms.
"Were we really that hard to spot?"
Celestia looked around the room, still stunned.
"…You're all here?"
Hana smiled warmly from her seat.
"We just wanted to make sure the two of you had a lovely night."
Her expression softened.
"You both deserve it."
Alexander, still standing by the entrance like a deeply underpaid bouncer, clicked his tongue.
"I'm only here because Alicia said I'd be sleeping on the floor if I didn't."
Alicia puffed out her cheeks.
"You're lucky I already forgave you for all your nonsense last week."
She pointed at him accusingly.
"You were possessed, yes, but I'm still calling this part of your atonement, dummy."
Alexander muttered something under his breath and looked away.
River couldn't help but laugh.
"This is actually really sweet."
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"…Even if it's also incredibly awkward."
Celestia smiled and gently took River's hand in hers beneath the table.
"I suppose…"
She squeezed his hand slightly.
"…we'll just have to enjoy the dinner."
Then—
From behind Friedrich—
A clone of Celestia quietly appeared.
She leaned in just enough for him to hear.
"Just so you know…"
Her voice was calm.
Sweet, even.
"If this date isn't perfect…"
A small smile formed on her lips.
"…I'll kill everyone here."
A pause.
"…Except Azura."
Then the clone vanished in a puff of darkness.
Friedrich stood there in complete silence.
A chill ran down his spine.
"…Yes, ma'am," he said immediately.
And just like that—
The pressure on the staff somehow became even worse than fighting a floor guardian.
For the most part—
The date went surprisingly well.
Hana and Rose played soft, romantic music that filled the restaurant with warmth. Arthur's absurdly deep knowledge of wine somehow proved useful, and he recommended perfect pairings for every course with far too much confidence.
Azura's quiet presence helped steady the atmosphere, keeping everyone from feeling too tense.
Outside, Alexander and Alicia stood together, casually flirting as they worked the door, their relationship looking far healthier than it had a week ago.
And Friedrich's food—
To River's genuine surprise—
Was incredible.
For a little while, everything felt peaceful.
Normal.
Happy.
Unfortunately—
Good things never lasted for long around River.
From the entrance, a voice rang out.
"Me and my friend would like a table."
A pause.
"In particular, we're looking for food."
The voice turned colder.
"A weak noble."
"And an elf."
The entire restaurant fell silent.
Standing outside were two figures.
Roe.
And beside him—
Arlo.
Both wore masks.
Both radiated danger.
The moment Celestia heard Roe's voice, the temperature in the room seemed to drop.
Her bloodlust filled the restaurant so densely it almost felt physical.
Arthur immediately set his tray down.
"Terribly sorry, ma'am," he said smoothly, turning to Celestia with perfect waiter politeness.
"But your waiters and chef will need to step out for just a moment."
He offered a charming smile.
"Please don't worry. Alexander will handle the final course."
At that exact moment, Alicia forcefully shoved an apron into Alexander's chest.
An apron that read:
Kiss the Cook
Alexander stared at it in disgust.
"…I hate all of you."
Celestia narrowed her eyes.
Then, after a brief moment—
"…Fine."
She squeezed River's hand once.
"I'll trust you."
Arthur, Azura, and Friedrich stepped outside together.
The door shut behind them.
Friedrich drew his sword immediately.
His gaze was cold.
"I must apologize," he said, voice sharp and formal.
"But unless you have a reservation, I cannot permit you entry."
His expression darkened further.
"And your attire is unacceptable for this establishment."
The tip of his sword lowered toward them.
"So I'll need you both to leave."
Arlo didn't react.
He simply raised one hand.
"Isolation."
The air cracked.
Then—
Two box-like barriers formed instantly from solidified air.
One snapped into place around Friedrich and Roe.
The other sealed Arthur, Azura, and Arlo inside together.
Arthur clicked his tongue.
"…Well."
"That's inconvenient."
Azura tightened her grip, ears twitching nervously.
Arlo said nothing.
Not a single word.
He simply lifted his hand again—
And calmly prepared his next spell.