Era of Players: Death God

Noah hadn't had the opportunity to go back before he was dragged back together with Lilith somewhere.

A department store inside the commercial district of the Peerless Academy is a bustling hub of activity. With its grand entrance and towering glass windows, it exudes an air of luxury and sophistication. The store is divided into multiple floors, each dedicated to specific departments, offering a wide range of products to cater to the diverse needs of the academy's students, faculty, and visitors.

As you step inside, you are greeted by the pleasant aroma of freshly brewed coffee from the in-store café. The ground floor is a paradise for fashion enthusiasts, with racks of trendy clothing, shelves filled with stylish accessories, and a cosmetics section that showcases the latest beauty products.

Moving up to the second floor, you enter the electronics department. Here, you find rows of state-of-the-art gadgets, from laptops and smartphones to gaming consoles and home entertainment systems. Knowledgeable staff members are readily available to assist customers in making informed decisions.

The third floor is dedicated to books and stationery. It houses a vast collection of textbooks, reference materials, and best-selling novels. The stationery section offers everything from pens and notebooks to art supplies, catering to the academic and creative needs of the academy's students.

Tucked away on the fourth floor is a dedicated home and lifestyle department. This section offers an array of furniture, home decor, kitchenware, and appliances, allowing students and faculty to create a comfortable and stylish living space.

For those seeking a quick break from shopping, the fifth floor offers a food court with a variety of dining options. From international cuisines to local delicacies, there is something to satisfy every palate.

Overall, the department store inside the commercial district of the Peerless Academy provides a convenient and comprehensive shopping experience. Its wide range of departments and attentive staff make it a go-to destination for all the academy's shopping needs.

And currently inside this Department Store Noah was playing the role of mannequin accompanied with two beauties.

Stella Evangelion stuns with a cascade of raven hair that tumbles down her back in a way that both whispers of untamed wildness and gleams with controlled silkiness. The color isn't just black, but a deep, inky black that seems to hold the secrets of the night sky. Her most striking feature, however, lies in her eyes.

Not simply red, they burn with a vibrant crimson that hints at an inner fire, a flicker of something both captivating and potentially dangerous. The contrast between her dark hair and those fiery eyes is breathtaking, making them the focal point of her entire being. You can't help but wonder what stories they hold, what depths of emotion lie simmering within.

She is the younger sister to Lilith's father making her her aunt.

"Great. Perfect. How does it look to you, Lilith?"

Stella, playing the role of mannequin B, asked Lilith.

As one would have expected Lilith didn't respond making Stella shift her attention to Noah.

"What about you, kiddo?"

Noah spoke while looking at his reflection in the mirror.

"Uh … It seems to suit me, but isn't it too overwhelming?"

Stella put her hand to her forehead.

"Forget it. What can I expect from fashion ignoramuses?"

Lilith and Noah's outfits had changed dramatically in 30 minutes.

Lilith was wearing a bright dress, not her usual gothic dress.

Noah was dressed as dazzlingly as a pop idol might be.

'Sigh! I think I liked my previous clothes better.' Noah thought looking at his reflection in the mirror.

This outfit was too overwhelming.

"…"

Looking to the side, Noah saw Lilith gazing at her outfit with a trembling expression.

Her face seemed to read, 'My previous dress seems more neat and pretty, doesn't it?'

"What do you think, miss clerk?"

Stella spoke to the store clerk, who had been observing them. The clerk responded,

"I think it's the best coordination, reflecting 120% of this year's trend. Truly Stella Creativeness. I was amazed."

Stella lips curved into a smile. Not only she's famous Player, she was also a famous designer.

"This is a normal person's reaction. Got it? You fashion ignoramuses."

Stella snapped her fingers and clicked her tongue.

"Even so, to call us fashion ignoramuses…"

Noah was still doubtful.

'Can we trust the clerk? They would even package clothes that don't suit us as if they did, just to sell them.'

''Ah!"

At this point, they didn't have a choice but to seek the opinion of an impartial third party who can make a fair assessment.

Click-

Noah took a picture of his reflection in the mirror.

"What are you doing?"

"I'll ask someone if it suits me."

"Good idea." Stella didn't mind this suggestion.

Surprisingly, Lilith did the same

"I should do the same."

Stella's eyes widened, it never occurred to her that her stoic niece would have someone contact other than her and the boy's contact in her phone.

''Fufufu! How unexpected, we need to talk later dear Lilith and you will fill me in.''

Lilith ignored her aunt, thinking of consulting her friends, also took a picture of herself.

Meanwhile, Stella crossed her arms, a confident smile on her face.

Noah sent the photo to Arthur, seeking his opinion.

[What do you think of this outfit?]

The response was immediate.

[Wow! My friend, what's that outfit? It suits you really well!]

[Amazing! Totally stylish!] A second text followed taking Noah by surprise.

"…"

[Really? Is it that good?] Noah typed back.

[ Yes! It seems well put together with non-contrasting colors to highlight your face. Plus, tone-on-tone! You should always dress like this.] Another immediate reply followed by another one, Arthur seemed eager to chat with him.

[Is this outfit something you chose yourself, Noah?]

Noah couldn't reply immediately, he took a moment before typing.

[… Why do you think so?]

[Well, you love black, Noah. Did someone choose it for you?]

Noah couldn't refute this assertion; he undeniably adores donning garments in shades of black. Occasionally, he might opt for gray or even white attire, but black always finds its way into his wardrobe.

'So that's how it appeared to those around me.'

Looking to the side, he saw Lilith's expressionless mask cracking, she was looking stunned as well.

Her expression seemed to say she had been scolded by her friends with comments like,

'Why is the gothic dress lover wearing such bright clothes? Are you inviting Noah on a romantic date already?'

"What did your friends say?"

powered by mvl|empyr

Stella asked, looking at Noah and smirking.

"… They said it suits me well."

"Again? Didn't they ask who chose it for you?" Stella asked with a 'I know they did' smile.

"…"

How did she know? Noah couldn't hide his bewildered expression.

"Anyway, you see now? You're a fashion ignoramus."

"… Yes."

Seeing the dramatic reactions from Arthur, it seems Noah really didn't know how to dress himself.

"Alright. If you understand, let's move to the next store."

Stella said, handing her card to the clerk.

"What?"

Noah and Lilith's eyes and asked in unison.

"Isn't this the end?"

Even Lilith who rarely opened her mouth since the beginning of this nightmare couldn't help but speak.

"Aunt, one outfit each would have been enough."

At that, Stella chuckled.

"Looking at your sense of style, I feel I need to prepare at least 4 to 5 outfits for each of you to feel at ease. Then you'll have enough to wear comfortably."

She smiled, like a mother looking at her mischievous children.

It seemed that the nightmare wouldn't be ending soon.

°°°

That took about 5 hours.

Noah and Lilith did their best in theirs role as mannequins for Stella Evangelion.

"Good. It's perfect."

Having perfectly arranged even their hair, they were now sitting at a restaurant for dinner.

"If you guys always paid this much attention to your appearance, wouldn't it be nice?"

"…"

"…"

'I don't think I could ever keep this up. It's exhausting.'

Noah was overwhelmed with the thought of continuing on. The constant struggle was draining him completely. He yearned for an escape, as this woman had always been a source of trouble. She was a free spirit, doing as she pleased without any regard for others. Noah had tried to avoid her countless times, but each attempt ended in failure. She was simply too intimidating.

Lost in his own thoughts, Noah was abruptly brought back to reality by Stella's piercing words.

"Especially you, little one. Your attire with that face is almost a sin. You understand?"

"… Yes."

Noah decided to obediently admit to it.

After following her around for 5 hours, he understood completely. Just changing clothes and hairstyle made people's gazes shift.

An excellent face that needs no improvement, a physique honed through rigorous training through the years.

When Stella's touch was added, it created a truly explosive synergy.

Honestly, if Noah had been walking around alone today, he would have been dashed at by at least 10 women.

No, really.

He was not praising himself ; there were at least 10 people shooting heart beams from their eyes.

"Anyway, even Players are human. Not just equipment; you should pay attention to regular fashion too."

Stella said, handing Noah a steak and smiling faintly.

"Especially you, little one. Take some breaks. From what I heard from Elena, you're like a training machine."

"I like doing it, though."

Come to think of it, Stella was the same age as their teacher Elena.

"Little one, do you have any hobbies?" Stella suddenly asked.

"Hobbies… I don't really have any."

"Have you watched any movies recently, or gone out with someone?"

"I don't think so." Noah shook his head, helping Lilith train to ride motorbike couldn't be considered as going out, he understands what Stella implied when she asked that question.

Noah usually trained or planned to minimize future variables.

"… Is that so?"

Stella looked at Noah then Lilith with eyes filled with something akin to sorrow.

'This won't do, I must change them'

She heaved a sigh before saying.

"Let's eat.''