“A VVIP personal shopping room…?”
The unfamiliar term instinctively tumbled from my lips as a question.
“Yes. It’s an exclusive space reserved for a select few clients. Instead of having to search for clothes yourself, our staff will bring them directly to you.”
“Ah, I see…”
Her explanation clarified exactly what kind of place this was. So, they weren’t selling unique items, but rather, the staff would find clothes on my behalf?
If that were the case, it would be a welcome change. Searching for clothes had always been an ordeal.
More than anything, however, the term ‘VVIP’ resonated deeply with me. VVIP! What a magnificent sound! It was a word that exuded wealth and exclusivity just by hearing it.
For my shimmering scales, there could be no more fitting shopping destination.
“Ahem, very well. Please lead the way.”
“Yes. The department store is quite crowded, so please take my hand.”
Yoo Sojeong extended her hand to me, her long, pale fingers reaching out.
When I grasped her hand, a warmth, unexpected given her usually stoic demeanor, flowed into me. The moment she confirmed my grip, she began to walk without hesitation.
“Ah…?!”
The surrounding scenery blurred past rapidly. Yoo Sojeong’s steps were unhindered, as if no one stood in her way. She glided through the narrow gaps between people as smoothly as flowing water.
‘Is this one of those ‘movement-related skills’?’
Indeed, if I hadn’t held her hand while she walked like this, I would have instantly gotten lost, becoming a helpless stray.
Although the thought crossed my mind that we could have simply gone slower without holding hands, I reasoned that Yoo Sojeong was likely just trying to get us there quickly, considering my comfort.
In less than three minutes, we arrived at an elevator tucked away in a corner. Even after navigating through so many people, Yoo Sojeong’s hair remained perfectly in place, not a strand out of order.
****
Ding—
Stepping into the elevator, Yoo Sojeong pressed the button for the very top floor. The elevator ascended smoothly, and through the glass, the cityscape outside rushed past.
Upon finally reaching the highest floor, its ambiance immediately felt distinct from the others. Foot traffic was sparse, and a luxurious carpet adorned the hallway.
The few people who did pass by were all dressed in expensive-looking attire.
It was then that a faint sense of unease began to creep over me.
‘…Isn’t this place only for incredibly wealthy people?’
While I was certainly on my way to becoming rich, an unsettling thought surfaced: what if the clothes here were beyond what my current bank balance could afford?
Yoo Sojeong stopped before an opulent door equipped with a card reader. She held a card to the door, and with a soft ‘beep,’ it slid open.
“Please, go inside.”
As we stepped through the doorway, a staff member greeted us, and I found myself unable to hide my astonishment.
“Welcome. Are you looking for anything in particular?”
Having expected a shopping room filled with clothes displayed along the walls, I was instead greeted by a space that more closely resembled a luxurious hotel suite.
At the center of the spacious room sat a plush-looking sofa and a marble table, while one entire wall was made of floor-to-ceiling glass, offering a panoramic view of Seoul. Subtle lighting and a pleasant fragrance combined to soothe my mind.
“Wow…”
As I curiously glanced around, Yoo Sojeong addressed me.
“Please take a seat on this sofa and wait for a moment.”
“Ah, yes.”
While I waited on the sofa, a staff member brought out a chocolate muffin and a strawberry latte. Despite having just eaten cake and macarons, leaving me feeling quite full, the sight of the desserts immediately made my satiety melt away like snow, replaced by a sudden hunger.
“Haaah.”
Slurp.
I bit into the muffin and sipped the latte, the sweetness filling my mouth and bringing a wave of contentment.
After Yoo Sojeong conversed with the staff member, they soon disappeared and returned with several articles of clothing. Yoo Sojeong, for some reason, wore a satisfied smile.
“This is a children’s dress, part of our new S/S season collection. It’s made from the finest silk fabric, and our brand’s master artisan has personally embroidered it with gold thread.”
The dress the staff member brought was a classic yet adorable sky-blue. The fabric, soft to the touch just by looking at it, along with the understated lace embellishments, exuded pure luxury.
However,
‘A dress is a bit…’
It was not an easy garment for my inner masculinity to accept. Even though my body had become that of a young girl, my mind was still that of a robust 25-year-old man. My pride simply wouldn’t allow me to wear such a floaty dress.
“Um… do you have anything with pants?”
As I stammered out the request, the staff member, without a hint of surprise, presented the next outfit.
“Certainly. Would you care to see this item then?”
What the staff member brought next was a short-sleeved t-shirt with subtle frill detailing along the sleeves, paired with wide-legged denim shorts.
‘Oh, these look good.’
While they had a slightly casual feel, they wouldn’t be bad considering I could wear them regularly.
“I’ll try these on then.”
The moment I took the clothes, I felt something move behind my back.
Flap.
My wings, having unconsciously shifted slightly, made their presence known behind me.
‘Ah, right. I have wings and a tail.’
I had completely forgotten until just now. The fact that I couldn’t wear normal clothes. It was truly disappointing.
“Haaah…”
Yoo Sojeong, still expressionless, yet somehow seeming to suppress a smile, asked me,
“Do you like this outfit?”
“It’s fine, but I can’t wear it anyway. Because of my wings and tail…”
I answered in a dejected voice, and Yoo Sojeong then addressed the staff member.
“Please charge me for this.”
“Huh? No, I told you I can’t wear it!”
Despite my protests, Yoo Sojeong took the clothes from the staff member. Then she spoke to me.
“Please wait a moment.”
Holding the clothes in her hand, she quietly murmured,
“Alteration.”
A faint light then emanated from her hand.
While there didn’t appear to be any significant change, when I examined the clothes Yoo Sojeong handed me, I couldn’t help but be astonished.
“Ehh? What happened to this?”
On the back of the t-shirt, two neat holes had appeared, perfectly positioned for my wings to emerge. The finishing was so clean, it looked as if it had been designed that way from the start.
“…Huh?”
The shorts had a hole in the rear for my tail, and above it, a small button and loop had been created to secure it just above the tail, preventing any looseness.
“It’s a D-rank ‘Alteration’ skill.”
“Wow… so there are skills like this too.”
When I thought of Awakened abilities, I generally only considered those related to combat or physical attributes, but it turned out there were also skills intimately connected to daily life.
“The fitting room is this way.”
As I started towards the fitting room, following the staff member’s instructions, Yoo Sojeong trailed closely behind me.
“…? I’m going to change clothes.”
“Yes. I know.”
“Huh?”
Puzzled for a moment, I tilted my head and looked at Yoo Sojeong.
“I thought you might find the wing and tail sections uncomfortable, so I intended to assist you.”
“Oh, no. It’s fine. I can manage by myself.”
While there might be a slight inconvenience, it would be embarrassing and awkward to be seen changing, let alone receive help from a girl my age. I could certainly change clothes on my own.
“Ah… yes. Understood.”
Leaving the now-rejected Yoo Sojeong behind, I entered the fitting room. I took off the t-shirt and shorts I was wearing and first tried on the new shorts.
Despite the denim-like texture, the fabric felt soft against my skin, and the tail section fit perfectly, ensuring my back and backside wouldn’t be exposed.
Next came the top. While I managed to stretch my wings upwards and get my head through the t-shirt, locating the four separate holes for my arms and wings proved to be no easy feat.
“Ugh…”
No matter how I twisted and contorted my wings, the stuck appendages refused to budge. I struggled for over a minute, but getting my wings through remained difficult, and a worry began to surface that the clothes might stretch out beyond repair.
“…Yoo Sojeong.”
“Yes. What is it?”
Yoo Sojeong’s voice echoed from outside the door. Left with no other choice, I called out to her.
“Um… could you possibly help me put this on?”
“Yes. I’ll come in.”
Though it was embarrassing, it was certainly better than having the clothes stretch out and become unwearable. Besides, it was just a top, wasn’t it? I wasn’t completely naked.
Soon, Yoo Sojeong opened the door and entered the fitting room. Her figure was faintly visible through the stretched t-shirt.
With a slight smile, she examined my predicament from front to back, then began to gently prod at my back.
“Ah, that tickles a bit when you touch it like that.”
“I’ll be careful.”
Even as she said that, Yoo Sojeong continued to prod at my wings from inside the clothes. I felt a strange sensation for a moment, but soon conceded that it was a necessary process for her to help me dress.
My wings weren’t a human body part, so it was only natural that it would take some time for her to understand them.
Yoo Sojeong, who had been gently touching the membranes and scales of my wings, soon grasped them and guided them through the holes. After that, putting my arms through was not difficult.
“It’s done.”
“Thank you.”
Stepping out of the fitting room and standing before the mirror, I found the clothes fit me perfectly, as if they had been custom-made. It felt like they had perfectly matched my size, even a size I hadn’t known myself.
The overall casual vibe of the outfit made me look like a lively child. Yet, it didn’t appear cheap, instead exuding a sophisticated feel.
“Do you like it?”
“Yes. It fits perfectly and is comfortable. Especially the wing sections.”
The t-shirt I had previously improvised had the problem of exposing half my back, but the clothes Yoo Sojeong altered fit me just right.
After that, I tried on a few more outfits, mainly easy-to-wear shirts and pants. The button-up shirts were simple enough to put on without anyone’s help.
For some reason, Yoo Sojeong kept recommending t-shirts, but I didn’t particularly want to seek out uncomfortable clothes. T-shirts might have been comfortable when I was a man, but not anymore.
I also ended up buying two dresses, including the one I’d initially seen. I hadn’t intended to buy them, but Yoo Sojeong’s compliments about how well they suited me made me unconsciously buy both.
Then came the moment of payment.
‘There are over ten pieces of clothing alone.’
Having bought more clothes than anticipated, I expected a hefty expenditure. Considering it was a department store, it would probably exceed 1,000,000 won (TL Note: Approximately 730 USD).
And the words that came out of the staff member’s mouth caused a crack to form in my very sanity.
“…For a total of 12,013,000 won.”
“…Huh?”
