Chapter 71: A Shopping Trip and a Shy Request

Lovelenica cleared her throat. “Lucia, actually, I’m the same. The clothes felt a bit tight during the battle that day. Since I had a break, I came out to buy some new ones. However, I’m not very familiar with these shops. How about you show me around?”

“Eh? What a coincidence! So, Teacher, you also heard Lovelenica’s request?” Lucia was slightly startled at first, but then agreed to Lovelenica’s suggestion without hesitation.

“Alright! I never thought I’d get to shop for clothes with Teacher. This is wonderful!”

“Huh? How could this—” Imeline stared at Lucia, her face a mask of shock, before turning a furious glare on Lovelenica.

‘Just when I finally had a chance to go shopping alone with Lucia today, this woman had to ruin everything again…’

Watching the visibly delighted Lucia, Imeline understood that her opposition would likely be futile. Even protesting would only lead to Lucia saying something that would make her feel worse.

Lucia would probably tell her not to harbor so much ill will towards Lovelenica.

If Lucia truly said such a thing, Imeline would lose all desire to shop. Until decisive evidence was found, Lucia’s trust in Lovelenica would remain unshaken.

Imeline decided not to object after all; one more Lovelenica wouldn’t make much difference. In the end, she merely let out a faint sigh.

“Alright… let’s go inside then.”

Lucia and Imeline then entered the very shop Lovelenica had been too hesitant to step into earlier.

‘Well, would you look at that? So this was the shop they intended to visit.’

Recalling her earlier refusal of the shop assistant, Lovelenica still felt a pang of embarrassment. Yet, there was no turning back now; Lucia and Imeline were already inside, leaving her no choice but to brace herself and follow them.

“Welcome.”

As the trio stepped inside, the shop assistant respectfully addressed them.

They must have recognized Lovelenica, for she was the only one wearing a conspicuous nun’s habit. Lucia and Imeline, by contrast, were dressed in ordinary clothes today. Moreover, Lovelenica’s striking silver hair made her unforgettable.

The shop assistant made no comment about Lovelenica’s second entry into the store, simply continuing to serve them as she would any other customer. With a polite smile, she addressed the trio.

“Ladies, what type of lingerie are you looking for? Are you prioritizing comfort, or is there a special occasion in mind?”

‘What exactly does “special occasion” even mean…’

Hearing the shop assistant’s choice of words, Lovelenica couldn’t help but inwardly scoff. “Special occasion” sounded almost like she was asking for some kind of decisive, battle-winning lingerie.

“Just show us something ordinary. Comfort is the main priority, ideally something easy to wear during exercise. Oh, Teacher, do you have any specific requests?”

Lucia explained her needs to the shop assistant, then turned to Lovelenica, awaiting her input.

“Uh… I don’t have any other specific needs. What Lucia said is fine. Oh, right… I’ve never had my measurements taken before. Could someone measure me first?”

When it was suddenly Lovelenica’s turn to speak, she appeared somewhat flustered, stammering slightly, as it was her first time in such a shop. Despite her lack of experience, Lovelenica knew that buying lingerie required getting measured first.

“Of course. Please come this way.”

The shop assistant nodded and led the trio further into the store, stopping outside a fitting room.

“Please, come in, Reverend Sister. I will take your measurements.”

Despite the shop assistant’s enthusiastic invitation, Lovelenica hesitated, reluctant to allow a stranger to touch her body for measurements. She didn’t want someone she didn’t know to measure her, yet she didn’t know how to do it herself.

“Reverend Sister, please rest assured. The fitting room is a completely enclosed space, so there will be no privacy concerns whatsoever.”

The shop assistant seemed to discern Lovelenica’s apprehension, offering her reassurance.

However, Lovelenica’s concern wasn’t about being spied upon; she simply didn’t want strangers touching her body.

“Uh… is it possible to measure myself?”

Lovelenica cautiously put forward her request.

“Of course, Reverend Sister.”

The shop assistant merely smiled and nodded upon hearing her.

“There’s a tape measure in the fitting room. Just take your measurements and remember the data.”

“Okay…”

Lovelenica walked to the fitting room door but paused just as she was about to push it open. Her voice was barely a whisper as she spoke to the other three, without turning back.

“Lucia, you come help me measure.”

At these words, Lucia hadn’t even reacted when Imeline was the first to speak.

“No, Lovelenica, what do you mean? Can’t you just measure yourself? Why do you need Lucia to help you?”

“Because… I don’t know how to measure.”

“Huh? Then what did you mean by measuring yourself just now? Couldn’t you have just let the shop assistant help you?”

Facing Imeline’s questions, Lovelenica chose not to answer. She merely pleaded with Lucia again in a faint voice.

“Anyway… Lucia, please help me.”

“Yes, Teacher.”

Lucia merely paused for a moment before agreeing to assist. Only after receiving Lucia’s affirmative reply did Lovelenica enter the fitting room.

“Lucia! You don’t have to help her with such a small matter. Couldn’t the shop assistant just measure her? Why make it so complicated?”

“It’s fine. Teacher must have her reasons for asking me to help. You said it yourself, it’s just a small matter. It doesn’t take much effort to help measure.”

With that, Lucia stepped into the partially open fitting room, closing the door tightly behind her.

“Honestly… what a troublesome woman!”

Watching the tightly closed fitting room door, Imeline couldn’t help but complain.

The shop assistant merely chuckled. She had seen all sorts of peculiar customers, and this one was quite harmless and endearing compared to many others she had encountered.

“Hehe, your friends are quite amusing, aren’t they?”

The shop assistant teased a displeased Imeline.

“Who, who said they’re my friends! No, I’m friends with the younger one, but definitely not with the older one!”

Inside the fitting room, once the door was completely shut, not a single sound from outside could be heard. The fitting room was incredibly quiet, suggesting that it must have a magic barrier to block out external noises.

The fitting room itself was quite spacious. Lucia approached Lovelenica and asked curiously,

“Teacher, I’m here. Why didn’t you want the shop assistant to measure you?”

“Cough, cough…”

Lovelenica gave a light cough, trying to conceal her bashfulness.

“I just don’t want strangers touching my body, not even the shop assistant. It feels too awkward. You’ve already helped me wipe my body before, that’s why I asked you to measure me. What, are you unwilling to?”