Albena, like Alia, was also wearing an evening gown.
To be honest, what Gauss admired most was not the dress itself, but the fact that the shop even had a size that fit Albena.
What kind of mindset did that tailor have, making dresses in those dimensions?
Shadow's gown was in a similar style as well, and Gauss found it hard not to suspect that the three of them had gone shopping together as a squad.
Alia was in light blue, Shadow in black, and Albena was wrapped in pure white.
Looking at Albena now, that dress on her made Gauss subconsciously think of a character from a game from his previous life—something like "Lady Eight-Foot" or whatever her name was. Except Albena was much more muscular.
It wasn't that she looked bad, exactly—her figure just really didn't suit this kind of long gown. There was this indescribable sense of mismatch.
It looked like at any second she was going to pull a battleaxe out from under the side slit.
"You look… very spirited. Refreshing change of image, Albena," Gauss finally managed, after agonizing over his wording, to produce a comment that was both honest and polite.
"Really?" Thick-skinned as ever, Albena completely missed the subtle complexity in his expression.
She didn't overthink it at all.
Faced with Gauss' "praise," she beamed, even twisting left and right in place to size herself up.
Gauss actually likes it?
When she first put this thing on she'd felt weirdly awkward, like something was off.
But since Gauss had said so, she happily swept away that last shred of doubt.
Gauss' taste couldn't possibly be wrong.
Better to suspect herself than suspect Gauss.
Albena, you need to have more confidence in yourself!
Shadow watched all this with a small smile, the kind that said she'd already figured everything out.
Gauss noticed her gaze drifting his way and thought she was also waiting for his verdict.
Out of the three, he objectively thought Shadow's gown suited her best.
Mostly because Shadow's height was just right. Long dresses need enough height to carry them, but not so much that you end up like Albena.
Her dress was deepest black. Only the hem and cuffs were traced with the finest gold embroidery; the neckline was clean and simple, revealing just enough of a slender neck and collarbone.
He wanted to praise her more, but with both Alia and Albena listening in, he didn't want to make it sound lopsided.
So he simply nodded in approval.
"That gown looks very elegant on you."
"Thank you. As long as you like it," Shadow replied, lips curving upward.
What Gauss hadn't expected was that even Serandur had dressed up specially.
But it wasn't in human formalwear.
He wore a traditional outfit of a tropical Naga style—designed specifically to fit a serpentfolk physique. A long robe fell naturally from his shoulders, draping gracefully along his serpentine body; the hem flared like a fishtail near the ground.
When he moved, his tail slid within the cloth, and the folds of the robe rippled like waves.
"…Even you?" Gauss couldn't help asking.
Serandur just shook his head with all seriousness.
"Captain, we're attending as your invited guests. You may dress as you like. We cannot be sloppy and let you lose face."
Looking at him being this prepared and solemn, Gauss couldn't help but laugh.
So in the end, he was the only one actually taking it easy.
Were these people really not just looking for an excuse to dress up?
He had his doubts.
But going out now to buy a proper dinner suit would be too late anyway, so he might as well stick with his white robe.
Plain, but respectable.
And whatever he wore these days, he'd long since stopped being capable of looking "bad" in it.
"Alright, let's go."
…
The streets were bright with lamplight.
The more prosperous the town, the richer its nightlife.
A group as absurdly good-looking as theirs naturally drew a lot of attention.
Even Serandur, as a serpentfolk, looked oddly stylish after careful grooming—an exotic kind of beauty that actually drew its own share of lingering glances.
Out of the corner of his eye, Gauss caught the faint, barely-there upward quirk at the corner of Serandur's otherwise frosty, dignified face.
"Hmph…"
He'd known it—this guy clearly had a little "cool factor" complex tucked away in his heart.
And he'd dressed up under the excuse of "not causing trouble for the captain's image."
Gauss mercifully chose not to call him out on it.
They reached the lakeside.
Outside the town hall, a luxuriously built reception hall was already packed with all kinds of carriages and mounts.
Tall horses were the plainest of the bunch; the real competition was among the exotic draft beasts.
A massive black panther, a giant ram with stones growing from its back, and a four-legged beast that looked half hyena, half lion…
The variety was dizzying. Even Gauss felt a bit overwhelmed, like watching a lineup of luxury "cars" from his past life showing off at the curb.
Right then, two ornate beast-drawn carriages were blocking the front gate, neither willing to yield.
Two ladies, dripping in jewels, had lifted their curtains and were shouting at each other across the gap.
"Well, if it isn't little Millie of the Kael family, dressed up so loudly again. Which young man are you trying to seduce this time?"
"Don't tell me it's Gauss? As if he'd look twice at a woman who flirts with anything that breathes."
The older of the two struck first.
"Oh, Madam Fanny, is that you? I'm just following tradition and dressing appropriately. Our Kael family values inner quality."
"But you, Madam Fanny—didn't your husband die just a few months ago? Yet you're already chomping at the bit to play toad and kiss a swan?"
"Try not to disgrace the reputation of our Blue Lake Five Towns, hmm?"
The younger one fired back.
While the two traded barbs, deadlocked at the entrance, an elderly butler hurried out from inside with several servants in tow.
They moved quickly and respectfully.
Both ladies naturally assumed they were there to welcome one of them.
But the servants didn't even glance at the carriages.
They slipped neatly through the gap between the two vehicles as if they weren't there, heading straight toward the road behind.
The butler stopped a few steps short of Gauss' group, bowed with perfect decorum, and smiled.
"Mr. Gauss, honored guests—my sincerest apologies for not welcoming you sooner. Chairman Robin, Lord Ansel, and all the distinguished guests are waiting inside. They specifically asked us to come receive you. Please, this way."
"Thank you," Gauss said politely.
That little scene left the two arguing ladies utterly stunned.
They weren't far away—and with their attention fixed this way, they heard every word clearly.
G–Gauss?
Following the butler's line of sight, they saw him.
In the cool wash of silvery moonlight, the young man approached, surrounded by his party like a bright center.
He wore a robe of plain white—normal material, simple cut, no intricate embroidery, no flashy ornaments.
And it was precisely that extreme simplicity that made him stand out amidst all the gaudy outfits, the moonlight lending him a clarity and aloofness that outshone any gold fringe.
Plain—but striking.
That's Gauss?
Both women swallowed.
This was the man their elder relatives at home had repeated over and over was the most important target for the evening.
To find that their quarry was this handsome lit a greedy heat in their chests.
If they'd known he looked like this, they wouldn't have needed nagging—they'd have rushed down to Lakeside Town days ago to seek him out.
Gauss walked calmly forward.
The two carriages had left a narrow passage for pedestrians, and he wasn't in the mood to say anything to them. Under the butler's guidance, he passed between the vehicles without expression.
The butler saw the two women frozen there, still blocking half the lane, and shook his head inwardly.
He couldn't be bothered to say anything.
"Right this way, Mr. Gauss."
…
Just as Gauss was about to head through the doors, the two ladies snapped out of it.
Forget fighting over who went in first.
They shouted a word to their coachmen and hurriedly let their maids help them down, gathering their skirts and hurrying after him.
But they only made it a few steps before being intercepted by other hall servants.
"Honored ladies, the banquet is about to begin. Allow me to guide you and your attendants according to the seating order."
"Mr. Gauss and his party are tonight's special guests and must enter first. We beg your understanding."
"How dare you!"
"Do you know who my grandfather is? If you cost me my chance to speak to Mr. Gauss alone, do you have any idea how serious that is?!"
"I'm very sorry," the servant replied with flawless, polite smile.
"What's your name?!"
…
Their shrill protest faded behind him as Gauss shook his head.
Even the prettiest dress couldn't cover up a small and petty mind.
So this is what passes for "ladies" around here, he thought.
He didn't slow down, just followed the butler in.
A herald announced his arrival the moment he stepped through the doors.
The noise in the hall settled in waves.
Merchants, minor nobles, ladies, senior officials, adventurers—all turned their eyes toward the entrance.
Some of them had never seen the newly risen champion before and craned for a better look.
When they finally caught sight of him, they nodded inwardly.
At least in terms of looks and bearing, he certainly met their expectations.
Several ladies who had been chatting and laughing subtly shifted their positions, putting a bit more distance between themselves and each other as they studied his reaction from afar.
For nine-tenths of the unmarried women present, their goal tonight was simple: Gauss.
Whether for family advantage or pure attraction to his talent and charm.
Even if they couldn't land a marriage, at worst, a one-night affair and a child with his bloodline would send their value soaring back home.
Albena felt the heat of all those looks and instinctively took a step forward, her broad shoulders blocking Gauss from view.
That was precisely why she'd come.
"tsk…"
Around the hall, someone clicked their tongue.
Even aside from Gauss, his teammates turned a lot of heads.
Some had already guessed as much: with that kind of score lead, his party members had to be exceptional.
Seeing them now confirmed it.
A towering female warrior built like a small giant, whose presence not even a white dress could soften.
A serpentfolk from another race.
A mysterious woman in black.
A composed and self-possessed female caster standing among them.
Even without the champion's aura, this team's collective presence crushed every other adventuring party in the hall.
"Gauss, you made it!"
Ansel emerged from the crowd with several local dignitaries, all smiles.
"Our great hero is finally here!"
He grasped Gauss' hand, then turned to address the hall in a louder voice.
"Everyone!"
"Allow me, once again, to introduce our Blue Lake Hunting Festival's champion—this year's record-breaking young hero, Gauss! And his formidable teammates! Let's welcome them once more with a round of applause!"
Applause thundered through the room.
Fellow adventurers watched with genuine respect—no one knew better than they did how hard that feat was.
Merchants and nobles smiled expansively, already plotting how best to get in his good graces.
As for the noble ladies, their eyes practically burned.
"If that's settled, then let's begin our celebration feast."
…
"Phew—"
"I really need to attend fewer of these 'formal' events."
Out on the second-floor balcony, Gauss had seized a moment to slip free of the crowd with help from his agility.
Massaging his temples, he sighed.
This was his first proper formal banquet.
He'd expected to just make appearances and sit in a corner, but it turned out to be exhausting.
Those "refined" ladies were all terrifyingly boneless once they had wine in them. He couldn't very well shove them off, and if not for his stalwart teammates guarding his flanks—especially Albena, who single-handedly blocked a large portion of the incoming wave—he probably wouldn't have escaped at all.
Even now his head still throbbed faintly, and his ears were haunted by the echoes of high-pitched chatter.
Truly… a brutal form of magical assault.
His teammates, seeing him uncharacteristically frazzled, could barely hide their amusement.
"If those beauties heard you talk like that, their hearts would shatter," Alia teased.
"Beauties? Where?" Albena snorted. "You mean those faces with more powder than my walls?"
She glanced down at her forearms, where a fine chalky sheen still clung to her skin.
You could probably scrape it off, press it back into cakes, and sell it as makeup.
Gauss let their banter wash over him without comment.
He leaned against the railing, quietly soaking in the sight of the bright moon outside and mentally calculating when the banquet would finally wind down.
He planned to stay up here until it was nearly over, then go back for one last round of mingling. That way he wouldn't be being too rude.
As for being "swarmed" again afterward?
He wasn't worried.
He did, after all, know Fly.
Just as he was thinking this, a ruckus suddenly rose up from the courtyard below the balcony.
"You can't go in! There's a tournament banquet going on inside!"