Chapter 77 - preparation for the banquet
I woke up as usual, took a shower, cleaned my room, and then headed toward the dining room for breakfast.
When I arrived, I saw Amy and Mom already sitting at the table.
"Good morning."
I greeted them both before taking my usual seat.
After I sat down, Mom looked at me and said,
"Today, there will be no training."
I tilted my head in confusion.
A question mark practically appeared above my head.
Seeing my expression, Mom continued,
"The banquet is being held next week, so the two of you need to prepare for it."
"I know both of you have already received proper etiquette training, but remember..."
"You represent the entire Starlight Family."
Her gaze shifted toward me.
"Especially you, Gray."
I blinked.
"Me?"
Mom nodded.
"You always dress as simply as possible."
"It suits your personality, but during a noble banquet, you need to present yourself appropriately and show proper respect."
I scratched the back of my head before giving a small smile.
"Okay, Mom."
However...
The moment Amy heard that, her eyes lit up.
A huge grin spread across her face.
"Don’t worry, Mom."
"I’ll make sure Gray gets the perfect suit for the banquet."
Then she turned toward me with a mischievous smile.
"Oh, Gray..."
"Be prepared to become my clothes hanger—"
She suddenly stopped.
Then she quickly corrected herself.
"I mean..."
"Let’s go choose clothes together."
A chill ran down my spine.
I immediately looked toward Mom with a pleading expression.
"Mom..."
"Can I choose my own clothes?"
Before Mom could answer, Amy quickly covered my mouth.
She turned toward Mom with a bright smile.
"Don’t worry, Mom."
"Gray’s just a little shy."
"I’ll take care of everything."
I looked at her in horror.
I still remembered the last time Amy dragged me shopping.
It had been a nightmare.
I could fight through a dungeon filled with monsters...
But this?
This was something else entirely.
I groaned inwardly.
Mom watched the entire scene with an amused smile.
She was clearly enjoying my suffering.
"Alright, then."
"Amy, I’ll leave this matter to you."
"Choose formal clothes for both yourself and Gray."
Amy nodded happily.
"Leave it to me."
She confidently patted my shoulder.
"Oh, little brother..."
"Today is going to be a wonderful day."
I could only sigh in defeat.
The rest of breakfast continued with me wearing a defeated expression while Mom and Amy happily enjoyed their meal.
⸻
As soon as breakfast ended, Amy dragged me away after we said goodbye to Mom.
However, before we left, Mom stopped us.
"Remember, we’ll arrive two or three days before the banquet."
The moment Amy heard that, her eyes sparkled.
"Really?"
"Then I can finally meet Elena again and have a few sparring matches with her."
Her expression suddenly became serious.
"I can’t let her surpass me."
I looked at her curiously.
"Who’s Elena?"
Amy glanced at me.
"She’s one of my few friends."
She deliberately emphasized the word few.
Amy didn’t have many people she truly considered friends.
From the way she spoke about Elena, I immediately understood she was someone very important to her.
Before I could ask another question, Amy grabbed my arm once again.
Without giving me a chance to react, she started dragging me away.
I let out another helpless sigh.
At this point, I felt like a helpless pig being dragged toward its inevitable fate.
I tried to resist, but even though I was already an E-Rank hunter, I couldn’t do anything against Amy’s strength.
Of course...
If I truly wanted to escape, I could simply use Space Magic.
But I refused to use my abilities for something like this.
So...
I accepted my fate.
Eventually, we arrived at a clothing shop that Amy seemed very familiar with.
The moment we stepped inside, I immediately understood why.
The shop was incredibly luxurious.
Elegant decorations filled the interior, and the atmosphere alone made it obvious that this wasn’t a place ordinary people could enter.
Amy immediately walked toward the owner while still dragging me along.
However, before she could greet her, a middle-aged man and a young man, who looked to be around twenty years old, stepped in front of us.
"Hey, little girl."
"Weren’t you taught any manners?"
"Can’t you see she’s already speaking with us?"
Amy slowly turned toward them.
Her expression instantly became cold.
"It’s my business whether I speak to her or not."
"If she wants to continue talking with you afterward, that’s her decision."
"So mind your own business."
The middle-aged man’s expression darkened.
It was obvious he was irritated.
However...
His son was looking at Amy in a completely different way.
The moment I noticed that gaze...
The good mood I had vanished.
A strange coldness settled inside my heart.
I remained silent.
Amy could handle this herself.
But seeing someone look at my family with such disrespect was enough to make my own expression grow colder.
Before the middle-aged man could say anything else, the shop owner finally walked over.
"Oh my."
"Amy, dear."
"It’s been so long."
"Where have you been?"
Her expression was warm as she looked at Amy.
But the moment she turned toward the young man...
Her face instantly turned cold.
Without the slightest hesitation—
Slap!
She struck him across the face.
"Do you have a death wish?"
"Looking at her like that?"
The father and son froze.
Neither of them understood what had just happened.
They were only minor nobles who had come here hoping to build a relationship with the shop owner.
Many high-ranking nobles purchased their clothes here.
If they could gain her favor, it would greatly benefit their family.
But now...
His son had just been slapped.
By the very person they had hoped to impress.
The middle-aged man’s face twisted with anger.
"Hey!"
"Who do you think you are to hit my son?"
"So what if he looked at this girl for a moment?"
"Why are you interfering?"
"My family has connections with several noble houses."
"Don’t act so arrogant."
The shop owner looked at him as though he were already dead.
"Even if you had connections with five noble families..."
"Or even ten..."
"I doubt a single one of them would dare protect you after you’ve offended her."
The man froze.
He couldn’t understand what she meant.
Before he could reply, Amy calmly interrupted.
"I don’t have time to waste on people like you."
"So I suggest you leave."
Her voice remained calm.
But the coldness behind it made the entire atmosphere feel heavier.
Then she looked directly at the young man.
"And you..."
"If you ever look at me with those eyes again..."
"I’ll make sure you never use them again."
The young man’s face instantly turned pale.
The shop owner pointed toward the entrance.
"Leave."
"Now."
The middle-aged man clenched his teeth.
Humiliation filled his face.
Before leaving, he glared at Amy.
"Who exactly are you?"
"I’ll remember this."
Amy didn’t even blink.
"Starlight."
The moment that single word left her mouth...
The entire shop fell silent.
The middle-aged man’s expression froze.
Even a minor noble like him understood exactly what that name meant.
The Starlight Family.
A family that stood on equal footing with the Imperial Family.
Only then did he understand why the shop owner had looked at him with such contempt.
His face instantly turned pale.
His legs trembled.
Every trace of arrogance disappeared.
The shop guards immediately escorted him and his son toward the exit.
Only then did he begin pleading.
"Please..."
"Don’t do anything to my family."
He understood.
A single word from the Starlight Family could destroy everything his family had built.
But Amy didn’t even spare him a glance.
She simply turned away.
The matter was already beneath her attention.
As for me...
I remained silent.
Not because I was afraid...
But because I knew Amy could handle this situation far better than I ever could.
⸻