"This fits me…strangely perfectly." Wilhelm muttered as he admired himself in the mirror that he had conjured.
After talking with Owen and a last-minute checkup, Wilhelm was discharged. He was escorted by magic knights to a room to change his clothes. Initially, Wilhelm was of the opinion that he would have to go to the base and pick up something from there because he had grown decently from his previous clothing, but Vanessa here pitched in and had created new clothes with Wilhelm's taste and size in mind while he was out cold.
And Wilhelm loved them.
Pants were pure white in color with golden accents, which matched with his ivory white shoes with similar golden accents. A fitting black shirt above, with a white sleeveless vest. This was further complemented by a white coat.
But there was only one problem.
"No capes."
Wilhelm said as he used Mineral Magic to create a pair of scissors and removed the cape from the coat that had Black Bull's insignia. Instead of it, he created a brooch from Mineral Magic, making it look like the same insignia, and placed it over his chest pocket.
"Hmm…I have got to start wearing some white clothes too. Black, blue, and wine red look good on me, but white looks wonderful too." Wilhelm, ever the narcissist, admired himself in the mirror for the last time, and then he left the room.
Seeing him exit in new, change of clothes, the magic knight who was stationed by the door could not believe they were the same person. Before, he looked calm and soothing to the soul like an angel, but now he looked like he owned the place. Looking at everything with a signature look of superiority.
"Can we go?" Wilhelm asked with a hrumph of the throat, which knocked the magic knight out of his stupor, and he nodded with faint embarrassment at being caught lacking.
"Yes, yes, why not? Follow me." He said quickly and started to walk away, followed by Wilhelm, who walked with measured paces between them.
It took them 5 minutes, when the final exit appeared, and Wilhelm found himself in the building that was nearest, but still far from the Magic Knight HQ.
"Haahhh…sunlight and fresh air after so long." Wilhelm said with a pleasant expression as he stretched his arm in comfort. Then he turned to the person who escorted him out and said with a thankful smile, "Thank you for being so helpful."
"No, I should be thanking you. You saved my daughter and son-in-law in the Capital attack." The man replied with a grateful manner, which made Wilhelm give him a genuine smile.
"Oh, good to know. Are they doing fine?"
"Yes, they are completely fine."
"Michael!"
"I would like to continue this conversation at a later date. I have to go now." Michael replied as his name was called from the inside.
"No worries. Maybe some other time." Wilhelm said, at which Michael nodded and re-entered the building, leaving Wilhelm, who did not have anything to do all alone.
'Well, I am not in the mood to train, study, or build anything. What should I do?
I am also feeling a sudden urge to splurge a large amount of money. Should I go on a shopping spree?'
As Wilhelm was deep in thought, he suddenly heard a voice from a distance calling out his name.
"WILHELM!"
'Who is calling me? Is it the guy from Silver Eagle whose relation with his mother and sister I compromised with my partner in crime?'
Wilhelm chuckled internally, remembering Robert and Casper.
Then he looked at the person who called out to him and was pleasantly surprised that the owner of the voice was Klaus, who was with his ducklings, namely Yuno and Mimosa, the latter of whom was brightened up like a Christmas tree.
Walking to them, Wilhelm met Klaus and Mimosa's pleasant smiles with a smile of his own. As for Yuno? He only smiles at Asta.
'Sus...
One loves a woman of cloth, and the other…
I need to visit this church.'
"Wilhelm, are you fine?" Klaus asked with worry in his tone.
'My, he really does care, doesn't he? I have to start being nicer to him from now on.'
"Yes, good as before…nah, better than before." Wilhelm replied, tensing his arm that contained more strength than before.
"That is good to hear." Mimosa said, releasing a sigh of relief that caused everyone to look at her. Feeling stared at by 4 pairs of eyes, she reddened and quickly explained herself.
"I-me-mean we were all worried to hear that you were unconscious af-after fighting Rhya." Mimosa hurriedly explained herself.
'Wait. Okay. You know what, I am not going to do anything.
I have seen things like this way too much. A guy thinks a girl likes him, but she is just being nice. Or a girl likes a guy, but he thinks she is just being nice.
There is no way to know which is which, and I'm not interested in either.
We have Eye of the Midnight Sun and Diamond Kingdom to look after, and I don't have time for this.
And in case, even if she likes me and we get together, this would just give those spineless molluscs the idea to kidnap her and hold her hostage.
Also, getting together with Noelle or Mimosa, both of whom are royalty, will be a huge headache. If royalty can screw up previous Wizard Kings, then they can become a pain for me.
I can think about romance when I am more politically and financially stable.'
Wilhelm thought as he decided to just postpone what was going on with Mimosa due to the disadvantage that it held for him.
"And I am pleased and elated to hear that you were worried about me." Wilhelm replied in a manner one would talk to any royalty, but somehow, Mimosa got even redder.
'Yup, not touching that.'
"Hey, hey! Who are you? You feel…familiar!" Then suddenly, a small pixie came right in front of Wilhelm's eye and asked with her hands folded.
"Where did this toothpick come from?" Wilhelm asked as he flicked away the said 'Toothpick'.
"OW! How dare yo-WOAH!!"
"Sylph, shut up." Yuno said in his bland tone.
'Sylph, the Wind Spirit. She said that I feel familiar…huh? Must have something to do with my familiar magic.'
Moving his eyes to Klaus, Wilhelm asked, "Where are you heading off to?"
"We were asked by Captain Vangeance to submit a report about our latest mission directly to Magic Knight Headquarters since he is busy." Klaus replied, pushing his glasses up.
"Oh, is he getting enough rest?" Wilhelm asked worriedly, but in reality, he was trying to probe into the matter.
But not realizing the true intent behind it, Klaus replied, "No, he is unfortunately not. He keeps on spending more and more time out of his cabin doing something or the other. We never even see him in the Headquarters these days."
'Hmm…'
"Is that so. Then I hope that he soon gets time to rest properly." Wilhelm said in a solemn tone, at which Klaus nodded appreciably, when Mimosa, who was seeing the conversation going between Klaus and Wilhelm for far too long, decided to intercept.
"A-and you, Wilhelm? What are you planning to do?"
With a contemplative look, Wilhelm replied, "Well…there is nothing urgent that I need to do, but I am giving it serious thought to go on a shopping spree. Use of Beast Magic caused an increase in my height, so I need more clothes that fit my size, and see if there is something new that catches my eye."
He was honest about it. Hearing those words, Mimosa thought briefly before her eyes lit up, and some words that should never come to the mind of girls took root in hers.
'Shopping spree with Wilhelm. I can make him try so many clothes…'
Then with a fire in her eyes that was only ever seen in the eyes of her cousins, Mimosa said, "Great. Then we all can go after we submit a report to the Wizard King."
"But Mimosa, we do-*COUGH*" Klaus was about to say something, but was silenced by a 'small nudge' of Mimosa's elbows on his ribs.
'Okay…how do I get out of this…? Think, think, think…'
Wilhelm thought about it for a while and…
'Screw it. I have to go to Wizard King to submit the design of the equipment I want anyway, and I might need Klaus' help regarding things. While Vanessa knows about the black market, Klaus must know someone useful who sells things legally.
Also, seeing my appearance and my presence with the Royals can help me form friendly relations with the right people as well.'
…gave up. He knows that there is actually no reason to reject Mimosa's offer. He is, in quite simple terms, free to spend time anyway he pleases. He has earned it.
Turning to Mimosa, he flashed her the most charming look he could muster, which he learned from the mayor of his hometown, and said, "If you are willing to accommodate me and have time, then I would be happy to spend time with you."
Just as those words left his mouth, Mimosa snapped her head at the speed of light to Klaus and attacked him with the strongest weapon in her arsenal.
Puppy dog eyes.
'Ahh…they are… too bright…' Klaus felt overwhelmed before he sighed and relented.
Also, by spending time here, he could unwind from the formal atmosphere in Golden Dawn.
Nodding, he replied with a small imperceptible smile, though his tone remained formal.
"We, too, would be happy to visit around the Capital. I could also look for something of interest to me or the squad itself."
"Yes, so let's finish our job first, and then we will visit the market." Mimosa said with a look of victory and content, as she moved with a lighter step on their way to the Magic Knight Headquarters.
***
After walking for a while, they finally reached and walked to the entrance of the door of the Wizard King. Marx himself, whom they happened to run into, was guiding them to Wizard King, so they did not have to stop by and spend precious time on formalities and security.
"There we go. Let's hope Wizard King has not run away like he does." Marx muttered to himself under his breath as he pushed the door open, with the four standing right behind him.
'Thank God he is here.' Marx breathed a sigh of relief, seeing that Julius was indeed sitting behind his table and was engrossed in dealing with the greatest evil known to mankind.
Paperwork.
Julius, who had already detected their presence due to their mana, looked up from the paper he was working on and moved his eyes to the four behind Marx, until his eyes settled on Marx himself.
"Marx." He said in acknowledgement.
"Wizard King…" Marx began formally, then continued.
"…I met these 4 on my way back from work. Captain William Vangeance had sent the three to submit the weekly report after the Diamond Kingdom fiasco…" At this mention, the trio straightened up.
"…and Wilhelm Rothchilde of Black Bulls, who, after his battle with Rhya, had finally gained consciousness, is here to answer your summons."
"Oh, yes, yes. I remember." Julius said, as his eyes stilled on Wilhelm's grimoire that was on his belt, but were shaken off by the knowledge that Marx was present, and then said, "Marx, I will hear the report. Why don't you lead Wilhelm to the chief artificer in the meantime?"
Nodding at him, Marx said, "Yes, of course." Then he turned back and gestured to Wilhelm.
"Follow me."
Following this, he started to walk away, as Wilhelm gave the trio one final look and followed behind him.
After a while of silence as they walked, Marx decided to initiate the small talk, curious about the person who was showing unprecedented growth, comparable only to previous Wizard Kings and Yami.
"So, Mr. Rothchilde…"
"Wilhelm will do." Wilhelm said, trying to turn the conversation to an informal one.
Nodding at the request, Marx began.
"So, Wilhelm, how are you feeling? You have been unconscious for what, 2 weeks?" He asked with a side glance of his eyes.
"I am fine. Thank you for asking.
Owing to Mr. Owen's treatment, I feel completely fine and better than ever." Wilhelm replied curtly, making sure not to refer to Marx directly, as he did not want to come on too strong.
"That is good to hear. As for your rewards, rest assured. Clover Kingdom will always reward a magic knight for valor and loyalty that you have shown, securing a most important item, while keeping our enemy at bay with every ounce of your strength."
"I have no doubt in my mind regarding your words."
Wilhelm said with sincerity that caused a small smile to bloom on Marx's face, and his opinion of Wilhelm increased more.
'Loyal, courageous, intelligent, good leadership skills, great growth, and good conversational skills to handle nobility. His behavior during the decoration ceremony can be chalked up to his protectiveness of his squadmate from her siblings. They are known to be harsh on her.
Also, his ability to talk like that with Magic Knight Captains as if they were his peers shows that he won't break under pressure, and his ability to put the kingdom's safety above his personal dispute shows that he puts the kingdom before himself.' Marx defined Wilhelm in his mind, but little did he know that one point was up for debate, because Wilhelm's dealings with nobility depended upon the consequences of his actions.
Like that, both of them had small talk between them until Marx led Wilhelm to the door of his promised reward.
***
I will be honest, I did not think that I will be given such response.
For that, I will be releasing a bonus chapter as promised.
Please let me enter into all-time rankings as well. We are shy away by 50 powerstones.
Also, please leave a review as well. Until my book has 18 reviews, it will remain unrated, so please rate it.