I'm swimming in the river right now, wearing only a pair of loose-fitting, knee-length underpants. Meanwhile, Procko, who's supposedly an expert swimmer, is wearing a life jacket in the water and playing with bubbles, while Beardman is getting ready for our trip to Ariel Lagoon later.
Bechamel's wedding is taking place tonight, and I'm curious to know what role Beardman will play in it. Maybe he's one of the groomsmen, but this wedding ceremony might be different from the other weddings I've attended.
Beardman was determined to bring me along, but I was hesitant to go. I had a bad feeling that something terrible would happen to me there, although I knew Beardman would be with me and wouldn't let anything happen to me. Still, I worried that I might put him in harm's way too.
Besides, Bechamel's face seemed suspicious, as if he could turn into a villain at any moment. The Hyenastys wouldn't have retaliated against him if he hadn't provoked them in the first place. Their faces looked like they held a deep grudge against him.
Bechamel seems like that classmate who appears to be a good boy but is actually mean and a bully in real life.
Maybe I'll just go with Beardman, and I also need to explore this vast forest. Perhaps on our journey, I'll meet a sorceress or wizard who can help me return to my world.
By the way, where's Eusexua, anyway? I haven't seen her since yesterday.
"Oh no, he misses me." I almost drowned when I heard her speak; luckily, I was able to control myself in the water. I saw her floating on the water and swimming, but I noticed she wasn't getting wet.
"Can you please inform me what time you'll be showing up next? Don't just suddenly appear in front of me without warning." I said, frustrated.
"And can you please not call out my name if you don't want me to see you?" I added.
"Did I call out your weird name?" I snapped at her. "Don't play dumb; it's obvious you're thinking of me!"
The two of us fell silent, and I saw her rub her forehead before calming down.
"Yesterday, after you woke up, you immediately looked for me, but before you even saw me, I vanished," she said.
"So what do you want to imply – that the moment was bittersweet for you?" I laughed.
I saw Procko looking at me with a puzzled expression. He stopped blowing bubbles because I think he thought I was crazy for laughing alone.
"Can you please not talk to me for now? Procko thinks I've gone mad. Just leave me alone for now," I said softly to Eusexua.
She looked around composedly. "Procko? Who's Procko? Your Crocolator friend?" she asked me.
"Yes, and he's right behind you," I replied.
She turned around again to look at her back, and when she turned her gaze back to me, it seemed like she still didn't see Procko.
"Sorry, but apart from you, I don't see any Meadow Ferals or people around me," she said.
I thought about what she said. So that means her world is focused only on me? If that's the case, her situation is tough. And it's also a turn-off when someone constantly follows you, no matter how beautiful or sexy they are. Your appeal will only become hideous with obsession and stalking.
I stopped bathing, and so did Procko, but I couldn't see Eusexua anymore. I won't think about her for now, but she might still appear because of my subconscious. She's on her own.
When I entered the house, Beardman pulled me to sit on a stool. "You can't be seen by people at Ariel Lagoon looking like that," he said. "I need to do something to change your appearance." I had just noticed that he had placed some beauty products on the table. I gave him a ridiculous look. "Admit it to me, you're also moonlighting as a makeup artist, right? Like in beauty pageants, that kind of thing. Don't worry, I'm gender-sensitive, I won't judge you."
"What are you talking about, kid?" he replied. "These cosmetics belong to my late wife." I realized I was wrong in my assumption. "When she was still alive, she'd play with my face sometimes," he continued. "Sometimes she'd make me look formal, sometimes she'd make me look absurd."
I realized that this was the first time I'd heard Beardman tell a story about his life, and a faint smile appeared on his face as he remembered his wife.
"Don't take this question the wrong way, but what happened to your wife?" I asked curiously while he started applying foundation to my face, which felt like it was made of chalk.
"At first, my wife seemed like an energetic woman," he began. "She was like sunshine, full of energy. She was also like a mischievous Pixiepop, but despite her playfulness, she was hiding an illness. One night, while we were lying on the rooftop, gazing at the glowing Bulbflies around us, we were still joking around, but when I woke up, she didn't. Her veins had already surfaced on her skin."
I couldn't help but feel sad at what he said, especially when he mentioned the Pixiepops. It reminded me of Matcha again, and suddenly I clenched my fist as the face of the ugly Vulturaptor flashed in my mind.
"I wish I hadn't asked," I said, looking down. "I ended up hurting your feelings."
"It's okay," he replied. "And it's actually good that you know something about me, even if it's just a little."
After he finished powdering my face, he started shaping my eyebrows. "By the way, do you remember anything about your past, your childhood?"
"My memories about my childhood are still blank," I replied, "but thank you – thank you to you and Bechamel – because I've gained a better understanding of my parents' lives. Because of what I've learned, it's as if something is urging me to seek justice, but I know what you'll say – that I shouldn't rush into decisions and that there's a right time for revenge."
"I'm proud of you, Revaliant, because you're trying to think clearly and not let what you hear affect you. You're still young, but you've already shown a mature way of thinking."
He placed a small mark on the skin between my lips and nose.
He gazed at me as if I were a piece of art in a museum—triumphant, as though he were admiring his own masterpiece.
"I'm done. Sadly, I broke my wife's mirror, so you'll have to look at your reflection in the river instead."
Curious about the results of his glow-up session on me, I rushed out of the house and ran to the river. But before I could even glance at the crystal-clear water, I heard the laughter of Beardman and Procko right behind me.
I shouted in annoyance and surprise—because who was this person I was seeing in the water?
It wasn't me!
I looked disgusting!
I wanted to wipe the makeup off my face, but Beardman stopped me.
"When you're going to a crowded place, you should be incognito. If you look like that, people won't suspect you."
"They won't suspect me, but I'll look ridiculous!" I exclaimed, but then I thought better of it and calmed down. I pouted. "What if I see a pretty girl at Ariel Lagoon and fall in love at first sight? I'll lose my chance—I won't be able to impress her like this."
"We're going there for Bechamel's wedding, not for you to flirt with random girls. And when a girl likes your character, your looks won't matter. If you're handsome, it's just a bonus."
"Maybe you got that idea from older women who still don't have a boyfriend or husband. Try surveying people my age, and you'll see if they really prefer inner beauty over outer beauty."
"Oh my, Revaliant... it seems you really don't know anything about women."
"So, do you think you know a lot about women, Beardman?"
We exchanged glances. I stared at him—but eventually, we both burst out laughing.
Seriously, what do we even know about women?