Chronicles of Forgotten Extra

Chapter 349: I Said I Would Strip, So Why Are You Making Me Wear Female Clothes?!

It had been half an hour, an extremely exhausting and irritating half hour of Alden’s life. He glanced at the woman currently trailing behind him and narrowed his eyes.

"Why are you following this pervert, Princess?"

He asked, barely suppressing the urge to curse at her.

The hand that had been completely mangled earlier was slowly healing thanks to the Eclipse Mana circulating through his body. The remnants of his former light mana was still within it, granting him a degree of regenerative ability.

Meanwhile, the princess had very graciously consumed a healing potion in front of him without offering him even a single drop and if that wasn’t irritating enough, she still hadn’t answered a single one of his questions.

And yet somehow, she still had the audacity to follow him around so openly. That finally snapped the last thread of patience Alden had.

He abruptly stopped walking and turned toward her.

"If you don’t answer my questions, I will..."

He paused, his mind desperately searching for a threat but unfortunately, he couldn’t think of a good one. So he went with the most effective option available as his hand moved toward the makeshift leaf cloth hanging around his waist.

"...I will remove even these leaves covering my body."

His expression remained perfectly serious as if he had just issued a terrifying threat.

Aemirya stared at him.

Alden stared back.

"What is it? Are you going to answer or should I remove the clothes?" Somewhere deep inside, even he wasn’t entirely sure how he had arrived at this point.

Aemirya finally gave in slightly and let out a quiet sigh, her expression remaining as emotionless as ever.

"You are suspicious." She said in the same flat tone. "That is why I am following you, to ensure you do not cause trouble."

Damn, that actually worked.

Alden celebrated internally while keeping a perfectly serious face as his hand remained firmly on his leaf clothing.

"Then why don’t you just tell me the way out?" He asked. "I will leave without causing any trouble. I promise."

Aemirya narrowed her eyes.

"There is only one way out and the Gate will only open once the coming-of-age ceremony concludes in a few month’s time. Until then, I will continue monitoring you and when the Gate opens, I will personally escort you out."

Alden’s eyes flickered.

So this really is some sort of competition.

"Then what about the orange dragon?" He asked. "Did she die or is she still alive somewhere?"

Aemirya raised an eyebrow.

"She was merely eliminated from the ceremony. She is teleported out and is probably receiving treatment by now."

Alden nodded slowly.

That was useful information but unfortunately, it also meant he had just made a very powerful enemy and judging by her family name, that enemy was probably important.

Not to mention the fact that the Dragons would likely be waiting for him once he left this place.

I really need another exit.

"I see." His expression remained calm. "One last question, what year is it?"

This was the question he cared about most.

Aemirya frowned as Alden immediately tugged at his leaf clothing. Seeing his actions, her eyes twitched.

"It is the year 2002 according to the Aeonic Calendar." Then she pointed at him. "And stop threatening me with that."

A moment later, she reached into her storage ring and threw something toward him. "Wear proper clothes, you pervert."

Alden caught the bundle.

It consisted of a white linen shirt and... a long yellow skirt, a very feminine long skirt. He stared at it for several seconds and then silently extended it back toward her.

"No thanks. I like what I’m wearing."

Aemirya stared at him and then at the skirt and then finally at his leaf clothing as her eyes narrowed even further.

"So you really are a pervert."

"I am not a pervert. How do you expect me to wear female clothes like that?" Alden shot back.

Aemirya merely tilted her head.

"Why does it matter as long as it covers your body?"

Alden smiled immediately.

"Exactly my point." He pointed at the leaves wrapped around his waist, imitating her tone mockingly. "Why does it matter as long as it covers the body?"

Aemirya’s frown deepened.

"Because proper clothing is less likely to slip." She said, her annoyances clear on her face.

Alden’s smile froze.

For a moment, neither of them spoke as he glanced down at his leaf clothing and then back at her.

"It has not slipped once even once yet."

...if you count out the time when I was fighting the dinosaurs.

He kept the thought to himself.

Aemirya stared back without a word. The dragon princess was completely serious and she genuinely considered the possibility of his leaves betraying him at any moment.

Alden suddenly understood that this wasn’t a battle he could win but unfortunately, he wasn’t willing to compromise either.

"At least give me a better color."

"..."

And just like that, after nearly half an hour of pointless arguing, they finally reached an agreement.

Alden would wear proper clothes and in exchange, Aemirya would provide him with something in a more acceptable color, answer his questions and generally stop treating him like a suspicious forest pervert.

It was a fair deal.

Probably.

Alden’s dignity resisted the arrangement with every fiber of its being but some answers demanded sacrifices and if he wanted any chance of navigating this mess alive, the cooperation of the Dragon Princess was absolutely essential. So sacrifices had to be made. No matter how terrible, humiliating and fashion-related they were.

As they continued walking through the forest, Alden glanced down at the clothes he was currently wearing and immediately looked away because some things were better left unseen.

His gaze shifted toward Aemirya instead.

The Dragon Princess walked beside him in silence, her face remained as expressionless as ever and yet somehow... Alden could sense the faint smugness radiating from her as if she had just emerged victorious from some legendary battle.

For someone so cold and stoic, she sure is surprisingly childish and unbelievably petty.