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Tactical Combat was basically a game where the main content revolved around battles using Colossal Mechs. If you couldn’t handle Colossal Mechs, you couldn’t enjoy most of the game’s content, whether it was executing special operations or enjoying mech battles on the battlefield.

Sure, you could participate in small swordsmanship tournaments or play Swat, but those were just additional content at best.

From the start, you had to be able to handle Colossal Mechs to progress through the Main Scenario.

Even though Tactical Combat was well-made, it was often called a “newbie crusher” because of this. Controlling Colossal Mechs was quite difficult, even with the game’s system assistance.

No wonder the community kept demanding difficulty adjustments every time.

Controlling Colossal Mechs was no easy task unless you were a seasoned gamer.

But despite that, many users still enjoyed Tactical Combat. Even though they cursed it as a “crappy game” or a “failed game,” they clung to it like addicts.

The reason was that, aside from the difficulty, the game had high playability, and the characters were incredibly charming.

From characters with a bright demeanor but a dark past to those who were cold on the outside but warm inside, and even those who overcame unfortunate pasts to become a hymn to humanity, they all felt like living, breathing beings.

Moreover, Tactical Combat had a favorability system that allowed you to unlock Romance Routes, and some gamers even specialized in just that.

Gilbert, who had completed all achievements, was also a veteran in this regard. Among the countless achievements, there were ones colloquially called “romance achievements,” and there was a time when he was obsessed with heroines, pouring all his energy into their routes.

Even he, however, had three characters he couldn’t even unlock a Romance Route for, let alone fully pursue.

The first was Seraphina, who was officially announced by the developers as having no Romance Route. The second was the Saintess of the Holy Kingdom, also officially confirmed to have no Romance Route. The third was Briana, who inevitably died during the Academy raid, making her Romance Route impossible to unlock.

Seraphina and the Saintess had many events that hinted at a possible Romance Route, so countless users tried to unlock them. But just when it seemed like progress was being made, the route would abruptly end, leaving users frustrated and deleting their posts on the community forums.

Gilbert himself had many moments where he thought he had unlocked their Romance Routes, only to doubt whether it was even possible while playing the game.

When the developers officially announced it, the community exploded. Users who had been collectively trying to find the Romance Routes were furious.

In contrast, Briana showed almost no signs of having a Romance Route. She retired and died early in the Main Scenario, right after the game began.

But even in that short time, users captivated by her character once again pooled their collective intelligence to find a way to avoid her death scenario. Finding the Sub Scenario where you become her last disciple was a byproduct of their efforts to keep her alive.

Despite the users’ blood, sweat, and tears, the developers officially confirmed that Briana’s death was unavoidable. The announcement came faster than with Seraphina and the Saintess, so the community didn’t burn down, but the ripple effect was even greater.

A group of hardcore users, dubbed the “Briana faction,” bombarded the developer’s website with requests to bring her back to life.

But the developers firmly stated they had no plans to add a survival route for Briana. Her death was integral to the game’s narrative, and forcing a survival route would disrupt the game’s flow.

With the developers taking this stance, even the most hardcore users could only post requests or send emails, which went unanswered, leading to quick burnout.

Eventually, the Briana faction also gave up, and the incident came to an end. They somewhat agreed with the developers’ reasoning.

However, as the Academy raid approached, Gilbert believed he could avoid Briana’s death route. This world wasn’t a game with fixed routes; it was a living, breathing reality.

While the Main Scenario of Tactical Combat generally followed the game’s events, smaller details often diverged.

This became clear when the leader of the Resistance during the suppression mission turned out to be someone named Vandeyke, a completely unfamiliar name. If a major figure in the Main Scenario could change, perhaps Briana’s death route could also be avoided.

Of course, it wasn’t easy, but Gilbert eventually overcame all obstacles and shattered Briana’s death route. As a gamer who had loved Briana’s character since playing Tactical Combat and as her only disciple, he couldn’t help but feel overjoyed.

But this was unexpected.

Gilbert scratched his head as he watched people pass by the spot where he was supposed to meet Briana.

He was waiting for Briana because she had offered to buy him clothes for last week’s awards ceremony. She had contacted him this morning, saying she had finished important tasks and wanted to go shopping.

The meeting place was in front of the fountain in Demia, near the Demia Empire Academy.

As the territory of Lucas, the Academy Head, the city was large and sophisticated, with the fountain being particularly stunning and popular among travelers.

The fountain bore a striking resemblance to the Trevi Fountain from the movie “Roman Holiday,” leading some Tactical Combat players to debate whether it was a homage or a rip-off.

After watching people pass by for a while, Gilbert finally saw Briana appear.

“Master…?”

“Did you wait long?”

For a moment, Gilbert thought he was seeing things.

Briana, visible through the fountain’s spray, wasn’t wearing her usual professor’s uniform but casual clothes.

The outfit she wore was a bustier dress made of silk and cotton.

The upper part, from the arms to the chest, was made of luxurious black silk in a sheer, see-through pattern, with intricate embroidery around the neck like a choker. The lower part, from the chest down, was made of white cotton, with each wrinkle meticulously crafted, showcasing the artisan’s skill.

Gilbert couldn’t help but admire Briana, surrounded by the sparkling fountain spray. He never expected to see Briana in casual clothes, even after being transported into this world.

“Is something wrong?”

“No, it’s just… I’ve never seen you in casual clothes before.”

“I do have casual clothes. I just never had a reason to wear them.”

It had been about half a year since Gilbert enrolled at the Demia Empire Academy, and if you included the time he spent playing Tactical Combat, he had known Briana for quite a while. But he had no idea when she would ever need casual clothes.

She usually wore her professor’s uniform or training gear, even during Academy events.

“Did you wear them today because you needed to?”

“Hmm… do they not suit me?”

What kind of reaction is this?

Gilbert felt a bit flustered as Briana nervously looked down at her clothes. This was a far cry from her usual cool demeanor.

“No, they suit you well.”

“That’s a relief. It’s been a while since I wore casual clothes…”

After a few awkward coughs, Briana led Gilbert to the most famous designer’s shop in the city. She had no interest in fashion, but a colleague had recommended this place.

The place where Imperial fashion began—Luculensus.

After walking for about three minutes from the fountain, they arrived at their destination. The entrance was adorned with lavish decorations, and the building’s interior, designed in the current Imperial style, greeted them.

As they approached the entrance, an employee quickly opened the door and welcomed them.

“Welcome. We sincerely welcome you to Luculensus.”

The inside of Luculensus was even more magnificent than the outside.

Artworks by renowned sculptors and painters were on display, along with the latest creations by Luculensus’s designers, including Valentino.

It was the kind of place that could overwhelm anyone without considerable wealth.

But Briana was the daughter of a Marquis family, and Gilbert, the eldest son of a Count family, had seen even more extravagant things in his previous life.

Having been through countless battlefields, they weren’t easily intimidated.

“A bird chirping this morning must have been a sign of esteemed guests. I am Valentino Luculensus, the owner of Luculensus. I sincerely welcome the two of you, who have been making waves in the Empire recently.”

Gilbert and Briana were impressed by the man bowing before them. His ability to recognize and immediately treat them as VIPs was remarkable.

“Nice to meet you. I heard this is the best place in the city, so we came.”

“You flatter me. But I pride myself on offering unparalleled quality that satisfies our customers.”

His humble yet confident words inspired trust. Gilbert inwardly smiled at seeing Valentino, whom he had only seen in the game.

Valentino Luculensus, the owner and designer of Luculensus, was originally from the Cottonpoly territory, famous for its textiles.

He first launched his shop in Cottonpoly, but jealous competitors drove him out, forcing him to start from scratch in Demia.

Through sheer determination, Valentino eventually became the leading figure in Imperial fashion.

His rapid rise was due not only to his exceptional talent but also to his social skills.

“It’s truly an honor. One of you is known as the Empire’s greatest sword, and the other is hailed as a recent hero. This makes all my efforts worthwhile.”

“Enough with the flattery. I just came to get my disciple a suit.”

Despite Briana’s bluntness, Valentino kept his smile. He simply nodded at Gilbert.

“You have one of the most balanced physiques I’ve ever seen. Very well, let’s take your measurements.”

Gilbert felt a slight chill at Valentino’s gleaming eyes but stood before him without complaint.

Valentino quickly jotted down approximate measurements before using a tape measure for precise numbers. A quick glance showed that his initial estimates were almost spot-on.

Truly, the man leading Imperial fashion was different.

Being able to estimate measurements by eye alone showed his keen observation skills.

But keen observation alone wasn’t enough to lead Imperial fashion. It required exceptional taste and craftsmanship, which Valentino had in spades.

In Tactical Combat, clothes made by Valentino were incredibly valuable. A suit made with his full effort could increase the hard-to-raise Authority stat by 10.

Though the price was eye-watering, the investment was worth it.

“It’s been a while since I’ve felt such a strong urge to create.”

After finishing the measurements, Valentino sighed deeply and reviewed the numbers. Gilbert’s proportions were nearly perfect, something Valentino hadn’t expected to encounter in his lifetime.

The world was indeed vast.

“Very well. The suit is for the upcoming awards ceremony, correct?”

“Yes, that’s why we’re here.”

“Understood. It should take about three days. I’ll send the suit to the Demia Empire Academy.”

“Good. It’s for my disciple, so please do your best.”

After paying, Gilbert followed Briana out. He noticed Valentino bowing with a strange, eager gleam in his eyes.

He seems to be in serious mode.

Perhaps the suit would come with a stat boost.

“That was quicker than I expected.”

Briana seemed a bit off as they left the shop. Her expression hadn’t changed, but Gilbert, who had grown accustomed to reading her subtle cues, could tell she was feeling awkward.

“Is this about the meal you promised last time?”

“You remembered? Yes, that’s right. I thought it would take longer, so I made a dinner reservation, but now we have too much time.”

Gilbert had recalled her offer to buy him clothes and treat him to a meal. But thanks to Valentino’s enthusiasm, they now had time to kill.

Gilbert sighed deeply. Relying on Briana to lead here was problematic, as her experience was too limited.

Briana had been training in swordsmanship since she was very young, dedicating almost all her time to it.

While her peers were making their debut in social circles, she was making hers on the battlefield, where she spent most of her life. Later, disillusioned, she came to the Demia Empire Academy to teach cadets.

Her daily life consisted of teaching, training, and preparing for classes. Briana had no concept of leisure activities.

So, her knowing a place to kill time in the city?

Gilbert couldn’t help but chuckle.

Thus, it fell to Gilbert to take the lead.

He hadn’t had much real-life dating experience, but his extensive experience in pursuing Romance Routes in games would suffice.

This is turning into an actual date.

Though unintended, it wasn’t a bad thing.

“Master.”

“Hmm? Oh, sorry. If I had known this would happen, I would have suggested meeting later.”

“No, it’s fine. Having extra time isn’t bad.”

“Do you have somewhere to go? If so, go ahead. I’ll find a way to pass the time.”

“What are you talking about? I’d like you to spend time with your disciple.”

“If you say so… but I’m not exactly a fun person.”

“It’s a place you’ll like.”

Gilbert gave a meaningful smile. There was an item in Demia territory he needed to pick up, making this the perfect way to spend time.

“A place I’d like, huh…”

“It’s our first date, so it’s only natural.”

“Date?”

“Just a figure of speech. Follow me.”

Leaving Briana dumbfounded by the word “date,” Gilbert took the lead. While this was his first time actually going there, he had been there countless times in the game, so getting lost wasn’t a concern.

Soon, Gilbert stopped in front of a shabby shop. Some things didn’t change from the game.

With a slight smile, Gilbert opened the shop door.

 

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