Witch Taming System-Chapter 13: Brat Correction [2]

"Hello, Assistant Lancel. Fancy meeting you here."

"...."

Fancy meeting you, she said. First of all, this was the men’s clothing section, specifically meant for tourists. There was no obvious reason for Ishtar to be browsing around here.

Did she have a brother?

That thought died immediately.

Witches did not have brothers.

When a man and a witch had a child, the result was a guaranteed daughter. Another witch. That was simply how things worked.

Which meant Ishtar had absolutely no reason to be in this part of the store.

"I followed you."

"Oh."

At least she was honest about it.

"It’s my first time seeing you outside like this," Ishtar continued. "So I thought, why not? I followed you all the way into the store."

"...Why?"

Ishtar clasped her hands behind her back and leaned forward with a grin.

"Because this is that scene, Assistant."

"That scene?"

"Yes!" she said. "The one where the male lead takes the female lead shopping!"

"...And?"

"And everything she picks is free."

"...."

"In the novel, the female lead keeps worrying about the price. But then the male lead casually tells her the store belongs to him."

She placed a hand on the rack beside them.

"So she can take whatever she wants."

Lancel stared at her. "...I don’t fit that role at all. I barely have enough money to even feed myself."

"That’s fine."

Ishtar waved her hand dismissively.

"Because my family owns this place."

"...Huh?"

"So pick out anything you want, Assistant Lancel! It’s on the house!"

Lancel was having difficulty following the conversation. What in the world was happening?

Then again, when he thought about it, the idea was not completely impossible.

According to Faust, Ishtar was the Grand Witch’s cousin. If that were true, then her family must occupy a rather high position within Riviere’s hierarchy.

Owning a clothing store, or even several of them, would hardly be surprising for someone like that.

"Seriously?"

"Mhm."

Lancel had always believed in a certain rule of life. If something seemed too good to be true, then it probably was. Everything had a catch. Everything had its own kind of karma waiting somewhere down the line.

The next moment, Ishtar clapped her hands.

Clap! Clap!

Several attendants appeared almost immediately.

"Yes, Lady Ishtar?"

"Could you open the VIP catalogue for this gentleman over here?"

"Of course."

The attendants bowed before moving into action.

Before Lancel could even process what was happening, he was guided away from the main showroom and led deeper into the building. The doors opened into a private chamber reserved for special guests.

The atmosphere inside was completely different.

Displayed like rare artifacts along the walls were designer garments. Every piece looked expensive enough to make Lancel nervous just standing near it. Even the fabric itself would put him into debt.

At the center of the room was a circular red couch. Beside it was a private fitting area separated by a mirror door.

Even the lighting felt more refined.

Lancel slowly turned his head, taking in the room.

Ishtar walked in behind him and casually took a seat on the couch. She crossed one leg over the other and leaned back comfortably.

"Well?" she said with a bright smile. "Is this to your liking, Assistant Lancel?"

Lancel glanced around the room once more before looking back at her.

"...Is there a catch?"

Ishtar burst into laughter.

"Hahaha! You really have trust issues, don’t you?" She tilted her head. "Will it make you feel better if I do ask something of you?"

"...Or I could just leave and buy clothes somewhere else."

"Tchh—You’re no fun."

Ishtar brushed her hair back over her shoulder with a casual flick. The gesture was oddly elegant. Sitting there with her legs crossed and that smug expression on her face, she really did resemble some spoiled noble princess.

"Hmm. Alright then."

She leaned forward, a finger over her lips.

"Just be nice to me from now on."

"...That’s it?"

"Of course." Ishtar smiled brightly. "I don’t have any other male acquaintances, you know."

Then she pointed at him.

"You’re the first one, Assistant Lancel!"

A friend.

A friend who had just casually kissed him out of nowhere.

Lancel stared at her for a moment.

Then again, he doubted the kind of sexual education witches received in the first place. Whatever understanding Ishtar had of relationships between men and women probably came straight from the novels she loved.

"Can I really...?"

"Go ahead! Anything you want!"

"Well then."

Lancel sighed quietly. If she insisted this much, he might as well take the offer. And if this somehow turned into a scam later, he could always report it to Faust.

With that in mind, he began browsing through the racks. After choosing a few items, he stepped into the private changing room.

He removed his shirt and reached for the new one he had picked out. But just as he was about to put it on, the lock behind him shifted.

Click——

The door opened. Standing there was Ishtar, leaning against the doorway with a smug grin.

"Hehe~"

She clasped her hands behind her back and tilted her head.

"The male lead suddenly enters the changing room..."

Ishtar cleared her throat and began reciting dramatically.

"The heroine stood helplessly inside the dressing room, unable to reach the zipper on her back. Just then, the door opened. The male lead stepped in and asked if she needed help..."

She placed a hand against the doorframe and leaned slightly closer.

"The air between them grew quiet. Their faces inched closer. Their warm breaths brushed against each other..."

Lancel stared at her. "...Are you seriously reenacting a novel again?"

Of course she was. This was probably her plan all along.

"Hehe~"

Ishtar stepped inside and closed the door behind her.

"Well, the atmosphere is similar, isn’t it?"

She leaned closer.

Instinctively, Lancel raised a hand and stopped her.

"Ishtar. Lady Ishtar?"

Ishtar waved her hand dismissively.

"Ishtar is fine."

"...Alright. Ishtar."

He sighed.

"Maybe this is something you’re unaware of, but kissing is usually something people only do with lovers."

Ishtar tilted her head as if the words made no sense. Then she smiled brightly.

"Then let’s be lovers from now on!"