## Chapter 1569 – The Chronicles of a Black-Haired Foreigner – The Heavenly Demon’s Rampage

“That bastard Copson.”

Copson, whom I hadn’t seen in a while, looked utterly haggard.

“Seriously, what the hell? What are you doing?”
“I can’t live because I’m so anxious…”

Dark circles under his eyes.

He was the epitome of someone consumed by worry. Was he really that troubled? He’s usually pretty sociable, but he’s getting all worked up over nothing.

“I can’t live because I’m so anxious… Gambling… Only gambling can…”

He mumbled like a ghost.

“Heh heh heh, you crazy bastard.”

So, he wasn’t consumed by worry, but by gambling withdrawal symptoms.

“Please, let me gamble, you Emperor jerk! I’m begging you!”
“Cut it out, you idiot. You can’t gamble, ever. No, your family can’t gamble for generations. Forever.”
“I’m going crazy from anxiety! Are you going to deprive a patient of their right to treatment!”

To think of gambling as treatment was a truly twisted way of thinking. Truly an otherworlder’s mindset.

But there were many guys in the world with Copson’s mindset.

Most of the people who ruined their lives because of gambling were dreaming of hitting the jackpot with this kind of mindset.

“Yeah. I’m taking it away. Give up.”
“I’m going insane!”
“Hey, why? What are you anxious about? Can’t you just go and see her? Are you afraid of being rejected? Is that why you’re anxious?”
“To be honest, you could say that’s it. If I don’t go down and meet her at all… I won’t be rejected again, but if I go down with determination and get rejected, then I’m screwed.”
“You’re such a scaredy-cat.”

There are people in the world who are afraid to see the results.

This is a story I heard a long time ago.

One day, a man developed a minor pain in his face and neglected it for years, thinking it was nothing. But as he did, the pain became more and more severe, and eventually he had to scream, but he didn’t go to the hospital.

He was afraid that going to the hospital would reveal that he had some serious illness.

The result.

He was rushed to the emergency room and diagnosed with skull osteosarcoma.

Thus, he died tragically as thousands of sarcomas, grown like grotesque thorns, pierced his eyes, gums, and face.

Turning away from a problem doesn’t solve it.

It’s better to just go for it than to suffer like Copson is now.

“Who told you to be so sensitive?”
“Ugh…”
“Wouldn’t it be better to get rejected quickly if it’s not going to work out? Instead of suffering like this.”

Instead of dying from an unremovable damage-over-time effect, it’s better to get hit hard once and recover while getting treatment.

“The Barbarian jerk is so casual!”
“Of course, I’m casual, you idiot. Is it my problem? It’s your problem. Anyway, go and see her quickly. It’s better that way.”
“It’s not better at all!”
“Why?”
“The Barbarian jerk doesn’t understand my situation! If I get rejected by a girl from my hometown, I might never be able to get married!”
“Ah.”

Well, rumors about his gambling addiction have spread, so he’s not popular with women.

“I’m just being careful because I have no fallback!”
“Hmm.”

I roughly understood.

He had lost almost all his confidence because his situation was quite bad.

Back when he was blowing all his money on gambling in Isvant, he had too much confidence.

Back then, Copson was… his confidence overflowed. He was trapped in the absurd belief that he could somehow increase his wealth just by gambling.

“If you’re careful twice, you’ll die of old age. So, are you going to stay here forever? You still won’t be able to get married, you idiot.”
“Ugh…!”
“What? Have you prepared to go down?”
“I haven’t prepared to go down yet. I need to make a more careful decision before going down…”

Of course, this isn’t an era where you move quickly after contacting someone. Naturally, it takes a long time to exchange messages and even longer to meet. Didn’t Elysee do the same?

But at this rate, he’ll never go.

“This guy… he was so reckless when he was an adventurer. He’s become a nobody in the face of love.”
“Oh!”
“Hey, hey, listen for a second.”
“What?”
“I said I’d get you some clothes last time, right? Let’s go see them. They say clothes make the man. You might feel different after wearing them.”
“Oh! The Barbarian jerk is truly the Emperor of love and friendship!!!”

Copson, whose expression changed in an instant like someone with bipolar disorder, expressed his joy and jumped up.

“Don’t be ridiculous. Hey. Let’s go.”
“Okay!”

But clothes… it reminds me of Meria again.

Currently, Meria has opened a clothing store in the capital. I even gave her tax exemption benefits. But in reality, it’s not really tax exemption, but rather me paying the taxes for her.

But what’s the big deal?
I can do that much for a friend.

It’s been a while since she opened the clothing store, but Meria hasn’t been professionally taught how to make clothes by a master tailor for years, and she only makes them with her own street sense, so she can’t make high-end lines yet.

If Meria had become a master tailor, I would have entrusted Copson’s clothes to her. It’s a shame. Well, she might become such a tailor in the future, so I’m looking forward to it.

Now that I think about it, should I go see her?

* * *

So, before going to see Copson’s clothes, I went to Meria’s clothing store.

“Wow! The design is sophisticated, just like a duty-free shop!”

The clothing store was quite well decorated. You could say she has some sense, and the clothes on display also look pretty good. The most eye-catching of them is the nostalgic shield hanging behind the counter.

It’s like Meria’s symbol, her identity. I’m sure she said she’d beat up troublesome customers with it? Thinking about it, the stains on the shield felt like stuck-on flesh.

“Where’s the owner!”
“Ah! You’ve come! Your Majesty!”

When I called out to Meria loudly, she opened the door from the other side and greeted me happily.

Nothing much has changed. Or maybe a little. Her complexion looks better because she retired from rough work like being an adventurer.

“Oh. Your Majesty has arrived. Is our citizen running the duty-free shop well?”
“Of course! I’m doing well! Thank you always! Oh? Copson’s here too?”

Copson, who was hesitating behind me, greeted Meria.

“It’s nice to see you, Miss Meria.”
“You lowered your voice again!”
“No! When did I lower my voice!”

Copson, blushing, shouted as if surprised by Meria’s remark. Of course, this guy actually lowered his voice. He was lowering it even now.

“Heh heh heh, this guy’s still lowering his voice.”
“Ahem!”
“Hahaha. Nothing’s changed. Come in. I’ll give you some tea.”

Was this a time when there were no customers? I went inside with Copson and sat down. Soon, Meria brought tea and asked.

“But Copson, why are you lowering your voice? It’s weird. It doesn’t suit you at all.”

She’s merciless.

“S, such harsh words!”
“Why are you lowering it?”
“Th, that is…!”

ㅡSwish.

Copson, holding a teacup, answered in a small voice.

“…I naturally try to look good in front of women.”
“You’re really crazy.”

The tea tasted so-so. Should I give her a bunch of instant coffee next time I come? I think she’d like it a lot.

“Anyway, what’s up? Coming with Copson?”
“Ah. That. I’m on my way to get Copson some clothes? But when I was talking about clothes, I thought of you. So, I came together.”
“What? You’re getting him clothes? Why? No. But why didn’t you ask me to do it?”

I knew she’d ask that.

“Well, you see. What he needs right now is really luxurious, high-end clothing? But Meria, you don’t have a name brand yet. Maybe in a few years.”
“Hmm, that’s true.”
“And aren’t you a women’s clothing specialist? Can you make men’s clothes?”
“Uh… that’s a bit weak.”

Looking at it, all the clothes on display were women’s clothes.

“Anyway, that’s it.”

Soon, Meria nodded.

“But why are you getting such good clothes for Copson?”
“That’s because Copson.”
“Wait! Wait a minute!”
“He contacted his first love in his hometown, and he’s nervous. So, I’m going to dress him up and send him.”
“Oh my! His first love!”
“No! How can you just say that without permission!”

Copson, whose face turned red with embarrassment, shouted in protest.

“How can I? Did you forget that I’m the Emperor?”
“If you bring up such words, there’s nothing I can say! Please stop! Such authority!”
“Heh heh heh, what’s wrong with it.”
“So, so! What’s the story with his first love?!”

As expected of Meria, she likes these kinds of stories. I immediately gestured to Copson.

“Ugh… It’s not really anything special. It’s a girl I liked when I lived in my hometown…”

Copson started explaining, and Meria listened to the story with great interest.

“Wow! So, you’re going back to see her after succeeding?”
“You could say that.”
“Oh my. Copson having such worries. I’m just so surprised.”
“I don’t know what’s so surprising.”
“Hey. Meria. Do you know why Copson turned his eyes to his hometown?”
“Yeah, what is it?”
“Well, he said he wants to get married now, but the women in the capital won’t meet him. So, he turned his eyes to his hometown?”
“Hey Barbarian jerk! What are you saying to Miss Meria!”

Copson protested when I told the story, but I ignored him.

“What? That was the reason? Hahaha. That’s funny. So, that’s what happened.”
“Don’t laugh…!”
“Hmm, but for sure. Copson’s reputation isn’t good. Especially among women.”

What?

“Meria, you know that well?”
“Among women, what does that mean, Miss Meria!”
“What, you don’t know?”

I knew it, but I didn’t know Meria would say it like she knew so well.

When I nodded, Meria explained.

“Copson is quite famous, so I’ve had some conversations with customers who come into the clothing store. Actually, I’m also somewhat famous for being an old friend of our Emperor, right? Copson is the same. So, we talk about those things.”

I see.

For sure, he’s bound to be famous because he has the Emperor’s backing.

“S, so! Please tell me what you’re talking about!”

This guy looks very desperate.

“Copson. You might get hurt if you hear it. Do you really want to hear it?”
“Please! I can endure it!”
“Hmm… First of all, the story about you, Copson… is mostly about you being a drunkard or a gambling addict. That’s the main topic.”
“Ugh!!”

Copson sunk.

“I think all the women in the capital looking for a husband know that rumor? That’s why, Copson. Why did you always drink and cause a ruckus asking to be let into the gambling house? It’s all your fault.”
“Th, this is all because of the Barbarian jerk! If you hadn’t banned me from the gambling house, there wouldn’t be such a rumor!!!”
“Yeah. I still won’t let you in.”

This guy can’t gamble forever.

“Haha. You even banned Copson from entering the gambling house? By imperial decree.”
“That’s right.”
“It’s kind of funny.”
“Kaaaaaaah!”

That’s how I spent time talking with Copson at Meria’s clothing store. It was fun talking together after a long time.

* * *

And we arrived at our destination.

“This is the latest fashion trend in the capital! If a gentleman wears this, any lady will fall head over heels!”

Clothes made by a talkative artisan.

Copson, wearing it, shouted joyfully.

“Oh, oh! How can there be such wonderful clothes!!”

Copson, wearing a tailcoat-like outfit, struck all sorts of poses in front of the mirror, stroking his chin.

If he wore a top hat and smoked a cigar, he’d be like a mafia enforcer, but it felt like he was wearing a cash avatar set that came as a package.

“I like these clothes, Barbarian jerk!”

Seeing Copson, who was completely excited, jumping around and turning this way and that, made me feel annoyed.

“You like them?”
“If I only had these clothes, seducing a country girl would be nothing! Thank you so much!”

Confidence exploded.

Will Copson be able to get his first love?