After putting on his outfit, Kyoji stepped out of the hospital room and saw butler James standing just outside, waiting for him.
As he opened the door, the sound made the old man turn and face him. His white eyes scanned Kyoji from head to toe, making Kyoji's brows furrow slightly.
"What?" Kyoji asked, his voice flat.
"Nothing, it's just... Was that suit always that tight, or is it just my eyes?" Butler James asked.
Kyoji looked down. The suit was definitely clinging to his body more than it had a few days ago.
Then it clicked.
The discomfort he had felt earlier when putting on the suit wasn't from the change in his fashion style, but because the suit was tighter than it should have been.
But now it made sense.
After becoming a Chosen, it wasn't just strength that changed. The physical body received a certain kind of boon—more muscle, and sometimes even an increase in height. Kyoji, for example, had grown taller.
In the past, he had been 5'8" to 5'9" (173–175 cm) and lean, with barely any visible muscle. But now, after becoming a Chosen, his body had transformed.
He was now towering at 6 feet tall, which was quite tall for his age, and his body had gained a small amount of muscle, causing his perfectly fitted clothes to become more like a tight fit.
They hadn't noticed this earlier when he had been lying in the hospital bed wearing the loose hospital gown, but now it was clear.
But little did he know, that wasn't the only change in his body.
His face had also changed. His jawline had become sharper, and his features had refined, making him look more like a man than a sixteen-year-old boy.
"Well, this growth spurt is kind of crazy," Kyoji muttered, flexing his shoulders and feeling the tightness of the suit, which seemed as though it might rip apart if he moved too much.
"Yeah, indeed, it's crazy," Butler James muttered, then added with humor, "Though the ladies might be a little distracted by that down there."
"Huh?" Kyoji muttered, following the old man's eyes down to his crotch, where a sizable bulge had formed as his pants clung tightly to him.
Kyoji looked up at Butler James, deadpan, and asked, "Are you flirting with me, old man?"
"Nah, I like girls with bi..." Butler James started, but Kyoji interrupted before the old man could finish the sentence.
"Don't you think you're too old for that?" Kyoji asked.
"Nah, I don't think you can ever get too old for that," the old man said, flashing a mischievous smile.
Kyoji exhaled sharply, swiftly steering the conversation away from the disturbing thought of Butler James'... "old little buddy" trying to make an appearance.
"So about this..." Kyoji pointed at his body, "I think I need a change of wardrobe."
"Yeah, that's a great idea," Butler James agreed, "but we'll need to make some careful decisions. You might experience another growth spurt in the future. I suggest we visit The House of Stellan."
Kyoji raised an eyebrow at this suggestion.
The House of Stellan? That name sounded familiar.
Then it came to him.
The House of Stellan was a high-end fashion store owned by the Stellan Guild, one of the top guilds in the shelter.
It was said that the clothes made by The House of Stellan didn't just offer high quality and beauty, but could also rival high-level armor in terms of defensive capabilities. This was because they used high-quality materials and had the help of high-level Chosen with tailoring talent.
"Oh, that sounds like a great idea," Kyoji muttered.
Seeing the changes his body had undergone in just a few days since becoming a Chosen, Kyoji couldn't even imagine how much more he might grow in the future. So, normal clothing wasn't going to cut it. Soon enough, he might outgrow even that, which meant a complete wardrobe overhaul was inevitable.
"Great, let's get going then," Butler James said, ready to move on.
"Now?" Kyoji asked.
"Yes, now," butler James muttered. "This world is more connected than you think. It won't take long before the media catches wind of your discharge, and you won't have as much freedom as you do now."
"Oh, so you're telling me that I can't even move around now without cameras shoved in my face?" Kyoji asked.
"Yes, that's what you get for being popular," butler James said, pulling out a hat and handing it to Kyoji. "Put this on to cover your face. Let's try to make a run for it before the information spreads too far."
Kyoji took the hat from butler James and placed it on his head, adjusting it to conceal his face as much as possible.
With that, the two headed straight for the elevator.
The ride down was silent. Kyoji was busy organizing his thoughts, planning his next move. Now that the immediate danger of the beast horde was no longer hanging over him, he had to think about what came next.
He had gained talent, and now he was a Chosen, which was a complete change from his past life. This meant that the path ahead would be entirely different from what he had experienced before. He needed to figure out his future carefully. His death, his return to the past, and everything that had happened seemed to indicate that something greater was at play. He had to tread cautiously.
Ding!
The elevator came to a halt, signaling their arrival on the lower floor of the hospital.
As they stepped out of the elevator into the vast reception area, they didn't linger. Butler James had already handled all the necessary paperwork, so there was no reason for them to stay. They simply walked out.
Waiting outside in front of the sleek black futuristic hover limousine was Charles, the chauffeur, a man in his early thirties.
As soon as Charles saw them, a vibrant smile spread across his face. He bowed respectfully and greeted them, "Greetings, Master Kyoji. It's good to see that you have fully recovered."
"Thank you, Charles," Kyoji replied, his face expressionless as he continued walking without pausing.
Charles didn't mind the lack of warmth in Kyoji's response. He was professionally trained for his role and was used to Kyoji's emotionless demeanor. It didn't bother him at all. Instead, he reached out and opened the car door for Kyoji to enter.
Kyoji stepped into the car without saying another word, followed by butler James.
Once they were both settled in the sleek, luxurious interior of the limousine, Charles closed the door and made his way to the driver's seat.
"So, where to? Are we heading home straight?" Charles asked.
"No, we'll head over to the House of Stellan first before going home," butler James instructed.
"Okay, right away, sir," Charles replied professionally, starting the car and preparing to drive off.
Kyoji, however, wasn't paying attention to their conversation. From the window, he could already spot some paparazzi hanging around the area, clearly waiting for him. Fortunately, they hadn't noticed them yet, so they were able to leave the hospital grounds without any interference.
As they exited the hospital grounds, Charles immediately set the car on course, heading toward the House of Stellan.
---
The ride was short, silent, and uneventful. During the journey, Kyoji relaxed in the plush seat, his eyes staring out of the window as the scenery flashed by at high speed.
Soon, the car slowed down as they pulled up to an impressive, sleek futuristic building: The House of Stellan.
The building was a stunning sight—smooth, dark glass reflected the sky above, and intricate, almost ethereal designs adorned the façade.
Above the entrance, a hovering digital screen shimmered in the air, displaying the iconic House of Stellan logo. It was a silver crest featuring a thread and needle crossed in perfect symmetry. Beneath the logo, the words "Excellence in Design. Unmatched in Craft." flickered in elegant, flowing script. The screen also showcased rotating images of their fashion collections, featuring a variety of outfits in different styles.
Kyoji stared at the massive building through the car window, his expression unchanged, as the car came to a stop in front of the entrance.
Time to go shopping.