"Oh, for the gods' sake," Ouhon complained.

"Yeah, I know." Mouten chuckled lightly. Both of them were on the walls of the king's palace, awaiting the reward ceremony. Ouhon had just come back from the last battle of the coalition war, and Mouten had just come back from the dead. The later had talked both Ouhon and Shin into meeting him. After all, they'd made it alive. He felt it was reason enough to celebrate. It certainly was in his case.

Just now, Shin was climbing the stairs to join them, while Ouhon, as usual, was sulking.

"Even a peasant wouldn't dare to dress like that in front of the king. I mean, he has a comfortable salary now. He should be able to bother getting himself more than one set of clothes."

"I'm not sure he's aware of that," Mouten noted.

"Aren't you being all friendly with him? Why don't you get him to buy something decent to wear?"

"Look at the bright side of things," Mouten replied cheerfully.

"There is a bright side to this?"

"He's wearing pants, this time."

Ouhon stared at him, his jaw set.

"You're actually pleased about this, aren't you?"

"I'm rather amused, yes," Mouten admitted.

"He's going to get a better promotion than you. In front of all of those people. In those clothes. Don't you feel humiliated?"

"I don't really care."

Ouhon gritted his teeth in frustration.

"But I didn't overlook the fact that you do," Mouten added with another chuckle.

"Shut up, now."

"Would you be less ashamed that he passed you by, if he was more presentable?"

"Shut up!"

"Maybe you should go shopping with him?"

"I am seriously going to kill you."