Chapter 15, Let’s Dress Appropriately

Translator: Lizz

 

The three arrived in town.

 

“It’s quite prosperous.”

 

“Yes, it’s beautiful and has a nice atmosphere.”

 

Edward and Gina exchanged their impressions.

 

Sylvia, on the other hand, seemed to have no particular thoughts and walked absentmindedly, led by Gina.

 

After walking for a while, Edward stopped and looked at the two of them.

 

“I’ll go gather information, so could you two go shopping for daily necessities?”

 

“…? I can use ma-”

 

“Understood! Come on, Lady Sylvia, let’s go!”

 

Before Sylvia could finish, Gina responded and dragged her away.

 

Edward talked with the townspeople while casually observing the market, gathering information.

 

It seemed that taxes were being paid.

 

This meant that the tax collector sent by the Duke was coming to collect them… But before that, the mayor of this fortress town must be collecting them.

 

“We should meet with the mayor and get some information.”

 

With that thought, Edward began mentally listing the tasks they needed to do.

 

*

 

“First, it’s about attire. People judge ninety percent by appearance.”

 

Edward caught up with Sylvia and Gina and began discussing the plan.

 

With how the three of them were dressed as obvious commoners, even if Sylvia showed the contract, she would not be recognized as the Lord of a castle.

 

“So, Lady Sylvia, let’s go to the clothing store and get appropriate attire.”

 

With that, Edward took the two of them to a clothing store.

 

As they entered the clothing store, Gina began looking at various clothes excitedly.

 

Edward, finding it endearing that girls indeed love clothes, spoke with the shopkeeper.

 

“…I’m sorry. There’s no demand for it… If you give us some time, we can order the designs and make them to your specifications…”

 

The shopkeeper apologized with a regretful expression in response to Edward’s request.

 

Edward sighed.

 

It would be a lie to say he hadn’t anticipated this.

 

They were on the southwestern peninsula of the duchy. According to the map he had checked earlier, to return to the same duchy, they would either have to pass through a neighboring country and enter from another checkpoint, or cross the drawbridge from the fortress they had entered from.

 

No noble would come to such an inconvenient place.

 

Most likely, everything in this town was self-contained, or if there was any interaction, it was with the neighboring country.

 

It was troublesome that they couldn’t get noble-like clothes, but on the other hand, the mayor probably didn’t know what nobles look like.

 

As Edward was thinking that they might be able to deceive people by wearing expensive clothes, Gina had somehow come to his side.

 

“Then, this one, this one, and this one. Also, please let us use the fabric you used to make these clothes and your workshop.”

 

Gina suddenly declared firmly.

 

To the astonished shopkeeper and Edward, Gina patted her chest.

 

“As Lady Sylvia’s maid, it’s only natural that I can tailor clothes! This time, since we don’t have much time, I’ll remake these clothes into appropriate attire!”

 

At the workshop, Gina efficiently gave instructions.

 

“Sir Edward’s knight outfit is definitely too short in the arms and legs. We can at least let out the hems, can we? For Lady Sylvia, let’s go with culottes this time instead of a dress, to ensure both ease of movement and dignity. As for my maid outfit, it won’t be the official one of the Duke’s household, but rather an arrangement as Lady Sylvia’s maid.”

 

Edward was taken aback, but he waited for an opportunity to speak to Gina.

 

“…How do you know about the Duke’s household attire?”

 

Gina turned to Edward and smiled brightly.

 

“I used to work at a workshop that subcontracted for a clothing store. At the workshop, we handled everything from patterns to sewing for the clothes of the Duke’s servants’, as well as the personal clothes of the Duke’s family living in the duchy. So, if we had time, I could make them from scratch.”

 

Edward stared at Gina in astonishment.

 

Gina gave him a mischievous smile.

 

“–This is actually a secret, but famous clothing stores usually have multiple subcontractors. The stores themselves don’t even make patterns, let alone sew. The workshop I worked at was renowned in the area for its skill, so we were entrusted with making all the clothes for the Duke’s household.”

 

As she spoke, Gina reminisced about those times.

 

(There were times when I was forced to work on outrageous design patterns with tight deadlines, pulling all-nighters for days… And it was always just me!

 

The master and mistress would happily accept the orders, but I was the one doing the work. If I was late, they’d call me incompetent…

 

Now that I’m gone, they’ll have to do it themselves, and maybe then they’ll understand my struggles!)

 

She felt a surge of anger at the unfair treatment she had endured.

 

Gina lightly shook her head to clear away the memories of past mistreatment and resumed giving instructions while drafting patterns.

 

As Edward watched her, he absentmindedly wondered why such a talented girl had been traveling alone and worrying about pursuers.

 

Edward and Sylvia were measured, and after several fittings, the shopkeeper, impressed by Gina’s skill, enthusiastically worked with her on the remakes.

 

As a result, the clothes were completed at an incredible speed.

 

“…A knight’s uniform I recognize…”

 

“Of course you would recognize it, Sir Edward.”

 

Gina retorted immediately.

 

Before Edward’s eyes was a uniform that looked exactly like the Duke’s knight uniform.

 

Gina’s maid outfit also had a similar finish.

 

The most impressive was Sylvia. Instead of a dress, she wore culottes, giving her the aura of a lord of a castle despite her young age.

 

“Have we secured the ninety percent appearance point?”

 

Gina quietly asked Edward, who nodded with a wry smile.

 

On their way back, Edward suddenly noticed a small cane that was casually displayed.

 

“Lady Sylvia, doesn’t this cane resemble that stick you always carried… Ahem, I mean, your staff?”

 

When Edward handed it to Sylvia, she absentmindedly took it and tapped it on the floor.

 

“Oh, you have a keen eye. That is a magician’s staff. I ordered it upon request, but it was canceled… If you like it, I would like to give it to you as a token of our acquaintance. I guarantee its quality!”

 

Sylvia continued to tap the floor silently. Then, gradually, something glittering began to rise from the ground.

 

” ” “Huh?” ” ”

 

The glittering substance rose, drifting around the store like gold dust, and then disappeared after a while.

 

“I’ll take it,” Sylvia said calmly, as if nothing had happened.

 

“I would love for you to work with us!”

 

The three left the store while pacifying the shopkeeper, who was passionately calling out to Gina when they bid goodbye. After walking for a while, Gina asked,

 

“…By the way… What was that glittering stuff? Does that happen when you use a magician’s staff?”

 

Edward shook his head.

 

“I’ve never used magicians’ specialized tools… The Magic Knights use them, but not staff.”

 

“That glittering was the magic power of the previous user.”

 

Sylvia said abruptly.

 

“Since I started using it, it left.”

 

” “……” ”

 

They had probably been given an explanation, but they didn’t understand it at all.

 

What they did understand was that it was something someone else had used before.

 

And they thought that it was not a usual occurrence, but something only happened because Sylvia started using the staff.

 

“Well, whatever. Anyway, we got clothes that exceed the ninety percent appearance point. Tomorrow, we’ll go see the mayor unannounced, so let’s get ready.”

 

“Yes!”

 

Gina replied enthusiastically to Edward’s words