Chapter 423 – Shopping on an Autumn Day

Well then. When it comes to shopping for clothing and such, the Northern District with its various shops would be the place to go, so we all split up into carriages and headed toward the Northern District.

To go shopping, Forset and the others would need funds they could use in Termwills.

Regarding that matter, it seems King Farid has prepared operational funds for the time being so they can be active in Termwills.

Although Baharzard appears to be in a rather difficult financial situation, that’s at the level of national administration. They should be able to normally provide enough money for dispatched personnel to maintain a standard of living without shortages in daily life.

And so, we went around looking at various shops for clothing and daily necessities.

“Haaah. There are so many different shops.”

“…In Halvaronis… we don’t have scenery like this.”

“It might be fun with all this liveliness.”

Sion and the others were gazing intently at the scenery outside through the carriage windows.

Eventually, the carriage arrived at our destination shop. There are several tailors in Termwills, but it’s only proper to visit the shop we usually patronize.

“Good day.”

“Ah, welcome, Theodore-sama.”

The one bowing her head amiably is Daisy, the tailor shop owner. She’s a friend of Miriam, the owner of the Labyrinth Trading Company, and we’ve been helped by this shop several times.

“Today we’ve come to buy winter clothes. Not for us, but for them.”

“My. What lovely girls.”

Daisy’s expression softened as she looked at Sion and the others surveying the shop, then went to greet them. Sion and the others politely bowed in return to Daisy.

After that, they selected various items – warm-looking winter coats, shirts, skirts, robes, scarves, gloves, socks, etc., including everyday clothes and nightwear.

“If we just shorten the hem a bit, we should be fine with what we have in stock now. If you’d prefer something else, we can make it for you. What would you like to do?”

“Hmm. What do you think?”

“I like it.”

When Forset asked, Sion replied, and Sigritta and Marceska nodded as well. For now, it seems they’ve secured their everyday winter clothes.

Forset also decided to buy several robes made of thick fabric.

“Um… and besides winter clothes… I’d like to see some surcoats.”

“Understood.”

It seems Sion and Marceska chose surcoats, while Sigritta selected a robe. These will be equipment for delving into the labyrinth.

Well, we plan to prepare armor-type equipment at the workshop too, so we don’t need too many of these.

Grace and the others also seem to be looking at the various clothes available. It’s not that often we decide to go shopping and visit shops together as a group. They seem to be enjoying looking at the clothes.

“When we come to Daisy-san’s shop, there are fashionable clothes from each season, so it’s quite informative.”

“Thank you.”

At Grace’s words, Daisy smiled.

“The recent trend seems to be longer hems with wire to make them puff out largely.”

Rosemary was analyzing like that while looking at the dress fitted on the torso.

At evening parties and such, noble children wear fashionable clothes to attract attention… so the latest fashion of each season must be quite important.

Well, it seems everyone has more need for clothes to wear in labyrinth exploration, as they immediately started looking at adventurer equipment. Somehow, I can’t help but feel that among them, there’s a premise that clothes and dresses should be something they can fight in as well.

“…Hmm. Is this knitted with Arachne Thread?”

“Yes. Thanks to that, we were able to procure materials from the Labyrinth Trading Company. It’s somewhat of a prototype.”

Daisy said with a smile.

Hmm… Now that I think about it, before at this shop, I bought mithril silver hair ornaments and gave them to everyone as presents.

Those became equipment that, like the Amulet of Evil Repulsion, had spell formulas related to blessings engraved on them, and would deploy a Magic Shield when danger approached the owner or they received a surprise attack…

That’s right. It wouldn’t hurt to have more of that type of equipment. I’d like to return the favor for the clothes I received on my birthday too. If we’re talking about this shop, clothes woven from Lunaworm thread or Arachne Thread should be options.

I’ll call out to everyone and ask. They probably each have their own preferences, and if they’d prefer something else, I can think about it again.

“Um… I’m thinking about returning the favor for my birthday presents. How about you choose something you like from this shop?”

When I said that, Grace and the others looked at me with slightly surprised expressions before asking.

“That would make us happy… but is it really alright?”

“Yeah. I’ll handle the enchantment on clothes, engraving spell formulas on ornaments… that kind of magic tool conversion.”

At my words, they smiled happily at each other. Then they turned back to me and thanked me.

“Well then, we’ll take you up on your offer, Theo.”

“Thank you very much, Theodore-sama.”

Said Ashley. Marlene smiled brightly at me.

“Magic tools with Theodore’s engraved spell formulas are easy to use.”

Said Rosemary while hiding her face with her feather fan.

“Really?”

“Yes. They’re much higher quality than what I prepared myself before.”

That must be the self-defense magic tools she had prepared during her fortune-teller days.

“Well, that’s good then.”

When I answered, Rosemary nodded and seemed to decide to look at the clothes in the shop.

“Thank you, Theodore. I’ll treasure it.”

Claudia smiled and brought her hand to her chest.

“Yeah. Claudia.”

I nodded at Claudia’s words. It seems everyone is quite pleased. They’re happily looking around the shop.

“Sheila and the others can choose too. It’s not for returning birthday presents… but, well. You always help us with labyrinth exploration, so consider it thanks for that.”

“Hmm. That might make me happy.”

“Thank you, Theodore-kun.”

Said Sheila and Irmhild.

“Seraphina too.”

“I might not find clothes that suit me.”

Since she said that, I looked toward Daisy, but she just smiled back at me.

“It’s a tailor shop, so I think we could have them make something identical to what you like.”

“Really? Then.”

Saying that, Seraphina also happily joined the others.

…And so, after purchasing clothes and ornaments for all the party members, we left Daisy’s shop. She said she’d deliver them later after adjusting the hems and sleeves.

After clothes, we went to look at boots and daily necessities, guiding Forset and the others around the city while buying necessary items at various places, until we arrived at the market near the temple.

“–So that’s how it is. You can use Transference Stones to send items obtained in the labyrinth or escape from stone tablets. Red Transference Stones are items that allow emergency escape without using stone tablets, so it’s best if everyone has a set. Though we’re not going to the labyrinth today.”

“I see…”

Forset and Sion and the others were listening to my explanation with serious expressions.

“Ah, it’s Corulis.”

Marceska spotted Corulis emerging from the Adventurer Guild and happily called out.

Corulis seemed to notice us too and waved. In its other hand, it carried a basket piled high with ore… must be today’s spoils.

“What a large mole… Brother, it seems to have come from the Adventurer Guild… is that an adventurer too?”

“Between this theater and everything, Boundary City has many unusual things that are quite surprising. What do you think, old man?”

“I’ve heard that mole is the familiar of the First Princess, Her Highness Stephania.”

I overheard a well-built noble man and woman who had emerged from the theater talking with a male servant. Must be noble siblings from somewhere touring Termwills, I suppose?

Well… in Corulis’s case, it inevitably attracts attention like that, but at least it doesn’t seem to cause major disturbances even when walking around the city. The knights who would form the labyrinth exploration team also appeared at the guild entrance.

“Well then, Corulis. We’ll handle disposing of the other spoils here. You can fly back ahead of us to the castle if you want.”

“Corulis helped us out today. If it hadn’t thrown rocks for us back there, we would have been injured by monsters.”

Hearing such comments, Corulis nodded repeatedly. They’re progressing with training with the knights so they can delve into the labyrinth without Princess Stephania.

Princess Stephania seems to want to delve together with Corulis, but as for Corulis itself, it appears to be fairly trusted by the knights too.

Hmm. That’s right. For Forset and Sion and the others to get used to the labyrinth, going to the old mines with Corulis might be good. Considering Sion and the others’ movements in the forest, since they can use anywhere in the labyrinth as footing, it should work to their advantage. It would probably be best to do so after preparing armor and such at the workshop.

“…Theodore.”

While I was pondering various things, Sheila called out to me in a low voice. Her tone had a slight tension to it.

“…What?”

“That.”

I looked in the direction Sheila was pointing. It was a group of men. Each was wearing a sword… but they don’t seem like adventurers. It’s hard to put into words, but the aura they give off feels different from adventurers.

They probably aren’t here shopping like us either. Their expressions are somewhat tense, you could say. That unnatural aspect must have triggered Sheila’s vigilance.

Once you become aware of them, they stand out. If you follow where their gazes are directed, they were aimed at the noble siblings from earlier. When the noble siblings moved, they maintained a certain distance and moved accordingly. This is tailing.

Is it a grudge, or kidnapping for ransom? I don’t know the circumstances, but it doesn’t look very peaceful.

“I’ll have Caduceus do double tailing. If they make any moves, he’ll deliver the finishing blow.”

“Hmm.”

At my words, Sheila nodded.