Chapter 631 – Dress and Valkyrie

We decided to explore various parts of the city, moving from the southern district to the western district.

While explaining the precautions for the western district, we took relatively safe routes and stopped by the Orphanage since it was connected to Sheila and Irmhild.

I thought it would be good to greet them while we were touring around.

If I let the children meet Maxwell, who looks like a weapon, without any consideration, it might have some kind of influence on them.

In any case, since we have an ongoing relationship with the Orphanage, there would likely be opportunities for them to meet Maxwell sooner or later. Therefore, it would be better to greet Director Sandra and explain the situation. I also wanted to avoid situations where Maxwell would have to restrain himself because children were present.

“…So, that’s why he’s a magical creature axe.”

“My name is Maxwell.”

As Maxwell bowed by tilting his body, Director Sandra widened her eyes.

“Well now… But since there’s a Labyrinth here, many children in this city admire adventurers. While it worries me, I can’t say it’s a bad thing. And… his responses are proper, and if Theodore-sama created him, I don’t think there’s any problem. Yes. After all, you’re the kind of person who would show such consideration.”

That was her response. Somehow, I feel like Director Sandra trusts me quite a lot.

Regarding Belius too… It seems she thinks it’s fine because he’s around me.

So we entered the Orphanage grounds while greeting them with Maxwell. Since Sheila and Irmhild had come, the Orphanage children gathered around.

“It’s Sheila-neechan and Irmu-neechan!”

“Yeah. We came to play.”

“Hello, everyone.”

Sheila and Irmhild were surrounded by the children. Hmm. It seems the two of them are quite popular.

“Pleased to make your acquaintance. I am called Maxwell.”

After waiting for their welcome to calm down a bit, Maxwell greeted them, and the children gathered with shining eyes.

“Whoa! A talking axe!”

“Huh? Isn’t this what they call ventriloquism?”

The children’s reactions varied, but Maxwell himself corrected them.

“It is not ventriloquism. ‘Talking axe’ is correct.”

As expected, Maxwell became the center of attention for the children, especially the boys.

“Is it okay to touch you?”

“Hmm, I wonder. You’d have to ask him directly to know that. When it comes to whether you’d mind having your head patted by someone you just met, I think that depends on the person. So if he says it bothers him, I’d like you to leave him alone.”

I answered the children’s questions like that.

Although he looks like an axe, he has a will of his own, but with that answer, the boys seemed to understand to some extent.

“I do not mind.”

As for Maxwell, he didn’t seem to care much and answered quite readily.

“Nice to meet you, Maxwell. I’m called Brad.”

Brad, an older boy who had been watching from a distance and seemed to be the leader, extended his hand to Maxwell as if setting an example for everyone, touching the handle as if shaking hands and introducing himself.

“Indeed. I shall rely on you. Brad.”

Perhaps learning from that, the other children also greeted Maxwell in a similar manner.

Maxwell, who was responding to them, seemed to be having a bit of a hard time. Perhaps he judged that with so many children, it would be better not to move much, so he stayed quietly floating by my side, dutifully returning each greeting one by one.

Irmhild giggled and sat on a bench in the garden, playing her Lute.

“…Children, huh. I was somewhat bewildered, but being looked at with those eyes… feels somewhat ticklish.”

When the situation had calmed down, Maxwell murmured quietly. The meeting with the children turned out to be quite good, I think.

“P-pleased to meet you. I am called Lasnote.”

“I am called Helvorte.”

Lasnote and Helvorte also greeted the children. Lasnote seemed a bit timid and cautious. Helvorte was as usual.

Since Sion and the others were already acquainted with the Orphanage children, they seemed to be chatting and laughing quite casually.

Similarly, the animal group members who had met them several times and the children seemed familiar with each other, with the children happily riding on Lavigne’s back, hugging Corulis, and petting Flamia.

Well, Charlotte being mixed in there was as usual. She had Ramriya in the palm of her hand, smiling happily.

“Is this one okay?”

“Belius. Do you mind being touched?”

When the children asked, Claudia inquired, and Belius quietly nodded his head. Although he was just sitting quietly without doing anything, perhaps to show that he didn’t dislike it, he slowly wagged his tail from side to side. The children also petted Belius’s body.

After interacting with the children like that for a while, we left the Orphanage.

We moved through the western district to the northern district, where many shops and stores were lined up. We decided it would be better to visit the shipyard when the Demon-Slaying Knight Order was training, so we omitted it this time.

The northern district… had many pedestrians like shoppers, with various shops lined up, so just looking around was never boring.

It had the perfect atmosphere for killing time by aimlessly strolling and peeking into shops that caught our eye.

Well, since we’d gone to the trouble of coming all the way to the northern district, we decided to do some shopping rather than just looking.

Daisy’s tailor shop, which was also an acquaintance of Miriam’s, was also located in the northern district.

The designs were good, and they also handled ornaments and other accessories, so it was well-received by everyone. Since we’d visited several times and were familiar with each other, after looking around various shops, we headed to Daisy’s store.

“Ah, welcome.”

When Daisy saw us, she smiled.

“Hello. It’s been a while.”

“No, no. I’m just glad to see you’re doing well.”

After exchanging greetings, we explained about Maxwell. When Maxwell greeted her, Daisy seemed somewhat bewildered, but the fact that her interest turned toward the sheath’s ornamentation showed her professional nature.

So after successfully finishing the greetings, we decided to look at the clothes and ornaments placed in the store.

“Since you’re all regular customers, please feel free to try on various things.”

“That’s very kind, but is it really alright?”

“Yes, please don’t hesitate. Rather, when beautiful people like you try on different clothes, it helps me as it gives me inspiration for new clothing designs. I’ve been feeling a bit stuck recently. So you all coming here is really helpful.”

Daisy smiled somewhat shyly. I see. So it serves as reference for thinking about designs.

With that, the female members, including the shop owner Daisy, began coordinating various outfits.

“With Grace-sama’s hair color, this kind of dress would look good too.”

“Thank you, Ashley-sama.”

“I think this dress would suit Ashley-sama as well.”

That was the general tone.

“Um… I, with these kinds of things…”

“It suits you very well.”

Seeing Sion, who was embarrassed about such things and hesitant, and the unfamiliar Lasnote, made them want to fuss over them even more, saying this suits you or that suits you, putting them in a dress-up doll state.

Lasnote was wearing a dress with frills, blinking her eyes while looking at her own body here and there.

“This might suit Marlene-sama.”

“Hmm. It does suit me, but the neck area looks a bit plain. How about this ornament?”

“That’s nice. It suits Marlene very well.”

Ophelia, Rosemary, and Princess Stephania were also happily suggesting what might suit Marlene and trying layers of clothes on her.

“The dresses here are wonderful.”

“Yes. I like them. They’re good enough to be royal purveyors.”

Princess Elham and Princess Adriana were also smiling while selecting clothes.

“Well now, it’s quite difficult for us to enter that atmosphere, isn’t it?”

“Hmm. Well, since they seem to be enjoying themselves, I think it’s fine.”

I replied to Alfred. Being men, we don’t have those kinds of interactions. Let’s consider it a visual treat to watch everyone changing clothes.

“Hmm. I was also happy when I received my sheath. So everyone is like that too.”

Maxwell watched this and blinked as if understanding various things.

“…No, I’m fine with just my armor.”

“That would be such a waste.”

“Exactly. Helvorte-sama is so beautiful.”

“It’s good to have clothes and ornaments for when you’re not exploring the Labyrinth.”

It seemed the female members’s interest had also turned toward Helvorte. Persuaded by Claudia, after the younger members, Helvorte was the one being made to try on various outfits.

“Times like these… are enjoyable, aren’t they?”

As Helvorte said this somewhat bewildered, Claudia smiled.

“I can tailor the back area for winged species, so if you find something you like, please let me know.”

“That is reassuring to hear.”

Everyone seemed to be hitting it off well with Daisy.

While watching this, Sheila put a silk hat on my head.

“Hmm. Theodore has a monocle, so this kind of thing suits him too.”

“That’s true. It suits him.”

At Sheila and Seraphina’s words, everyone looked at me, exchanged glances, and smiled.

Ah… Well, it seems I’m next to be the subject of dress-up. Well, it’s fine though.

“Al, please come over here too.”

Ophelia smiled at Alfred while holding an evening wear outfit.

So we were made to change into tailcoats and various other things. Following that flow, they even tried attaching feather ornaments to Maxwell, and everyone got quite excited.

“Since we bought clothes for Sion and the others before, wouldn’t it be good to buy clothes for Lasnote and Helvorte too?”

“Then, how about we all chip in a little money as a welcoming gift?”

“Yes. That sounds nice.”

So in the end, everyone decided to buy some clothes.

Hmm… Separately from that, I decided to pay from my own wallet for the Party Members as thanks for their daily efforts.

It seemed to have been good stimulation for the shop owner Daisy too. She said new design ideas were coming to her, so it turned out to be a meaningful time, I think.