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Chapter 38 – The Adventurer and the Boy
If you change into different clothes in the store, you can’t just show your face. Since you’re on good terms with the owner, it’s okay to show your face, so Clare takes off her hat and shows her face to the owner while explaining her situation as a witch’s apprentice. Selena is also an apprentice, but Rona makes excuses, such as her age.
“Well, it’s like this.”
Clare took off her hat in the back of the store so no one would notice, and the owner let out a “Oh…” sound, then seemed to regain his composure and replied, “I see. I understand.”
She was about 12 or 13 years old. Clare was usually expressionless. However, to the owner’s eyes, it seemed to give off a mysterious aura.
Your impression would change if you knew what she was like inside, but Selena, watching from the sidelines, thought that her appearance would be a little intimidating if you met her for the first time.
First, we will look at colors that would suit Clare as everyday clothes, but the witch-like direction will remain the same. The outer layer will be a dark purple or navy blue, and the inner layer will be a light color to balance the overall look.
Clare’s hair and eye colors are disguised, but they are basically light colors both before and after disguise. If we are to think of colors that will suit her in either case, it would be better to have the clothes themselves be dark in color.
After deciding on the overall direction in this way, we will add decorations such as embroidery, ruffles, and puff sleeves to increase the amount of information in the details – this is the method Clare uses when making dolls. The techniques used in the dolls that Clare brings are a good inspiration for the shopkeeper, and thanks to the clothes that are based on them, sales have been increasing recently. Because of this, the new clothes made by the shopkeeper have started to become a hot topic in the royal capital… but that’s another story.
“Use this thread to embroider here…”
The girl doll explains the finished image with pointing and gestures.
“Hmm. I’m looking forward to seeing it finished.”
“I’ll come and show it to you when it’s done.”
“I’m looking forward to it, Clare.”
The shopkeeper smiled. The clothes and accessories that Clare usually wears for gathering and hunting require various magical things. That’s why Clare plans to make them herself. She bought new cloth and thread while predicting the finished product by changing clothes and matching fabrics. The decoy doll also needs clothes, so there will be a lot of materials.
Selena and the others enjoyed the process of changing the clothes.
“Well, leaving aside the everyday clothes, what about clothes for evening parties and balls? While we’re at it, let’s try changing the hairstyle too.”
“That’s nice…!”
“I think there are some dresses and ribbons like that that would look good on Clare…!”
Selena clenches her fist at Rona’s suggestion, and the shopkeeper stands up from her chair. Then, when Clare put on the dress he brought, the three of them exclaimed.
The blue color was brighter than the witch’s usual clothes. The dress was made with three-dimensional techniques and intricate embroidery, and while it was cutting-edge in this world, it wasn’t too eccentric, and as a result, it suited Clare well.
“Oh, this is…”
“I see. It suits you.”
“Really?”
“It’s cutting-edge, but well-balanced and lovely. And it looks like it was custom-made…!”
“Hehe. Actually, I made it while imagining Clare’s real face, using the techniques and dolls I was taught. I’m relieved that it suits her just as I expected.”
Even though the hat hides her face, he can see her build and hair color.
It’s a new design, but the size is just right, and it’s easy to adjust for later, which is because the owner is skilled.
“Well, if you’ve prepared everything for me, I definitely want to buy this dress.”
“I don’t mind the fee. I just wanted to give it to you as a thank you if you like it.”
“What? That’s — this dress is very elaborate, isn’t it? The fabric is good, too.”
The girl doll exclaims in surprise.
“Otherwise, there’s no point in thanking you. Clare-chan is a regular customer and I’ve been shown a lot of things, and I even think of her as my fashion mentor.”
“I understand that. I’ll be grateful.”
After thinking for a moment, Clare bowed her head without using ventriloquism.
“Indeed, if you feel that you’re overdoing it, that might be fine.”
Seeing this exchange, Rona said, and the shopkeeper laughed, “That’s right,” and Selena smiled.
“Hmm. Well, let’s work on her hairstyle.”
After hearing Rona’s words, the three of them immediately tied Clare’s hair in a chignon or tied it up with a ribbon, and after trying out various hairstyles, they searched for and studied hairstyles that would suit Clare and the dress, saying this one was good, that one was good, and so on.
It was quite difficult for Clare, who had little experience in this kind of thing, even in her previous life, but the girl doll next to her quietly nodded, saying that as long as everyone seemed to be having fun, it was fine.
They went to other stores and bought new witch clothes and accessories that would go well with the dress, and then Clare and the others went their separate ways from Rona.
When Rona came to the capital, it was the same as always. She went to a slightly dangerous place to gather information on the inside. She said that a spy had been arrested… No, that’s why she was trying to find out what was going on at this time.
As for Selena, she visited the merchant’s guild that Rona introduced her to, to ask a traveling merchant to send money to her parents’ home.
Submitting a request through the Merchant Guild is a very effective way to guarantee the safety of the package. This is because a magical contract can be concluded before making the request. Or rather, it could be said that it is precisely because of the magical contract that the business of selling trust can exist.
The more expensive and voluminous the package, the higher the request fee and contract fee, but that’s Clare’s problem. They make a good income by defeating monsters that are not often found in the Great Sea of Trees. Selena chooses what to send once a month and adjusts the amount of her allowance so that the request fee and contract fee do not increase too much.
However, since third parties cannot be present at the magic contract between Selena and the Merchant Guild, Clare and Selena decided to meet up at the inn later, so they went their separate ways for the time being.
After Selena accompanied her shopping for clothes and other items, Clare now goes to a bookstore to expand her knowledge and wanders around the stalls looking for accessories for dolls.
Clare had refrained from buying materials for dolls while Spica was picking out clothes and accessories for herself.
When she lightly stroked Spica’s head, who was peeking out from under her collar and looking out the window, she cried out in comfort.
As she was walking through the city, Clare suddenly heard a child’s voice and stopped. She turned her gaze in that direction and exclaimed.
“Hey, that person–”
There was Griff. There was a boy lying face down on the ground, and Griff quickly ran over to him and crouched down.
Griff was helping the child up, but his clothes were dirty, as if he had fallen over a puddle. Furthermore, there was a scrape-like wound on his knee.
“Oh dear.”
Clare also cried out softly and headed in that direction.
“Is there anything I can help you with?”
“–Miss Clare? Thank you for your help during the investigation.”
When Griff saw Clare, he quietly replied and turned his gaze to the child. The boy who had fallen was about 8 years old. There was no sign of a parent. His knee was in pain from the fall, and he was wincing with tears in his eyes as Griff helped him up.
“Your leg–it must hurt, but can you move it? Where else does it hurt besides your leg?”
“It hurts… but I can move it. My hand hurts too.”
He was probably checking for any fractures. Griff quietly nodded as he watched the boy bend and straighten his leg.
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