Chapter 90

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Not only Sei, but also Viktor, Lara, and Laurent had their jaws drop.

Among them, Lara was the first to recover.

"…There are still things I don't know, even from Mancircle."

"No, I'm just a kid, so there are a lot of things I don't know. I haven't seen them, and I haven't been explained about them, so I can't understand or even imagine them."

When she shook her head, Lara nodded in agreement. However, Sei didn't seem satisfied with that.

"If you don't know, you can just ask and make them! You have maids, after all!"

"Are you telling me to use my position as an employer to make female employees answer questions about the shape of their underwear, which would be harassment?"

"Ah…"

A surprisingly low voice came out, and the room temperature seemed to drop slightly. A cute sneeze, "kuchun," made me look to the side, where I saw Regulus's nose dripping. I quickly wiped it with a handkerchief, and Utsunomiya looked apologetic. Sei shrank back and bowed her head.

"S-Sorry. What I said just now was thoughtless."

"No… Even if it's not considered harassment, it's surprising to be asked about underwear by someone of the opposite sex, and I wouldn't really want to answer. I don't really want to ask or be asked about it either."

"That's true. We were also surprised when you made and brought us the underwear."

"That was… out of necessity, and… well…"

Looking at everyone's faces, I couldn't say that I made the underwear because I thought of pumpkin pants. So, I said, "I learned from Ice Wheel," and explained the story of the adventurer whose underwear strap broke, which they understood. However, Viktor and Lara didn't know my situation. So, I told them the story of the underwear I made for everyone, and they relayed it to Sei.

"…So, you have underwear, but not specifically for women?"

"Yes. Well, I do have some that women can wear, but for proper women's underwear…"

Without knowing the shape, I can't do anything.

However, I hesitated to ask because of my own reservations, which led to the situation where Effet·Papillon doesn't have women's underwear.

Then, Sei, who had been fidgeting with her hands, clenched them and spoke.

"Then, I'll show you my underwear. If you understand the shape, will you make it?"

"That… Yes. But is it okay?"

"It's not a matter of whether it's okay or not. I started this, and… besides, I don't think someone who would consider it wrong to ask a maid about underwear would do something bad."

I wondered what "something bad" meant, but my instinct told me not to ask. Anyway, if she's willing to show me, I'll look, and if there's a demand, I'll make it. I nodded, and Lara tilted her head.

"If you can't ask a maid, why didn't you ask me? I'm not part of the household's employment, so there's no power dynamic, right?"

"Wouldn't it be a breach of etiquette to ask about underwear, regardless of gender?"

"Maybe not if there's a reason."

"Is wanting to make it a good enough reason?"

"Wanting to make it alone isn't very convincing."

"…That's the point. If I knew someone was in real trouble or in danger, I would have asked Lara. But I didn't hear that anyone was in trouble, so I thought it was just out of curiosity."

If there's no demand, supplying it wouldn't be profitable. In business, it's natural to hesitate if it's not profitable. But if there is a demand, it's a different story. If it leads to practical benefits, asking is just a temporary inconvenience. I have no objections.

I conveyed this, and Sei bowed her head.

"Women, by nature, have certain physical characteristics that they have to deal with from a certain age until a certain age. It's… the menstrual cycle."

I nodded.

That's something men don't really understand.

According to Sei, there's a condition called "menstrual disorder" that comes with the menstrual cycle. Even mild cases can make people more irritable, and severe cases can cause abdominal pain, back pain, and headaches, making it difficult to move or even incapacitating them. Even without that, having large breasts can cause shoulder pain, and sheer underwear can be embarrassing, causing various issues.

"Ah, I see… There are a lot of things to consider."

"Yes, that's why female adventurers are struggling."

"But isn't this a problem for all women, not just female adventurers?"

"Eh? Is it? For someone who just stays home and does housework, it doesn't matter, right? It's an easy job with three meals and naps."

Hmm, this person has a very biased view.

Adventurers have their own difficulties, but housewives have their own difficulties too.

"Maids and housewives have their own challenges."

"Even if it's not a matter of life and death?"

Sei and Laurent nodded, and I couldn't help but give them a deadpan look. I shouldn't be blamed. Utsunomiya's face was a strained smile, and Lara and Viktor were clearly exasperated.

This won't do.

Someone who has suffered from prejudice is making others suffer from the same prejudice. This all happens because of a lack of understanding. If I don't know, I'll make them understand, Hototogisu.

"I accept the request for women's underwear."

"R-Really? Yay!"

"But there are conditions."

"Reward? How much will it cost?"

I smiled at Sei, who was sparkling with excitement.

"Until the underwear is ready, experience being a maid in this household. Learn whether the work of maids and housewives is as easy as you say."

"What? Why!?"

"Sei, you say that being a woman means suffering. You've suffered from prejudice. But you also have prejudices against housewives, maids, and non-adventurer women. This is a negative cycle. And it happens because of a lack of understanding. So, understand whether being a maid or housewife is really 'not a matter of life and death, an easy job with three meals and naps.' Laurent, you too."

I say what I mean and do what I say.

As Lara said, if I say I'll do it, I will.

Laurent's cry of "Why me!?" was completely ignored by me.

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