Chapter 32

Firo was made to wear my cloak and we went to the weapon shop.

"Hey, An-chan."

The old man waved his hand as if he had been waiting for me.

"Is something wrong?"

"Yeah. Just wait a moment."

The old man closed the shop and guided us.

We arrived at the magic shop where we had been given the magic book.

"Oh, my."

The old lady from the magic shop greeted us with a bright smile.

"Could you come to the back of the shop?"

"Yeah, Firo, don't change back to your true form until I give you permission."

"Okay."

When we entered the back of the shop, there were rooms that smelled of daily life and a room that looked like a workshop.

We were guided to the workshop-like room.

The ceiling was a bit high, about 3 meters.

A magic circle was drawn on the floor, and a crystal was placed in the center.

"Sorry, it's a bit cramped because I'm working."

"No... rather, is this child's clothes sold here?"

"I asked a friend early this morning, and the old lady from the magic shop said she had something good."

"That's right."

The old lady took out the crystal and placed an old sewing machine-like tool on the stand. It was a spool, wasn't it? The one that appears in fairy tales like Sleeping Beauty.

"Is this child really a monster?"

"Yeah, that's why her clothes tear when she changes back. Firo, change back."

"Okay."

Here, it should be fine to change back to her true form.

"Okay."

When I gave the instruction, Firo nodded and took off the cloak, changing back to her original form.

"Oh, my, my."

The old lady looked up at Firo, who had returned to her Filoreal Queen form, in surprise.

"Is this fine?"

Her voice was still Firo's, making it a rather strange scene.

Being able to have a conversation with such a creature is one of the rules of the fantasy world...

I glanced at Raphatalia.

"What is it?"

"No, it's just that..."

I remembered that Raphatalia is also a demi-human.

If I think about it, she might have been a very exciting partner when I was still feeling romantic.

In that sense, I can understand the reaction of Motomiya.

But for me now, it's a thing of the past.

"Then, shall I make the clothes?"

"Can you make them? Clothes that won't tear even when she transforms?"

"Well... strictly speaking, I'm not sure if it can be called clothes."

"Huh?"

"What do you think, hero? What do you see me as?"

"A magic shop... a witch-like person."

"That's right. So I have some knowledge about transformation."

I tilted my head at the old lady's response.

What does she mean?

"This tool turns magic power into thread, and the owner can change it back to magic power at will."

"To put it simply, when in human form, the magic power can be turned into thread."

"Ah, I see."

I understood with the old man's explanation.

It might not be called clothes. When not in human form, it becomes formless magic power circulating in the owner's body, and when in human form, it takes the shape of clothes.

"Then, Firo, slowly turn the handle of this tool."

"Okay."

Firo started turning the handle of the spool.

The thread came out quickly, and the old lady tied it to the rotating rod at the end of the spool. The thread gathered there and formed a spool.

"Huh? It feels like my strength is being drained."

"That's because your magic power is being turned into thread. It's supposed to be tiring. But keep going a bit more, we still need more to make the clothes."

"Ugh... this is no fun."

...Fundamentally, she's still a child. She's less than a week old.

Firo turned the spool while looking around, turning her head this way and that.

"Be patient, I'll keep my promise when this is done."

"Food? Something delicious?"

"Yeah."

I'm a man who keeps my promises. I had promised Firo that I would give her something delicious later.

"Then I'll work hard!"

Firo started turning the spool again.

"Wow, you're working hard."

The old lady seemed surprised by the speed.

"Old man from the weapon shop, you and I had a deal, right? Are you free after this?"

"I left a note saying I'd be closed until after noon. An-chan, are you going to treat me to something?"

"Something like that. Can you prepare a large iron plate?"

"Huh? What are you going to use it for?"

"For cooking."

"Your cooking, An-chan? I wasn't expecting that."

"What?"

I was a bit annoyed by the old man's disappointed expression.

"Well, I'll look forward to it."

"Then, Raphatalia, go to the market and buy charcoal, and some vegetables and meat, enough for five people, considering Firo's appetite."

"Understood."

I gave her some silver coins and sent her to the market.

"Food! Food!"

Firo's enthusiasm was high, and the spool kept turning.

"Is it good now? You can stop turning."

"Can I get more food if I turn it more?"

"No, you can't. Stop turning."

"Okay."

Firo came back to me in her monster form.

"Master, food."

"Not yet. The clothes aren't ready yet."

"Aw..."

Firo sounded very disappointed. Raphatalia hasn't returned yet. There's no food or anything.

"Change back to human form when we leave the shop."

"Okay."

Does she really understand?

"Then, I'll turn this into fabric and make the clothes."

The old lady showed us the thread that had been made.

"The fabric part can be done by someone who can weave. I know someone who can do it. Follow me."

"Then, what should I tell the young lady who went shopping?"

"Tell her to wait for us at the gate when we leave the town."

"Understood."

Following the old man's suggestion, we left the magic shop.

"I'll take the fee from the weapon shop later."

"...How much will it cost?"

I asked, as I was very curious.

"The thread of magic power? The crystal is a bit expensive, but I'll provide it to you at cost. It's 50 silver coins."

Gah! Why does everything cost so much for Firo?

I have no idea how much it will cost to turn the thread into fabric and make the clothes!

We went to the weaver's place, and it was decided that they would turn the thread into fabric.

"Since it's a rare material, I'll have to do a lot of work... but I think it will be ready by this evening. You should go to the tailor's now to get measured. I'll deliver it later."

So, we went to the tailor's.

I didn't realize it would take so much time to make a single piece of clothing... it's quite a challenge.

"Wow... what a cute child."

At the tailor's, a girl with a headscarf and glasses was working as a clerk.

She gave a slightly plain impression. How should I put it... in my world, she would be the type who writes doujinshi and has a slightly above average appearance.

"Her wings make her look like an angel. There are demi-humans who look similar... but this one is more refined."

"Is that so?"

When I asked the old man, he shrugged.

"Demi-humans with wings have bird-like features on their hands, feet, and other parts. But this child only has wings, which is quite remarkable."

"Hmm?"

Firo tilted her head and looked up at the girl from the tailor's.

"Ah, this one is a monster. She can change into a human. Her true form would tear normal clothes."

"Wow... so the request is to make clothes that can transform with magic power. That's interesting."

Her glasses seemed to sparkle.

This girl would definitely be considered a geek in my world.

I have a similar acquaintance who sells at doujinshi markets, so it feels nostalgic.

Of course, I often went to the events with a free pass from her, so she's a familiar type.

Wow... in this different world, she does this kind of job.

"Since the material is good, a simple dress might be nice. And if there's an accent that won't be affected by the transformation, it would be perfect!"

"Huh? Ah, huh?"

The girl measured Firo, who was wearing a cloak, with a tape measure and started designing something.

"I want to see her true form when she transforms!"

Firo looked at me with a troubled expression. Yeah, I feel the same way, being influenced by the atmosphere.

"It's a bit tight here."

The ceiling of the tailor's shop was less than 2 meters high, so Firo's head would hit the ceiling if she changed back.

"Sit down and change?"

"Sure, that's fine."

Firo changed back to her monster form while being careful of the ceiling and looked at the girl from the tailor's.

"Wow... the contrast is a good accent!"

Firo's true form didn't faze the tailor... this tailor is skilled!

She must be the type who would get into doujinshi. I'm glad this is a different world.

"Then, a ribbon would be a good accent."

The tailor measured Firo's neck and started designing the clothes.

"Then I'll wait for the material to arrive!"

She answered excitedly.

"This one is a good craftsman."

"Sure."

That type of person, once they get fired up, will get obsessed. They will definitely finish the job.

"Well, it should be done by tomorrow."

"Fast. But how much will it cost in total?"

"Considering everything, I'll provide it to you at cost... about 100 silver coins..."

Gah... I can't even bear to look.

"Firo, do you understand? I've spent 400 silver coins on you. You need to work hard and pay me back."

"Okay!"

Does she really understand? I left the tailor's with Firo, who had changed back to human form.

Anyway, since most of the work is done, I'll meet up with Raphatalia, who is waiting at the town gate.

"Naofumi-sama, I've bought the ingredients as you asked."

"Firo cost 400 silver coins. Raphatalia was cheaper."

"Don't say it like I'm cheap."

Ha... this is the only way to go.

"Then, old man, bring the iron plate. Firo, go to the weapon shop and bring the cart."

"Okay!"

"Sure."

Firo went with the old man from the weapon shop and came back with the cart after a while.

...Why did she bring it in human form?

The cart contained an iron plate, as I had imagined.

"Alright, let's go out of the town and to the river in the grassland."

We arrived at the river.

I immediately placed the iron plate on a pile of stones, laid charcoal underneath, and started a fire.

"Raphatalia and old man, take care of the fire."

"Ah, okay..."

"Sure."

The old man from the weapon shop should be good at managing the fire.

"Firo?"

"You should keep an eye out for Balloons coming near."

"Okay!"

I don't want Firo to participate out of curiosity and ruin everything, so I gave her a different task