225: You get distracted by anything new, huh?

We stepped through the transfer gate and arrived in the capital. Straight away, we set out on our quest to find the hidden village of mages!

Bidding farewell to the crew, we left the palace and headed down the main road to exit the city.

Man, this is definitely the capital. Crowds everywhere. Full of life. The number of shops? Unbelievable.

Even Goldendown’s not too shabby, but seeing the old, storied shops and the heavy, high-end stores—it hit me all over again just how epic this place is.

I figured my friends felt the same way, gazing at the capital like I was. But apparently, the capital’s magic was even stronger than I thought.

“Man, those clothes in the capital? So damn cool!”

“Never buy clothes normally… this is real capital magic.”

“Guess it’s the capital. All kinds of rare magical gear everywhere.”

Never seen so many weapons like this. Some of these look perfect for assassinations.

Jitarou, Eva, Nobuna, and Chiyome were caught on the capital’s main street.

I press my forehead.

"你们啊..."

"Craft-san! I know, but check this out! Isn't it super cool? Like, totally stylish and eye-catching, right!?"

Jitarou, excited, staring through glass at fancy clothes in a high-end shop.

Eva glances at Jitarou, briefly.

"Though I didn’t intend to share topics with Jitarou-san, the capital truly is unmatched. Cutting-edge designs, all here..."

Eva. I thought you were the type who preferred old-school mage aesthetics.

Sensing my mental jab, Eva looks slightly annoyed.

Work clothes and everyday clothes are different. Besides, if you wear a garment made from the reinforced thread Craft forged, you won’t be able to use any other adventuring gear.

"Got a whole bunch of seaserpent scales—raw material for reinforced thread—when we traded with the Mizoho Shrine Nation."

Leifan, like the others, glanced up from peeking into a fancy shop in the capital.

A half-elf, a versatile little girl (??) who can do anything from blacksmithing to manufacturing.

...Hey, Craft. Didn’t you just think of something rude for a second?

I feel my mind being read—my insides twist—but I don’t let it show. I change the subject.

Why’s it been so easy for my thoughts to slip out lately?

Why did Leifan remake the sisters' clothes using the same design as before?

"Because that's what was asked for. The design fits the fighting style, so I didn’t really want to change it."

"Ah, I see."

"Ah, but the performance? It’s leagues better! Seriously."

Eva smiles at Leifan.

"Light and flexible, yet tough as iron. Once you’ve used it, you’ll never go back. Is it really okay getting something this good for free?"

"Got the funds from the kingdom, so no problem!"

"Material costs aren’t that high, though."

Eva glances at the storefront selling adventurer gear. There, a reinforced adventurer’s cloak made from tough thread hangs on display.

"...Expensive."

"Very expensive."

"Eyes pop out of your head."

"Of course it’s worth it. It’s made by Master and Lord Leifan, after all."

Leifan chuckles.

"Ah, well, you know—transport, overhead, stuff like that…"

I tilted my head.

"Back before transfer gates existed, that might’ve made sense. But a merchant of the capital’s main street, running a shop like that? Doesn’t sound like someone who’d skimp on transfer gate fees."

The maid Ryuuko gave a polite bow in reply.

"Forgive the presumption, but currently, only Master and a few of Javil’s disciples can craft reinforced thread. Seems like it’s just that rare."

I nodded. That made sense.

"Ah, right—reinforced thread was never handed out outside the family, wasn’t it? Professor, should we publish this too? Like a paper or something?"

Javil paused, thinking.

"Right now, alchemy requires ridiculous amounts of magic power. Until we figure out a way to make it easier using supplementary materials—that’s when it’ll matter. For now, just keep it among friends."

The master can craft reinforced thread, but he’s not gonna become a craftsman alchemist just to mass-produce it. So I developed a recipe the craft alchemists can use—let them handle the production.

“Then why’s it being sold here?”

Leifan answers my question.

“I made reinforced fabric for my companions’ clothes on this journey. I didn’t know how much I’d need, so I made a whole batch at once. The leftover reinforced fabric I put up for sale—this is it.”

“Huh. Still, seems kind of expensive, don’t you think?”

“Expected it’d be pricey, but this is way beyond expectations. Heh.”

“Probably the commercial guild’s doing.”

“Maybe they’re trying to spite us?”

The feud between the production and commercial guilds might come up later—but for now, just remember they’re not exactly on good terms.

The teacher was just about to wrap things up.

“Nobody’s really suffering from it. Good things cost more. That’s all there is to it.”

Is that how it is?

If the teacher says so, I guess it must be. I’ll just leave it be.

“Now then, someone go drag Marilyn and Camille out of that shop. And the same for Maina, lost in her street performance, and Persia, watching her like a proud mother.”

And so we set off on our journey!

...Gotta be kidding me!

◆

I didn’t know it, but the Jasper sisters were having a conversation like this.

“Sis, sis. I snuck this one out.”

Evie frowned at the flowing dress Camille pulled out.

“What’s wrong? It’s really cute. You’re getting to that age, Camille?”

“No. This one’s for you.”

“Huh!?”

“I’ve been eyeing it the whole time.”

“You noticed, huh? … Should I say thanks properly, then?”

“No.”

“Huh? Oh. So it’s not about giving you a present, but actually paying for it, right?”

Eva reaches for her purse, but Camille stops her with a hand.

“No.”

Eva tilts her head, puzzled.

“What do you mean? We’ve been earning lately, so this kind of luxury shouldn’t be a problem.”

“No. You should start realizing it yourself, sister.”

“Realizing…? Ah. You mean I should start paying attention to fashion a little more.”

Eva wasn’t exactly uninterested in fashion. It was just that she’d never had the money to waste on luxuries before, and since they weren’t settled anywhere, she didn’t want to carry extra baggage.

But Camille wasn’t talking about that.

“No. Craft.”

“…?”

“When Craft was on the verge of dying, you lost it, sister.”

“Huh? Well, of course. He was a colleague, dying right in front of us…”

“You didn’t even notice Kyle-sama collapsing.”

“T-that’s….”

“It’s time you admitted it. You like Craft.”

Evie flinched like she’d been struck.

“W-what?! Why would I care about some clumsy idiot like that!?”

“You don’t realize. When it’s just us sisters, you’re always talking about how you two went on dates.”

“That was just about how the idiot might like me…”

“You always sounded happy when you talked about him, even when complaining.”

“……”

“Lots of people are after Craft. Full of rivals. You won’t win if you don’t wake up.”

“I—I only have eyes for Raidock-sama…”

“Sister… are you sure you won’t regret it?”

“……”

Eva wasn’t sure what she felt, but she figured she’d try taking a small step forward anyway, just to see.

Adventure Seeker: Fired! — Now on sale!

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