Episode 64: Magic Power is Amazing!

After that, I put on a fashion show for an audience of one, and now I was alone in the fitting room, hanging my head.

The sight of me sitting on the floor bare-chested and exhausted must have been quite comical.

If I shifted my gaze to the side, I could see my reflection in the mirror, which already looked pathetic…

My honor hung on a flimsy curtain separating the inside from the outside.

(So our ojou-sama really likes that kind of thing, huh…)

Thinking back to Eleanore earlier, I felt like I had seen an unexpected side of her.

It was true that she had been careful about her appearance since she was little.

But I thought that was just part of noble etiquette, and I had never seen Eleanore so excitedly devoted to coordinating outfits like this.

Well, it was rare for us to go out into town and go shopping like this, and naturally I had never been present for her changing clothes, so I suppose that makes sense.

(I guess there are still things I don’t know about her)

The time I had spent with her was long. As a childhood friend, as a butler, I had been by her side for years and thought I could understand even the parts she didn’t put into words. But even so, I didn’t know everything about Eleanore.

──Through this expedition, I need to get to know her better.

I stared into space, vaguely remembering in the corner of my mind the assignment that Kiril-sensei had repeatedly hammered into me.

Just then.

“Arcs!”

“Whoa!?”

Between being suddenly called by name and the thin ice wall protecting my honor being breached, I let out an odd yelp.

When I hurriedly turned my gaze that way, standing there was Eleanore with a somehow confident expression.

“W-wait, don’t just suddenly open it!?”

I reflexively curled up my body and turned my back to her in a posture like I was hugging myself.

It was rude as a butler, but I deserve praise for not shouting “Eleanore-san, you pervert!”

“Oh my, I apologize. I got a bit ahead of myself.”

She spoke as if she was reflecting on it, but her tone was light.

It had that particular vocal quality she has when her lips are curled up in a grin.

(She’s completely doing this on purpose…)

Just imagining her expression through my back made my stomach hurt.

I’m sure right now she’s smirking without any sign of remorse.

Where on earth did she learn such mischief?

She used to be more innocent than this—no, actually there might have been quite a bit of this kind of thing before.

I felt like holding my head, but realizing that staring at my naked body probably wasn’t her main objective, I urged her with my gaze to continue.

“As I thought, ready-made clothing can’t bring out Arcs’s charm to its fullest, so I’ve decided to have something tailored.”

Bring out my charm to its fullest… I’m not trying to make myself look good or stand out or anything.

At worst, even a thin poncho would be fine.

Though if I said that, she’d probably puff out her cheeks.

“Since I chose the design and materials, please look forward to it, okay?”

“Huh, by the way, don’t we need to take measurements?”

“…Yes, that’s not necessary.”

Eleanore said this while still wearing a beaming smile.

I see, they must be using magic for that part too.

In this world, there are countless unnamed spells that weren’t touched upon in the game.

There are ones that solve little everyday inconveniences and ones that dramatically improve the work efficiency of craftsmen.

For example, magic that instantly makes shaved ice, magic that arranges hair in perfect balance, and even magic that prevents sunburn… the list goes on and on.

I heard that this tailor also uses magic in their work.

By doing so, what would normally take several weeks or months for custom orders can apparently be done in just a few dozen minutes.

In that case, it wouldn’t be strange if magic exists that can measure body dimensions without even touching the body.

It’s not like my body measurements are known or anything.

Wow, magic really is amazing.

“Well then, please wait just a little longer.”

Saying that, Eleanore swiftly closed the curtain.

While seeing off the sound of her departing footsteps, I released my curled-up posture and looked at my body again.

…Wondering why she paused for a beat earlier.

***

“…How is this?”

Once again, I was in front of the mirror in new attire.

This time it was truly tailored clothing, the real deal fashion.

The fabric flowing lightly from my shoulders swayed with my movements.

The clothing designed to follow the body’s contours seemed plain at first glance, but the detailed tailoring was clearly painstaking work, giving off a modest yet noble feeling… or so it seemed.

Since I had only worn formal or plain clothes like butler uniforms and training clothes in this life, I couldn’t tell if this suited me or not.

Well, with this body’s face, anything would probably look decent enough.

“Arcs!”

Eleanore’s voice bounced.

She ran over with quick steps and spun around once on the spot while observing me thoroughly from head to toe.

“I knew it! My eye wasn’t wrong. It suits you very well.”

“I-is that so?”

“Yes! Arcs’s charm is perfect!”

Being given such a stamp of approval makes me embarrassed.

Well, since it was custom-ordered according to her wishes, it’s probably close to her ideal form.

“But this feels a bit breezy.”

I said while touching my neck.

This clothing is somewhat revealing.

I’m wearing an inner layer but it’s quite tight-fitting.

The neckline part also has a cape draped over the shoulders, but it’s loose, so my collarbone and that area are exposed.

For me who often wears tightly fitted clothes, it felt noticeably cool.

“…That’s not true at all. Rather, I think being this bold suits Arcs better, you know?”

Is that so…?

Maybe so?

I tilted my head, but well, if Eleanore, the person closest to me, says so, then it must be true. Yeah.

“Now, since we’ve also obtained new clothes, shall we try walking around town right away?”

Eleanore said this with a smile while extending her hand toward me.

…If she’s this happy, I guess it was worth coming here.

With the light feeling of the cape still on my shoulders, I was led by her and began walking through town again.