As expected of a bookstore of this scale, there were plenty of sections beyond just the magazines. So many books caught my eye that I ended up buying quite a haul. I felt like I should pick up any rare volumes while I could, since I didn't know when I’d be able to visit again.
That aside, books centered on maids were incredibly prominent. For example, the recipe section featured Cooking Techniques of a First-class Maid, while the tea corner had A Maid's Accomplishments: Black Tea Edition. I even spotted a volume titled Cleaning Techniques Taught by a Maid.
I could let those slide for now... actually, no, I probably shouldn't, but they were at least within the realm of the somewhat reasonable. However, when I found History of Maids in the history section, followed by a dictionary-thick problem set for a genre called "Maid Studies"—apparently for actual maid certification exams—and even Maid-style Body Maneuvering and Combat Arts Suited for a Maid Outfit in the martial arts section, I could only stare at the shelves with an indescribable look on my face.
Why did every single genre need a sub-category specifically for maids? The Maid World was terrifying; it was a total den of madness.
I felt as if my common sense was being slowly eroded by all this... No, wait. I had officially moved to this world. That meant the standards here were going to become my new reality. The thought made me feel incredibly uneasy.
For now, I'd just have to ignore this "maid culture" as best I could. Lilia-san was fairly ignorant of the subject, so as long as I didn't go looking for it, I should be able to avoid it. The problem, however, was that the Maid World seemed determined to hunt me down at every opportunity... and that was mostly Ein-san's fault.
Sighing, I stepped out of the store and tucked my purchases into my Magic Box. It wasn't just this specific shop; using a Magic Box inside was generally forbidden as an anti-theft measure. There were exceptions, of course—if you bought a massive amount of merchandise, you could tell the clerk at the register that you intended to use one, but otherwise, you weren't supposed to take it out.
"Three o'clock..."
I checked the time and mumbled to myself. I still had time to kill, and since I was in the capital of the Arclesia Empire... maybe I should stop by a Monster Pet Supplies Shop?
Arclesia was famous for its monster racing, so it had a higher concentration of monster owners than other nations, meaning its specialty stores were top-tier. I made sure to provide only the best for Bell and Rin, but just like those specialized brushes from the Victor Trading Company, there were always new products I hadn't seen. Visiting pet supply shops was actually quite fun because you could find unexpected gadgets or interesting new arrivals.
I'd recently picked up a moisturizing cream for the paw pads of beast-type pets. Bell had pads, and he absolutely loved it when I applied it; he begged for it all the time. Actually, in his case, it wasn't really about the cream. He just seemed to think that me rubbing his feet meant we were playing. To him, the cream was just a toy, like a ball or a frisbee would be for a dog. Consequently, even though he asked for it, he wouldn't stop frolicking and squirming once I actually started. It always turned into a wrestling match, which made it difficult to apply the cream properly... but he was cute, so I didn't mind.
I'd been to the pet shop a few times, so I knew the way. After a short walk, I entered a street lined with luxury storefronts. Keeping a monster as a pet was an expensive hobby, so specialty shops were usually found in the high-end districts frequented by the nobility. Arclesia's nobility held significant sway, and it felt like their luxury quarters were even more extravagant than those in the Kingdom of Sinfonia... Hm?
I was idly browsing the windows as I walked when I spotted a familiar face. It was Marie-san. She was pacing back and forth in front of an upscale boutique, looking incredibly hesitant to step inside. I didn't know why Marie-san was in the capital, but it looked like she had come to buy clothes only to be paralyzed by the high-end store aura. Since I'd run into her, I decided to go over and say hello.
Serious-senpai: "So Marie's alone without Baron Rich? Did something happen after the temple visit that sent the Baron elsewhere, leaving Marie with some pocket money to go clothes shopping? I guess we'll find out the details next time. That aside... she's been caught!"