The place Sky-san led us to had the bustle of a street fair, but the stalls were different from the usual festival food stands. It was a district dedicated to handicrafts and art pieces.
Since the stalls in the Middle Level were managed by the Gods, I assumed everyone tending shop was a deity. It felt as though every god with a talent for craftsmanship had gathered in this one spot.
"This area features handicrafts and artworks created by the Gods. Many of these items are quite rare, and some even possess unique magical effects. I believe you will find it quite enjoyable. Since you all possess Magic Boxes, storage shouldn't be an issue; however, if you find yourselves running out of space, I can hold onto your purchases and have them delivered to your home at a later date. Please, enjoy your shopping without any reservations."
"T-They definitely look rare, but... I-I’m worried they might be really expensive..."
"Don't worry, Hina-chan, this area is perfectly fine. While there are certainly some high-priced items, most of the goods here were prepared specifically for general attendees, so they aren't overly extravagant. The luxury items are all concentrated in a different district."
As Hina-chan muttered her concerns, Sky-san offered a reassuring smile. I see, they had separated the districts for the general public and the wealthy. That certainly made it easier to shop.
And more than anything, the fact that she had chosen to lead us here after seeing our group made me realize just how much research Sky-san had actually done. While Lilia-san and I could easily afford the high-end district, most of our party—including my two juniors—would have found it hard to buy anything there. Her decision to pick a spot where everyone could join in was a wonderful gesture.
Both Lilia-san and I preferred it when everyone could have a good time together, so I was really starting to look forward to her guidance.
"...By the way, Sky-san, are there any shops you would recommend?"
"Let’s see."
In response to Aoi-chan’s question, Sky-san’s eyes flickered toward a different direction for a split second. I followed her gaze and saw a stall filled with adorable plushies and cute mugs. She quickly looked away, however, and pointed toward a different shop.
"The stalls in that area carry many small interior decorations at reasonable prices, making them easy to purchase. Most are modeled after flora unique to the God Realm, so they represent the atmosphere of our world quite well."
"Heh, there really is quite a variety, isn't there?"
Sky-san’s eyes had moved only for a heartbeat, so while I noticed because I happened to be looking at her, the others didn't seem to see it.
Could it be that Sky-san actually had a soft spot for cute, fancy things? Now that I thought about it, her map did have those adorable little drawings in it... But since she seemed determined to keep that side of her hidden, it was probably best not to mention it.
With those thoughts in mind, I browsed the interior decoration stalls with the others. Indeed, there were many items modeled after uniquely shaped flowers and trees, all possessing a somewhat mystical aura. They looked like they would provide a nice touch to any shelf back home.
It was purely by chance that I noticed her. Just as we were all getting caught up in the excitement, one figure slipped away from the group. She headed straight for the stall Sky-san had glanced at earlier and picked up a Cute Teddy Bear-like Plushie, a blissful smile on her face.
"...Are you planning on buying that, Luna-san?"
"!?!?"
When I approached and spoke to her, Luna-san, who was cradling the plushie, whirled around in a total panic.
"M-Miyama-sama!? W-Where did you come from!?"
"I just saw you sneakily moving away... I don't think you really need to be so secretive about it, though."
"N-No, it’s just... embarrassing..."
I remembered seeing quite a few plushies when I had visited Luna’s room before. For someone as composed as her, she really did have a soft spot for cute things.
While thinking that, I turned my gaze toward the plushie Luna-san was holding.
"That’s a cute design."
"Yes, I never expected to find it here..."
"Is it a famous plushie?"
"It was sold as a Hero Festival Limited item once before. I don't know who the creator was, but a God released a small number of them for sale. I wanted one so badly back then, but I was still an aspiring adventurer and didn't have the money to afford it."
"And it just happened to be for sale here. You were lucky."
"Yes. Whoever made this really understands... from the color palette to the texture, it is truly wonderful."
She really must love plushies. Watching Luna-san talk so happily made me feel warm inside. Then, as I watched Luna-san purchase the item, I casually shifted my gaze... and saw Sky-san looking up at the heavens, her face buried in both hands.
Her ears were bright red. Wait... could it be? Was that "God who made the plushie" actually Sky-san?
???: "Well, since Alice-chan is already the plushie-maker of the group, giving Sky the same hobby might be a bit redundant character-wise, don't you think!?"
Serious-senpai: "Hardly. Alice has zero taste and only makes Creepy-and-Annoying things. There's plenty of room for someone who actually makes cute things, wouldn't you say?"
???: "Huh?"
Serious-senpai: "...I-I mean, nothing! Never mind!"