"Looks like it's time for another round."
"Don't count on the next one being so easy. Stay sharp."
Or at least, that was the way I used to think.
We repeated boss battles on the 45th floor until breakfast.
The combat passed without a hint of danger.
All thanks to Miria’s power as an Assassin.
Had her skill improved?
I mean, it had always been impressive, but still.
It didn't feel quite this overwhelming before.
How did it used to be?
I was starting to lose confidence in my own memory.
That was how incredible she was.
Miria was petrifying monsters and finishing them off with relentless efficiency.
"I did it, desu."
"Miria finished it again. Amazing. You're a good girl."
"Yes, desu."
"Yes. Thanks to Master and Miria, the boss battles on the 45th floor were a breeze."
Thanks to that, the one person I really shouldn't have been encouraging was now feeling quite emboldened.
"The combat time has increased starting with the bosses here," Sherry noted.
Ah.
I see.
It was exactly as Sherry said.
Because the bosses from the 45th floor were a step stronger, the duration of the fights had extended. Since we were fighting for longer, the opportunities for petrification increased. Consequently, the number of monsters Miria petrified went up. Miria was the star of the show. That was the logic.
In all likelihood, if you divided the successes by the time spent fighting, the number of petrifications per unit of combat time hadn't actually changed much. It wasn't that she had suddenly leveled up her technique or become overwhelmingly better.
It was simply that the number of enemies we killed normally before she could petrify them had decreased, and the number of fights ending in petrification had increased.
Her kill-count stars were just accumulating faster.
So that was it.
Up until now, we had just been killing the monsters before Miria had the chance to turn them to stone.
Miria had been a massive help all along, but we hadn't even seen her true potential yet.
Conversely, from Miria's perspective, the enemies might have been somewhat unsatisfying until now.
Perhaps she wasn't just blindly agreeing with Roxanne's push for progress.
The Labyrinth had finally caught up to Miria's abilities.
Everything up to this point had been child's play for her.
"Well, let's keep going without letting our guard down."
"Yes. Combat is not a game, after all."
The person who treated the Labyrinth like a playground was certainly talking a big game.
"That's right. Let's stay focused."
"Yes, desu."
As I thought, Miria isn't thinking about anything at all.
Well, it can't be helped.
"Is it almost time for a meal?" Roxanne asked.
"Oh. Is it already?"
At that point, Roxanne called a halt.
Was it that time already?
That was perfect.
"Indeed, it is a negative to interrupt things just as one is getting into the swing of things and thinking 'it's time for the real deal.' I understand Master's concerns well. It may have been a bad idea to start at such an awkward time. It seems it was a lack of awareness on my part."
As usual, what on earth was Roxanne talking about?
Getting into the swing of things?
We'd done plenty.
We'd done more than enough.
If anything, we'd overdone it.
"No. To accomplish things, you also need time to let them settle and ferment. Stopping now might actually have been for the best."
"I see. The mindset of 'always on the battlefield,' then."
What are you talking about?
No. I won't call her out on it.
I definitely won't point it out.
I steeled my heart, exercised self-restraint, and switched gears to breakfast.
Once we stepped out of the Labyrinth, Roxanne returned to being an ordinary girl.
In fact, she was an overwhelming beauty.
Mhm.
Wonderful.
And of course, once we left the Labyrinth, it was necessary to remove Rutina's equipment.
Even if we were "always on the battlefield," one's spirit can't rest if they're always in harness.
Removing it as appropriate was vital.
For my sake.
And for Rutina's.
You could call it a win-win relationship.
After finishing breakfast, we warped to the Imperial Capital.
"Hmm. But for the stockings, wouldn't it be better to have a few spares?"
I floated the suggestion while we walked toward the shop.
I wasn't trying to stall for time at this stage.
I wasn't planning to grind the 44th-floor boss forever.
I wasn't thinking, "Let's wait until the Hero or Priest reaches their advanced jobs."
Even I knew that was asking too much.
It was a genuine question.
Crafting the stockings required three Mithril Threads per pair. For five people, that was fifteen.
We would use our entire stock this time.
"There is no problem," Roxanne said, shutting me down bluntly.
"You say spares, but what kind of situation are you imagining?"
Sherry, thank you for asking.
They're stockings—they could tear, they could get lost, all sorts of things.
"Like a run in the fabric..."
"Hmm. I don't really understand."
Apparently, Sherry didn't get it.
Well, it's not like I really understood them myself.
I'd lived a life with absolutely zero connection to runs in stockings.
My bad.
"I-I see."
"In any case, I think it's something we can think about once we've actually obtained them."
"That's true. Also... what about price increases?"
Unforeseen circumstances. They happen, don't they?
"Since we were told they are necessary as raw materials, I don't think the quantity required will increase."
This girl and her cold, hard logic.
It was Sherry, so it couldn't be helped.
"U-Umu."
"Well, I expect the processing fee is separate, though."
"I see, certainly. A hike on that side isn't impossible. Also, what if it's actually three per leg, meaning six for a pair?"
"No matter what situation arises, shouldn't we just try going there once? If the need arises, we can always return to the 44th floor for more boss battles."
I was being cut down left and right by Sherry's rational observations.
Whose side are you on?
I really wanted her to be the one to put the brakes on Roxanne's rampage.
Well, I guess this was the limit.
I'd put up a good fight.
"You're right."
"It should be this way."
Sherry guided us from the Imperial Capital Adventurer Guild.
She was the one who had studied the archive materials in depth, after all.
Even the incredible Roxanne wasn't familiar with the geography of the Imperial Capital.
She isn't, right?
"Uh, is it here?"
"...Yes. According to the map in the documents."
We arrived at an ordinary building.
It wasn't a storefront or anything of the sort.
It looked like a regular residence. Or at best, a plain building that might serve as a warehouse or a workshop, devoid of any decoration.
It was more of a workspace than a factory.
According to the files at Obaba-sama's place, this was it.
Well, where else would I have learned about it?
Roxanne had also seen those files.
As expected, she couldn't distinguish the landmarks on the capital's map.
Even though she could navigate the Labyrinth effortlessly with information as vague as "go deep and turn right."
"Well, I guess we just have to go in."
"I suppose so."
There wasn't even a sign.
Nothing would happen unless we went inside.
The door wasn't left open; we entered through an ordinary entrance.
Inside was a cluttered warehouse.
It wasn't cramped, but things were piled haphazardly. It was just a storage room. It didn't look particularly dirty, but it had a certain dusty atmosphere.
There was no reception desk.
It was even less of a store.
Not a trace of one.
"Who...? Oh, no. Welcome."
The woman who appeared was about to sharply ask "Who goes there?" but her attitude shifted mid-sentence.
She was looking at someone other than me.
Ah. It was Rutina.
I see.
Having stockings made through a clan introduction was definitely the right move.
I looked at Rutina and stepped aside.
It would be best to leave this to her.
"Eh? ...Ah, um."
"Are you a member of Lady Cassandra's clan?"
"Y-Yes."
Rutina was flustered by the responsibility, but the woman handled the rest herself.
As expected, Rutina was the right choice.
"Do you have proof?"
"..."
"Here."
I handed Rutina the Wappen I'd received from Obaba-sama.
"Yes. I have confirmed it. Thank you. Are you ordering stockings today? Or is there something else?"
The woman accepted it with just a glance.
Was it fine without a closer look?
Could she really tell at a glance?
Maybe there was some hidden magical element to it.
I haven't heard of anything like that.
Well, there was also the question of what she would even find if she scrutinized it meticulously.
She probably wouldn't know either.
Alternatively, things like noble emblems might be trusted under the assumption that they aren't forged. If you did a poor job of it, the consequences would be dire.
You might be hunted to the ends of the earth.
That Obaba-sama would certainly follow through on that.
Of course she would.
In this world, the responsibility could extend to your entire family. The punishment would reach nine generations of kin.
People didn't take forging lightly.
So, as long as it looked mostly correct, was it fine?
"...Stockings," I said, since Rutina was still silent.
It's not like Rutina specifically asked for them, though.
"Yes. What color would you like?"
"There are choices?"
"The common black, plus white and light crimson. Black is elegant and makes the legs look slim, but white would also suit these young ladies."
So there were colors.
"If it's the common choice, is black fine?" I asked Roxanne and the others.
"Yes. I'll leave it to you."
"Then black, please."
Since Roxanne said black was fine, I went with that.
"The raw materials will be three Mithril Threads per person upfront, and the payment will be one thousand Nahl upon completion."
"I'll order for the five women here."
"Understood."
Surprisingly, there was no price hike.
It might be one thousand Nahl because of a price hike, but I didn't care.
Setting aside the question of whether a mere pair of stockings was actually worth a thousand Nahl.
I handed over the fifteen Mithril Threads.
"Here you go."
"I have received them. They will be ready starting tomorrow."
"That's fast."
"They are delicate items, but we have skilled craftsmen. With their talent, there will be no problem. I guarantee a satisfactory finish."
Maybe they're not that big a deal.
Or maybe they just have stock ready and will bring those out.
Holding them for a day might just be for show.
Exclusivity marketing.
Wait, what about the measurements?
"Will you measure them?"
"No. Since they are secured with laces and belts, common sizes won't be an issue."
"I see."
Just as I thought, they probably have stock.
Hand them over right now!
"For that lady, we will prepare the slim fit, and for that lady, we will provide the tall size," she added, pointing to Sherry and Vesta respectively.
Sherry was small and Vesta was large, after all.
So those two would be custom-ordered?
"Understood. Tomorrow, then."
"Yes."
Even so, given that the delivery time didn't change, were they making them all from scratch?
If common sizes were in stock but only two were custom, it would still be a lot of work.
It would be strange if the common size took one day but the small size took ten.
Since she claimed even the common sizes were made to order, she couldn't change the delivery time.
The craftsmen must be working through the night.
A total black company.
"Alright. Now that our business is done, shall we head to the new Labyrinth?"
"Yes. I'm looking forward to it."
"I don't expect any trouble, but let's be cautious at first."
"There is no way there could be a problem."
No, wait. Isn't our party the real black company?
"Impossible" is just a word used by liars. We fight until the monsters are dead.
We're the sweatshop here.
If it were Roxanne, she'd probably start saying something like, "The battle only ends once every monster is annihilated."
"Well, I suppose the 45th-floor boss battles are enough for now."
The only saving grace was that we didn't have to repeat the 45th-floor boss.
Even I felt like we'd had enough of that floor, so the new Labyrinth was a welcome change.
Or rather, at the point where we had to enter a Labyrinth anyway, we were quite a "black" group, regardless of Roxanne.
I'm forcing them into the Labyrinth where they face death daily.
I haven't reflected on that enough.
Well, to make a living in this world, there was no other way.
It only becomes impossible because you quit halfway.
"Impossible" is a word for liars.
"Yes. We can definitely handle the 46th floor."
Thanks to that, Roxanne-sensei was more motivated than ever.
But that was just it.
Even if I worried about Miria failing to petrify things, there wasn't any real danger on the 45th floor anymore. On the 46th, or even a bit higher, we'd probably manage.
Miria would likely continue to be the MVP anyway.
If her petrification stopped working, we could worry about it then.
"Well, yeah."
"Whether it's the 47th floor or the 48th, we can keep going like this."
However, jumping ahead isn't ideal.
We should follow the sequence.
Slowly.
Steadily.
Well, taking Miria's performance into account, it wasn't impossible.
"I had considered that the boss battles from the 45th floor might become more difficult, but that wasn't the case. I think we should proceed," Sherry said.
Even Sherry was voicing an intimidating opinion.
She was likely making a cold assessment of the facts.
Wasn't that just going to fire up Roxanne-sensei even more?
"That's right, isn't it?"
See? Exactly.
"Well, the reason they didn't get difficult was thanks to the solid training we did on the 44th floor."
Umu.
Sherry is indeed rational.
She understands perfectly.
"Will do, desu."
"I think it'll be fine."
I had no expectations for those two to offer any resistance.
"For the Council of Lords, I believe it is a good strategy to move forward and get closer to clearing the Labyrinth. I also have no problem with it."
Even Rutina was in the mood to proceed?
Well, it couldn't be helped.
"Umu. Let's go then."
"Yes."
When I opened the Warp magic wall to move, Roxanne dove in before anyone else.
She's way too eager.
"...Everyone else, let's go."
"Understood."
I followed after them with a short delay.
We emerged inside the new Labyrinth.
It's quite a distance away.
It didn't drain a massive chunk, but I could feel my MP had decreased significantly.
At this rate, we'll need to stop by the Quratar Labyrinth on the way back to replenish my MP.
"What's wrong?"
"I'm sorry. On the way to this Labyrinth, I had always been the first to dive in."
Roxanne, who had jumped in with maximum motivation, was standing there somewhat frozen. When I asked her, that was the answer.
So that was why she dove in?
Come to think of it, when we were guided here by the other adventurers, we were using Field Walk, so Roxanne had been plunging in first to guard against monsters.
Because Field Walk moves back and forth over the surface, monsters are often lurking near the Labyrinth entrance.
As a countermeasure, Roxanne had always charged in first.
In contrast, we used Warp this time.
Warp allows us to move directly inside.
On the surface, you can see far and wide, so in places where people don't go, there's always a monster somewhere. But inside the narrow, twisting Labyrinth, they're harder to find.
While not impossible, we've never warped directly onto a monster and been ambushed.
To think the Labyrinth, a literal den of monsters, is actually the place where it's harder to be ambushed by them.
"Ah. So that was it."
"I had forgotten that we could warp directly inside."
"That aside, can I ask you to guide us?"
"I understand."
In any case, we relied on Roxanne's guidance.
We had to move according to her directions.
Since there's no map or strategy guide for this Labyrinth, it'll be fine. I'm not sure what will be fine, but it'll be fine. I want to believe it.
We explored with Roxanne leading the way.
No matter how skilled she was, without information, exploration had to be done the hard way.
Steadily.
One step at a time.
Earn it with your feet.
That was the "detective's spirit."
Footwork is the basis of any investigation.
Though she seemed to be occasionally charging into large groups of monsters on purpose.
I'll allow it.
We weren't going to fall behind against regular enemies on the 46th floor.
Even after exploring until evening, we couldn't find the Boss Room.
Good.
That's a relief.
If she had managed to climb a floor a day even here, I would have lost my mind.
It's best not to push me too far.
Not that anything would actually happen if she did.
As expected, even for a new Labyrinth, it wasn't going to be a ridiculous pace of one floor a day. Based on today's progress, it should be fine.
In fact, the next morning passed without any issues as well.
In a good mood, I went to the shop in the Imperial Capital.
It was still questionable whether it qualified as a shop.
"Ah, welcome. They're ready."
Nevertheless, the woman from yesterday was there and helped us immediately.
The place was still bleak, and her service was perfunctory. It was definitely more of a warehouse than a storefront.
Well, asking for polite service might be expecting too much.
They probably didn't have the "customer is god" mentality. Japan is the outlier; in this world, this was the standard.
So it was just like this.
"Please."
"Yes. Here they are. Please try them on when you get home. If they don't fit, we will exchange them for a different size if you come back today or tomorrow."
"I see."
The woman handed bags to Roxanne and the others.
Somewhat bluntly. Curtly.
Despite her attitude, they were neatly bagged.
The stockings must be inside.
They were even carefully packaged.
Plus, they offered size exchanges even though we couldn't do a fitting there.
Being in the Imperial Capital and serving Obaba-sama's clan, maybe it really was a hidden high-end boutique?
Even if she was unfriendly.
Even if the place was a warehouse.
Even if it was doubtful it was even a store.
"That will be five thousand Nahl."
Even if the clerk wasn't a merchant, so no discount skills applied.
Well, that couldn't be helped.
Everyone received their pairs, so I paid the money and we left.
"We need to try them on. Let's head home first."
"Yes."
We returned home from the warehouse.
"What are they like?"
"Um. Well then, we'll go change."
When I thought I'd get to see them right then, everyone except me retreated to the next room.
Trying to act all coy.
They could have just changed right here.
It would be just right if they didn't care and started undressing in front of me.
Wait, would that be a bit strange?
I wonder.
Modesty isn't a bad thing, I suppose.
"Then, Rutina, shall we take off your equipment first?"
"Y-Yes."
Rutina, in particular, lets out a bashful, muffled sound every time she puts on or takes off her gear.
It's irresistible.
"There, there."
"Nnh..."
This is it. This is the one.
I removed the equipment and sent Rutina off as well.
"Ooh."
After waiting a while, they returned.
They had also changed into the camisoles they used for sleeping.
And on their legs were black stockings...
Ooh.
They weren't socks; they were true stockings.
Sensual.
A smooth, translucent black fabric covered them all the way up to their upper thighs.
Ooh.
Wonderful.
This translucency.
Wonderful.
This silkiness.
Wonderful.
This texture.
Wonderful.
Black stockings.
Wonderful.
My vocabulary had completely abandoned me.
Wonderful.
Wonderful.
Wonder-full.
"How are they?"
How?
Wonderful.
Wonderful.
Splendid.
Just look at those legs.
"Umu. I have only one word: wonderful."
It boiled down to that.
"Thank you very much."
I'm the one who should be saying thank you.
Now, if I set my job to Sex Fiend...
"Alright. Well then, shall we head back to the Labyrinth?" I declared after a few moments to compose myself.
"Yes. Let's go."
"Oh. Before that."
"Yes?"
I needed to divert Roxanne-sensei's motivation.
"They mentioned there were other colors for the... stockings, right?"
"White and light crimson, I believe," Sherry answered.
"White sounds good. Light crimson sounds good, too."
I wonder.
I'm even doubting myself as I say it.
I feel like black is probably the superior choice.
Nonetheless, I had to make this move.
Other colors besides black would surely be enticing in their own right.
They were bound to be.
Light crimson stockings under the mystical glow of candles after sunset.
I can't take it.
"Is that so?"
"After all, we should return to the 44th floor in Quratar for more boss battles. No, not exclusively—but perhaps we could proceed in parallel?"
I felt Roxanne's expression shift for a split second, so I hurriedly made the suggestion.
Maybe it was just my paranoia.
But I couldn't just let things proceed as rapidly as she wanted.
"You're right. I think it's fine if we drop by once in a while."
Not once in a while—I wanted to make it the primary focus.
Quratar's 44th floor as the main activity, and the new 46th floor as the side quest.
Well, even if it was only a portion, once I got her to agree, the rest would follow.
Just a little bit.
Just the tip.
"Then, right away."
First, we went to the Quratar Labyrinth.
We cycled through boss battles until a Mithril Thread dropped.
It felt good.
No, we could have cycled through more.
"A Mithril Thread. Shall we move on?" Sherry asked.
If even Sherry was saying it, I had to yield.
If only Mithril Thread was harder to find.
Well, that would also be a pain.
If it didn't drop at all, I might not be allowed to farm it.
So, in a way, the drop rate was actually just right.
If you get too greedy, things fall apart.
I should be satisfied with the current balance.
If only it had dropped a bit sooner, I could have argued for staying until a second one fell.
Well, it can't be helped.
We can just drop by on the way back, too.
If we did boss cycles on the 44th floor every time we took a break, it was no longer an exaggeration to say that Quratar was the main focus.
As expected, Quratar was the priority.
In the evening, we returned home while making another detour to the 44th floor.
After returning, finishing dinner, and the bath, I began the true inspection of the stockings.
"Now, put them on."
"Um... we already tried them on during the day."
"It's fine. No problem."
That was just a taste.
The full-scale operation starts now.
Let's see. Let's see the performance of these legendary stockings.
After fully enjoying their performance, the next day we started by challenging Quratar's 44th floor again.
"Um... this is Quratar's 44th floor, right?"
"Umu."
Roxanne looked at me with suspicion, but I held firm: Quratar's 44th was the primary, the new place was secondary.
"Since the material is Mithril Thread, I don't think they'll tear that easily."
Even Sherry was looking at me skeptically for my obsession with the 44th floor.
I'm not specifically looking to do "tearing play," you know.
Tearing play...
Wait, is that the greatest thing ever?
"Is that so?"
Well, they are black stockings.
Runs seem like they could happen instantly.
"Yes."
I'm not specifically looking to do that.
I'm not, but if a run did happen, it might be good to use them that way.
You should treasure things and use them to the very end.
That's a proper "memorial service."
"Well, I'm not gathering them just for spares."
It's true.
It really is.
I'm not thinking about what happens if they tear.
I'm not—but if it comes to the point where they can't be used normally anymore, it's only human nature to let them have one last hurrah.
I want to use things with care.
I want to use them gently.
I want to use them until the final moment.
I want to use them until the very end.
Instead of just throwing them away, I should try to make effective use of them.
Torn stockings have their own special charm.
And then, doing as I please with them...
Umu.
That's also good.
I can't take it.
Knowing that doing this will lead to such a result, my Yamato Spirit leaves me no choice.
"I see."
"There are other colors, too."
"That's true. If it's to Master's liking, I think we should gather them even more actively."
Ooh.
As expected of Roxanne.
Yes.
That's it.
It's to my liking, so it can't be helped.
It really can't be helped.
No matter what kind of play it is, bring it on.
Even if my body rots in the fields of another world, my Yamato Spirit shall remain.
"You're right. Let's gather them actively."
With Roxanne's approval, we fought in both Labyrinths.
Of course, Quratar's 44th was the primary, and the Island Labyrinth was secondary.
In spirit, at least.
It wasn't like I was doing nothing but boss battles on the 44th.
When someone agrees with you, you actually become calmer, don't you?
We also had to explore the Island Labyrinth.
In terms of experience, the 46th floor was more advantageous anyway.
Wait, was the 44th better because we were cycling bosses?
I don't know.
Since monsters from the 45th and up were a step stronger, maybe the 46th was better. The difference was marginal. However, considering we'd be going up later, the Island Labyrinth was better for its future potential.
We couldn't neglect the battles here, either.
It's fine to climb floors.
As long as we didn't do something insane like a floor a day.
In that regard, if we repeatedly sandwiched in boss battles on the 44th, the pace wouldn't reach one floor a day.
We should go through the 44th on the way there and back.
I broke through the 46th floor before finishing the collection of Mithril Threads, but that couldn't be helped.
Just a little bit.
As long as I haven't accidentally broken through the 47th, too, it was acceptable.
Since I wasn't stuck on the 44th all day long, Mithril Threads didn't accumulate that quickly. Sometimes they just didn't drop at all.
We could gather them slowly and climb the new Labyrinth slowly.
Finally, before reaching the 48th floor, I finished gathering the Mithril Threads.
This was enough.
"Ah. There are some left over."
"Oops. There are Mithril Threads left. That means we've gathered enough for another color."
"That's right."
However, even though I said we gathered them, it was only enough for one color.
It would be nice to have another.
There were three colors in total.
Naturally, we would gather enough for the third color as well.
Looks like we might reach the 48th floor after all.
"Let's go to the Imperial Capital tomorrow."
"Couldn't we just bring them to the shop right now?"
Sherry, that kind of impatience is no good.
If we bring them in now, the craftsmen might have to work through the night.
The customer's selfishness creates black companies.
"Well, tomorrow morning is fine, isn't it?"
"I see."
If I bring in work late and force an all-nighter, the craftsmen will resent me, and they might cut corners.
Nothing good comes of it.
Handing over work on Friday evening and ordering it done by Monday morning is the mark of a black boss.
It brings a tear to the eye.
If I bring them in first thing in the morning, they might finish within the day with room to spare. If they still need overtime then, the company's system is already broken.
It's not a problem for a single consumer to solve.
"When two more Mithril Threads drop, let's head to the Imperial Capital."
"Two more?"
"Umu. It's a nice, round number."
And so, I held out until the next morning.
I stalled and stalled.
I dragged it out even more and wasted time.
"I did it, desu."
"Oh. It finally dropped. Now we can go to the shop."
It's hollow that this was my only resistance against the Attack on Roxanne.
But humanity has no other way to deal with it than to build walls and protect ourselves.
It is a sad fate.
"Yes. That's right."
You look happy, Roxanne.
Don't go thinking we're going to devote ourselves entirely to the new Labyrinth now.
There's still one more color.
"What should we do about the color? Which one should we order first?"
I'll remind her of that.
"Ah—you're right."
"Was it white and light crimson?"
"That was it," I answered Sherry.
If only there were more colors.
Then I could stay cooped up on the 44th floor indefinitely.
Indefinitely. Eternally.
Apparently, confusing those two has been popular lately.
It's fine if I say "eternally," too.
Actually, that's probably no good.
If only there were many more colors.
Since dyeing technology probably hasn't developed much, it can't be helped.
I've heard that in the old days, purple dye was so precious that only royalty could wear it.
Having three colors is already quite a feat.
"Since you gathered them for Master's sake, I think it would be best if Master decided."
Ooh.
Roxanne, were you happy that we finished gathering them for my sake?
I had misunderstood her.
I really had.
"I see. Well, since we're going to gather them all eventually, either color is fine, but..."
"Yes. Let's finish gathering them quickly and challenge the new Labyrinth with all our might."
So that's the main focus after all!
Damn it.
I fell for it.
With no other choice, we flew to the Imperial Capital.
At this point, it was a shopping spree.
Binge buying.
Though it was just stockings.
"Welcome. You're back so soon. How were the items?"
When we went inside, she helped us immediately.
Since it hadn't been long, she might have thought we came to file a complaint.
That's also fine.
"Yes. They were excellent."
Roxanne praised them immediately, though.
"Umu. That's why we're here. We're thinking of buying a different color for everyone."
"Last time you bought black. We also have white and light crimson."
"White will be fine."
I placed the order while jumping on the momentum.
"Yes. Thank you. Are you in a hurry?"
"As soon as possible."
"Understood. Since we have our full team of skilled craftsmen, I can have them ready by tomorrow morning."
As I thought, they'll have them ready in one day.
It sounds grueling.
But I will show no mercy.
Since they said they could do it, I'll have them do it.
The craftsmen might work through the night, but that's also fine.
"Also, I want one more pair of the black ones as a spare. The standard size will do."
"Thank you. I will have that ready by tomorrow morning as well."
Maybe they have them in stock.
Good.
So no craftsmen were working through the night after all.
"I'm counting on you."
I went to pick them up a day later.
They were properly prepared.
Since the pairs for Sherry and Vesta were irregular, they might have rushed those, but the rest must have worked out.
"Yes. Here they are."
Everyone received theirs.
I took the spare pair and we left.
We went home first.
"By the way, Rutina. Is it bad to let these stockings be seen by outsiders?"
I tried asking Rutina.
They're apparently a masterpiece of Obaba-sama's clan, so I wondered about the rules.
It was possible they were a secret treasure forbidden to the public.
"As long as the manufacturing method and procurement route aren't revealed, I don't think you need to be that sensitive. Giving items like this as gifts is a noble's duty. If you were to secretly provide them to nobles hostile to Obaba-sama, something might be said. But honestly, I'd rather openly provide them to the enemies of that woman and Duke Harz."
"O-Oh."
"Well then, we'll go change."
After hearing Rutina's answer, Roxanne led everyone away.
Is it okay?
Is it really okay?
Well, it seems they don't really have the concept of confidentiality here.
So it should be fine.
Should I reconsider, though?
I was thinking of presenting stockings to the Emperor who loves being stepped on.
I'm sure he'd be delighted.
Being stepped on by a maid wearing those stockings.
He'd be in awe.
I don't really understand the Emperor's hobbies, though.
I can't even comprehend them.
It's not that I want to have it done to me.
It's true.
Roxanne might step on me gently, though.
No—she might look down on me as a pathetic adventurer who won't climb floors.
That's dangerous.
I should probably avoid it.
"You pig. Fine, I'll punish you. Whip, whip."
Sherry, for her part, would probably just glare with cold eyes.
"Is this what you like? Are you a pervert? You really are a pervert, aren't you?"
And yet, how would she look at me?
Mi... Miria, then.
Even so, if it's Miria.
If it's Miria, I'm sure she'd be gentle.
She might seriously ask, "What's so good about this?", though.
I'd probably get depressed if an airhead questioned me like that.
N-No. It's fine.
It's not time to panic yet.
Vesta... is big, so it's dangerous.
There's a chance she'd step right through me.
Best to steer clear.
But Rutina...
Yes, Rutina. If it's Rutina, there's a chance.
While saying, "Aren't you ashamed to do this in front of a former noble daughter?", she'd probably step on me lightly.
And then more stepping.
Ooh.
T-This is...