Alice Tale in Phantasmagoria Chapter 60

I think, at this point, not having new equipment isn't good.
With an occupation like adventurer, there's obviously going to be battles like the one a few days ago, it would be best to put effort into considering every measure to keep the body safe.
There's no problem with my weapon.
That is to say that there's nothing that can provide even higher performance than the caster glove.
As such, what's important is, my armor, and also Ilya's weapon and armor.
For now should it be something like that?
I think it would also be good if Saira also had some armor, though I don't know what's available.

「Saira, would you come shopping with me today?」
「With Alice-san? Sure!」

On that note, come to think of it I haven't gone anywhere together with this child.

「Mu～～, des.h.i.+, you're leaving Rin behind and going somewhere again!」

My family's angel is outraged.

「I'll buy treats for you, so please be a good child.」

I poked her mochi like inflated cheeks.

「Really!?」
「Yes. Buying just the ingredients, want to make them together? It will surely be fun.」
「Together with des.h.i.+!? Yay! I'm looking forward to it!」

In a moment she'd begun smiling.
With that being the case……

「Ilya.」
「I'll take care of our home. Have a good trip, ojousama.」

In that manner, setting out with good clear weather is the best.
Alongside Saira we returned to going out to shop.
Uumu.
Lately even just leaving the house seems difficult.

Saira's ordinary clothes are also cute.
Beige shortpants, navy s.h.i.+rt.
Also, boots.
Although it has a rough feel, is it because it's cutely arranged around good material?
On the head it's a ponytail as always but, today she's not wearing a headband.
Her cute cat ears stand energetically.
Saying that, that was my wish.
The point of her walking brazenly beside me, is shown off to everyone in the royal capital.
That's also part of my plan.
……Maa, I've taken into account that I'm somewhat famous and manipulated the impression I give.
Those who intend to do something bad to Saira had best prepare themselves.
In truth, even without doing something like this, I do think everything's fine regarding anyone who knows Saira's personality.

「By the way, although I haven't seen Solt lately, do you know where he went?」
「Solt-san is it, well, I believe he's surely doing his best to become stronger nya.」
「Eh? Fu～n……」

Should that be biting down on your own weakness?
By my impression, kurozuk.u.me is absolutely no match for s.h.i.+on-san.
Then, whether something could be done if it was Ilya, that also seems unlikely……
Could he break through?
That guard……
In regards to Aim, whether weak or strong, I think position makes that conclusion indeterminate.
But Aim has a sort of strength that no one can emulate.

「To actually be weakest, doesn't it hurt a man's pride.」
「Well…… I feel like his motive seems a little different nya…… Surely, he wants to protect Alice-san.」
「Eh? No, because I have Ilya.」
「……I feel an extremely unrewarding presence nya.」

Saira sighed, pus.h.i.+ng her breath out.
Ah, that's right.
If we're making sweets then we should also make a share for Eclair, and bring it to her.

「Perhaps cookies, as expected.」
「……And then, it's already left the head nya.」

For some reason Saira's ears drooped.

And as such, we went to the royal capital's material seller.
There, out of countless material sellers, Saira's eye caught the best material seller-san.
There weren't any particularly rare materials but, as long as money is brought to the royal capital's material sellers, the materials to build goods of such a quality are a.s.sembled…… That is, as Saira explained.

「This is hard to discard…… but, if it's to build Ilya-san's armor, something slightly lighter would be…… full plate doesn't seem right. Although princess-sama's equipment seemed to be extremely heavy…… that sort of knight equipment is slightly off nya.」

Deliberating over which materials to take, she returned to the shelf again.
That went on and on, on and on, on and on and kept repeating.
……Shouldn't one be acceptable?
By now, to the extent of two hours, is it less?
No, if a clock were here, I'd realize that much has pa.s.sed.
Because Saira-san, is serious……

「Really, Saira-chan is a regular but, she has good judgment, it's like I also can't relax. She's young but she's quite the big deal!」

Regarding me, I went to the inner counter and chatted with the shop owning old man-san.
I can't just wait.
I can't just wait in the back!

「Saira, so she comes here quite frequently.」
「That's right, the material stores around here and, the stores like the ones in the shopping district should all know her on sight. She's an extremely polite, good child after all! So everyone likes her!」
「……Is that how it is?」

Without intending to, a smile spilled out.
It might not have been something to the extent of being worried about.
After all, it's Saira.

「Oh, Ooh…… A fairy's smile…… nice. Beyond the rumors……」

……

「Mister, to a regular patron, discount please!」
「……It, it can't be helped can it! Since I always receive patronage from Saira-chan!」

A smile is priceless.
However, there is nothing more expensive than free, mister!
Maa, for that portion we'll continue our patronage so would you forgive us?
I won't do something like, ask for a discount every time.

As a result, all morning pa.s.sed with that material seller.
What amazing concentration……
But Saira was completely pleased.
Somehow, it seemed the image had hardened.
I have a feeling that it seems something good will be made.

「In truth I want to make Alice-san's armor as well nya……」

Even if some nya is said, it's too heavy and can't be worn nya……

「For me…… it might really be that not asking a tailor is no good.」
「Hai desu……」

Though saying a tailor, going to ask the old lady-san isn't something I can do……
Tailor is it…… as expected, isn't that how it is……
Besides that one, is there no other?

「Eleanor-san did say that, her skills were certain…… not maid clothes but, is armor also okay?」

「Saira, stomach's empty, should we eat lunch and return?」
「Eating with Alice, I'm happy nya!」

As such, we went to eat lunch at Eleanor-san's store.
From the opening there's the careful grasp of customer traffic, somehow it's not only maids here, to begin with the food brought out is delicious.
Eleanor obsessed over the kitchen staff.
Saying that, though I feel the area being obsessed over can't be helped without an a.s.sistant, that certainly is, Eleanor-san.
Walking by while chatting with Saira, we arrived at our destination.
We entered the store that seemed to be flouris.h.i.+ng today as well.
Soon enough, a pure crimson maid came out to greet us.

「Welcome back, ojouhyama!」

「……」
「……you stuttered, Eclair.」
「It's, it's fine so please sit down already!」

Her att.i.tude serving a customer is a mess!
Please stop walking with shoulders like you're angry……
In such a manner we were quickly guided to our seats, together with Saira, I sat down.
By the way Eclair, are you not an adventurer?
Though I feel her abilities are well beyond sufficient.

「Fun, your order is?」

And, her att.i.tude didn't become that of a maid-san.

「Mixed juice, with Eclair's love included.」

「……」
「……Ah, Alice you iiddiioooott!!」

Maid-san ran away!
Eclair is adorable, isn't she……

「Is, it no good nya, Alice-san……tsu」
「Fufu, sorry sorry. Because looking at Eclair, is inevitably tempting.」

It's something that can't be helped.
We took our order from a different maid-san.
Neither I nor Saira eat all that much, so we ordered a feminine lunch, and received it deliciously.
In exchange lunch portions for two was 100 rooks.
One silver coin.
Maa, it was slightly expensive.
But it was delicious.

「Ah, umm, for me to receive such good items, dinner is also always splendid, taking enough to fill the stomach…… it's somehow inexcusable nya……」
「Haven't I already said this? Saira is my family, don't restrain yourself.」
「Alice-san……」
「Furthermore, eating is important and, to begin with cooking is something like my hobby. Rin-chan also eats it deliciously, it's absolutely not a hards.h.i.+p.」
「At least, I want to help out!」
「Nn～～, then, use a one week s.h.i.+ft system?」
「Hai desu nya!」

Though up until now, like buying goods, like with our armaments, like with Rin-chan, though I feel like I've received her support in a variety of ways.
Even so if she feels a sense of guilt, maa, letting her do as she likes is fine.
Surely in time, I believe she'll become like affable family.
However, at least overwork, it's no good not to keep an eye on that.

「What's this? Is it not Alice-San!」
「Hii!」

With a rough voice, my body reflexively jumped.
It was also noisy within the store.
Suppose it's obvious, having this person come out during business should be no good!
No…… because the designer isn't particularly a member of the staff, is coming as a customer a given…… although it's noisy.
By the way, Saira did freeze.
That should be the standard reaction.
As expected, Ilya's too amazing.

「Kohon…… Bati-san, this is a good time.」

There's a task available……

「What is it?」

Could you not stop wriggling every time.
Those black l.u.s.trous muscles.

「Well, although I'm an adventurer, I wonder if you couldn't create armor for that use.」
「That's fine!」

Haya!

「It's, it's fine is it?」
「Yes! It's an article meant to be worn by Alice-chan! Inspiration is roiling up!」
「He, heー, is that soー」

My decision, was it correct……

「Umm, I don't care if the cost is high, easy to move in and, defensive ability, an item with as high quality as is doable please.」

Because this is the final stronghold, to protect my weakly defended self.
Something like scrimping here, is unthinkable.

「Leave it to me! I can't be wasting time here! Once it's finished, I'll bring it to this store!」
「Pu, please doー」

And, taking the request Bati-san left like a storm moments later.
No, it was an actual storm.
Within the store there's still a commotion……

「Dw, dwarf is it?」
「Most likely that is…… human I think.」

An extremely well trained human.

「I, after I also improve, I might also be useful in combat……!」
「Please stop.」

Really please stop.
With such cute bodily form, there are many people who will become sad if it gets all muscular……

「――――I've been keeping you waiting, Alice!」

Ha?
Once I thought it was about time to return, suddenly before my eyes that juice was there.
An excellent juice decorated with fruits.
――The problem being that inside one large vessel, two straws were within.

「……Why, did you choose this juice, Eclair?」
「Don't regret this, Alice! Because Eclair will not once flee from your challenge!」

Pointlessly hot!

「Now, drink!」
「Eh…… seriously?」

For some reason the store had once again, grown noisy.
I felt like even more attention had focused here.

「Obviously! It's a contest, Alice!」

Is this a contest?

「……I understand.」

I bit one straw.
The juice itself was quite tasty.

「Th, then, I'll also drink!」

As such, Eclair's face came right up before my eye.
I noticed her adorable slight fangs, Eclair drank from the other straw.

……Close!

「Waa……」

Saira said something, her usual voice came out.

「……」
「……」

Onlookers gathered closely.
Red entered Eclair's face.
That, most likely am I not also like that?
This, distance where the breath seems to strike……

「――Haa」

Like I can drink this in one breath!
For the moment, my mouth releases once.
Similarly, Eclair's mouth also releases.

「Until it's entirely drunk, the contest continues you know!」

This, just what sort of contest is this.

「I understand…… Eh, what? This, just which one was my straw?」

Because the ice moved during the gap when I once removed my eyes, both straws mixed up their position and I didn't know anymore.

「Nnn?」
「I don't know something like that, Alice――」
「Probably, this one.」

Guessing, I put my mouth to one straw.
The gallery monitoring me licking the pa.s.sage, grew yet louder.

「Ah, ah, aaah!」
「Waa……」

Nn?
Watching Eclair while drinking from the straw, that white face had become pure red as if seething.

「～～～Alice you, idiiiiooooooot!!」

As if das.h.i.+ng away, for the second time today the maid-san fled.
……Im, impossible.
No, wait, possibly!
A matter of the heart!
Nonchalantly drinking the rest dry, my mouth softly released.

「……This is my win.」
「……Just, what sort of contest was that nya?」

That is something no one knows.
Just here, there is only the winner and loser.