Chapter 103
The day before I was to meet Princess Sophia──
A package arrived at my place from the Demon King's Castle.
There were three items inside. Two of them were bathing suits made from water 'magic-woven cloth'.
I'd ordered these after speaking with Princess Sophia at the trading post last time.
Back then, Princess Sophia had relied on the mysterious rays from the 'Fizzy Bath' and appeared before us without wearing a thing. To prevent another accident like that, I'd ordered bathing suits from the clothing artisans at the Demon King's Castle.
There were two kinds of bathing suits in the box.
One was the type you pulled over your head, with shoulder straps.
The other wrapped around the body and had no shoulder straps.
Mabel and Agnis had also given their input on the designs.
Apparently, the strapped one prioritized a snug, secure fit, while the wraparound one prioritized ease of wearing and freedom of movement.
I had them try them on. They looked beautiful.
As for freedom of movement... I couldn't exactly have them move around in those outfits to check.
But I'd asked skilled clothing artisans to make them, so I'm sure they'll be fine.
I decided to bring these bathing suits when we met Princess Sophia.
There was one more thing in the box: a large ribbon.
It was meant to go on a hat and was made from water 'magic-woven cloth'.
It was for hiding Mabel's elven ears when we went to the trading post.
Mabel had said she wanted to see 'what the humans were up to' at the trading post.
So I arranged things so she could pretend to be human and shop there.
If she wore a hat with large ribbons on both sides, her elven ears would be completely hidden.
Then Mabel would be nothing more than an absurdly cute young woman. She'd stand out to some extent, but she should be able to talk to the humans without feeling self-conscious.
I explained all that to Mabel, but──
"But, Thor-sama. The border trading post is a place where people from 'Noza Town' and the Demon King's Domain can stop by, isn't it?"
Mabel said this while holding the ribbon-adorned hat.
"When you put it that way, I don't think there's really any need for me to disguise myself..."
"Yes, but I thought it would be twice the fun if you disguised yourself as a human, Mabel."
"Huh?"
"If you first talk to the people at the trading post in human form, you'll get to learn about humans, right? Then, if you go around the trading post in your elven form, the merchants will learn that the polite and kind young beauty they met earlier was actually an elf. That way, next time they should be able to treat you normally without a disguise, don't you think?"
"B-Beautiful young woman? You can leave that part out, Thor-sama!"
Mabel hugged the hat to her chest, her face turning bright red.
"Besides... if I'm in disguise, wouldn't that mean I'm deceiving them...?"
"I'm not deceiving anyone. Mabel's just wearing a hat with a slightly oversized ribbon. If they mistakenly think you're not an elf, that's their problem."
"Oh, Thor-sama..."
Mabel tilted her head in troubled confusion. Cute.
Besides, the hat suited her perfectly. It was a large one with soft, petal-like frills. With a veil, she'd look exactly like a noblewoman.
"But I don't have any clothes that would go with such a splendid hat..."
"Right. That's why I had Agnis prepare an outfit to match it."
"...Huh?"
Mabel turned around.
Behind her stood Agnis, holding a cute dress.
It looked expensive, with frills around the collar and sleeves.
Apparently, it had belonged to Agnis's mother when she was alive. Agnis used it because she had so few clothes of her own, and it seemed she'd chosen the one that would suit Mabel best.
"I'd like you to leave the dressing to me."
"Agnis-sama... A-am I really going to wear such expensive clothes?"
"Yes. Thor Kanan-sama asked me to."
"B-but... if I wear this... to the trading post..."
"It's all right. I'll dress you myself."
"By the way, what kind of clothes will you be wearing, Agnis-sama?"
"I was thinking of wearing a maid outfit."
Agnis gave her a mischievous smile.
"Mabel will be a noblewoman, Thor Kanan-sama will be her partner, the alchemist, and I'll be the maid serving Mabel. I think that will make it easier for us to blend in among the humans."
"Please wait! Surely the general would never approve of something like that! The difference in status between Agnis-sama and me is──"
"Huh? When Agnis received the 'Health-Boosting Pendant', Father said, 'I want Agnis and Mabel to associate as friends without worrying about their social status.'"
"I think it's unfair to bring that up now..."
"Besides, when we tested the 'Health-Boosting Pendant', Mabel, you took off Agnis's armor and dressed her in a maid outfit, didn't you? This is payback for that."
"...Ugh."
The match was over.
Mabel groaned, her face bright red. Agnis wore an extremely satisfied smile.
Agnis and I had planned to steer the conversation this way.
Agnis had brought up what happened before so Mabel would agree to put on the clothes.
Otherwise, Mabel would have held back out of consideration.
Though, honestly, I wanted to see Mabel dressed up too.
Of course, I also wanted to see Agnis in her maid outfit one more time...
"I want to see Mabel wearing a cute outfit too. It'll probably inspire me creatively."
──Before I knew it, the words had slipped out.
"All right. I understand."
Mabel nodded as if she'd made up her mind.
"Mabel. You gave in awfully quickly."
"If it's Thor-sama's wish, I can't refuse. Of course, I'll get my revenge on Agnis-sama later by making her wear an even cuter outfit, all right?"
"Yes, I'm prepared for that."
"Heehee. But thank you, Agnis-sama."
Mabel touched the clothes Agnis was holding, her face alight with happiness.
"I've never looked forward to a day off this much before. Thank you too, Thor-sama."
"We're leaving tomorrow. Let's turn in early tonight."
"Yes."
"Understood!"
Tomorrow was finally the day we'd visit the trading post.
I'd sent Princess Sophia a letter a little while ago. We'd arranged to meet in the trading post's bathhouse.
I'd also gotten permission from one of the Flame Giant's kin who managed the trading post.
Soleil, Lune, and the other winged fairies had agreed to come along disguised as cats and owls. In return, I planned to treat them to some fresh fruit.
Oh, right. Once we got to the trading post, I needed to inspect the water facilities too.
For the past few days, I'd been visiting the markets in Raizenga territory and investigating their water sources. As expected, everyone was using wells.
The homes of the Flame Giant's kin in particular had a huge number of wells installed.
From what I'd heard, it was related to their ignition ability. They needed lots of wells so they could quickly put out a fire if they accidentally set their house or furniture alight with that ability.
Most of the general's subordinates were strong enough to use heavy pump-operated wells without a problem, but I'd also learned that ordinary commoners sometimes struggled to draw water.
As I thought, magic items for water facilities were necessary.
Later, I'd inspect the trading post's water facilities too and see if I could make magic items based on a standardized design.
Oh, right. I also needed to remember to look for presents for Mabel and Agnis at the trading post.
They'd both done so much for me.
I wanted to give them a personal thank-you for a change.
But if I was going to give them presents, they had to be things they actually wanted.
So one of my goals this time was to watch the two of them at the trading post and quietly figure out what they wanted.
I was looking forward to it.
"Good night, then. Mabel. Agnis."
"Good night, Thor-sama."
"See you tomorrow, Thor Kanan-sama."
And so, we decided to turn in early.
The next day, we arrived at the trading post before noon.
"Amazing. It's completely different from when we came before..."
The moment we entered the trading post, Mabel's eyes lit up.
The last time we'd come here had been just after the trading post was built, and there had hardly been anyone around.
But now──
"Hey, step right up! 'Juicy Juicy Tomatoes,' delivered straight from 'Noza Town'! They're bursting with juice! Picked today and absolutely fresh!!"
"Fresh-laid eggs! These here are representatives of the hens that laid them! Check their health carefully before you buy!"
"How about some cloth gathered from nearby villages? All the colors currently in fashion across the country! When you're out on the frontier, you have to stay sensitive to the latest trends!"
"Amazing..."
The moment we entered the tent, we all sighed.
It was packed with people.
Not just humans, either. There were dwarves and elves from the Demon King's Domain too.
Everyone was shopping normally alongside the people from 'Noza Town'.
Incredible... I'd never seen a sight like this before.
"I'm amazed. When did the trading post start attracting so many people...?"
"This must be thanks to the Demon King and Princess Sophia."
"It's so lively..."
Maybe we hadn't needed a disguise after all.
Mabel's hat and dress were cute, though. I felt that alone made coming here worthwhile. Well, that was fine too.
The trading post in the borderlands had been built after Demon King Lukie and Princess Sophia coordinated through letters.
As a result, it had turned into an extremely convenient facility.
The trading post was divided into left and right sections. Humans sold their goods in one, while people from the Demon King's Domain sold theirs in the other. From the entrance to the tent, we could see everyone actively moving back and forth between the two areas.
In the center of the two sections was a water station (with a pump for drawing up groundwater), where people could wash their hands and feet after the journey or wash vegetables they'd brought in. Everyone gathered there to eat and chat. Incidentally, the people operating the hand pumps were the 'Omawarisan' from 'Noza Town' and members of the Flame Giant's kin.
Humans, demi-humans, and demons were all getting water and eating their packed lunches as if it were perfectly normal.
There was a small plaza around the water station.
Everyone was enjoying their meals and conversations while basking in the sun. The whole scene felt wonderfully peaceful.
"A scene like this... I never would have imagined it a few months ago."
"...Everyone's become friends."
Mabel and Agnis were both amazed.
I was a little moved myself.
The trading post Lukie and Princess Sophia had created seemed to be a huge success.
As I thought that, we started walking through the tent.
This tent was for people from 'Noza Town' to sell their goods, but some people also brought products from the Demon King's Domain to barter. Those goods were incredibly popular too, which was interesting.
Well, dwarven knives were rare masterworks in the human world, after all.
Nice. I want one. A dwarven knife.
"But I didn't come here to buy things for myself."
I was here to find things Mabel and Agnis would want.
Thinking that, I looked at the two of them──
"...A dwarven knife would be nice."
"...It's quite a fine blade."
"It would be useful for making meals for Thor Kanan-sama."
Wait, that's not what I meant.
But neither of them was thinking about themselves at all.
This was a problem. I'd said this was supposed to be a day off...
"Thor-sama, Thor-sama! I've never seen this fruit before!"
Mabel was pointing at the yellow fruit lined up at a stall.
"That's a 'Rohaha Banana' from the south. You can eat it raw or put it in cooking. Does it interest you?"
"Yes. But... it's from the south?"
"True, it might not be fresh anymore since it's been a while since it was picked."
"No, I thought you would be happy if it were fruit from the Empire, Thor-sama."
"...Yeah. Thank you, Mabel."
Mabel's thoughtfulness made me very happy.
If we hadn't been outside, I might have been so moved that I'd taken her hand, looked deeply into her eyes, and thanked her.
But still... this was supposed to be a day off. I wanted her to think about herself.
The trading post also sold small goods and accessories from the Empire, but neither of them showed the slightest interest. They were collecting ingredients from the human world. Apparently, they intended to try making new dishes.
...They seemed to be enjoying themselves, so I supposed that was fine.
──A report from 'Noza Town'! We've just received word that Grand Duke Karon has finished dealing with the monster threat and is on his way to 'Noza Town'!"
A soldier suddenly rushed into the tent.
I recognized the armor and helmet. He was one of the 'Omawarisan Squad'.
"The threat in the borderlands is gone! Everyone, rest easy and get back to doing business!"
"Hoorayyyyy!!"
The tent shook with the merchants' and shoppers' voices and applause.
"Thank you, Omawarisan!"
"Our thanks to the grand duke and Princess Riana and Princess Sophia!"
"As expected of General Raizenga—what an impressive performance!"
Voices rose from the surrounding tents as well.
It seemed the soldiers who had returned from investigating the fortress had come to the trading post to spread the news.
So Grand Duke Karon was heading to 'Noza Town', huh?
Which meant... we might receive word from Princess Sophia too.
"Sorry. I'm stepping outside for a moment."
I called out to Mabel and Agnis and stepped outside the tent.
And there──
"Meow."
A small black cat was waiting outside the tent.
It was Lune, the dark winged fairy.
"Come here, come here!"
"M-meow..."
I picked up Lune as she rubbed against me and moved into the shade.
I checked to make sure there was no one around, then...
"──Is that a message from Princess Sophia, Lune?"
"Indeed. According to Princess Sophia, the two of you will be hurrying to the trading post before Grand Duke Karon arrives in 'Noza Town'."
Lune curled up in my arms as she spoke.
Once the grand duke returns, she will be busy with reports and the like, so she wishes to speak with the alchemist before then.
"I see... Wait. Did you just say 'the two of you'?"
"Yes. It seems Princess Riana will be coming to the trading post as well."
Princess Riana was coming too?
Was that all right? We were planning to have a secret discussion in the trading post's bathhouse.
There wasn't anywhere else we could talk without being seen by a third party.
That's why I'd had the bathing suits made, but──
"No, I suppose it's fine."
Princess Riana wasn't a bad person.
She couldn't say no to Princess Sophia. Even after recovering her energy in the 'Fizzy Bath', she wouldn't turn that power against the Demon King's Domain.
Besides, I didn't want to doubt someone who had trusted my letter and obediently unleashed the 'Holy Sword's Light Blade Zubababaan'.
If she was fine with it, then talking in the bathhouse would be all right.
Sophia would have explained that part too, knowing her.
"Understood. Then go back to Princess Sophia and tell her that her message reached me. I'll consult with the Flame Giant's kin at the bathhouse and get things ready as soon as possible."
"Understood, Alchemist-sama."
"Also, are any other winged fairies here? If possible, I'd like one to stay behind as a messenger."
"Meow!"
Oh, there they are.
So they'd all started showing up in the Empire in their 'role-playing pajamas' as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
It seemed winged fairies had no borders. Good.
"In that case, I'll return to Princess Sophia's side."
"Yes. Give her my regards."
"Meow-meow-meow!"
The winged fairies and I (all looking like cats) watched the black cat Lune go.
All right, first I had to return to the tent and talk to Mabel and the others──then head to the bathhouse.
I went back inside the tent.
"Young man, young man. Won't you stop and have a look?"
As I searched for Mabel and the others, someone called out to me.
A woman in a robe had set up a stall.
What she was selling... metal accessories? They weren't magic items, just ordinary metalwork.
That was unusual around here.
"What do you think? They're cute accessories. I'm sure she'd be delighted with a present like one of these."
"...I see."
The material was copper, hammered and stretched into shape. Fine patterns had been worked into it too.
'Noza Town' was a rural place. It probably didn't have craftsmen capable of producing work this intricate.
Which meant these were probably goods shipped in from another town.
"May I take a look?"
"Of course. Go ahead."
With her permission, I leaned in close to examine the metalwork at the stall.
I secretly activated 'Appraisal Insight'.
...As I thought, these were just ordinary metalwork.
When I continued the appraisal, I detected a magical reaction from the merchant woman's robe. It had been given 'Enhancement' to make it resistant to dirt. A wind attribute had been applied so dust and sand wouldn't cling to the fabric.
Anyone carrying something like that was probably a wealthy merchant.
But even so, the goods she was selling were far too cheap-looking. The pieces didn't fit together.
Which meant she might not be a merchant at all, but someone who had come to gather information.
Well, it made sense that people would come to check things out once a trading post had been established in the borderlands.
"These are wonderful pieces of metalwork. I'm sorry, but they seem to be beyond my means."
I thanked her and stood up.
I did think the things she was selling would suit Mabel and Agnis, but I didn't feel like buying them from this woman.
I'd use 'Creation Alchemy' to make something myself later.
"Thank you for showing me such wonderful things."
I picked up the cat and left.
I spoke quietly to the brown cat. "Keep an eye on that person. Let me know if anything happens."
As I made my way around the trading post, I occasionally saw people like her.
Isaac-san's 'Omawarisan' squad normally kept the place under tight guard, but this was right after the 'Monster Investigation'. They were inevitably short-handed. There were probably people taking advantage of that to come and see what was going on.
I'd pass the information along to the Omawarisan and the Flame General's kin later.
Well, hopefully nothing would happen.
"Thor-sama. Have you returned?"
"Did something happen?"
After finishing my report and returning, I found Mabel and Agnis waiting in a corner of the tent.
"Sorry. I received a message from Lune, the winged fairy. It looks like Princess Sophia and Princess Riana are already on their way here."
"Both of them? Could that have something to do with the grand duke...?"
"As expected of Mabel. That's right."
I quickly told them what I'd heard from Lune.
"──So that's the situation. Once Grand Duke Karon arrives in 'Noza Town', the princesses will have to hear his report. That's why they're going to talk with us before the grand duke reaches the town."
"I understand. Let's head to the bathhouse right away."
"Are you sure? You two can keep shopping if you want."
"No."
Mabel held up the bag in her hand.
It contained vegetables and fruit she'd bought here, along with dried river fish.
"I've already enjoyed myself quite enough."
"Agnis is satisfied too."
"If we find we need anything else, we'll come back to the market after seeing Princess Sophia-sama off."
"So it's all right."
"Besides, it would be a problem if you were all alone in the bathhouse's hidden room when anything happened, Thor-sama."
"It's very important!"
For some reason, Mabel and Agnis clenched their fists and emphasized this point.
I understood how they felt.
Even if Princess Sophia had agreed to it, one man alone in a hidden room with a princess would be a bad look.
If I were alone, who knew what kind of impropriety might occur? With Mabel and Agnis there, they could smooth things over.
"All right. Then let's go together."
"Understood!"
"Let us go, Thor Kanan-sama."
And so, we headed to the bathhouse for nobles at the back of the trading post.
We explained the situation to the Flame Giant's kin who managed the facility and had them heat the bath early.
Then we changed clothes, cleaned the bathhouse, and placed the bathing suits in the changing room.
As we worked, I asked Mabel and Agnis what they had bought──but in the end, all they'd purchased were cooking utensils and vegetables that would keep for a while. I'd asked whether they'd seen any accessories they liked, but──
"I'm always watching the things Thor-sama makes."
"The things at the market inevitably pale in comparison."
──was what they said.
That had never occurred to me.
I couldn't help it. I'd prepare the presents for them myself.
If I was going to make something, it had to be something they absolutely couldn't get anywhere else. Once I'd finished making the water-system items, I'd start designing right away. Maybe I should make something that would astonish the two of them and have everyone in the Demon King's Domain clamoring for one...?
While I was thinking about that, time passed──
"Excuse me. We have come to inspect the trading post incognito."
"...We have come."
And so, Princess Sophia and Princess Riana arrived incognito at the trading post's bathhouse.