Chapter 49
Chapter 49
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: I Became a Clothing Designer in Another World
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After opening the shop, the first three days were such a whirlwind that I barely noticed anything, but the moment I finally had some breathing room to look around...
A bit racially insensitive, perhaps,
but watching my employees at work suddenly made me think of a scene from a zoo or a circus.
"Marie, Lady Panny, hurry up with the fabric."
The first thing that caught my eye was Adelaide, crafting two bras at once—one with her human arms, the other with her spider legs.
She was even using only her hind legs, working without looking, and somehow faster than any human.
Curious, I asked her about it, and she said spiders can sense everything precisely just from vibrations and presence?
"..."
Thanks to this superhuman feat no ordinary person could replicate, Lady Panny—desperate to keep up with Adelaide's pace—had donned the magnifying glasses she used for surgery and was silently cutting fabric like a machine.
"Humans can't keep up with Sister Adelaide's speed, so just wait a bit!"
Marie, who was darting between people handling odd jobs, couldn't nag at the clearly limited humans, so she flicked her tail straight up and shrieked at Adelaide instead.
"Ugh..."
She'd just swept the freshly cut fabric aside and turned her head toward the window.
"Pretty big sis, hi!"
"Hello, little gentlemen~"
"Sis! You can show us archery today, right? Like shooting an apple off your head?"
"Ufufu~ Of course I can!"
There was Katerina, on her break, perched by the window chatting with the neighborhood kids.
What on earth was this sight?
Zoo, circus, stunt show?
No word quite fit.
Pure chaos.
If everyone were showing off their freakish specialties, it might have felt harmonious, but even here, normal people existed.
"You're doing great. It's fine to be slow—just take your time and be careful."
"Yes..."
Turning to the corner, I saw Lord Herbert supervising Walter and Elin as they cut fabric and sewed diligently.
"Marie, take a break now. Katerina, break's over—come help here."
"Yesss..."
"Got it~ Kiddos! Sorry, sis has to get back to work!"
"Aww! Liar!"
"Sorry, come a little earlier tomorrow~"
"And Adelaide, you rest now too."
"Ehh~? But I was just getting fired up? My hands are perfectly warmed up now?"
"I said rest."
Lady Elizabeth—the one I'd been most anxious about, never knowing what she might do—was voluntarily playing team leader, issuing instructions to the staff left and right. It felt downright weird.
Especially since the two most normal ones were the people who'd worried me the most.
Things running smoothly and the risky ones not causing trouble was good, of course, but it was disappointing how it deviated from expectations.
Lord Herbert especially.
Lady Elizabeth was so unpredictable it was par for the course, but that squinting guy wasn't supposed to be like this.
He should be plotting a backstab like a villain, polite yet rude, armed with contradictory, madness-filled ideals that grated on your nerves.
"Done...!"
"You finished one already today—well done. Your skills have improved a lot in such a short time."
"Hehe... Thank you...!"
"Lord Herbert, I finished mine too!"
"You both did wonderfully."
Aside from the honorifics, he wasn't fulfilling a single trait.
Where did that interview madness go?
Who was this kindly next-door big brother type patting the beaming Walter and Elin on the back after they finished a bra?
This wasn't a squinting villain.
"Hmm..."
"Why the sudden long face?"
I was lost in a mix of regret over missing out on a rare real-life squinting villain and relief that no backstabbing was coming, gazing wistfully at Lord Herbert—when Lady Elizabeth, who'd forced Adelaide to rest, approached me with a troubled look.
"Just a jumble of complicated feelings."
"Sir William, using formal speech again? Didn't I say if the employer acts too deferential, it'll undermine your authority?"
"True, but... even so, bantering casually with a lady like you feels off, doesn't it?"
"......"
I shook my head emphatically in disgust, and her sharp gaze poured down on me.
Treat her like a superior or not—why hit me with that 'How dare this punk talk back?' glare...
I was wronged, but the status gap was too wide; I had to yield.
Winning now might bite me later.
"A-alright, fine... I mean, got it..."
"Perfect, that's the spirit."
As soon as I switched to casual, she nodded with a satisfied smile.
It felt as uncomfortable as sincerely skipping class with a renowned professor on the verge of retirement.
"Ugh..."
Is this right...?
Unsettled, I furrowed my brow slightly and darted my eyes anxiously, when she dropped her smile, glanced at Adelaide, and spoke with a troubled expression.
"Anyway, Sir William, we've got a problem."
"Problem?"
"Everyone's working so hard the fabric will run out in three days."
"Huh?"
At the out-of-left-field remark, I frowned and met her eyes.
"Two days ago, you said we had a week's worth left. The numbers don't match—did we use that much just yesterday and today?"
"Once they got the hang of it, their pace was insane. They blew through four days' worth in two."
"...?"
We'd had two weeks' supply, and over ten days' worth vanished in five days?
Half of that in just two days?
Walter and Elin had limits even if they sped up, so Adelaide must have driven most of the increase—but how were the cutters keeping up, and how wasn't she tiring?
"No way, we made that many? How many today?"
"Twenty-three."
"What? Yesterday?"
"Twenty-four."
"Wow..."
I pressed a hand to my forehead in awe.
I'd figured ten a day tops, maybe fifteen if fast—and we matched that for the first three days.
But forty-seven in two days? With three hours till closing?
"......"
I was speechless.
I'd expected Adelaide to cover for several people, but this shattered predictions.
No wonder she'd kept urging us yesterday onward—even with four of us cutting and passing fabric, including me.
I rubbed my temples and said,
"I'll get more fabric as fast as I can."
"Thanks."
"And..."
I glanced at Adelaide, who'd already grabbed a handkerchief and started embroidering it impatiently.
I'd told them on day one we'd be swamped, even weekends—but seeing her, I figured even four days a week, she'd finish in under a month.
"Cancel weekend shifts. Don't come Saturdays unless I say so."
"Oh my, that's delightful news. I'll let the others know."
"Yeah. Anything else?"
"No."
"Alright then."
I nodded and gestured, and Lady Elizabeth beamed before heading back to the staff.
_ After sharing the happy no-weekend news with the employees, as I dazedly cut fabric, closing time sneaked up.
Realizing it, I set down scissors and fabric, then yelled at the engrossed staff,
"That's it for today—tidy up and head home."
"“Yesss~”"
They dropped their work like they'd been waiting and started cleaning.
By the end, only unfinished pieces remained on the tables.
I wasn't exempt—sweeping scattered fabric scraps and thread, returning tools.
Marie and Katerina had cleaned periodically, so it didn't take long.
"Great work, everyone!"
"G-good... work..."
"See you next week!"
Waving off the staff as they left one by one, waiting for the carriage, Emily—back from Charles—approached hesitantly.
"Young Master, Charles says it'll take a bit."
"Yeah? No rush."
Nothing urgent, so I nodded casually.
Tapping the table idly, staring into space, someone approached and patted my shoulder.
"Sir William, got a moment?"
"Time? What's up... I mean, what's up?"
Catching myself mid-formal from her sudden voice while off-guard.
Her eyes sharpened briefly, but I corrected fast enough to dodge a scolding.
"Lady Panny and Lord Herbert want to show you the answer to that issue you mentioned before."
"Already? Quick."
I'd expected weeks, maybe not even two—but here it was.
"Now?"
"They said the sooner the better."
"Might as well hear it today then. Where are they?"
"Preparing materials with their attendants."
"Materials? Getting serious."
Prepping documents in that short time? Expectations soared.
Grinning ear to ear, I beckoned Emily nearby.
"Emily, tell Charles to take his time prepping."
"Got it."
Sorry, Charles—heading home would have to wait.