Chapter 157: The Daily Lives of Military State Citizens
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 157: The Daily Lives of Military State Citizens
Since the invention of the Clothing Packet, the purpose of a fitting room had changed to merely a place to shield one from view while changing packets. Fitting rooms, once a symbol of luxury during the kingdom era, had undergone a transformation, becoming progressively smaller and darker until they were now barely large enough for a single person.
The captain, having changed inside the fitting room, cautiously opened the door and stepped out.
“…Query. Is this truly casual wear?”
For casual wear, the design was quite elaborate. The dyed shirt and pleated skirt with its extra layer of fabric gave off the impression of an upper-class citizen who paid attention to their appearance.
The captain kept glancing down at her body, clearly unused to her new clothes.
“How is it? The feel is completely different from what you’re used to, isn’t it? This is the quality of a custom-made product, something you can’t get from standard issue…”
“…The clothes don’t constrict my body. It feels as if I’m wearing nothing at all.”
“Excuse me?”
What in the world did that mean? It feels like she’s wearing nothing? That was a strange compliment, if it was one.
“So you’re saying the clothes are comfortable?”
“Negative. It is uncomfortable. Because the clothes don’t envelop my body… the stiffness… is lacking.”
‘There’s no sensation of it holding me tightly. It feels like the entire world has let go of me…! I feel anxious!’
That was the problem? So she was saying it was uncomfortable because it wasn’t uncomfortable?
Just what kind of life have you lived, Captain Abbey?
Even more than my own bewilderment, Smen was mortified at the thought of having failed to satisfy his customer.
“It seems you prefer slightly tighter clothing. My mistake, it is entirely my fault.”
No. The captain doesn't just like tight clothes; she feels secure in uncomfortable clothing and restrictive situations. She was raised wrong.
With a determined expression, Smen took another Clothing Packet and headed toward an Arch-Avatar in the corner.
“I have made a mistake. In the past, I would take measurements myself and ask about a customer’s preferences and tastes. But since the development of the Clothing Packet, I have neglected to consider personal preferences. Working with an Arch-Avatar is easy and allows me to fit anyone’s body.”
The Arch-Avatar. A magical mannequin modeled after the human body.
The Clothing Packet, one of the Seven Major Inventions of the Military State, could only be created with an Arch-Avatar. When you craft clothes on an Arch-Avatar with alchemic fabric and turn it into a packet, inserting it into a different bio-receptor will form the clothes according to the avatar data stored in that person’s bio-receptor.
“I will reduce the size a bit here. It should fit quite snugly when you put on the packet.”
Smen quickly adjusted the clothes on the Arch-Avatar and converted it back into a packet. The captain took the new packet, went into the fitting room, and came out after changing.
“Ah. This is much more comfortable!”
The captain’s clothes, which she now declared with a brighter voice, were as tight as her uniform. I slapped my forehead, but Smen’s eyes lit up, pleased to have found a proper owner for such constricting attire.
Getting carried away, Smen handed her a dress, another set of casual wear, and even pajamas. Packet in hand, the captain held out a hand toward me and then rummaged through her own pockets.
“I will pay for them.”
But before the captain could take out her money, Smen bowed politely and refused.
“How could I accept money from Sir Hughes’s guest? Simply wearing them is payment enough.”
“Negative. That would mean I am accepting a bribe. I cannot accept monetary compensation from you or anyone else.”
The captain’s stance was firm. Smen let out a small sigh and, as if he had no choice, bowed even lower.
“In that case, I have no choice. Please give me just 50 alke.”
Even the most basic, factory-made, standard-issue shirt cost 50 alke. Three custom-made Clothing Packets for 50 alke was practically a giveaway.
If the captain had known anything about market prices, she would have been suspicious. However…
‘I have never used anything besides issued and supplied goods, so I am unfamiliar with market prices… Is 50 alke the correct price? It feels like less than my salary…?’
Of course, Smen had given her a massive discount. But I made a huge fuss to prevent her from even suspecting.
“What, 50 alke? Smen, you’ve become quite the merchant since I last saw you! How rich are you trying to get with that price!”
‘What? A merchant? …Ah. So that’s what he meant.’
He still instinctively bristled at being called that. Still, Smen was a veteran tailor, a professional with experience not only in making clothes but also in pleasing nobles.
Smen didn’t lose his composure and played along with my act.
“Please understand. Even if she is Sir Hughes’s guest, this old man is just a pathetic person who will starve without money.”
“I guess it can’t be helped. But it’s fine! A captain’s salary is much higher than this!”
“One must overcharge those who can afford it, no? If it is too much of a burden on a captain’s salary, you don’t have to pay.”
They say if three people conspire, they can create a tiger out of thin air. To deceive a captain who knew nothing of the world, two was more than enough.
In fact, I probably could have done it alone. Two was overkill.
“…Acknowledged. I will pay.”
A signaller who knew Level 4 classified information but not market prices. What an irony.
Smen regarded the captain’s ignorance not with pity but as a sign of innocence, and gave her a warm smile. Then, as if he had just remembered something, he handed me a Clothing Packet.
“Ah, and Sir Hughes. Here are the clothes you always wear.”
“Thanks. How much is it?”
“Just take it.”
I had expected that answer, but I feigned ignorance.
“Are you sure?”
Smen nodded without a hint of hesitation.
“When I was stubbornly clinging to the old ways of making clothes, you were the one who personally taught me about Clothing Packet technology, Sir Hughes. You helped me make a new start, so this is the least I can do.”
“Well, if you insist.”
I only taught him knowledge I stole with mind-reading, and he treats me like a savior. Heh heh. This is why it’s so convenient to do favors for people who know how to repay them. A debt of the heart follows you forever.
Unlike the captain, I have a positive view of bribes directed at me, so I didn’t refuse the free clothes. As I took the Clothing Packet, Smen lowered his voice and whispered in my ear.
“And about a week ago, the young lady was looking for you.”
“She was? Why?”
“I didn’t ask for details. I only told her I hadn’t seen you lately.”
Tsk. I didn’t want to get involved with her. Right. I’d just pretend I didn’t know. If it was urgent, she’d contact me first.
My business finished, I waved to Smen.
“Anyway, thanks for everything. I’ll be going now.”
“Take care.”
I left with the still-puzzled captain.
Despite having just been altered, the clothes looked as if they had been made that way from the start. Wearing the slightly tight outfit, the captain’s figure was clearly defined.
I couldn’t tell if she was open-minded or conservative. Tight clothes meant you were willing to endure discomfort to assert your presence in the world.
Anyway.
“Alright, now that we’ve changed, shall we go get something to eat?”
“A meal, you say?”
At my suggestion, the captain briefly surveyed our surroundings. After checking the time on a clock in the alley, she firmly expressed her refusal.
“Negative. It is not my permitted mealtime.”
“You won’t eat if it’s not mealtime?”
“…? What is the meaning of that question? Eating at mealtime is common sense, is it not?”
What is she talking about? You eat when you’re hungry.
The captain and I met each other’s eyes, and we both tilted our heads in confusion.
“Bbey, is there some rule that you can only eat at designated times?”
‘Signallers have a duty to adhere to mealtimes. Indiscriminate eating or overeating can cause various problems. For example, it can make the body sluggish or deplete supplies, requiring a request for additional rations.’
“…That is classified.”
She’d been well-trained. She was still sticking to ‘classified’ to avoid accidentally divulging any information related to signallers.
Whatever, I got the gist. There was a specific way to handle this type of person.
“Bbey, after a long journey like this, you’ve used a lot of energy. You need to eat a hearty meal.”
“I do not deny that. However, I believe it is sufficient to eat at the proper time. There is no need to violate the designated schedule.”
“Being diligent in your duties is what’s most important, right? Rules exist to help you perform better. Wouldn’t it be a bigger problem if you neglected your duties because you were hungry?”
“A little hunger will not cause me to neglect my duties.”
The captain declared this proudly, but…
“Braised beans, bean stew, steamed beans with meat.”
“…Slurp. Hmph!”
My prompting made her drool reflexively. The captain hastily wiped away the saliva trickling from her mouth.
She’d been riding the Meta Conveyor Belt, exposed to the cold wind without a proper meal. There was no way she wasn’t hungry.
This was the hunger of someone who roamed the outside world, something a shut-in would never understand.
“You’re drooling just from hearing the word ‘beans.’ Are you sure you’re okay?”
“N-Negative. There is no problem. It was only a little saliva.”
“Is that how you’re going to perform your duties? Drooling at the mere mention of food? You’ll do a fine job, I’m sure! You should be thinking about filling your stomach so you can work even harder!”
“Hngh.”
“Answer me! Affirmative or negative?”
As I barked at her, the captain lowered her head and gave a sign of affirmation.
“…A-Affirmative.”
As it happened, there was something like a restaurant on the market street. I led the captain to a bustling food stall.
In one corner of the eatery, people were packed tightly along a long, straight table. They were chattering loudly, eating some indescribable food from the bowls in front of them. I found an empty spot at the corner and banged on the table.
“Anna, one of today’s specials over here.”
At that, people’s gazes turned toward me. A few of them recognized me and called out.
“Hughes?”
“What the hell. I thought he’d finally kicked the bucket after disappearing like that.”
“No way that bastard would die.”
I responded to each of them with a smile, then called out the name of the person busy frying and boiling something on the hot plate in the back.
“Auntie! I’m hungry!”
Only when I said I was hungry did the owner finally react and turn around.
She was a middle-aged woman who exuded a sense of lived-in experience. From the bandana on her forehead to her rolled-up sleeves, she looked like what you’d imagine an expert in the art of living to be.
She saw my face and broke into a broad smile.
“Hughes, it’s been a while! Who’s this with you?”
“A new friend I made.”
“It sounds suspicious when you call someone a friend. She’s not a criminal, is she?”
“I’m about to make her one.”
‘?! Was that your intention?!’
The captain was horrified, but she was so overwhelmed by the attention on her that she couldn’t even manage a ‘Rebuttal!’ Meanwhile, Anna rolled up her sleeves again.
“That gloomy kid you always used to bring around… what was his name?”
“You mean Anton?”
“Right, that kid! Yes, a bright young lady is much better than Anton! So much easier on the eyes. Oh, where is my mind. Just a moment, I’ll whip something up for you.”
Anna greased the hot plate and poured out a can of pre-soaked beans. Billows of white steam rose up, and a cheer went through the crowd.
The captain, who had swallowed her saliva without realizing it, hastily looked away and turned to me.
“Query. Who are you, exactly? Why do so many people recognize you?”
Seriously. What a trivial question. How could she be so puzzled by something as simple as people recognizing someone?
“I told you I used to live here. It’s only natural I’d be on familiar terms with people. Everyone has a hundred friends or so, right?”
“But…”
Feeling the weight of the attention directed at me and my companion, the captain thought to herself.
‘He appears to be quite popular. Query. How could such a suspicious, untrustworthy petty criminal earn the people’s trust?’
What, you little punk?
“What was the meaning of that ‘but’ just now?”
The captain answered hesitantly.
“…That is classified.”
“Don’t be ridiculous!”
Stuck in a back room, an involuntary loner… no, a voluntary loner? A military-state loner? What should I even call it?
Sigh, I’ll let it go. She’s a pitiful person, truly.
She could call me a suspicious social misfit. She could yell at me for being a petty criminal.
But I couldn’t just tell the captain that she was one of the biggest loners in the entire Military State. That would be too cruel, wouldn’t it?
I sighed and waited for our food to arrive.