Shopping for Clothes and a New Bed
The day after the alchemist's decision, the three of us headed out. As you might guess, it was to buy a bed. But instead of leading us to a furniture store, my master grabbed my hand and dragged me toward a clothing shop.
"...This isn't a furniture store."
"I have eyes too, you know."
"That's not what I meant, and you know it."
"How long do you plan to go around in rags?"
At her pointed remark, I looked down at my body. A white robe that easily picked up dirt came into view. And underneath... a crude dress that brought back memories of that day. It was a bit cheap, sure, but I didn't think it qualified as rags.
"Isn't this fine?"
Master pressed a hand to her forehead and let out a massive sigh, as if the ground might cave in. For a young elf, those perky ears twitching didn't quite match the "youth sighing away their fortune" saying.
"Not this—I'm talking about the clothes you wear around the house."
"Oh... those? They're not rags; they're what I used to wear, and I've just been too busy..."
"Unbelievable..."
"What's the problem? They're comfortable. You didn't say a word when you first arrived, so why bring it up now?"
Master averted her gaze with a blank expression.
"I simply lacked the leisure to point it out until now..."
"Well, if you're buying..."
"It's gotten even worse, hasn't it..."
"Pardon?"
"I said nothing. Let's just buy a few everyday outfits."
I nodded, but by then Cecil was already lost in browsing the clothes, her eyes sparkling. I let out a soft chuckle and started picking some out myself. Honestly, a loose shirt and a robe over it was so comfortable that the idea of daily wear hadn't even crossed my mind... but if she was paying, no harm done. It was a little sad having to pick such tiny sizes compared to before.
...With Master helping, maybe I can get back to normal soon?
Just then, amid the sound of stomping feet, Cecil rushed over. In her hand... was what I assumed to be a scrap of negligee fabric.
Cecil opened her mouth, her face brimming with pure joy.
"This would suit Sha'a-nim perfectly!"
"Hmm..."
So it's not for you—it's for me. But I shook my head firmly.
"Sorry, Cecil, but that needs to go back where it belongs."
"Yes!?"
Her shocked face made my lips twitch, but I held it together.
"It could count as loungewear, I suppose, but it's inappropriate for the workshop. You'd only wear it as sleepwear, so... poor value for money."
"Is that so...?"
"...Yeah."
In truth, I could wear it if I tried... but it felt way more repulsive than the dress I had on. The dress had a casual vibe with no frills, but what Cecil held was literally floaty, with frills at the chest... and crucially, it was slightly see-through.
No matter what, that's a no—
"We'll take that one too."
"Huh!?"
"Ariel-nim! Is that really okay?!"
"It's not as if... Sha'a is buying it—I'm the one purchasing, so no need to mind that one's opinion."
Cecil beamed ear-to-ear, clearly delighted. I glanced at her bouncing with barely contained excitement, then leaned close to Master and whispered,
"I have no intention of wearing it, you know."
Master replied nonchalantly.
"What matter? Look how happy she is."
"...Weren't you the type who didn't care about that sort of thing?"
"Hmph. Perhaps I lacked the chance to show it, what with my disciple's hopeless prospects."
"..."
"And even if thou dost not wear it, the child... well, Cecil shall, no?"
"...Oh."
Imagining Cecil in that floaty negligee, it actually suited her perfectly. The sheer fabric would pair beautifully with her glossy silver hair, and the cute frills at the chest matched her personality. Her perfectly balanced body, created that way... As my gaze trailed from top to bottom, suddenly a stiff rod appeared.
I shook my head vigorously.
"What ails thee?"
"...Nothing."
"How dull."
Master didn't notice me stuffing my underwear back in as we finished shopping for clothes and headed to the furniture store. We drew stares as a group, but no one dared approach after seeing Master's ears and face. Fair enough—not like she was some innocent elf you'd chat with from afar—
"Making strange thoughts again, art thou."
How did she know? She flicked my forehead sharply. Cecil, eyes wide, started petting my head too. What was this—poison then antidote?
"...Stop."
"Self-inflicted, is it not?"
"What did I do?"
"Were you not expressing affection?"
Cecil tilted her head curiously.
"...Yeah."
I ignored Master's soft chuckle. Instead, we switched to a bigger store than the one I'd planned—less a furniture shop and more like a modern department store. In the bustling district, a place I'd never dream of entering normally.
Master eyed me curiously.
"Disciple."
"Yes, Master?"
"This seems different from the place thou described. Am I mistaken?"
"...Looks like my explanation fell short. This is the one."
"...Sigh. Very well. Let us enter."
Too lazy for back-and-forth, she shook her head and went inside. I smirked inwardly and followed with Cecil.
The frame was no issue with Master there to pick quality wood, but the mattress on top was the problem. The method was just stuffing something inside, but what mattered was what you stuffed.
Common ones were packed with duck feathers. A step up, and you had harpy feather mattresses and such. Surprisingly pricey. They claimed only naturally shed feathers, but who knew the truth.
Higher-end had griffon feathers... absurdly expensive, priced like a king's ransom. Only nobles swimming in gold could dream of it. My conscience kept me from looking.
What caught my eye was something else entirely: a slime-filled mattress.
"You have a good eye... miss!"
The clerk hovering for explanations hesitated, then spoke. I let it slide.
"...This isn't made with a live one, right?"
"We don't handle such dangerous items here."
"Thought so."
Maybe because I'd heard tales of someone dying from using a live slime for masturbation, I couldn't help asking.
"How's it made?"
"Details are proprietary, but safety is guaranteed."
I feigned wide-eyed curiosity, but no dice. They wouldn't spill easily.
"Can I touch it?"
"By all means—that's why it's here."
I swallowed hard and slipped in a finger. It squished softly, then gentle pressure pushed back. Better than expected.
"...Mind if I lie down?"
"Er... if you're comfortable with it."
She seemed caught off-guard by the idea but allowed it. Looking around, sure enough, only the slime mattress was set up for testing. Whatever—I lay down.
It squished, molding perfectly to my body. Better than I'd thought. Never tried a waterbed, but this felt like what it'd be.
"Not bad, right?"
The clerk flashed a sales smile, clapping her hands. I nodded reluctantly.
Turning my head, Cecil stared with sparkling eyes.
"Can one more join?"
"Er... of course. Very sturdy."
I beckoned Cecil, who scampered over and lay beside me.
"Sha'a-nim! This is amazing!"
"Yeah, I like it too."
"We could sleep here together!"
"...Hmm."
I'm buying it precisely so we don't sleep together... Felt a bit awkward. I scratched my head and got off.
"What do you think?"
"It's good."
I glanced at Master, who nodded. No words, but her face screamed she wanted to try it too.
"We'll take one. Frame's picked— that okay?"
"No issue. Excellent shock absorption—works with any frame. Even vigorous movement from above leaves it fine!"
The clerk, mouth open, rattled off features.
"Ah... sure."
"Stains absorb on their own over time. Though... post-care required in those cases."
Why whisper the post-care part?
"...How much extra for that?"
"Free once with purchase."
Something felt off. Well, I'd figure out how before then. Couldn't be pricier than this, so a few peeks would do.
Like with the frame, I wrote the address on the contract; Master paid the balance. My lips wouldn't stop curling.
"...That pleased?"
"I'd be lying if I said no. And you, Master—aren't you itching to try?"
"..."
Her cough and averted gaze made me laugh. All errands done, we grabbed dinner and headed home. Ate together, served Master her drinks and sent her off, then called Cecil to the workshop.
...Time to harvest essence. As much as possible.