Chapter 110: Intermission Date - Serica (1)
Chapter 110: Intermission Date - Serica (1)
"Let's go buy some clothes."
Serica tilted her head at my suggestion.
"Are you referring to your own clothes, Young Lord? If so, wouldn't it be faster to just send someone to the salon and have them bring a selection over?"
"I'm not talking about my clothes."
Serica had misunderstood.
She looked down for a moment, deep in thought, then clapped her hands as if she’d figured it out.
"Then it must be the Knight Order uniforms. I shall go call the others."
"It's not for the Knight Order. Well, in a way it is, but it's not for the whole order."
"Then whose is it?"
"Yours."
Serica closed her eyes for a moment. Her face was the picture of someone trying to process exactly what I had just said.
"I see. However, is my armor not sufficient?"
"I'm not talking about armor. I'm talking about something else for you to wear, whether it's here or in the Labyrinth."
I gestured at Serica from head to toe.
"A combat coat. A shirt and tunic underneath. A Knight Order uniform that doesn't show a single inch of skin. It's terribly stifling."
"There is nothing wrong with it, is there?"
"Sure. If this were the Empire or a typical knight order, it would be fine. The same goes for the adventurer 'Sword Maiden.' But this is my Knight Order."
I pointed to a mannequin standing against one of the walls.
"Shouldn't our order's official dress look more like that?"
Laura's bunny girl outfit.
Yurdias's hardcore restraint outfit.
Naturally, Serica should be wearing something similar.
In fact, Serica had worn something like that a few times before.
"When we went down to conquer the Infinite Labyrinth, you wore a swimsuit underneath and a full-body robe over it."
"Yes. I did."
"You committed a grave mistake. A truly monumental error."
I pulled up a recorded image from Avantgarde Unit 1 and showed it to Serica.
"I understand wearing a robe when entering the Infinite Labyrinth. I understand not taking it off because there are so many people on the lower floors. But what is this?"
I pulled up an image from the moment Serica had briefly loosened her robe.
"What on earth are these straps underneath the swimsuit?"
"Those are my undergarments."
"Who wears underwear under a swimsuit?!"
I was genuinely angry. This was something worth getting worked up about.
"Who in any world wears underwear under their swimsuit?!"
"I did."
"Why?!"
"Even if it is a swimsuit, entering the Infinite Labyrinth wearing only a single piece of clothing on top and bottom felt... inappropriate."
"Laura goes in without underwear."
"That is Commander Laura. I am different."
Serica made an 'X' with her arms, her expression one of blatant distaste.
"Why are you bringing this up now?"
"Because I only just confirmed it!"
After returning from conquering the 10th floor, I had been browsing through the recorded images to review our past exploits when I discovered it.
"I'll give you credit for wearing underwear with transparent straps so I wouldn't notice. It was actually quite hot."
"......."
"But this is clearly crossing the line. It's the same as wearing glasses and white knee-high socks with a maid uniform!"
"I believe those are two very different things."
Serica was a formidable opponent, as expected. Even after we'd had sleep play sex, her ability to act as if nothing had happened was top-tier.
Should I just tell her to shut up and pour me a drink?
No.
I couldn't keep using alcohol to get my way with her forever. If I wanted to have sex with a conscious Serica, I couldn't back down here.
Above all else...
I couldn't give up on Serica [Swimsuit].
"Serica. Is there really a problem with going down to the Infinite Labyrinth in just a swimsuit?"
"There are many problems. First, my skin would be directly exposed to the monsters of the Infinite Labyrinth, making me an easy target."
"Ugh..."
She had a point. Since I hadn't found a way to refute that logic yet, I had no choice but to concede for now.
"Then what about outside the Infinite Labyrinth?"
"Where are you referring to?"
"For instance, in front of me."
Serica fell silent. She was still wearing her Knight Order uniform, showing almost no skin, let alone a swimsuit.
"Do you wish to see me in a swimsuit?"
"Yeah. I want to see you spending time in a swimsuit."
"Not just once, but from now on?"
"Yes. Honestly, I'd prefer it if you fought in a swimsuit even in the Infinite Labyrinth."
"Why are you so obsessed with seeing me in a swimsuit?"
"Because you're beautiful."
I could say that with absolute certainty. Serica's long, lean body was truly stunning.
"Thank you for the compliment. However, a swimsuit is..."
"They'll have them at the salon. Right?"
I hadn't been there yet, but between the 21st and 30th floors, there were springs, lakes, rivers, and even an ocean where one could swim. I'd heard that some adventurers even took breaks to enjoy a swim there. In fact, Serica had probably gone swimming there a few times herself.
"Let's go. I'm going to buy you a swimsuit."
"If that is the case, perhaps it would be better to take Lady Laura along."
"No. You're the one who needs to try them on. Well?"
"......."
Serica looked away. She fidgeted with her fingers, unable to give a straight answer.
What should I do? How should I phrase the proposal to Serica—
"......."
A proposal?
No. I'd been thinking about this all wrong.
Let's do this my way.
I was a dictator. And while Serica was an adventurer, she was once a knight. A 'sweet' Ruji didn't suit a woman like her.
"Serica."
I stepped toward her and reached out.
"Follow me. That's an order."
"...If it is an order, I suppose I have no choice."
Serica stood beside me, bowing her head as if resigned to her fate.
"I shall escort you to the salon."
On the surface, she looked like she was being forced to follow my lead while leaking a bit of distaste, but...
"I wonder if they will even have swimsuits at the salon."
Serica cleared her throat and began walking ahead of me.
"The salon doesn't just have swimsuits. Right?"
"Young Lord. If you put it that way, doesn't it make it seem like I am excited to try on the other clothes at the salon?"
"Aren't you?"
"I am not."
Serica shook her head firmly. I ignored her and pointed forward.
"To the salon."
* * *
"Oh my, Sword Maiden! It’s been ages, darling~"
Why do the designers at these salons always sound like they’ve been gargling butter?
"Welcome, Lord Ruji Fermaton. Et tu me mamma."
"What does that even mean?"
"It’s just my personal greeting. Oh-ho-ho!"
This person, who seemed to exude an aura of elegance, luxury, and gorgeousness, was the owner of the Fermaton Salon.
"Hey, Jean Valjean."
"No, no, no. It’s Jean Vorjien. Even if you are the Young Lord, you must not mispronounce a lady’s name like that."
"......."
To clarify one thing:
This salon owner, who looked like a man with blonde hair, blue eyes, and a go—rgeous appearance...
Was a woman.
Standing at 180cm, wearing frilly trousers and a white frilled shirt, this person who looked exactly like a blonde, blue-eyed man was actually a female character.
Even for a female character, this is a bit much.
She wasn't a character hiding her appearance like the Barbas sisters; she actually looked like this. One might think she should have been born a man, but she was definitely a woman.
"Thank you for visiting the Fermaton Salon. Amu pasita!"
"What is it this time?"
"Actually... it doesn't mean anything at all. Oh-ho-ho!"
"......."
It had been a long time since I’d felt such a strong urge to hit a woman. But her skills were undeniable.
"So, what kind of clothes are we ordering today? A bunny girl outfit? A bunny girl outfit? A buuuunny girl outfit?"
After all, this was the very salon where I’d placed a bulk order for Laura's bunny girl outfits.
"Or perhaps a custom uniform for the Sword Maiden? Just say the word. My skills are second to none!"
That was exactly why it was so frustrating. In all of Fermaton, she was the only one capable of realizing the outfits and 'skins' I had in mind.
Jean Vorjien.
A 2-star character.
The polar opposite of an otokonoko.
If she grew a beard, you could easily mistake her for a Viking. The reason she looked like this was apparently because she ate something wrong when she was a child.
"The reason I'm here today is to get a swimsuit for Serica."
"Oh my, oh my! A swimsuit? You’ve come to the right place. My inspiration has been overflowing lately, so I have plenty of new designs!"
Jean Vorjien spun around and grabbed the curtain of a side section.
"Sermuta! Why don't you take a look and take your pick?"
"Ugh."
Serica’s face crumpled the moment she saw the swimsuits behind the curtain.
"Whoa."
For me, it was a glorious parade of swimsuits that drew an involuntary exclamation of awe, but Serica’s expression began to sour in real-time.
She cast a look of pure contempt at the swimsuits, then at me, and finally at Jean Vorjien, her eyes screaming, 'You call those clothes?'
"Oh, don't look at me like that, Sword Maiden. Do you have any idea what a blessing it is for a woman like you to wear a swimsuit? Look at me. Even if I wore one, would I look pretty?"
"T-that's..."
"I’d look great! In my own eyes, anyway. But I guess men don't see it that way."
She was well aware of her own situation.
"Sword Maiden. It is my dream to dress women with heavenly bodies like yours in the clothes I create. Only women with bodies like yours are worthy of my designs. Don't you agree, Young Lord?"
"Of course. For Serica to wear nothing but that uniform is a sin against her own perfectly sculpted figure."
"It's a sin now?"
"Yes."
The sin of having such a beautiful body and keeping it tightly wrapped and hidden. The charge is 'humblebragging.'
"Jean. First—"
"It’s Jean Vorjien."
"...Fine. Jean. Do you have a specific recommendation for Serica?"
"Oh-ho-ho! Of course I do. It’s this one."
Jean pulled out a specific swimsuit hanger.
"It’s this right here."
"......Young Lord?"
"Hmm."
I wasn't sure how to respond to the look Jean was giving me—
Ah.
"Is this... that outfit?"
"Yes. This is one of the pieces you ordered last time, Young Lord."
Jean gave a sly grin as she pointed to the hanger.
"It’s a swimsuit made from a magical fabric that is visible only to good people. It is my greatest masterpiece."
"A Masterpiece."
Before my eyes, I saw nothing but an empty hanger.