At first, Mitsuki felt confused, but he looked at Jeanne, searching for an answer. She calmly nodded.

"Yes, of course. If it’s for buying the clothes, then—"

Before he could even finish speaking, the woman skillfully moved her hands. Taking Mitsuki’s hand, she intertwined her fingers with his.

As though they were about to dance, she raised his hand together with hers. She offered Mitsuki a gentle smile, as if trying to reassure him about whatever was happening, though he couldn’t feel anything about it.

She then pulled a black measuring tape from her vest and wrapped it around Mitsuki’s body while spinning him around a couple of times. When she abruptly stopped, Mitsuki stumbled slightly.

At that moment, four of the nearly twenty automatons wandering through the establishment approached them. Their delicate hands already carried different sewing and tailoring tools.

Kalika, as the woman behind the counter had called her, pulled on the measuring tape with a single motion, making Mitsuki spin endlessly once again. When the tape finally ran out, he stopped abruptly and placed a hand on his head.

’What the hell is happening?’

In front of him, Kalika smiled kindly.

"What colors do you like?" she asked.

"Colors...? I don’t really have favorite colors, but I usually wear black and gray clothes. They’d be useful for hiding in the dark."

"I see. What kind of style do you think would suit you right now?"

"Well... something light, like a battle mage outfit, but still fitting for an adventurer."

Kalika nodded. Then she looked at Jeanne.

"Miss, what comes to mind when you look at the gentleman before you?"

"Well... I think he’s really adorable. Just look at his face and body shape. He looks like a cute little doll," Jeanne answered enthusiastically. "If only you knew what he looks like under those clothes..."

"Jeanne, you’re saying too much," Mitsuki interrupted.

Kalika nodded enthusiastically again—despite her gloomy appearance, she seemed like a very friendly woman. She also ignored the princess’s comment and continued with her work.

"I understand what you mean, miss. Now then, allow me to ask you another question, dear customer. Do you plan on recovering your missing arm through some magical or surgical method? If so, the outfit should be adapted for that possibility."

"Yes. I plan to look for a way to recover my arm."

"Excellent. You also mentioned earlier that you’re an adventurer, meaning you need clothing made from durable material that won’t tear easily. Here at Midnight Needles, we possess a wide variety of resistant materials for different situations, though they are more expensive compared to ordinary materials lacking such qualities."

’I don’t think money will be a problem,’ Mitsuki thought. He still had plenty of money and valuable items he had collected during the journey, not to mention the bag of coins Azel had given him. When he opened it, it was filled with silver coins.

Azel probably felt guilty about the arm...

"That’s not a problem. I think I have the necessary budget, so if possible, I’d like something resistant to high temperatures."

With a brief nod, Kalika turned around and pointed toward one of the shelves of fabrics high above the store. Two automatons immediately turned and moved toward it with quick and elegant steps.

Standing with her back to them, Kalika raised both hands and clapped once above her head. Between her hands, with a brief flash of black feathers, appeared a black notebook with a skull-shaped buckle and a decorated piece of graphite made to resemble a pencil.

She opened the notebook and, while drawing inside it, turned back around.

"Based on the answers you gave me, I’ve prepared several options," she said, flipping the book around to show its pages.

’Wow... That was way too fast. She only took like two seconds to draw all that...’

He looked carefully at the designs. The very first one was already perfectly illustrated. He could even picture himself wearing that outfit.

It was fairly light clothing with several straps fastening different sections together. It included a light-colored poncho, black pants, and boots with the same design as his current pair.

The second looked more similar to the outfit he was already wearing. A light-colored doublet, dark pants, and boots; however, instead of a trench coat, it had a side cape covering the missing arm.

Two other designs shared similar characteristics.

"Do you like any of those designs, Mitsuki?" Jeanne spoke beside his ear.

He glanced at her and nodded.

’I like the first one more. It’s discreet and looks lightweight, but the second one looks good too. It’s obvious the designer made it with elegance in mind rather than practicality. I think she’s somehow expecting me to buy more than one outfit.’

"You can think about it a little longer," Kalika suggested. She pointed at the yellowish sheet of paper while explaining, "I recommend the first one. Under the poncho, there’s a long-sleeved shirt; it’s light and comfortable, and together with the straps, it can conceal things underneath."

Mitsuki looked into her eyes.

’She was thinking the exact same thing I was...’

Apparently, she really knew how to handle customers. She was doing this way too well!

She even smiled innocently at him because she knew she was winning over a potential customer...

"Well, I’ll take the first two," he finally replied.

Kalika closed the notebook with a smack.

"Excellent decision. Please, have a seat while the outfits are being crafted."

As she spoke, two automatons placed wooden benches beside one of the fabric shelves. Mitsuki got the feeling those "machines" needed a lot of room to move around, which was why the benches had been placed so far away.

Jeanne was already sitting down.

"You’re very impatient," he told the princess.

She smiled.

"That’s because this is the best part. Just sit down and watch. You’re going to like it."

Mitsuki shook his head in resignation. He sat beside Jeanne and looked toward Kalika, who was approaching the center of the establishment.

That gothic woman, carrying an elegance no one would expect from someone dressed so differently from the norm, raised her hands to the sides as though she were holding something extremely heavy.

She moved her hands to the opposite side and, amid black threads twisting together, a pair of massive and razor-sharp black scissors appeared. The tool was as large as its owner. It could even be used as a weapon!

The automatons danced around her while carrying long fabrics that fluttered like banners.

Kalika closed the scissors, and a piece of fabric fell cleanly cut. One automaton quickly appeared and caught it in its hands. Then another arrived carrying two needles and several spools of thread, beginning to sew the fabric together at an absurd speed.

Mitsuki’s eyes widened in amazement.

"It’s like an orchestra," he said.

Jeanne nodded.

"Yeah. It’s just that the one conducting the symphony is also part of it."

Some of the customers who had just entered the shop stood there mesmerized as they watched. The spectacle was beautiful and elegant, something only a world of magic could offer.

’It’s incredible.’

Killer ash statues, skull-faced monsters, and specters with overwhelming power. Seeing this after all of that was a huge relief for Mitsuki.

’I can’t believe it’s only been three months since I arrived in this world.’

So many things had changed in the blink of an eye, yet far more time had passed than Mitsuki had expected. So much had happened, and he had only managed to claim half of the Mystery of Cinder.

A long journey awaited him.

The massive scissors vanished, and two automatons were already holding the completed outfits.

Kalika approached the pair alongside the automatons and presented her creations to the customer.

"They are finished. Their name is ’Shadows of Dawn.’ Outfits that radiate darkness, yet conceal a great light within their wearer."

"You gave them names?" Mitsuki asked.

Jeanne intervened.

"All great masterpieces need names, Mitsuki."

Kalika agreed.

"Indeed. Please head to the fitting room to confirm whether the measurements are correct. Afterward, you may proceed to the counter for payment. Amanda will assist you again there."

"Come on, Mitsuki. It’s time for the fashion show."

The princess stood up from her seat and grabbed Mitsuki by the hand. The automatons followed them.

Kalika watched them with that gentle smile of hers, though her expression soon turned gloomier. Still, she heard Amanda calling for her, so she returned to crafting outfits for the customers.

***

The fitting rooms were located at the back left side of the store. They were guarded by two mannequins for each section: Gentlemen and Ladies.

Mitsuki was about to enter the men’s fitting room, so Jeanne should have stayed outside waiting, right?

No.

She pushed him forward, and the two of them entered the fitting room together.

"Sometimes you really make things spiral out of control, Jeanne."

"That doesn’t matter. Let me help you change. You’re missing an arm, so it must be difficult."

Mitsuki sighed.

’There’s the real Jeanne. It’s been a while since the last time I saw her... because the last time, we were both drunk and naked.’

"I can do this myself. I’m not helpless."

She shook her head while holding Mitsuki’s torn trench coat.

"Come on. It’ll be fun."

"Hey, no. Wait. Your armor is pinching my skin."

"It’ll only be for a little bit. I swear."

"Do you realize you sound like some old pervert? What happened to the part where you’re supposed to be a princess?"

Jeanne didn’t listen to him. She simply continued doing her own thing, because that was just how she was.

There was no stopping this lioness.