Chapter 23 - The Custom Commission
This is the third store we've visited in search of a tailor who can take on a custom order. This time, it's a shop that deals in accessories and also does tailoring for women's clothing. Maybe they can handle it.
I step inside the store, avoiding the people loading and unloading goods outside, and take a quick look around. The place is pretty crowded with shoppers and people who seem to be here for business. It looks like a popular shop.
Hmm, what should I do?
There are people chatting with the staff and others who seem to be waiting their turn, so it doesn’t look like I can talk to anyone right away.
I didn’t plan on doing any regular shopping, but I might as well browse while I wait for a chance to speak to someone.
"Let's kill some time. Valeria, feel free to look around too?"
"I'll look for something that suits you, Onee-sama."
"Stop being so selfless. Look for something that suits you, not me."
Well, that’s fine. I start browsing the items on display. The shop seems to specialize in clothing rather than accessories, with a focus on sturdy, traveler and adventurer-friendly garments.
The workmanship is excellent, even to my untrained eye. The variety in styles and colors suits my taste, and I could have picked out my outfits from here.
After browsing for a while with Valeria, a staff member finally seems to be free and approaches us.
"Are you looking for something in particular?"
I’ve finished looking at most of the items. Perfect timing.
"I’m not looking for anything specific, but I was wondering if you could take on a tailoring job."
"A custom order, you say. Unfortunately, our schedule is quite full, so it might take a while to complete..."
The staff member seems to be considering it, but also hesitating. They might be indirectly turning me down.
This seems like a good shop, so I don’t want to give up easily. I’ll try to push a bit more.
"I understand it’s a popular shop. If you can, could I speak to the owner?"
"I can try, but the owner is very busy..."
Customers often ask to speak to the owner, so they might be used to it. The owner probably doesn’t meet every stranger who asks, so I need to do something to catch their interest.
"If you could just pass on a message, that would be great. I have some rare metal threads as a reward. If they’re not interested, I’ll try elsewhere."
This approach seems to have worked.
Customers who offer something other than money are rare. The staff member looks intrigued and carefully examines the bundle of metal threads I show them.
"These are the rare metal threads? ...Let me see... Please wait a moment."
The staff member at a popular shop should have a good eye. The threads I have are truly rare. They might not recognize them, but they could sense their value and decide it’s worth reporting to the owner.
I hope the owner or a tailor shows interest. These metal threads are definitely a premium reward.
If it doesn’t work out, I can always try another shop. As long as I get a good product, it doesn’t have to be on Sixth Avenue.
After a short wait, the staff member returns from the back.
A woman who looks like a tailor also comes out. From her attire, I assume she’s a tailor, though she seems quite young. She has long ears that extend from her head, a characteristic of a subhuman race. She addresses me.
"You’re the one who wants to place an order? I heard about the rare metal threads and came out right away."
"Yes, but more importantly, are you the tailor? You’re younger than I expected."
"Is that so? I’m actually the owner here. I’m a tailor too."
She’s the owner. Despite her youthful appearance, age isn’t always a reliable indicator in this world. She could be older than she looks.
"Oh, I see. I was looking at your products and they’re all excellent. I chose this tailor based on that..."
"Hold on! Can you show me the metal threads first? I’ll decide whether to take the job based on that. Sorry, but I’m quite busy. If it’s not something special, I’ll have to decline."
Her attitude is straightforward and direct, which I actually like. It’s efficient.
"That’s fine. Here they are."
I take out a bundle of ink-black metal threads from a burlap sack. The tailor’s friendly expression turns serious as she examines them carefully.
After a moment, she swallows hard.
"...I’m just wondering, but could these be... Metal threads from Carbonium Magic Ore, perhaps?"
Impressive. She got it right. She knows the rare materials well. I feel confident enough to entrust the work to her.
She asks with a skeptical yet hopeful look in her eyes.
"Bingo. I think it’s a fair reward. What do you think?"
"Really! So, you’re giving me this whole bundle? If that’s the case, I’ll take the job on a priority basis!"
She pounces on the offer with such enthusiasm that I actually take a step back. I didn’t expect such an intense reaction.
I should probably wait a bit before showing her the silver-blue metal threads. They’re drawing attention from other customers, and I should be more cautious.
"Hey, it’s hard to talk here. Is there another room? These items are valuable, and I don’t want too many eyes on them."
"You’re right. Follow me!"
She eagerly grabs my hand and leads me along, saying, "Hurry up!"
She’s a bit like a child, but Valeria and I follow quietly. This tailor seems quite innocent.
"So, you’re really giving me this whole bundle? Are you sure about it?"
She’s so eager, it’s almost comical.
As soon as we enter a room that looks more private, she asks.
"I’ll take the job if you’re sure about it. You mentioned a priority, right? Is that really okay?"
"Of course. You said you’d take it on a priority basis, didn’t you?"
"Sure, sure. My apprentices will handle my other work, so I can focus on your order. What do you need exactly?"
Her casual attitude is a bit concerning, but her efficiency is helpful.
"I need coats. One for me and one for this young lady."
"Coats? Since you’re offering Carbonium metal threads as payment, I’m guessing... Oh wow!"
The rabbit-eared owner reacts dramatically. She’s quite expressive.
"Don’t overthink it. I want coats made from these ink-black metal threads. Such custom orders aren’t usually available, and you can’t tailor them without the material, right?"
"Of course not! But, we’ll need a considerable amount of material... You don’t mean all of this burlap sack, do you?"
She points at the sack with trembling hands. I’m getting used to her character.
"Not all, but half of it is Carbonium."
"Half? That’s more than enough! With that much, we could make more than just two coats."
Actually, the other half is even rarer metal threads, but I’ll bring that up later.
"If you can make two coats on a priority basis, I’ll give you two bundles as a reward. Will you take the job?"
Based on her previous reactions, I think she would have accepted even one bundle, but there’s no need to be stingy. It’s important to have her work on the project with enthusiasm.
"Really!? Of course I’ll take it! But, I’ll need the reward upfront. I don’t want any surprises later."
"If you do a good job, there won’t be any issues."
"Alright! Then it’s settled! What kind of coats do you want?"
Decisive and straightforward. A good person to work with.
Since the reward is paid upfront, the deal is sealed. Now, it’s just a matter of discussing the design and delivery date.
She’s enthusiastic, so leaving it to her discretion on the delivery date should be fine. She’ll work on it first, so it should be completed sooner than the estimated twenty days.
For the design, I don’t have any specific preferences. For my coat, I’ll go with a simple long coat. Valeria didn’t have any particular requests, so I’ll get a duffle coat with a hood, similar to what I like.
The only common design element will be a faint Kikyo crest on the back, with the rest left to her discretion.
I plan to have Valeria’s coat made from the silver-blue metal threads, not the black ones.
The tailor is eager to start working as soon as we agree. She’s quick to decide and quick to act, which I appreciate. I feel we’ll have a good working relationship going forward.
"Creating coats from Carbonium Magic Ore is an honor! I’ll make them the best work of my life, so please look forward to it!"
"Hehe, I’m excited. Oh, and I want this young lady’s coat to be made from a different metal thread."
"Different from Carbonium? But you have plenty left."
I ignore her puzzled look and take out the silver-blue metal threads from another burlap sack. The threads have a beautiful hue of white with a hint of blue. The tailor’s eyes light up as she examines them, becoming sharper.
"Here. I want her coat made from these metal threads."
"...They are incredibly beautiful. But, what are they? I’ve never seen anything like this, and I’m not ashamed to admit it."
Honesty is a virtue. Carbonium is rare, but compared to this, it’s almost common. This interaction shows she’s trustworthy.
"These are Seikikou metal threads."
"Seikikou? I’ve never seen or heard of it. What are its properties?"
"It has similar properties to Carbonium. In simple terms, it’s a different color."
"A different color? I’m not doubting you, but really? I’ve never heard of such a thing."
It’s quite rare, so it’s understandable that she hasn’t heard of it. But it’s true. The strength and flexibility are on par with Carbonium, making it a valuable material."
Even if she doesn’t understand it now, she’ll see the practical applications when the product is made. There’s no reason for me to lie.
"To think such a thing exists... I guess I’ll just have to do my part. So, can I take one of these bundles as part of the reward? It’s more expensive than Carbonium, but I won’t insist if you don’t want to."
"That’s fine. In exchange, I expect the best work from you."
"...You never know what you might get. I didn’t expect you to actually give them to me. Who are you, really?"
Her usual cheerful demeanor has shifted to one of slight unease. I didn’t mean to make her feel that way, so I’ll keep the mood light.
"Just a regular customer. Depending on how well you do, I hope we can have a long-term relationship."
"A regular customer, huh? With this reward, you’re anything but. You’re a VIP! Let’s get the measurements done!"
After going through the necessary procedures, Valeria and I leave the store. I find it too much trouble to carry the burlap sacks back, so I leave them there, telling her to use as much material as needed.
The estimated delivery date is about twenty days, though I expect it to be completed sooner. She promised to deliver them, but since we’re staying at an inn, and our base might be completed and we could move at any time, I’ll pick them up when the date arrives.
"See you later. I’m looking forward to the finished products."
I part ways with the tailor, who returns to her work with a determined look, and Valeria and I head back to the inn. Our initial goal is achieved, and I want to avoid unnecessary wandering and potential trouble.
We return to the inn safely without any issues.
In the lounge area, Siegrune and Josephine are enjoying tea and relaxing.
"We’re back. You were quick."
"We just got back. Shall I make more tea?"
"Yes, please."
While waiting for Frederica and the others to return, I’ll relax and have some tea.
By the way, the custom-made coats are still a secret. I plan to order them for everyone after seeing the finished products, to avoid everyone insisting on going together right away.
I want to see the quality of her work before committing to a group order. I don’t want to make a mistake.
As we chat, the sun starts to set.
My stomach is growling. Frederica and the others are taking a long time. While discussing this, a noisy group enters the inn. They’re as loud as usual.
"Onee-sama! We’re back!"
"...Phew, we’re late."
Sarah is leading the way, and everyone seems to have returned together.
"Welcome back. You’re a bit early. How about we start dinner? We can talk about the renovations while we eat."
After ordering from the inn’s staff, we move to the dining area. While eating, I listen to what happened today. It seems the renovation process was quite challenging, especially for Frederica.
As expected, everyone started giving their opinions without any coordination, causing significant confusion for the contractor. If it weren’t for the commercial guild’s connections, the contractor might have given up.
Eventually, after everyone’s preferences were exhausted, Frederica and the contractor worked together to come up with a feasible plan.
Frederica emphasizes how difficult it was to balance everyone’s preferences while staying within budget.
The members who gave random suggestions seem to be reflecting on their behavior, listening attentively to Frederica’s account.
"—So, when can we move in?"
"Well, it will take at least fifteen days, even under the best circumstances. I managed to negotiate the cost down, but it still came to four million Gist. Yuki, if this amount is a problem, we can revisit the plan. I can contribute too, so I hope we don’t have to redo it..."
Her pleading look is a bit much. I’m not that heartless.
"It’s not a problem. The current amount is fine. Since I said I’d cover the cost, you don’t need to worry. I’ll give the money to Frederica, so please proceed."
"Phew... Alright then. Once we pay the advance, we can start the work. That gives us a timeline."
To establish a proper base, we need a signboard.
Since it will take another fifteen days, we need to think about what to do in the meantime. Even if we buy pre-made furniture, we’ll wait until the base is completed.
"Yuki, can everyone listen for a moment?"
Josephine takes the lead, which is rare.
"What’s up?"
"Siegrune and I checked around during the day, and it seems there are a lot of monsters in the Northeast Forest. Since the renovations will take some time, how about we go hunting?"
"There aren’t enough people to cull the monsters, so it’s hard to gather resources. How about we do some hunting and monster culling while we have free time?"
It seems Siegrune was also waiting for the right moment to suggest this.
"Killing time, training, securing monster materials, and gaining the Kikyo Society’s favor—sounds like a win-win. Not bad, right?"
"Makes sense. Besides, if we just sit around, we might start wasting money."
"True. Plus, we’re better suited to running around outside."
"Can we join? We can’t contribute much in battle, but we can help with gathering forest materials."
I’m a bit worried about leaving Sophie and the others in the city, but with proper protection during gathering, it should be fine.
Everyone seems fine with it, and they agree to join.
"Alright. We’ll start going to the forest tomorrow. Is the Northeast Forest close?"
It’s probably different from what I imagine. I’m looking forward to it.
"If we go by vehicle, it should take about an hour. Not too far."
"Then we won’t need to camp. We can secure additional rooms and make daily trips."
"Hah! No need for small fries. Let’s go for the big catch!"
"I’ll aim for quantity. The best hunter is me!"
"What, you think I’ll lose?"
They’re an enthusiastic bunch. We still have things to do in the city, but there’s plenty of time before and after the hunts.
I need to move around to feel settled. Besides, hunting is exciting. I’m looking forward to it.