IFBTDC 10

#10

Sompara climbed down from the chair and wiggled her antennae in my direction.

“Hmm……? Li, like this?”

“Yes, just like that! Please wait a moment!”

Sompara suddenly produced a tape measure from somewhere and began measuring various parts of my body.

“Huh, what, hehe. That tickles!”

“My goodness, please stay still for a moment, Lady Joe!”

“But it’s too ticklish, phew!”

“There, all done. Good thing I brought this just in time.”

Fluttering her wings, Sompara headed towards a gigantic bag, several times larger than her tiny frame.

How on earth did she carry that with such a small body…?

Curious about what was inside, I sat on the wooden chair and watched Sompara’s movements.

“Is that… a sewing machine?”

“That’s right, Lady Joe. Watch closely. The handiwork worthy of being called a master artisan!”

What Sompara pulled out was a mysterious sewing machine and fabrics in various colors.

I narrowed my eyes, held my breath, and stared intently at Sompara.

Smooth, click-clack, phew

‘Wow… she really is a master.’

Honestly, even I, who doesn’t know the first thing about design, could tell Sompara’s skill was extraordinary.

Her posture—using her two long, almost sentient antennae to nimbly pull thin thread over the sewing machine, elegantly stitching the colorful fabrics stitch by stitch—reminded me of the legendary designers from where I used to live.

“There, finished. Lady Joe, would you like to try it on?”

While my gaze was completely captivated by her fluid skill, a dress had been completed in the blink of an eye. Impressed by the insane speed, I quickly held the dress Sompara handed me against my body.

“H-how is it?”

At my question, the gazes of the three monsters focused on me.

“Ooh, it harmonizes perfectly with Lady Joe’s unique eye color. As expected of my exceptional eye!”

“It truly does. Lady Joe, you look so beautiful! Here, take a look in the mirror.”

“Kyuuu!”

Along with the explosive reactions of the three monsters, my reflection appeared in the mirror—wearing a fresh dress in bright pastel tones.

“Th-this is… me?”

It was a line I’d always wanted to say at least once.

Good heavens. Clothes really do make the person…!

As soon as I put on this dress, my complexion, darkened from labor, noticeably brightened.

“I love this dress! As expected of Andre Somme…!”

“……Andre Somme? Hmm, anyway, I heard Lady Joe is quite an active person, so I excluded cumbersome lace decorations and designed it using comfortable, breathable material. Moreover, I added waterproof functionality by lining it with rare fabric.”

“Wow…… Even though it has so many functional features, it’s this pretty?”

At my words, Sompara replied with a proud attitude.

“Ahem! Of course. Not leaning too heavily into either functionality or aesthetic sense is my specialty. Therefore, considering Lady Joe’s body shape, I emphasized a slim waistline and designed it with a simple yet elegant feel that suits your image. So, do you like it?”

Watching Sompara’s lengthy explanation about the dress, I gave a thumbs up.

“……It’s really, so, completely. I love it! Thank you, Sompara! You’re truly the best designer, no, artisan!”

I only had worn-out, tacky clothes left at home anyway…

I need to buy this. Even if I have to sell the vegetable patch.

Carefully gauging Sompara’s reaction, I cautiously opened my mouth.

“……Um, but Sompara. How much is this dress? I don’t have any money now, but I’ll work hard on farming and pay you back.”

“Hmm, money, you say? Lady Joe, do you think you can afford it?”

With this level of quality, it must be quite expensive, right?

Swallowing dryly at the risk of bankruptcy, I replied.

“Hmm, t-tell me.”

“Just joking. This dress is my gift to you, Lady Joe.”

For a moment, I thought I saw a blinding halo shining behind Sompara.

So the wings on her back were angel wings?

But receiving such an excellent dress for free weighed on my conscience.

Should I close my eyes and accept the kindness, or choose my conscience?

“Thank… No, wait, you should take the money. I’m not that shameless.”

After much deliberation, I chose conscience.

“No, it’s fine, I insist. Don’t humans love free things……?”

“Well, no one dislikes free stuff, but I really want to pay the proper price. How much, how much is it?”

“Hmm, when dealing with humans, there’s rarely one who insists on paying full price… Haaah, fine. Rather than tiringly haggling, I’ll just give it as a gift.”

Of course, no one dislikes free things. But judging by Sompara’s weary attitude, it seemed she had suffered much from humans.

‘Yeah, I’ve been there too……’

Back when I was just an “ordinary job-seeker with a hobby of animal figurines,” I once made animal-shaped key chains to sell as a side job… That series of experiences taught me that ideals and reality don’t always align.

Every day there were ridiculous complaints—the paint was slightly chipped, it wasn’t cute enough, etc.—and the parade of troublesome customers who haggled down the already low price…

Eventually, worn out by all the nonsense, I reached the point of thinking, ‘…Forget it, let’s just give them away for free ‘ And so, donating the key chains brought my small business to an end.

Back then, I rationalized it as avoiding the mess, not out of fear… but that was just the shortcut to becoming a pushover.

“What are you talking about? Just looking at this dress’s design, I can see exactly how much thought and effort you put into it for me. So, price it expensively and sell it. Excellent items deserve their proper value.”

“Ah, no.”

“No what! You’re a Great Monster, why are you so naive? If kindness continues, people start seeing it as an entitlement.”

“……My, you truly are a peculiar human lady, just as Sir Golem said.”

After my rapid-fire speech without pause, Sompara muttered quietly with a dazed expression. It seems all the monsters here are pushovers… no, I mean, naive monsters. Ugh, how do they plan to survive in this harsh world with that attitude?

“Um, then for now, would you like to try some of this apple pie? Mr. Golem, do you have a plate by any chance?”

“Of course! Here, use this plate.”

I took out the apple pie I had kept in the wooden basket and arranged it neatly on a pretty dessert plate.

Instantly, an elegant atmosphere formed, as if invited to a noble young lady’s tea party.

Anyway, it looks more like a noble lady’s party than anything I could host.

“Oh, did Lady Joe perhaps make this herself?”

“Yes, that’s right. Haha, I made it, but I guarantee the taste. Mr. Golem, please have some too.”

“Sniff, wow, it smells incredibly delicious! Wait a moment, I’ll bring out some black tea to accompany the pie!”