Chapter 141 – The Promise With Elli (1/2)

Finally, the time of dread has come.

”This way, this way!”

There was only so much I could push back the inevitable. But today, I had reached my limit.

”Come along now! No need to be shy!”

Nothing could delay my execution anymore.

”You know, I talked to the others and got so many ideas!”

I was forced to walk the plank.

”And so many people eager to help out too! We managed to make a great collection for you to try!”

”Does it really have to be now?”

I looked on at the sun-like smile on Elli's face. And just like the real sun, it burned.

”We don't have much time left before you give birth. If we don't do this now, we'll have to wait until you've recovered, and even then you'll likely be too busy to try the clothes out for months!”

That was actually exactly what I was hoping for.

But alas, it seemed like the venerable elder had figured my plan out even before I did, and cut off any avenues of escape.

With my hand firmly in hers, I was lead by the elderly woman and her surprisingly strong grip to the same building where I had received my previous set of clothes from her.

The tailory had been expanded quite a bit. From the front, the wall had been reinforced and decorated. No longer was it just naked stone brickwork with the occasional large cracks that kept the place well ventilated. Now, All traces of wear and tear had disappeared and there was even a new outer layer of blue plaster added to the entire surface. Not only that, but the plaster had a nice wavy pattern sculpted into it, like tall grass that curled into deep spirals at varying heights. The grooves were filled in with a vivid green paint as well that sparkled differently depending on how the light hit it.

Of course, beyond the new decorations the biggest change was the addition of a second floor. The new level was built seamlessly in to the point that I couldn't help but wonder if it was actually a different building entirely and I was just misremembering the location.

It might have been possible. This city had changed quite a bit over the last year thanks to the massive influx of materials coming from the dungeon.

Not only this one, but all the surrounding buildings were newly repaired or rebuilt. Only the placement was the same and plenty of the structures were unrecognizable from before.

Elli, and consequentially myself as well in addition to Claret and Orphne who were tagging along as they tended to, boldly entered the building as if she owned the place.

For all I knew, she might actually have, but I never bothered to ask.

The inside of the building had changed quite a lot as well.

There were magic lamps all across the walls, forcing me to squint both due to the brightness as well as the heat of the [light magic].

(Maybe I should put on the shawl Elli gave me before...)

But considering the fact that I was going to have to change clothes in a bit anyways, it would be a waste of effort.

”Is something the matter Scarlet?”

”Ah, no. It's just the lamps...”

”Oh, right. They are pretty bright for a vampire, are they not?”

”Ah, no, well, they are, but...they're made with [light magic], aren't they?”

”Oh no. You are right, they are. I did not think that such weak [light magic] would still be harmful to a vampire. I see. Maybe we should ban all tools which use [light magic]?”

”No. That's fine. It just makes my eyes itch a bit. Something of this level is only a bit annoying. And there's probably some important uses for [light magic] enchantments, right? It would be bad to do a blanket ban just because of me.”

Encouraging the use of alternative enchantments was one thing, but banning something which might have widespread use that didn't have good alternatives was another thing. Too dictatorshiply for my tastes.

”But it will not just be for you. Soon it will be the same for your baby, right?”

”Ah, you're right!”

I hadn't considered such a thing. Outside of combat, [light magic] wasn't really much of an issue. And I was already so used to wearing a fully body cloak to cover myself up from the usual sources of [light magic], I hadn't considered that Alicia would need anything more than that.

But realistically thinking, just that would be too risky. For such a small and weak body, even a minor source of [light magic] might be extremely harmful to her. I was going to give her my sunlight regeneration skill, but that did nothing when it came to sources of [light magic] that wasn't also composed of lots of light, and more importantly, the pain from having your body burned by [light magic].

”I'm glad I still have the clothes you gave me in the beginning. I think I can use that in the place of a more permanent solution until I have something more permanent made.”

”Did I forget to tell you? Those baby clothes we gifted you. They have a powerful enchantment to resist [light magic].”

”Seriously?!”

I thought back to the baby clothes I had received during the baby shower when I didn't even have a visible baby bump. I had received a pair of baby clothes in the shape of black robes. They were the same style as the robes I wore, although simplified in parts. There were a bunch of underclothes as well, but those two stood out in particular due to the style.

At the time, I was so overwhelmed with happiness that I hadn't even noticed that they were enchanted. It was something which I needed to confirm before I went into labour.

”I see I had forgotten then. How unfortunate. Well, I will tell you now then. The clothes I had gifted were made with the efforts of quite a few groups. Fairy dust from some of the fairies, mana crystals sourced by several demons, hunter spider thread gathered by some of the dragonkin, many of the materials processed by a titan, and all woven and enchanted by my fellow dolkkalfar. And the enchantments placed on the robes are similar to the one on the clothes I had given you before, but many times stronger. I suspect that your child will have no difficulty tolerating all but the strongest [light magic] spells!”

While I figured that she was exaggerating, there was a part of me which suspected that she wasn't.

”Scarlet dear! What is the matter?!”

”Huh?”

I looked back at the dokkalfar elder's face to see the worry on it before it transformed into a gentle grin.

”You were not aware of your tears?”

She raised a wrinkled hand and wiped the wetness from my cheeks.

”I, I didn't...umm...I see. I'm crying huh?”

”Yes, you are.”

I nodded and returned the smile.

”My baby and I really are loved, aren't we.”

”Yes, you are.”

Even though I had originally made the realization close to a year ago, being reminded of it made me weep tears of happiness.

”Master, we all love you!”

”Thank you Claret.”

I patted my ever faithful familiar's hand as she tightened her usual hug from behind.

”Kya!”

A sudden groping on my belly almost made me jump on the spot.

”We all love you Scarlet! And your baby too!”

A little grinning head poked out from between the buttons of my undredress where my robes couldn't close due to the size of my belly. Rather than purchasing a new robe that I would only be able to use for a few months, I had opted to simply stop bothering to button up the lower half of my robes and just wear a dress to maintain my decency.

”We love you little baby! Hurry up so we can all see you!”

Orphne rubbed my taut skin with her arms while leaving her body flattened against my lower globe.

(Seriously, this girl.)

My fairy companion had such a strange fixation with Alicia. She even went to sleep on my belly most nights despite my protests. And due to the fact that I didn't sleep, I was forced to transfer her to the little bed I had made for her once she loosened her grip after falling sleep.

Though, I did wonder just how big Orphne thought Alicia's new body was, calling her little. Was she somehow mistaking the size of a vampire baby with a fairy baby?

(For that matter, I've never actually seen a fairy baby so far.)

That was a bit of curiosity which would have to wait for the time being.

”Well, I think that's enough of that for now. Let's hurry up. The others are waiting!”

And with those callous words, the tears froze in my eyes as I was mercilessly torn back to the present.

As I dreaded what was coming up, I turned my head away from the stairs which we were headed towards and glanced around the room.

Unlike before, this tailory was more set up to be like an actual clothing store now. While the number of display items was small, there were a few sets lining the walls, with a wooden counter splitting the front and back parts of the room. There were a pair of doors on one side of the room side by side, and another beside the staircase Elli was dragging me towards behind the counter.

There was a young looking dokkalfar woman waving at me with a bright smile with some sort of half sewn piece of cloth in her hands. I waved back with my free hand before peeling Orphne off of my belly while ignoring her protests.

(Wait, that isn't a baby sized dokkalfar shawl, is it?!)

The black piece of cloth looked suspiciously like a wide ribbon, maybe a quarter the dimensions of the one Elli had given me.

(I hope she's not intending that for Alicia. She doesn't need more clothes. Not this soon.)