Chapter 35: Like Sinking in a Swamp (1/2)

I led Mimi inside one of the tenant shops inside the tall building we were just talking about earlier. The shop was apparently named『Atelier Pure』.

“So this is the place……”

“Yes.”

I kinda hesitated to step inside it for a bit.

The one who proposed going here was undoubtedly me. It was me, but I completely ignored what kind of place a shop which sells gothic lolita fashion was like.

In other words, it was a fancy, frilly and fluffy place that the creatures known as ‘males’ were known to avoid at all costs. It seemed to me that within the shop’s hallowed walls was a deep, dark space emanating a dangerous『Boys Keep Out』aura, which even seemed thick enough to have transformed into a kind of energy.

“We can’t have you entering on your own huh, Mimi.”

“Y-Yeah……”

“Let’s go!”

“Y-You don’t really have to force yourself like that.”

I grabbed Mimi’s hand and stepped foot inside the forbidden land. Maybe it’s because they just opened, but it didn’t seem there were any other customers inside apart from us. The gazes of the shop staff instantly locked on to us.

There were three shop clerks wearing identical uniforms. They all gave Mimi and me a once-over and smiled at the same time afterward. W-What the heck’s with this pressure!?

“Welcome, dear customers.”

“Is this your first time coming here? Thank you for your patronage.”

“We’re delighted that you chose to shop here. We, the staff, will use all of our being in order to drag you into the swamp… ehem, satisfy you to the best of our abilities.”

Did she just say swamp? Utilizing a mysterious movement technique, all three of the staff instantly shortened the distance between us and them and already had Mimi and I surrounded before we noticed what happened. She really did say they would drag us into a swamp earlier, didn’t she!? What the heck is with these people!?

“Eh, ah, un. We’ll be in your care.”

I managed to utter a reply, but Mimi was swallowed by the overwhelming aura of the shop clerks and clung tightly to my arm. Ah, those dangerous, lethal weapons are sandwiching my arm…… Alright, I’ve recovered folks!

“Do you guys… know what we’re here for?”

“””Of course, dear customer!!!”””

The three shop clerks replied in cheery voices and gave us big smiles. What can I say? They were quite quick on the uptake. Right now, my will and those of the three ladies were mysteriously aligned for the first time. In all sorts of meanings.

“To tell you honestly, I don’t have any idea how much the clothes in this store are going to be, but… I do have enough budget, I think.”

“I see. How much do you think you can afford, by the way……?”

I considered the shop clerk’s question for a bit. I honestly have no idea about the market price for these things because I haven’t visited shops like these even back on Earth. Since I don’t have a concrete basis, I can’t just carelessly name a price either.

“In general, how much would it cost to buy an entire set?”

“Well, let’s see… it also depends on the brand, but orthodox items generally cost about 1000 Enels.”

“So about 10,000… no, 20,000 Enels, I guess. Please give us something that would fit this girl here.”

When I showed my available finances to the clerk, she paused for an instant and smiled widely afterward.

“Would it be fine if we recommend items that go a bit over budget?”

“As long as you keep it in moderation. We’ll leave if you propose nothing but expensive stuff.”

“Please leave it to us. Do come over here for a bit, dear customers.”

The shop clerk who asked about my budget called over the other two employees, who just finished taking Mimi’s measurements, and told them what we talked about. The other two clerks looked surprised and quickly turned their gaze toward me. I nodded back at them, then turned towards Mimi. The three shop clerks also focused their gazes on Mimi.

“Eh? Eh? W-What is it?”

Mimi became flustered when all of our gazes gathered on her. It was hella cute. Mimi was led by two of the clerks further in, and I was guided to a waiting area at the back of the counter by the one who remained.

“I understand that the atmosphere inside the shop may be a bit too much for a man such as yourself, so please do wait here instead. I shall bring you some refreshments right away.”

“Ah.”

Well, it certainly felt a bit difficult for me to walk about inside this frilly, fluffy shop interior. I’m thankful for their consideration.

“Please leave the young lady to us. We shall coordinate the most exquisite outfits for her. That, I promise.”

“I’ll leave her in your professional hands then.”

After hearing my response, the shop clerk gave me the finest smile I saw from her since we came to this store. She then excused herself. She used that mysterious, squirmy-looking movement technique to boot. Just how do they pull off those weird movements? Them suddenly disappearing before one’s very eyes in an instant also seems kinda scary.

Before I knew it, there was a cup of hot coffee, along with sugar and milk placed on the table in front of me– Wait, just when did these get here anyway? What’s with this supernatural phenomenon? Horror? I’m seriously starting to shake in my boots here……

I sipped my coffee in order to get rid of the shivers and busied myself by playing around with the 3D dress-up app I got from the cosplay shop we went to some time ago. I went at it for about thirty minutes.

“Thank you for waiting.”

“A-Auuu……”

An angel has descended. She was clothed in a fluffy and cute white dress with a lot of pale pink frills and had a large ribbon adorning her head. Her feet and legs were covered in white tights and a pair of pink shoes. Mimi, who was now wearing a costume that pushed the boundaries of her cuteness to the absolute limits, was fidgeting in embarrassment with reddened cheeks. So precious.

“……(I joined both hands and offered worship in silence)”

“It seems you have no need for words to express your adoration. As expected of our dear customer. You really do understand.”

“The theme we chose was ‘sweet and cute’. Will you go ahead with the purchase, sir?”

“……(I offered my data terminal in silence)”

“Thank you very much!”

I paid for the clothes and proceeded with taking pictures of Mimi from all sorts of angles using my terminal’s camera app. These can definitely be used for an amateur idol video or portfolio. That’s just how beautiful they were.

“U-Uh… P-Please don’t take pictures……”

“Not being able to preserve the visage of an angel this cute is utter blasphemy!”

“Please control yourself, dear customer. There’s more in store.”

“Understood.”

I stopped taking videos and pictures of Mimi and gave her a once-over again.

“Truly an angel.”

“T-Thank you very much, I think……?”

“Fufufu…… Shall we have her change into the next outfit then?”

“Well then, young lady. Please come over here.”

The shop clerks once again led Mimi inside that fluffy-looking space.

When I went back to the waiting area, I found some hot tea and cookies placed on the table. Really now. Just how did these get here, man……? As I thought, it’s hella scary.

Perhaps the clothes have already been prepared beforehand. The shop clerks brought a newly dressed up Mimi back almost immediately. The outfit this time looked plainer. But it also felt like a classic design and radiated elegance. How should I put it? It kinda feels like something a wealthy young lady from a noble family would wear.

“Wonderful. It can even be used as casual wear to some extent.”

“Yes. That is exactly this outfit’s concept. Would you like me to prepare some similar items as well?”

“Go ahead.”