Choosing a Swimsuit (4)

A somewhat familiar voice coming from inside the storage room.

Naturally, an image of a certain noble lady with sky-blue hair who runs a merchant company flashed through my mind, but it was still too early to conclude.

After all, it’s not like the August Family is the only noble house that operates a merchant company, and it could just be someone with a similar voice…

“You came looking for a swimsuit with a bust size of 110? First, I’ll need to take your exact measurements, so if you could let me…”

“Lizzie-yang?”

“…Lilith-yang?”

…So I wasn’t mistaken.

Was this boutique originally affiliated with the August Trading Company? Since this wasn’t information available in the original story, it’s no surprise I didn’t anticipate it.

In the original story, the August Family’s downfall happens around the end of Part 3, during the second semester of the fourth year at the academy. Since there’s no reason to visit this boutique again after that, it makes sense I wouldn’t know.

Given how the August Family runs businesses in various fields, it wasn’t too strange that Lizzie was connected to this store.

“So, you’re saying it was you, Lilith-yang, who was looking for a swimsuit with a bust size of 110?”

“…Yes, Lizzie-yang.”

“Hmm, I see… You could have at least given me a heads-up if you were coming. Had I known Lilith-yang would visit, I would have prepared a few things in advance.”

“I’m sorry to say this, but I only just found out that Amour Ange Boutique is affiliated with the August Trading Company, Lizzie-yang.”

“Well, I suppose that makes sense. There are over thirty stores on the Island of Knowledge alone that are either directly under our company or in collaboration with us, so it’s understandable you wouldn’t know.”

…By the way, why is she here?

First of all, Marine Biology Research, as the name “research” suggests, is fundamentally a practical combat subject.

Since Lizzie is from the Pharmacy Department, it’s unlikely she enrolled in the class, so she couldn’t be here to buy a swimsuit for herself.

Earlier, she was talking about preparing gifts for a friend in the storage room… Could that have been about me?

Swallowing the awkward question of whether she was preparing a gift for me, I looked at her, and fortunately, she explained her presence here first.

“By the way, the reason I’m here is because this time of year, many people visit Amour Ange Boutique for swimsuits, so I came to help out.”

“Huh?”

“With the pharmaceutical knowledge I learned in the Witch’s Forest, I can dye fabrics to any color I want or apply a thin coating that prevents water absorption or color fading even when submerged.

Originally, this kind of work required hiring specialized mages, which was costly, but now that I can do it myself, as someone managing the trading company, I couldn’t just stand by and watch money go to waste.”

“Ah, so that’s why…”

…So that’s why there were more swimsuit varieties and colors compared to the original game.

Though unintentional, it seems helping Lizzie in the Witch’s Forest ended up benefiting me in this way. Thanks to that, I had fun dressing up Natalie and Agnes in various outfits.

Meanwhile, noticing that my conversation with Lizzie was dragging on, a boutique employee cautiously spoke up.

“Head of the Trading Company? Is this guest perhaps…?”

“Employees, make sure no customers come up to this swimsuit floor for the next two hours.”

“Huh?”

“Make up some excuse like internal organization or product display. It’s not like there’ll be many people here until evening anyway.”

“…Ah, understood!”

The employee, answering a beat late, headed downstairs.

After watching them leave, Lizzie cleared her throat softly and slowly approached me.

“Ahem. Anyway, it’s nice to meet you outside the academy, Lilith-yang. Lately, you’ve seemed quite busy socializing with people other than me or Lara-yang.”

“Ah, yes…”

“I’ve been feeling a bit lonely not seeing you around much lately. But we’ve known each other since before entering the academy, right? Of course, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with you being close with someone like Her Highness the Princess.”

“…Saying we’ve been close since before enrollment is a bit…”

“……Huh?”

“Ah, no. We are close friends…”

Even after not seeing her for a while, Lizzie was still a somewhat overwhelming presence. Different from the kind of pressure Seraphine or Lara exerted.

And although our first meeting was disastrous, I’ve received a lot of help from her since enrolling in the academy, so it was hard to be outright cold to her.

“Did you get to use the dried mandrake roots you bought last time?”

“Ah, not yet… And that was just something I bought as a precaution, not because I urgently needed it.”

“It’s better if you don’t have to use it, honestly. Anyway, since you’re here today, I assume you came to buy a swimsuit?”

“…Yes.”

“I actually set aside a few outfits in your size. Someone with your figure can’t just wear any swimsuit, after all.

And now that you’ve visited our boutique, what a coincidence! Just like in the Witch’s Forest, it must be fate intertwining us, Lilith-yang!”

“Haha, ha…”

…Fate, huh? Well, it is a strange kind of fate. In the original game, Lizzie was supposed to die, but I saved her.

In the original timeline, there shouldn’t even be any data for Lizzie at this point in the game, so maybe she’s clinging to me to fill that void.

‘Well, whatever. At least she’s a girl, so it’s not that dangerous.’

If it were a burly guy like Karaham, I’d have freaked out and pushed him away, but since Lizzie is a girl…

As long as it’s not some guy other than Ethan obsessing over me, I can tolerate it from a unicorn-like perspective.

“Since we’re here, why don’t you try on a few and see which one suits your body type best? I’ll pick them out with the discerning eye of an August Family lady!”

“…Huh? W-Well, I don’t think that’s necessary…”

“Ah, first, let’s take your measurements again. Accurate sizing is crucial, so if you could just undress and let me handle your body…”

“N-No… I, I know my own measurements. And there’s no need to undress just for that…”

…Correction. This might be a bit dangerous.

Even if we’re both girls, I could sense something unsettling in the obsession in her eyes. While I was frozen, unable to react, the changing room curtain suddenly opened, revealing two people who came to my rescue.

“Hurry, Lilith-yang. It’s just taking measurements, nothing weird about it…”

-Rustle!

“…Lilith, I’m done changing.”

“I-I’ve changed too, Lady Lilith!”

“…Huh?”

Breaking the awkward silence, Agnes and Natalie emerged from the changing room.

The dangerous glint in Lizzie’s eyes as she approached me with a measuring tape faded slightly as she turned toward the two.

“…So, you didn’t come alone today, Lilith-yang?”

“Y-Yes… W-We came out today to buy swimsuits for Marine Biology Research class…”

“S-So, you didn’t even ask me to come swimsuit shopping but asked other friends instead?”

“N-No! It’s just that we’re taking the same class, so we came together… L-Lizzie-yang isn’t in the Pharmacy Department, so you wouldn’t be taking Marine Biology Research…”

“I see. So friendship can’t be bought with money. I knew that. Still, I thought if Lilith-yang showed even a little interest in me, that would be enough, but to you, I’m just someone convenient to use…”

With those words, Lizzie pulled out a handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes, sniffling.

While I was baffled by what she was saying, I could sense Agnes and Natalie’s gazes growing colder.

“…Lilith?”

“Lady Lilith?”

“N-No! L-Lizzie-yang is just misunderstanding something! I-I never thought of our friendship as insignificant…!”

“Yes, it must be my mistake. I thought Lilith-yang and I were friends, but if you only saw me as someone easy to use, then it’s my fault… *sniff*…”

“…Well, Lilith does have a tendency to treat friends a bit roughly.”

“W-Well, thinking about how Lady Lilith acted toward Lady Agnes earlier, maybe her idea of friendship is a bit different from the norm!”

“N-No! I-I’m sorry if I tired you two out, but this is really a misunderstanding…!”

“Yes, yes… I was mistaken to think Lilith-yang was my friend… *sob*.”

“……”

“……”

Ugh, seriously!

With this atmosphere, I really look like the villain here!