24. Peshut (3)

-Gurgle

Air bubbles slowly rise upward.

In contrast, my body slowly descends downward.

-Gurgle

When I inhale, water fills deep into my lungs.

But far from being painful, it just feels warm.

This doesn’t seem like ordinary water.

Downward.

Further down into the depths.

It feels like being a fetus submerged in amniotic fluid.

So comfortable, so warm.

I want to stay submerged like this forever.

I want to remain like this without waking up.

‘Wake up?’

[Hoh… A familiar presence, I see.]

‘Huh?’

At the thin voice coming from behind me, I opened my eyes.

The moment I tried to turn my head, the entire pitch-black world spun around.

‘Huh? Who?’

I thought I was alone.

No, why did I think I was alone?

Where is this?

[The place where I first set foot in this world is nearby.]

The voice instantly organized my chaotic thoughts.

I should definitely be alone here.

I knew it instinctively.

But the presence floating before me denied that truth.

[A greedy child, I see.]

In the pitch-black space, a shadowy figure faintly revealed itself.

When I thought I wanted to see it clearly, the world itself moved again.

[I do not hide. I do not flee. So do not be impatient.]

Suddenly, the humanoid figure came closer.

A petite stature.

Cold-looking white hair.

And ruby-like crimson jewel eyes.

From the delicate voice, I vaguely expected it, but the shadow’s identity was a girl.

One who looked exactly like me.

Huh? Me?

[Hmm, perhaps you should roll that sluggish brain of yours a bit more.]

But she’s been talking as if she’s reading my mind this whole time.

[Sigh… How pitiful. To have been usurped by such a foolish child.]

‘Who are you calling foolish?’

In a sudden fit of anger, I punched the girl.

[Ow!]

Tears instantly welled up in the cute eyes of the girl clutching her forehead.

Since she looked exactly like me, it was more annoying than pitiful.

[Sniff… Ahem. Ahem.]

The girl, identical to me, wiped her tears and cleared her throat.

She seemed embarrassed about shedding tears.

‘So, who are you?’

[You don’t need to know yet.]

‘Hey.’

[Flowing time will naturally whisper in your ear.]

‘Want another punch?’

[Sniff, violence is wrong!]

Looking at her, I felt a bit irritated.

No, I wanted to prevent the unfortunate event of the girl being unable to bear the embarrassment and kicking her blanket later.

‘And saying that with your eyes all red doesn’t make you look cool at all, you know?’

[No!]

So I told the girl the heartbreaking truth.

But she puffed up her cheeks and denied reality.

‘Anyway, let me ask again. Who are you really?’

I questioned the girl’s identity once more.

But all I got in return was

[Too stingy toward a fellow plunderer.]

a meaningful answer.

‘Plunderer?’

[Hmm…]

The girl’s evasive attitude made my chest feel tight.

I bit my lip hard and clenched my fist.

[Eek?!]

Though it was just a gesture, the girl flinched and covered her forehead.

Then, seemingly embarrassed again, she averted her eyes and quickly backed away.

Bringing her back seems simple.

For some reason, this place follows my will.

But is there any need to do that?

Then the girl, now at a distance, puffed out her chest and spoke.

[Tremble, lowly beings.]

‘Ah, seriously.’

[Soon, my era will dawn.]

It felt like a declaration to me, no, to the world.

The problem was that the content sounded a bit cult-like, so I casually reached out my hand.

[Eeek!]

Naturally, the world moved.

The forcibly dragged girl flailed with the most unjust expression in the world.

[L-Let go!]

Ah, is this why Jane torments me?

[How rude! How rude!]

‘You can’t act like this here.’

[Mmph! Ugh!]

***

“Ah.”

The harsh sunlight is blinding.

Rubbing my dry eyes, the brightened world greets me.

“Morning… has passed.”

I blankly stare at the clock hands approaching noon.

I had a strange dream.

A dream that felt both significant and insignificant.

Like meeting a cute but slightly odd kid.

“Hmm… what a weird dream.”

“What was…?”

Then, an arm suddenly popped out like a jack-in-the-box.

“Gah!”

Jane, hiding under the blanket, pulled me in.

The first thing I felt was Jane’s scent.

They say human olfaction tires easily, but Master’s scent always feels fresh.

Opening my tightly shut eyes, pink nipples are right before my nose.

After a brief hesitation, I sneakily stick out my tongue.

“Hng… again?”

“Ah, no!”

Goosebumps rise as a hand strokes up my back.

Desperately squirming, Master stifles a giggle.

But there’s no sign of her waking up.

“When are you getting up?”

“Just a bit more…”

Her mumbled voice is thick with sleepiness.

“Yaaawn.”

Maybe because I’m nestled in Jane’s arms?

I stretch my mouth wide open and yawn.

Honestly, I’m sleepy too.

Well, we kept mixing our bodies until the two moons set and the sun rose.

We did it in bed, then ate, then in the bathtub, then back to bed again.

I definitely pounced first, but at some point, I was pinned under Jane, moaning helplessly.

“Tch.”

That fact is slightly frustrating.

But I have no intention of starting a revenge match.

Because I have neither the confidence nor the stamina to win.

“Yaaawn.”

“Shh, sleep.”

“Nyeh.”

Master pulls me, who keeps yawning, into her chest.

I obediently bury my nose in her embrace.

A lazy nap in the drowsy air.

Not bad.

I close my eyes again.

Surely I won’t have another weird dream.

***

Fashion inevitably flows from top to bottom.

The world is full of people who want to emulate those with money, power, and fame.

But no one wants to imitate the beggars at the very bottom who have nothing.

I recall Madame Rosefield saying that.

She added:

Changing the flow is difficult, but once successful, it becomes a majestic river.

Londinium in the Kingdom of Albion is indeed a developed capital city.

But from the continent’s perspective, it’s just a provincial town.

Yet from that provincial town emerged Jane, Madame Rosefield, and me, who together created a gust to change the flow.

At the forefront was the Maylily Trading Company.

It started with my perverse desire to dress Jane in pretty lingerie.

But the stone I casually threw didn’t stop at simple ripples-it became a massive wave that engulfed Londinium.

Thus was born a style of clothing unlike any other in this world.

***

“Let’s buy clothes.”

Master said to me as I sluggishly got up for brunch.

But I wasn’t surprised at all.

Because I’d packed light with this exact purpose in mind.

Honestly, wearing Albion-style clothes here would’ve been awkward.

Compared to the layered, colorful outfits here, Londinium’s fashion is simplicity itself.

Of course, the high-quality fabrics make them no less luxurious than imperial styles.

But they’re just too flashy for everyday wear, so we headed straight to a boutique.

“Ah, I knew this would happen.”

“So pretty. So cute.”

“I expected this.”

I became Jane’s doll, sinking into the swamp of dress-up play.

Putting on clothes, then taking them off.

Putting on clothes, then taking them off.

Putting on clothes, then taking them off.

Finally, when I felt nauseous, I started groaning.

“I think I’m gonna throw up…”

“Then let’s end it with just this one.”

“Ugh.”

The last outfit Jane handed me was a cloak and dress full of her taste.

Changing in the dressing room, I was slightly surprised by my reflection.

“Little Red Riding Hood X?”

I’ve never seen it myself, but I know of an old comic protagonist by that name.

My dyed blonde hair made the resemblance even stronger.

After staring at the mirror, I unconsciously spun around once.

“Ah.”

“You like it?”

Jane, who had been watching my every move, smiled contentedly.

Beside her stood a clerk with a capitalist smile.

“Ugh.”

The boutique clerk had flinched upon seeing me at first.

The collar and jewel eye are symbols of a mixed-blood slave.

But upon recognizing Jane’s noble face, they lowered their posture.

And after seeing the endless stream of gold coins from Jane’s pocket, they practically crawled on the floor.

Now the clerk will remain silent about us without being told.

“This is really the end, right?”

“Yeah, though it feels like we bought a bit less.”

“Please endure it.”

The clothes we bought piled up enough to fill a room.

That was just my clothes-not counting Jane’s.

“Sniff.”

I almost teared up at the waste.

And knowing Jane, she’ll definitely try to dress me in all of them.

“I’m screwed.”

The hardships ahead are crystal clear.

***

We left the boutique with a candy in my mouth.

The purchased clothes would be delivered to our hotel room.

Holding Jane’s hand tightly, we walked through the streets.

Even without hiding in Master’s coat, fewer eyes were on me.

“Phew…”

The large cloak covered my eyes and neck, helping with that.

We leisurely explored various parts of Peshut.

We took a boat on the cold Duner River.

We filled our stomachs in the still bustling market.

They say there’s much to see across the river in Buder.

But honestly, the sights before me were too dazzling to think that far.

After wandering around, we arrived at the Grand Plaza.

The entire vast space was surrounded by fabric.

“The grand auction will be held here tomorrow.”

“Wow.”

I couldn’t help but marvel.

At Jane’s sparkling eyes that couldn’t hide her excitement.

I fell for Master all over again.