Ascendance of a Bookworm

After the mana filled my body and I was able to move again, I ate the bread porridge that Mark had prepared, and finally I could move normally.

“Myne, should I prepare the attendant’s everyday clothes here, or will you prepare them yourself? What do you want to do?”

“Where should I buy everyday clothes? The secondhand clothing store we use at home won’t do, right?”

Even for poor commoners who can’t afford new clothes, except for exceptions like me, children grow quickly. They need bigger clothes one after another, and smaller clothes become useless.

Since there’s no room in our already cramped house to store useless items, everyday clothes—excluding expensive formal wear like kimonos—are sold to secondhand shops as soon as they no longer fit. Then, the next everyday clothes are bought from those secondhand shops. That way, you can get the next clothes at a discount equivalent to the buyback price.

The clothes just need to be wearable, so it’s normal for them to be dirty. Patches and repairs are considered decorations. Design? That doesn’t exist. What matters most is the thickness and durability of the fabric.

If the fabric becomes too thin overall, the shop won’t accept it, and the clothes end up as baby diapers or rags.

“You idiot. Don’t let her wander around the north in those clothes.”

The attendants who accompany me to the Gilberta Trading Company and the temple basically need to wander the north side of the city, which is an upscale area. It seems we can’t dress them in such poor-looking everyday clothes.

“I don’t know any high-quality secondhand shops, and I have no idea what kind of clothes are suitable for an attendant, so I’ll leave it entirely to Benno.”

“If you don’t get a fever tomorrow, I’ll take you. Also, I need to check on the progress of the restaurant renovation. You come along too.”

“Okay.”

When I nodded, Benno turned his gaze to Lutz.

“Lutz, today is technically your day off, but you’re coming too.”

“Understood.”

“Sorry, Lutz. Thanks for tagging along.”

“No, I think it’s good to get some cheap clothes besides work clothes. This is perfect.”

Lutz, who seemed to accompany me even after entering the temple, apparently wanted clothes suitable for walking around the north on his day off.

Unlike everyday clothes, the Gilberta Trading Company apprentice uniforms must be washed every time because they deal with customers and need to maintain a clean appearance. But washing often wears out clothes faster. Lutz doesn’t want his clothes to get damaged, but his only clothes for walking around the north are the apprentice uniform.

“If you have no clothes to wear outside work, you’ll have to make another apprentice uniform, right?”

Hearing Lutz’s words, I also wanted some clothes of my own. Like Lutz, the only clothes I have that I can wear in the north are the apprentice uniforms.

“Benno, please pick out a set for me too.”

Shopping for clothes for myself is almost never done here. Feeling excited about tomorrow’s shopping, I went home with Lutz.

“See you tomorrow then.”

“Not yet, Myne. You haven’t reported today’s events.”

“...Huh?”

Just as I was about to part with a bright smile, Lutz glared at me. I faltered, but of course, I couldn’t stop Lutz’s report.

“Why don’t you take care of yourself, Myne?”

“Tulli, don’t cry!”

“I’m not crying! I’m angry!”

Knowing that Tulli has always worried if the self-eater would really be okay once I went to the temple, or if I might suddenly disappear, being scolded tearfully by Tulli brings me the greatest guilt.

“Sorry. I won’t do it again.”

“...Are you going to eat lunch properly?”

“Of course!”

When I nodded firmly, Tulli’s eyebrows relaxed a little.

“Will you consult with the important people properly about the mana?”

“Yes.”

“Even if you read the book, you won’t forget the promise?”

“...Uh...”

“Myne?”

Tulli glared at me with a moist look, but I can’t make a promise I can’t keep. I’m confident that if there’s a book in front of me, my reason will fly out the window easily.