Gentle showers left puddles of mud all over the roads. At the height of summer, rain usually came right before the crack of dawn, leaving a generous coat of dew over everything, from the crops to the streets. And under that rather gloomy, overcast sky, a tiny voice rang within Dellwick's market street, brightening up a certain tailor's sleepy morning.

"Cecil!" Sylphia peeked her head over the counter and called out a bright, "good morning!"

Heavy footsteps erupted from the upper floorboards, making haste for the stairs deeper within the shop. Then, a girl with a terrible case of bed hair emerged.

"Ueh!? Miss Sylphia?" Cecil, the store's former owner and, now, only employee, frantically said, "I didn't know you'd be coming today! Uuu... look at this place... I haven't even cleaned up yet, much less put up the displays!"

"Hihi! Don't worry about it."

"Well, please, come in! It must be freezing cold out there..."

"Ah, thanks! Though I'm pretty used to it at this point..." she then muttered, "...having slept in that damp cave for weeks."

"Hm?" Cecil cocked her head.

"Nothing, I just came to see how you were doing."

"Ahaha... well, it's as you can see."

Past the display area was her workshop. Tools and materials were spread around as though an earthquake had struck. And yet, despite this, there remained a glint of order within the chaos - an inkling that Cecil was somehow keeping each mess in its own place while she worked.

"I'm sorry, it's always this messy when I'm in focus."

"Uh-huh. Looks like you've been busy." Without missing a beat, she then twirled around and said, "So, so? How's that outfit I asked you to make?"

"Ah, yes! I did my best but... I've never made anything like it, so please tell me if there's something wrong with it."

She then retrieved a small parcel, stashed away in the corner and handed it to Sylphia.

"Ooh!" The little girl's eyes sparkled. "The material is so soft!"

The lustrous black cloth nearly fell through her hands as she took the folded dress in hand.

"It is, isn't it?" Excited. "I ordered it from a friend in the adventurer's guild! It's a thread from the Alraune flower! It's extremely rare, you know!?"

"Hoho...? Just how expensive are we talking about?"

She chuckled smugly. "It can go up to 2 shillings a spool!"

"Shillings...?" Sylphia's eyes flickered. "Wait, 2 silver!? Really!? Well, the quality is really good, so..."

"Mm! It's my favorite material, after all. I use it on pretty much everything!"

"Heeeh..." She thought for a moment, but immediately something felt off. "Eh? Did you say 'everything'?"

"Mm!"

"Even those simple-looking clothes?"

"Hmhm! That difference in quality sets apart my dresses from anyone else's!"

She sighed. "Are you an idiot?"

"E-eh!?"

"No wonder you've been bleeding money! Why would you use such a expensive material for something like a common dress?"

"E-eh? But... but... I have my mom's reputation to protect! If I lag on-"

"Look. Nobody will buy these clothes."

"Ngh-!" Cecil cringed.

"An average person can't afford a dress like this, and this sort of simple design won't impress anyone who could actually buy it!"

"Uuu..."

"Listen to me." Brought her hand down on the desk, making a loud bang. "You need to cater your products to your customers! If you want to make ordinary clothes, then focus on simplicity, ruggedness and affordability! If you want to make high-quality clothes, then go all-out! Is it that difficult of a concept to understand!?"

"B-but... even if I make clothes for nobles, only farmers and traders ever come here, and I don't have any personal connections to the nobility..."

"That doesn't mean you should then make a farmer's shirt that only an aristocrat can afford!"

"Uuuu...!"

"In short, you need focus!" The little girl then stopped forward and lifted herself up on her tiptoes, shoving her face mere inches from Cecil's. "Tell me! What do you really want to do!?"

"E-eh...?" She hesitated. "Well, of course, I want to make beautiful clothes... but if I can't sell any..."

"Tsk. Like I said, you should leave that sort of thing to me!" She pointed to smugly to herself. "I'm still a Baroness, after all! And the Heroine, on top of that. But most of all, I'm your business partner! If it's advertising you need, then I'll help you out however I can!"

Those words sent a tremble across Cecil's spine. "R-Really...?" She clasped her hands together. "Y-you'll do that for me, Miss Sylphia!?"

"Of course!"

Hearing that, Cecil suddenly went quiet.

For a moment, she muttered something under her breath with a bittersweet smile, but quickly shook it off. And, clasping her hands tightly over her chest, she declared, "Then, in that case, I won't hold back anymore."

A smile surfaced on Sylphia's lips as she let out a sigh.

"Miss Sylphia!" The tiny ember in her eyes erupted into a roaring flame. "I want to make the world's most beautiful clothes! Please help me achieve that goal!"

"Hmph." She then flourished the fan in her hand, unfurling it in front of her mouth. "You can count on me!"

Amidst her smug afterglow, she would go on to try on her new dress, all the while pointing out the adjustments she wanted. It only dawned on her long after she was on her way to her next destination that, actually, despite her noble title, she didn't actually know anyone to show those clothes to.

Ah, wait a minute! I do know someone! Like... A-Alphonso or... the King...

Her eyes glazed over.

I wonder if they'd be interested in something like that...?

She sighed.

...On second thought, I probably shouldn't have ran my mouth like that.

Oh well, it'll probably work out, someday.

I didn't say when I'd do it.

####

It was late in the afternoon, and Sylphia was on her way back to the inn.

"Reporting, meow," a small voice said, close to her ear.

Sylphia's eyes turned to an empty alleyway to her side. It was dark and dusty, with wooden panels and other assorted junk left beside the houses that formed the alley. But aside from those she could see no one there.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"Hmm..." she muttered, "Go ahead."

"The furless in glasses met with a merchant, and then went into a crowded building, meow."

Before continuing the conversation, she slipped into the alleyway, lest someone see her seemingly conversing with an imaginary friend.

"Merchant, you say?" Her eyes swept left and right, trying to pin down from sound alone where her conversation partner was speaking from. "Did you catch what they were talking about?"

"I'm sorry, meow. I only know the furless traded for an item, meow."

"Hmm..."

So she was just shopping. Geez, it's nothing important, so you don't have to report it to me! But they don't really understand what I mean by important and not...

She sighed. "Fine. Which merchant? Describe."

"The merchant that visits our village, meow."

"Eh? Dante?" She cocked her head. "After all she says about him, she's still buying stuff from him...? Or is it... something else?"

Once more, she swept her eyes around her.

"Meow?"

"Listen. I want you to keep a closer eye on her. Whenever possible, I want to hear what they're talking about..."

Finally, her curiosity got the better of her. She lifted her finger up to her shoulder and gathered her black haze into a single point.

Lighter.

A small flame erupted above her fingertip, radiating a faint golden light that was hardly discernable from the ambient light. But when she turned her eyes around her, she now saw, beside her, standing a kobold with black fur, his head turned down in deference.

He then lifted his face and said, "As you will-" The flame's light reflected from his bright golden eyes. "-my Goddess, meow."

Hmph. Turns out it's both more and less useful than I thought...

"Alright, then. You can go home now. See you again tomorrow."

"Thank you, my Goddess, meow," he said, as he leapt nimbly onto the dark side of the thatched roofs above and vanished.

Hmm...

Sylphia leaned her shoulder onto a wall.

Was I wrong about Eris? With her and Rika on the case, the guards should be finished reorganizing soon. We should be finished soon. But something's bugging me...

Then, she bit onto her nail.

Who was that cloaked weirdo? I haven't seen him again since.... Was it just my imagination?

A small voice then said, "My dear goddess, meow?"

She looked behind her. There, she saw no one but the people out in the street, walking past.

She then flicked her finger, shooting a lick of flame over her shoulder. And for a single moment, a second kobold appeared, then vanished just as quickly.

Her brows furled.

It would be nice if things could end without any incident...

"It's nothing," she said, "let's go back to the inn. You can go home too, afterwards."

"Thank you, dear Goddess, meow."

And with a little puff, she extinguished the flame. The black haze that fed into it dispersed, leaving in its wake a thin, odorless smoke that soon faded away.

####

Later that evening, Eris received an unexpected visitor.

Announcing her visit with a heavy knock on the door, the Elder's daughter stormed into her room, looking for Sylphia.

"I'm sorry," she replied, "but My Lady, she isn't here yet."

"E-eh!?" Ann's face clouded over in anxiety. "D-do you know where she went?"

My contacts keep saying she goes out to the trail leading to the forest. The only thing there is the dormant dungeon... I wager she is trying to dig up some treasures to sell. The rumors say she subjugated it weeks ago, but I know for a fact that she took a party with her - I was the one who closed the request, after all. I know all about these adventurer types. There wouldn't be anything valuable left after the first time they've swept it clean.

Yet it's the only thing they know how to do.

Tsk. This is why an adventurer's mindset is so troublesome...

"I'm sorry, Miss Ann," she answered, "I do not know. My Lady often disappears around this time."

"And you don't know where she goes?"

She shook her head. "I'm afraid not. She has instructed me not to disturb her while she is away."

"B-but this is urgent!" Ann hopped in closer, her hands clasped over her chest.

Even if I sent someone out to fetch her, who knows what dangers still lurk in that dungeon? It simply isn't a place for just anyone and contracting an adventurer just to drag her back out is ridiculous.

Thus, she answered, "I'm sorry, but even so, I wouldn't know where to find her."

"No way..." Ann sobbed.

I understand your frustration. Even I can't believe how irresponsible that girl is.

At that moment, an idea popped into Eris' mind.

Hmm...

"Alright then..." Ann said as she turned around with a sullen expression on her face, "I'm sorry for disturbing you."

The young girl was about to take her leave when Eris stopped her. "Ah, Miss Ann-"

"Huh?"

"-though I can't find my Lady for you, if it is something that I can help with, then I am available at the moment."

Ann's eyes gleamed, and with a gasp she anxiously said, "Ahh! Is it okay? Miss Secretary always looks so busy..."

With a warm smile she, patted the girl on the shoulder and said, "Of course. It's also my job to be there when my Lady is away."

"I-in that case-" She clasped her hands around Eris'. "Please come with me. Many people are complaining about their trade wagons being attacked by bandits, and I don't know what to tell them!"

Oho...? You don't say?

"I see. I understand, Miss Ann. Please allow me to prepare for a moment. I will join you shortly."

Ann lowered her head and said, "Thank you, M-Miss Secretary...!"

Alas, as soon as the door closed, a malicious grin surfaced on Eris' lips.

Perhaps she will be more receptive...

The moonlight reflected off her glasses, the pair of vicious, sharp eyes underneath.

...once the public holds a more negative opinion of her.