"Challenge Udaeus? Right now?"
At the mention of the floor boss, Tsunayoshi's spirits perked up at once.
"No, no."
Alise waved both hands quickly. "We're on an important expedition. If we challenge a floor boss now, it'll mess up everyone's rhythm—that's a no-go. What Kaguya and I mean is: on our way back from this expedition, Astraea Familia will challenge Udaeus."
"That… does make sense."
Challenging a boss mid-expedition would be chaos. But if it's on the return trip, did they need to clear it with someone first?
"Alise, shouldn't you just tell Finn about this plan directly?"
"Hehe~ we were hoping you'd help."
Alise edged closer with a flattering smile, rubbing her hands together. "Kaguya and I both know Tiona and Tione's outer gear was made with your ability—it's crazy resistant to both physical and magical attacks. We were thinking… could you make a set for us, too?"
"I see."
Tsunayoshi understood why Alise and Kaguya had come. Using the Holy Shroud to craft a few suits was doable. But there was a catch he had to make clear.
"Alise, are you sure everyone in your familia can actually wear them? You've got a certain elf with… cleanliness issues. If she learns the clothes were created by my ability, won't she reject them on principle?"
"Ah…"
Alise and Kaguya froze, the same hopeless elf popping into their heads. Celdy wasn't that fussy. The problem was Ryuu. She wasn't just inept with daily life—she could be painfully particular.
"She… probably will? Maybe?"
"Absolutely will." x2
Their lips tried to sound confident; their hearts answered with certainty. With Ryuu's personality, the moment she heard "made by an ability," every nerve would tighten. She'd go straight into total rejection mode.
"Then we won't tell her!"
Alise and Kaguya reached the same decision almost instantly.
"Wait, you won't tell her?"
Tsunayoshi stared. "You're talking about clothes she'll wear—how do you not tell her?"
"Mhm. We just won't tell her the truth. We'll say Kaguya and I expected this situation before the expedition and used our allowance to custom-order special gear. That's all."
Alise's brain was running hot. A benevolent lie. With how single-minded Ryuu could be, she wouldn't scrutinize the details.
"That'll work?"
Tsunayoshi struggled to believe someone would buy that.
"Trust me—Ryuu is a dummy about this kind of thing. She'll believe it."
"Agreed."
Kaguya nodded hard, then—behind Alise's back—twirled a finger beside her own temple, silently indicating that Alise was even worse than Ryuu in some ways.
Tsunayoshi glanced at Alise and got the picture instantly.
"In that case, one problem remains."
He held out his hand. "I'll need your spare clothes. I have to know everyone's exact measurements."
Both women blinked, and a faint blush bloomed on their refined faces. Adventurers could be rough-and-ready, sure, but when it came to private garments, anyone would feel shy.
"Is that… really necessary?"
"You'll be wearing the suits next to your skin. And you're using a 'custom order' as your cover, right? If they aren't a perfect fit, would you really have gone for a custom job?"
"…That's true."
Alise and Kaguya had no rebuttal.
If they wanted their excuse to hold up, there couldn't be any discrepancy in size. If "custom-made" gear didn't fit, even a straight-through-like-a-sewer-pipe mind would clog up at that.
No helping it. Both would have to go fetch their personal underlayers and spares. Not just their own—everyone else's too.
Yes, the others had to be informed—no, they needed to be informed. Without someone on hand to rein in Ryuu, she might sniff out the truth.
"…Even our… underlayers?"
Lyra's voice shot up—then she forced it back down.
"Of course," Kaguya said, suddenly very solemn. "We're challenging a Level 6 floor boss. If anything goes wrong, do you think this is a joke?"
Even so, Lyra could still see a trace of red on Kaguya's cheeks, like the glow of sunset tinting the sky.
Looks like she's just like me, Lyra thought.
When she glanced at Alise, Alise's eyes were darting left and right at speed—clearly rattled.
Lyra herself was rattled, too. Handing over her underlayers, then later fighting in a full set of gear made by Tsunayoshi…
Uwah. Tiona and Tione really do love Tsunayoshi.
Just imagining that scene made Lyra's whole body feel awkward, as if invisible hands were tracing along her skin.
She hesitated, then couldn't help asking, "Do we really have to change everything?"
"Do you think you could stay in one piece if Tiona hit you full-force with Urga?" Kaguya asked mildly.
Lyra's eyelid twitched. Obviously, no. Tiona was absurdly strong. Urga was absurdly heavy. If that came sweeping across, Lyra would be cut clean in half.
Since Kaguya had brought up that example, it meant the equipment Tsunayoshi crafted could handle that kind of blow. No wonder Alise and Kaguya were pleading.
"So… it can't just be outerwear?"
"Same reason as before," Kaguya replied. "A full set means full protection. Can you precisely tell where you've been hit in the middle of a melee?"
"…Alright."
Safety first. Lyra surrendered to reason.
But as soon as she agreed, another, even thornier problem came to mind—one of their companions.
"Can we talk Ryuu into this?"
"…Safety first."
After a strange little silence, Kaguya gave her answer.
Lyra understood.
(End of Chapter)
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