༺ Studying And Training Is Such A Pain (8) ༻
“What do you think? This wood has a high-gloss finish. It also contains a spell that restores the hair’s strength the more it’s used.”
It was an expensive brush.
The price was approximately a million arcs.
One would wonder how a brush could go for a million won, but with its magical construction, it wasn’t completely out of the question.
Anything magic-related was pricey.
It was also the reason for everyone wanting to become a mage.
“It’s still pretty expensive.”
Throw away a million won on a single brush?
Any other time it would’ve been a definite refusal.
But from what I could see, it was such an exquisite brush that it would certainly increase the possessor’s princess power.
Naru’s current level was at C+, so gifting her that brush will raise it to B-.
“Alright. I’ll take it.”
“With some discounts, the total is a million arcs.”
I pulled a wallet from my pocket.
The owner of this pricey accessory store raised his brows, his eyes reflecting the teddy bear pattern on the wallet.
“Why, is there a problem?”
As I asked, the owner gave an awkward laugh.
“You see, I was a little nervous when I heard you were the King of Thieves, but you use quite an adorable wallet. You have feminine sensibilities, I suppose….”
A cute and feminine wallet.
This man had good eyes.
This wallet belonged to someone who had such feminine sensibilities.
The wallet was obviously not mine, but Brigitte’s.
It was stolen last night because it was only right that Naru’s things should be purchased with Brigitte’s money.
She was Brigitte’s daughter.
Naru’s mom, Narumom.
Of course, Naru is my kid, too, but I don’t carry enough cash to drop a million arcs all at once.
“Hehe— Then is there anything else you’re looking for? You also needed a fan, right? We have many on display here. How about this Barbaria silk fan? It’s the best one in the house.”
A Barbaria silk fan—
It was a fashionable one, all black from the handle to the folded part.
What made it special was the elegant crane embroidered onto it.
“The Barbaria silk is the highest quality material that can only be acquired from the far plains, which you would probably know as it’s your home country, sir Judas….”
The owner rambled on in explanation.
“You can close and open it like this, which is good for carrying around.”
Shrrrrr— Snap—
Being foldable and silky-looking, even at a glance it was one of the top-quality products of this store.
“A young noble lady should certainly possess one of these. It can be used for various things such as covering one’s face, shade from the sun, even blocking the wind!”
“That’s true.”
The price was the problem, though.
“How much is it?”
“Well, this one is a little expensive. That is about 3 million arcs. But considering the manufacturing process and the material used, the price is sufficiently justifiable.”
“3 million, you say.”
It really was expensive.
Of course, that had nothing to do with me.
Swoosh—
I took out a wallet again from my inner chest pocket.
It was a pouch made of crocodile leather, and the owner watched this keenly.
“A different wallet, this time.”
Obviously.
This was someone else’s wallet.
It belonged to Cariote.
Also having stolen this last night, a fan for Cecily should be purchased as a gift with Cecily’s Mom’s money.
They’ll understand.
Jingle— Jingle—
After paying for everything with Freesian bills, the wallets became lighter and the load heavier.
I was about to leave having seen to everything when—
“What is that?”
Something caught my eye.
As if smelling another sale, the shop owner hastily explained.
“They are blessed charcoal. Though it’s burnt wood, you can see here that there are many colors. It won’t stain the hands but if you draw it across a wall or paper—”
Draaaag—
I was highly impressed with seeing the charcoal’s color leaving a mark on the wall.
It was an excellent tool for drawing anywhere.
A drawing tool.
I wouldn’t have thought about buying such a thing.
The only items on my shopping list were Naru’s brush and Cecily’s fan.
But maybe due to a certain kid I met earlier, it strangely nagged at me.
She had been drawing in the dirt with a stick, after all.
“How much is it?”
“This one is expensive as it is a limited-time offer product. It’ll cost about 1.5 million arcs.”
What? What kind of charcoal crayons cost 1.5 million won?
When I frowned deeply, the owner seemed to feel uneasy.
“This isn’t to swindle you or to make a large profit. This charcoal of 12 colors with its limited quantities is difficult to obtain.”
He didn’t seem to be lying.
Even if he was lying in front of me and was price gouging to make a profit, I would have left it.
I was okay overlooking someone with that much guts.
“Alright.”
I decided to buy it.
It wasn’t my money anyway.
I took out Salome’s wallet and paid 1.5 million arcs.
To note, I nicked it from her when going to get the picture diary, and she didn’t seem to notice being too distracted by the 「Rainbow Pearl」.
Clang— Clang—
Anyway, I purchased the gifts for all three children in that way.
Now I’m done.
When I was heading out, the owner hastily called me.
“Please wait!”
“What is it?”
Is he trying to sell me something else?
I was watching with that thought when the owner grinned and handed me something.
It was a doll.
A doll in the shape of a ‘girl’ made of buttons, cotton, and yarn.
“This is a doll that we’ve been making in-house and I’d like you to take it. We hope you’ll visit our store again when we receive new products….”
I see.
He wants to make me a regular.
I also think it’d be good to have a store that I can depend on.
As Naru or Cecily, and possibly Hina, grow older, they’ll be asking for a lot of things and I was too lazy to go searching around every time.
“I’ll come back next time.”
Clang— Clang—
I took the doll as well and headed back to the school.
* * *
The end of school.
Naru who was searching around from the school gate waved vigorously when she spotted me.
“Here! I’m here! Dad hasn’t forgotten and will take me home properly…!”
I see.
She was worried that I had gone elsewhere instead of picking her up to take her home.
Thankfully, I had neither forgotten nor gone elsewhere.
“I have a present, too. Tada.”
“Oh, holy shh…! Molumolu’s brush…!”
Naru accepted the brush from me and was very happy.
She immediately reached into her shadow and pulled out Molumolu.
“Molumolu, let’s brush your fur!”
━Grrrr…!
“Ah, why are you running?! Don’t run…!”
Naru chased after Molumolu who was hopping away. It was satisfying to see her like it so much. Even if I hadn’t bought it with my money.
“Cecily, I didn’t forget yours either. Here’s the fan. It’s not a feather one but made with silk. They say nowadays they use these foldable ones—like this—in social gatherings.”
Shrrrrr—
Cecily unfolded the fan she received.
From the way her eyes shone, she seemed to like it a lot.
“Hmph, it’s not a feather fan but I will say thanks for your efforts. You are granted the special opportunity to stroke this Cecily’s hair.”
Indeed.
But I shook my head.
“No, you should be the one doing that to me. I’m the one who’s being commended for their work so why should you get the hair strokes? Come on, Cecily, ruffle my hair.”
“…P-Pardon?”
Cecily looked at me as if she couldn’t believe I was being like this.
Of course, it was a joke so I messed up her hair when she wasn’t expecting it.
“Hiiiik…! Do not mess up my hair…!”
Anyway.
I successfully delivered the items to Naru and Cecily like that.
Cecily, with the fan, rose to B+ in princess power.
And Naru, holding the now-brushed Molumolu in her arms, became B-.
━Meoooww.
“Molumolu, you disliked the brushing at first but now you’re so calm once it started…!”
Or so she says.
Now I only had the doll and crayons.
The 12-color charcoal can be handed to Hina the next time I see her, and I thought about who to give the button doll to.
“Naru, Cecily, do you want a doll?”
“Naru had Molumolu so no need!”
“I, Cecily, am past the age to be playing with dolls as well.”
I see.
To me, they’re still the age to be playing with dolls.
What to do—
As I was wandering, I saw a girl approaching the school gates.
It was Tywin with long ash-colored hair.
I approached Tywin who glared when she saw me.
“What is it?”
Still as touchy as ever.
I held out the doll to the touchy kid.
“Here, take it.”
“Okay.”
What?!
I didn’t think she’d accept it right away.
I definitely thought she would be resistant like, “I don’t want it,” or “Why should I?”
But Tywin took the button doll from me readily.
Soon afterward, she explained why.
“If I don’t take it, then you’ll annoy me until I do. Happy? I’m going home now so please don’t bother me.”
I see.
Smart kid.
But doesn’t she know that once she’s been spotted, she can’t avoid me?
Still a child.
“Tywin, what’s the point when there’s no one home? Your mom will probably be working overtime since she’s so busy. Come over for dinner and stay the night.”
I invited Tywin.
I wasn’t pitying her or anything because I knew her identity, this was all in my plans.
If she comes over, then Naru and Cecily will play with Tywin whose princess power was A, and in turn, they’ll surely become more refined and intelligent.
The doll was also a bribe of sorts—to get along with my kids.
Also, I need to ask when Hina’s birthday is.
Tywin was insanely accurate about other people’s birthdays.
“…….”
Tywin looked at me.
Then she looked at Naru and Cecily’s faces, making an exasperated face.
“Moooom, what’s for dinner?”
“Today’s is my boy’s favorite pork cutlet. Let’s go have pork cutlet. After we treat your cavities at the dentist.”
“Gwaaaa…!”
Soon, Tywin’s eyes contained the sight of children going home holding their parents’ hands.
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