Embracing Magic - E.M Chapter 161 (Part 2)

“Of course. 1,000 servings is f—… Pardon? How many?”

“1,000 servings.”

The innkeeper’s face twisted grotesquely. Looking at Rodin like he was some lunatic, he tilted his head in confusion.

“Are you… being serious, sir?”

“Yes. If I must pay first, I will.”

“Hmm, I can’t prepare that much food today. We have a set schedule. It’s possible starting tomorrow, though.”

If they accepted an order for 1,000 servings of food right now, the kitchen would have to dedicate the entire day to that task. If that happened, there would be no time to prepare meals for the inn’s other guests.

However, if it was for tomorrow, they could call in extra help in advance and manage to cook 1,000 servings. It would still be cutting it close, but they could somehow make it work.

“Then, please prepare it for five days starting tomorrow.”

“Oh! 200 servings per day for five days, I see.”

“No. It’s 1,000 servings per day for five days.”

“Oh! Understood. Then, you’ll need to make the payment first. Please wait a moment while I calculate the amount.”

The innkeeper took quite a while calculating the cost of 5,000 servings of food, and Rodin paid the amount on the spot.

With that, meals for several years were secured.

—

After finishing his business with the innkeeper, Rodin went out into the commercial district. This time, he had brought both Karis and Jena with him.

Larry and Bianca were going to remain in the annex of the inn to continue studying and training until Rodin returned.

Rodin looked through several stores in the commercial district and eventually entered a clothing shop. It was a place that sold pre-made clothing and also made custom-tailored clothes on request.

“Excuse me.”

“Yes, welcome. What kind of clothes are you looking for?”

“I’m here to have boots and gloves made for my escorts. As for helmets… I suppose they’d be uncomfortable?”

The reason for visiting the clothing shop today was to have boots and gloves fitted for Karis and Jena.

Their combat uniforms had already been prepared by Princess Elranerien, their previous Master. They were artifacts inscribed with magic circles using mana, so there was nothing Rodin needed to do with them.

However, everything besides the combat uniforms was lacking.

The boots, gloves, and undergarments were store-bought products that Rodin had purchased, but they were slightly too small for Karis and Jena. Since he had the time now, he planned to get them custom-fitted.

“Yes. We’ve never worn helmets before.”

“Me neither, Young Master.”

“Then forget the helmets. I’m going to have boots, gloves, and undergarments fitted.”

“We carry plenty of boots, gloves, and undergarments. We have a lot of soft and pretty fabrics too, sir.”

The shop owner didn’t understand that they wanted even undergarments custom-made. Even among nobles, it was rare to have undergarments specially tailored.

“You’ll understand once you take their measurements.”

“Measurements? Well, they are a bit large-framed, but that should be fine.”

“Just go ahead and measure them.”

“Understood. Miss, could you come stand over here?”

Perhaps Jena seemed easier to deal with in the eyes of the shopkeeper. Instead of Karis, she had Jena stand first and began taking her measurements.

As she measured every part of Jena’s body—height, bust, waist—the shopkeeper’s eyes grew round with surprise. As if in disbelief, she measured the same areas multiple times.

“Oh! Dear heavens. Such perfect proportions.”

“Can you do custom orders?”

“Of course. A body like this absolutely deserves clothes that match it.”

“When you make the clothes, please use soft fabric for the lining. The cost doesn’t matter. But for the outer fabric, I’d like you to use this thread.”

Rodin pretended to reach into his bag, and instead pulled out two bundles of thread from his subspace. One was a white color with a faint reddish hue, the other a deep gray.

“What is this, sir?”

“It’s specially made thread. I plan to use it in artifact crafting, so please ensure that the outer fabric is made with this.”

“The dark one would be good for boots and gloves. The light one could be used for undergarments. But this thread…”

The shopkeeper drew out a span of thread and rubbed it between her fingers. Then her eyes widened in astonishment as she quickly turned back to Rodin.

“It’s incredibly soft. What is this thread?”

“It’s thread crafted with magic. You probably wouldn’t know it.”

The base material of the two differently colored threads was mithril. They had been processed using a special method that altered their color, elasticity, and texture depending on how they were treated.

“Oh! Magic. So you’re a magician after all. Is there any special procedure needed when cutting the thread?”

“Nothing in particular. I’ve set the durability low for about ten days, so it should cut easily with scissors.”

“Hmm, then I’ll need five days for the production.”

“Thank you.”

“First, I’ll need to take her measurements as well.”

Following Jena, Karis’s body was also measured. Again, the shopkeeper repeatedly measured the same parts in disbelief.

“No, her shoulders are this broad, and yet her waist is this slim… Hah, I can’t believe it.”

“Do you offer delivery?”

“If it’s to a well-known location, yes.”

“Annex 2 of Dream Inn.”

“That’s close by. I’ll deliver it. As for the price…”

After paying the cost, they stepped back outside. Just then, a small child came up and subtly waved his hand.

Clack!

“If you keep playing with your hands like that, you’ll lose a wrist. Be careful, alright?”

“L-Let go!”

“If you make noise, I will cut it off.”

“Eep!”

The would-be pickpocket was a child around ten years old. His hair had been neatly combed back as best as he could manage, but hidden spots on his body were covered in thick grime.

“Be careful. Magicians are much more sensitive than you think.”

“I-I’m sorry.”

“Alright. Go on.”

Rodin let the pickpocket go. He had a generally forgiving nature toward children and didn’t even curse at him once.

—

They returned to the inn and spent three more days there. Today, the outside of the inn felt unusually chaotic.

“It’s a bit noisy outside today.”

“Shall I go check?”

“No. Larry will tell us when he gets back.”

Larry had given up on hunting Lizardmen.

The Lizardmen didn’t even come near Larry. Even when Karis and Jena stood watch at a fairly far distance, it made no difference.

To them, Larry was already branded as “a young human accompanied by a strong human.”

But that didn’t mean they could wander the rivers and marshes searching for Lizardmen. If they stumbled upon a large group, Larry could die before Karis and Jena had a chance to intervene.

So lately, Larry had been making frequent trips to the Mercenary Guild to look for new requests.

“I’m worried he might’ve been pickpocketed again today.”

“Well, it happens sometimes.”

During the fifteen days he had spent here, Larry had been pickpocketed four times.

Hyung_Otaku2

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