Chapter 215

Chapter 215
Chapter 215: Never Mind The Heir, I’ll Focus On Healing

Clarentia roamed the village clad in nothing but a robe.

Physical power, raw might, and financial resources were far from scarce.

Rather, they were present in excess, which constituted the actual dilemma.

Even so, an unanticipated adversary awaited her.

*Swish.*

Clarentia promptly discarded her robe and fastened her long hair into a high knot.

Perhaps due to a lifetime spent dwelling within the Baidantis Territory, the atmospheric conditions of Asteri failed to agree with her constitution.

Naturally, the expertise of a Sword Master could easily induce a state where neither heat nor cold registered upon the senses.

Ever since the visit from Lion Asteri, however, Clarentia had established a personal mandate.

“Barring combat scenarios, I shall endeavor to experience sensations directly whenever feasible.”

She was presently engaged in restoring the sensory inputs denied to her by a prolonged period of internal emptiness.

This meant avoiding the recurring sensation of plunging into an abyssal depth, opting instead for the comforting warmth of a pleasantly scented bed.

The sweetness of confectioneries. Experiences of that nature.

Though still foreign, an abundance of nourishment remained available to mend the void.

“Above all else…”

She desired to hear firsthand accounts of the amusing escapades orchestrated by Lion Asteri.

Clarentia slowly pivoted toward the source of an incoming gaze.

“It has been some time.”

“…”

“Surely my visage has not slipped from your memory.”

“Hahaha… How could the countenance of the Marquis of Byedantis ever be forgotten.”

Lion, currently bound for Andrie’s establishment, displayed considerable astonishment upon the abrupt materialization of the Marquis of Byedantis.

Granted, the man’s elusive nature was well-documented, but…

‘Even so, he holds the rank of Marquis.’

Was solitary wandering in unfamiliar territory truly appropriate for someone of his station?

An encounter in a marketplace, let alone one devoid of a respectable inn, exceeded all expectations.

“Your carriage was anticipated to require considerably more time for arrival.”

“Its pace was excessively sluggish. A closer view was desired.”

“Understood.”

“The timing proves exceptionally fortunate, then.”

The Marquis of Byedantis advanced toward him without hesitation.

“The hour is somewhat premature, yet might I request a guided excursion? A more thorough exploration of the village is desired.”

“…At present?”

“Affirmative. Your familiarity with this locale surpasses all others, does it not?”

The assertion was entirely accurate.

Lion scratched the back of his head.

The original itinerary designated Rikschel as the designated tour guide.

Lion’s initial intent involved offering minor commentary before quietly slipping away, but…

‘No. Perhaps circumstances have aligned favorably.’

The Marquis of Byedantis evidently harbored a profound fascination for magical artifacts.

Had he not just displayed keen interest in the luminous magic streetlights illuminating the nocturnal streets?

A continuation along the current trajectory guaranteed that any eventual meeting with Rikschel would devolve into strictly commercial discourse.

‘Correct. The Marquis shall receive a personal tour from myself, while Rikschel is dispatched to a pleasant locale.’

Perhaps a high-end dessert establishment, or—though alternatives failed to surface immediately—any refined and suitably luxurious venue.

‘Furthermore, since a tour is underway in any case.’

Would a comprehensive excursion not yield superior results?

Identifying merchants or wares capable of capturing the interest of the Marquis of Byedantis might even facilitate exports to the Baidantis Territory.

‘…Wait, does this not constitute a golden opportunity?’

An exceptionally generous patron stood directly before him.

Furthermore, here was an individual with urgent demands across multiple categories, alongside a client who had achieved a measure of fiscal stability!

“Let us proceed to Andrie’s shop without delay! That attire appears somewhat oppressive for pedestrian travel.”

Lion’s eyes gleamed as he assumed the role of guide for the Marquis of Byedantis.

“Mmm.”

The response conveyed affirmation.

Clarentia offered a nod and trailed behind Lion’s lead.

Fortunately, ‘Boutique Andrie’ remained situated in close proximity, ensuring a rapid arrival.

“Goodness, Young Master! Attending to clothing collection in person—Hhngh! No, M-Marquis of Byedantis?!”

The instant the door swung open, Andrie offered a barefoot greeting to Lion, lacking even slippers as if she possessed prior awareness.

‘Bare feet?’

Andrie’s footprints remained starkly outlined upon the polished flooring, suggesting she had been engaged in fabric coloration.

“Our patron has arrived somewhat ahead of schedule.”

Lion intervened to close Andrie’s jaw, which had dropped to an impossible degree, before stepping inside.

“Casual attire suitable for the Marquis is requested…”

Lion steered a course toward the sofa, deliberately circumventing the regions marked by footprints.

‘The scale has expanded since our last visit.’

Attributable presumably to her growing reputation for craftsmanship, Boutique Andrie occupied significantly more floor space than previously.

The Marquis of Byedantis likewise sought relief from the thermal discomfort by stepping into the interior, where temperature-regulation magic was active, and promptly seating himself.

While his facial expression remained neutral, his physique relaxed visibly, hinting at a notable sensitivity to elevated temperatures.

“Understood! Ah, certainly! Pray grant me a brief moment!”

Andrie swiftly marshaled her thoughts, hurried away with quick steps, and soon returned with a considerably more composed appearance.

“Shall we commence by selecting garments, Marquis? Numerous novel designs distinct from our previous inventory are available!”

She immediately produced several ensembles suited to the Marquis of Byedantis, holding them up against a display mannequin.

“Any selection will suffice.”

“His stated intention is to venture outside and observe the village.”

Lion supplied Andrie with supplementary context before she lost all color in her face and rose half out of her seat.

“In that case, this athletic yet unpretentious ensemble will prove optimal!”

“Is an immediate change permitted? Personal assistance is unnecessary.”

“Yes! The fitting room is situated in that direction! Allow me to guide you.”

The Marquis of Byedantis accepted the garments and proceeded directly toward the fitting enclosure.

During his absence, Lion cast his gaze toward the deep footprints marring the floor and posed an inquiry.

“By the way… what task were you undertaking?”

“Ah! In truth, preparations were underway to execute the process collaboratively upon your arrival, Young Master!”

“You refer to the undertaking mentioned on the previous occasion?”

“The procedure of transitioning fabric into a specialized hue under specific conditions…! Your dressing process concluded with remarkable speed. Hahaha… Ha… Regardless, should your schedule permit later, your assessment would be appreciated.”

Andrie offered the remarks while casting a lingering, reluctant glance toward the chamber where the trail of footprints extended.

An underlying desire to exhibit the work immediately was unmistakably apparent.

‘Now that the subject has surfaced, color-shifting fabric.’

Does such a concept not possess considerable allure?

Moreover, optimal deployment would unlock diverse applications.

After all, Lion possesses the ‘Painting’ talent.

And additionally…

A sidelong glance.

Lion, now clad in comfortable apparel, observed the Marquis partaking of chilled water.

“Would an inspection interest you as well, Marquis?”

“You refer to the fabric dyeing procedure?”

“Affirmative.”

“Let us proceed.”

“Pardon?”

Andrie proved to be the genuinely astonished party.

‘Has his demeanor always been thus…?’

Andrie possessed prior experience accompanying Young Master Lion to the Baidantis Territory.

Furthermore, she had even tailored bespoke garments for his use.

Consequently, her estimation was that her comprehension of the Marquis of Byedantis exceeded that of ordinary observers.

Historically, his general posture had been…

‘Resembling a frigid automaton.’

Despite his elusive nature, did he not habitually disdain superfluous pursuits?

Yet the current situation revealed a distinctly proactive stance.

‘…For shame, Andrie! Your judgment was faulty!’

Though admittedly eccentric, his peculiarities fell well short of matching the Young Master standing nearby!

Andrie shook her head with vigor before bringing her hands together in a bright smile.

“The work remains in an incomplete state… Very well, let us enter!”

Andrie traversed the path of footprints and unhesitatingly shoved the door open.

*Creak.*

Despite the apparent recency of the establishment’s expansion, the hinges emitted a piercing lament.

Lion followed closely behind Andrie.

Within the interior…

‘Describable favorably as ornate; unfavorably as chaotic.’

Chromatic dyes were scattered haphazardly, staining the flooring, the vertical surfaces, and every surrounding expanse.

Nor did the disorder end there.

What exact nature of experimentation had been conducted in solitude within these walls…

“A fire occurred.”

“That much is evident.”

Traces of black soot stained the upper ceiling.

Even so, Lion refrained from retreating.

Though the initial impression suggested a chaotic laboratory…

‘Not entirely unappealing?’

Lion surveyed the neatly organized containers of dye positioned in a corner amidst the general disarray.

『Chameleon Pigment (Unfinished)』

-A powdery substance lacking a permanent chromatic identity thus far.

-Determining the precise conditions required to trigger specific color shifts remains an unresolved puzzle!

-Even so, successful completion would herald a revolutionary breakthrough, would it not?

The hue possessed an extreme haze, milled to a fineness surpassing flour.

Nevertheless, even Lion’s perceptive vision yielded no further insight beyond the notation that completion would prove advantageous.

This implied that the developmental stage remained decidedly primitive.

“This specimen appears unfinished, does it not?”

“As expected of the Young Master! Recognition was immediate.”

Andrie emitted a heavy sigh and slowly traced the expanse of the wall with her eyes.

“In truth, all the coloration displayed here originates from that very pigment. Its capacity for diverse chromatic evolution is undeniable. However…”

“Regulation proves elusive?”

Andrie offered a bitter nod.

“Might the motivation behind its creation be disclosed?”

“Ah! That explanation was omitted.”

Andrie commenced a concise recounting.

“Are you acquainted with Magic Tool Shops, Young Master?”

…What prompts the mention of that particular establishment at this juncture?

“Indeed. Familiarity is present.”

“Months ago, exploration for inspiration led me to wander through one such Magic Tool Shop. The pigment in question was encountered precisely at that time!”

Andrie added that the item in her possession was specifically the formulation recipe for the pigment, then continued.

“Encountering the recipe produced an effect akin to a lightning strike. Ah! Of course. How magnificent would garments be if their coloration shifted in response to temporal progression and environmental context! Furthermore, alterations synchronized with the wearer’s emotional state would achieve absolute perfection…! *Cough*!”

“…”

Andrie truncated her remarks and resumed the narrative.

In any event, adherence to the acquired recipe during production yielded a grayish powder, which miraculously blossomed into vibrant chromatic displays merely upon dissolution in water!

The underlying complication, restated, stemmed from an inability to comprehend the foundational principles embedded in the recipe.

Furthermore, while Andrie’s proficiency in tailoring was exceptional, her specialization remained seamcraft rather than chemical dyeing.

Her personal expertise regarding fabric dyeing extended only to rudimentary fundamentals.

‘Naturally, intervention from magic or alchemy is requisite here.’

Her anticipation of Lion’s arrival was transparently obvious.

“The recipe is detailed here.”

Lion accepted the documentation and subjected it to scrutiny.

‘Indeed…’

The provided text constituted merely a fraction of the whole.

Based on prior experience, the current state represented roughly ten percent of total completion.

Nevertheless.

‘The prospect of actual synthesis appears feasible.’

While immediate fabrication lay beyond reach, completion within a matter of days seemed entirely attainable.

‘Still, what exact classification of merchant operates that magic tool establishment…’

How did they come to possess not only merchandise of note, but such specialized formulations?

The proprietor defied categorization as an ordinary individual.

‘…An investigation shall be conducted subsequently.’

While Lion pursued these reflections, Clarentia maintained a silent contemplation of the grayish pigment.

The exact mechanics of bringing the formulation to fruition remained obscure.

‘…The temptation is significant.’

Upon its finalization, acquisition would be a priority.