Chapter 37: Store Summoning 6

When I woke up in the morning, the crest of the Goddess of Summoning, Samonia, on my right hand had grown larger. Level up. I struck a victory pose on the bed, thinking my theory was indeed correct. My [Gift] grows by triggering events within the game. I don’t know why only I have this specification, but that’s truly “God’s miso soup”—no, I mean, “Only God knows.” However, triggering events means advancing events with capture targets, and if I’m not careful, I might raise destruction flags. If I’m going to do it, I must proceed with the utmost caution. I have to avoid decisive events that raise destruction flags. Some events can’t be triggered depending on the time or timing… For example, Estelle and Elliott‘s Founding Festival date probably won’t happen unless the Founding Festival is being held. No, even if it were being held, would those two go on a date? For some reason, Estelle’s affection for Elliott is dropping. Why? Furthermore, since most of the capture targets’ events are related to ‘Academy’ functions, it’s quite difficult right now, ten years prior. If it’s just an encounter event, it seems likely to happen if I get to know the character, but getting to know such dangerous people is something I’d rather avoid if possible.

“Well, setting that aside, it’s time to summon a new store! A convenience store this time for sure!”

I jumped off the bed and called my maid Arisa to help me change.1

◇ ◇ ◇

“You received a blessing from Samonia again…? Could this be related to finding the First Emperor’s treasure?”

Father, sharp! It’s totally related! But I can’t tell him this. Or rather, even if I told him, he wouldn’t understand the meaning. Stories about past lives and games, and all that.

“I wonder what kind of shop it will be next. Last time it was Father’s favorite liquor store, so couldn’t you summon a shop I’d like this time, Sakura-chan?” “No, this is entirely up to God…”

Really, if I could summon specifically by aiming, I wouldn’t struggle. If I could do that, I’d be summoning a department store. This time, in addition to Father, Mother, and the house servants, Bianca, Estelle, and Estelle‘s mother Julia are also at the summoning ground. I thought it would be a good opportunity to tell them about my [Gift]. I’ve already shown them the kitchen car, after all.

“So Lady Sakuraile‘s [Gift] wasn’t [Holy Sword]…”

Behind me, Bianca murmured quietly. Oh, did I disappoint her somehow? To such Bianca, Estelle began explaining with a smug look.

“No, Bianca-san. The [Holy Sword] is also Lady Sakuraile‘s [Gift]. A Saintess who received the blessings of two Gods, Samonia and Holi. That is Lady Sakuraile!”

No, if anything, the [Holy Sword] is your Gift, okay!? Bianca, don’t go ‘I see…’! Julia is nodding in agreement too. Stop, don’t hype me up too much! I’m already called ‘Princess of the Holy Sword’; I won’t stand for any more strange labels being stuck on me. Sigh… I’m already tired before summoning, but let’s summon the new store anyway. Pulling myself together, I concentrate the magic power within my body.

“Th-Then, here I go… [Store Summoning]!”

A dazzling vortex of brilliant colors spread across the summoning ground. Hmm!? Wait, it’s big? Isn’t it bigger than ‘Fujinoyu’? It’s bigger than a convenience store? D-Don’t tell me a department store came!? Eventually, the light subsided, and when I opened my eyes, a familiar store was enshrined there. Through the large glass windows, I could see colorful clothing inside the store. A simple one-story design. And on the white wall, the red characters ‘FASHION CENTER IMAMURA’.

“Aahh… this store…”

It’s a clothing chain store that operates numerous stores mainly in the suburbs. I was a frequent customer too. Good quality, abundant variety, and above all, cheap. It was a store I was grateful for as a poor student in my previous life. To think I’d be shopping here in another world.

“Oh my! Oh my, oh my! Hey, Sakura-chan! This is a clothing store, isn’t it!” “Umm, yes. That’s right…”

Seeing the clothes visible through the glass window, Mother’s excitement skyrocketed. I can understand why.

“Thank you! You properly summoned a store to Mother’s liking! As expected of Sakura-chan!” “No, this was completely a coincidence…” “Come, let’s go inside quickly!”

I clarified because I’d be in trouble if they thought I could summon stores as I wished, but she’s not listening, is she… Pulled by Mother’s hand, I headed toward the summoned clothing store.

“There’s no door, so where do we enter from…?” “Ah, you enter from here.”

To Mother, who was wandering around not knowing the entrance, I opened the automatic door, and she was very surprised. Right, I guess this is her first time with an automatic door. The liquor store had a glass door too, but it was the push-to-open kind.

“Is this a magic tool? Just to open a door, that’s amazing…”

Father was also surprised, opening and closing the automatic door. Don’t play with it too much. Entering the store, we were greeted by various clothes and mannequins brightly lit by fluorescent lights on the ceiling. The store products include both ladies’ and men’s wear, but ladies’ wear is more prevalent. From tops to pants, skirts, dresses, and outerwear, various items are available. However, I feel like the fashion is unfortunately outdated. Is this the store from when I first visited it? The sense is like the clothes mothers wore when I was a child. In other words, the children’s clothes are like what I used to wear… It’s a somewhat subtle feeling. Being a fast-fashion store that mass-produces low-priced clothes while incorporating the latest trends, truly various styles of clothes are sold. Not just clothes, but umbrellas, raincoats, small cushions, and even batteries and snacks are sold near the register. Why do they keep snacks in a clothing store…

“There are many plain clothes, aren’t there? Is this a store for commoners?”

Mother gave her impression after looking around the store. Well, I’d be troubled if you compared it to the dresses full of lace, frills, and embroidery that nobles wear. Well, perhaps from a noble’s perspective, it is plain.

“But clothes like these are nice too… I wonder if it would suit me if I wore it…” “Why don’t you try it on?” “Try it on?”

I suggested to Mother, who was looking at the coordinated clothes on a mannequin. In this world, if you are a noble, clothes are almost always made-to-order. Since ‘buying’ is premised on tailoring to that person’s size, they don’t decide whether to buy or not by trying it on. Naturally, Mother, who has no concept of trying on clothes, didn’t understand what a fitting room was.

“You change clothes here to check if they suit you before buying. …Since we’re here, maybe I’ll try wearing it.”

Mother entered the fitting room briskly with the clothes she liked in hand. And at the same time, her personal maid entered with her. High-ranking nobles basically don’t change clothes by themselves. I’m also dressed by Arisa. When I said I’d do it myself, I was scolded, “Please don’t take away a maid’s job.” Since then, I haven’t resisted. This fitting room is quite spacious, so I think it’s fine for two people to enter… I wonder if she knows how to put it on? Eventually, the fitting room door opened, and Mother appeared, having finished coordinating her outfit from top to bottom.

“How is it?”

She just wore the clothes exactly as the mannequin wore them, but it suits her incredibly well. It might be strange for me to say, but Mother is very beautiful and has a good figure, putting most models to shame. A lace blouse, a denim jumper skirt, an off-white shoulder bag, and chic shoes. There stood Mother looking like a casual-girly university student.

“It suits you very well.” “Isn’t it nice? Those clothes suit you too.”

Praised by Father and me, Mother looked quite pleased. However, the buttons on the blouse seem quite tight… Maybe the size doesn’t fit?

“I can’t wear this to an evening party, but it’s nice for everyday wear at home. Just a little tight around the chest, though…” “Ah, umm, may I for a moment?”

Bianca‘s fingertips touched Mother’s ample chest. Then Bianca activated her [Gift].

“[Elasticity]” “Oh? Oh my, oh my!? It feels just right now! Thank you, Bianca-chan!”

I see. She changed the size of the clothes with the [Elasticity] [Gift]. It seems she stretched only the chest area, not the whole thing. I didn’t know [Elasticity] could be used like that.

“I also stretch clothes that have become too small and still wear them, so…”

Thanked by Mother, Bianca answered shyly. Both Bianca and I are in our growth periods. Favorite clothes quickly become unwearable. But with Bianca, we can change the size freely to some extent. Convenient, [Elasticity]. Bianca, having been favored by Mother, was roped into size adjustments afterwards as well. Hmm, sorry about my mother…

“Oh no, we have to buy Sakura-chan’s clothes too!” “No, I’m fine…”

I tried to refuse, but my arm was pulled by Mother without room for argument. Woah, déjà vu. This is the same as the party. From now on, I turn into a dress-up doll… Glancing to the side, Julia is choosing clothes for her daughter Estelle. They look like they’re having fun. No, well, I don’t hate it either, you know? Father is looking at shirts and jeans with the servants. Father also suits Mother well and has a model-like figure. I expected him to look like a handsome fashionable man… wait a minute, about that Sukajan (souvenir jacket), I’m not so sure!? Certainly, the embroidery is beautiful and flashy! But somehow, frustratingly, it suits him!

“Sakura-chan, how about something like this?” “Ah, no, that’s a bit…”

As for me, I was gently refusing the anime-print sweatshirt Mother spread out. Isn’t that for kids a little younger than me…? Size-wise it might be perfect, but still. I wanted to wear adult clothes… Bianca‘s [Elasticity] apparently can only change things by a few centimeters at most. Once changed, it can be returned to the original state, but it cannot be changed further. It seems impossible to shrink something and then shrink it further. Ah, there are child-sized jerseys too. Maybe I’ll wear this during sword training. Looks easy to move in. I can’t exactly wear it as casual wear being a Ducal Lady, though.