686 Masquerade ① ~ Costume ~

Then, seven days pass - it is the thirteenth day of the black moon.

That day was the day of the masquerade, presented by Marquis Marquis Marstein of Genos.

The decision to host the masquerade was made because it was the third day of the Black Moon, a friendly meal that me and Varcus served fish dishes, so the day would be quite empty. This was the due date that was necessary to prepare the feast costumes of the people by the woods.

Of course, it would have been a matter of wanting more relaxation on the due date if we had made it into the tailor people. At any rate, they had to wear banquet costumes that spanned nine people.

According to Polearth's words, it was usually difficult to lump a feast costume for nine people on that much due date. But Fermes had hoped to hold it as soon as possible, nor could he postpone very much the feast welcoming the people of the King's Capital. So it was arranged that the ancient feast costume, originally present in the Count Dalaim family, would be tailored for the people by the woods.

"As I may have told you before, my mother dresses well and looks forward above all to preparing her banquet costume. You're an unusual person because it's the most exciting thing to do with someone else's costume, not yourself."

Polearths, he said, as such.

"There are also many banquet costumes in the Count Dalaim's house, so it seems that you intend to re-tailor them. It's just, well, we don't have a lot of big people in our blood muscles, so I wonder if Mitsuhito's costume, which has a splendid physique like Lord Gazran-Rutim, will be sourced from another house. Whatever it is, it was clear to me that my mother would prepare it responsibly, so leave it to me."

That is why the people of the woodland were to rent a banquet costume for free again.

The hassle on this side was that I was asked to take measurements to fit the size of the costume. Last time, only members going down to the lodging town were measured, and the hunter men were tailored to the scene on the same day, but this time the tailor was deliberately dispatched to the woodland settlement.

At any rate, they have more elaborate costumes ready than last time to be a masquerade. I checked with Polearths, and they say it's like a masquerade party, and the attendees dress up in costumes like gods, fairy tale characters, and enjoy a feast.

"What kind of costume would you look forward to for the day? Don't worry, it will never be a costume that tarnishes the pride of the people by the woods"

As far as we were concerned, there was no other way to believe Polearth's words and his mother's sense of Rittier.

But in the first place, all the people who care about the feast costumes in Castle Town were equal to none, so with the faint anxiety of what kind of outfit they would make us go to Castle Town.

◇

"I guess that nobleman named Fermes and the like will be dressed in a sawdust gorgeous banquet costume"

In the Totos car that switched at the castle gate, it was George-Zaza who spoke that way. Even today, he was supposed to represent the chief.

"Did Georg-Zaza also face Fermes during the inspection?

When I asked, George-Zaza said "naturally". In the last seven days, Fermes had also completed a family home visit to Zaza and Sauti.

"I had heard from the chief graph, but I didn't think that the feminine side was that good. If he had been born in the woods, he'd have had to play his part just like you."

Then Ai-Fa, sitting next to me, pointed his thick gaze at George-Zaza.

"Asta does have a gentle look, but she's not that feminine. And the words that look down at Kamado's turn are disgusting."

"What, you look in a bad mood, it's Ai-Fa. You think I'm gonna look down the stairs?

"If you don't think, keep your mouth shut. Besides, you should refrain from speaking ill of the nobility of the king's capital."

"It would be difficult to keep your mouth shut even though you only have compatriots. Don't worry, I'm not gonna wake up with nobles."

Georg-Zaza was quite in a good mood for a less grumpy Ai-Fa. That is probably due to the presence of Tour-Din, who is smiling like trouble next to him. Tul-din, who accepted Odifia's request, was to attend as George-Zaza's partner.

(Well, it's just blood clan, I guess it doesn't make any deep sense. Last time I attended, Darum-Lou and Sheila-Lou, because we weren't even exchanging wedding promises at the time.)

Moreover, Sufila-Zaza, who was last present with George-Zaza, was to be dismissed this time because he and Raelis were to have an unparalleled noise afterwards. In that vacant seat, Tul-din reached the stage where he would fit.

Other facial rashes include Sin-Luu and Lara-Luu from the Luu family, Dari-Sauti and Mil Fei-Sauti from the Sauti family, Me and Ai-Fa from the Fa house, and Gazran-Rutim from the Lutim family. This included Georg-Zaza and Tour-Din, for a total of nine.

"... didn't Gazran-Rutim really want to spend time with his family at home, too?

When I called him that way, Gazran-Rutim shook his head with his usual serene expression, "No".

"I guess this is also an important thing for the people by the woods. Of course, I always have a desire to spend time with my family… but I also want to do my job for my family"

That's right with Gazran-Rutim, there was no sign that he was afraid of things.

This is the second time the parents of Sauti and his wife have settled down, and nothing has changed the way Sin-Lu looks. The only person with a more tenacious face than I-Fa was Lara-Luu.

But I guess Lara-Lew is worried about Sin-Lew having to do a swordsmanship trial in it as a pastime, not the masquerade itself. Because it was obvious, Sin-Lu also spoke to Lara-Lu every once in a while.

"You don't have to show me anything, Lara-Luu. I didn't get a scratch in a fight with a bunch of people, did I?

"Yeah, I know. People in town aren't like Sin-Lu."

Answering that way, Lara-Lew is shaking herself in a harsh way. Sin-Luu stared at Lara-Luu like that with his eyebrows lowered just a little.

The Totos car, which thus carries the thoughts of each person, eventually stops.

The venue of today's masquerade, also known as the Red Bird Palace, arrived.

We got out of the Totos car, and we were supposed to look up at that splendid building side-by-side.

It is a much larger palace than the Swan Palace, which is often used as a venue for tea parties. Its outer walls were made of reddish brown brick, and the entrance door was carved with bird tattoos when it was an immortal bird with crimson and golden wings.

"I've been waiting for you, folks by the woods. Proceed here."

Guided by his lowest surname, he is led inside the building. Waiting at the end of the high ceiling corridor was the bathroom as expected.

Break up with men and women and be guided during each refrain. After this, I knew I couldn't rendezvous until I finished dressing up for the banquet costume, so I-Fa was sneaking in to Sin-Lu to "ask for Asta".

I purified myself with a steam that smelled like yomogi and went back between refrains, where, just as at the last ball, the timeless outfit of the gown of the previous match was prepared.

Wrap it around and be led upstairs from the back corridor. It was the old tailors and their assistants who took care of us last time, waiting for us between the dresses that eventually arrived.

"It's a hiccup, folks by the woods. I am here to help you dress today at the mercy of Rittia."

"Uhm. Nice to meet you"

On behalf of all of us, Dali-Souti greets us. It was supposed to be the first time in about eight months that I would be reunited with this Mistress.

A larger number of assistants dress us in banquet costumes than last time. Everyone had done their measurements this time, so there was little need for adjustments, etc., and everything was progressing to flow.

"Speaking of which, the Kamadokus of the Lew family have arrived first, right?

"Ah, yes. By the time we were a little past Jomtien, we were already headed for Castle Town."

Dari-Sautti called me in the middle of the outfit, so I let him answer that.

Today, the Kamadokus of Luu's blood were set to help prepare the feast dish. Therefore, the Lew family closed the street business today, and we prepared 50% more dishes than usual to encourage business.

And yet, tomorrow is the original holiday, so both me and Raina-Lou can do their job without worries. It wasn't long before Raina-Lou and the others were cooking in this palace for over a hundred attendees.

"The Lew family's Kamadoku were talking about preparing Giva dishes, not fish dishes, right?

"Yes, he said he wanted to try a dish made with seafood. Basically, fish dishes should be taken by Varcus"

"Right. Whatever it is, it's gratifying to be able to mouth Giva dishes."

For me, both the Giva and Vulcan fish dishes of Raina-Lou and the others were equally appreciated.

(Because you keep standing up so much and you don't get a chance to mouth the Varcus dish. Should I be thanking Fermes for his bias)

Needless to say, Varcus was to be entrusted with the cooking of the day in order to please Fermes. Varcus, Raina-Lou and a few other Castle Town cooks were supposed to be convened after that.

"Now, please wear this one at the end"

And the person in charge of my attire handed me something odd.

It is black, in the shape of a semi-circle, like a large hat. But it was black and dull lit, shaped and textured like flipping an iron pan.

If you take it, of course it's not as heavy as an iron pot. The surface of the hat is stretched with cloth, which is stained with a slightly glossy metallic colour.

"Inside, there is a knot string. Put it under your chin and tie it."

I wore a hat for the iron pot, according to the man's words.

By the way, about neck to bottom, it's not that unusual. On top of a scorched brown torso and a shabby white legged coat, dressed in feathers with a red vest of fluffy material, it would be a fairly fine fabric, but it was never gorgeous at all.

"Um, what kind of hobby banquet costume is this?

"This is an outfit that mimics the Spirit, the use of the fire god Vairas."

"I see," I convinced. Vairas, the fire god, is a god who delivers the fire given to the human world by Selva, also the fire god, and the Kamado hut of Fa's house is also decorated with wooden carved statues. That statue was a humorous figure that was giving a little peek in the face from the pan, but the spirits are wearing the pan on their heads, I guess.

(Well, that's the outfit I deserve.)

But if the hunters by the woods were made to dress like this, they would look sarcastic and hilarious. With a lot of concern, I looked at my compatriots who were dressed side-by-side - my worries seemed completely worrying.

"Hmm. I thought I'd be wrapped up in a demonic armor, like I was at a martial arts club, but is this a fabric fake?"

It was George-Zaza who said so.

He was just a reminder of what he looked like in a martial arts club, in armor. It was also a warrior in the presence of a famous general, with his whole body blackened and a strangely sharp corner of decoration. The long cloak that seems to stick to the floor is also pitch black, only the lining is red as blood, and even the long sword is lowered at the waist.

"Now, please wear this one at the end"

Along with the same dialogue as I did, a really fine helmet is handed to me.

He usually wore the fur on Giva's head, but it was designed as if he had arranged it. But it seemed to be a dragon with sharp horns and fangs, not a giva that was supposed to be a motif.

"This is the Dragon Knight outfit, under the command of the Dragon King. … you look really good."

One of the assistants stating so appeared to have a lot of hip pull. It looks so good, it's so powerful. If I came across such an opponent on the battlefield, he seemed to want to run away before I could cross my sword.

Nevertheless, like my iron pot hat, the metal texture had a great reproduction. Probably a haribote with a cloth strapped to the wooden frame, but just enough to seem like a real armor for a bit of a distance.

"Well, Gazran-Rutim looks just like me."

Chasing George-Zaza's gaze, there was a gleaming knight figure there.

Sure, this one was armored, but the basic colors were pure white. The helmet is not imitating dragons or anything, and the top of the head is full of crimson room decorations. At the chest of the armor was a scarlet painting of the crest stripped of fangs by the lion, the figure of the knight of the kingdom itself.

"Huh. Don't accidentally want to compare sword moves when you're facing each other in this outfit, Gazran-Rutim, huh?

"Yeah. But with this fake knife, you're gonna break it in two just once you meet."

Under his raised cheek, Gazran-Rutim smiles loosely. A very calm temper, but a tough gazran-rutim in the face. He showed brown skin on his white armor and looked almost like a samurai.

"What, am I the only one who's made me wear this side?"

and the voice of Dari-Sauti is raised from another direction. Looking back at you, I got another surprise.

Dari-Sauti was honored with a fine outfit as if he were royal. The head is covered with a treasure crown and the long cape is edged with white fur. Peeping through its combined eyes was a scarlet long coat embroidered with silver yarn, with a band of hips shining in seven colors.

And he's right, the mask is made to wear on his face.

It is a mask that hides only the eyes, familiar to me at my familiar masquerade.

"If the mask disturbs you, can you adjust the length of the string and lower it to the neck, how would you like it?

"Uhm. Hopefully, I hope so"

"I understand. … please note that it is the practice to prepare the mask when you are given an invisible outfit on your face."

As the long Dali-Souti broke his knee, the tailor's assistant adjusted the mask string.

So the mask drips down to the chest like a necklace. When his face was exposed that way, Dari-Sauti looked so majestic.

"Amazing. It's like a real nobleman."

When I mentioned it that way, Dari-Sautti had a head on it that didn't seem happy.

"Stop joking. Even the Marquis of Genos and the nobles of the King's Capital have not dressed so well."

"But Dali-Souti has a penetration. It really suits you."

But, well, there's no way a hunter by the woods would be happy with such words, so I kept the words of praise to myself.

So the last thing left was Sin-Lu, but this one was a pure white armor with exactly the same design as Gazran-Rutim.

Similar to the samurai attire previously made to wear at the Tea Party, the outfit highlighted the Rin of Sin-Lu. If you hadn't accompanied Lara-Rue as your partner, then again a number of your ladies would have been disturbed in the chest.

"... Am I going to be in this outfit and come to a sword skill trial?

When Sin-Lew inquired that way, the tailor's master circled his eyes as "outrageous".

"If you move hard in that appearance, all the yarn will be ripped right off. When you test, prepare real armor."

"Right. I hope so."

"Now that the room across the street is between refraining, relax there. I'm sure you'll finish wearing them soon."

A small surname stuck in the corner led us through the corridor during the refrain. The lowest surname is what hides his emotions, but his eyes felt ecstatic by the bravery of Gazran-Rutim and Sin-Lu.

"But even if they say relax, not in this outfit. Looks like it's hard to sit down."

"There is only one. This is the fashion of Castle Town.... but the last ball was still a more casual outfit."

Georg-Zaza and Dari-Sauti were complaining about the less serious appearance. Georg-Zaza, among other things, doesn't even look amused about this situation. Perhaps the overwhelming joy of the feast along with Tour-Din outweighed my dissatisfaction with the cramped outfit.

My first name prepared me for tea, so I rinse it and wait for the ladies to arrive.

Approximately a quarter of an hour later, the door was finally knocked.

"Excuse me. We have finished wearing your clothes."

Looking back, thinking, "Oh," it was Sheila, the maid of the Earl of Dalaim's house, who opened the door. When she meets me, Shayla smiles and bows.

As Shayla thus retreated aside, the women dressed in banquet costumes continued to enter the room.

The top batter is Mill Fay-Sutty.

She also wore a fine costume when she was royal. The upper body is perfect, the skirt is fluffy and twisted, a standard outfit in Castle Town, but more luxurious than last time. It weaves splendid capes with designs similar to Dari-Sauti's, and silver ornaments shine on the chest and arms. And she was also lowering her mask from her neck.

The next person to emerge was Lara-Luu.

This is also a stunning banquet costume. And yet, it looks so different because I loosen the bright red hair that I usually turn into a ponytail and wear silver hair decorations there as well. The dress is also dominated by red, so the freshness was more than Mill Fay-Sauti.

Just one thing, a castle town dress is something with a very open collar and exposed to the chest so much that I have trouble finding a place for my eyes - Lara-Lew's dress was wavy with excessive frills like flames under her chest. Just for the record, she wasn't as blessed with development as her two sisters, so maybe it was a design to make up for it.

However, development is only in terms of feminine bulges. Lara-Luu is taller than Rayna-Luu and has a very supple and smooth style.

Sleek upper body is so prominent as it is a fluffy skirt from the waist to the bottom. And the beautiful clavicle peeking from the collar or the neck-to-shoulder line, thin but not at all weak, is so graceful. Though his expression is blurry, Lara-Lew was as luxurious and adorable as a princess.

And like the shadow of Lara-Luu, Tour-Din comes into the room a little bit.

It looked like a shadow because Tour-Din was dressed as a blackhead.

But even if it's blackened, nothing plain at all. The dress of the piece is wrapped in fluffy frills from top to bottom, with large black flower decorations on the temples. Besides, the sleeveless, peeled arms were wrapped with frills and ribbon embellishments everywhere, and the same embellishments were unwrapped in black fur sandals wrapped around the toes of the feet.

And notably, its back.

Thur-din was carrying a large feather on his back.

It is a butterfly feather that shines in a maggotic colour. Thanks to that decoration, it was easy to guess that it was inspired by some fairy.

"Oh, what a delightful outfit! It's like a feather took on a human figure!

When Georg-Zaza laughed, Tul-din, who turned over there, opened his eyes to surprise him.

"Ge, George-Zaza, you look very brave. Isn't it heavy?

"This is a fake armor! Tool-din and I can't fly with those feathers?

Listening to the interaction between the two, I was desperately restraining myself.

Needless to say, just after Tour-Din, it was because Ai-Fa was in the room.

Even in my previous banquet costume, I was to be distracted. But today's banquet costume - it was bringing me more amazement than that.

Ai-Fa also wears herself in pure white armor.

But it wasn't just armor. Obviously, it's an armor designed for women.

It's a design that can't be roughly practical, and the collar is so open that it can't beat a regular banquet costume. They also peel off their upper arms and thighs, just so they are hidden with white hands and boots at the tips of their hands and feet.

But for the impractical part, it was decoratively a great design.

Extremely refined decorations are unraveled on armor, hands and boots. From behind his shoulders, a pure white cloak flowed down to his feet, and the sheath of a long sword lowered to his hips was brilliant with colorful gems.

I'm wearing a helical one at the end of the day, but it's also totally lacking in practicality, which makes it seem like a treasure crown from what I've seen. There were winged ornaments all around the temples, and crimson jewels embedded around the forehead.

Long golden brown hair is naturally draped from its crowned helmet. That glitter is coloring the eye-fa.

And on the wide open chest, the blue gemstone neckline sparkled.

Just like last time, my necklaces were decorated with silver chains and decorative strings.

Ai-Fa was not above this. Rin, and beautiful.

Truly, he is as if he had jumped out of myths and fairy tales.

Who else can you wear this outfit to, other than ii-fa? It should not have seemed like a tailored armor just for Ai-Fa.

"How was the costume tailored?

And when did the tailor's husband, who had been in the room, say so with a gleaming face?

Together, we turn our eyes to Dari-Sauti. After all, it is the role of the chief to reply on these occasions.

"Mm-hmm. As I've said before, it's hard for us to judge the good and bad of a banquet costume... but it's still a masquerade, which is a lot of strange outfits to be prepared for."

"Yes, this time we have made a costume that mimics the story of" The Princess Knight Zelia and the Seven Dragons ""

To his husband's words, Dari-Sauti tilts his neck.

"I'm not familiar with my ears at all, but is that an inheritance or something that passes to town?

"It's more like a fairy tale than a legacy. It's the story of Zelia, the princess of one of Selva's territories, crusading seven dragons that bring disaster to the kingdom."

While stating so, his husband reached out to Ai-Fa more.

"That's you, Princess Knight Zelia. Plus, two young knights following Zelia. Lords and their companions, the parents of Zelia. The princess of a neighboring territory exposed to the evil dragon king. Spirit of Vairas, the fire god who saves Zelia's predicament. And Dragon Knight and Black Fairy, under Dragon King. … that's what the outfit is all about"

"Oh. Me and Tour-Din are the enemy."

When Georg-Zaza said happily, his husband nodded yes.

"In masquerade balls, devils, demons and other outfits are also preferred. In ancient times, we hear that a feast to imitate the appearance of demons was held in order to spare evil, so… such a lesson must have been passed down over time."

"Huh. Well, we were part of the Sung family that stepped off the road. I guess you deserve the role of enemy."

While stating so, Georg-Zaza did not look offended at all. I guess it's not something I've learned about fairy tales passed on outside the woods. After all, maybe he was happy to have been a pair with Tour-Din.

"I was wondering if I should also prepare the outfit of the Dragon King of the Seven Heads, but that was a habit to dress in pairs of seven, so this time I decided to refrain. I hope you like it."

"Um, well, I guess it's a fine outfit. I've put a lot of work into it and I appreciate it."

"There is no such thing. The folks by the woods look fine, both your lords and ladies, so as a tailor, it would be worth the sieve of your arms."

Leaving those words behind, the tailor's husband left the room.

Shayla and her last name also disappeared, "Please relax until time," so it is often a welcome time. Ai-Fa had a face that was sighing, and he came closer to me.

"Asta was given an easy-going outfit a long time ago. I'm so jealous of you."

"Hey, I-Fa looks great. Besides, it's amazing what a fairy tale protagonist is."

"... I was told that it would be inappropriate to assume such a role, apart from the human being of the chieftaincy muscle. Those formats are irrelevant, and they've been ripped off."

Ai-Fa looked very grumpy. I guess he moans that it's cramped outfits, even more so last time.

But as far as I'm concerned, I had a hard time restraining myself. Together, I'm going to overlook it and forget to reply. I wanted to tell Ey-Fa that this is how I can see it.

"It's also weird that Dari-Sauti and the others are my parents. Not that those two kids ever grow up to be bigots like me. I'm not ten years old."

"Well, that's a good thing. I'm apparently very satisfied with the Spirit helping Ai-Fa."

Ey-fa, armed in the figure of a princess knight, looked up at my iron pot hat on the urchin.

"The fire god Vairas was the god of statues that Asta could have bought in the lodging town. So what you're wearing on that head is an iron pot"

"Yeah. If I do this, does it look like Vairas' family?

I thought of the statue in Kamadu's cabin and gave it a good look and twisted my eye-fa. Vairas, the fire god who peered his face out of an iron pot, had such a prank kid's eye.

Ai-Fa played my nose with her fingertips, hiding her own mouth. He pushed his bump out of his mind, and he looks desperate to laugh.

"Why don't you stop, you idiot. You'll have the other eye."

Apparently, Ai-Fa is vulnerable to imitations. If I could make Ai-Fa laugh with a voice imitation of Totos or a face imitation of Vairas, it was a thankful story.

(Hi Ai-Fa, looks like you still don't care about Fermes. I need you to come to the banquet for a bit of fun)

Either way, the start of the masquerade will be close by now.

In what way will the nobles appear at the banquet hall? Along with the dishes of the Varcas and Raina-Lou, we decided to keep it waiting.