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After I pull Erika away from Natalia I take advantage of her unprotected state to steal a kiss. Then I go visit my parents’ graves, I obviously want to tell them about my experiences with the Gardeland family after all.

I had met Otis and Oswald in Ingralowe, and then I found out they were my uncle and cousin. I also learned that my mother had been a noble at one point, and I got to know my grandfather’s strictness and his kindness.

A lot happened, and I learned a lot too. My mother didn’t really talk much about her past, so I’m happy I got to learn a bit more about that too. Not everything was positive though.

Everyone looked weird at Natalia because she’s a magic automaton. I never saw that happening in Bamel or Ingralowe, but I was just blind to it, while Natalia had to endure the whole time.

When I realized that, I was overcome with sadness.

Before, I had never really understood why Natalia always keeps repeating that she’s just a magic automaton, or why Charlotte didn’t want to go help her when the Rufus incident happened.

When I graduated from the Magic Academy and turned fifteen I thought I stopped being a child being protected by Natalia, and I’d be an adult protecting her instead. But nothing had changed. I’m still weak, I’m still the same as when I was a child.

I need to get more powerful, not just in strength, but also mentally, and socially. Otherwise I’ll never get to protect Natalia. My feelings will never reach her, since she hates herself so much already.

So keep watching over me, mother, father.

A few days after our return, I decided to go visit Mir to tell her about my fight with the Protione.

I was inside a barrier that blocked magic when that happened, so I couldn’t use my magic storage to get anything to defend myself, or even my magic guns. That fight would’ve been a piece of cake if I had my guns after all.

Thankfully I was able to sync up with my magic automaton nature a bit better, which allowed me to finally use my magic storage and other spells, as well as enhance my magic gauntlets, but all of that happened by accident, and I probably should prepare for the next time.

“I feel like part of the problem is that I’m too reliant on my magic storage, but I think the biggest flaw is that I don’t usually wear any armor.”
“That’s true, wearing armor isn’t out of place for an adventurer, but your main occupation is to be a maid after all.”

Mir also nods across the counter in her shop.

Armor usually gets in the way of my maid duties, which is why it’s always inside my magic storage and I only take it out to wear when absolutely necessary. I’ve always counted on my magic storage to adapt to various situations, but I feel like I’ve become overly reliant on it and it’s starting to cause issues instead.

“But in that case can’t you just keep improving your magic gauntlet until it can become part of your usual attire?”
“Improve it?”
“Yes. Just like how smaller pieces of interlocked mana allowed your gauntlets to fit better, the same method could work to create a whole suit of armor. Think of it like creating chainmail out of mana.”

That’s actually a really good suggestion. I didn’t really think about it at the moment, but if it worked for my hands then it surely must also work to protect other parts of my body.

“Okay, I’ll give it a try then.”

I focus some mana on my arms and soon they’re covered in a light blue glow. I try opening and closing my hands to make sure I still have my full range of motion.

It’s all working so far, so now I just have to extend this to the rest of my body.

Rip
“Hm?”

Striiiiiiiiippp
“Kyaaaaahhhhhh?!”

All of my clothes suddenly burst apart and fly away from my body, leaving me naked and covered only by a thin layer of mana.

I scream in shock and try to cover myself with my hands and by squatting down, but Mir had been watching the entire time. If there’s any silver lining, it’s that there’s no other clients in the store.

“Are you okay?”
“Definitely not. Why did that happen…”

Mir leans over the counter to look at me as I curl up as best as I can.

“Your previous leather gloves and other armor also broke apart when they couldn’t resist the flow of mana for your magic blades, right? I guess it’s just the same thing happening to your clothes now?”
“Now that you mention it…”

I had completely forgotten about that, but now I remember why I asked Mir to make me new armor with steel silk.

“Hey, Mir, what was that sound?”

Slam!

“It was nothing! Go away dad!”

Jace heard my scream earlier, so he tries to come check out what happened, but Mir slams the door on his face and blocks it. He retired a while back, but he’s still the owner of the shop. Now I can hear him start to cry on the other side of the door so I’m starting to feel bad for him.

“Wasn’t that a bit too harsh, Mir?”
“So you want my dad to see you naked?”
“I’m sorry, and thank you.”

Yeah, I wouldn’t want that happening.

“Anyway, how much of your body is actually covered with magic now?”
“…Do I have to show you?”
“I need to see if you want me to know how to craft the proper armor to help you. We’re both girls so don’t worry about it. I’ve watched you change a few times when we went shopping for clothes together too anyway.”

I might’ve started being more casual in the way I talk to Mir, but I haven’t told her that I used to be a guy yet. She thinks we’re both girls, but I can’t stop thinking otherwise. She completely ignores my internal conflict though, continuing to lean over the counter to observe me.

“You know, there was that time I was unconscious and you tore apart my clothes to heal me. It’s not fair that you saw me naked before I’ve gotten engaged while you refuse to show yourself.”

I feel like Mir has been getting more cunning lately… Feeling very self-conscious, I slowly stand up as I feel Mir staring at me, though I keep covering the important parts with my hands.

“Hmmm, and this is what it looks like when you give it your all?”
“I’m trying to mold it after myself, but it’s not that easy.”

I’m trying to manifest mana all over my body, but most of it is still uncovered, or rather, I don’t think I’m covering even twenty percent of my body. There’s plenty of holes everywhere, and I keep struggling to keep all the mana active. I would never call this an armor, or even a bikini for that matter.

Even my gauntlets that were properly formed at the start are looking flakey now, so I really wouldn’t say this is usable for anything.

“I see…”

I really want to get this over with soon, but Mir just keeps watching me while nodding in thought. Her gaze is that of an analytical blacksmith, and I know she’s not even considering seeing me in any other way. That doesn’t help me feel less embarrassed though.

“I guess this means you can’t really stabilize mana across your entire body at once.”
“Can you work with that?”
“Technically speaking it’s possible to craft something to aid you, but it’ll take a while to iron things out with experiments, and you’ll have to keep ripping your clothes apart each time. It’ll be quite costly in both money and materials to get it all working properly.”
“How long do you think it’ll take you to build the first prototype then?”
“Well, if you bring me the materials yourself the cost will be around…this. I’d estimate it’ll take me around two months to complete the prototype too.”

This hurts a little.

It’s definitely within my economic range, but it’s still really expensive. Then again, Mir is a good friend so I know she already discounted the price as much as she can. I guess it really is a complex piece of equipment if it’ll cost that much and require so much time though.

The estimated time to craft it is also important. Just yesterday I was talking with Olivia, and she mentioned she’ll be taking some simple requests here in Bamel first, and then in the near future we’ll go on a bigger trip. That near future also happens to be in two months, so it’d line up with the time needed to craft the prototype.

“So what do you think?”
“Mmmm…okay, let’s give it a try.”

After thinking about it for a while, I ended up placing the order. I’ll still move on with Olivia’s schedule, and I’ll be testing out the prototype while we travel so that when we’re back I can go tell Mir about any issues.

To be honest I’d prefer it if she could make the final article right away, but it’s hard to say when that would be complete. I can’t really let my personal business interfere with Olivia’s plans.

I open my magic storage and take out the materials necessary, then hand them over to Mir.

“Alright, thank you for trusting us with this. But anyway…”
“What?”
“Have you thought of changing already?”

It was an accident that my clothes burst apart like that, but I don’t want to hear her say that when just moments ago she insisted on seeing me naked. She does have a point that I should change soon though.

I open my magic storage again and look for another change of clothes, but then my hands freeze.

“I put all my other clothes to wash…”
“…Do you want me to lend you some then?”
“…Yes please.”

And so I end up wearing Mir’s clothes as I leave the store. But as a dwarf, Mir is rather petite, so they feel small and tight when I’m wearing them.

The jacket’s cuffs don’t even reach my wrists, and my skirt is so short I’m pretty sure anyone will get to see it if I’m not careful enough, so it makes me feel like an exhibitionist.

A part of me wants to just stay in the store until it’s night and there’s less people outside, but I still need to prepare dinner so I can’t do that.

My only option is to pick the smallest streets and alleys while avoiding the public gaze, and I constantly keep pulling down on my skirt to hide anything bad. Somehow I manage to get back home like that, but I don’t even have to mention that Olivia decided to attack me right away.

But if it’s of any solace, I swear on my honor that my chastity is still intact.