IGPB 10

Chapter 10

“The Sleeping Handsome Man in the Forest”

Sompara fluttered down from the chair and twitched her antennae in my direction.
“Hm…? Like this?”
“Yes, yes! Just like that! Now, please hold still for a moment!”

All of a sudden, Sompara pulled out a measuring tape from nowhere and began taking my measurements from head to toe.

“H-hey, that tickles, haha!”
“Good grief, can’t you stay still for just a moment, Lady Zoe?”
“But it really tickles—pffft, hahaha!”
“There. All done. And conveniently, I brought this with me.”

With a proud flutter of her wings, Sompara flew toward a massive bag—at least several times bigger than her tiny body.

How on earth did that little thing even carry such a huge bag?

Curious about what might be inside, I sat back down on a wooden chair and watched her closely.

“Is that… a sewing machine?”
“Correct, Lady Zoe! Now, watch closely. You’re about to witness the hand of a true artisan!”

From the bag, she pulled out a peculiar-looking sewing machine and a pile of colorful fabrics.
Holding my breath, I narrowed my eyes and fixed my gaze on Sompara’s movements.

Whirr… clack-clack, shrrrrk…

‘Wow… she really is a master.’

Even someone like me—who can’t tell a D from “design”—could tell that Sompara’s craftsmanship was extraordinary.

Her two long antennae moved as if they had a mind of their own, pulling slender threads through the sewing machine with elegant precision. She stitched the multicolored fabrics together one by one, each motion graceful and deliberate. It reminded me of the top designers back in my world.

“And… done! Lady Zoe, would you try it on?”

Before I even realized it, a dress had been completed in the blink of an eye. I took the dress from her, amazed by both the speed and beauty, and quickly held it up against my body.

“How is it?”

All three monsters turned their eyes toward me.

“Ohh, it complements Lady Zoe’s unique eye color perfectly! As expected of my exquisite sense!”
“It really does—Lady Zoe, you look beautiful! Here, look in the mirror!”
“Kyuuu!”

Their excited reactions made me glance at the mirror, where I saw myself wearing a bright pastel-colored dress.

“Is… that really me?”

That was one line I’d always wanted to say at least once.

My goodness. Clothes really do make the person.
As soon as I put on the dress, even my complexion—darkened from all that farm work—looked noticeably brighter.

“I love it! It’s perfect! You’re amazing, Andre Som—!”
“…Andre Som? Whatever that means. Anyway, since I heard Lady Zoe is quite active, I avoided adding any cumbersome lace decorations. I used breathable and comfortable material, and even layered in a rare waterproof fabric.”

“Wow… it’s so functional and pretty?”

Sompara puffed up proudly.
“Of course! My specialty lies in balancing practicality and beauty. I designed it to highlight your slim waistline while matching your pure and graceful image. So—what do you think?”

I raised a thumb with a bright grin.
“It’s… absolutely perfect! Thank you, Sompara! You’re not just a designer—you’re a master artisan!”

Honestly, all my clothes at home were worn-out, shapeless things.
This was a must-buy. I’d sell my entire garden if I had to.

I glanced at Sompara cautiously.
“Um… Sompara, how much does this dress cost? I don’t have any money right now, but I’ll work hard and pay you back later.”

“Hm, money, you say? Lady Zoe, are you sure you can afford it?”

Considering the quality, it was probably very expensive. I swallowed dryly.
“J-just tell me.”
“I’m kidding. It’s a gift.”

For a brief moment, I swear I saw a radiant halo shining behind her.
So those wings really were angelic after all.

But… I couldn’t just accept something this beautiful for free.
Should I accept her kindness, or follow my conscience?

“Th-thank you… no, wait! I can’t let you give it away for free. I’m not that shameless.”

After much inner turmoil, I chose conscience.

“No, really, it’s fine. Don’t humans love free stuff?”
“Well, sure, but I want to pay the proper price. How much?”
“Hmph, humans never pay fair value anyway… ah, forget it. It’s less tiring to just give it as a gift.”

I could tell from her weary tone that she’d probably been taken advantage of by humans before.

‘Yeah… I’ve been there too.’

Back when I was just an ordinary job-seeker obsessed with animals, I used to make and sell little animal-shaped keychains as a side job. That experience taught me that ideals and reality don’t always mix.

There were always customers complaining that the paint chipped slightly, or that it “wasn’t cute enough,” trying to haggle down an already cheap price.

Eventually, fed up with all the nonsense, I just gave up and decided, “Fine. I’ll just give them away.”

And that’s how my small business ended—with a free giveaway.

At the time, I told myself I was avoiding the mess because I was “above it,” not because I was scared of losing money… but really, that’s the fastest road to being a pushover.

“What are you saying? Just by looking at this dress, I can tell how much thought and effort you put into it. So you should sell it for a high price! A fine piece deserves proper value.”

“N-no, really—”
“No excuses! You’re a great demon, yet you’re so naive! If you keep giving away your work, people will start thinking it’s their right to take it!”

“Goodness… you really are a strange human girl, just as the Golem Lord said.”

I fired off my words without letting her breathe, and Sompara just stared at me, dazed. Honestly, these monsters were all too pure for their own good. How were they going to survive in this harsh world like that?

“Anyway, would you like to try some apple pie? Mr. Golem, do you have a plate?”
“Of course! Please, use this one.”

I took out the apple pie I’d stored in a wooden basket and placed it neatly on a pretty dessert plate. Instantly, the mood turned elegant—like we were at a noble lady’s tea party.

Honestly, they were acting more refined than I ever could.

“Oh, did Lady Zoe bake this herself?”
“Yup! I made it myself, and I guarantee it’s delicious. Please have some, Mr. Golem!”

“Sniff… wow, what a wonderful smell! Wait right there—I’ll bring some tea to go with it!”

Chapter 3: I Picked Up a Sleeping Handsome Man in the Forest

“Lady Zoe, your apple pie was simply divine… As a token of gratitude, here are the tea leaves we drank with it earlier.”

“Thank you, Mr. Golem! The aroma was so nice. Oh, and about that essential oil you gave me last time—I used it during a bath, and my skin became so smooth!”

“Really? Then I’ll prepare some more for you—rose-scented oil for your hair, Luminaris tea leaves… let’s see, what else… Please wait just a moment, Lady Zoe!”

As expected, the apple pie was a huge hit.
Ruby had overeaten and was now sleeping in a corner, while Sompara’s eyes were glistening with tears.

Meanwhile, Golem was busy stuffing all sorts of household goods into a basket as “thanks,” and I couldn’t help but shake my head.

Sometimes, Mr. Golem really did remind me of a grandmother who kept feeding her grandkids until their stomachs were about to burst.

“Lady Zoe, that apple pie… it was truly amazing. Honestly. Haah, I can still taste the apples dancing in my mouth…”

“I’m glad you liked it.”

There wasn’t a single hint of exaggeration in Sompara’s eyes.

“So, about that dress… I insist on giving it to you as a gift! Please, just accept it!”

“Eh? Didn’t we already settle that—”
“No! You said it yourself: a fine product deserves its proper price. And after tasting that apple pie, I feel I’ve already received full payment! So, please, accept it!”

Just as I opened my mouth to lecture her again on “how not to be a pushover,” Sompara parroted my own words right back at me.

Her firmly closed lips said it all—she wasn’t going to back down.