I Became a Clothing Designer in Another World - Chapter 19

"That dress was truly fantastic."

As soon as the tea time alarm-like nagging ended, my mother began to praise the dress I had given her yesterday.

Not just 'it was good,' but 'it was fantastic.'

"Hehe~ Why do you say it like that?"

My mother, who doesn't usually exaggerate, even smiled and used such expressions, so I couldn't help but feel the corners of my mouth constantly trying to ascend to the sky.

"It was cozy, warm, and had just the right amount of pressure... Thanks to it, I was able to sleep comfortably for the first time in a while."

"Really? Were there any uncomfortable aspects?"

"No, not at all, I was very satisfied."

"Then shall I make another one right away?"

"Hmm..."

Contrary to the praise she had given a moment ago, her expression was full of hesitation.

Frowning and hesitating, my mother cautiously opened her mouth after subtly reading my expression.

"I... I know this is a sorry thing to say to you... but could you perhaps make two?"

"Two?"

She must have liked it so much that she's asking for two right away.

I smiled and looked at my mother.

"You must have liked it a lot?"

"That's also a reason, but there's a child who serves me who is very sensitive to the cold, and I wanted to give one to her as well."

"You mean Mariana?"

"Yes, I couldn't get it out of my mind how she looked at that dress with envy, so if it's not too much of a burden for you, I'd like to ask for two... is it possible?"

"Hmm~"

Faced with my mother's pleading eyes, I frowned slightly and fell into thought.

It's not impossible, but if I knit them all by hand, I'll only be able to finish them by midsummer...

If only there was a machine...

A machine?

"Mother, is it okay if the dress for Mariana is made of wool or cotton?"

"That's fine."

"Then there's a way to make it within a few days."

"What?"

My mother opened her eyes wide and looked at me like a surprised cat.

"Didn't you say it would take a month yesterday?"

"Silk is an expensive thread that requires careful handling, but if it's cheap thread like wool or cotton, there's a knitting machine that can do the knitting for you."

"A knitting machine? Aren't you mistaking it for a loom?"

My mother narrowed her eyes at me suspiciously.

"The Magic Tower developed it a few decades ago, didn't you know, Mother?"

"A few decades? I had no idea."

"As far as I know, the previous emperors left harsh reviews, so it's not widely used in the empire."

"Ah..."

The criticism was so severe that there's an anecdote that the emperor said, 'We don't need machines that make such trash!' and threw the stockings presented along with the machine on the floor.

Of course, there was a reason for the harsh criticism.

The first knitting machine could only use thick wool thread, so the texture was rough, which didn't suit the tastes of the nobles.

This much could have happened.

The problem is that the magician who received such harsh criticism sold the machine to a neighboring country.

After that, they gritted their teeth and ignored it for decades out of pride, but I knew that it had been gradually used in the empire for the past few years.

"If there's such a machine, you'll definitely be able to make it quickly."

"Yes, it's said to reduce the time by 90%."

It doesn't just decrease by 90%, it reduces it by a whopping 90%.

"Heo... amazing,"

My mother, impressed by the incredible novelty of a 10-fold improvement in work efficiency, slightly parted her lips and exclaimed.

"But William, does anyone around you have a knitting machine?"

"Uh... no... hehe..."

But the most important machine was missing.

I smiled awkwardly and gently scratched the back of my neck.

My mother narrowed her eyes and looked at me with a pathetic expression.

"I guess I have to knit it myself after all..."

"That's right..."

"Then it will take a long time, right?"

"Right? It will probably be midsummer before it's all finished."

"Ugh..."

Both my mother and I looked at the teacup with troubled expressions.

Even if I work hard from now and make one dress first, it will be mid-June.

No matter how sensitive to the cold you are, you tend to get hot from June onwards.

Shouldn't I just buy a machine?

I feel like I'll have many uses for it if I buy it.

"How about buying one this time?"

"A knitting machine?"

"Yes."

"Will there be any use for it? Such machines aren't cheap, and I don't think it's worth buying just for one dress."

Faced with my mother's negative reaction, I hurriedly listed the advantages of the knitting machine.

"There's none right now, but there will be some use for it in the winter. If you have thread, you can make sweaters, thick stockings, gloves, and scarves with the knitting machine. It's a hassle to find winter supplies every winter."

"Winter supplies..."

My mother, muttering quietly after listening to my explanation, pouted her lips and tapped the table with her fingers.

"Well, it's not a bad idea to look into it, as you said."

After a moment of contemplation, my mother nodded and got up from her seat, glancing at me and continuing.

"You said the Magic Tower developed it?"

"Yes."

"Then let's go to the Magic Tower right away."

"Yes?"

Right now?

_

My mother, planning to head to the Magic Tower as if we were going on an outing, immediately called the butler to prepare a carriage and headed straight for the Magic Tower.

Including me, of course.

Going to the Magic Tower itself was no problem.

It's not like I'm a hikikomori or someone who hates going outside.

However, the magicians of the Magic Tower are people who have been praised as geniuses since childhood, so they were famous for their pride and lack of manners.

But to visit such a Magic Tower abruptly without any notice...

I was worried.

"Um... Mother, is it okay to just visit a place like the Magic Tower so recklessly?"

Looking up at the towering tower, which seemed to be roughly 100m high, a tower that filled my heart with awe, I asked my mother, trembling with anxiety.

"It may not be possible for others, but it is for us."

"Yes? What does that mean?"

"Be quiet and watch quietly, see what happens."

"Yes..."

My mother crossed her arms and gazed intently at the gate of the Magic Tower.

"Ugh..."

My mother must have a plan, so she's doing this...

Suppressing my anxiety, I stood beside my mother and looked at the gate of the Magic Tower.

- Clang!

"!"

As I waited anxiously, the sound of a heavy latch being released echoed, and the huge gate of the Magic Tower slowly began to open.

As the gap between the doors gradually widened enough for one person to pass through,

An elderly, white-haired grandfather appeared through the gap.

A robe showing the marks of time, a staff made of wood as tall as a person, and a pointed conical hat unique to wizards and witches.

The atmosphere and appearance were such that anyone could tell he was a magician in a very high position, so I swallowed hard and waited to see how the magician would react.

"Countess Hume! Welcome! It's so good to see you after so long!"

"Hehe~"

"Uh...?"

An attitude like a merchant welcoming a guest, devoid of any dignity.

Surprised by the reaction, which was so different from what I had expected, I looked at my mother, but my mother smiled nonchalantly and reached out to the magician.

"Tower Master, it's been a long time, have you been well?"

"Yes, of course, I'm always well thanks to the Count and his wife, how have you been lately, Madam?"

"I'm always well thanks to him."

"...Eh?"

I couldn't help but doubt my eyes and ears once again.

The Tower Master is the highest person in the Magic Tower, so why did such a person come to greet us in person?

And why is my mother acting so naturally towards that Tower Master, as if dealing with a subordinate?

"William, you have to greet him quickly."

I was so flustered that I was blankly looking at the Tower Master and my mother, so my mother poked my side and gave me a look.

Only then did I come to my senses, and I hurriedly bowed my head to the Tower Master and greeted him.

"Ah, u-um, hello, I'm William Henry Howard, the second son of Count Hume."

"Young Master William! You're seventeen this year, right? I've heard a lot about you from Count Hume, but you're much more reliable than I've heard!"

"Hehe~ He's still lacking in many ways."

There were too many things I didn't understand.

How does that person know me, who has never visited the Magic Tower, so well?

"But, Madam, what brings you to the Magic Tower?"

"I became interested in something called a knitting machine, does the Magic Tower still handle it?"

"Of course, Heiny Bailey, a mid-level magician, is researching it."

And why is the Tower Master bowing and greeting me and my mother, who are so young, with such courtesy?

"Is it possible to meet that magician right now?"

"Of course, it's possible, please follow me as I guide you."

"Thank you."

Furthermore, I couldn't understand everything, including why my mother was accepting that so calmly.

"......"

As I stood there blankly with my mouth wide open, my mother, who was about to follow the Tower Master inside, burst into laughter and patted my shoulder.

"Puh- William, pull yourself together, what are you doing looking so unsightly?"

"Uh- uh?"

I couldn't speak properly.

As I mumbled incomprehensible words and looked at my mother with a bewildered expression, my mother smiled brightly and gently took my hand.

"William, let's go in quickly, we have to go meet the magician who knows the machine well."

"Yes......"

I was led by my mother's hand into the Magic Tower.

I still couldn't believe it.