LOTM: Seekers

35. Golden goose

Today in Backlund, the smog hung heavier than usual, thickening the already overcast sky until barely a sliver of sunlight could pierce through. The city's usual gray haze seemed even more oppressive, casting a dull pall over the streets. Yet, life carried on as usual. In Backlund—also known as the Capital of Dust—this was hardly surprising. Some cared about the environment; others didn't bat an eye.

"Chris," Mother called shortly after our customary breakfast. "What do you think of this?"

She held up a doll's outfit, inspired by one of my earlier sketches but refined with her professional touch, especially in the subtle harmony of colors.

"And here's another," she added, producing a smaller-scale model dress she often used as a prototype before crafting the full-sized garments. It wasn't designed for dolls — whose proportions differed quite a bit from humans — but Mother had made a few tweaks to emphasize its delicate beauty.

"Wow, as expected from the most popular dressmaker," I said, impressed. The best creations aren't those only appreciated by professionals for their intricate techniques, but those that captivate even untrained eyes with their sheer brilliance. I gave her a confident thumbs-up. Emlyn won't be able to resist this!

"Hook, line, and sinker," I added with a grin.

Mother mirrored my gesture with a sly smile. "Hehe, hehehe." We shared a strange, amused laugh.

Meanwhile, Father simply shook his head, observing the peculiar bond that had recently formed between his two favorite people — his son and wife.

'Peytra must be influenced by Chris,' Grandar mused quietly before turning to his son. 'Lately, this kid's become obsessed with money.' He shook his head again. 'Sooner or later, I'll have to have a serious talk with him.'

I'm sure many can relate—

when you've got fire under your feet, there's no way you can stay still.

Points: 2,543 pt

Loan: 25,000 pt

Sure, I wasn't barred from the shop despite having a loan, and thanks to being transferred to that strange South Korea, the loan amount was halved. But still! 25,000 points equals 25,000 pounds!

How many years am I supposed to spend paying that off?! Are you out of your mind?! Well, I survived, but still!

Never satisfied—that's the core of being human. And since I'm human, I guess it's only natural.

A Sequence 9 salary is roughly 300 pounds, which means I'd have to eliminate around eighty Beyonders or more just to break even. How am I supposed to find that many Beyonders? Wait... actually, there might be a chance... Alright, let's keep that as plan B or C.

Anyway, today I found myself once again standing behind the counter at Chris's store—not because I was helping Mother, who wasn't here today, nor because of the usual customers, all of whom were expertly handled by our trained staff.

No, the reason I was here was a reservation made by a very particular someone.

Under the darkening evening sky, the doorbell chimed softly.

A man appeared—his black hair combed in a sharp slant, eyes glowing red, and a peculiar doll cradled carefully in his hands. The long-awaited golden goose—ahem, valued customer—had arrived.

"Welcome. I've been expecting you," I said, flashing him my most genuine smile.

Last time, he hadn't had the chance to truly take in the store, but now, officially stepping inside during business hours, he surveyed the surroundings with a discerning eye. A satisfied nod escaped him, as if silently affirming, 'I made the right choice.''

After allowing him to enjoy the attentive service we pride ourselves on, we swiftly moved to the main attraction. With a crisp snap, one of the staff carefully brought over a doll's outfit, elegantly displayed inside a cylindrical glass case.

"Ooh," he breathed out, just as I had anticipated.

Heh, there's no way he can resist. After all, there's a reason why changing Barbie's outfits was such a timeless trend. Without waiting for him to ask, we opened the case and invited him to feel the delicate texture of the fabric firsthand.

The softer and more comfortable the fabric felt to the touch, the better it was.

'Ohh, it's exactly like the one he showed me before,' Emlyn thought as his fingers brushed the delicate material. "It's quite good," he commented with a measured nod.

"Quite good, yes, Sir," I acknowledged with a knowing smile. "But, may I ask—are you truly satisfied with just 'quite good'?"

He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What do you mean?"

"As I mentioned, Sir, are you content with merely this? Or do you crave something special? Something uniquely yours? A doll is not just a doll—no, even dolls have souls within them. They shine brightest when adorned with something that fits perfectly, a one-of-a-kind creation that makes that soul glow, projecting its presence even to those who lack the skill to perceive such things."

"What do you want, Sir? Will you let those souls fade into obscurity as usual, or will you be the one to make them shine brighter than ever before—with your own hands?"

I felt the curious gazes of the other staff upon me and silently pleaded, Please, don't look at me like that. You know how desperate one can get when drowning in debt.

Then, I gestured toward the model Mother had crafted. "This is what our maker created, inspired by the companion you brought last time. However, without the real thing—or even just a clear memory of its appearance—our imagination inevitably colors the design."

I then turned to the staff member and nodded toward the other dress Mother had refined from her prototype. "And this one."

"Now, Sir," I said, locking eyes with Emlyn, "which of these do you think would suit your companion better?"

Emlyn carefully examined the two outfits once more. Yet, without a doubt, for the doll he brought previously, his choice was clear. He pointed decisively to the first outfit.

'Well, let's not say one is a finished masterpiece and the other just a patchwork' then I added tactfully.

" As expected, Sir, you have a discerning eye. So, how about it—are you interested? If so, could you provide us with photos of your companions?"

At my words, Emlyn's expression darkened slightly. Shit, did I push too far? I thought, fearing I might have scared off the golden goose.

"I'm ashamed" he replied apologetically. "I do have photos, but with my limited skills, I couldn't capture their true beauty."

I let out a silent sigh of relief.

"You need not worry, Sir." I snapped my fingers, and one of the staff promptly brought me a camera. "We have professionals here," I assured him.

Thank you, Emperor Roselle—your blessing, the things you left behind couldn't have come at a better time.

"Then let's get started—capture my companions' best moments," Emlyn said, springing up from the sofa.

"Certainly, Sir," I replied, rising to follow his lead.

"Ah, and how much is this again?" He gestured toward the first outfit—the one resembling a dark magical girl dress.

"Normally, it's 25 pounds, but considering your professionalism and that this is your first visit to our store, I can offer it to you for 20 pounds," I explained.

Emlyn smiled, clearly pleased. "That's a bargain. I'll take it."

"Thank you for your patronage," I said with a warm smile, bringing my palms together in a respectful gesture.

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Woohoo!The anime is amazing!!

The second episode felt a bit fast though — I originally thought the first book would wrap up around episode 12, but at this pace, it might finish by episode 6.I get that it might be confusing for anime-only viewers, but as a reader, I don't mind at all — it just means we'll get to see Sherlock Moriarty Gherman Sparrow sooner!Still, they might need to add some flashbacks for anime-only fans. Watching Klein explore his abilities is one of the charms of Lord of the Mysteries, after all.