#755 The Road to Stepping Up

My name is Shalanthea.

I am a woman destined to be hailed as the Maestro of Fabric, creating garments worthy of the gods.

Although that moniker isn’t yet mine.

But there’s no denying my bursting talent!

I have been welcomed into Mixpider, the most renowned fashion brand in the Demon Kingdom.

And I achieved this feat just one year after entering the industry!

Isn’t that testament enough to my talent?!

Surely, those in the esteemed brand with an eye for beauty can also discern the sparkling gem of talent within me!

For now, I’m relegated to menial tasks, but soon they will entrust me with needle and fabric...

I’ll incorporate heaps of originality and reveal the most stunning dress that’s 10,000% original and a creation only I could conceive!!!

Yes, something akin to...!

That vibrant fashion brand is currently taking the Demon Capital by storm... Noujou!

When I began aspiring to be a tailor, Noujou clothes had already ascended to the pinnacle of the Demon Capital fashion world.

Innovative design, dependable functionality.

There was heated debate over their extraordinarily precise and regular stitches, seemingly impossible to have been hand-sewn.

Now, no soul in the clothing industry doesn’t admire Noujou’s garments.

Naturally, countless people yearn to join Noujou to learn their techniques, but no one has succeeded in working for them as they wished.

First, Noujou is not hiring, and the brand is shrouded in an assortment of mysteries, with specific details unknown.

Who is at the helm?

Where is the headquarters located?

What’s their workforce size?

Totally unknown.

Even the unique techniques and materials incorporated in the clothes remain enigmas.

It’s unusual for a fashion brand to be so steeped in mystery, so veiled in intrigue.

That’s why everyone dreams of joining Noujou, but it’s so cryptic that it’s even unclear where to apply.

A bold soul went directly to Pandemonium, which oversees all transactions, to inquire, but predictably, they were dismissed with a terse “We can’t answer that.”

Yes, that was me.

After exhausting all avenues and realizing it was an impossible quest, I reluctantly opted for my second choice, Mixpider.

...

Well, it’s not exactly reluctant.

Now that I’m a part of Mixpider, I intend to glean as much as possible and become a top designer, contributing to the organization!

Once that’s accomplished, Noujou is merely a rival!

I’ll strive to topple the adversary!

I heard there was a time when Mixpider and Noujou faced off directly, but I wasn’t a member yet, so I have no idea what the outcome was!

But the existence of such a tale shows that the two brands are rivals!

Sure, Noujou is undoubtedly the most popular, but perhaps due to its production capacity, they only manage to complete a few garments per month.

This slow pace ironically enhances its premium allure, and other brands like Mixpider can seize their market share by exploiting this productivity weakness.

There’s still a chance for a comeback!

Let’s go, Mixpider! Overcome Noujou!

Someday, I will ascend as a top designer and overthrow them with my own hands!

***

Day after day, we were engrossed in our work...

...until one particular day.

We were summoned.

The novice apprentices at Mixpider were congregated...

And the person orchestrating this assembly was Fleurety.

Fleurety is Mixpider’s premier designer and also the cherished daughter of the union chief, who commercially oversees the brand.

Despite her youth, she has created numerous masterpieces and serves as an inspiration for us newcomers.

To be summoned directly by Fleurety herself!

What on earth could this mean?

Could it be... they’re selecting an exclusive assistant for Fleurety from among us?!

If I were chosen, it would be an enormous leap for career advancement and networking!

I have no option but to grasp this opportunity!!!

“Me, me, me! I volunteer! Please choose me!”

“Shalanthea, sit down. I haven’t said anything yet.”

Chastised, I sat back down.

I let my emotions run wild...!

“You always act impulsively. Your hastiness reminds me of someone...!”

Fleurety?!

Don’t get lost in thought because of me!

“Well, setting that aside, I’ll get straight to the point of this gathering. As Shalanthea just demonstrated, I’m here to find some volunteers...”

“Me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me, me!!!”

“As I said, raise your hand after you’ve heard the entire story, okay?”

Yes, ma’am!

But despite my fervor...

“I’ve received a request for personnel reinforcement from a certain place.”

“Me, me, me! I’ll go!”

“I said, listen to the full story first.”

Fleurety, please notice my eagerness!

And appreciate it!

Among the gathered novice apprentices, some nondescript individual raised their hands.

“What’s the place requesting personnel reinforcement?”

“I can’t divulge the specifics... but, in a nutshell, it’s a place overseen by a relative of mine.”

Huh?

“It’s not directly affiliated with Mixpider, but it’s someone I can’t simply ignore. I’d like someone from this group to go there on secondment. Any volunteers?”

Hands that had been raised started to drop, one after the other.

A place managed by a relative of Fleurety, what’s that about?

And it’s not related to Mixpider?

“Strictly speaking, it’s a separate organization.”

How does relocating to a place like that contribute to my career growth or achievements?

It’s clearly a bad deal with no benefits!

I’m absolutely not willing to be shipped off to a place like that!

Let someone else go!

“Shalanthea, you raised your hand earlier, didn’t you?”

“Huh?!”

Has my hasty action come back to haunt me now?!

“Um, well, I mean, let’s forget the past and focus on the present...!”

“Even so, in a situation where no one else is volunteering, it’s only natural to look to the one who volunteered just a few seconds ago, don’t you think?”

“I don’t think it’s natural at all!”

“But, there’s no one else...”

Oh nooooo!

Without a volunteer, it’s turned into a sacrificial vote!

And I’m about to become the first sacrifice?!

My thoughtless action has led to this!

Acting impulsively without thinking is never a good idea!

You never know what kind of trap awaits!

I vowed to myself to stop and observe before taking action in the future!!!

***

And so.

In the end, there was no way to resist Fleurety’s request, so I ended up where her so-called relative was waiting.

Via teleportation magic.

And then, I was in utter shock.

“.........It’s in the middle of nowhere.”

A farm, far from the capital, surrounded only by mountains and forests.

Almost no buildings in sight, no hint of civilization.

...What am I supposed to do in a place like this...?!

There doesn’t seem to be any tailoring work to be done!

Surely they’re not suggesting we have to do farm work here?!

My precious time for tailoring training! Time that should be dedicated to growth!

To be wasted on farm work in the middle of nowhere!!!

“All right, we’ve arrived as promised! You little mice!!!”

Who suddenly showed up out of the blue?

“I’m Batemy! I’m your instructor, and I’ll mold you pathetic little mice into first-class seamsters! Add Ma’am before and after your sentences when you talk back to me!”

“Add it to the end, too?!”

What’s with this person?!

I want to go home!