Chapter 43
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"Hahaha, hajit! Haha... hajime! Ha, haha... hajime Mahi! Hajime... hajimemashite!"
"A-ano! Nice to meet you too! Really, it's nice to meet you!"
Tenmei Canyone, the lecherous photographer, stood before Amy as stiff as a banana frozen at absolute zero. Her short, neatly trimmed hair, her height about the same as mine, her large nose that suggested a strong sense of principle, and her slim eyes that gave an impression of seriousness—all of it reflected only Amy.
And for some reason, even model Amy was nervous.
"I-I-I am Tenmei Canyone! I have been hired as a cameraman by the fairy-like beauty, Lady Ellie!"
"U-um! I'm Amy Golden! By the way, aren't we classmates?"
"Yessir! We are classmates! I'm deeply moved by your beauty!"
"Oh, stop... Don't tease me like that."
"U...hoh..."
Ah, the lecherous photographer died from embarrassment.
I mean, why the heck did he reply with "yessir"...?
"Heal"
I had no choice but to chant a spell and revive the lecherous photographer.
"...Buh-haah! Huh, where am I?"
"Are you okay, Tenmei-kun?!"
"Ah, a fairy... which means this must be heaven. O beautiful god Cnorellil, thank you for showing me such a lovely scene..."
"Did you hit your head or something?"
Amy, concerned, touched the lecherous photographer's forehead.
His face turned red in an instant. This must be what people mean when they say someone looked like a boiled octopus.
"U...hoh..."
Ah, he died again.
"Heal"
I had to chant the spell again.
This is getting us nowhere.
"...Buh-haah! Where am I?!"
"Tenmei-kun, why don't you go home and rest for today?"
"Home? Why is a fairy here...?"
"A fairy... again with that... Come on. Don't say embarrassing stuff like that."
Amy blushed and averted her gaze. Naturally, the lecherous photographer looked like he was about to die from a moe overload.
"U...hoh..."
She grabbed his shoulder and zapped him with a tiny "Electric Strike."
This spell delivers an electric shock to whoever it touches, like a stun gun. At full power, it's strong enough to char a human.
"Ababababababababa!"
Like a freshly caught bonito on a hook, the lecherous photographer convulsed all over, then immediately got slapped awake.
"You are alive! And you're going to take pictures of Sister Amy!"
"I'm... alive?"
"Yes. Now, get ready quickly."
"A-ah, right. Thank you, Lady Ellie."
"So, Sister, Misa and Joe will be here soon, so please get ready, okay?"
"Okay! I-I'll do my best!"
"You don't need to be so nervous."
Ignoring the concern, Amy walked off to her room, moving her hands and feet in the same direction.
...Will she be okay?
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Though he said it was his first time using a camera, Tenmei Canyone possessed an amazing sense. Honestly, even I was surprised. This must be what it means to pour one's soul into every shot.
"Miss Amy! Please sit on that railing and stretch out your right leg!"
"L-like this?"
"Yes! How wonderful! Exceeeellent!"
"U-um..."
"Can you smile at the camera?"
"Like... this?"
Amy gave a hesitant smile. But the lecherous photographer didn't scold her. He just kept showering her with praise.
"You look like a truly charming lady! Splendid! And Lady Ellie, who designed this outfit—I can't help but feel deep reverence for you from the bottom of my heart!"
"Right? Right?"
I nodded smugly.
The outfit Amy is wearing now is a knee-length skirt with a blue base scattered with tiny spirits of water, paired with a slim-fitted white button-up shirt. The top button is left open to show a small pendant, and on her feet are a pair of pumps that Misa made with all her might while arguing with a shoemaker.
"Miss Amy, don't you think so too?"
"Yeah! Ellie's really amazing. This outfit is super cute."
"I think so too. Miss Amy, you really love Lady Ellie, don't you?"
"I love her so much! I love her a lot!"
"Streeeeength!"
The lecherous photographer didn't miss Amy's natural smile and shouted something incomprehensible as he clicked the shutter. The A4-size photo paper slowly slid out from the side of the camera. I looked at the photo and let out a sigh despite myself.
Amy, wearing a breezy skirt, looked our way with a beaming smile. Surrounded by the flowers blooming in the Golden family's salon, her smile bloomed even more brightly. With her silky blond hair gathered to the side, seated on a white handrail, she was more beautiful and more delicate than anyone else.
Misa and Joe leaned in close to me to peek at the photo.
Both of them let out wordless sighs.
"You're a genius!"
I couldn't help but clasp the lecherous photographer's right hand with both of mine.
But he was shaking his head, seemingly still unsatisfied.
"Miss Amy's charm is more like, beautiful yet fleeting, and at the same time evokes hope and compassion—a grand, one-of-a-kind story like the edge of the world. I'm frustrated. I haven't captured the burning longing inside me in a single shot."
"I knew it... Bringing you here was the right choice..."
His bizarre speech moved me deeply, though I didn't understand a word of it.
I didn't get a single bit of the meaning, but the passion came through clearly.
"My lady, I am currently overwhelmed with emotion."
Misa was openly shedding tears.
I wondered how much she must have struggled to make this outfit.
"Ellie! I won't lose either!"
Joe showed renewed enthusiasm for design.
"Beeeeautiful!"
The lecherous photographer swung the camera ninety degrees and clicked the shutter.
I thought, "That photo paper costs five thousand Ron per sheet," but it didn't matter anymore. This magazine shoot was our grand culmination. It had been nearly two months since we met those two in Mirrors.
"Okay! Let's go with this photo for the cover!"
He trembled with emotion.
"Lady Ellie... you've saved me. I finally feel like I've found what I want to do... Thank you... Now I can be free from the anguish of youth..."
"What are you saying? The real anguish starts now. You're going to take the best photo ever, right?"
"Of course I will! I swear it here by the Oath God Diagois!"
"That's right, Tenmei-kun! Eii eii ooo!"
Amy raised her right hand toward him.
Yeah, that's the right usage.
"So cute... Uhoh..."
The lecherous photographer died from moe again.
And so, for the two weeks until the special inaugural issue of fashion magazine 'Eimy' was complete, I would be running around nonstop.
At the same time I got word from the dwarf shop owner that the mana crystal had sold for 1.35 billion Ron, I posted a job listing for a wizard who could use "Copy," hired a rabbit-kin skilled at paperwork, roped in a stylish town girl as a copywriter candidate, and brought in a fox-kin boy who seemed suited to journalism thanks to his writing talent.
During that time, I still attended school properly.
Clarice was performing with dazzling prowess.
I can't live without Clarice anymore, honestly...
I assigned the responsible Black Brian as the leader for binding, and we set our goal at 500 copies of the magazine.
The price per copy was a whopping 6,000 Ron.
We couldn't turn a profit at any lower price.
Maybe the others sensed my passion—soon, everyone had entered a workaholic state. All-nighters became the norm. Even with bloodshot eyes and exhaustion, their bodies moved with double the usual energy. They chugged mana potions and mandragora tonics and threw themselves into the work.
Three days before the magazine's release, an enormous cloth poster featuring a "Copy" of Amy's photo was put up on the wall of First Avenue on Greifner Street. Its size nearly covered the seven-story 'Adventurers' Guild and Magical Research Institute,' the second largest building after Greifner Castle. The other two were installed at 'Ohana Bookstore,' which had helped with the binding, and at 'Italleria,' a popular café at the end of First Avenue where young people gathered.
Amidst that frenzy, two days before the magazine's release.
Someone knocked on my room's door.
I stopped the day's meeting with the rabbit-kin good at paperwork and Clarice, and looked up from my desk.
The one who entered the room was the second daughter, Elizabeth.
What could she want at this late hour?
She peeked just her face into the room, looking bashful.
"I have something to talk about with Ellie."
"What is it, Sister Elizabeth?"
"I have something to talk about with Ellie."
"Okay, I get it... but could you just come in the room for now..."
The usually assertive Elizabeth glared with flushed cheeks and a pouting mouth. That contrast made me find her unintentionally cute.
"Then, I'll come in!"
"Go ahead...!"
———This is———!!!!!
——————!!!!!!!!!!
Seeing my four-years-older sister's outfit, I shouted "Zukooon!" and dramatically fell from my chair like a classic Osaka comedy skit.