It had to be said.
Astra Yao truly lived up to the reputation of 'genius' that circulated so widely among her fans.
After leaving the smithy, getting into her car, and returning to the set, she really did send a new set of design blueprints to Andrew's hands before dinner, just as she had promised.
And the quality was exceptionally high.
Looking at the styling, which was packed with a sense of design and fashion, she had made only subtle changes. Yet, it could be said that she had achieved a beautiful aesthetic while completely retaining the unique characteristics of the Paolumu armor from the Monster Hunter world.
At the same time, she made the style of the clothing fit much better with the modern style of New Eridu.
To achieve this level in such a short amount of time, Andrew felt he could completely describe it with one word: perfect.
But at the same time, without affecting the overall style, she had added unique designs for all three of them that suited their personal preferences.
Among the three outfits:
The styling for Belle leaned more towards being playful and cute, while also adding a touch of the post-modern style she liked.
Evelyn's, while retaining the original style, was more slim-fitting and capable, with many moth motifs added as decorations in the details.
As for her own, it was gorgeous while incorporating many of the shiny accessories that Astra Yao liked best.
It made Andrew, who was looking at the designs, involuntarily say 'perfect'. He was even already imagining how the three of them would look wearing these.
The design issues had been perfectly resolved by Astra Yao.
After confirming the blueprints, Andrew didn't hesitate and immediately started working in full swing.
After carefully studying and dividing the shapes and sizes of the leather needed for production, Andrew meticulously followed the styling designed in the blueprints to match the required shapes.
Partitioning, trimming, cutting.
It wasn't until all the fur needed for making the clothes was completely divided up that the preparation for the outer clothing was considered to be at a stopping point.
And for the sake of defensive performance...
In order to use the best materials for the soft armor lining, Andrew began to carefully select the rubbery shells stripped from the Paolumu.
And speaking of sturdiness.
The shell on the tail, which the Paolumu always used to attack, was the sturdiest part of its body, and also the highest quality part.
As long as the aged outermost layer was scraped away, the remaining shell would be the most perfect material for inner armor.
However, figuring out how to polish it so it could be inserted into these clothes while satisfying defensive needs, and finally ensuring it wouldn't conflict with the styling designed by Astra Yao when worn...
If it were just one or two factors, it would be fine.
But satisfying all three at the same time immediately turned it into a massive project.
Especially after Astra Yao revised the design, Andrew's design for the inner armor also had to change along with the blueprints.
This almost counted as half a redesign job, and it properly consumed quite a few of Andrew's brain cells.
At least, from the moment Astra Yao sent the designs over, everything kept Andrew busy until the early morning of the next day before it was barely completed—or rather, tentatively completed.
And this was only reaching the level where it could be used normally. To satisfy the three points mentioned before, this shell would still need to be properly polished.
Another sleepless night. The all-nighters that had appeared frequently recently were something Andrew was even starting to get a little used to.
However.
The further adjustments to the inner armor that followed were no longer something that could be completed simply by Andrew estimating and polishing on his own.
Although Andrew already had a thorough understanding of the three girls' measurements.
Armor, especially inner armor that needs to be worn close to the body, is tricky.
There are still many aspects and details that can only be adjusted after the people involved actually try them on, allowing for modifications based on actual feedback to make the fit perfect.
If it were someone he wasn't very close to, Andrew could totally just make do; the current state would be sufficient.
But for Belle and the others, it was different.
Although it was the first time making armor for Belle and the others, Andrew naturally wanted to make it the best.
He didn't want there to be any places that would make them feel uncomfortable when Belle and the others wore them.
It was just that right now, achieving this much simply by relying on data, his own memory, and intuition was already Andrew's limit.
The inner armor part came to a pause.
Subsequently, it was time for the most important part: the clothing itself.
However, not long after starting production, Andrew encountered a very difficult problem.
"Boss... this kind of delicate technical work like sewing, I really can't do it, meow. And what you're asking for, Boss, is super difficult..."
Speaking with a bitter face, Meow-Da gestured with his cat paws in front of Andrew.
On his originally intact cat paws, three of the five fingers were now wrapped in gauze. On the remaining two fingertips' paw pads, beads of blood were slowly emerging from fresh prick wounds.
If these fingers were bandaged too...
Then the only intact, unbandaged finger Meow-Da had left to move freely would be the pinky on the very edge.
And on his raised hand.
With short cat fingers, the pink paw pads were trying hard to barely clamp a tiny silver needle. It was only by exerting force visible to the naked eye that he kept it from falling.
Seeing that Meow-Da's hands had already turned into this state.
Andrew scratched his head with a bit of embarrassment and said, "Then... how about you drink a bottle of Healing Potion, Meow-Da, heal the wounds, and then we continue?"
"Meow?!"
Hearing this, Meow-Da immediately looked at Andrew with immense horror, retorting at top speed with a face that wanted to cry but had no tears:
"Boss, are you a devil, meow?! Don't forget this cat just because you have a partner! If this goes on, it'll soon be no different from death by a thousand cuts, meow!"
"If I made a mistake recently and you want to punish me, Boss, then just come at me directly, meow! Don't use this method to torture me bit by bit, meow!!"
"Cough..."
Looking at Meow-Da, who was struggling immensely just holding the needle, Andrew ultimately didn't really start a bloodless, tearless exploitation.
In the end, Andrew could only helplessly rub his head, wave his hand, and say:
"Alright, alright, I won't force you. Go play. I'll handle the rest of the process slowly by myself."
"Yay! Long live the Boss! Boss, you really do love me, meow!"
Hearing Andrew relent, Meow-Da instantly cheered up, put the silver needle he was pinching into the sewing kit on the side, and shot up with a whoosh.
His waist didn't hurt, his legs weren't sore.
Even the cat paws that looked like they were in excruciating pain just a moment ago were instantly healed.
After all, in the end, it was just an ordinary needle. If he didn't drink a Healing Potion quickly for those prick wounds, they probably would have healed on their own already.
However, Andrew, who knew this perfectly well, chose not to expose him and force the issue.
Making Meow-Da do needlework with cat paws was indeed a bit too hard on him. Since he couldn't handle it, Andrew just let him go.
It didn't matter if he did it himself; it would just be a bit slower, right?
It was just that, looking at the time, almost the entire morning had passed. With Meow-Da's help, the progress on one piece of clothing had only reached one-half.
As for that large pile of remaining unfinished work...
Even Andrew felt a bit numb for a moment.
At this point, surely he could only ask for outside help?
Thinking for a moment, he gave up resistance and decisively took out a piece of paper to print a notice recruiting a temporary worker for sewing.
After preparing it, he handed it to Meow-Da and said:
"Since you won't help me sew, helping me stick this on the shop door should be fine, right?"
Although he knew many women, if one talked about being dexterous enough to do needlework, and also having a long period of free time...
Andrew really couldn't think of anyone.
Belle was out of the question. regarding housekeeping skills, the only skills she likely put points into were sweeping and washing dishes.
The rest of the housework was basically done by Wise or Little 18.
As for Astra Yao and Evelyn, leaving aside their craftsmanship, the two of them were basically always busy and simply couldn't spare a long time.
What happened yesterday could already be called an exception.
Zhu Yuan, on the other hand... for some reason, Andrew felt there was a high probability she was actually quite good at this.
It was just that inviting a busy person from Public Security to the store as a friend, not to do anything else but to spend half a day helping him do needlework...
At least Andrew felt he couldn't do such a thing.
However, what was most difficult for Andrew to say was...
Among the people he knew, Von Lycaon actually seemed like the person with the best needlework aside from Zhu Yuan.
But as soon as Andrew thought of the extreme contrast of him holding a needle and thread...
He ultimately gave up on the plan to call him over.
It wasn't a lack of trust.
Andrew was most worried that after seeing that image, he wouldn't be able to hold back and would laugh out loud very rudely.
Anyway, he just needed someone with a certain foundation and dexterity. As long as they followed the method he taught, there wouldn't be any problems.
It was better to simply recruit a temp from outside. The result wouldn't be any different.
But when Meow-Da took it, before going outside to paste it up, he couldn't help but ask in confusion:
"Boss, why use such a troublesome sewing method this time, adding patterns and decorations, and even needing to get someone to help now, meow?"
Saying this, Meow-Da looked at the fabric parts that needed sewing on the previously made armor sitting in the workshop.
He scratched his head and continued to ask:
"Wouldn't it be good to continue using the method from before, which takes less time and has pretty good quality, meow?"
Hearing Meow-Da's question, Andrew immediately rubbed his forehead helplessly and explained:
"Meow-Da, what we're making this time isn't armor for the two of us to use in hunting, where it just needs to be tough and durable enough during combat."
"Meow? Then what are we making these things for?"
Hearing this, Meow-Da was instantly even more puzzled.
For him, styling and such were completely irrelevant compared to the defense attribute.
"After armor is made, defense capability and practicality are the two most important aspects, aren't they, meow?"
Looking at Meow-Da, who had been thoroughly controlled by the 'helmet-head' mentality, Andrew thought for a moment and had to continue explaining with a bit of amusement:
"Things given to the people you like can't prioritize practicality above everything else. These things being made right now are actually being done in pursuit of looking good."
"Hmm..."
Thinking about it with difficulty for a good while, Meow-Da suddenly had a flash of inspiration and said with sudden realization:
"Ah! I know, meow!"
"Is this equipment like that time during the Trend Master competition, when we prepared together and used a Rhinoceros Beetle head plus machinery and Nerscylla parts to make the 'Kabuto' set to compete for the title of Trend Overlord?"
Seeing Meow-Da understand, Andrew immediately put on an expression of 'this child is teachable', nodded with satisfaction, and said:
"That's right, that's right, it's the same type."
"Although this method is just troublesome and slow, it has to be said, this is indeed the best-looking method when sewing."
"This is actually the best one, meow?!"
Hearing this, Meow-Da's eyes instantly widened in surprise, looking at Andrew with some disbelief.
He immediately put on an expression accusing him of forgetting his cat now that he had a wife:
"Even during that competition, you didn't do this, Boss, but this time you're doing it for your partner! No way! Boss, I want armor made with this method later too, meow!"
However, facing Meow-Da who was jealous in some inexplicable place for some unknown reason, Andrew explained unhurriedly, having expected this:
"Sure, I don't mind. But in that case, you'll have to get your equipment a day or two later every time."
"Also, armor defense is only related to the materials used. Simply changing the sewing method won't make any difference to practicality. Do you want to wait that much longer?"
Meow-Da, who was just acting like he wouldn't let it go until he got one...
upon hearing that making equipment this way would cause such a long delay in getting it, while making no difference in practicality...
Meow-Da's original excitement instantly turned into a look of disgust.
"It actually takes that much time to see the new equipment? Then the most suitable kind Boss chose before is definitely better, meow."
As someone who had lived with Meow-Da for so long, how could Andrew not be clear about his impatient attitude when new equipment was being made?
That was called wishing he could get his hands on it the very next second.
Make him wait two extra days?
Almost impossible.
As for why Andrew would also choose this method now?
That was naturally because: like cat, like master.
If nothing else, what Andrew hated most when playing games before was also having to wait slowly for equipment crafting.
Seeing that Meow-Da's reaction didn't deviate from his expectations in the slightest, Andrew revealed a smile that said 'just as I thought', then waved his hand and said:
"Alright, alright, stop acting spoiled. Hurry up and go help me post the recruitment notice."
Looking at Meow-Da in front of him, who, although very disdainful, still inevitably had some unwillingness.
Andrew comforted him:
"Don't worry. Although there's no equipment, next time we expand the greenhouse, I'll expand the planting area for your Felvine."
"Meow! Leave it to me, Boss!"
Upon hearing this.
Meow-Da instantly threw all his tangled feelings to the back of his mind and ran towards the shop door in high spirits.
Sure enough, for a Felyne, there was nothing that Felvine couldn't fix.
If there was, it was because the amount wasn't enough.
Watching Meow-Da's receding back, Andrew also continued the movements of his hands.
However, not long after he continued, Meow-Da's incomparably awestruck exclamation suddenly came from outside where he had gone to post the notice:
"W-What a big fish, meow!"
____
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