The roasted wild boar meat on the table was picked clean; even the bits of meat on the bones were gnawed shiny by Little Bottle's teeth, and the apple filling of the fruit pie was perfectly sweet.
"I'll go arrange the lodging,"
Ben wiped the grease from the corner of his mouth; as he stood up, the hem of his cloak swept across the wooden chair, kicking up a gust of wind.
"You guys stroll around the town and get familiar with the environment. I'll find a stable to board the donkey and make sure it's fed well."
Before Gwof could speak, he had already turned and walked out, not forgetting to remind them before leaving: "Don't go too far, I'll come find you once I've found a place."
Gwof watched his hurried departure, the gaze under his hat brim softening slightly.
This person was just a chance acquaintance, yet he arranged food and lodging so meticulously, busying himself without a single complaint. It made a strange feeling arise in his heart—not exactly embarrassment, but he felt that this person was indeed reliable... well, suitable to be a good friend for me, Gwof.
Also, as a side note, the restaurant's roast meat was good, possessing the skill of a dwarf with two hundred years of experience.
"Let's go shopping!"
Leah could no longer hold back; she stood up abruptly while holding Ugly Duckling. The daisies embroidered on her skirt shimmered with tiny glints under the restaurant's dim yellow lights, like a handful of scattered stars.
Her eyes were sparkling as she tugged on Gwof's sleeve and shook it: "I want to see those clothes that change color! The boss just said they turn pink when hot and blue when cold. Just thinking about it is magical!"
Little Bottle also patted his stomach and stood up, his gaze fixed directly out the window as his Adam's apple bobbed.
"I wonder what good food is here. I seemed to smell a fragrance when passing the street corner earlier, and that shop wafting with the scent of oil—maybe they're roasting honey ham..."
Gwof nodded faintly and took the lead in walking out.
As soon as they pushed open the restaurant's wooden door, the sunlight surged in like molten gold, wrapping warmly around them and dispelling the lingering chill of the forest.
The street was even livelier than before. A Woman in water-green silk came out carrying a bundle of chiffon fabric, the silver bracelets on her wrists jingling with her steps like a string of running wind chimes;
A youth in a royal blue brocade vest galloped past on a handsome chestnut horse. The gold threads embroidered on the vest were so dazzling in the sun that people could hardly keep their eyes open, and the horse's hooves clattered "da-da" on the stone road;
Even the old man carrying vegetable baskets had a ring of colorful rope wrapped around his shoulder pole, the knot tied like a blooming flower, revealing an uncompromising refinement.
Leah pulled Gwof's sleeve, running towards the nearest clothing shop like a lithe young deer.
The shop was filled with all sorts of clothes, a dazzling sight.
There was an ink-colored cloak with translucent butterfly-wing gauze sewn onto the edges; when the wind blew, it unfurled as if a giant blue morpho butterfly were truly perched on the shoulder;
There was a lake-blue long dress with silver-thread hidden patterns embroidered on it; when the shop assistant sprinkled some water on it, the patterns actually slowly emerged as swimming carp;
There was also a short jacket for a Child to wear, with a windmill embroidered on the chest; it would turn with a "creak" at a touch, making the nearby children clap their hands.
Leah's fingers brushed lightly over the fabric, the touch as smooth as flowing water. She whispered in awe,
"Even more beautiful than the clothes in the palace..."
"Then just change into one."
Gwof saw her shining eyes, and a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
It wasn't like he lacked money, and... his fingertips flicked lightly under his sleeve, summoning a cup of milk tea out of thin air—the cup was made of pure gold with intricate carvings, and a small leaf made of caramel floated on the milk foam.
He smiled and made the milk tea disappear again. With this magic, I don't lack money... "Yay, yay!"
Leah immediately cheered, spinning around in the shop while holding Ugly Duckling. Her skirt swept across the carpet on the floor, kicking up a bit of dust.
The shop assistant was a girl in a pink pinafore with a warm smile, introducing them one by one.
"This cloak is woven from a witch's grass fibers; it glows at night;
That dress can bloom when touched by morning dew, perfect for a young girl..."
A blonde girl nearby was sewing pearl buttons onto a formal dress; hearing this, she added with a smile,
"Speaking of which, our country wasn't called Clothes Country before.
But our King loved clothes too much; he changed the name after becoming King and even issued an order that even a vagrant's attire must be magnificent and decent, otherwise it would be seen as disrespect to the King."
As she spoke, Leah walked out of the fitting room in a new outfit.
She wore a cream-colored wide-brimmed hat with a delicate brown decorative band around the edge. Her smooth blonde hair cascaded like a waterfall from under the brim, reaching down to her waist, with natural curls at the ends;
Underneath was a simple cream-colored long-sleeved shirt with a small bow tied at the collar, faintly revealing her delicate skin;
The short vest worn over it was adorned with black straps and metal buckles, making her neck appear even more slender;
Down below was a large flared skirt with a brown, black, and cream-colored plaid pattern. The layers of the skirt draped to the ground, looking like a flower in full bloom when she walked, exuding agility and elegance.
She looked both excited and shy, her hands tightly clutching the skirt until her fingertips turned white. Her sapphire-like eyes stared nervously at Gwof, like a small animal waiting to be judged.
Gwof had to admit, it was indeed beautiful.
The girl's innocence and the dress's refinement clashed together like morning dew on a rose, fresh and eye-catching.
But unfortunately, his taste in girls was the same as Crayon Shin-chan's.
So he just nodded calmly, his tone carrying a bit of sincerity: "It looks very good."
Leah instantly breathed a sigh of relief, a brilliant smile blooming on her face as her eyes curved into crescents: "I knew it!"
Seeing this, the shop assistant warmly urged Gwof: "Would you like to try some as well? Many clothes would match your temperament perfectly."
Gwof waved his hand: "No need."
He fished out a small piece of gold from his bosom and handed it to the assistant: "Keep the change."
The assistant's eyes went wide at the sight of the gold, and she hurriedly bowed and scraped as she took it: "Alright, alright! Have a safe trip!"
As they walked out of the clothing shop, Ben's shout suddenly came from the street corner: "Gwof! I found a place to stay!"
Gwof looked toward the sound and saw Ben standing in front of a wooden house with a "Pumpkin Inn" sign, waving. A string of pumpkin-shaped lanterns hung from the inn's lintel, swaying gently in the wind.
"Come over here!"
Ben's voice was full of mirth as he waved to them. "This inn has a large terrace on the top floor. In the evening, you can see the rooftops of the whole town dyed golden-red by the sunset. It's beautiful!"
Little Bottle had somehow acquired a large roasted ham in his hand and was eating until his mouth was red. Hearing the shout, he called out indistinctly, "Coming, coming! Wait until I finish gnawing on this!"
Leah pulled Gwof's hand and ran toward the inn, her plaid skirt billowing in a beautiful arc behind her, and her golden hair jumping lightly under the hat brim as she ran.
Gwof watched her joyful figure and glanced at the swaying pumpkin lanterns on the distant terrace. He suddenly felt that this town in Clothes Country had a bit more of a cozy, lived-in feel than he had imagined.