CH26 Dress
After their search for the mischievous nymph, Bob and Fufi returned to the farm, followed shortly by Merumeru, who had spent the day engaged in brick-building.
"Is Alex here?" Bob inquired, seemingly concerned that the magical girl might be abducted if he lost sight of her. However, his attention was immediately diverted by Martha's striking new outfit. Stunned and speechless, Bob repeatedly glanced up and down at his wife, struggling to find words to express his astonishment.
"What do you think of the outfit, dear?" Martha asked, twirling to showcase her new attire.
Bob's initial reluctance turned into admiration. "I'm sorry, Martha. This is beyond words. You look absolutely breathtaking. Have you been secretly working on this outfit?" Approaching her, he embraced his wife and kissed her cheek. Their love for eachother burned strong despite their age.
With her eyes lowered, Martha replied, "It's not mine, dear. Alex made it for me. It's perfect, but I'm concerned about keeping it clean. I've never owned such fancy clothing."
"Don't worry, you'll do just fine. I'm sure Alex would be thrilled to teach you how to care for it. He claimed to be a traveling seamstress when he arrived a few days ago," Bob reassured her. "Now, let's get dinner started. Everyone must be hungry." He helped set the table, and Martha proceeded to finish preparing the meal in the kitchen.
Meanwhile, Alex sat quietly in his chair, engrossed in his thoughts.
"Meru?" Merumeru asked, then sat down at the table with everyone.
"Oh hello Merumeru. I didn't hear you come in." Alex looked up, though an imaginary cloud hung over his head.
"Ru, ru, meee." Merumeru said cheerfully.
"I'm not sure what that means. But thanks for your support." Alex managed a faint smile.
As Martha served dinner, she placed a plate of roast chicken in front of Alex.
"I'm not sure if I can eat meat," Alex said, avoiding eye contact. His lack of appetite was more than the result of skipping lunch.
Martha frowned. "Won't you at least try? I don't know anything about the diet of nymphs."
Alex hesitated before picking up a piece of chicken to inspect. He wondered if nymphs were vegetarian or had strange diets like eating dirt.
Martha regarded Alex, the now-nymph, with understanding. "Alex, we know you're nervous, but we want to know what's going on."
Alex sighed, feeling overwhelmed. "This whole situation is too much for me. Even hearing my own voice is disconcerting. I don't know which Alex is the real Alex. The tall, muscled man who lived in a cabin and cut down trees feels like a different person. Knowing that something as simple as eating can change my race scares me."
Alex confessed his inner turmoil. "After transforming, my first thought was to give up our quest to defeat the demon queen and return to the safety of my cabin. But as a nymph, I'm bound to my tree and can't run away. I've started to question if my old life, marked by solitude and shallow relationships, would truly make me happy." The new nymph struggled to maintain composure.
Fufi, opened her beak to say something encouraging, but the look on Alex’s face made her second guess herself.
Alex remained silent, opting to take a bite of the meat instead. However, the taste was reminiscent of spoiled milk, and he had to fight back the urge to gag. Nymphs had an aversion to meat apparently.
At the dining table, Martha looked at Alex with concern. "Alex! I assure you, I haven't been in the woods today or been in the presence of any nymphs...aside from the one standing before us. The food is safe," she said, defending her culinary skills while questioning whether she had inadvertently made a mistake. “I mean, I’m sorry I want to make it right somehow if I can.”
Alex mumbled, "It tasted foul. Perhaps my palate has changed. I'll try something else." He reluctantly turned his attention to the vegetables on his plate. “It is not you, it is me. I used to like meat.”
"Try the bread. I made it myself today," Martha cheerfully passed the plate with warm bread on it.
Alex took a small piece of bread and cautiously put it in his mouth. His expression changed as he savored the taste. "Mmm, that's really good. I'm glad bread and vegetables still have some flavor," he said, taking another bite.
"Alex, why don't you tell me about the dream you mentioned earlier?" Bob loaded his plate with some of the food on the table.
"It was so vivid. There was a woman named Kaede who wanted me to join her in the woods. I think she said something about meeting her mistress. I told this all to Fufi before." Alex gazed into space, trying to remember.
Fufi honked, "Alex you didn't say the part about Kaede having a mistress. That means there is more than one woodland spirit we are dealing with. Is Kaide a magical girl or is it her mistress?"
Alex sighed, "Sorry, I thought it was just a strange dream and I shouldn't worry about it." He lowered his head and just stared at the plate. This dinner was beginning to feel like an interrogation.
Martha replied, "I hope so. One thing at a time, right?" She then began serving the rest of the meal.
The rest of the meal felt awkward. These people hadn’t known each other for long but Bob and Martha were worried, but at the same time respected that Alex needed some space.
Early the next morning, Alex awoke and headed towards the workshop. He stumbled a few times because his pink robes now were too big and trailed on the ground.
Merumeru had already completed a new outhouse using bricks from the pile she'd made while they were building the well. Additionally, a stone wall was being constructed around the small apple tree. A neat stack of transparent or slightly opaque blocks was also present.
As Alex trudged towards the run-down workshop, he pondered the peculiarity of glasswork in this world. Luna's palace boasted windows, but the ruined town relied solely on wooden shutters. If slimes possessed the ability to create glass without the aid of kilns, it would render traditional glass blowers obsolete. Yet, solving problems like the demon queen or Kaede seemed overwhelming at the moment. Merely contemplating them invoked a profound sense of discouragement. Alex found himself developing a newfound empathy for individuals experiencing gender dysphoria or imposter syndrome.
Alex decided to switch to the outfit from the dungeon. It wasn't that hard to wear. With how slender a nymph's waist is, slipping on the corset is easy. He even wore the pink panties that Luna gifted him. Is it still cross dressing if someone identifies as a male but has the body of a female? To avoid questions like these Alex decided to tailor another outfit.
"Lets try making a set of clothes that look like a magical girl's outfit. I'm just using a normal cloth for the base. I'll need to sew on the frills and ribbons. I'll just have to figure it out as I go along." Alex said to the empty workshop. Fufi was out searching for a sneaky nymph.
Alex crafted a simple dress, carefully cutting the fabric and stitching it all together by hand. He utilized odd treasure found in the dungeon to enhance the clothcraft. With the dress complete, Alex moved on to the details, attaching ribbons, cutting edges, decorating the neckline and sleeves, and creating frills. All the while, he cheerfully hummed a tune from his past.
To complete the outfit, Alex added thigh-high stockings and white gloves. He then tied his plant-like hair into twin tails using ribbons, adding a final touch to the enchanting ensemble.
Alex proudly held up the dress, a creation of the nymph that exuded femininity. It bore semblance to the attire worn by a girl from a particular sailor squad.
"Perhaps I should try it on," Alex thought aloud, making his way towards a bucket of water—the closest semblance of a mirror in this place. "For scientific purposes, of course. It's not like I'm interested in such things," Alex mumbled, glancing around to ensure no one was watching.
Upon seeing his reflection, Alex couldn't help but admire how well the outfit suited him. He had to bend over considerably to get a good look, wishing they still had the large mirror they had retrieved from the dungeon.
"It can't be too difficult to get into right?" Alex wondered aloud. Alex gave the corset a dirty look.
He slipped the corset and skirt off and sat down on a stool to take his sandals and socks off. Sadly, the floor was dirt so it was impossible not to get his feet dirty. Though his feet didn't look like his feet. They were so small. Trying to not think about that, Alex put the stockings on and draped the dress over his head.
"It feels so weird to be wearing a girl's clothing." Alex said, his voice muffled. He didn't want to admit it but getting all dolled up was not a bad feeling.
"Oh, I forgot about the shoes. I have no idea how to make shoes." Alex glared at the not-matching footwear. “Where is a cobbler when you need them?”
Standing up, Alex cautiously walked in the frilly outfit. Each step resulted in dirt smudging the white stockings.
Reaching for his phone, Alex checked his statistics. Surprisingly, this outfit granted a remarkable +2 bonus to cuteness, surpassing any previous creations.
Discreetly changing back into his crafting attire, Alex carefully placed the dress in the cart beneath the dolls and plushies. They would serve as guardians of his magical girl secret.
The leaf-haired nymph stepped outside to see Merurmeru’s progress on her own project.
Nestled against a circular stone wall, several glass bricks were strategically placed at eye level, allowing limited light to filter through. Their cloudy appearance lent a distinct charm, while the metal gate constructed from pipes by Merumeru exuded a steampunk aesthetic, with even the hinges crafted from the same material. Amidst this scene, a leisurely bull idly chewed its cud, observing the new addition. Alex, feeling a shiver run down his spine, acknowledged the potential danger posed by farm animals attempting to consume the tree. He made a mental note to express his appreciation to Merumeru for safeguarding his beloved soul.
Venturing through the gate, Alex stumbled upon a stone well adjoined to the wall. However, it lacked a bucket or any means to draw water. The well bore a striking resemblance to the peculiar one randomly created by Merumeru in the basement of the adventurer's guild.