"Wait, slow down!"
I call out to Lucy who seems uncharacteristically enthusiastic as she hurries down the road and towards Academy City.
"Hm?" She turns back.
After classes ended Lucy suddenly showed up and dragged me out of the academy, saying we were given a mission and don't need to go to the student council today.
"So, you're saying His Highness gave us this assignment?"
"Hmh."
"He just approached you out of the blue and asked you to investigate this public disturbance case?"
"No? I um, heard about it from some townspeople while working and so I reported it to His Highness, who then assigned it to us, since I was already involved."
"..."
It does sound logical, but Lucy's gaze seems a bit shifty for some reason… But since this is an official student council investigation, Arthur should have looked into it already.
"Actually, did he say anything… impolite?"
"...? I don't think so?"
"Haah. It's nothing."
I focus on the task at hand and look at the city growing closer in the distance.
Since the Academy City was established due to the presence of Golden Vow Academy, the distance between them is quite small. About a thirty minute walk on a very well maintained road, with many students going to and from between them every day.
So even though I've been dealing with other matters since school began and I haven't actually been to the town yet, I've heard many things about it.
After a few more minutes we arrive at the city, and while it's nothing grand, it has a very warm and cozy atmosphere as a small, but rich trade hub, accommodating all the needs of the noble students of the academy.
So all the infrastructure and quality of the buildings are very much up to par with perhaps even the capital.
I make that assessment after quickly analyzing the scenery from the town square. But I quickly snap myself out of my thoughts. I'm here for something else.
"Ahem. Well then, let's get started. Where did you hear that rumor? It would be most efficient to start at the source of it."
"That's not it."
"...Huh?"
"I mean, those troublemakers would probably be on the lookout for any figures of authority, right? So while they likely wouldn't recognize me, but Lady Seraphina, you're kind of more noticeable. Ah! I-I mean, being from a ducal family and everything… so um-"
…Getting so flustered over it just makes it seem worse.
"It's fine. Then what do you suggest?"
"Disguises! And I know just the place to get them, come with me!"
It seems like she quickly recovered from her blunder and the excited expression she's been wearing this whole time returns in full force as she starts leading me away. Usually I prefer to do things my own way, but seeing her like that… It's kind of hard to say anything.
***
"Are you sure this is the place?"
I ask while scrutinizing the shady looking building in front of us, located in a dim side alley.
"Hm! It's the best shop in the whole city. It's cheap but you can find all sorts of treasures if you know where to look."
"And they sell clothes?"
"Yes! But not just that, they sell all sorts of stuff. I even got my glasses from here." She proudly says and points to her glasses.
"...? It's just regular glasses… Huh? Wait a minute, this faint magical aura around it. Is that an artifact?!"
"Hehe, that's right! It makes people have a harder time noticing my presence, it's why I wouldn't need a disguise. Though it only works on regular people with little to none magical training…"
"..."
I'm really speechless. How did I not notice it before? I mean it's kind of part of its enchantment, but still. Maybe Lucy isn't as oblivious as I thought she was. Getting a genuine artifact like that from a shady store must require masterful observation skills.
I may need to reconsider my opinion of her a bit and perhaps do the same for this shop as well.
"Okay, I believe you."
"Yay, come come."
She goes straight inside and I follow after her.
"..."
The interior didn't improve the shady impression of this shop at all. The lighting is barely better than in the alley, but with all sorts of clothes and random items scattered about, you'd think this place is some abandoned warehouse instead of a shop.
At least it does have a shopkeeper, giving it the bare resemblance of being a proper establishment… only if they weren't wearing long black robes with a hood over their head, giving them no recognisable features at all, other than seeming like a suspicious person.
However Lucy seems completely unbothered by all of this, she just moves around all the rows of wares with a strange sense of familiarity. She said this place is trustworthy so it should be fine…?
I follow her example and take a look around, but keep my guard up the entire time just in case.
Hm. Even after taking just a brief look, I can confirm that Lucy's statements do hold some ground. While there are many items and clothing that are just cheap imitations or counterfeit products, but if you know how to recognise them, there are some genuinely high quality items hidden away here.
But they are all sold at the same price for some reason. Just how does this business work exactly?
"Sera- ahem. Lady Seraphina, look I've found some good ones!"
Lucy approaches me with a bundle of strange clothes I haven't seen the likes of before and hands them over to me.
"You can try them on in the fitting rooms over there and choose the one you like best." She says.
"Where are yours?"
"...? Do I also need to do it? B-but that would be too embarrassing."
"..."
"...! I-I'll get them in my size too, just a minute!"
She says and then quickly scurries off to collect clothes for herself.
***
Hm? This outfit, isn't it way too revealing?
I think as I look at myself in the mirror. The top part of it is a thin white shirt with a blue collar and a red bow. While the bottom is a blue skirt that feels way too short.
"...Lady Lucy?" I call out to her hesitantly.
"Huh, you're already done? Just a second."
Lucy shortly steps out of her fitting room as well, wearing the same outfit as me. However she seems completely unfazed by having it on, almost making me feel like the weird one for being bothered by it.
"Oh I knew it, a sailor uniform would fit you really well."
"Sailor uniform?"
"Ah, it's a kind of school uniform." She explains.
"What?! People go to school in this little fabric? Just what kind of immoral establishments would force students to wear something like this every day?"
"Ahaha, well…"
What a preposterous idea, just thinking about showing off an outfit like this in front of everybody at school makes my skin tingle. Compared to our own school uniform they are miles apart. Our uniform is much more elegant with a blazer over long sleeved shirts and a long, dark skirt. It doesn't show off skin so excessively like this one.
Though saying that… Seeing Lucy wearing such shameless clothing so nonchalantly with that innocent expression of hers, does have a certain allure to it…
"No no! We can't be wearing something like this! Actually we were meant to get disguises! Wearing this would just bring more unwanted attention to us!"
"Ah, I guess you're right about that. I thought it looked cute though. Well anyway, then time for the next outfit."
She says as she pushes me back into the fitting room.
***
"..."
This black and white fabric with so many frills and a long skirt. Isn't this just a maid outfit?
Well I guess at least this one covers enough of one's figure, but compared to normal maid uniforms, this one feels way too overdesigned, with frills and decorations everywhere, making it unfit for regular maid duties.
There's also this extra item I haven't managed to figure out what to do with. It's a pair of cat ears on a crescent shaped strange material.
"Um, Lady Lucy? What exactly is this?"
I ask as I leave my fitting room.
"Hm? What is it nya?"
"...! Eh?"
However I quickly stop in my steps as I notice Lucy already outside of her fitting room, but when she turns to look at me, my eyes immediately get drawn to the tail flicking from side to side behind her and a pair of cat ears on top of her head that look similarly alive and keep twitching and moving around.
"Ah, you didn't know what to do with it, nya? You just need to put it on top of your head, like this nya."
While I'm still in shock, she takes the pair of cat ears from my hands and puts it on for me.
"Wa-wait! Nya?!"
That movement finally snaps me out of my daze, but it's too late by then and I instantly get overwhelmed by a very strange sensation, making my hair stand on end.
Wh-what is this? It feels like my ears became flexible and completely out of my control, almost like I've suddenly gained a new body part I've never used before.
"Ah, a startled cat nya."
Wait, it actually feels like I have a new body part!
Ignoring Lucy's comments, I turn my head to look behind me and sure enough, there is a completely bristled up tail there, coming out from somewhere within all the frills in the clothes. But this sensation, it really feels like it's connected to me.
"What? What? What is this nya?!"
I instinctively try to quickly pull away, but in my awkward posture I end up stumbling over my own legs and fall to the ground.
"Whoa, Lady Seraphina calm down. Calm down. It's just an illusion, see nya?"
Lucy squats down next to me and then just waves hand where my tail is supposed to be, but it just completely goes through it with no sensation transmitted to me.
"H-huh, nya?"
"It's the cat ears nya. When you put them on, it creates the illusion of a tail and moves it according to your emotions. Ah, it also makes you say 'nya' all the time, nya."
"What? But then nya-"
I reach up to my head and pull off the cat ears, which revert back to the appearance of just an inanimate object and my tail disappears as well. I focus my senses and sure enough-
"It's another artifact?!"
Clank.
I throw it to the ground out of frustration.
"...Um. Are you okay nya?" Lucy asks with her tail drooping down.
"..."
I stand up, fix my clothes and quickly compose myself.
"Ahem. I apologize for showing such an unsightly appearance."
"No no! It's my fault, I'm sorry. I should have explained it beforehand nya."
"...It's alright. I just got a little startled. The outfit itself does have its charm I suppose."
"Right nya?!"
Lucy's eyes light up when I lightly praise the uniform. Her excitement is also visible on her tail as it begins wagging from side to side.
"Catgirl maids are such a classic as well! The natural grace cats carry themselves with is reflected in the elegant maid uniform nya. While the inclusion of cat ears and tail carry the playful and mischievous traits of kittens, further elevating the already adorable concept of catgirls to even greater heights nya."
"Um…I guess…?"
This is the first time I've seen Lucy talk so much with such enthusiasm, so I'm a bit taken aback at first. But noticing that glint in her eyes and her voice carrying much more confidence than ever before, there's only one word coming to my mind upon witnessing it.
"...adorable."
Although, her current outfit is probably also enhancing her natural beauty and with her obviously cheerful attitude on top of that, truly makes a powerful combination.
"Huh? Did you say something nya?" She asks as her tail forms a question mark.
"...! Ahem. Um, it's true that this outfit is visually appealing, but we would still stand out among everyone else. Especially if you keep those…ears and tail."
"Ah, well. I guess you're right again nya. Though it's a shame to part with it nya. But anyway, on to the next outfit nya."
"...Right."
Is she not bothered at all by 'nya'-ing all the time? I feel like it also intensified by the end.
***
"Hm?"
I reach for the next outfit in my fitting room, but this can't be correct.
There's only a white bra and panties made of the same weirdly thick material I haven't seen before. It also has a very strange texture when touching it. Is this part of a set and the rest of it is missing? Though I don't know how willing I would be to try on underwear from this shady shop.
But anyway, I just put my school uniform back on instead and decide to ask Lucy if she forgot to give me the rest.
"Lady Lucy? Have you finished changing yet? I think there's been a mix-up."
"..."
Even as the seconds pass, no response comes from behind the curtain of Lucy's fitting room. There's no sound of movement either, just complete silence.
"...Lucy? Are you okay?"
"..."
By now I start growing increasingly anxious. Maybe something happened to her? I wouldn't put it past this place. So having made up my mind, I pull the curtain to the side…
"Lucy! ...Heh?"
And instantly freeze on the spot. Contrary to my worries, I see the golden haired girl standing right in front of me, though she appears to be immersed in looking at herself in the mirror. However there's nothing visibly wrong with her.
…Though maybe saying that what is visible is the problem, describes it better.
She is wearing clothes like the one I put to the side and nothing else. Meaning almost all of her porcelain white skin is out in the open, with her frail and thin limbs completely uncovered.
Apparently seeing her almost naked form has not only left me speechlessly frozen with embarrassment, but Lucy as well. Since her intense gaze has been glued to the mirror in front of her for who knows how long, still completely oblivious to my presence.
The pale whiteness of her skin is only disrupted on her face, where it is instead replaced by an intense blush, reaching all the way to her ears. She also has her hands in front of her face, its original purpose was probably to cover her eyes, but the great distances between her fingers make it completely ineffective at that.
"L-L-Lucy…?"
H-how shameless! Even a nightgown only meant for the eyes of your betrothed isn't this revealing! I knew it, this shop must be the home of demon worshippers, here to corrupt the minds of the people!
"...Huh? Ah. Huh?! AHHH! W-w-w-w-what are you doing here?!"
Lucy finally notices my presence and immediately freaks out, then she moves her hands to cover her body… though her thin arms aren't very effective in that aspect.
"N-no…I… You didn't answer… I thought something happened."
"G-get out!"
She shouts with a completely red face. Though from her shaky voice it's more out of embarrassment than anger.
"Of course."
"My, how lively~" The shady shopkeeper comments as I leave the fitting room area.
It was an annoyingly alluring female voice making me resent this establishment even more.
In the end I just quickly chose some normal looking clothes for disguises and we left the store in complete silence.