After landing, the huge plaza was packed with people. Although at first glance it looked like an ordinary metropolis, everyone was wearing all sorts of bizarre costumes, and a sense of absurdity arose spontaneously.
Seeing Jean and Shiro get out of the car, everyone turned their gazes towards them. Jean was not yet used to this feeling of being the center of attention, which made her feel very uncomfortable.
Seeing this, Shiro smiled slightly and pulled Jean into a clothing store on the adjacent pedestrian street.
"Eh? Do I really have to wear this! Wouldn't this make me even more conspicuous?"
"It doesn't matter. People know you by that outfit; by diverting their attention, no one will recognize you."
While spouting nonsense, Shiro recommended a hip-hop style T-shirt and hot pants to Jean.
After seeing Jean dressed, she nodded with satisfaction and took out another set—this time a straw hat and a dress, looking very summery.
Being treated like a ragdoll and trying on various women's clothing, Jean seemed to have flipped some kind of switch and gradually became addicted to it.
Just as Shiro reached for a bunny girl outfit, Jean finally came to her senses and stopped her.
However, while Jean went to find a simpler outfit, Shiro put away her slightly regretful expression and quietly asked the attendant to wrap up all the clothes she had tried on, including the bunny girl outfit.
Jean did not notice this. Instead, relying on her own average sense of style, she tried her best to choose a plain white crew-neck T-shirt, a pair of jeans, and a pair of tea-colored sunglasses. (See cover for details)
Looking in the mirror, the new clothes brought a brand new feeling. Although it looked very plain, when worn on herself, there was a fresh and beautiful feeling (I look good in everything. JPG).
---
After sorting out the outfits, the two set off again, walking towards the area where craftsmen gathered.
As they went deeper, the style of the shops gradually shifted from fashionable and glamorous to professional and hardcore, and shops selling common fantasy items like weapons, armor, scrolls, and potions began to appear.
Walking to the entrance of one shop, Jean suddenly discovered that looking inside, it was actually a street; the entire street seemed to be in another space, which was very eerie.
"Is this place open? Let's go in and try." After saying that, Shiro led Jean inside.
"What do you want?" A childish and lazy voice rang out.
One of the doors made of glass was wide open, and a chubby Little Girl with blue hair was lying on an ornate glass bench.
"We are here to have a sword appraised and strengthened," Shiro said.
"Ah, I forgot. First, welcome to the Witchcraft Alley. I am the Glass Witch." The Little Girl began to introduce herself as if she had suddenly remembered something. "You might be looking for the Forging Witch, but unfortunately, she is not here right now. After all, the Creation Festival is about to start, and everyone is very busy."
"Since she is not here, we won't disturb you," Shiro said, showing no intention to stay any longer.
"I'm sorry for making you come all this way for nothing. There are candies at the door, please take one. Next time you want to find this place, just eat the candy and you'll be able to see it."
After Shiro and Jean each took a candy, they turned back to see that the Little Girl had already fallen asleep. Not wanting to disturb her, the two quietly left the place.
Leaving the entrance of the alley, the two were back on the street from before, but this storefront had turned into an ordinary shop selling weapons.
Just as Jean wanted to ask about this shop, suddenly a blood-red spear struck towards the two.
Before Jean could even get into a stance, she heard a 'clang' sound. Threads that appeared out of thin air caught the spear, preventing it from advancing an inch.
After a shaking that resembled a struggle, the spear suddenly stopped moving, flew backward, and was steadily caught by a white-haired girl.
"Your ability is still as unreasonable as ever, Causal Arbitrariness—Shiro." The white-haired girl greeted her with a mischievous smile.
Shiro sighed and said, "Your rudeness hasn't changed one bit either, Kiana Kaslana."
