[Nightmare]

"Well, well. How's my little cash calf been?" Samma asked with a sassy smile.

"Cash calf?" Helix asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Mmhm. You guys are making me a fortune, you know." She giggled.

Charlotte gave a fist pump, and Marie and Riley gave each other a high-five.

Helix looked at everyone's faces with confusion.

"Have I missed something, here?" He asked.

"Hoh? Is it so normal for you to shake up a city's social structure that you don't realize you're doing it?" Samma mused with a slight smile.

Marie, Charlotte, and Riley stared at him with expectant, playful expressions.

"It's unfortunate to say, but yes." Helix sighed.

The women burst into laughter after seeing his defeated expression.

"Helix made radical reforms in Alzeria by dressing up his servant." Marie giggled.

"It was legen~dary." Charlotte chuckled.

Riley nodded.

Samma's eyes widened when she realized that they weren't joking.

"I see… well, you've done it again." Samma chuckled.

"Every time Marie, Charlotte, and Riley go into town with your designs on, they attract attention.

Once your hot tub business skyrocketed and you drew the eyes of the elite, Earthian clothing is taking Kozen by storm.

There are so many people trying to find me I'm going to have to move locations again."

Helix looked at his partners with gentle smiles.

While he was not pleased to be attracting so much attention, he was prideful, knowing his women were beautiful enough to rock a country.

"In light of that, I'd like to award you a 5% stake in my business." Samma announced with a warm smile.

Helix's eyes trembled in confusion.

"I'm only a designer. I cannot accept it, especially since I'm leaving in less than a week.

After that, I won't be able to work for Samma's Exotic Fashion Bizarre." He replied with a serious expression and a slight bow.

"Girls, does he always apply logic to things without considering his role?" Samma asked with a raised eyebrow.

His partners burst into giggles and nodded.

Helix looked at them with a wry smile.

"If you think I'd hand you over such a large percentage as a bonus, you've lost your mind." Samma announced with a smirk.

"Not only are these your designs, but the four of you are also advertising gold.

A caravan with my clothes will be journeying with you back to Alzeria.

These beautiful ladies will introduce them to your peers, and you being you, the clothing prices will skyrocket."

Helix gave her a wry smile when he realized what she was doing.

After a moment of contemplation, he caved in.

"While I'm slightly annoyed you're casually announcing your plans to manipulate me for profit." Helix sighed.

"I can't deny this deal is far too enticing and beneficial for me to turn down.

I have a curse for attracting too much attention.

If I can monetize that, it will at least be some consolation."

The women started giggling after hearing him.

"I'll graciously accept your offer." He announced with a hopeless smile.

"These women will gladly wear around all of your new pieces, and my talent for trouble will surely bring you sales.

I'll also send you designs based on my partner's requests.

If you want me to continue, of course."

Samma's eyes lit up when she heard he'd continue to send her designs.

Over the last two months, his novice drawing skills from earth had improved by leaps and bounds.

Moreover, his drawing was trained and tailored for her business.

Even if there were other Earthian designers, she knew it would be difficult to find someone with creativity, a strong memory, and talent like Helix.

"Of course! I'll gladly accept new designs at any point." Samma declared with sparkling eyes.

"Well if that's the case…." Helix gave her a mysterious smile.

"Will you accept three right now?"

Samma's eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Are there certain designs you want before you leave?" She asked.

"Yes. That's why I'm here right now." He replied with a slight smile.

"Hmmm. Let's see what you have.

I can tell by your facial expression that it won't be easy." Samma sighed.

Helix averted her gaze awkwardly.

"Yes… that's very true." He confessed while touching his neck tattoo.

He pulled out three design packets from his item storage.

Samma's eyes went wide when she saw that the designs went through a full professional design process.

"I designed this at the beginning." Helix said while passing over the largest packet to her.

"This is what's called a peacoat.

It's my favorite type of fall and winter fashion coat."

Samma's eyes lit up with excitement when she saw the design.

"As you can see, it has lapels like the suits and tuxedos I created for you.

However, it's durable and has a protective collar and lining." He pointed out.

"This is… beautiful. Usually, I have to work to bring your ideas to life.

But this… I can feel its fashion radiating from the page!" She exclaimed.

The group chuckled as she leafed through the packet with wide eyes.

Helix gave her an amused smile and continued.

"The other three are women's half trenches.

They're a shorter version of a trench coat, an overcoat for heavier fashion items." He continued.

"I love these! They're exquisite, marvelous, and all those other pretentious words used by my clients!" Samma cried.

Helix chuckled in bewilderment.

"I'll advertise peacoats like my life depended upon it." He offered with a slight smile.

"I'll make them immediately!" Samma cried without thought.

"I'm glad. I also have a favor, though." He said with a more serious tone.

Samma looked up from the packets with an attentive gaze.

"I've become very battle savvy in the last two months.

However, I have a very low defense stat compared to those I'm up against.

For that reason, I'm in desperate need of protective gear." Helix sighed with a self-deprecating voice.

Samma nodded with a serious expression.

"I'd like you to make a half-trench length peacoat for me using a certain beast hide." He replied with an awkward expression.

"A beast hide? That's what I do. You bring me pelts often.

Why would you preface it like that?" She asked with a narrowed gaze.

Helix gave her an awkward smile.

"It's a Warpshire pelt. High level, too."

Samma's eyes widened and trembled in confusion.

"A-A Warpshire pelt!?" She cried.

Helix's partners stared at him with bewilderment in their eyes.

They had never seen Samma get flustered, so they knew something was special about the [Warpshire].

"I don't even have the tools—"

Helix pulled out an item from his storage.

"It still won't be easy, but this legendary-grade dagger is called [The Light Piercer].

I will also provide you with this dagger as compensation." He announced.

"L-Legendary!?"

All four women were shocked senseless after he disclosed the weapon-grade.

"That's right. It will make it much easier for you to make defensive clothing with." Helix reasoned with a smile.

"It's not much, considering what I'm asking of you.

However, if you still think that it's too much, you can consider it a business contribution."

Samma's eyes trembled.

"I-I…." She stuttered.

After staring for a moment, she collected herself and slapped her cheeks.

"I assume that your message here is that defensive clothing is far more important than strength.

Is that right?" Samma asked with a serious expression.

"Correct." Helix nodded.

"I see. That being the case, I will set to work on this immediately.

I ask you not to wear the new clothing I'm about to give you until this is completed." Samma requested with a serious tone.

His partners reluctantly nodded after her request.

"Helix. What level was this Warpshire?" Samma asked.

"157." Helix replied with a serious tone.

"157!?" Charlotte cried.

"Helix! You're nowhere near that level!

How did you run into this thing?" Marie scolded.

"Helix…." Riley whimpered.

"Master was the tank and did most of the damage.

I only acted as support and trapped it." Helix sighed.

"It wasn't intentional. We needed to pass through Warpshire territory to obtain the Liskaberry."

Helix's shoulder drooped when he realized that his attempts to hide it were for naught.

His partners insisted they join him to see Samma, and he didn't have the heart to refuse.

Charlotte's eyes trembled.

"We determined it was best to get Tinker combat experience before our journey.

It was a risk we could take because Master Tyrene is Level 217 and was my guide.

She agreed because I have shown my ability to fight cautiously against higher-level monsters and have an absurd agility stat.

It was in and out with an expectation to flee.

We wouldn't have gone if we felt that the risks to our lives were too great." He justified.

Helix turned back to Samma.

"Samma. It will provide me with legendary-grade protective armor if you can do that.

Then you'll set these women's minds at ease." He chuckled.

"I'll do my best." Samma nodded with resolve in her eyes.

"One last thing." Helix announced with a mysterious smile.

"I'd like you to use this as its lining."

Samma's eyes widened with shock when she saw the red-crimson silk that Helix took out.

—

[A/N: Took a long while, but the peacoat has arrived.

Also, Samma makes Earthian clothing. Cover starting to make sense?]