The gigantic waterwheel spun steadily, filling the entire shop with a
calming sound.
Even though this was just a small house for support-class use amongst
the player-exclusive housing, its price rose like the tide because of
that waterwheel. When I first found this house in the main district of
the 48th floor Rindaasu, my mind suddenly went 'this is it!', right
before its price horrified me.
From that moment on, I began to work like crazy, borrowed money
from various sources, and managed to accumulate three million Coll
within just two months. If this was the real world, my body would be
covered in muscles from all the times I had swung my hammer, and
my right hand would be full of thick calluses.
But all that paid off, as I acquired the deed just a step ahead of my
competitors and opened «Lizbet's Special Weapon Shop» at this
house with the waterwheel. That happened three months ago during
the cool Spring.
After quickly drinking my morning coffee --- thank god this is
Aincrad --- while listening to the revolving waterwheel as if its
sounds were a BGM, I changed into my blacksmith uniform and
glanced at my image in the full length mirror that hung on the wall.
Even though I called it a blacksmith uniform, it wasn't anything even
resembling overalls, but actually looked more like a waitress uniform:
a dark red top with puffed sleeves and a flared skirt of the same color,
plus a pure white apron over that and a red ribbon atop my chest.
I wasn't the one who picked these clothes; it was actually a friend of
mine who was also a regular customer. According to her, 'you have a
baby face so stiff clothes don't suit you.'
Well that's what she said, and I was like 'mind your own business!'
But sales jumped twofold once I started wearing this uniform, so I had
no choice but to keep wearing it.
Her advice didn't just stop with my clothes, but even went to my hair;
it was now customized to be extremely pink and fluffy. But based on
the customer responses, it seemed that this look suited me.
I, blacksmith Lizbet, was fifteen when I first logged onto SAO. I
heard back in the real world that I looked younger than my age, but
that became even more pronounced in this world. When my pink hair,
large blue eyes, and small lips combined with the old-fashioned apron,
my reflection in the mirror felt almost like a doll.
Since I was a middle schooler in the other world with no interest in
fashion, the gap grew even wider. Somehow I had gotten used to how
I look, but since my personality doesn't change as easily, I had scared
