Chapter 14

Before he knew it, Matthew was talking to the magician in the café.

In the conversation, Matthew learned that the magician had just moved from the capital. However, sensing that there was something the magician was reluctant to talk about, Matthew did not press for the reason behind the move.

Instead, Matthew talked about himself. He mentioned that he was in the clothing trade, traveling to various places, and shared these details within a safe range.

"…So, I thought I would return to this town around last autumn, but the snow came much earlier than expected. I ended up staying with a friend from the capital. My friend was a widower, and we lived a rather unkempt life."

"That must have been difficult."

"Indeed, with two men, we ended up eating out a lot. Even when my friend tried to cook, his efforts often went to waste. He would start preparing at noon, and the meal would be ready by midnight... It was quite amusing. As for me, I can only cook camping food."

"But it's impressive that you try to do it yourself."

The magician chuckled.

Perhaps they were starved for casual conversation.

Matthew picked up on this and continued talking.

"Despite all the trouble, when I finally returned to my hometown, my regular customers turned me away. I had brought back fashionable hats from the capital, but they didn't go over well."

"Fashionable hats?"

"Yes, like this one."

Matthew said this as he took a hat out of his large shoulder bag.

It was a black felt hat.

The crown was a perfect circle, and the brim wasn't overly wide.

The most distinctive feature was the pure white decorative cord on the brim, which gave the all-black hat a light and airy feel.

"Please, take a look."

"Oh, thank you."

The magician examined the shape of the hat, checked the material of the feathers, and closely inspected the weaving. They weren't just looking at it as a fashion item but with the serious gaze of a craftsman.

"This is... a wonderful hat."

"It was hard to get. The craftsman is quite stubborn. He said, 'I won't sell to someone who doesn't understand the value of this hat and can't promote it properly.'"

"But surely there will be many people who want it."

"I wish that were the case."

"Oh, it didn't sell, did it? Such a good hat, too."

At the magician's innocent question, Matthew smiled wryly.

"Well, that's just how business goes."

"It must be tough when it doesn't sell..."

"No, it's fine. Business is something you can always try again."

"Hmm?"

"Actually, I was frustrated with my own foolishness. I tried to sell without really understanding the customer's situation."

Mrs. Emily was pregnant.

The problem wasn't that he didn't know in advance. He should have noticed the changes, but he didn't, and he had assumed, "They'll definitely buy it," and pushed the sale.

"You don't necessarily need fashion to live, right? It's natural for it to be a lower priority in daily life."

"...Then why are you in the clothing and accessories business?"

The magician asked casually.

Matthew had been asked this question many times by different people.

He always answered smoothly.

"While it's not essential for living, it's something that can make you happy. You can't bet your life on it, but you can bet your life on it."

It was rarely understood, but this was Matthew's true feeling.

"What made you decide to bet your life on it?"

The magician asked with great interest.

"Well... It's a story from my childhood. My sister was often ill and couldn't go outside, yet she always wanted hats and clothes. I was puzzled as to why she wanted them when no one would see her. It was a big mystery."

"Indeed, you might not understand unless you're in that situation. Did you solve the mystery?"

The magician chuckled, and Matthew shrugged as if admitting defeat.

"No, I never really understood. But I wanted to fulfill my sister's wishes. So I begged to join a caravan, and before I knew it, I was doing this."

"Wait, you decided on your career just because of that?"

"It was more of a series of events, I guess."

But Matthew had become more particular about clothes and accessories than his sister. As an adult, when he gave her gifts, she would often scold him, saying, "I'm already married; don't give me such things. It's too extravagant for my children," or "You should settle down already."

Despite a slight sense of loneliness, visiting his sister, who had recovered from her illness, was one of Matthew's joys.

"By the way... Merchant, I have a favor to ask."

At the hesitant request, Matthew nodded agreeably.

"If there's anything I can do, I'll do it. I am a merchant, after all."

"I want to open a general store."

"Oh, that's interesting! What kind of items do you plan to stock?"

"Clothes and accessories... hats, too."

"In that case... it sounds more like a tailor's shop or a boutique, doesn't it?"

"Yes, but in the future, I want to display as many items as possible that I make myself. If I specialize in clothes, I won't be able to rely solely on my own creations."

Matthew thought this would be difficult.

He had seen such stores in the capital, but they were often owned by some famous person. Customers came not for the items but for the person who owned the store.

If the magician wanted to sell their own creations without such a reputation, the value of the products themselves would be crucial. They would be evaluated on the same level as items made by professional craftsmen and would have to compete with them.

"Would you mind showing me some of the items you plan to display in your store?"

Matthew thought he should point out the naivety of the plan.

However, if he was too blunt, the magician might become stubborn.

He decided to guide the conversation to help the magician realize the issues on their own.

But Matthew's plan was about to fall apart.

"Well, after seeing such a beautiful hat, I'm a bit embarrassed to show you this..."

The magician took a hat out of their bag.

It was a straw hat.

"Wow...!"

Matthew couldn't believe such a refined straw hat could exist.

Straw hats have been used by rural people for a long time. In rural areas, straw is almost free. People would make their own hats in winter to wear in summer, protecting themselves from the sun while working in the fields. There was no need for craftsmen to make them; they were common everyday items.

But the straw hat the magician took out was anything but crude.

"The color and texture are definitely straw. But this... the weaving is incredibly delicate. It's completely different from a regular straw hat."

What is straw, anyway?

It's the stem left over after harvesting wheat. In English, it's called straw. Like modern straws, it was sometimes used to drink liquids. More formally, straw can be described as a hollow, rigid plant fiber.

In the Dylarn Magic Kingdom, straw hats have existed for a long time, made by flattening and weaving the fibers. However, because the fibers are relatively wide, the weaving is often loose, and gaps are common. Additionally, the rigidity of the fibers makes them inflexible and difficult to maintain.

But the straw hat the magician took out had very flexible fibers. This allowed the crown to form a perfect sphere. The fibers were uniform in length, creating a refined texture.

"What about these artificial flowers?"

"Oh, these are made from scraps of fabric left over from dyeing."

The refinement wasn't just in the material. The magician had wrapped a black decorative cord around the brim and attached artificial flowers. The petals, with a gradient of white and pink, were refreshing and effectively conveyed a sense of spring.

"Good. Wonderful. Please, try it on."

"Huh?"

"Can you stand by that pillar?"

"O-Okay..."

Matthew, without even realizing his excitement, gave various instructions.

The magician, who seemed easily swayed, followed them without hesitation.

"Here?"

"Yes, stand there."

Matthew had the magician stand by a pillar in the café and moved a bit away.

He then changed his position to view the magician from various angles.

"Hey, Matthew, what are you doing!?"

A waitress noticed Matthew's suspicious behavior and tried to intervene, but Matthew gestured for her to look at the magician.

"Look at this. The combination of the straw hat and the crimson robe. From a distance, it's a very ordinary silhouette, nothing special. But up close, there's an indescribable elegance. The refinement of each item creates a moving experience for the viewer."

"Wow, you're right. ...Wait, isn't that a bit stunning?"

The waitress, caught up in Matthew's enthusiasm and eloquence, was now nodding in agreement as she looked at the magician.

"Well, it's... a bit embarrassing."

The magician was confused, but the waitress was completely absorbed in the hat and clothes, not even listening.

"Did you buy this for her, Matthew? That's amazing, as expected of someone who's used to the capital, you have great taste."

"No, this hat is her own creation. It's not from the capital."

"Wow! You're really talented!"

The waitress was genuinely impressed and looked at the magician with sparkling eyes, standing next to Matthew.

The magician, feeling even more embarrassed, lowered their head.

"Um... Can I go back to my seat now?"

"Oh, sorry. By the way, do you have more items?"

"More?"

"Please show me your products. I want to see more! I really want to see them!"

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