Chapter 21

The next morning, Garda was awakened by Matthew at his workshop and home.

"Really, you're so relaxed... Aren't you in a tight spot?"

"...I was sleep-deprived. I haven't even drunk alcohol except when I met you."

"If you can't wake up when it's important, it's no different from drinking every day. Come on, get ready. If we go at a late hour, it would be rude since we're going to consult someone."

Garda recalled that he had a promise to meet someone last night and, suppressing his hangover, started to get ready.

"By the way, you said to bring tools and scraps, right? Is the person we're meeting a leatherworker?"

"No, that's not it."

"Huh?"

"You seem to know a lot about clothes and accessories, but you're a novice when it comes to leather. Didn't I say before that there's someone who wants to consult about leather processing?"

"Oh, right."

Garda still didn't quite understand what Matthew was saying and asked again with a puzzled look.

"Wait, wait. You mean this person doesn't know about leather? Yet you're going to consult them?"

"Yes. Because consulting someone who knows a lot about leather wouldn't solve the problem. We need to get ideas from someone who can think from a different angle. Especially, an expert in a different field would be ideal."

"Ah, I see."

Garda nodded with a somewhat vague expression.

"Wait, wait. So, this is the person you mentioned before? The one who wants to learn about leather?"

"Yes, that's right. I'll consult about the branding issue, and they want to learn about leather processing. Don't you think it's a good deal?"

"...I feel like I'm being manipulated."

"Actually, I am manipulating you. It's up to you whether you accept it or not."

Seeing Matthew's seemingly innocent face, Garda sighed.

"Alright, I'll leave it to you."

"Don't worry, it won't be a waste of time."

"You seem pretty confident."

Garda said this with a hint of sarcasm, but Matthew replied without any concern.

"Of course. Let's go then."

◆

"Hey, Matthew."

"What is it?"

"Why are we going outside the town?"

Matthew led Garda out of the town and toward the forest, the Forest of Temptation, where monsters were said to lurk.

"Well, we're going to consult someone."

"But there's an abandoned mansion ahead, isn't there?"

"There are people living there."

Matthew's assertion made Garda catch his breath.

"...Is the restaurant open again!?"

Garda had once entered a secret restaurant. He, Matthew, and Laurent had done a good deed that was recognized by the restaurant owner, who invited them. At first, they went there as a group, and the remaining invitations were used to visit with Garda's master, who was still alive at the time. Garda still remembered the enjoyable dinner they had.

"No, a new owner has moved in."

"Are you saying someone just moved in on their own?"

"Is that possible in a place like this?"

"...No, it's not possible."

"A legitimate new owner has appeared."

The mansion was protected by a mysterious magic that no one in modern times could replicate. Everyone in town knew that it couldn't be broken into by burglars or thieves.

"Anyway, don't hold any unnecessary hostility or suspicion. The restaurant had many secrets, didn't it?"

"You mean you can't explain it?"

"I'll explain after today's business is done. I'm the one holding the 'invitation,' so I'll be the one to lead the way."

Matthew took out the 'invitation' from his pocket and showed it to Garda.

"Tell me more, Matthew. You said you want to learn about leather, but is the new owner going to make and sell leather goods?"

"You're sharp today. They said they want to open a general store. They want to display clothes, accessories, and tableware that they've made."

"Are you helping them with that?"

"Yes, it's an honor."

Matthew was a man with a keen eye for clothes and accessories. Garda found this reasonable, but as a merchant, he also had a pragmatic side. He had never seen Matthew go overboard with a particular product and fail.

"I still find it hard to believe that a general store can succeed... The idea of a craftsman selling a variety of handmade items instead of their specialty seems a bit... "

"Are you worried that they'll fail because they're trying to do too much?"

"Exactly."

In the Dylarn Magic Kingdom, there were few department stores or general stores. The concept of a general store was still foreign to Garda.

"You'll see when we get there."

"What is this...?"

Sighing, Garda followed Matthew deeper into the forest. Despite the many monsters that lived there, those with an 'invitation' would not be attacked. As they walked, memories of the past came flooding back. After about ten minutes, they arrived at the old, grand mansion.

"Hello, it's Matthew! Is Mr. Jill there?"

"...Will he hear us?"

"Did you forget, Garda? If he's the owner, he should be able to see us."

As if to confirm this, the main gate opened on its own.

The inside of the gate was a stark contrast to the dense forest, with a refined atmosphere created by human hands. They walked along the stone path to the mansion's entrance, which opened as if expecting their arrival.

"Hello, Matthew. Who is this?"

A woman with orange hair appeared from inside.

Garda was taken aback by her appearance. He had expected the new owner to be an eccentric person, but he was still surprised. Glancing at Matthew, he saw that Matthew was equally shocked.

"Is something wrong?"

She asked with a puzzled look. Garda wanted to say, "I'm the one who wants to know," but decided to let Matthew handle it.

"No... I was just surprised to see you in men's clothing."

"Men's clothing?"

The woman was wearing pants.

◆

"Wait, you don't know? In a foreign country across the sea, these kinds of pants are popular. See, they have a different shape from men's pants."

The female owner explained as if it were nothing. Matthew listened intently and nodded in agreement.

Indeed, the pants she was wearing were of a unique design. They widened and became larger toward the bottom, resembling a skirt from a distance. They were about three-quarters in length. This was the first time Garda had seen such pants.

But could someone just make and wear pants because they were popular? In the Argenes Islands, including Dylarn, women typically wore skirts, tunics, robes, or one-piece garments.

Pants had a shorter history, having become popular about two hundred years ago during the warring period because they were convenient for cavalry. Their comfort led to their adoption by infantry and eventually by civilians, leading to the social norm that "pants are for men."

Men wearing skirts or long tunics was a cultural practice in the Argenes Islands, but it had become less common in recent times. Tunics were still in use, but the idea of men wearing skirts was becoming outdated.

Creating pants for women and wearing them with confidence was a sign of boldness and sophistication. A conservative person might be angry, but Garda thought, "Well, there's no real reason women can't wear them."

As a craftsman, Garda felt a sense of respect. He was skilled at making leather bags and occasionally ventured into unconventional designs. Matthew would frankly say, "Cool" or "Lame," praising good work.

However, the elders in the leatherworkers' guild would criticize any deviation from tradition, no matter how good the work. Garda would often say, "Let the old men say what they want," but he still had doubts. "Maybe it's too adventurous, and I should stop while I'm ahead." He was growing tired of his own hesitation.

But the new owner showed no signs of hesitation.

"...I still don't understand."

"Garda? Is something wrong?"

"No, it's nothing."

Garda had muttered to himself. Matthew asked with a suspicious look, but Garda shook his head.

"Please, this way."

Before they could enter the guest room, a maid appeared.

"Hey, Master, this is a problem! I should be the one to greet the guests first."

"Oh, I forgot."

"By the way, did you go out in that outfit?"

"It's cool, and it's convenient for riding horses."

"That's true, but... well, it's like you, Master."

The conversation between the maid and the owner was rather awkward. Garda's respect for the owner slightly diminished, but he noticed that he recognized the maid's face.

"Hey, isn't that Maureen?"

"Garda? I thought a big shot was coming, but it's just you. What a disappointment."

Maureen laughed. She was Matthew's sister and an old acquaintance of Garda's. They had a friendly relationship, often joking with each other.

"You're working here...?"

"Yeah, I am. If you talk back to the Master, you'll be in trouble."

Garda knew Maureen's wild past. She was a notorious troublemaker in Shelland, known for taming wild horses. The idea of her being loyal to a master was hard to believe.

"Maureen, we're having a meeting in the guest room."

"Yes, Master."

It had been years since Garda had seen Maureen, and she had matured, but he was still unnecessarily nervous as he entered the guest room.

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