Chapter 27: The Transformation and the Peculiar Pouch

“Enoch, should I wear white too?”

Scott, looking flushed, held up a flamboyant white jacket similar to the one Enoch had sent him, comparing it to his own body. They had rented out an entire large store, where a human assistant, not a robot, was kindly discerning their preferences.

Beside them, Enoch’s personal stylist offered meticulous advice.

“Mr. Scott Kent’s overall image is gentle and soft, so wearing something too similar to Sir Enoch might make him disappear completely. His light brown hair is charming, so an ivory jacket with a warm tone would be better than a cool-toned white. Since you’ve lost a lot of weight recently, a tailored jacket that emphasizes your figure would also be excellent.”

There were jackets with intricate patterns and others with varying fabric textures. Ethan’s mouth fell open as he watched the array of ivory-toned jackets appear at the stylist’s words. Ivory was just ivory to him; he had no idea such diverse shades and styles existed.

‘Ah. Chilbok is going to throw another fit, for sure.’

Seeing such extravagant things made him uneasy about unnecessarily exposing Chilbok to an even higher level of luxury.

“Ethan, why don’t you browse a bit too?”

As Scott went to try on clothes, Enoch handed Ethan the season book he was holding. Ethan’s face was etched with surprise as he received it.

‘Good heavens. A season book made of paper? This is far too extravagant.’

His curious expression, like a child gifted a picture book, as he flipped through the full-color season book from beginning to end, drew smiles from the observing stylist and shop assistants.

Even in his plain clothes, his striking beauty remained undeniable. Enoch watched the handsome young man, who possessed a peculiar charm that drew people in, with a faint smile.

He sat on the plush sofa, back straight, head slightly bowed as if reading a book or tablet, a posture that seemed utterly natural. Such a habit, ingrained without conscious effort, was one that could only be acquired through years of practice since childhood.

His often free-spirited demeanor, occasionally punctuated by glimpses of aristocratic conduct, was all the more intriguing for being so effortlessly natural.

“Even if I look through this, what would I know? After all, you and Scott are the protagonists, Sir Enoch, so I’ll just wear whatever you choose, as long as it doesn’t detract from your dignity.”

“‘Just wear whatever’? That wounds my and my stylist’s pride.”

Ethan, who had enjoyed browsing but hadn’t felt inclined to choose anything for himself, returned the season book. Enoch, as if expecting this, gestured to the stylist.

“Since Scott and I are wearing shades of white, black would suit Ethan well. But given it’s a party, let’s go with something rather flashy.”

“That would complement Mr. Ethan’s hair color nicely as well.”

While the stylist and staff selected clothes according to Enoch’s instructions, Scott emerged, dressed in his new attire.

“How do I look, Enoch?”

“It seems our careful selection paid off.”

Enoch smiled with satisfaction, and Scott’s smile mirrored his. Ethan, too, gave an impressed thumbs-up.

“Scott, I was barely getting used to your previous look, and now you’ve become even more handsome. What am I supposed to do? I wouldn’t recognize you if you called out to me on the street!”

“Haha. Don’t tease. You try yours on quickly.”

At Scott’s urging, Ethan received the clothes from the stylist.

“Mr. Ethan, please take off your jacket before you go in. Someone in the room will assist you with dressing.”

Ethan, who had been picturing a cramped changing room, experienced another cultural shock.

“Is the changing room that spacious?”

As he blankly removed his jacket and handed it over, something fell out with a soft thud. The stylist quickly picked it up, and Enoch rose from his seat.

“…A peculiar pouch, indeed.”

Ethan’s face tightened for a moment before he took the pouch and, without hesitation, opened it in front of Enoch, shaking it vigorously.

“There’s nothing inside. The characters written on it mean good luck. It’s like an amulet. Uncle Hans has a few of these too. Would you like one, Sir Enoch?”

Chilbok could simply move to another pouch, after all. Perhaps he should tell Chilbok to attach itself to something more urban, like a small pouch this time. Though, Chilbok didn’t actually *create* the pouches.

Enoch cautiously reached out, took the pouch, examined it from all angles, and even used his abilities on it. Then, with a slightly disappointed expression, he returned it to Ethan.

“I have something similar, but it’s a little different. Might I ask where you acquired this?”

“You can find plenty of them at Asian goods stores in Morapolio City.”

“…Morapolio City. So, Mr. Ethan, you purchased this there, then.”

Ethan nodded confidently. Indeed, the pouch Chilbok was currently attached to had been bought there. The writing had incorrect strokes, and the color was a dull, cheap shade, but with Chilbok’s presence, it had been reborn as quite a stylish pouch, one might say.

Even as he returned the pouch, Enoch’s gaze lingered, persistently observing Ethan as if still searching for something. Ethan, however, boldly gave up the pouch.

“Scott, want this?”

“Oh, oh?! Really? You’ve been carrying it around as a charm all this time!”

Seeing Scott’s eyes light up despite his feigned refusal, Ethan chuckled softly and placed it directly into Scott’s hand.

“Take it. Consider it my wish that many blessings follow Sir Enoch’s Guide from now on.”

“Eth-Ethan…”

Scott clutched the pouch tightly, his face touched. Ethan felt a faint struggle from Chilbok somewhere, but he pretended not to notice. As he entered the changing room, he quickly emptied his wallet. It was the only thing currently available to serve as a temporary individual pouch for Chilbok.

Ethan simultaneously bid farewell to the wallet he had grown fond of over the years. The fact that Enoch no longer showed interest in the lucky pouch made it entirely worth it.

“Welcome, Mr. Ethan Prescott. Sir Enoch’s stylist has requested that you try on three outfits in total.”

A kindly smiling middle-aged man, who had aged gracefully, greeted Ethan. From that moment, Ethan’s ordeal, which felt like his entire body was being twisted, began.

Hours later, Ethan found himself sitting in an exclusive barbershop for nobles, wearing some strange device on his head, receiving meticulous care for his fingers and toes from human staff alongside Scott.

He barely managed to suppress the urge to unleash ghosts and ruin everything, silently screaming at Enoch, who had already departed, summoned by the Count. The truly despairing reality was that he still had over two hours left to sit there.

****

“…Damn it, and this is just the beginning. I’m exhausted.”

Returning to Cloud Manor, Ethan yawned and grumbled as he put on the clothes, one by one, as he’d been taught at the store. He had only gone out in the morning for shopping and visited the barbershop for grooming, yet it was already evening. Moreover, despite having merely traveled comfortably and received pampering, he was experiencing the bizarre phenomenon of his stamina, which had been robust enough to handle two part-time jobs, now hitting rock bottom.

[Ethan, you look like a completely different person.]

Naturally, all that effort had transformed Ethan.

“I am quite good-looking, aren’t I?”

[Stop looking in the mirror. It makes you look desperate.]

Ethan ignored the comment, pulled out his tablet, and lamented as he took pictures of himself in the full-length mirror.

“My face isn’t showing. I want to take a full-body picture and send it to Uncle Hans. Should I ask Scott to take it?”

[You’re such a child.]

“You’re the child.”

[Hey! I’ve lived hundreds of years longer than you!]

“State the facts. Yuwol, you might want to look young, but you’ve been dead for thousands of years longer.”

“Ethan, Ethan! Come out quickly!”

Scott’s voice, full of excitement, called out to Ethan while knocking on his door. Yuwol, apparently sulking, had vanished. Ethan, after one last attempt to stretch his arm and take a distant selfie, checked the messy photo, quickly deleted it, and exited the room.

“Hey! Why are you so late…!”

Scott’s eyes widened as he stared at Ethan. Ethan, too, admired Scott, who had become even more dashing, but perhaps not with the same level of shock, as Scott remained speechless for a long time even after Ethan complimented him on his good looks.

“…My, Mr. Ethan… you’ve completely changed.”

“You, too, Sir Enoch, look like you stepped out of an electronic fashion magazine.”

The white suit, adorned with elaborate embroidery, perfectly complemented Enoch’s silver hair. Enoch chuckled at Ethan’s exclamation, which had been an unwitting utterance of his thoughts.

“I wonder if you realize how silly the three of us look right now, just marveling at each other.”

Scott burst into laughter.

“We’ll have to be perfectly prim and proper once we go out anyway, so a little silliness like this is fine. Oh, Sir Enoch. Could you take some pictures for us? After taking one with Scott, I’d like a solo shot too.”

“Why? I’ll take them.”

“Quiet. A photo taken by a superstar must be different, somehow.”

*Cackle*.

Enoch finally erupted in hearty laughter at Ethan’s utterly brazen remark.

“I’ve seen many people who want to take pictures *with* me, but this is the first time someone has handed me a tablet and asked me to take pictures *for* them.”

“I’ll decline that offer. You’re already excessively handsome normally, Sir Enoch, but now you’re radiating so much brilliance I want to avoid you. Please, hurry and take the pictures.”

Enoch chuckled and took Ethan’s tablet, snapping the photos. Ethan even showed meticulousness, taking a couple more shots in the same pose when it was his turn for a solo picture before taking back the tablet. As he smiled brightly and looked through his photo album, Ethan’s face suddenly contorted.

“…What’s wrong? Did it not turn out well? It looked fine when I checked it.”

Ethan managed to force his lips into a smile again, speaking brightly.

“Oh, no. It turned out great. Thank you!”

‘That damn Yuwol! To get revenge like this!’

It was the best photo. The problem was that a blurry Dongja was making a tacky V-sign behind him, turning it into the best ghost photo imaginable.