Chapter 59: The Fabric of Chaos

“Considering the route, it would be best to visit the fabric store first.”

Ashilton boasted numerous bridges spanning the Piato River, beyond just Jade Bridge and Mane Bridge.

Following Kyle’s suggestion, the car carrying Bliss and Ethan crossed a picturesque bridge—a popular drive for commoners, featuring both a promenade and a moving rail—before entering the commercial district in the southwest.

After the moving rail ended, the car continued for a short distance on a regular road.

It finally stopped in an area densely packed with slightly older buildings, all clustered around massive shopping complexes.

“I’ve never seen such a large shopping complex before.”

Ethan, making no attempt to hide his astonishment, exclaimed in wonder and gazed around.

The vast, towering building, immense in its scope, housed everything from raw textile materials and clothing accessories to various tools.

While he had visited food wholesale markets in Morapolio City with Uncle Hans, their scale was modest, and their inventory limited.

Uncle Hans typically sourced his goods directly through contracts with larger cities or production sites nearby.

Consequently, Ethan had only vaguely imagined something slightly larger than those markets.

“The premium fabrics are located on the upper floors. Would you prefer to take the elevator, or shall we use the moving walkway?”

Liam, having received the building map on his tablet from the information center, relayed this, prompting Bliss to chuckle at Ethan, who was utterly engrossed in sightseeing.

“We’ll take the moving walkway.”

Numerous carrier bots and people bustled along the moving walkways, which diagonally ascended and descended, wrapping around the building’s sides.

To avoid disrupting the busy flow, Bliss and Ethan kept to one side, strolling leisurely.

As they ascended, the changing displays of items on each floor caught their eyes, offering a delightful visual journey.

“…This is my first time at a wholesale market,” Bliss murmured, a subtle expression on his face.

As Bliss mumbled with a nuanced expression, Liam and Kyle added their own remarks.

“It’s our first time too.”

“Had it not been for Ethan, we might never have had the chance to visit.”

“…Calling me ‘nim’ is a bit much…”

Ethan muttered, watching them laugh.

Ever since the incident at the banquet hall, Liam and Kyle had been addressing Ethan with the honorific ‘nim’.

While it was true that Bliss had given the order, Ethan found himself disliking it; the formal address seemed to have stiffened their relationship just as much as the title itself.

“You’ll have to get used to it.”

When Bliss subtly placed an arm around Ethan’s shoulder, the attention of other people on the moving walkway immediately shifted to them.

Despite Oweol’s shield preventing guiding, an Esper persistently tried to approach Ethan.

With a natural movement, Ethan subtly evaded them and stepped off the moving walkway.

“The section for high-end materials even has additional security checks. How fascinating!”

Bliss’s lips twitched, threatening to twist into a grimace, but softened again as Ethan turned to look back at him.

Liam and Kyle, trying their best to distract themselves, followed Ethan more assertively than usual.

They feared they might accidentally laugh if they caught a glimpse of their superior’s face.

‘[Ethan, there are suddenly a lot more Espers.]’

Dongja, who had been chattering about seeing Espers since they entered the building, now whispered with a hint of surprise in their voice.

“…There seem to be quite a few Espers on this floor,” Bliss observed, glancing subtly around.

Liam and Kyle moved a little closer behind Ethan before responding.

“According to Philip, transactions for luxury items have significantly increased over the past year.”

The popularity of natural fibers, along with specialized technical fabrics, has also grown.

“As you know, most commoner Esper merchants are heavily involved in this sector.”

“My wife recently changed the curtains in our quarters, saying spring was coming soon.”

“They reportedly have waterproof and fire-resistant properties, appearing indistinguishable from ordinary fabrics.”

“It’s likely that many of the curtains and decorations in Lord Bliss’s private residence also incorporate fabrics with strong features like breathability, waterproofing, or fire resistance.”

‘[Considering that scoundrel Bliss’s abilities, most of them are probably waterproof.]’

Ethan chuckled, scoffing at Dongja’s deduction, and spoke as if to be overheard.

“…It seems Dale’s extensive work installing brightly colored fabric on the servants’ bathroom floors recently wasn’t just for interior design after all.'”

“Ah, that’s right. Those are waterproof fabrics. I heard it was a measure taken because water kept overflowing onto the dry bathroom floors, due to a ghost story circulating among the male servants.”

‘[…Hmph, just a water ghost playing around.]’

Ethan snorted at Dongja, the ghost who consistently sided with Samwol, another ghost, and entered a nearby store.

Unlike shops that utilized robots, this one was managed directly by humans.

The store exuded a warm ambiance, clearly demonstrating careful attention to the arrangement of fabrics, colors, and lighting.

“Welcome—”

A staff member, diligently working at a monitor, habitually greeted them, then looked up, their eyes widening in surprise.

They were accustomed to seeing weary merchants flaunting their wealth or tired artisans who came to purchase goods in bulk.

However, the new customers who had just entered seemed utterly out of place.

“I’d like to see some silk, cotton, or other natural fibers.”

“What will they be used for?”

Though a perfectly natural question, it left both Ethan and Bliss momentarily speechless.

‘[Chilbok will eat them. That rascal doesn’t eat sweets; they only eat fabric. Hahaha.]’

Dongja cackled, rolling around on Ethan’s head.

As Liam and Kyle looked at the silent pair with puzzled eyes, Ethan, who had been glaring at thin air, responded in an awkward voice.

“Haha… P-Pockets?”

“Pockets?”

Liam and Kyle’s gaze shifted entirely to Ethan.

Naturally, their minds conjured images of the very pockets Ethan always carried, brimming with something that allowed him to provide Bliss with tantalizing spoonfuls of guiding.

“You’re making pockets out of silk or cotton? Are they for decoration?”

The staff member spoke cheerfully, leading them to a display of suitable fabrics, yet Liam and Kyle’s sharp stares remained fixed.

Dale had mentioned that Ethan, as a hobby, seemed to have taken many of Bliss’s unworn clothes to make pockets.

However, a significant number of the pockets Liam and Kyle had seen were…

“They looked almost like rags,” Kyle muttered inadvertently.

At Kyle’s unintentional murmur, a cold sweat beaded on Ethan’s forehead as he followed the staff member.

Even Chilbok, tucked into his back pocket, seemed to flinch.

“We’re not making them small, like for decoration.”

Bliss answered briefly on Ethan’s behalf.

The staff member recognized the man who had just spoken as the one holding the purse strings.

However, the sheer intimidation prevented them from displaying the usual salesmanship honed over years, and their voice subtly grew smaller as they replied.

“We don’t sell in small quantities; we sell in cuts of two meters. This here is silk, and while prices vary by origin, the most common is 6 million Gheed per two meters.”

Gasp.

‘[Tsk… Chilbok is truly a money-eating ghost.]’

Dongja clicked their tongue disapprovingly, but Ethan’s mouth remained agape.

Six million Gheed for two meters!

Considering his experience of buying a palm-sized handkerchief for 300,000 Gheed, even from an outlet store, this price could technically be considered cheap.

Nevertheless, it was an astronomical sum.

‘Then, what about the banquet dresses worn by nobles…’

He shook his head, lost in that thought, when Bliss, who hadn’t even blinked at the price, pointed to a fabric on another shelf.

“What is this?”

The staff member’s face lit up as they saw the shelf Bliss indicated.

“Ah, you certainly have an eye for quality! This is a newly developed fabric: waterproof silk. It’s a blend of special waterproof fibers and silk. While its lifespan is shorter than fully waterproof fabric, its softness and thinness make it highly versatile.”

“Price?”

“This one is 8 million Gheed for two meters.”

‘This is insane. Just recently, Chilbok was happily devouring even cotton dishcloths.’

“We don’t need anything that expensive. Where is the cotton?”

Ethan turned away without a second thought.

The staff member, whose eyes had briefly sparkled at the prospect of selling such ultra-expensive fabric, let their shoulders slump.

Indeed, it was excessively expensive, even by their standards.

Still, looking was free.

Ethan slowly followed the staff member, admiring the fabrics displayed in beautiful hues.

“The cotton is in the next section… S-Sir?”

The staff member, explaining as they walked, turned around and their eyes widened.

“…Huh?”

Ethan, following the staff member’s gaze to behind his own waist, gasped.

“…It seems waterproof silk has been chosen after all,” Bliss murmured nonchalantly.

Bliss casually mumbled, then pulled the end of the waterproof silk out of Ethan’s back pocket—or, more accurately, from Chilbok’s stomach, where it had been crumpled.

His gesture was so aristocratic that it only amplified the sense of incongruity.

From Ethan’s back pocket, about three meters of the ultra-expensive silk trailed dramatically.

‘[Oh, wow. You’ve created a Silk Road, haven’t you?]’

Dongja cackled, completely oblivious to the mood.

Hearing that, a grinding sound emanated from Ethan’s tightly closed mouth, then the corners of his lips twisted into a wicked smile.

“Bliss.”

“…Yes.”

“We’ll buy the waterproof silk, and the cotton too. We can always use it later. But I don’t think we need to stop by the confectionery. You eat sweets at home every day anyway, don’t you?”

‘[Hey, Ethan! Ethan? Ethaaan?]’

Bliss, who had subtly turned his head in the direction where the energy was felt, naturally listened very carefully to his Guide.

“Very well.”

‘[Hey, you good-for-nothing Esper! Undo it right now! I won’t let you get away with this! Ugh! Ethan! I said I was wrong!]’

Ethan flashed a sweet smile at the staff member, whose grin stretched from ear to ear at the prospect of selling such ultra-expensive fabric, all thanks to the ghost loudly asserting its demands.

“You can cut this fabric into small, five-centimeter pieces, right?”

This time, the wallet in his back pocket began to protest wildly.