I Became A Married Man in Another World
Chapter 137
137 I Don’t Like Those People
Glancing toward the Guild, Chatterbox let out a sigh.
“I’d put in an inquiry to get permission to operate in the forest along the border. In response, an invitation arrived from the Border Count. I was just hoping for a simple permit, but… haah, well, I’m sure Kyle had a hand in this. Anyway, it looks like if you attend, the permit will be granted as requested. What do you want to do?”
It didn’t seem like there was much of a choice. Juhwan also let out a small sigh.
“What kind of invitation is it? Is it an audience, a party, or some other kind of gathering…?”
“It’s a party.”
“….”
“They say it’s not a large party and only members of the Border Count’s household will attend, but I wouldn’t trust that. From what I know, this is a regularly held event. Other nobles will likely use their connections to squeeze in.”
Chatterbox gave a smirk.
“The Border Count’s side might want only family members to attend this time, but there are all sorts of ways to sneak in, like coming as someone’s partner. Since rumors are starting to spread that a Santa-rank has appeared, other nobles will probably flock there. It’ll be a den of wolves.”
Juhwan hesitated for a moment. If he missed this chance, there might not be another opportunity to investigate the border region.
However, while a private audience with the Border Count would be one thing, a party attended by various nobles meant there would be a dozen different things to worry about.
As if sensing Juhwan’s thoughts, Chatterbox spoke up.
“Don’t worry about the preparations if you decide to go. The Border Count’s side will provide the clothes. And of course, the Guild won’t just send you off all by yourself. A few of us will go along.”
“What about manners? If I go without knowing anything, I’ll be a laughingstock.”
“It would certainly be better to pay attention to that. We can get help from the Miller Merchant House for that. I heard that since Mr. Leonard came from a commoner and hunter background, he had to take a crash course in etiquette when he was younger. If we get an introduction to that teacher, you should be able to look the part well enough for an emergency.”
Chatterbox narrowed her eyes and looked at Juhwan.
“But really, Mr. Juhwan, you never cease to amaze me. To think you’d even consider things like that. Most people would just wander in and end up embarrassed.”
Chatterbox let out a small, giggling laugh.
Well, if Juhwan were alone, he would have just gone and dealt with a bit of embarrassment. He wouldn’t have bothered putting in the effort to learn etiquette.
But now, Riji was by his side. He had no intention of letting her experience even the slightest bit of heartache.
According to Chatterbox, a noble’s party took time for the hosts to prepare as well. It was tight, but there was enough time for a basic preparation.
“Anyway, if you decide to attend, leave the support to the Guild. This kind of contact with the nobility is a chance for the Guild to build good connections, too. It won’t be too much of a burden on you, Mr. Juhwan.”
“Alright. Well, since there’s not much of a choice, let’s go.”
Riji lightly tugged on Juhwan’s sleeve, looking anxious. A noble’s party—it was something she must have thought she’d never have anything to do with in her entire life.
When he placed a hand on her back to tell her not to worry, Riji curled her body slightly and pressed herself close to his side.
After confirming the general details, Juhwan followed Chatterbox into the Guild.
*
Juhwan was guided behind the reception desk. Heading toward a corner piled high with documents, he found a space with a small table and a long wooden bench. A few blankets were neatly folded on one side. It seemed to be a space where Guild staff took short naps when they were exhausted.
Standing there all by himself was a man.
’Oh, that person.’
It was the man he had met earlier in the square. He had been staggering as if he might collapse at any moment, but he seemed fine now. It appeared he had simply been exhausted from a long journey.
The man’s eyes widened in surprise when he saw Juhwan. It seemed he had no idea Juhwan was a Santa-rank adventurer.
“This is the Border Count’s aide. He brought the invitation.”
Chatterbox introduced him with a prim face, and brief greetings were exchanged.
The aide seemed somewhat flustered. He would start to say something, then close his mouth, think deeply, and then open and close his mouth again.
Yet, he wasn’t handing over the invitation. When did he plan on giving it?
After opening and closing his mouth like that several times, he finally seemed to have found the resolve to speak. Strength returned to the aide’s eyes. His lips tensed slightly as they opened.
And just as the aide was about to speak—
The Guild doors suddenly swung wide open.
“Papa!”
It was Dorothy. Having become completely familiar with this town as if it were her own backyard, Dorothy came running in, the sound of her footsteps pitter-pattering on the floor.
“Oh, the young lady has arrived for work.”
“Your dad is in the back.”
“Dorothy’s here.”
“Weren’t you scolded by the unicorn today?”
Behind the reception desk, the adventurers each tossed a greeting to the child. Thanks to Oz and Yeonhwa, Dorothy was very popular these days.
“Nope! Dorothy is perfectly fine!”
Giving a somewhat strange answer, Dorothy scurried inside. She threw herself against Riji’s back.
The aide’s eyes widened, and his mouth snapped shut again. It seemed he had seen Dorothy before. More accurately, he had likely seen Oz.
The aide’s eyes were fixed on Oz, staring as if his gaze were nailed to the rabbit.
After being prompted, the aide finally handed over the invitation.
The invitation was sealed with wax.
Just as Juhwan thought they could finally leave, the aide suddenly bowed his head to him.
“Mr. Juhwan, our Border Count is a truly wonderful person. He is someone who works tirelessly from morning until late at night to support this country and protect this territory from enemies. He is a man who has dedicated his own body, the lives of his family, and everything else for the sake of this territory. The entire house of the Border Count is like that.”
The aide’s waist bent even lower.
“War is imminent. The situation is dire. Please, lend him your strength. I beg of you.”
“….”
The aide remained deeply bowed and did not lift his head. For some reason, it already felt like a den of wolves even before going to the party.
‘What should I do?’
As Juhwan gave a wry smile, Chatterbox waved her hands as if brushing off dust.
“I understand what you’re thinking, but this is a breach of etiquette. It looks like you’re one of those zealots that pop up once or twice every year. I’m sure Chief Aide Kyle told you to go.”
The aide snapped his head up and glared at Chatterbox.
“It’s true that Lord Kyle designated me, but he didn’t order me to do this. This is strictly my own personal thought…”
“I know. I also know you didn’t come here with this intention from the start. I can guess that you were probably puffing with anger. Followers get incredibly furious whenever they think the Border Count has been rejected or lost face.”
Chatterbox looked at the aide with a cold expression and continued.
“But Aide Kyle sent you knowing all of that. We’ve dealt with this once or twice before. That man has snatched away useful adventurers like that many times.”
“I…!”
“Ah, enough. Let’s just get on with our work.”
Chatterbox spoke bluntly and held out a confirmation receipt with the Guild seal, indicating they had properly received the invitation.
Though she had initially greeted him with a smile and acted hospitable, Chatterbox’s behavior was now uncharacteristically curt. Feeling upset, she muttered.
“There are so many cases where people who could have lived a decent life just being adventurers ended up dying sooner because they went to the battlefield. Adventurers and soldiers might look similar at a glance, but they’re completely different.”
At those words, the aide’s momentum died down. He seemed to be aware of those circumstances. A low murmur escaped the aide’s lips.
“…But we are desperate too. The number of soldiers keeps decreasing… and if things go wrong, we won’t be able to stop the enemy… If that happens, it won’t end with just one or two deaths… Everyone… women, children, men… they’ll all die…”
Chatterbox glanced at the aide and turned her head away. The Guild likely understood that much as well.
When you step deep inside, everyone has their own circumstances. Both sides just have different positions.
Juhwan took a light breath. Indeed, this was not an easy world to live in. It would be nice if war disappeared, but things like that wouldn’t just vanish from where people lived.
Riji seemed anxious. She pressed her body even closer to Juhwan’s. She appeared worried that Juhwan might be dragged off to war as well.
Well, he had no intention of going to war and leaving his family behind. However, things were a little different than before.
His parents’ bodies were here.
He didn’t have a huge attachment to the town itself, but he had developed some affection for the people living in it.
The innkeeper, the little kid, Chatterbox, and the people he passed by in the market…
They weren’t precious enough to risk his life for. But he couldn’t just ignore it if he knew they were going to die. It felt as if a thin thread was hooked into a corner of his heart.
Before he knew it, this land had entered the edge of the circle of things Juhwan had to protect.
“….”
It might be time to devise something so he could use magic over a wider range. Truly with the feeling of preparing for war.
‘Thinking that way, it might be better to maintain a good relationship with the Border Count.’
Juhwan let out a small breath as he watched Chatterbox and the aide, who were still sending unkind glances at each other.
The aide and Chatterbox, while bickering, began to coordinate various documents and schedules.
It seemed a tailor would be coming to the town as early as tomorrow or the day after. It was for Juhwan, Riji, and Dorothy’s clothes. Preparing the attire was said to take the most time.
“Even after taking measurements and selecting fabrics, we have to do several fittings. This takes much more time than you’d think. That’s why we have to drop everything and start on the clothes first. Looking at these documents, they’re calling in a quite famous tailor. From what I know, this person works the fastest.”
Chatterbox smirked as she explained.
“It looks like they’ve put quite a bit of effort into this. You can look forward to the clothes.”
Hearing that, Juhwan felt a bit of anticipation as well. Riji was beautiful normally, but how much more beautiful would she be when dressed in fine clothes? His heart fluttered slightly.
“….”
Wow, what is this? For some reason, he was starting to get really excited.
The next day, word came that the tailor had arrived. Since the inn room was too cramped, they met the tailor on the second floor of the Guild.
When they entered the back room, narrowly avoiding the luggage piled up in the hallway, they found a small space crowded with people.
“That goes over here. No, no, that should be placed over there. We won’t be using it right now, so stack it over there first.”
The person standing in the middle and giving orders seemed to be the tailor. He was a middle-aged man who had dressed himself quite stylishly, with a mustache that looked as if it had been painted on in the shape of the character for ‘eight’.
The rest of the people were said to be assistants. A Guild staff member informed them that two teams had come—one for men’s clothing and one for women’s.
As Juhwan entered, the tailor’s eyes widened slightly, and he pressed a finger to his lips.
“This… it feels like my skills are truly going to be put to the test.”
His way of speaking was peculiar. No matter how Juhwan thought about it, it didn’t sound like a compliment, yet it didn’t seem like he was belittling him or making light of him either. It was a strange tone.
The tailor walked a circle around Juhwan and let out an impressed “Hooh.” Then, pressing his fingers against his lips and groaning, he asked.
“May I touch you for a moment?”
“…Go ahead.”
The tailor meticulously felt Juhwan’s neck, shoulders, back, waist, and legs, then let out a groan.
“This is unexpected. It’ll actually turn out quite well.”
Up until a moment ago, his voice and manner of speech had been masculine, but the atmosphere suddenly changed. At the tailor’s words, the assistants drew closer.
“Will it be alright, Master? With a frame this large, the clothes might not come out looking very elegant. Should we make the coat a bit longer?”
“It’s fine, it’s good, it’s very good. This man, surprisingly, has the build for clothes. His muscles are well-defined.”
The tailor then circled Riji. When Riji flinched and lowered her head, the tailor spoke.
“Madam, please lift your face. Only then will a truly great inspiration come to me.”
“….”
Riji glanced at Juhwan and then lifted her head slightly.
“Oh my, oh my, Madam, your skin is so very fair. This is truly…”
The assistants also surrounded Riji and began to chatter.
“Her bone structure is delicate.”
“If we reveal her shoulders, the lines will be truly beautiful.”
“Her waist is like an ant’s. She won’t even need a corset.”
“With a bit of powder, she’ll be whiter than snow.”
As Riji flinched at the assistants’ fuss, Dorothy, who was in the middle, spread her arms and blocked the assistants. It seemed she thought she had to protect her mother.
Then, this time, the assistants’ gazes turned toward Dorothy.
“This is tricky.”
“Is her skin a bit tanned?”
“Ah, this kind of skin is the hardest.”
“What should we do?”
“Her hair color turned out pretty, but it’s a bit frizzy.”
It seemed the evaluation of Dorothy wasn’t very good.
The tailor cleared his throat and looked at Dorothy thoughtfully before shouting.
“This is a challenge for us! You all heard the Border Count’s words, didn’t you? We must make these three people appear dignified, so they won’t be ashamed no matter where they go. The fate of these three lies in our hands!”
No, that was an exaggeration. There was no way their fate depended on mere clothes.
Dorothy’s face turned red. It seemed she had understood everything the man said. Riji was looking into the child’s face with a troubled expression.
“Mama, I don’t like those people.”
As Dorothy spoke with her pouty lips, Riji glanced at the tailor and his assistants.
They were deep in discussion, flipping through sample books filled with cut pieces of fabric.
Riji whispered softly to Dorothy.
“Mama doesn’t like them either.”
Oops.
Juhwan couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.
