Chapter 11

Chapter 11

“Still, I managed to catch one.”

When I slowly met the old man’s eyes at his heavy voice, the old man showed a wrinkled smile and opened his mouth.

“Come down. I want to talk face to face.”

“Understood.”

When I got up from my seat and went down to the auction floor with Seohwa, Hwangryongjangju looked at me with his deeply wrinkled face.

“When did you catch on?”

“From the moment you declared the secret auction.”

It had been like that from the start. If this secret auction itself was for Hwangryongjangju’s amusement and proof, wouldn’t the one who would want to see that spectacle most be none other than Hwangryongjangju himself?

That’s why I was certain Hwangryongjangju would be here. And when the nameless cloth was put up for auction, I harbored another suspicion.

A question about what Hwangryongjangju ‘truly wanted.’

“I greet Master Cheon.”

As soon as my conversation with Hwangryongjangju ended, Baekgeommun’s sect leader So Yeohwang came running down the auction floor and positioned himself between me and Hwangryongjangju.

“It’s an honor to meet Master Cheon, renowned as the owner of Hwangryongjang. I run a martial sect called Baekgeommun in this area…”

“I see. So you’re the Baekgeommun sect leader?”

“Yes, that’s correct. Rather than doing this here, since we’ve met like this by fate, how about we talk at a nearby tavern…”

“Ah, that’s enough. I’ve received your greeting, so could you step aside now?”

“…Pardon?”

“I said step aside. You’re a young person, but your hearing is poor.”

At So Yeohwang’s appearance blocking his view, Hwangryongjangju clicked his tongue and lightly pushed So Yeohwang aside. Even though no internal energy was used in that movement, So Yeohwang couldn’t think to resist and was pushed aside in bewilderment.

“I’m the one who won the fabric. Master Cheon!”

“Who gave you permission?”

“Isn’t that right? You went on about insight and whatnot with sophistry, but that painting having two thousand nyang worth of value…!”

“Foolish thing.”

“…What did you say?”

Hwangryongjangju looked at So Yeohwang with cold eyes and said once more.

“I said you’re a foolish thing. Your eyes must be like knotholes. And yet you claim to be the head of a sect. Tsk tsk.“

It’s not wrong.

Having exchanged this much conversation, he should have realized that the design drawing we presented wasn’t simply an ordinary clothing design. But So Yeohwang still hasn’t caught on to that fact. Then he has no excuse for being insulted.

No, perhaps he’s already noticed. Someone at the level of Baekgeommun’s sect leader couldn’t be stupid even if he tried. He just doesn’t want to acknowledge it, doesn’t he?

That we are the winners of the silk.

“Good.”

Hwangryongjangju clicked his tongue and stepped aside slightly to put the platform in So Yeohwang’s view.

“If you can guess what this fabric on the platform is, I’ll give you a chance too.”

“…Is that really true?”

“I don’t say two things with one mouth. Though I doubt you’ll know.”

At Hwangryongjangju’s mischievous smile, So Yeohwang approached the platform while suppressing his anger and examined the nameless cloth carefully.

“…”

“Do you understand now?”

“This is…”

So Yeohwang stroked his chin while pondering.

He must at least know it’s different from ordinary nameless cloth. So Yeohwang’s eye isn’t bad either. But.

That said, being able to pinpoint exactly ‘what is different’ is another story.

“Isn’t it nameless fabric? Given how strangely lustrous it is for nameless cloth, it must be soft.”

“And?”

“…Considering how soft it is, it would be used for undergarments or such…”

“Foolish thing. I knew it. That’s enough. Get lost now.”

At Hwangryongjangju’s dismissive wave, So Yeohwang’s face turned bright red. But paying him no mind, Hwangryongjangju turned his gaze toward where Seohwa and I stood.

“Can you two guess what fabric this is?”

The moment Hwangryongjangju’s mouth opened, Seohwa looked at me. Seohwa’s eyes seemed to ask if what she was thinking was correct.

Of course, it could be wrong. I’m not guessing the exact purpose of that fabric either. What I know, and what I conveyed to Seohwa, is only that the fabric is something that ‘can prove Hwangryongjangju’s skill.’

But.

“You have nothing to lose. Give it a shot.”

We have nothing to lose, and those with nothing to lose are strong.

After all, we’re the only ones here closest to the answer, aren’t we?

At my words, Seohwa took a deep breath for a moment and opened her mouth.

“I think it’s underwater fabric.”

“…Underwater fabric?”

“Yes.”

As soon as Seohwa’s words ended, the merchants filling the auction hall began murmuring. Seohwa’s words were that difficult to understand.

“What on earth is underwater fabric?”

“It seems to be fabric used underwater… but where would you use such a thing?”

Looking around the auction hall that had fallen into confusion, Seohwa let out a nervous breath. And Hwangryongjangju watched that appearance with interest.

“Underwater fabric. Why do you think so?”

“Because it’s nameless cloth but has luster.”

“…Hm.”

“Thinking about it logically, nameless cloth is cheap fabric. It’s material you can get anywhere and anyone can wear. That means, conversely, it’s not suitable for use as a luxury item.”

Listening to Seohwa’s words, I glanced around. Indeed, at this place full of rich people, no one was wearing clothes made of nameless cloth.

“No matter what technique was used to weave the nameless cloth, the fact that its material is nameless doesn’t change. So I thought it shouldn’t be fabric for luxury or ostentation purposes, and that it must be fabric with some special use.”

“Good reasoning. And?”

“The fact that cloth that normally doesn’t have luster has luster, the fact that it’s easily distributed nameless cloth—focusing on these points, the use I conceived was… amphibious, or underwater combat.”

Seohwa moistened her dry lips and carefully presented her answer.

“Didn’t Hwangryongjangju intend to make clothes that wouldn’t get heavy from being soaked even when entering water?”

After Seohwa’s words ended, silence visited the auction hall for a brief moment.

However, the silence didn’t last long.

“Clothes that don’t get wet…”

“Why would that be necessary? If you want to swim, just take off your clothes and do it.”

Everyone felt skeptical about Seohwa’s opinion. That’s natural.

If you dislike clothes becoming heavy and cumbersome, just take them off before entering the water. Don’t naval soldiers and water bandits actually strip down to their undergarments before entering water?

From that perspective, that fabric would indeed be useless fabric. But I know.

If Seohwa’s words are correct.

That fabric becomes an innovation.

“…Huh.”

Hwangryongjangju let out a small sigh and slowly half-opened his eyes to look at Seohwa.

“Their words are correct. If your words are right, what would that fabric be needed for? If clothes are cumbersome, couldn’t you just take them off?”

“Am I wrong?”

“No, this isn’t about whether you’re wrong or right, child. I want to hear your thoughts.”

At Hwangryongjangju’s appearance wearing a relaxed smile, Seohwa let out a sigh of relief and opened her mouth.

“…Because there are cases when you can’t take off clothes.”

“Cases when you can’t take them off?”

“Women from prestigious families shouldn’t easily expose their bare skin. Even if not just women, if you fall into water during combat on a ship, there’s no time to take off clothes. I thought of it as soon as I saw it.”

Seohwa paused for a moment before presenting her final words. And the moment those words were heard.

“It would be extremely useful for escort warriors who use the Yangtze waterways.”

Hwangryongjangju burst into hearty laughter.

“Hahahaha! Correct. You got it exactly right!”

“R-really?”

“Yes. Your words are right. This fabric is, so to speak, waterproof fabric made with the assumption of underwater use.”

In transportation, water routes are undeniably one of the important means. That’s why the Yangtze has been a center of logistics and transportation since ancient times, hasn’t it?

Actually, if that were all, this fabric wouldn’t have been necessary. Fabric that’s fine getting wet isn’t needed for transporting goods. But.

When you look at the other side, the story changes.

“The Yangtze has the Janggangsurocae.”

“That’s right.”

When I added a word, Hwangryongjangju looked at me and spoke in a rather serious tone.

“Those who use the Yangtze must always keep combat in mind. That’s true not just for escort warriors but also for those transporting state taxes.”

The Janggangsurocae doesn’t fear the imperial court. With the Yangtze as their main base, the water bandits who’ve entered defensive warfare are opponents not easily subjugated even by mobilizing the Geumyiwi.

But what’s important is that state taxes collected from various regions are sometimes transported via the Yangtze.

“Thousands of soldiers die each year in battles with the water bandits. It would be fortunate if everything could be protected that way, but part of the state taxes goes to the water bandits, fattening their coffers. That’s why fabric that could lighten that burden even a little was needed.”

“Is this that fabric?”

“Exactly.”

Hwangryongjangju stroked the fabric he had woven with hands full of affection and squeezed out a voice full of regret.

“Among my old hometown friends, there was one who worked as an escort warrior. Now… he’s gone.”

“…”

That escort warrior probably met his death fighting against the water bandits of Janggangsurocae.

“What good does it do to fix the barn after losing the cow, but shouldn’t it be fixed even now?”

Hwangryongjangju finished speaking bitterly and looked around the silent surroundings before speaking to the auctioneer standing there not knowing what to do.

“Auctioneer.”

“Yes? Ah, yes. Yes! Please speak!”

“I’ve decided to award this nameless fabric to them. Would that be acceptable?”

“W-well, the rules are…”

“I will personally cover the commission fee the auction house should have earned.”

At Hwangryongjangju’s appearance quietly pressuring him, the auctioneer moistened his dry lips with a troubled face and opened his tightly shut mouth as if making a decision.

“The winner of this nameless cloth is bidder number one hundred fifty-eight here! Today’s auction will end here!”

The moment the words ended, those filling the auction hall began getting up from their seats one by one and leaving outside. And So Yeohwang ground his teeth watching that scene.

“Don’t think… you’ve won with this.”

“No. We won. At least this time.”

Grind!

Along with the sound of teeth grinding, So Yeohwang placed his hand on his sword hilt as if suppressing his rising killing intent, then removed it and turned around.

“I’m curious how long you can maintain that insolent attitude.”

With unrelaxed steps, So Yeohwang quickly left the auction hall, and even the auctioneer went down from the platform to handle his work. At that sight, Seohwa finally realized all work was finished and let out a sigh of relief.

“Phewww.”

“Were you nervous?”

“…Thinking that two thousand nyang was coming and going with each word I said…”

“Hehe, it’s not an experience you can easily have. Ahem, anyway.”

Hwangryongjangju, who had been watching the conversation between Seohwa and me warmly, cleared his throat to draw attention.

“Since you found my work, I should reward you accordingly. There have rarely been those who grasped my intention this well, so I’ll give you a bit more than ten pil.”

“A bit more, you say?”

“Yes. Twenty pil. I have silk to spare, so it’s not difficult. If I were giving it to merchants who calculate profit and loss, I wouldn’t be pleased, but you intend to use it directly, don’t you?”

At Hwangryongjangju’s words wearing a faint smile, Seohwa looked at Hwangryongjangju with wide eyes. Having heard talk of two thousand nyang for ten pil, she seemed to have realized how valuable this was.

Certainly, receiving twenty pil of silk woven directly by Hwangryongjangju would be worth an enormous amount of money. Even if we don’t sell it, with twenty pil we could immediately make over fifty sets of martial uniforms. Then we wouldn’t need to worry about martial uniforms for quite a while.

Yes. That would be the case. Anyone in this situation would say thank you and try to take the silk.

But

“I won’t accept it.”

“Hehe, there’s no need to say thank you… What?”

I smiled slightly while looking at Hwangryongjangju’s expression colored with bewilderment at the unexpected words.

“I said it’s not needed. Your silk, Master.”

Not yet.

This isn’t the peak.