NOVEL NEXT Chapter 159
“Remarkable physique you have here…”
“It’s as if a skilled stone craftsman carved each and every muscle.”
“Though a tall stature often struggles to bring clothing to life, the balance of your frame allows you to effortlessly wear any attire.”
“I wish my husband could resemble you, even by half.”
I turned my gaze away from the tailors who were marveling at my body with their measuring tapes and glanced at Hye-ryeong. Her sparkling eyes were fixed on me, and it was then that I realized I had no allies here.
“How about this fabric? This one’s from Yunnan…”
“Light-colored cloth would suit him!”
“Wouldn’t red fabric look good as well? Blonde hair and red clothes go quite well…”
Aside from the tailor measuring me, the rest of the group, including Hye-ryeong, were engaged in a heated discussion about what fabric would best suit my attire.
For some reason, they seemed more serious than when we were preparing for the Martial Prohibition.
“Given your height of seven ch’ok, this will require a lot of fabric.”
“Is that so?”
“Hehe, don’t worry, we’ll make you something splendid.”
“Is there anything suitable we could try on immediately? Trying on first would be best to see how clothes fit!”
“Unfortunately, since you’re so tall, everything for someone of your build needs to be custom-made…”
“Ugh… What a pity.”
Hye-ryeong, are you using me for a dress-up game?
Still, seeing her enjoy it so much, I didn’t feel inclined to stop her.
Anyway, I’m essentially a hanger, so there’s no real issue. Perhaps I should endure this minor inconvenience.
“Cost is no concern, so take your time to adjust the fittings.”
“Oh my, if that’s the case…Hong-lan! Fetch some fabrics!”
“Yes!”
And thus began my one hour of hell.
———————-
I’d rather go through another Martial Prohibition with the Alliance Leader…
“The white long gown with a blue overcoat suits you.”
“Reversing the colors might not be bad either.”
“In that case, let’s finalize with all three outfits!”
“I’ll take three sets. I often travel around the Central Plains, and lack sufficient space to store additional clothing.”
I picked up the blue, black, and gray outfits.
Among the clothes I’ve tried on, these were the least conspicuous. As for the red one, I had my doubts—that’s a color that could easily make me a target.
Wearing unnecessarily eye-catching clothing is also unwise when engaging in battle, so it’s more practical to wear relatively inconspicuous outfits.
Hye-ryeong seemed a little disappointed, but oh well.
“Hye-ryeong, it’s your turn now. I’ll sit here while you enjoy yourself.”
“Will you not accompany me, Mister?”
“That would be awkward.”
Without giving her time to grab onto me, I promptly returned to my seat. As soon as I sat down, I could feel a slight fatigue, so I rested my chin in my hand, looking ahead.
“You look great, Sir.”
“Well, that’s a relief.”
“…Miss Hye-ryeong will look great in anything.”
“You too.”
“In the end, whatever she wears, her face will determine the elegance. Though she might not be of legendary beauty, her striking, somewhat androgynous charm ensures she’ll look good in any attire.”
And her figure must be… okay, too.
“Not true. Someone like me, with such an average build, won’t look good in expensive clothing…”
“Try it on first before deciding.”
Why does she have such a low opinion of herself? Is it because she’s lived as a man for so long?
During this conversation with Mok-kyeong, Hye-ryeong emerged from behind the screen and made eye contact with me.
“Mister, how does it look?”
“Beautiful!”
Though… Isn’t the chest a bit too emphasized?
A dress that accentuates the chest like this, when her figure usually remains understated, isn’t suitable for daily wear.
Wearing something like that would attract too much attention.
“It looks good on you.”
“Hehe.”
Regardless, she twirled around before retreating behind the screen again, now dressed in pants.
The pants were paired with a sleeveless top and a cardigan-like covering.
Her chest was… definitely noticeable under this outfit.
“How does it look?”
“Beautiful.”
Without a doubt, it’s quite the visual treat.
“Madam Song, remember that… earlier?”
“Ho ho, try this on now—a secret outfit said to make a man in his sixties rise from his seat!”
What on earth is she going to show me?
As the sound of silk swished, Hye-ryeong reappeared after some time.
“Young lady, how does this look?”
“Cheongsam?”
“Yes?”
“Not that—not really—this is gorgeous on you.”
Why is this here?
Wasn’t this clothing invented in the 20th century?
“This outfit is so easy to move in!”
Don’t spin around. Your thighs will be exposed. If this was intentional, I’d have no complaints, though.
Seeing her figure so exposed, I felt a little uncomfortable sitting here. Her ample chest was slightly visible… and the armpits too…
Is this kind of clothing even allowed in this era?
“Our father in heaven…”
“Young Lady, what strange words are you muttering?”
“Strange words?! In the Western Regions, you won’t be treated as human if you don’t know this.”
“What’s that?”
Hye-ryeong tilted her head in confusion.
“Anyway, I’ll change and see other options.”
“Alright!”
Afterward, Hye-ryeong changed close to a dozen times and conducted a thorough presentation in front of me.
After carefully selecting, Hye-ryeong decided to purchase five sets, then approached me with a satisfied look, pulling Mok-kyeong’s wrist to stand up.
“Miss Mok-kyeong! Now it’s your turn!”
“But I only need a martial outfit…”
“Tsk!”
“I have plenty of money, Hye-ryeong. Go indulge freely.”
Now that her skin has mostly healed, she should be fine. With a pitiful expression, Mok-kyeong glanced at me as she was dragged away by Hye-ryeong.
“Wow, this person…”
“Any preferences from the collection…”
I dismissed the women’s voices, closing my eyes. Since I had nothing urgent to do, I planned to take a short nap. They’d wake me up when they were done changing.
While I was idling in this manner…
“Mister!”
“All done…”
I stopped mid-sentence and stared at Mok-kyeong. Her neck had turned as red as an apple, her head deeply bowed, but she appeared completely transformed from her usual male attire, revealing her genuine feminine beauty.
“Beautiful, right? It’s an outfit carefully chosen by Madame Song and me!”
“Beautiful.”
“No, it’s not…”
Due to her slim figure, the outfit complemented her well. Though her chest wasn’t as voluptuous as Hye-ryeong’s, she wasn’t entirely flat, so there was at least some curvature.
I never imagined the switch from men’s to women’s clothing would so drastically change her aura.
Mok-kyeong’s androgynous beauty shifted into something that could definitely turn heads on the street.
“Um, Sir…”
“You look so good that it’s a problem.”
“Yes…Yes?”
“Like a goddess descended from the heavens.”
“Why didn’t you say that about me!”
“You’re more like a penguin.”
“Because you’re flapping those arms of yours.”
“A penguin, what exactly is that?”
“It’s something as cute as you.”
“Ah ah…”
Madame Song’s overly approving look from the sidelines was a bit much, wasn’t it?
“Can I change now?”
“Why, of course! Miss Mok-kyeong, you still have a pile of attire waiting!”
“Huh?”
“C’mon!”
As Mok-kyeong was dragged away by Hye-ryeong, she glanced at me with a pitiful expression. I deliberately avoided her gaze and took a sip of tea handed to me by a staff member.
————————-
“It suited her…”
“Seems like she’s been wearing martial outfits for too long, this kind of dress isn’t really…”
“To attract men, you must look your best!”
What conversation is happening by my side? Watching Hye-ryeong awkwardly fumbling with Mok-kyeong and forcefully advocating her opinion made me chuckle.
I don’t care. If they become close, it’s a good thing.
“Since we’ve bought the clothes, let’s return to the inn.”
“What about looking around the market?”
“Let’s place the clothes first.”
“Let’s do that quickly!”
After briefly visiting the inn to store our purchases, we returned to the streets and blended into the crowd.
Among the throng of smiling people, I made full use of my height to survey the area.
From shops selling food to luxurious buildings dealing in expensive items.
True to its reputation as a prosperous city in the Central Plains, the variety of goods left me visually satisfied.
“There are too many people to enjoy the scenery…”
“There’s a good way.”
“Good way?”
Seeing Hye-ryeong’s curiosity, I walked to a relatively less crowded spot and revealed my plan.
“I’ll lift you to the right level.”
“Wow!”
I held Hye-ryeong by the thighs and lifted her up. She naturally leaned against my upper body, chuckling happily at the heightened view.
“I can see so far away! So this is how you view the world everyday, Mister?”
“More or less.”
Though my field of view was slightly obstructed…
Pressed against my chest by her weight.
“Sir, are you planning to walk around like this?”
“Want me to do the same for you?”
“Ah, no thank you…”
Though clearly envious.
Still, I don’t intend to force her, so nodding slightly, I resumed navigating through the crowd. The gazes of onlookers were a given.
Of course, anyone spotting a towering man carrying a woman as he walked down the street wouldn’t avoid notice.
Still, I was confident.
And so, we drew the crowd’s attention as we ventured further into the bustling market.
“Mister, there’s a horse market over there!”
“A horse market?”
“A huge horse is being sold!”
Big horse?
“Which way?”
“Over there!”
Without hesitation, I changed course toward the horse market.
Pushing through the crowd, I saw makeshift stables filled with several sturdy horses.
Though they were certainly strong, they all seemed rather small in comparison…
Compared to the horses I raised in the West…uh?
“…Ahhal-Teke?”
“Hot-blooded horse! A genuine Hot-blooded steed! Even though it’s a 10-year-old veteran, the energy it possesses regularly breaks stables, causing endless trouble for the stable handlers!”
Perhaps we might get lucky and make a valuable find here.
I immediately pushed through the crowd, securing a front-row spot.