The Man Who Remained — His Second Life Began with a Humble Bow of Apology. - Chapter 68: The Long-Established Kimono Shop, Asagiya.

The Long-Established Kimono Shop, Asagiya.

The buildings in Hourai Village carried an unmistakably old-fashioned charm.

They seemed steeped in history, yet each was a small, single-story structure, embodying exactly the aesthetic one might expect. Perhaps it was best described as having the air of a long-established, prestigious shop – a place exuding quiet dignity.

Despite this refined atmosphere, within the visible vicinity, no customers could be seen entering the store.

The shop’s name was Asagiya.

It wasn’t that their goods were of poor quality, nor did they only carry items too expensive for the average villager. Yet, for some reason, none of the locals ever stepped inside.

Into this somewhat troublesome shop came four customers for the first time in quite a while.

“Hey, I’m coming in. Old man, you still alive back there?”

Unreserved, casual, and rather rude words spilled from Unyou as he entered.

Perhaps hearing that voice, a middle-aged man appeared from the back of the shop.

At a glance, anyone could see he looked as though he might drop dead any moment. His kimono, tailored to his build, now hung loosely from his emaciated frame. His cheeks were sunken, dark circles marred his eyes, and his skin was so pale he seemed consumed by illness.

Just looking at him made one anxious.

He gave off such an overwhelmingly frail impression.

“What, it’s you. …Oi, why the hell is the kimono I made for you in such tatters? I’ll kill you.”

Though his voice was quiet, it rumbled with a deep, resonant power as he shot Unyou a glare filled with murderous intent.

“Yeah, yeah, my bad. But y’know, kimonos get dirty. And this one’s pretty much done for, so give me a new one.”

“Die.”

“C’mon, don’t be like that. You’ve got plenty lying around since business is slow, right?”

“I do not have plenty. And even if I did, why should I give one to scum like you?”

“Put it on my work tab.”

“Pay up at least.”

“Don’t have any.”

“You’re the gatekeeper chief, aren’t you?”

“No money means no money.”

“…Piece of shit. Go die in a ditch.”

Muttering curses, the man threw a neatly folded kimono at Unyou.

“I’m borrowing the back.”

“Don’t just wander off… Oi, leave the old kimono behind.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

With that, Unyou disappeared into the back.

“…As you can see,” Haku whispered to Cross and Ellie, “he’s foul-mouthed, has no intention to sell anything, and carries himself with such a killer aura that… honestly, I didn’t want to bring either of you here.”

“…I can see that,” Ellie agreed, observing how the shopkeeper didn’t so much as glance their way.

“But his goods are good, right?” Cross asked.

Haku nodded.

“Yes. I’m no expert, but even I can tell they’re high quality. Apparently, he’s extremely popular in certain circles.”

“Well, craftsmen tend to be eccentric. That’s just how it is. Alright then—!”

With a booming voice, Cross called out to the shopkeeper.

“…You’re loud. I can hear you without all that shouting.”

“Sorry. Anyway, I want to buy a kimono.”

“…Hah? And why the hell should I prepare anything for you?”

Haku’s face drained of color.

Even if they were now on friendlier terms, Cross was still here as the Demon King’s emissary. If word got out that someone had shown him such disrespect, and if it reached the Demon King’s ears, it could mean the ruin of the entire village.

Haku had known this man was difficult, but to treat a first-time customer like this… sheer terror gripped him.

“I’m not from around here, so I don’t really know what’s good. Any recommendations?”

“Why the hell should I… what a pain.”

“I’d like to buy something nice. Help me out.”

“…Tch. Clueless outsider.”

“That’s exactly why I’m asking.”

“…Ugh, another troublesome one. …You, got some fancy title or something?”

“Hmm? Right now, I guess I do.”

“…You planning to wear this in some official capacity?”

“No, not really. But if you want me to promote it, I could wear it in the royal capital.”

“The opposite. Don’t ever wear it in public. Outsiders like you couldn’t possibly wear it properly, and I don’t have the time or desire to teach you. Total waste. Just stick with a kimono yukata.”

“‘Kimono yukata’? What’s that?”

“In your words, it’s a ‘casual’ style.”

“I see. Then I’ll take one of those!”

“Die. …Go to the back and change with that idiot.”

With those words, the shopkeeper threw Cross a plainly colored cloth.

“Thanks, old man.”

Cross replied with a smile and headed into the back.

“…Lord Cross. That was amazing. To be accepted like that…” Haku said, stunned.

“Eh!? That was being accepted!?”

“Yes. If he truly didn’t like you, he’d ignore you entirely. His skills and eye for quality are unquestionable, though he seems to genuinely detest interacting with people.”

Haku murmured those words quietly.

“Hey.”

At the sound of the shopkeeper’s voice, Ellie looked around in confusion.

“Hey. Yeah, you. The shiny one.”

With an unreadable expression, Ellie touched her long golden hair.

“That’s right. You. You know that idiot back there?”

“Eh, ah, yes. He is my master.”

“Is that so. You seemed pretty familiar with him.”

“He is my beloved master, after all.”

“That’s irrelevant. I just don’t like that those fools do whatever they want in my shop. Only I get to do as I please here. …So, hey, you. Wanna try on a kimono?”

“Eh? M-me?”

His abrupt offer left Ellie shocked. Haku, who knew the man well, was even more surprised. He had never once seen this shopkeeper recommend a kimono to anyone himself.

“Yeah. Don’t want to? Fine by me. It’s just petty harassment anyway.”

“Um… what sort of harassment exactly?”

“Hah? Well… I guess it’s simple. I just want to see the look on those idiots’ faces when they come back and see you dressed up.”

Hearing that, Ellie felt she understood him a little.

He was eccentric, troublesome, and… mischievous.

In short, he had taken a liking to Cross and Unyou, so he wanted to tease them.

Realizing this, Ellie let out a small smile.

“Very well. If I can play along with your little prank, I’d be happy to.”

“…Tch. That knowing look pisses me off… Whatever. Haku. You can dress her, right?”

Haku snapped back to reality at being addressed so suddenly.

“Ah, yes! At least something simple.”

“Tch! Study properly, you idiot. Wait here…”

With a grumble, the shopkeeper moved with surprising energy and handed Haku a meticulously folded kimono and accessories.

“Th-this… This isn’t cheap…”

Haku whispered in shock at the obviously high-quality fabric.

“That’s the point. Otherwise, it won’t suit that obnoxiously shiny hair. Now hurry up. If you’re not done before those idiots get back, I’ll kill you.”

“Do you know how long it takes to dress a woman compared to a man!? And all you gave Cross was a jinbei!”

“Shut up and move. That way.”

Half-crying, Haku took Ellie’s hand and led her into the changing room.

The kimono Cross received was simpler than expected.

Unlike others wrapped in cloth, his outfit had separate top and bottom like standard clothes. The trousers were practically normal pants, while the top tied at both sides like a kimono shirt. It felt breezy to the point he almost felt underdressed, leaving him slightly embarrassed.

“Does this look okay? Not weird, right?” Cross asked.

Unyou laughed.

“Looks great on ya. You’re tall, and even with only one horn, you’re basically one of us ogres.”

“There sure are a lot of ogres in this village.”

“Yeah, about forty percent of Hourai are obviously ogres. Including the ones without horns, it’s even more.”

“There are hornless ogres?”

“Yeah. Back where you’re from, vampires would count as ogres too. Though they’d hate being called that.”

“True enough.”

“Also… married women should probably count as ogres too.”

Unyou joked lightly.

“Oh? Why’s that?”

“They’ve always got these huuuuge horns growing.”

He raised a finger, mimicking towering horns with an exaggerated gesture.

Cross burst out laughing.

“Strongest beings in any world are always moms.”

“Universal truth.”

They laughed together again.

“Anyway, let’s go. I’d rather not keep a woman scarier than an ogre waiting.”

“Is Haku really that scary?”

“She’s the type who calmly and logically corners her opponents.”

“Yeah… that is scary.”

“Your servant Ellie seems gentle and kind. I’m a bit jealous.”

At that, Cross recalled memories with a wry smile.

“Ah… I won’t deny it, but… no comment.”

Unyou sensed something unspoken in his words.

“Women are terrifying.”

Cross didn’t deny it.

Though changing into a simple outfit didn’t take long, chatting with Unyou delayed Cross. He hurried back into the shop and called out.

“Sorry to keep you waiting. How do I look…”

But his words trailed off as he fell silent in stunned awe.

“Um… does it… suit me?” Ellie asked shyly, fidgeting.

Cross couldn’t even nod. He was simply mesmerized.

Ellie’s kimono wasn’t a plain, simple garment like his. It was the real thing – a deep, almost ostentatious red, yet harmonised so perfectly it felt unworldly.

He had become so accustomed to her appearance that he had almost forgotten – her beauty was frighteningly exceptional. Her tall stature, her refined features, and her long golden hair paired with the red kimono radiated an ethereal elegance.

Normally, with such a vivid red, one would balance the colors with a black obi. But Ellie wore a dazzling white obi with gold embroidery – bold, yet perfectly suited to her.

Even so, Ellie’s beauty was not overshadowed by the striking kimono – rather, it brought out her elegance more than ever.

“Um… Cross-san, do I… look strange?”
Noticing Ellie’s hesitant words, Cross snapped out of his daze with a quiet sigh.

“Ellie… you know exactly what you’re doing, don’t you?”

At that, Ellie stuck out her tongue mischievously like a teasing child.

Ellie was by no means oblivious.
In fact, she was perceptive about most things.
There was no way she couldn’t tell how Cross had been utterly captivated just moments before.

“But… even so, I think there’s still a part of me that wants to hear it from you directly.”

“…You really have changed. It’s like you’re a completely different person from back then.”

“Eh? Did you prefer me the way I was before? Is that your… preference?”

“Of course not. …Well, you were cute in your own way back then too.”

“Hehe, thank you. And now?”

“You’re absolutely stunning. So beautiful it left me speechless. I never realised kimonos could be so incredible.”

“Thank you! That last comment was unnecessary, but… well, it’s true, so I’ll forgive you.”

Ellie beamed with a smile so radiant it could rival the kimono’s brilliance.

“…And to think, they’re not even in a relationship, nor does she harbour any romantic feelings towards him.”
Moving closer to Unyou, Haku whispered just loud enough for only him to hear.

Unyou didn’t respond. He simply stared at Ellie in stunned silence.

“…Honestly. Unyou, you too? I mean, yes, she’s unbelievably beautiful. Even someone like me, who isn’t particularly interested in kimono, can see that.”

“Of course she is… Wait… You really don’t get it, do you?”

Unyou’s voice trembled as he spoke.

Seeing his reaction, Haku realised that Unyou had noticed something – something significant.

The look in Unyou’s eyes wasn’t mere admiration.
It was closer to fear, sheer dread.

As the chief gatekeeper, Unyou was a broad-minded, carefree man, rarely shaken by anything. Yet this was a reaction Haku had almost never seen from him in all their years together.

“What is it? Did something happen?”
Ignoring Haku’s question, Unyou turned his gaze towards the gaunt shopkeeper.

The man was watching Unyou intently, a triumphant grin playing at his lips as if thoroughly enjoying the other’s trembling.

“Hey, old man! You… that… that kimono…”

“Yeah. I gave it to her because it suited her. Not bad, right? Hey, you! While you’re here, have Haku teach you how to wear it properly.”

He gestured towards Ellie with a flick of his finger.

Ellie bowed gracefully, a delighted smile on her face.

“You… do you even understand… what you’ve done…?”

“Just seeing that look on your face made it worth it. Serves you right. Shake in your boots.”

With that, the shopkeeper lost interest in Unyou, putting on his glasses and burying himself in his book once more.

“…You’ve got to be kidding me… hey… hey…” Unyou’s voice was almost tearful.

“What is it, Unyou? What’s wrong?”

“…Haku. You were the one who dressed her, right?”

“Eh? Of course. Who else could have dressed Lady Ellie but me, another woman?”

“…I see… Ignorance truly is bliss…”

“Ignorance…? Wait. You’re right… if I think about it, I should have realised…”

Haku fell silent and turned to look at Ellie’s kimono again.

Ellie spun around playfully, delighting in how the fabric flowed and shifted with her movements.

Unyou, however, watched with an expression not merely of nervousness, but of utter horror, as if each of her carefree twirls struck fear deep into his heart.

As if thinking, If she trips… it would be catastrophic.

In other words – that was the situation.

For someone of noble birth like Unyou to be this unsettled, the value of that kimono must have been unimaginable.

“…Just how much does it cost?”
Haku asked in an even quieter voice than before.

In response, Unyou held up five fingers.

It couldn’t be just fifty thousand. Which meant—

“Five hundred thousand Blue…?”

That was a sum far beyond an average annual income, a figure even Unyou and Haku – people of considerable standing – could never casually afford.

But Unyou let out a humourless laugh through his nose.

“Heh. That wouldn’t even cover the cleaning fees. You’re off by two whole digits.”

“…What?”

Unable to process his words, Haku counted the zeros over and over again.

But no matter how many times he checked, it always came back to fifty million Blue.

Fifty million.
Enough to build not just a house, but a small castle – even to establish an entire village, or a modest town from scratch.

Needless to say, it was an amount far exceeding Haku’s entire net worth.

Haku’s face turned deathly pale.

“…Why… would he even have something like that… no, why would he give it to her…”

“That’s just the kind of man he is,” Unyou replied, not taking his eyes off Ellie.

No – he couldn’t look away.

If she fell… if she so much as stained it…

The thought alone was terrifying.

Unyou was normally indifferent about clothing, never fussed about appearances or minor details.
But this was on a completely different level.

Even he, someone uninterested in matters of fashion and culture, could imagine the loss to their civilisation if that kimono were damaged.

“…I really didn’t want to know that…” Haku whispered, knowing that now there was no way to unlearn it – and wondering how on earth he was going to explain this to anyone later.

Seeing his friend’s despair, Unyou, for the first time in a long while, felt truly sorry for him.

Meanwhile, unaware of the turmoil in Unyou and Haku’s hearts, Cross gazed at Ellie with gentle eyes as if admiring a priceless work of art. Ellie, too, was blissfully enjoying her new, beautiful attire.

And the shopkeeper, hidden behind his book, stole a glance at Ellie, quietly smirking to himself in satisfaction that his discerning eye for beauty had once again been proven right – even if it was on a kimono of unimaginable worth.