Hmm I was suspecting the sewers to be made out of fabric but I’m quite disappointed.

  How does a sewer system made out of textile make any sense?

  As much sense as the ‘Yarn Palace’ being made out of yarn…

  Where are all the rats?

  That was a great question. We had infiltrated the sewers without anyone noticing and would use this to get into the museum. The sewers weren’t clean but there were no sewer animals which only makes sense if this sewer was clean.

  I knew that something fishy was going on but it got more and more suspicious.

  Greg was being a wimp as usual and I was carrying him with my tail so he didn’t need to get close to water.

  Something feels off…

  Greg got his portable lab out and started messing with flasks and vials.

  I am going to kick your ass if you spill any on my tail.

  Don’t worry my recent defeat is still fresh in my memory, I will not spill.

  So why isn’t there security down here?

  No sane person would infiltrate a museum via the sewers, I can’t even believe that I’m going along with you lunatics.

  We’re not forcing you; you can wait in that line and get to the entrance in 20 years.

  I can’t understand why people would wait so long for a museum.

  The potion bubbled wildly and Greg threw it in the sewage water in panic.

  That’s not gonna explode right?

  I asked while recalling my sewer adventures in Witchaven.

  That was unexpected… no it’s harmless to the environment but… the ambient mana is shifted toward dark magic as I had detected.

  My Elgards eyes activated and I found the correct filter. Ohh shit you’re right! 82% what in Hourai are they doing? We’re not in danger, are we?

  We’re not but this is strange, there should be miasma or it should be harmful but it isn’t… I apologize Agnis, coming to the sewers might have been a good idea.

  We’re not going to find a darkness tree that’s shooting black spears, are we? Isn’t this how our adventures in Boshi town started?

  We all came to a halt.

  It can’t be right? We’re not trapped in a barrier, right Greg?

  While there isn’t a barrier, there could be many other things that could pose a threat…

  I don’t like this at all…

  Any chance of curses or black magic being involved, Greg?

  Greg stretched out his hand in an edgy fashion and sent out shadows. I don’t know but my shadows went out to feel out what this is all about, let’s stay here.

  I know what curses are but what is black magic? Isn’t it just dark magic?

  It could be seen as a part of dark magic, yes but it is closer to curses but it focuses more on torture and the like. While both curses and black magic is a part of dark magic, just like shadow magic, most dark magic practitioners dislike being put in the same boat, that’s why there is a distinction.

  It’s as if for example, people don’t like to be lumped together with ice and steam users so while it all is water magic, they go out of their way to separate them.

  Ohh

  But it’s a fact that curses and black magic have more gruesome outcomes.

  So, are there witches here then?

  I hope so… Greg looked at me.

  Witches have a terrible matchup against Agnis so let’s hope it’s just some witches.

  Hmm, not exactly cultists but they dress weirdly. There is a group of people in a hall directly below the museum. Did your shadows find anything yet?

  No, but let’s proceed with caution.

  Greg gave us [Suits of Darkness] …

  You’re doing it again aren’t you? Thinking of something rude?

  Correction, Greg gave us [Shadow cloaks]. I looked at Greg to see if he reacted. No reaction… I need to find out how to hide this better.

  I dropped us in stealth and we headed to the hall that had a group of Not-quite-cultists. The hall also had machinery, is this where they create the clothing?

  It took a while to arrive as the place shifted from sewer to some underground facility and had people walk around in strange clothing, as usual.

  Agnis, can you link us up? I want to confirm something.

  I linked them up as we looked into the enormous hall full of workers and machinery. I had no idea what was going on here, the only thing I could tell was that they were creating clothing here and processing textile. I should’ve paid more attention when Hera tried to teach me some weaving skills. Although… I don’t think it would have mattered.

  This might hurt but can you go through filters that highlight magical and structural composition, especially leaning toward curses and black magic?

  Oof, finding that filter might take a while. But surely, they don’t…

  They might…

  Huh? What? I can see the same thing you guys see! Why don’t I get what you’re talking about?

  Greg handed out anti-headache potions and I went to look for the corresponding filters.

  I have to sort these out one day. 9t have so much shit they need to deal with or get good at. Another reason why immortality is just a tool and not a bonus.

  Raishin and Greg were clutching their heads while I went through the section of filters, I assumed it would be. I’m either immune to the headache it brings or I’ve gotten accustomed to it.

  Found it! The filter for the magical makeup of non-magical objects and the filter specific to black magic and curses. My race seems to have a filter for everything… I even found one that could give a weather forecast… how useless.

  My head… but this is what I was afraid of… they’re weaving black magic into the fabric…

  Wow how edgy! Wait what does that mean?

  Wear whatever they're making here and you're screwed. Great, this is the opposite of what I need!

  Can you bring us closer? I need to find out what specifically they’re weaving into the fabric.

  Ok, what do we do about Raishin?

  Huh? What is it with me?

  You’re terrible with stealth missions and things that can easily break and our situation has both of them.

  While I can’t use stealth, I will be fine once you drop me off, go see what’s going on in the museum above.

  Are you sure?

  Greg nodded.

  Just remember, we’re in Jarn, the place where fabric and textile defy logic, your edgesuit was made here, that should give you an idea of how serious this is. Given the right outfit a normal human might be able to tank your [Edgecat] without issues, please be careful.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  Thank you for the reminder, I will take it to heart.

  We got closer to the machinery under my stealth and Greg started to do his edgy stuff. He is probably either attuning to the darkness or feeling out what the intent is of this black magic.

  Oh, this machine looks cool! I wonder what this button does!?

  Greg slapped his wrist. Agnis please… before Raishin presses a button or destroys something…

  Come on Raishin, you’re not a kid anymore, let’s see what the museum is about.

  I put my hand on Raishin’s shoulder, looked up, located the toilets, and teleported us to the toilets of the museum.

  Why the toilets…

  We can’t just randomly appear in the middle of the museum. Our outfits also don’t match so either way we will stick out.

  I got some Jarn clothing out and tossed it to Raishin.

  Put this on.

  Raishin went into a toilet cubicle to change. I changed into a suit because I didn’t want to look like a clown. Suits work no matter where you are right? I hope this is the case. I might be overdressed in a suit but at least I won’t look silly, I think.

  I got out of my cubicle and fixed my tie. Raishin came out wearing some strange toga with a superhero cape.

  I like it!

  I forgot that your sense of fashion is strange, you might fit in perfectly in Jarn. Let’s go.

  My sunshades went on and we walked out of the toilet and found ourselves in an opulent corridor.

  Right, rich and flashy, why am I not surprised? They could at least have made the toilets the same to prepare us for this.

  Whoa this place looks fancy and colorful!

  The floor was red and velvety. I could somehow feel its softness through my shoes. I wanted to ask myself how this was possible but it was Jarn after all, as long as it’s textile, it will not make sense to a textile noob like me.

  Raishin was rolling around on the floor. We’re lucky that there’s nobody here to see him make a fool out of himself…

  Raishin and I spent 5 minutes rolling around on the soft carpet that could be felt through our clothing when I noticed that someone was approaching.

  Someone is coming! Act normal!

  A woman walked around the corner with 4 men around her who were dressed like…

  Hey Raishin, how would you describe those guys?

  Uhh, poorly shaved poodles?

  This woman walked through the corridor with 4 men around her who were dressed like poorly shaved poodles. She was walking while overemphasizing her hip sway to the point it looked silly. Her dress didn’t seem strange by normal standards but she had something akin to a royal red cape which was…. Long.

  I was sitting cross-legged with my back to the wall and Raishin was laying on his side. We watched as this strange group walked past us.

  The group went around the corner at the end of the corridor but the woman’s cape was still passing by.

  Raishin and I took an interest in this stupidly long cape.

  Say… if we cut off a part of this cape, will she notice?

  Only one way to find out.

  I pulled Nilah out of my dimensional pocket and cut off the cape. I was expecting some bullshit toughness but it felt as if I was cutting normal fabric.

  So, what are we going to do with this?

  Both of us were rolling up this cape as there still seemed a lot of it.

  Hmm, we might not have thought this through.

  The woman had passed us 10 minutes ago but we were still rolling whatever was left of her cape.

  So uhh I just thought about a possibility. You don’t think that woman was royalty or something right?

  Uhh but the queen of what place?

  Uhhm Zanyr has Dimitri as a ruler, it surely isn’t the Igrini Kingdom but I think Shania’s brother is in power now, it also isn’t Anavel from the Aquini kingdom. Do you know who the ruler of North Hjuva and Hjuva is?

  Nope, no clue, and I think the boss of Lopahz is a male beast kin.

  Wait… that surely wasn’t Taylor, was it?

  Silence fell.

  Hey Agnis, I think that this cape is unimportant, we need to get out of here.

  Yeah, I agree…

  We abandoned the cape. We went toward where the presumed queen of Jarn came from and found ourselves in a large multicolored hall. There were people everywhere looking at the exhibits of various types of clothing and different textiles.

  Whoa!

  Raishin went to look while I was looking at other things. All these exhibits were made with the Jarn technology we all know and love, not the cheap knockoffs they have been exporting. None were weaved with fishy black magic.

  Is it safe to assume that whatever is going on underground is new? It didn’t look super new to me but I assassinated the king when I was 17 which was 7 years ago. 7 years would be more than enough to build whatever was down there.

  I hate to say this but this mess might be my fault. Actually, it’s the fault of whoever issued the assassination request. I might need to find out who issued that assassination actually…

  Taylor might have been a bad ruler but removing him is useless if someone worse takes his place or maybe his daughter wanted him assassinated so she could get to power….

  Could I for once have actions that don’t have consequences?! All I wanted was a new bathrobe and sand-repelling clothes, now we’re stuck in something stupid again.

  It could be ignored if all I wanted was normal clothing but I don’t want mediocrity if I know that Jarn is being stingy and keeping their secrets to themselves.

  I took out my ruined bathrobe and inspected it. It didn’t have black magic weaved into it. What would their intent be?

  Weave it in clothing they became famous for, then sell it. Everyone will buy it as it would be how Jarn textile should be and then what…

  Realization slowly set in. Greg might have to confirm or deny but this sounds like an easy way to take over the world. Hold the citizens hostage and after everyone is wearing their clothing weaved with black magic go for world domination! Well continent domination.

  I hope I’m wrong but we might have an enormous problem Raishin.

  We need to stop messing around and steal Jarn’s secret. Monopolies were a bad idea anyway.

  Where do we look though? Hey, do you think they sell this jacket? It looks cool.

  Raishin showed interest in a quite normal-looking jacket with a tiger print. It was easy to copy, nobody is going to wear it so nobody would find out that the illusion was not from Jarn. I swapped it with an illusion and stored it in my dimensional pocket.

  You will get it after we’re far away from this place.

  Shadow clones spread out in stealth intending to find out how and where we can get their secrets. It would be nice that a new and better ruler would appear if I assassinated Taylor, but that’s wishful thinking, the next best thing is taking away their monopoly.

  In the case that we can't counter the spread of this wave of black magic clothing, there will be competition which could mitigate the problem.

  The continent might yet again turn into a shitty place when that happens… I’m convinced that the humans have opted for self-destruction. Can’t they see that the continent is slowly ‘unshittifying’ itself? Do they have to kick it down and add a different flavor of ‘shittify’ to Kaledon?

  I’m slowly agreeing with entities that want to wipe out everything on Kaledon. Kaledon is so high maintenance, that it might be better to wipe out everything and start with a clean slate.

  I sighed as Raishin and I navigated through the halls and corridors of the museum.

  There were a lot of interesting exhibits. A lot seemed unsuitable for wear but their properties seemed to be insane. This museum is probably so crowded as many have heard about Jarn technology but never seen anything from it.

  It wasn’t extremely common before I assassinated the king and now it's extremely scarce.

  Raishin and I were enjoying our time when we heard a loud shriek or cry.

  Everyone reacted but nobody knew what was going on. My eyes found out not too long after. That strange woman found out that her cape got cut. It’s a good thing that Greg isn’t here because he would have a lot to say.

  I leaned over to Raishin Psst, hey Raishin

  Raishin leaned in to listen. That woman found out.

  Wow, that took long, so what do we do now?

  How about I use illusions to alter our appearance and we feign ignorance?

  Works for me!

  Our appearance changed due to my newly formed illusion layers and we kept doing what we came here to do; loafing around.

  More men who looked like poorly shaved poodles ran around in a frenzy.

  A clone had made contact with Greg; he found something. I hope I’m wrong but so far it looks like this country is attempting to take over the continent with its clothing…

  I pulled Raishin along and we went to the toilets.

  Toilets again?

  Greg found something, let's teleport to him.

  Ok