Magical Tool Master Dahlia Never Compromises ~ Starting Today: Life as a Freelancer ~

"By inserting magic-sealing silver into the joints, you can direct the magic in a specific direction when imparting magic, preventing it from rebounding. For example, the Ice Fan is a combination of wind and ice. I impart both separately, directing them in different directions, and then connect the two pipes in the middle. It's a similar principle."

After hearing this, Dalia felt as if she had suddenly realized something.

It wasn't about imparting or applying the magic silver to the material, but rather fixing it in its original shape. She knew all these techniques, but she had never thought of doing it this way.

Oswald explained this with ease, as expected of a seasoned magic tool master.

"Furthermore, you can insert materials with high magical defense. This method requires rare materials. If you have high magic power, you can use magic to completely envelop the object, forming a barrier, and then add other magic to it. This requires a considerable amount of magic power, so we usually entrust it to mages with high magic power."

It turns out that there are magical tools with such high magic power. Dahlia is very interested in it, but unfortunately she has never touched it before.

"Let's try it later during the actual practice. By the way, if you want to try 'Compound Empowerment' in the Green Tower, you can use any common materials. But just in case, you should have someone with you."

"...Okay, I'll be careful."

To be honest, she planned to try it as soon as she returned to the Green Tower. She was completely seen through by the other party.

"You must be careful and don't leave before me."

"I won't!"

"Everyone can have a 'what if' situation arises, so there's no harm in preparing in advance. After all, it's a shame to want to inherit something but not be able to."

Oswald's words reminded her of her father, a magic tool maker.

Carlo is both her father and her master, and he always guides her carefully and gently.

If she didn't understand something, she could ask without hesitation. During actual practice, she could practice as many times as she wanted, as long as she had the magic power. The materials and environment were also prepared for her, all within her reach.

It was not until she grew up that she realized how lucky she was to receive her father's teachings, and what a great support he was on her path as a magic tool master.

Therefore, she believed that Oswald's son should also want to receive his father's teachings, and it would be better for his father to teach him directly.

Many people who want to become magic tool masters have already become apprentices during their time at high school. This age is already quite old.

"I am willing to help you with your son's matter. But since he has already attended the advanced academy, why don't you teach him yourself?"

"Well, maybe because he's in puberty, he doesn't like to see me. He lives in the academy dormitory now and rarely comes home."

"This is what they call the rebellious phase, right? I heard a lot of boys go through this..."

"Yeah, my father's third wife is only a little over ten years older than him. He must have found it awkward to meet her."

The other party said it easily, but Dahlia had no idea what to say in response.

This kind of thing is indeed a bit difficult for a teenager to understand.

She imagined if this happened to her, if her father married a woman ten years older than her - it would be difficult for them to live together in the Green Tower, and they would even have to be careful with their words.

After imagining it, she was even more speechless, and then Oswald sighed softly.

"I can only pray that time will heal everything. I really hope to have a glass of Scorpio with my son one day."

"Scorpion wine?"

Scorpion wine is a strong liquor made from scorpions.

Its appearance put Dalia off, but she had asked him for some when Marcella had challenged her to drink it. The drink itself tasted just like vodka, without the scorpion flavor.

"Yeah, because I don't have many like-minded people around me. My wife prefers wine and ale, and so do my friends. Occasionally, I'd like to have a drink with a man who likes scorpion beer."

Oswald's temperament seems to be very suitable for wine, but it is unexpected that he likes spirits.

Come to think of it, there are no scorpion wine lovers around Dahlia.

Marcella might be able to drink, but he certainly couldn't have a conversation with Oswald.

"By the way, I'm really glad I could mentor Miss Dahlia. I'll show off to Mr. Carlo when we get to that world."

"Are you going to tell him that I've become your apprentice?"

"No, it's an honor, but I'll decline. If you ever claim to be 'Oswald's apprentice,' Mr. Carlo will surely throw buckets of the Four Elements' magic stones at me."

This exaggerated joke made her laugh. If she was hit by a bucket like that, it would be strange if she didn't break into pieces.

"My father might be a little unhappy, but he'll probably just laugh it off in the end."

"I guarantee he wouldn't laugh it off. Carlo-san's nickname as a student was 'Uragano'."

"'Storm'...my father?"

"Storm" is a synonym for a bold person.

Was this really the personality of her father when he was young? It was so different from the father she remembered that she couldn't imagine it.

"Yes. Mr. Carlo is usually a calm and trustworthy senior, but once he gets involved with magical tools, he becomes a 'storm'..."

Oswald said this while looking into the distance with a subtle look in his eyes.

"At the Magic Tool Research Conference, he said he wanted to develop a magic tool for cleaning buildings. He used dozens of water and wind magic stones arranged in four straight rows to create a flushing machine, and then he used it to create a large hole in the academy wall."

"Use dozens of magic stones to form four straight lines..."

She had grown to respect her father a little more recently, but she couldn't help but think—this was crazy.

A direct-connection system allows multiple magic stones to amplify each other. In terms of batteries from the past, it's like a series circuit. While it significantly increases power, it also shortens the duration of the magic power.

If it were a straight-line group, I'd understand. During a practical class at the academy, I'd used two water magic stones and two wind magic stones, each forming a straight-line group, and then connected the two groups together to create a magic circuit. The power was probably enough to shatter thin stone slabs.

But what exactly is a four-column, straight-knotted formation made of dozens of magic stones? It can't even clean a wall, let alone shatter rocks. Directing that kind of water jet at a wall would cause severe damage, no matter how you think about it. Why didn't he think carefully before crafting and executing it?

"...What on earth is my father thinking?"

"He said, 'I just wanted to give it a try.' At the time, the other members of the Magical Equipment Research Society were so engrossed in their research that no one tried to stop him. Instead, they happily helped him collect magic stones."

"Just wanted to give it a try" was a headache for Dahlia. And the other members were probably in the same boat.

But why does the man in front of me know so much about this matter?

"Mr. Oswald, you..."

"Yes, I was also a member of the Magical Equipment Research Society at the time, responsible for collecting materials."

Oswald said with a mischievous smile. It seemed he hadn't stopped her father at all, and had even helped gather materials, giving her father a push from behind with the same smile he was having now.

"After doing that, wasn't my father suspended from school or punished in some other way?"

"No. The responsibility was shared by the Magical Equipment Research Association. We have several children of high-ranking nobles in our association, so we were able to pay off the repair costs without any problems. Most importantly, we have the advisory professor's protection."

"...Could that professor be Ms. Lina Lauren?"

"Yes, you know her?"

"After I graduated from the academy, I worked as her assistant for a while."

Lina is an elderly female professor, and Dalia worked as her assistant for two years after graduation.

Dahlia had also been Lina's mentor during her time at the Magical Instruments Research Society, but she had never realized that both she and her father had been Lina's students. She had never heard either her father or Lina mention this.

She only remembered that her father was always respectful when speaking to Lina.

I originally thought my father did this because Lina was a baroness and his daughter was under her care. But it turns out there was such a deep gratitude behind it.

"Mr. Carlo made a huge hole in the wall, leaving the preparation room half-destroyed. Teacher Lina apologized profusely for this... Mr. Carlo said he owed her a huge favor. Perhaps it was because of Teacher Lina that he started helping others."

"I didn't know my father would do such a thing..."

Her gentle and kind father always prevents her from trying anything dangerous.

She found it a little funny to hear that what her father did was even more dangerous than what she did.

Did she inherit her love of experimenting with magical gadgets and her adventurous nature from her father? Or perhaps from her grandfather, with whom she had no chance to speak. She was also somewhat curious about her grandmother's personality.

I really hope they can live longer.

"But I'm surprised. It sounds like Mr. Carlo behaves quite docilely and obediently in front of you, like a good father. I'll have something to tease him about when I get over there..."

Oswald's face didn't have his usual dignified smile. He tilted his head and chuckled, looking like a cunning villain.

"It's too early for you to go to that world and tease my father."

"Sorry, that's rude."

She didn't want him to leave so early, and she felt a little uncomfortable hearing him laughing about this topic.

He was not only a mage in his prime, but also had three wives and children. Dahlia hoped he would live a long and active life.

"Please take care of yourself."

"Okay, I'll be careful. My wife and children often remind me..."

The man smiled bitterly, revealing the expression of a husband and father.

◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆

"I finally met the 'Green Tower Princess'. She's quite charming."

After watching Dalia and the others' carriage leave in front of the store, Amelinda turned around and said to Oswald.

"Princess Green Tower" refers to Dahlia.

He has already told his wives.

He said that when he was young, his ex-wife eloped with an employee. When he was hesitating between closing the store or committing suicide, he was rescued by Dalia's father Carlo and met a little princess in his green tower. These were not just past events for him, but "human feelings" that continue to this day.

"Yes, she has become even more beautiful since the last time we met."

After not seeing each other for a month, Dalia became unexpectedly brighter.

As he grew older, Oswald gradually discovered the sudden and drastic changes in young people caused by love or passion, and this seemed to him very dazzling.

"Okay, time to go home. We agreed to drink wine and admire the night sky tonight, right?"

"If you're busy with work, you can reschedule for next time..."

"I am a man of my word. I would only postpone my appointment with my wife if it involves human life or an urgent summons from the royal city."

Oswald said this firmly, and Amelinda smiled happily.

However, he knew very well that this smile would not last forever.

Owner of a noble magic tool shop, president of the Royal City's Royal Merchants Guild, baron—he held more titles than when he was young, but whether he could retain important people was another matter.

When he was young, he learned that his wife had eloped with his apprentice. He never imagined that the wife he had sworn a lifetime of love would abandon him, or that the apprentice he trusted enough to entrust his store to would betray him.

With Carlo's help, he regrouped, remarried and took in an apprentice.

Unexpectedly, his two apprentices later also pursued his wife.

Is it because his wives are too attractive, or is it because he makes them look unhappy? No, he thinks it is mainly because he still has shortcomings in the eyes of others.

Therefore, he has been working hard to do what he wants and can do.

In order to be a decent husband, boss, president of a guild of commerce, baron, and man, he gradually accumulated strength in the process of forcing himself, joined the ranks of successful people, and gained some fame and praise.

As for how to make his wives happy and keep them forever, he still doesn't know the right answer.

He didn't even dare to say such discouraging words in front of his wives - if Carlo were still alive, would he be willing to discuss these with him?

"...Master, do you wish to marry the president of the Roseti Merchant Guild as your fourth wife?"

"How is that possible?"

Oswald was lost in his memories when he suddenly heard Amelinda ask directly.

He immediately denied it, but there was still some doubt in the other person's cute green onion eyes.

"The president of the Roseti Merchants Guild should be the type that Master likes, right?"

"If you ask me if I like her or not, she's definitely within my range of interest, but I don't dare. I'm afraid of getting beaten up by my friends in that world, and I'm also afraid of getting mauled to death by a big black dog in this world."

“Aiya…”

Amelinda laughed. The comparison of Wolfe to a large dog seemed to hit a chord with her.

"What about Ai'er? What do you think of the 'most handsome young man in the capital'? He's wearing glasses today, but you've probably seen him a few times before when you came to the shop, right?"

He called his wife by her nickname and asked her what she thought of Wolff.

Amelinda shook her head in boredom.

"That's not my style. I only like men with silver hair and silver eyes who are much older than me."

"That's a pretty narrow range, but I'm grateful you have such a preference."

Faced with his wife's straightforward counterattack, Oswald immediately raised the white flag of surrender.

"By the way, when we were saying goodbye just now, they seemed very wary of you."