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

"Then I swear to my sword, no, to my friends, that I will never tell anyone. Is this more trustworthy to Lady Dahlia?"

"……Thanks."

Friends are more powerful than swords - Hearing him say this, Dahlia was a little unsure of what to say, but still tried to force out a thank you.

There seemed to be a smile in the reddish-brown eyes that looked at her.

Later they chatted for a while, and after the topic came to an end, they cleared the table together.

Then the men thanked Dahlia and walked out of the green tower together.

The moon is already hanging in the deep blue sky.

"Wolf, you can stay. Tomorrow is our day off anyway, so you can stay longer."

"It's getting late, let's go back together."

On the way back, the green tower was still visible, and the blue-eyed young man smiled faintly.

"Wolf, are you dating Miss Dahlia?"

"We're friends. By the way, when did you start calling her Dalia?"

"Just now. You're just 'friends'. So if Randolph or I wanted to seriously approach Lady Dahlia, you wouldn't stop us?"

"I... won't stop it."

"what?"

"What?"

Dolino and Randolph's questions overlapped.

"I can't stop people from approaching her. If you truly like her, I have no right to stop you. But if you just want to have fun, I will definitely object..."

He walked forward as he spoke, but his steps suddenly became heavy, and he didn't even notice that his two friends had stopped.

Dolino looked after him and whispered to Randolph.

"Even more outrageous than a boy from elementary school. How can a man in his twenties be like him?"

"A majority of the members agree. However, Wolf will soon become a member of the Marquisate, so he may not be able to do as he pleases."

"Ah, being a noble is really troublesome... Oh, by the way, let's go to someone's room and have a couple of drinks later."

"OK."

Dolino caught up with the tall figure in front of him and spoke to him.

"Wolver, let me tell you something. I'm a big-breasted blonde, so I'm not into that type."

"……Right."

"Randolph, what about you?"

"I think Lady Dahlia will be a considerate and good wife."

"Randolph...?"

Seeing the swaying golden eyes, Dolino patted his shoulder.

"Wolf, be smart. He's teasing you. He looks so honest, so you can't tell, but he actually loves to tease people."

"I was just expressing my thoughts. I had no intention of dating her. I stood up to pour her a glass of wine just to thank her for treating us to dinner. I didn't mean to 'take things further with you.'"

When it came to the part about "I want to take things a step further with you," Randolph specifically switched to the language of the neighboring country.

When a noble man stood up to pour wine for a woman of lower or no rank, it also conveyed a desire to take the relationship to the next level. If the woman also stood up to accept the wine, it meant she understood the man's intentions. Dalia seemed to have completely forgotten this, but Wolf's mother's etiquette book mentioned it.

"Randolph..."

"What's wrong, Wolf?"

Randolph's expression didn't change, but Wolfe could see a smile in his eyes as he looked back at him.

Wolfe moved silently to his side, activated his body strengthening with his hand, and grabbed his arm.

The force was so strong it practically creaked, causing the copper-haired man to raise an eyebrow. The man's arm also activated its own physical enhancements, repelling Wolf's pinching fingers from his own.

The two men started to intensify their physical confrontation as if nothing had happened, leaving Dolino dumbfounded.

"Stop messing around here and leave."

Wolfe and Randolph then separated, and the group continued walking on the night road.

"I never thought you'd say something like that, Dolino. I was shocked."

"I'm sorry. We've known each other for seven years, but it took us three to finally start talking like this. Of course I'm worried about you and Ms. Dahlia being so close in just how short a time you've known each other!"

"...Thank you, Dolino..."

Wolff thanked him quietly, and Dolino sighed deliberately.

"Although you have the appearance of a prince or a nobleman, your personality is that of a teenager."

"Isn't that too much? I was actually a little touched just now."

"Wolf, you'd better learn to look at yourself objectively."

"Even Randolph is like this... Are you guys bullying me instead of the monsters today?"

The conversation was full of teasing and laughter, which lasted for a long time.

◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆

On the second floor of the Chamber of Commerce, in the office rented by the Roseti Chamber of Commerce, Dalia and Ivano were sitting face to face.

"Ms. Dahlia, you've created something incredible again..."

Ivano looked at the pile of documents with a calm smile on his face.

Among them were specifications for the cooling fabric, a list of planned derivative products, and a production plan. She had compiled all the ideas she had discussed with Wolf and the others last night.

By the way, Ivano was also wearing a light green scarf around his neck.

“There are so many things I want to do that I can’t do them all at once, but these options are all feasible.”

"These are all clothing-related items, right? Besides informing Miss Gabriella, I'll also discuss this with Master Fortu of the Fashion Guild. Is that alright?"

"Okay, thank you for your help."

Breathable cooling fabrics are very suitable for underwear, and it is best to ask the clothing association for assistance.

"Besides Lord Wolfe, who else knows these designs?"

"Wolf's friends also helped with the idea. They're also members of the Monster Suppression Corps. Wolf has asked them not to tell anyone."

"Then there's no need to worry."

Ivano picked up the documents and knocked them on the table twice, then put them all in a pile.

Then he put away his smile and looked at Dahlia seriously with his deep blue eyes.

"I must warn you, President. These items are quite dangerous."

"That's right... We might not have enough green slimes later on."

When making the waterproof cloth, the Adventurer's Guild was in trouble because of the shortage of Blue Slime.

She didn't want to overuse the green slime again and cause trouble for others. Perhaps she should finalize the materials and production process, and confirm the quantity before making it.

"No, that's certainly a problem, but the Knights' equipment and clothing are all tied to profits and are inextricably linked to the nobility. These goods may spread from aristocratic society to the common people in the future. If we don't prepare in advance, someone will inevitably come to seize or interfere with this business."

"Should we stop development then? But I'd at least like to be able to provide it to the monster-slaying forces..."

"No, there's no need to cancel. Didn't I tell you, 'You can do whatever you want?' I'll take care of mass production, distribution, and safety."

Ivano stroked the scarf with his fingertips and raised the corners of his mouth.

"So the president is mainly planning to provide this product to the monster-slaying forces, right?"

"Yes, I hope it can ease their burden a little."

While the cooling cloth couldn't solve the problem of overheating in a knight's uniform, it could at least alleviate discomfort during an expedition. She explained the reason behind this to the man in front of her, who closed his eyes and nodded as he listened.

"I understand your intention. I have two suggestions. One is to invite Master Fortu of the Clothing Guild to jointly develop products and share the reputation to ensure funding and security. The other is to propose to Captain Gulat of the Monster Suppression Force that the Monster Suppression Force be given priority purchasing rights. In return, the Captain must serve as the intermediary for the Roseti Merchants' transactions with the Royal City."

It was easy for Ivano to say, but the other party was a viscount and a marquis. How could a commoner's chamber of commerce make such a request of them?

"Won't this cause trouble to Lord Fortu and Captain Gulat?"

"I think they'll be in full agreement. Lord Fortu will probably want to make a difference during his tenure as head of the Clothing Guild, and Captain Gulat will surely want the Monster Suppression Team to have priority."

"Perhaps that's right..."

"If anyone dares to attack the Roseti Merchants Guild, they will be retaliated by the Merchant Guild Master, the Clothing Guild Master, and the Monster Suppression Team Captain. No one would seek trouble knowing this, right?"

"Unless it's a duke's or royal family," Ivano added half-jokingly, but that was impossible.

Dalia's expression froze and she couldn't laugh, and the other party continued speaking.

"Also, if it's convenient, I should also say hello to Wolfe-sama's brother."

"Wolver's brother?"

"Yes, it is said that he will inherit the title next year and be promoted to marquis. It was Master Jedda, no, damn, I'm not used to calling him that...it was Master Leone who told me that."

The head of the Trade Guild, Jedda, asked Ivanor and Dalia to stop calling him by his last name and start calling him by his first name, but both of them were still not used to it.

Since the president of the Commerce Guild said so, it must be true.

Next year, Wolff would be promoted from the Earl's family to the Marquis'. Dahlia felt the distance between him and her grew even greater, and she felt a bit lonely. Even so, she chose her words carefully, trying not to show it.

"That's really cause for celebration."

"Yes. Speaking of which, there seem to be four dukes and seven marquises now. Our country has fewer high-ranking nobles than other countries, perhaps due to the longer period of peace."

"That's a good thing. If war had broken out, the country wouldn't be so prosperous, and we wouldn't be able to create magical tools as we please."

As far as Dalia knew, no one in their country, Odine, had ever been knighted for military exploits. After all, there had been no war since the nation's founding.

On the other hand, many people were granted titles and promoted due to their contributions to infrastructure, education, agriculture, trade, or inventions or the development of magical tools. However, if they embezzled public funds, accepted bribes, or were suspected of committing a crime, the royal court would immediately and mercilessly strip them of their titles.

"President, if this proposal displeases you, I can reconsider the plan. As a magic tool master, you would probably prefer to register under your own name, rather than developing it jointly with Fortu-sama, right?"

"No, there's no problem with registering under a joint name. I'm more concerned about whether or not the customer's complaint will be accurately conveyed to me if there's a problem with the product than the name used for registration."

"I see... Speaking of which, we've received some customer complaints about drying insoles. They're asking for reusability, price reductions, and new sizes. Have you reviewed all of these?"

"I've seen it. Any other questions?"

"We've received nearly 20 customer complaints recently, all urging us to 'produce faster.' I understand their sentiment, but I really want them to stop forcing us to do things that are too demanding."

Dalia was very happy to hear this and couldn't help but smile.

The insoles are not only popular among monster-slaying troops, but are now also becoming popular in the royal city and among various guilds.

As a developer, I am very happy to hear that my product can help people.

"Next, let's hurry up and make the cooling cloth. Luckily, summer has already arrived, so we can prioritize trial production for the monster-slaying forces and move on to full-scale production next year. This season is perfect."

Ivanor was a master at manipulating people. Even though Dahlia knew this, she still often let him manipulate her, perhaps because she was a magic tool maker, not a merchant.

"Is there anything else you would like to discuss with me, President?"

"By the way, something happened in the royal city..."

Dalia told Ivano about the maid, and his expression immediately became serious.

"I'm so sorry, I really should have gone with you. If I had a servant here, this wouldn't have happened... preferably one who could also serve as a bodyguard."

"Is it necessary even in the royal city?"

"Yes, that would be more reassuring. We should find a burly man as a servant. His appearance alone would be enough to intimidate. But he'd also be quite skilled. It's a shame that men can't follow into the dressing room. If we could find a female servant who could act as a guard, that would be even better..."

It seems difficult to find a female attendant strong enough to serve as a bodyguard.

Dahlia thought about it carefully. Most of the rooms and corridors in the royal city were occupied by knights, so all she had to do was avoid the dressing rooms whenever possible, right?

"Next time, I'll try not to drink water before entering the royal city, and I'll also try not to drink tea there. This way, I hope the same thing won't happen again."

"Please don't do this, Miss Dahlia. You'll faint from the heat if you don't drink water in the summer."

"It's okay. When I'm concentrating on experimenting with magic tools in the Green Tower or when I'm too busy, I try to drink less water..."

“…President.”

Ivano called her in a low voice, which puzzled her.