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

Wolff's teammate and friend, Dolino Batti, stared at the five-toed socks in confusion. Wolff gave him a wry smile and explained.

"These socks allow each toe to be separated, and the insoles have a drying function. A friend gave me these when I was telling him that walking in swamps with wet shoes was very uncomfortable. I'm trying them out now."

"The insoles are fine, but those socks are weird. And they seem difficult to wear."

"I was also surprised when I first saw them, and they do take a while to put on. But it's a good combination. I walked around for so long, and my shoes and feet are still dry."

He touched the foot that still had socks on. There was no stickiness at all. The inside of the shoe was dry and comfortable.

"Really? My shoes and feet are soaked with sweat."

"Would you like to try it out?"

"Hmm...it looks like a monster shell, but it stays dry, which is quite appealing... Then give me a set, and I'll pay you later."

"No need for money. I'm going to write a trial report for a friend, and you can tell me what you think."

"Okay. Any tips for wearing this?"

Dolino tried to put on the socks all at once but got stuck, so Wolff taught him to put them on one toe at a time and continued to explain.

"Wow! My toes aren't stuck together anymore. They feel so cool! I think the sweat has dried up too."

"Luckily, the size is perfect. Oh, and my friend said this combination seems to prevent athlete's foot..."

How to prevent athlete's foot?

They were talking halfway when the senior who was sharpening his sword on the opposite side interrupted for some reason.

"Wolver, tell me more! Does that stuff really prevent athlete's foot?"

"Yes, yes, but it's just a possibility, I can't confirm it yet."

Seeing his senior asking excitedly as if he were facing a monster, Wolfe quickly answered.

"I don't know if they're effective for athlete's foot, but these socks and insoles keep the insides of your shoes dry and make them much more comfortable."

"I see. Where can I buy that set of socks and insoles?"

"Uh, this is a prototype..."

"Can't I buy the sample?"

The man spoke louder and louder, and people around him turned around.

"I have extra socks and insoles. Would you like to try them, Senior?"

"I'm counting on you!"

The senior clasped both of Wolff's hands, leaving him bewildered.

Do you hate sweaty shoes so much, Senior? No, maybe it's just because they're inconvenient during battle.

He was armed with a greatsword, and he needed to stand firmly in battle. Swampland was already difficult to walk in, and slippery feet from sweat would be even more troublesome. Wolfe came to this conclusion and handed him the five-toed socks and insoles.

"Please tell me what you think later."

"Thank you! I'll do my best to express my feelings!"

Just a thought, why put so much effort into it? — Wolf looked at the senior who was diligently changing his socks, puzzled.

"I'm interested too. Sell me a set."

“Hmm!”

Wolfe heard a sudden noise behind him and instinctively tried to jump away, but the other person hadn't stopped him by the shoulder. It turned out to be Captain Goulart, who had quietly come up behind him while he was staring at his senior.

Next to the captain stood a knight of the same generation as Wolf, his eyes inexplicably sharp.

"Since it works for tinea pedis, I must give it a try."

"I'm willing to buy it at the market price."

"But my friend said this is just a trial product, and they're not sure if it's effective for athlete's foot... I've never had athlete's foot, so I'm not sure. Is athlete's foot really that uncomfortable?"

"People with tinea pedis will experience itching on the soles of their feet whenever they sweat, making it completely impossible to concentrate. In severe cases, even stepping on the ground can feel strange."

"Yeah, just like when I have prickly heat."

After hearing what they said, Wolff finally understood.

It sounds like this set of socks and insoles should be fine for combating athlete's foot.

Wolf couldn't refuse the captain, so he had to hand him a set.

"Wolf... Once a man gets tinea pedis, he can't see his wife and children when he gets home, and they'll shun him..."

"Can't we go to the temple for treatment?"

"It will relapse soon after treatment, and it will be even more difficult to treat after relapse..."

Hearing the same voice, Wolfe also handed him a set of socks and insoles.

"It turns out that athlete's foot is so painful..."

"Wolfred! You're young and tender-skinned, so you dare to say such things. After you turn thirty-five, it will find you!"

"What are you talking about, Captain? Young people sweat a lot, so they're more likely to get athlete's foot!"

"The older we get, the slower our skin regenerates, making athlete's foot more severe and more difficult to heal!"

Wolff felt the atmosphere was becoming increasingly awkward.

He couldn't speak for either side and could only laugh dryly.

Looking around, Dolino, who was originally beside him, had run away far away, looking as if it had nothing to do with him.

He swore in his heart that at the next cocktail party he would pour a glass full of undiluted liquor to the brim to reward this sensible friend.

“…Wolfer.”

Wolfe turned his head at the sound and saw another friend approaching.

Randolph Goodwin.

He came from a family known as the "Border Count," a contemporary of Wolf's, with copper-colored hair. Wolf had assumed he was, unlike the fleeing Dolino, here to smooth things over.

Unexpectedly, when he approached, he lowered his voice and said seriously:

"...If it's convenient, could you give me a pair?"

Wolff silently handed him the extra socks and insoles.

(Illustration 007)

Volume 2: Apologies and Unicorn Horns

It's not even noon yet and it's already so hot.

Dahlia was a little tired, but still came to the Merchant Guild.

She wanted to give the small magic furnace to Gabriela and Ivano. Her guarantor was Mezena, a member of the Transport Guild. Marcella said he could help deliver it, so she gave him the thank-you gift along with a card.

"Welcome, Dahlia. Can I have some iced tea?"

"OK, thanks."

Gabriela was drinking iced tea in the office.

She was wearing a white-collared dress in a cool, straw-colored color scheme today.

There was a slight breeze in the room. It was too hot, so she turned on the air conditioner.

Dahlia breathed a sigh of relief and sat on the sofa at Gabriella's invitation.

"Thank you for being the guarantor for the Chamber of Commerce. This is my thank you gift to you, and if you don't need it, you can give it to someone else."

She placed the scarlet cloth bag on the white table. Inside was two small magic furnaces, as well as a piece of paper with recipes and instructions written on it. Anyone who saw it could use it.

"Thank you, Dahlia. You're welcome. When the weather cools down, we can use this stove to make mulled wine in the room."

"Aren't you used to having servants do things for you?"

"I'm not from an aristocratic family, so I don't like having people enter my bedroom at night. After all, I'm not wearing makeup and I'm wearing loose pajamas."

"I understand how you feel."

Dalia probably wouldn't like it either. Evenings are meant to be spent leisurely, alone or with family.

"I made this bubbler bottle and I'd like you to try it. It turns soapy water into foam."

"Wow, that's really interesting."

"Once the shortcomings are mostly corrected, I'd like to register it as a newly invented gadget, rather than a magical tool."

"Isn't this a magic tool? I thought there was a wind magic stone inside."

Gabriela opened the bottle that didn't contain soapy water and looked inside curiously.

"I use magic to make parts, but the rest is all based on structural design, not magic. I'd like to have a small item workshop make them. Could you recommend a suitable workshop for me?"

"Okay. We can ask a few workshops and choose the one with the best conditions."

"Among the workshops registered with the Merchant Guild, are there any that already make pump bottles?"

Dahlia thought it would be time-consuming to work alone, and each finished product would be different. Therefore, she wanted to entrust it to a skilled craftsman.

“I remember there were two, but they were not very large.”

"If there's a studio willing to make it, I'd like to sign up as a 'joint development'."

"Dalia, this will cut your profits in half. Are you aware of this?"

"Yes, I know. I've already designed the structure, but the craftsman might be able to improve it, so I'd like to discuss it with him. Also, if there's something similar on the market, it's best to discuss it with the developer, and if they're willing, we can work together on it. That's the principle my father taught me and Mr. Orlando. He said this way of making a better product is more likely to lead to disputes."

"It won't cause any disputes... Yeah, that makes sense."

Gabriella added some iced tea to her own cup and urged Dahlia to drink as well.

Only then did Dalia pick up the iced tea and take a sip. The coolness made her feel relaxed and comfortable.

"Is your father warning you not to challenge those with vested interests?"

"Well, that's one of the reasons. After all, it's also very frustrating for the original developer if their product suddenly can't sell. But more importantly, when discussing with senior people in the same field, I can learn different perspectives. That's both valuable and enjoyable."

Hearing Dahlia's words as a matter of course, Gabriella sighed quietly.

From what Gabriela heard, Dalia's father Carlo must be worried that his daughter would be hated by others or perform too well in the industry, so he wanted her to cooperate with the other party.

If both parties can increase their profits, the other party will not attack Dahlia.

Once successful, the other party might even voluntarily become her ally.

Gabriela wanted to suggest that she prioritize the interests of the Chamber of Commerce, but seeing how happy she was, she decided to let her continue to follow Carlo's approach.

There was a pause in the conversation when there was a knock on the door. Gabriela let the other person in, and then the clerk came in.

"Excuse me, President Ireneo of the Orlando Chamber of Commerce would like my guild to contact President Rossetti on my behalf..."

"Dalia, he probably wants to apologize to you. Would you like to meet him?"

"Mr. Ireneo has nothing to apologize for... but I would like to meet with him and have a talk."

"Then we'll use the soundproof conference room on the second floor. First, please ask Ireneo to come over and serve him some tea."

"learn."

After the clerk left, Gabriela touched up her lipstick.

"I'm sorry, I'm a little worried about you being the new guild leader. Could you please let me sit with you? I might interrupt, though."

"Thank you. I'll trouble you then."

Dalia bowed her head in thanks, drank the iced tea in the cup, and stood up.

◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆

"On behalf of the Orlando family, I would like to apologize to you for the inconvenience my brother and mother have caused you."

Seeing Ireneo lowering his head deeply across the conference table, Dalia was stunned.

"Mr. Ireneo, please raise your head!"

It seemed like a lot of people were bowing to her lately, but she wasn't used to it at all.

"You don't need to apologize to me. Mr. Tobias and I are done."

"Thank you for saying that."