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

The reason why monster subjugation is difficult is precisely because it involves these uncertainties.

"I heard that the purple bicorn had extremely high magical defense. Oswald should be able to see the effect of endowing it with it. Didn't you say you wanted the bicorn's horn? The horn has been sent to the Adventurer's Guild, and they're processing it into raw materials."

"Wolver, you've already bought it, haven't you?"

He said it easily, but Bicorns rarely appeared on the market, and they were mutants, so they must be very expensive.

Dahlia stared at him straight at him, and Wolfe snapped and crushed the ice cubes that had shrunk in the cup. Dahlia was stunned by the sudden action, and she saw him swallow the ice cubes that he had bitten.

"When we talked about the materials you wanted before, you said that if I bought them, you wouldn't let me enter the Green Tower. But I captured this Bicorn... Can you make an exception?"

It must have been after Wolf returned from defeating Big Frog. Dahlia listed the materials she wanted, including the Bicorn horn. But she was worried he would spend the money to buy them, so she warned him that if he did, he wouldn't be allowed into the Green Tower.

I didn't expect that he actually remembered everything and brought it up at this time.

"Uh... I won't kick you out of the Green Tower. Please tell me how much it will cost."

"The captain specifically asked me to buy it at wholesale price as a reward for this expedition."

"So how much is it?"

"...Eleven gold coins."

"I'll pay."

Dahlia thought that fortunately her savings were enough to pay for it, but she saw Wolff clasping his fingers together, adjusting his sitting position on the sofa, and looking at her seriously.

"Could you accept this bicorn as research material?"

"Research materials?"

"Yes, the Bicorn might be useful in a magic sword. We can use it as research material for both of us. If there are parts that can be used in magical tools, feel free to use them. If you make a profit, use it to pay for Oswald's tuition, or as a fee for your skills."

"Isn't this a loss for you?"

"No, as long as I can be used as material for the magic sword, I'll be satisfied. Furthermore, making a magic sword requires a certain amount of knowledge, and I hope to contribute to paying the tuition to 'Teacher Oswald'. Although I don't understand much, he seems to be a good teacher for you."

The title "Teacher Oswald" sounds strangely appropriate.

The mutant bicorn is indeed fascinating material. Oswald would have known the effects of this material.

As long as it could be used in the magic sword, it would be fine. If the magic tools were made into a profit, she could secretly use it to buy the materials for the magic sword. Dahlia planned to repay this favor bit by bit elsewhere. She also had enough funds on hand to pay it back in full if necessary.

The point is that Wolff had an expression on his face today that showed he would never give in.

“…Okay, I won’t be so polite this time.”

Seeing Dahlia lower her head, he breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.

"I hope Wolf can find a good teacher who can teach you swordsmanship."

"Well, I'll ask the seniors again."

Unfortunately, Dahlia knows nothing about swords and martial arts.

Speaking of which, there probably isn't anyone among the common people who is capable of teaching Wolff of the Knights.

"However, you had already created a convenient magical tool before you found your teacher. It seems you are already capable of working on your own."

"Until recently, I was able to make magical tools as I please..."

Dahlia added new ice cubes to the empty glass and slowly poured in the cloudy white wine. The ice cubes swirled in the glass, hitting the glass wall with a crisp sound.

"Didn't your father allow you to develop freely like this before?"

"My father and, uh, ex-fiancé always warned me not to do anything dangerous. I do act without thinking sometimes... They probably wanted me to be more careful before I got into danger. Maybe it was to protect me."

"It's understandable that I would want to stop you if I saw you were in danger."

"Anyway, now that I'm free from this constraint, I feel much freer."

I can create the magical tools that come to my mind one after another, and I have succeeded and failed.

Although she had caused some trouble for Wolf and the others around her, she had also created magical tools that benefited many people. This made her feel both amused and extremely happy.

"No matter what I do, you never stop me and are always willing to stay by my side. I never thought it would be so easy to not be rejected."

"I still want you to avoid danger, but I don't want to deny what you've done. You're a magic tool master, after all."

These words made Dalia feel deeply relieved, and at the same time a wish emerged in her heart.

When crafting magical tools, she often thinks of her past life. Judgments based on past life memories aren't always correct.

"I'm happy to be able to freely create magical tools now, but I could accidentally create something that harms or harms people... I want to avoid that."

"You can't make that kind of magical tool."

"I hope so. If I attempt to create a magical tool I shouldn't, can you stop me?"

"Okay, I'll tell you when the time comes. On the other hand, if there's something you should do or something I want you to do, I'll encourage you."

If Wolfer found out, he would tell her and stop her.

However, if it was the Demon Sword, he might ignore some problems and give his full support.

"As for the magic sword, I will also try not to create works that create hostility."

"You didn't have the heart to say 'no'. That's really typical of you..."

"You didn't do it with me..."

Wolfe worked with her to create the "Demon King's Dagger" and the "Crawling Demon Sword." Even though he made them himself, he couldn't claim they were completely safe.

I must learn from Oswald in the future and make sure it is safe before starting production.

However, there is no precedent for artificial magic swords, and there is no information to refer to.

Making an artificial magic sword is a risky endeavor and cannot be guaranteed to be absolutely safe.

"I will try my best not to create magical tools or swords that harm humanity. I don't want to be labeled a witch and expelled from the country."

Hearing what Dalia said, Wolf, holding the swallowing cup, responded with a smile.

"Don't worry, if you ever become an expelled witch, then I will be the Demon King."

Volume 4: Cloudy Sky Expedition

"It feels like it's going to rain soon..."

The sun was about to set, but the sky was already thick with dark clouds. The air was heavy, humid, and very hot.

The monster-suppression team finished their expedition and finally had a chance to rest on the main road in the evening.

The area they'd decided to camp was narrow, with a slight slope. But having a tent for everyone was a good thing. Fatigue should have made anyone forget the discomfort of lying down.

They pitched their tents closely together while keeping watch on the surroundings. While the expedition was small, they still needed to leave room for the horses to rest. It was admittedly a bit crowded.

Maybe tonight I'll hear snoring from the tent next door.

Wolf and the others finally made it into the tent, took off their armor, and then tore off their sweat-soaked shirts and changed into clean clothes. They could finally catch their breath, but the comfort was short-lived.

It gets cold and damp when it rains, and then it gets hot and stuffy when it stops. You'll sweat a lot, and your clothes will stick to you. At home or in the barracks, you can shower before changing, but on an expedition, you just have to endure it.

"Dolino, you're bleeding from the back of your left arm. The wound isn't deep, but it's quite long."

"Wow, I thought it was sweat... Now that I think about it, it does hurt a bit."

Dolino, who was about to change clothes, frowned when he heard Randolph's reminder.

Today's target is the Fang Deer, a group that roams the forests along the main road. They're said to be a recent migration.

The tusk deer—at first glance, it's just a cute brown fawn, but it possesses a fortified body, making it agile and capable of powerful kicks. It also possesses ferocious fangs, and its bite is likely to cause festering.

What's most annoying is their brutality. Several tusk deer will band together to fight, and upon victory, they'll trample their defeated foe to pieces. This is said to demonstrate the strength of the group, but it's far too cruel for the defeated.

"This monster looks like a deer and is very cute, but its personality is terrible. Its hooves are very small, and it hurts like a needle when stepped on. You must not lose to them." Seeing the deputy captain explain this to the recruits with a gloomy look, everyone seemed to know something.

Dolino was not bitten, but may have been bumped during the scuffle.

"If it starts to fester, it'll be terrible. I'll go get the priest."

"No, I'll go by myself. It seems the priests this time aren't used to the long journeys of the expedition and may be even more unable to move than I am."

"Then we'll go get you dinner."

"Okay, please."

Wolff and Randolph walked together to the carriage to get their dinner.

After they took their own portion, the knight who served the meals handed them a few more bags.

"Wolver, excuse me, could you please take it to the vice-captain's tent for me?"

"Yes, but what happened?"

"The heat of the day melted the two boxes of cheese. The ice magic stone seems to have shifted due to the shaking of the carriage. Since it was placed on top of the luggage, it will take some time to clean it up."

Heat, moisture and mold are the biggest enemies of expedition food.

"I'll go back and put some food away and then come help."

"I'm free too."

"What nonsense are you talking about? You guys almost took care of all the tusk deer today. Go get some rest."

The knight of the same period smiled and waved his hand, driving Wolf and others away.

The two men felt a little guilty, but still took the food to the deputy captain's tent.

The wind started to blow outside and the rain began to patter.

"We brought dinner."

"Oh, Wolfe, Randolph, thank you. You both went out of your way to bring it. I'm sorry to say this, but just keep some for the vice-captain and I'll drink. You can keep the rest for yourself."

The elderly knight responded while coughing.

Deputy Captain Griselda has not returned to the tent yet. I heard that she went to check on the condition of the horses.

"Are you okay? I'll go get the priest right away—"

"It's nothing, just a little swollen throat that makes it hard to swallow. Maybe it's just a cold. Drink some wine and go to bed early, and you'll be fine by tomorrow."

The expedition dinner consisted of dry, hard black bread, dried meat, and cheese, which was impossible to swallow with a sore throat. It was too windy today to make hot soup outdoors.

"There's a magician on the team who specializes in fire magic. I'll make some warm food..."

"I appreciate your kindness, but I'm really fine. It's raining now, so it's inconvenient to cook outside, and I can't use fire magic in the tent. Didn't someone use the fire magic stone incorrectly before and almost burned down the tent?"

Individual magic stones can sometimes be affected by the user's magic power. This is especially true with single fire magic stones, where the intensity of the fire is difficult to control. The best approach is to choose the appropriate magic tool for your purpose, but unfortunately, there are weight restrictions on expeditions, so you can't carry as much as you want.

Seeing the senior coughing non-stop, the two asked him if he wanted to go see the priest for treatment, but the senior shook his head and said, "Unlike a wound, a sore throat caused by a cold, even if temporarily cured, will soon return. Let's save our precious healing magic for the return trip."

Although I understood the senior's considerations, I was still worried when I saw that he kept coughing and looked pale. However, even when I insisted that he receive treatment, he still refused to agree.

Back at their own tent, Randolph rummaged through his belongings and walked out with a small bottle of honey. "That should help soothe his cough a bit and give him some nutrition," he said.

After he left, the rain intensified, probably because the wind had picked up.

The rustling of branches grew louder and louder, as if the forest itself were singing.

"I can't stand it. It was so hot during the day, and now it's suddenly so cold."

Dolino passed him and went into the tent.

His newly changed coat was soaked by the rain. He sneezed two or three times and wrapped himself in a blanket.

After a while, Randolph came back and the three of them finally had dinner.

The dried meat was served with hard black bread and salty dry cheese. I chewed it silently, feeling like chewing wax, and then washed it down with a little wine. Although the meal had alleviated my hunger, I felt little satisfaction.

Then he simply washed up and lay down to rest as soon as possible.

They didn't have to stand guard tonight, but they would have to get up early tomorrow to patrol the surrounding areas. They might also have to fight monsters or wild beasts on their way back. They couldn't relax tomorrow.

"The rain is getting stronger..."

Wolff nodded in agreement with Dolino's murmur, and at this moment the outside was suddenly illuminated by a strong light, making it seem as bright as day.

A few seconds after the lightning flashed, a low rumble was heard. Then, the timid neighing of horses joined it. Footsteps could be heard, perhaps some knights going to calm the horses.

"Are the horses okay...would you like to go check on them?"

"We wanted to help earlier, but were turned down. They said Skarlet Armor's work for the day was over and told us to go to bed early."

Chi Kai's mission is to charge into battle and risk their lives, so even their teammates will be more concerned about them.

Their arms were indeed heavy from swinging the fang deer, and their bodies were exhausted from the battle. Perhaps it was only natural that their teammates would ask them to rest more.