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

"It would be great if we had a large magic furnace and a large refrigerator. But it seems that only the magic tool makers and mages in the royal city can make them."

"Would the magic tool makers in the royal city make something like this? I've heard that the magic tools they make are mostly for academic research, but I don't know what they're specifically doing."

"Magical tools focused on academic research" sounds extremely attractive.

Was he developing a fantasy-like invisibility ring, a flying carpet, a magic teleportation circle, or a portable storage space? Or was he researching a headless horseman or a cursed sword? Or perhaps he was aiming for something far more ambitious, like creating a flying continent or generating the Philosopher's Stone? She desperately wanted to know.

"Can Dahlia make large magical tools?"

"No, it's difficult for me. If the production process involves endowment, a large amount of magic power is required. Also, if the magic tool is too large to be moved, you have to stay in one place for a long time to complete it, which requires a considerable amount of concentration."

"You have great concentration."

"It's just average, and I don't have the confidence to stay focused in the royal city..."

She had been to the Royal City twice, and both times she had been terribly nervous. For many reasons, she preferred to avoid going into the city whenever possible.

"You'll get used to it after going there a few times."

“I just can’t go there more often.”

Wolfe said with a smile. As someone who lived and worked there, his feelings about the Royal City were vastly different from his own as a commoner.

Dahlia decided to change the subject.

"The smoked bacon I ate during the official delivery was delicious. Where can I buy it?"

"It's Big Pig bacon from the Donggandao pig farm. The assistant manager of the Black Pot restaurant we visited before told me about it. The team has also decided to purchase it."

She remembered the harborside restaurant "Black Pot" they had been to, and suddenly realized.

The people at that store must know exactly where to buy delicious ingredients.

Their deputy store manager was once a member of the Monster Suppression Corps, so he should take shelf life into consideration when recommending meat.

"Great! This way we can eat delicious meat during our expeditions."

"Yes, everyone will be delighted. After the official delivery, Captain Gulart brought the expedition oven to the waiting room and grilled it for everyone right there... Many people came just to enjoy the aroma."

There's nothing you can do about it. Bacon smells so good, of course everyone will gather.

But Dalia was a little worried whether the smoked bacon would be enough for them.

"So everyone is taking today's giant boar hunting training very seriously."

"Is it because domestic pigs and wild boars look alike?"

"That's right. There are many big wild boars in the mountains to the east, but there is only one male leader in the whole herd, and the younger boars are driven out. Sometimes those boars will break into the pig farms."

"Are you trying to take over the territory?"

"Due to the ease of management and excellent meat quality, ranches are mostly populated by sows. Therefore, for young boars, ranches are an attractive dating venue. While the ranches have their own guards, boars often intrude from summer to autumn, and we are sometimes called in for assistance."

"So you're looking for a wife."

With smoked bacon at the heart of the action, it's no wonder everyone's working so hard in training.

But Dalia felt a little sympathy for the wild boars.

The same goes for those big pigs, they might have been able to have an interracial love affair.

"Looking for a wife isn't quite accurate... Wild boars are polygamous, and a single boar can take away over twenty sows. If too many wild boars wander in, the ranch will have to close."

Taking back what I said before, in this case, of course we have to drive away the wild boar seriously.

In order to obtain food for the expedition and to protect the smoked bacon, the crusade was necessary.

"And the business owners say that smoked bacon made from wild boar has a gamey flavor, which is a whole other level of flavor."

"Big Boar Smoked Bacon..."

"We'll take it to the ranch right after we defeat it. They'll even process it for us cheaply. I'll try my best to defeat the boar without leaving any scars!"

Although Wolfe was smiling, his eyes looked more like a predator than a knight.

No, maybe every team member who heard about this had the same look on their face.

"...Keep training."

Dalia silently prayed that the wild boar had a safe journey.

"Regarding what Mr. Dominic said today, would you like to obtain the title of baron?"

Wolfe squeezed lime juice into the sparkling water and suddenly looked up and asked.

"I'm quite interested in this, though it might seem a bit presumptuous...Is Wolfe just that close to achieving it?"

"It will be available in a few years. If you ask your family strongly for a recommendation, you should be able to get one now. However..."

"Do you find it troublesome?"

"Besides being troublesome, I also feel embarrassed to get the title before my seniors. After all, my contribution to the army is not that great."

"You are Red Armor, which is already a great contribution."

"Although the position of Red Armor is prominent, I personally only fight on the front lines and have never been seriously injured. Shield soldiers like Randolph are more likely to be seriously injured, and the team members responsible for supply are also in danger. If seniors preparing to retire can obtain the title of baron, they can receive a higher pension..."

You were in danger too, weren't you? You were even captured by a dragon, weren't you? — Dahlia wanted to say this, but couldn't bring herself to say it.

"And I can't tell if becoming a baron will make people around me more talkative or quieter."

I wonder if the number of blind date invitations and suitors from the nobles will decrease or increase after Wolf becomes a baron.

He thinks love is troublesome and has no interest in it, and probably doesn't want such opportunities to become more frequent.

"Then wait until you feel like it and then actively strive for it."

"Indeed. By the way, why don't I just wait until you're made a baron and then take the title together?"

"...We have different karmas, so there's no need to force it."

Dahlia almost told him, "It doesn't matter if you don't get the title."

To earn the title of nobility, he needed to serve as a Red Armor for ten years. He didn't know how many years he had left. Would he be injured? Was he in danger? Even if he survived, would he return to the Green Tower? Asking such questions would only annoy Wolf.

She swallowed back everything she wanted to say, forced a smile, and drank a sip of sparkling water.

The lime sparkling water tonight was very bitter.

"After you obtain the title, will you move to Noble Street?"

Wolfe's sudden question surprised her.

The title of Baron is limited to one generation. Even if one accepts a magic tool master as an apprentice, he cannot allow the other party to inherit the title.

Although she had the right to move to Noble Street after becoming a baron, she had the Green Tower, so she never thought about it.

"No, my father remained in the Green Tower even after he became a baron. If I ever achieve barony, I intend to stay here too."

"Great! Now that you've become a baron, can I still bother you here?"

Seeing Wolfer's reassuring smile, she felt relieved for some reason.

Dahlia stopped forcing a smile and answered with a genuine smile:

"Of course, I'll be waiting for you here."

Volume 4 Interlude: The Commercial Guild President and the Aristocratic Style

When Ivano was sorting out documents, he was suddenly called by the guild master, Viscount Jedda.

He would soon officially leave the Merchant Guild. He wondered if the Guild Master had called him over to say hello, or if it was because of a connection with a certain noble. Ivano donned a dark blue coat and headed for the Guild Master's office.

"Excuse me."

"You're here, Ivano. How many hours do you have available today?"

The person who spoke to him was Gabriela, who was sitting on the black leather sofa.

Viscount Jedda sat at a desk at the back of the room, with a male attendant standing beside him.

"You can set aside time in the morning. I'm going to visit the president of the Zora Chamber of Commerce this afternoon."

"I see. So, do you have anything to ask us?"

It seemed that Gabriela already knew about his meeting with Fortu yesterday. At her urging, Ivano sat on the sofa opposite, his hands clasped.

"If it's convenient, I'd like to ask Master Fortunato Luini of the Clothing Guild."

"I'm currently in charge of brokering the sparkling bottles used by the nobility. How about using that to offset the cost of this information?"

"Okay, thank you for your help."

"How much do you know now?"

"Last year, the previous guild master suddenly fell ill and retired, and Lord Fortu became guild master. He graduated from the Knights' Division of a prestigious academy, and after graduating, for unknown reasons, he joined the Clothing Guild, where he became very popular among the noble women. Although he was the second son, he inherited the position of head of the family. His wife is a beautiful woman from an earl's family with a somewhat strong personality. They have one son and one daughter. This is all the information I have gathered."

"Not bad. Let me give you some more information."

Gabriela closed her eyes and looked at Ivano.

"The Luini family has been knights for generations. Due to financial difficulties, Lord Fortunato offered himself to the Costume Guild. After joining, he began serving noblewomen, becoming not only active in the workplace but also a popular figure at dinner parties. Six years ago, he married the earl's daughter and became vice-guildmaster. He maintains close ties with noblewomen and still personally visits married high-ranking noblewomen to recommend dresses to them."

"Mr. Fortunato's elder brother and two younger brothers serve in the Royal City Knights. All three are skilled swordsmen, but not at political maneuvering. The eldest brother voluntarily gave up the position of head of the family to Fortunato, declaring his lifelong commitment to knighthood. The two younger brothers married into the families of a viscount and a clothing merchant, respectively."

It seems that Fortu's career is flourishing and he has no weaknesses in any aspect. His family is also fine.

Now Ivano completely understood that if he wanted to do business in clothing, it would be best not to make an enemy of Fortu.

"I have another question. How much is this ring worth?"

He took out the silver ring wrapped in a handkerchief which Fortu had given him the night before.

"Where did the ring come from?"

Jada asked in a deep voice from behind her desk.

"Lord Fortu gave me this ring when we were drinking yesterday. It's said to protect against poison, confusion, and charm."

"Identify it."

"Excuse me."

The attendant took the ring from Ivano and examined it through his blue-lensed monocle.

"...It does have three effects. But they are only moderate, and cannot be completely blocked."

"How much would it cost at the magic equipment store?"

"About five gold coins."

Ivano was stunned by the price. He didn't expect it to be so expensive.

Five gold coins was more than his monthly salary. Since he had no personal connection with Fortu, it seemed inappropriate for him to accept it easily.

"Shouldn't I accept this ring?"

"He must have had his reasons for giving you this. Was he trying to recruit you, or to get inside information about the Roseti Chamber of Commerce?"

"I drank the medicinal wine Lord Fortu offered me and said something about Lady Dahlia. But Lady Dahlia has done nothing wrong, and I'm a very upright person, so I didn't say anything I shouldn't have."

"Medicinal wine...?"

"Yes, the kind that makes you talk too much. I couldn't control my mouth and couldn't help biting my lip, and Lord Fortu saw that and gave me a bottle of recovery potion. Although I had to pay for a handkerchief, I received this ring afterwards, so I guess it was a good deal."

Last night he accepted Fortu's invitation and went on his own without telling anyone.

Even though Gabriela might scold him for being so careless, he still made a point of speaking in a cheerful tone.

“…I see.”

Gabriella's eyes narrowed into a smile, her red lips curled upward, and her hands clasped tightly on the table.

By the time he realized something was wrong, it was too late.

"Master Fortunato, the head of the Clothing Guild, not only allowed you to call him 'Fortu', but he was also so kind as to teach you the 'noble ways'."

"Ka..."

The sound got stuck in his throat and he couldn't shout out. He was so frightened that a chill ran down his spine.

Gabriela's expression and actions meant that she was really angry.

I'm afraid no one can calm her down except her husband, Viscount Jedda.

Ivano looked at Viscount Jedda for help and found that he had the same smile on his face.

He was completely helpless now. He really hoped someone would come and save him.