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

"When I first joined the Monster Suppression Corps, I was always very self-conscious about my accent and didn't dare to talk to anyone. Even now, I still struggle with speaking."

"So that's it..."

Randolph's mother was from a neighboring country, and he grew up speaking two languages, one in the neighboring country and the other in his own country. I used to think his silence was just a personality trait, but it seems there's more to it than that.

After the doubts were roughly resolved, the men quieted down and their attention naturally focused on Dalia.

"Um, I understand everything that's said above. Is it enough to just say 'I accept Mr. Barti's apology'?"

"Anything is fine. I'm truly sorry! I only later learned that you were Wolf's benefactor..."

"Wolver, have you told them what happened in the forest?"

Hearing Dahlia's question, the two people in front of them nodded vigorously before Wolf could answer.

"Yes, he was always sighing in the restaurant at that time."

"I also heard him repeating that he wanted to find you."

"Stop talking."

Wolfe raised his hand to stop the two of them. He didn't want Dalia to know how weak he had been.

"Um...Wolver, could you come here for a moment?"

"What's wrong?"

Dahlia beside him whispered to him, and he leaned over slightly.

"Irma and her mother were supposed to come for dinner, but her mother is bedridden with a cold. Irma, worried she might catch it, sent word they couldn't come. I'm also trying to figure out what to do with the food I've already prepared...it's just something simple, but would you be willing to stay for dinner?"

"...Honestly, I don't really want them to go up there."

"Oh, that's true... Although you don't mind, it's quite rude to ask the knights of the royal city to eat leftovers..."

"No, that's not what I meant..."

Wolfe looked at his friends across from him. Dolino had a gloomy expression on his face, and Randolph also had a rare look of sadness on his face.

"I'm worried that this will make you uncomfortable, and I don't want to trouble you."

"I was genuinely shocked when I heard that, and honestly, I was troubled until just now, wondering why he would say that. But now he's apologized and explained why, and I'm fine now. And besides, Mr. Barti said that because he was worried about you two."

"Worried about us?"

"He bowed his head and begged me, 'Don't make them cry,' so I realized there might be some misunderstanding."

"President of the Roseti Merchants Guild, I..."

Dolino hesitated to speak in embarrassment and scratched his head.

"Um, anyway, it was my fault. I said that impulsively, and I'm so sorry. It's so embarrassing..."

"Dolino, why do you want to do that?"

"Of course it's because I value you and Mr. Randolph. After all, he wouldn't gain anything by saying that to me."

Dahlia rarely interrupted Wolfe and made this assertion.

Dolino stared at her with his blue eyes wide open.

"This quarrel... no, I don't know if it's appropriate to call it a quarrel—could you please stop here for Miss Dahlia's sake?"

After Randolph finished speaking, Dahlia smiled and nodded, and the expressions of the other two finally relaxed.

Finally, they accepted Dalia's invitation and went to the second floor together.

She, who was walking in front, suddenly stopped before going up the stairs.

"I suddenly remembered what my father said, 'Men can forget about a quarrel by simply apologizing and having a drink.' Is that really true?"

"That does make sense. But what about arguing with a female friend?"

"I can only apologize profusely, or I'll just have to listen to the other person's nagging."

"My father told me to be prepared when arguing with women, 'Be prepared for past arguments if you're not mature enough.' He was drinking with a male friend when I went to the kitchen and said this. Pretty harsh, right?"

"...maturity period."

Randolph muttered one of the words, and Wolfe's mouth twisted.

"I really don't want to be brought up after forgetting everything..."

"That's right..."

The three men looked away.

Everyone was looking into the distance, not knowing where they were looking.

"Just communicate well and avoid quarreling."

Dahlia turned around from the stairs and smiled sweetly, suddenly looking particularly mature.

◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆

"Sorry, the appearance of the dishes...maybe a little childish."

After asking them to take a seat on the second floor, Dalia whispered.

The three men stared intently at the plates on the table.

"So strong! The ham is rolled up like a rose..."

"The cherry radish was also carved into a beautiful flower..."

This was originally a women-only dinner, so she couldn't help but play with carving while making the big salad.

It’s just ham and cherry radish made into flowers, and cucumbers made into leaves, it’s not that elaborate.

"Sausage, is it in the shape of a monster...?"

The problem was the sausages. She'd seen them on sale at the butcher's and bought a ton of them. Then, reminiscing about her past life, she got so excited she'd cut eight legs out of the sausages and had them stand on the plate. They really did look a bit like monsters.

"It's not a monster, it's an octopus... but don't worry too much."

There wasn't enough food on the table, so she planned to cut some more cheese and ham that Wolfe had brought.

"You guys eat first, I'll bring the drinks and food."

"I'll help too."

"Could you please help cut the cheese and ham?"

"Um...is there anything we can do?"

"Dolino, I'll get some more place settings. Can you help me set the table?"

"it is good."

Wolff acted like the master of the house, but not intrusively so.

She went into the kitchen with Wolf and turned on the magic furnace.

"Miss Irma was your childhood friend, wasn't she? Does her mother still live near the Green Tower?"

He asked as he cut the cheese with a serrated knife.

"I've moved to Chuo Ward for my husband's work. I thought we'd finally see each other after so long..."

"I'm sorry for coming here without sending a messenger. It would have been terrible if Miss Irma and the others were here."

"No, this way I don't have to worry about it anymore. Thank you."

As she spoke, she started the kitchen oven. There was already food in it, so it just needed to be heated up slightly.

Then she checked the temperature of the oil pan and took out the prepared ingredients from the refrigerator.

"Is that an orange shrimp?"

"Yes, I heard there was a bumper harvest this season, so the fishmongers even came here to promote their products."

Orange shrimp are a common type of shrimp, slightly larger in size and easier for Dalia to cook.

These shrimp, also known as "commoner shrimp," are cheaper than regular shrimp but have a slightly earthy smell. However, if you change the water several times a day to keep them from eating, cooking them at high temperatures will be fine.

"I'm going to make fried shrimp. This portion probably won't be enough for everyone, so I'll make something else and serve it after the toast."

Fortunately, she bought ten larger shrimps.

Not only was Irma and the others coming today, she also thought Wolfe would be able to eat some next time, so she bought so much. But she better not tell him.

"After you've cut it, could you help me choose the wine? I don't know what other people like."

"I'm sorry, I'll make it up to you next time."

"It's okay, it's not your fault. Um... please stop blaming Mr. Barti. I don't want you to quarrel."

"Okay, let's not quarrel..."

Dahlia couldn't help but look at Wolff, who was speaking more and more quietly, and saw a look of reflection on his face.

It looked like he might want to scold Dolino a few more times, but luckily someone had warned him beforehand not to argue.

"...This soup smells so good."

"Maybe it just smells good. This is a French bisque with orange shrimp. It's not as fancy as the restaurant's, just an 'imitation'."

The name of French soup sounds impressive, but she just uses the shrimp heads and shells left over from fried shrimp to make broth, then chops up the remaining vegetables and adds them to the soup along with tomatoes and an appropriate amount of fresh cream.

The taste might be a little bland for the knights who had been training all day, so she added a little salt and butter. Then she fried the shrimp and served the soup and vegetable dish.

She returned to the living room and placed the dish in front of the frightened Dolino and Randolph, who had been sitting obediently.

"Shall Dalia lead the toast?"

"Let me think... I pray for the safety of the Monster Suppression Team members and their happiness tomorrow. Cheers."

"Pray for happiness. Cheers."

"...Thank you, President Rossetti, for your generosity. Cheers."

Only one person murmured a different prayer, but she decided not to say much.

Dahlia was a little thirsty, so she tasted the sweet red wine first. At this time, people around her began to murmur to themselves.

"It's delicious..."

"Great! I thought it was tomato soup, but it's actually shrimp..."

The dishes seemed to suit Wolfe and Dolino's tastes, and Dahlia was relieved to see them enjoying the meal.

She looked across at the man who remained silent. Randolph remained expressionless, sipping his broth with graceful movements. He seemed to enjoy a genuine French broth quite often. Dahlia silently prayed that the comparison wouldn't be made.

“Is this asparagus?”

"Yes, that's right."

The large plate was filled with asparagus and bacon rolls.

The long asparagus is wrapped in bacon, fried until the outer edges are charred, and then sprinkled with black pepper after being served, so that it still exudes fragrance.

She forked it up and brought it to her mouth. The saltiness of the bacon complemented the grease and the sweetness of the asparagus.

Wolf beside him chewed more, which showed that he liked it too.

Dolino, who was sitting diagonally across from him, was struggling to cut the bacon with a knife.

"Mr. Barti, it's hard to cut with a knife. Just pick it up with a fork and eat it."

"Sorry, my eating manners are a bit ugly..."

"No, this is normal in our family. My father even eats it with his hands."

"Isn't the father of the president of the Rossetti Merchants Guild a baron?"

"Yes, but he is from a commoner family and does not know the rules of etiquette. I am the same."

"I don't have to be polite when I eat here. Thank you so much."

As Wolff spoke, he stabbed the bacon with a fork and began to eat it.

Dolino, visibly relieved, continued to eat.

Randolph ate his food in silence. Wolff urged him to have another drink, but he refused.

"This shrimp feels so high-end..."

"No, just a regular orange shrimp."