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

They sat down at two diagonally opposite corners of the table, where the coffee was steaming.

"Wolf, what do you want to discuss? Ah, just relax and talk. We're all alone here."

"Thank you. Actually, I'm looking for someone who can teach me how to fight and protect people."

"Can I ask you why? Is it because I said something unnecessary earlier?"

When Wolfe went out with Dalia before, Good had secretly arranged guards to follow them.

He later apologized and explained the reason for arranging the escort.

"It's sometimes difficult to protect people and fight at the same time," he said.

The trauma of the carriage attack was probably still lingering in Guid's mind. While that was certainly an explanation, he didn't want his brother to take it too seriously.

"No, that's not the case. My mother's skills are mainly about combat and protection, so I want to learn about that as well. After all, I can't use magic, so I can only strengthen my body."

"Are you planning to quit your job with the Monster Suppression Corps?"

"I'm sorry, brother. I didn't mean to do that."

"You don't need to apologize. While I want you to live as safely as possible, I won't force you to change your will."

Good shook his head slowly, then rested his chin on his fingers.

"But I hope you can avoid being captured by a flying dragon again. That time was really scary for me."

"Regarding that incident, I can only say I'm very sorry... Um, I just recently learned that my family had sent someone to look for me. I'm really grateful that you went out of your way to do that."

He had only recently learned that the Scafarot family had sent many people to look for him.

Before this, he had never even considered that the Scafalots might be looking for him, because he had always thought that he was a completely ignored person.

"I'll tell my father. But this is what the family should do. Wolf, just be sure to come back on your own. Don't worry about it."

“No, I didn’t come back on my own. It was Dahlia who saved me in the western forest.”

"Ah, so that's how it is—I heard there's a merchant willing to give you a ride in his carriage. So it's the president of the Rosetti Merchants Guild."

After nodding vigorously, Good poured a lot of milk into the coffee.

Wolff hesitated, but decided to continue.

Considering that he might encounter some "what ifs", he wanted to ask Guid for help.

"After I shot down the dragon, I ran through the forest for about two days before collapsing on the side of the road. There, Dahlia gave me a healing potion. Since I was covered in blood, she took me to the river to clean myself. She also gave me food and sent me to the gates of the royal capital in a carriage. The monster's blood obscured my vision, so honestly, I wouldn't have been able to return without her help."

"I see. It seems the surname 'Scafarot' is somewhat useful after all."

"No... I didn't give my last name. I just said I was the youngest son of a low-ranking noble."

"So you introduced yourself as a member of the Monster Suppression Force?"

Guid asked back seriously.

The decorative sugar cube he was about to put in his coffee plopped in.

"Yes. However, my face and body were covered in blood, so horrible that I was almost unrecognizable. My armor was so damaged that it was almost unrecognizable... I'm surprised Dahlia actually believed I was a member of the monster subjugation team. It wouldn't be surprising if she thought I was a down-and-out thief."

"How many guards are there on the carriage of Guild President Rossetti?"

"No, she was alone. Because it's dangerous for women to travel alone, she dressed as a man."

"Alone? I'm not sure about the 'normal' of civilians, but is it possible that a woman driving a carriage alone on the street would be able to help a strange man covered in blood to this extent?"

Guid lowered his gaze slightly. He didn't seem to be asking Wolff about this.

"It's basically impossible. Even if they claim to be a noble or a member of the Knights, it's meaningless if they can't prove their identity. At most, they'll just leave some water and food nearby and notify the guards in the capital. At least, I don't think it's likely that they'll let him ride in the carriage..."

The attendant standing behind him whispered to Guid.

At that time, Wolf was covered in blood, his vision was blurred, and he could faint from hunger and thirst at any time.

If he was just left on the roadside, he might have become food for monsters or wild beasts before anyone arrived to look for him.

"Well, let's just call it Wolf's luck. Then you should have asked for Miss Rossetti's address and gone to thank her, right?"

"No, Dahlia didn't tell me. She said that since I was accepting help as a member of the Monster Suppression Force, there was no need to express gratitude. She was also worried that I might catch a cold, so she helped me put on her dragon coat and then went straight back."

"...Is this why you trust her?"

"There are other reasons."

Wolfe put on the fairy crystal glasses on the spot.

These glasses not only turned his golden eyes green, but also changed the impression of his facial features. Good and the attendants behind him gasped in surprise.

"These are the glasses Dahlia made for me using fairy crystals. With them, I can move freely in the capital. Furthermore, she also made many magical tools for me. She also helped the monster-suppression forces with items like tarpaulins and small magic furnaces."

Wolff took off his glasses and gently put them back into the case. His brother watched him in silence.

"I owe her a huge favor."

Wolf could only say this to Good, but for him, Dalia's kindness was constantly accumulating.

Dahlia had saved him in the forest, convinced him to openly share his past, crafted fairy crystal glasses and a Sirius bracelet for him, helped him craft a magic sword, and improved the conditions for his monster-slaying expedition. Most importantly, she had become his friend.

If these were not considered great favors, Wolff didn't know how else to describe them.

"...If Miss Dahlia Rossetti is your benefactor, Wolfe, then she is also our family's benefactor."

Hearing his brother say this in a slightly lowered voice, Wolf couldn't help but frown.

He was worried that Goode would suddenly say he would provide financial aid to the Roseti Chamber of Commerce, so he quickly spoke faster.

"Brother, I'm glad you're willing to think so, but just watching over us silently is enough. The Roseti Chamber of Commerce is currently doing quite well. If I need any help, I will definitely consult you."

"I understand. Unless there are special circumstances, I won't interfere. However, if the Roseti Chamber of Commerce or you are in trouble, please let me know."

"thank you."

Although Wolfe had only just resumed such a close conversation with Guid, he had already understood something.

My brother is very overprotective of himself and he often takes action faster than expected.

Wolff is grateful for this, but sometimes feels a little embarrassed or flustered by it.

"By the way, you didn't ask for her contact information, so how did you manage to find Miss Rossetti?"

"...We met again by chance on the street."

"I see. This is a story worthy of an opera."

"It's not as exaggerated as you say..."

Seeing Guid's curious expression, Wolf couldn't help but look away.

That day, he walked on the road while strengthening his body and concentrating on looking for Dalia.

Although he couldn't see her face clearly because of the monster's blood, he relied on his vague impression and tried hard to find her even though he knew the hope was slim.

It would be difficult for him to explain that he had just approached her by chance in front of a store and recognized her by her scent. If he wasn't careful, it would not only be embarrassing, but he would become a completely dangerous person.

Wolf took a sip of coffee and tried to change the subject, remembering what he had originally wanted to ask his brother.

It was for this reason that he mentioned his encounter with Dalia to Good.

As long as he was a member of the monster subjugation team, this kind of thing would happen.

"Brother, I have a favor to ask of you regarding the Roseti Chamber of Commerce."

"What's going on?"

"If something like me getting taken away by a flying dragon happens again, please become my guarantor for the Roseti Chamber of Commerce. Just until I return."

"Well, leave it to me. But you have to come back as soon as possible. I have a lot of things to do too."

"I see."

The two brothers smiled at each other with boyish expressions.

Guid's attendants stood behind him with stern faces and serious expressions.

"Then, if you want to learn proper guarding techniques, introducing a highly skilled Royal Guard Knight is the best option. However, Wolf, you want to avoid such an arrangement, right?"

"Yes. The seniors on the team also don't recommend it..."

Good nodded to Wolfe's hesitant response.

"I think so. If you become involved with the Konoe Guards, you might be forcibly promoted to the palace. Once you work in the palace, they might use diplomatic excuses to arrange a marriage with another country. I want to avoid that."

"That shouldn't happen..."

"If a high-ranking VIP from another country 'takes notice' of me, it will be very troublesome."

"Um... could something like this really happen?"

"There will be some. If the king knew, he might stop it, but the higher the rank of the nobles, the more likely they are to act in the interests of the country and the family."

His brother answered casually, with an air of nobility on his face that Wolff couldn't understand. This made him feel distant, and he couldn't help but ask:

"Um—so logically, I should also do this for the Scafarot family?"

"What are you talking about, Wolf?"

As a result, his brother asked him back, as if he was genuinely confused.

"Haven't you always fought for our family's honor in the Monster Suppression Force? You've long shouldered the responsibility of the Red Armor, defeating Cyclops and bringing down flying dragons. Whenever you retire, you can return to our home and do what you like. As long as you bear the name 'Scafarot,' there will be no restrictions or interference."

"……thank you."

Wolff thanked him sincerely, but he still felt a little uneasy.

The surname "Scafalot" represents aristocratic status.

If he left the family and became a commoner, even his brother would find it difficult to continue protecting him.

"Let me think... if it's swordsmanship for fighting people, it will depend on whether you prioritize defense or attack, while guarding skills will depend on whether you want to go the orthodox route or focus solely on protecting people."

"I haven't thought deeply about these details yet. The most important thing right now is... I must become stronger no matter what, so that I can protect others."

Goode thought for a while while drinking his coffee.

Wolff finally picked up his coffee and drank it.

The aroma of the coffee is very pleasant, but the bitterness is a bit strong, and he is still not used to it.

"If you're looking for a skilled protector, I do have a recommendation, but there's something fishy about this person."

"If it's someone that Brother finds it difficult to ask for help, I'll ask someone else."

"No, that's not the case. He's busy, but he's not someone you can't rely on. He has a decent level of skill in authentic swordsmanship, and he's a top-notch fighter in both protection and combat. His top priority is protecting the person and his own survival, and he's never failed."

"Can I ask about that person's fighting style?"

"If someone attacks, he'll probably tangle their sword, chop off their dominant hand, and then their legs. Ah, the reason he doesn't kill them is to find out who their employer is. Otherwise, he'll usually chop off their head with one blow."

Guid gestured lightly beside the neck, describing it as if he had seen it with his own eyes.

Perhaps because the conversation had become somewhat bloody and gruesome, the attendant standing by at the back coughed lightly.

"To put it nicely, it's 'improvisation'; to put it bluntly, it's 'use whatever means necessary'. When he encounters a mage, he'll quickly destroy their throat or eyes. This is to prevent them from chanting spells, or to blur their vision and redirect their attack. He'll throw all kinds of knives and tools, even stones and sand. Basically, anything around him can be used as a weapon."

"I see."

This seems to be a free fighting method that prioritizes protecting the target.

For Wolf, who mainly fights monsters and trains with his teammates, this is something he could never imagine.

"He's a guard among guards, and he's incredibly thoughtful and considerate. It's just that he can be a bit heavy-handed in battle. Also, he's a bit of a worrier and a bit nagging..."

"Lord Guid."

"He interrupts my conversations with my brother like this. That's his problem."

Guid smiled and turned his gaze to his servant.

"I would like to recommend my dear friend Jonas. He is also my attendant and bodyguard."

The man, who had barely met Wolff's gaze until now, glared at him with rusty eyes. They were neither cold nor warm, a hue akin to an inorganic substance. His hair was also rusty, a shade lighter than his eyes, tied back in a bun. He wore a black squire's uniform.

Wolf hadn't paid much attention to it before, but this man's physique was such that it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him a knight.

His slightly brown skin also has an inexplicable exotic charm.

"My name is Jonas Goodwin, the second son of Viscount Goodwin."

Although he often saw him behind his brother, this was the first time Wolff heard his voice clearly.