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

"Seeing these mushrooms reminds me of the slimes in the expedition area. Sometimes they're nearby."

"Both mushrooms and slimes like damp places."

"Come to think of it, I didn't really think about it before when we were at the expedition site, but after seeing the slimes at the farm today, I felt like turning them into powder was a bit pathetic."

"I understand this feeling..."

What Wolfe recalled were probably those little blue slimes. Just looking at them was so cute.

"Dalia, will you find it difficult to use slime powder starting tomorrow?"

"Although I have some feelings, I won't find it difficult to use it, nor will I stop using it. Before I took the magic tool exam, my father often told me, 'A magic tool master handles life as material.' And... I have practical experience."

"Actual combat? Did you personally participate?"

"Yes. To say it was an actual battle might be a bit of an exaggeration. Father caught a few green slimes in the forest, and I beat them with a silver stick... until I broke their cores. It was a very difficult process."

Although those slimes were small, it was not easy to hit their core, and Dahlia fought with them for a while.

She managed to take out about three slimes, but ended up with a lot of blisters on her hands, which were very painful when they were crushed.

"I've dismembered things like green rabbits several times. I even hid and cried after the first dissection."

Carlo, who is usually gentle, was particularly strict on this matter.

Although Dalia was not an adventurer, Carlo still carefully taught her how to dismember the green rabbit, including the location of each part, how to obtain materials and internal organs, etc.

He probably wanted his daughter, who aspired to become a magic tool maker, to understand that monsters are also living things, and to experience firsthand the hardships of collecting and dismembering them.

"Does it remind you of something you don't want to recall?"

"No, these are the necessary steps I took to become a magic tool master. If I stop because I feel pity, I won't be able to complete the work. However, my father told me, 'Don't forget that these materials are a gift from life.'"

"Dalia's father is really strict."

"Actually, I think he's pretty ordinary. He's actually quite tolerant of me."

Carlo had taught Dahlia how to make magical tools since she was a child, and they had gone through countless trials and errors together. He generously provided Dahlia with the books and materials she needed.

This may also be because they are each other's only family. The father and daughter often go out to eat and shop together, and their relationship can be said to be quite close.

Therefore, even though Dahlia had no mother, she never felt lonely.

"Wolver, have you ever felt pity for a monster?"

"...It was definitely a bit difficult when I first participated in an annihilation battle."

Wolfe murmured softly.

"When we first joined the team, we received a mission saying that a goblin settlement had appeared near a village. Our mission was to annihilate them. In other words, to kill them all."

"But subjugation is necessary, isn't it?"

"Yes, goblins reproduce very quickly, and it would be troublesome if they established a settlement nearby. So, it was something that had to be done. But at the time, I was very hesitant about killing those goblin children."

"You were a new member then...Isn't that a normal reaction?"

"Because I was slow, the supporting magician had to use ice magic to attack them. But this didn't kill them... Although I immediately ended their lives with my own hands, if I had been more decisive, they wouldn't have suffered twice."

There was an unconcealable bitterness in Wolff's voice, a hint of unhealed wounds.

"If I decided to kill someone now, I wouldn't hesitate or overthink it. So, I'm pretty cruel."

"No, don't say that. If you look at it that way, I also use a lot of slime and other monster materials. From a monster's perspective, there's really no difference between you and me."

"No, I think we are still very different."

"No, it's probably about the same. To the monsters, we're the 'Demon King who came to subjugate us' and the 'Witch who used our corpses'."

"The witch who exploited our corpses..."

Why did he repeat this one sentence so seriously? Dahlia wanted to comfort him, but she felt trapped.

Dalia continued hurriedly.

"Think about it, the same goes for food. Humans not only eat cows and pigs, they even devour krakens with relish."

"Indeed. Today's chicken and shrimp are delicious too... 'Humans are the most sinful indeed.'"

Hearing Wolfe's words, Dalia couldn't help but smile bitterly.

Indeed, humans may be the only creatures that eat so many different plants and animals, even monsters, and use them after they die.

"By the way, the royal city's guard dog is a night dog?"

Dahlia suddenly remembered something and asked.

"That's right. They're released during night patrols and guard duty. The night dogs in the royal city have been modified and are much larger than those generally kept by civilians."

"Is it difficult to raise a night dog?"

"Well... they're smart, but they eat a lot, and they need somewhere to run."

It seems that night dogs don't need a walk, but rather a dedicated space to run. They do seem to run very fast.

Dahlia began to wonder if she could let the Night Dog run in the tower's courtyard. While running in circles would provide some exercise, the monotonous scenery might bore the Night Dog. Perhaps a larger space would be needed. Just as she was thinking this, Wolfe asked:

"Are you planning on raising a night dog?"

"I'm still considering it. When I was discussing fairy crystals with Mr. Oswald, the topic turned to guard dogs, and he suggested that I raise a large black-haired dog. So I think a night dog might be a good choice."

"...A large black-haired dog."

Wolff's brow furrowed deeply, perhaps thinking of the dangers of the night dogs.

"Even if I can't raise it, Mr. Oswald suggested that I could temporarily borrow a Night Hound while I bestow the Fairy Crystal. Do you think a Night Hound could be rented?"

"Night dogs sometimes guard carriages on the streets, so perhaps you can borrow one from a carriage rental shop."

"I see. Well, maybe we could go take a look first."

Dahlia remembered the shop where she had rented an eight-legged horse carriage before. Perhaps they also provided a night dog rental service.

If Night Dog is obedient, she would really like to try taking it for a walk.

When she recalled the dog she raised in her previous life, she found that Wolf was looking at her with a worried expression.

"Is bestowing a fairy crystal really that dangerous?"

"No, the bestowal itself isn't dangerous, but it's said that sometimes images related to the death of fairies or nightmare-like hallucinations appear."

"Did Dalia also see anything when she made my glasses?"

"No, I didn't see anything particularly scary. I just saw a translucent fairy figure and felt my father's presence. And after that, I drank with you and didn't have any nightmares when I slept."

"The most common hallucination experienced by fairy crystals is seeing the death of a loved one, or the scene of their passing."

This is what Oswald once told Dahlia, but she chose not to tell Wolff.

Dahlia wondered if she were to see her father's death or her friend's departing figure. Just as she tried to suppress these unthinking thoughts, Wolf asked:

"Actually, we don't have to use Night Hound... The Fairy Crystal was given for my glasses, so wouldn't it be better if I were there in person?"

"Ah, that's right. Since it's for your glasses, it would be better if we could make adjustments while we're making them."

"I'll feel more at ease this way..."

"Then we can choose to bestow it earlier in the day, and then design the magic sword together... After using up the magic power during the day, we should be able to fall asleep quickly and avoid nightmares. That night we can relax with some wine. I'll prepare some extra white wine."

"If you tell me the time ahead of time, I can bring some wine."

Wolf still had a smile on his face, but his eyes involuntarily fell on Dahlia's slender wrist.

There she wore a gleaming golden bracelet, the back of which was made of a combination of materials boasting indestructible protective power. The bracelet was made by none other than Oswald, the owner of the magical tool shop "Goddess's Right Eye."

Thinking of the pair of silver eyes that looked at him with amusement, Wolf felt inexplicably uneasy.

Wolf narrowed his eyes slightly and covered his lips with his fingers.

"That old fox, what's the fun in teasing me..."

This whisper, filled with a hint of dissatisfaction, disappeared before it reached Dahlia's ears.

After finishing the meal and cleaning up, Wolfe placed a large black wooden box on the table.

This was brought by Wolff from the carriage. He said it was a gift, but he did not reveal what was inside.

"This is the wine I promised you. I'm not sure if it will taste to your liking, but it's a celebration of what happened a few days ago."

"That's what you promised before you explained it to the Finance Department."

Before demonstrating the expedition furnace in the royal city, Wolfer had said he would find some good wine.

It seems that the wooden box contains that kind of wine.

"This is not only to celebrate the success of the briefing, but also to celebrate the fact that Rosetti Merchants has become the official supplier of the Monster Suppression Force, and that you have been appointed as a consultant. Also, today happens to be around one hundred days since we met, so let's celebrate together."

"One hundred days...it's been that long."

Whether in her past life or this one, Dalia had never experienced such a fulfilling hundred days. From the moment she was jilted until today, looking back, these past hundred days had been nothing short of magnificent. The hundred days she had known Wolff had felt strangely short and yet so long.

"This wine is produced in our territory. Because the production is small and it doesn't keep well, it can't be sold as a commodity. I asked my brother if he had any good sweet wine, and he gave it to me."

Wolfe gently opened the lid of the black box, and a sweet floral scent wafted out.

"This wine is called 'Skarlat Alba'."

Inside the box, a plant lay on a black cloth. The flower looked like sage magnified dozens of times, a brilliant, pure white. The leaves and stems were also pure white, making it look more like a sculpture than a flower.

"This is the first time I've seen this. Which part of it is alcohol?"

"Here, take it off from here."

Wolff ripped off what looked like a sage flower. There was a loud snapping sound.

It seemed to require considerable strength. Dahlia thought she might not be able to remove it like this.

"Then, squeeze out the honey, which is wine."

Wolff rolled the flowers up and twisted them into a cup, squeezing out a clear, slightly viscous liquid—about a few tablespoons per flower.

When Wolff had plucked four flowers, the floral scent that permeated the room was replaced by the strong aroma of wine. It was indeed wine.

"The fragrance of this flower attracts small animals, but the black rats that guard it will attack and eat them. Larger animals, intoxicated by the alcohol in the flower, will be eaten. In the end, only bones are left—hence the flower's symbol of 'coexistence and shared prosperity.'"

It seems the Scarlat Alba flower has a reliable guardian. However, if you imagine this scene as a picture, this wine is unexpectedly creepy.

"I heard this wine is used to pray for smooth interpersonal relationships and prosperous business. However, for merchants, there's also a saying that means 'stripping your customers to the bone,' which is a bit scary."

"Wow……"

"The name of this wine, 'Skarlat', comes from the 'skull' formed by the pile of bones left behind, and 'Alba' comes from the 'black rat' that guards the flowers... totally unromantic names."

"How do you collect this kind of flower?"

"I heard that our family has been cultivating this flower by division for a long time. Although we don't have black rats, we have a special greenhouse to protect it."

"I see."

Scarlat Alba, without the black rat, seemed to be carefully guarded and nurtured in a greenhouse.

However, this kind of existence that is both a flower and a wine is indeed very rare.

"This wine is quite strong, so be careful."

"OK."

The mead was poured into a small glass, and the aroma of alcohol and sweet floral fragrance emanated simultaneously. After the two of them clinked their glasses gently, they began to sip it.

"This wine is incredibly sweet and delicious, and the aroma is captivating...it reminds me of orange blossom."

"It's delicious, but I didn't expect it to be so sweet..."

Wolf narrowed his eyes and looked at the wine in the glass, seeming a little embarrassed.

The wine tastes like a mixture of sweet honey and spirits in equal parts. While sweet and rich, it can be thirsty. For Wolff, who prefers dry wines, the sweetness might be too strong.

"If it's too sweet, how about adding some sparkling water?"

"Thank you so much. Are you okay with that?"

"I think it's a good drink, but it makes you thirsty, so it's best to prepare some water."

"I heard this wine will turn sour after a day, so we can only drink it today. Do you want to pick all the flowers?"

"Thank you so much. If there's any left, I'll freeze it."

It shouldn't become sour after freezing, but it may lose some of its floral flavor, so it's best to drink it tonight.