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

"Since you wanted to talk about adventurers, I've prepared pheasant steak and wild boar stewed in red wine. We'll also have red wheat bread, goat cheese, wild grass salad, and herb soup."

"It might be a bit rude to say I miss you, but these dishes really do remind me of my adventurer days. They look delicious."

John answered with a smile, but a bitter feeling welled up in his heart when he thought of Elle's novice training at that time.

At that time, the pheasants were quite difficult to eat because the newcomers did not pluck the feathers thoroughly enough.

The big wild boar was roasted until it was charred and half-cooked the first time. Then a foolish person thought it could be eaten after it was cooked, so he poured a whole bottle of red wine directly into the pot. As a result, the taste became fishy and strange.

"Then I'll take my leave. Slip away before I'm forced to drink scorpion wine."

"Understood. May we all have a pleasant evening."

"Yes. Mr. Tasso, please enjoy."

"Thanks."

After Amelinda changed the address from "Instructor" back to "Tasso", she left the room with the maids.

"It seems they're having some kind of 'girls' gathering' today. They bought a lot of sweets during the day, even though I just heard the day before yesterday that they were worried about their weight."

"Well...it's better not to ask about this topic."

John couldn't help laughing, but then he thought of his wife.

However, such worries seem to be no longer necessary.

"Yeah, I decided not to point that out. After all, linking weight to sweets is a dangerous topic for women."

The two smiled at each other, then raised their black ale in a toast.

At Oswald's suggestion, John began to dine and found that every dish was superb.

The pheasant steak had no fishy smell at all and was more flavorful than chicken. The skin was roasted to a crispy texture, and the fat was perfectly extracted, so it didn't feel greasy.

The first sip of this wild boar stew in red wine reveals the finest red wine used. The fat melts sweetly on the tongue, and the meat is tender. The aroma and flavor are so wonderful that you might even want to stop eating it right away.

Paired with black ale, John drank one glass after another unconsciously.

Oswald placed several bottles of wine within John's reach. This was an unusual way for a noble to drink, but John was very grateful for the thoughtfulness.

As the alcohol got stronger, the two finally started talking about their experiences as adventurers and monsters.

"Since we're talking about adventurers, Mr. Oswald, what kind of monster are you particularly interested in?"

"Yes, I've always wanted to learn more about how to defeat the Kraken used as material. What are the actual procedures?"

"A Kraken. Not only is it enormous, but it also makes it difficult to find a foothold during combat... We usually deploy ships carrying mages. They use ice magic to create a temporary foothold on the sea surface, and sometimes we even run on it wearing shoes with iron claws."

"I see. So, what weapons do you use?"

"It's a greatsword I borrowed from the captain of the ship. It's a little shorter than I am, but because it's a magic sword, it can unleash a very long wind blade. We used it to cut through the Kraken."

"That's amazing. Can a wind blade be as long as this table?"

"It should probably stretch from one end of this room to the other. While the sword itself isn't very heavy, it's quite difficult to wield. I've accidentally damaged parts of the boat several times."

In his less skilled days, he had cut off the masts of ships and even chopped a small boat in half, causing it to sink, but he decided to keep silent about these things.

"Will the Magister also participate in the battle against the Kraken?"

"During my time, I rarely saw it. To gather materials, it's best to cut the Kraken into two or four pieces. Subjugation is usually carried out by high-ranking mages of the wind or ice element. Fire magic will damage the materials, and water magic is less effective due to the Kraken's resistance."

"I see. If it gets burnt, we won't be able to process it here."

Although Oswald was a magic tool maker and the head of a trade guild, he listened with rapt interest. The gleam in his eyes showed that this interest was not feigned.

He interjected questions and happily chimed in. Perhaps because it was a rare opportunity to leisurely enjoy fine wine and delicious food, or perhaps because Oswald was a good listener, John spoke a lot without realizing it.

"Sorry, I was the one doing all the talking."

"No, the stories told by those who were once high-ranking adventurers are indeed very interesting. Especially since I have always admired adventurers since I was a child, so I was particularly fascinated by them."

"With Mr. Oswald's abilities, I think becoming a mage and embarking on the path of an adventurer wouldn't be a bad idea, right?"

"No, I don't have the talent to be an adventurer at all. In the middle-distance running race at the elementary school, I often lag behind by a lap."

"The middle-distance race at the elementary school..."

John thought back to his childhood, remembering middle-distance running at junior college. He remembered running two or three laps around the wide playground. Falling behind by a lap was rare. Perhaps Oswald was in poor health at the time.

"Back then I was quite mellow, maybe I could have given that giant boar a run for its money today."

John couldn't help but look closely at Oswald's appearance.

His dark grey hair was combed back, and his narrow silver eyes were framed by silver-rimmed glasses. Although he was past his prime, his regular features were still handsome and attractive.

Furthermore, he had earned the title of baron through his own efforts, ran a large-scale trade association, and was also quite famous as a magical tool maker—this made him extremely popular among women.

Out of jealousy, men often called him "the cunning silver fox" in private.

To be honest, John himself once envied him.

"By the way, we could talk all night, but is your schedule okay? Won't your wife be worried?"

"...Don't worry about that. I live alone now."

John answered hesitantly, earning a silvery look from Oswald.

"Is that so? Ready to start over?"

"You could say that. She's already returned to her parents' home, and they might discuss divorce soon."

"How about we move to the study? They have the finest red, white, and black Scorpion wines there."

In response to Oswald's invitation, John forced a smile and nodded.

The study they moved to was reminiscent of a small library.

The bookshelves were filled with books, black leather folders, and a heavy-looking ebony desk. Next to the desk were two spacious sofas that could comfortably accommodate even a large man like John.

While John sat on one of the sofas and waited, Oswald pulled a few bottles of wine from the shelf.

These wide-mouthed glass bottles are filled with scorpion wine, with red, white and black scorpions at the bottom of the transparent liquid.

"Would you like some ice or water?"

"No, just drink it."

The bottle cap was opened and the wine was poured into a wine glass engraved with exquisite patterns, exuding a unique and strong aroma.

As the glass turned towards John, he saw a delicate scorpion pattern engraved on the surface.

Oswald seemed to really like Scorpion Wine.

They drank together, and the Scorpion Wine was indeed quite potent. The burning heat in his throat and the tangy aroma were something John hadn't experienced in a long time.

Although the appearance might give cause for concern, there is absolutely no fishy smell in the wine.

"Let's have some Scorpion wine. How about we open up and talk under the influence of alcohol? I'm older, so at least I can listen to you."

"If I were to say it, all I'd be left with is complaining..."

"Do you have anyone around you who you can vent these complaints to without any scruples? If you don't have anyone and have to bear it all by yourself, you'll eventually break down."

John couldn't help but smile bitterly as he listened to Oswald's insightful words. This man really knew how to manipulate people's hearts.

However, tonight, perhaps because of the strong liquor, John did feel the urge to talk to someone.

"Well, please listen to my useless complaints. I'm too busy with work to rest, often coming home late at night, and as a result, my wife takes the children back to her parents' home. This has happened a few times before, but it seems there's no way we can get back together this time."

"Is that so? Are there any other questions?"

"Nothing special. It's just work, and I don't think it's causing any inconvenience to their lives..."

"Can I be frank?"

"Yes, please go ahead."

"Maintaining a minimum standard of living is the responsibility of both spouses. Have you ever told your wife, 'I'm unable to stay home for long periods of time because of work, so that you can have a better life?' Do you think she would understand even without saying it, or is there a sense of dependence?"

Oswald pulls no punches and asks stinging questions.

John never said anything like that to his wife.

He always believed that as long as he worked hard, his wife would understand.

His father, a former adventurer, often said, "A man only needs to speak with his back, so just focus on his work." His mother supported his father who was engaged in dangerous work at home and always welcomed him home with a smile.

John grew up in such a family environment and took it for granted.

"My father once said that a man should express himself through his back..."

"The back has no mouth."

Oswald said firmly.

"Even if there is, it would be meaningless if the other party can't understand the meaning of the back. Does your wife understand your habit of not being good at speaking?"

"That's because there's barely any time for a proper conversation... This isn't uncommon for ordinary people who are busy with work. Someone as omnipotent as you, Mr. Oswald, probably can't imagine being abandoned by my wife, like me."

John felt somewhat dissatisfied at being accused so bluntly and could not help but retort.

His tone also became impolite, perhaps because he was drunk and could no longer conceal it.

However, Oswald did not get angry. He closed his eyes and drank the scorpion wine in the cup in one breath.

He exhaled only a breath that smelled strongly of alcohol before returning his silver gaze to John.

“…I’ve been abandoned before.”

"What?"

"A long time ago, my first wife—my ex-wife—ran away with my apprentice and then-assistant manager. They took all the property from our home and the shop... well, I even considered ending my own life."

"Mr. Oswald?"

John could tell from his tone that this was no joke, but he still found it hard to believe that this Oswald had actually experienced such a thing.

"I'm not saying this just to make you laugh. Have you ever wondered why Miss Dahlia introduced you to me?"

"I thought it was to get us to drink scorpion wine together... but it seems that's not the case."

"Yes, this really happened. I was in a very low mood at the time. I felt that rather than let others see me in such a pitiful state, I would rather end my life. Until Miss Dalia's father, Mr. Carlo, came to me."

"Mr. Carlo?"

"Mr. Carlo was my senior at the academy, and he's been taking good care of me ever since. That day, he started taking me to a street vendor to drink from noon, and we got drunk under the blue sky."

"The vendor..."

John couldn't imagine the man in front of him drowning his sorrows in alcohol at a street stall.

"Mr. Carlo didn't preach to me, he just recommended 'find a new woman.' I've been through a lot, but I survived and am still here today."

"Mr. Carlo actually..."

John unconsciously ran a hand over his chin as he thought back to the man with the sandy hair.

He didn't know much about Carlo's wife, but Carlo, who once told Oswald to "find a new woman," himself remained unmarried and had never been heard of any scandals.

Oswald seemed to notice John's confusion and smiled at him.

"Mr. Carlo has always had an irreplaceable 'most beloved young woman' by his side, just like a red flower in summer."

"I see...that's what's going on."

John thought of Carlo and Dalia alternately in his mind, and finally understood deeply.

Carlo wasn't trying to persuade Oswald to find a new love.

He may be gently telling Oswald to build a loving "family" again.

"All in all, compared to me, you're doing pretty well. Your wife has simply returned to her parents' home."

“That’s true, but…”

The subject suddenly returned to himself, and even though Oswald had said it was a trivial matter, John could not refute it.

John thought that if his wife eloped with a subordinate one day, he would probably chase after her immediately and do something impulsive.

"So, Mr. John, are you willing to change yourself in the hope that your wife will come back? Or do you think you can't change and just give up?"

"I do want to change myself, and I really hope she'll come back, but things have gotten so bad that even if I write to her, I'm not sure if she'll come back this time..."

"Write a letter? Why beat around the bush? Wouldn't it be better to just go and talk to her face to face? You should already understand where you went wrong, right?"

"But asking me to go to my wife's parents' house to apologize is going to hurt a man's self-esteem..."