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

It meant to advise people to look down and think before taking action. Dalia didn't like this attitude.

"If I try it before bed, it should be fine, right?"

Only the materials in the workshop heard the challenger's whisper.

Volume 2 ◆ Brothers and Nightmares

Wolf returned to the Scafarot family's villa after a long absence.

He looked out the window of his room and thought the trees in the courtyard seemed taller. This was nominally his home, but a season had passed since he last came back. The servants, seeing him back, hurried in and out.

The Green Tower would be more comfortable than here—just as he thought of this, his temples began to ache slightly, so he pressed them with his fingers.

Yesterday he and Ivano were chatting and accidentally spoke the truth on the topic of "breasts or waists".

Wolfe hadn't expected Dalia to hear him, and his expression softened. She must have been dumbfounded and looked down upon him.

They later took their own carriages home, and he returned to the barracks without being able to apologize to Dahlia.

He wanted to write an apology immediately, but the captain called him over. He reported on the progress of the five-toed socks and dry insoles, and the captain thanked him profusely. Before he could reply, he was taken to the mess hall. The captain treated him to dinner, and by the time he returned to the barracks, it was already late at night.

This morning, Wolff arrived at the villa to meet the person he least wanted to see.

To keep himself on edge, he wore the same black knight uniform as yesterday. Honestly, he was even more nervous now than when he encountered the monster.

It was he who proposed to meet with his father.

Yesterday, when Dahlia was meeting with the small goods workshop manager, Wolf had a chat with the notary Dominic.

Despite not knowing much about business, he received a lot of advice. Dominic specifically mentioned that since he was going to be the guarantor of the Chamber of Commerce, and the Chamber of Commerce had dealings with the Knights, he had to inform his family and report the matter.

Wolff was hesitant about this, and was 70% reluctant.

He had barely spoken to his father. He couldn't imagine how his father would react if he suddenly reported the incident. He didn't even know if his father would agree to meet him.

However, if it could help the Roseti Chamber of Commerce and Dahlia, he was willing to give it a try.

He sent a messenger to find his father, who immediately received a brief reply: "Meet at the villa tomorrow morning at tea time."

Wolff used the time he waited for his father to go into the room where his mother's belongings were kept.

When he moved here from his old residence, he also moved all of his mother's belongings. While the collection was quite modest for a noblewoman, including books, clothes, and ornaments, it still filled a medium-sized room. Several suits of armor and swords were stored in another room.

Wolfe seldom entered this room, but thanks to the servants' diligence, it was kept very clean.

He browsed through the bookcase, found the textbook and notes on noble dialogues, and put them in a black leather bag.

He wanted to give these to Dahlia as soon as possible so that she could read them.

"I trust Mr. Fortunato, and I leave everything to you," she said during the meeting.

This sentence could easily be interpreted as "I recognize you as my knight."

When Wolf heard this, he was stunned and panicked.

He knew that Dalia didn't mean that, but he was worried that Fortunato might misunderstand. He shouldn't have meddled, but to protect his friend, he felt it was best to remind her.

"Master Walfred, Master Goode is here."

"I'll be right there."

As soon as Wolff left the room, he received a report from the servant and thought he had misheard.

The one who came today was not his father Renato, but his brother Guid.

He walked directly to the reception room and met the eldest son of the Scafalot family, Guid.

"Long time no see, Wolffred."

"It's been a while, brother."

Good had bluish silver hair and deep blue eyes, and looked very much like his father. He sat there wearing a navy blue three-piece suit.

Wolff sat across the table from his brother, who was eight years younger than him.

After the maid brought the tea, Guid asked all the servants to leave.

There were only two brothers left in the spacious reception room.

"My father was summoned to the palace early this morning, and he regrets not being able to see you. Excuse me, but may I discuss this with you on his behalf?"

Seeing his brother's awkward expression, Wolf felt a little sympathetic. Perhaps his father hadn't wanted to come in the first place, which was why he had asked him to be his agent.

The last time Wolfe saw Guid was the previous season, and that was just a brief greeting.

"Okay, no problem. I've become a guarantor for a trade association, and that association will be selling its products to the Knights' Monster Suppression Unit. The association may also do business with the Royal City or other organizations in the future, so I'm informing you, brother. Please see here for details."

He was worried that he wouldn't be able to explain it clearly, so he asked Dominic and Ivano to sort it out in advance.

Goode picked up the two parchments and quickly glanced through them.

Finally, as if to confirm all the items, I placed the two sheets of paper side by side on the table.

"It seems you've made a good connection."

"Yes, I feel very fortunate."

He didn't know what his brother meant, so he replied superficially.

"Father said this villa and the people inside are under your control. The Roseti Merchant Guild doesn't have its own building yet, right? If you need to greet nobles or hold meetings, you can come here. It's more convenient than the Merchant Guild. Also, if you need water or ice magic stones, send a messenger to my house and I'll give them to you privately."

"Thanks."

"If you encounter any difficulties, please discuss them with me and I will do my best to help."

"Thank you very much."

Wolff bowed his head and thanked him. They didn't need to talk to the nobles yet, but his brother's willingness to give him the magic stone and discuss matters with him was a great help.

"By the way, Wolffred, you should consider getting married, right? If you're willing, I can find a suitable lady for you..."

"No, I don't have that plan."

"I see, you're old enough to get married..."

My brother hesitated and suddenly brought up this matter.

Wolfe felt strange and met his brother's gaze, finding that his deep blue eyes were staring at him.

"Are you still in contact with Madam Gastoni?"

“Yes, we have a very close relationship.”

He finally understood what his brother was worried about. His lover status was undoubtedly a scandal for the Scafalot family. His brother probably wanted him to stop being the Duchess's lover and settle down quickly.

"I heard... this is the first time you've contacted your father."

"Really? I'm not having any troubles in my life, so there's no need to contact me."

Wolff didn't respond directly, but deliberately showed a puzzled expression.

His father had never paid any attention to him and hardly ever talked to him. What could he expect from his father?

However, his father at least allowed him to live a life without worries about food and clothing, for which he was very grateful.

"Are you planning on leaving the Scafarot household?"

"I do... hope to start my own business someday."

Wolff was a little flustered when he was suddenly asked if he was leaving home.

He used the word "self-reliance" to hide his emotions, but his tone was still positive.

"I'm wondering if this incident is a preparation for you to leave home..."

"No, the Chamber of Commerce has nothing to do with this."

"I see. Is there anything you need or want?"

"Not at the moment. The Knights take good care of me, and my family provides for my needs."

"Have you considered transferring from the Monster Suppression Force to another unit?"

"I haven't considered it."

"Would you like to transfer from the position of 'Red Armor'?"

"There are no plans for that at the moment."

Gouyd's series of questions began to make Wolff a little irritated.

He received congratulatory gifts from his brother when he graduated from the academy and joined the Knights, but he never discussed his future plans with his brother. After all, they weren't close enough to discuss such matters.

It seemed as though Goode was reluctantly playing the role of "older brother," which puzzled Wolff.

"What's wrong with you, brother?"

He raised his gaze from his brother's lips and looked straight into his brother's eyes.

Light and shadow flickered in his blue eyes, which were the same as his father's, and then he closed them and his head drooped.

"I'm sorry. I know you've been avoiding me. I didn't think there was a chance for a proper talk with you, so I've been using that as an excuse to avoid it until now. But I've always wanted to apologize to you."

Good stood up and bowed his head deeply.

"I'm truly sorry. If it weren't for you and Lady Vanessa protecting us that day, my mother and I would have died long ago. I failed to save Lady Vanessa, and you lost your mother. Although apologizing now will not help, please allow me to express my apology."

"...Please hold your head up. You don't have to apologize for this."

The scene that Wolff didn't want to recall came back to his mind as if it happened yesterday.

The glaring midday sun, the greenery beside the main road, the burned carriage, the fallen men, and the mother cut in half on the ground.

And his own bloody hands.

"If I had stood up and fought, Lady Vanessa might not have died... No, as a man and your brother, it is my responsibility to protect Lady Vanessa and you, and to die for you."

"...Please take that back, Onii-chan."

Wolff didn't expect his voice to be so stiff and cold.

His mother was a knight who protected Guyd and his mother with her life.

It was Wolf who failed to protect his mother, not the man his mother was protecting.

"That day, my mother chose to fight."

"But, if I, who know magic, had acted earlier..."

"She fought tooth and nail to protect you, yet you claim she deserves to die. Wouldn't that mean my mother's death, no, the Knight 'Vanessa Scafarot', was in vain? So please take back what you said."

Wolff knew his eyes were filled with hostility, and he knew he shouldn't show it to his brother. Yet he couldn't hide it.

"...I'm sorry, I take that back."

"Thank you. I apologize for my rude remarks."

Guid sat back on the sofa and sighed softly. Wolf turned his eyes away from his brother and looked out the window.

Through the open windows one could see green grass and white flowers in the flower beds.

"It's normal for you to hate me and avoid me."

"I don't hate you, nor am I avoiding you. It's just... I've been living in the villa and the barracks for too long, and I've become a bit distant from my family."

"I'm sorry, I should have apologized earlier and talked this over with you."

"Won't……"

It's all in the past, and Wolff has nothing to say.

The birds chirped cheerfully, almost piercingly. He listened, waiting for his brother's next words.

"When you bravely fought that day, I was so frightened I couldn't move... I couldn't push away my mother, who was hugging me tightly to protect me... When I stepped out of the carriage, I saw a bright red... I still dream of Lady Vanessa and the knights lying on the ground..."

Guid struggled to speak, and Wolf looked at him speechlessly.

The hands clasped on the table were trembling slightly, and the nails dug into the backs of the hands, leaving red marks.

(Illustration 008)

Wolfe does the same thing when he wakes from a nightmare.

"I'm sorry, I'm such a weak brother..."

"No, I have similar dreams..."

The words came out of his mouth.