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

"You can use thick steel wire to make a handle and fold it over the side of the pot. The two pots can be a little different in size. If it's not strong enough, make two handles, one folding over to the left and one to the right."

"Wouldn't it be more space-saving if the handle was detachable?"

"It's better not to. Losing the handle during an expedition would be troublesome."

"It seems like it'll cost a lot of processing fees no matter how I do it..."

"If processing is necessary, it's normal for the cost to be higher."

Magic tool makers, knights, craftsmen, merchants, everyone has different opinions and needs, so after talking for a while, there is no consensus.

"Ms. Dahlia, how much do you plan to sell it for?"

"Three large silver coins."

"How much did it cost in materials and time to make?"

"The material cost is one large silver coin plus one silver coin, and the production time is about two hours."

"It seems we have to raise the price or reduce the material cost. After deducting the material cost and labor costs, the profit should be at least 50%."

"Fifty percent is all it takes..."

"A guild of commerce is different from a workshop. If we don't make a lot of profit, we won't be able to cover development and advertising costs. Mr. Fermo, how will you reduce costs?"

Ivano picked up the stove and asked the question that the merchant was most concerned about.

Fermo thought for a moment and shook his head.

"It's difficult. While it's possible to make the metal plate thinner, the strength will decrease..."

“I think it doesn’t matter if it’s a little more expensive.”

"Is the military budget that high? You're using the public's tax dollars, after all. Since this is a matter of interest, the available funds shouldn't be much, right?"

"No problem, we are willing to buy such a good thing at our own expense."

Wolff touched the expedition stove and said affirmatively with a bright smile.

"This could save our troops. On our expeditions, we eat black bread with dried meat morning and night, and at most a bowl of warm soup with dried vegetables. Lunch and snacks are cheese, nuts, and dried fruit. Sometimes we can have a glass of wine with dinner. This can last from two days to more than a month."

"I don't know...it sounds pretty painful."

"Will the nobles in the army accept this?"

"Maybe I'm used to it. But there are indeed many people who leave the team due to dietary problems or poor physical condition."

"Will this affect the mission? We really can't do this without some changes."

"Yeah, I really hope that can change. And since we don't know which meal will be the 'Last Supper', we should eat well..."

Having said this, Wolff fell silent. The other three also fell silent.

The Last Supper - the last meal before death.

Subduing monsters is a life-or-death job. Perhaps someone's last meal on an expedition was this kind of fare; the black-haired man before him must have witnessed it.

And he himself serves as the vanguard Chikai, who has the highest risk of death.

"...That's not a good way to put it. I was just giving an example."

"No, what you said is also very important... I saw the 'Knight's Funeral' of the troops last year and this year."

"Now that we have mages and priests accompanying us, we don't have as many casualties as before. However, fighting monsters is difficult to predict, and accidents are prone to occur."

Dahlia listened to their conversation but refused to understand it.

She pursed her lips and stared at the other expedition stove on the table.

"...I'd like to ask, can this be used in a tent?"

Fermo changed the subject. Dalia heard his question and quickly explained.

"Yes, but be careful with fire and ensure proper ventilation. The burner is in direct contact with the bottom of the pot, so it can be used outdoors even in a slight breeze."

"I really want to go on an expedition right now, use this furnace, and then come back..."

Perhaps what just happened confused Wolfe's mind, but he started saying some strange things.

You don't have to wait until you go on an expedition to use the stove; you can use it outside now.

"Would you like to try it out in the courtyard? We can use the small magic reactor and the expedition reactor at the same time and compare them."

"Okay, I also want to see how the stove is actually used outdoors. Want to boil some water?"

"No, I'll go cut up some ingredients and try frying them. Please wait a moment."

"If you need to chop the ingredients, I can help."

"Then Mr. Fermo and I will stay here and figure out how to reduce costs."

◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆

After Dalia and Wolf went to the second floor, Ivanor placed the small magic furnace and the expedition furnace together. He didn't understand the structure of the furnace, but he admired Dalia for being able to shrink the furnace so small.

Firmo beside him stared at the stairs leading to the second floor.

"...Mr. Ivano, those two are probably dating, right?"

“They said they were friends.”

Fermo's question was sudden, but Ivano answered immediately. He glanced at Fermo's face, which showed a big question mark.

"friend……?"

"There's a difference in their status after all. One is the younger brother of the future marquis, and the other is a commoner."

"I don't understand the rules of the nobility, but is it really that difficult? Isn't Miss Dahlia the president of the Chamber of Commerce?"

"If it were just a 'keeping' as the rumors say, it would be simple. But if Miss Dahlia, a commoner, wants to walk shoulder to shoulder with Mr. Wolff of the Earl's family, it will definitely be a 'thorny road'. That's what a noble said. So I hope Miss Dahlia can become a baron one day."

"...Will she be happy this way?"

"I don't know. But if she voluntarily crosses the 'Thorn Road', I certainly hope she will be happy."

Fermo's expression was that of a father worried about his daughter. It reminded Ivano of Dalia's father, Carlo. So, he deliberately put on a cheerful voice and asked:

"Mr. Fermo, do you want to build a new workshop? One that's three times, no, five times, bigger than the current one?"

"Every time you bring up a topic, it's so sudden."

"What if there were a large workshop filled with the latest equipment, rare metals, and materials, and a glass workshop next to it? Besides craftsmen, we could also employ mages and magical tool makers. What do you think?"

"I don't have big ambitions. I just want to do what I can. I'm too old to dream."

The man narrowed his deep green eyes and turned sideways to look at Ivano.

Ivano saw that the look was full of doubt and interest, so he chose his words again.

"Asking this way doesn't seem to work, so I'll get straight to the point. Would you like to run a dedicated workshop for the Roseti Chamber of Commerce, or rather, for Miss Dahlia? While it's too early to discuss this, I hope to find a craftsman and workshop I can trust absolutely."

"I see... Miss Dahlia, do you know this?"

"No, this is my own idea."

"That's fine. Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against you. I just feel that Miss Dahlia clearly didn't ask for this, but I, no, we acted on our own, which seems a bit wrong..."

The man's voice ended so quietly that it sounded like a sigh, and Ivano chuckled.

"You're a man, but you don't even have the courage to pursue her? Or are you also 'getting old' in terms of your work?"

"……Hello."

Hearing the provocative words, his deep green eyes lit up as if reflecting flames.

He then closed his eyes without saying a word, his lips curled slightly. When he opened his eyes again, the heat in them was gone.

"...Your tactics are quite clever, but unfortunately I'm not a brat and won't be provoked by such tactics."

"What a shame! Is it true that old ginger is the wisest?"

“I am indeed a bit more senior than you.”

"I'd like to ask for your reference: under what circumstances would you be incited?"

"When my family is in danger, maybe... and maybe when the woman I'm attracted to is in danger."

Fermo smiled triumphantly, and Ivano lowered his head and clasped his hands.

"...I'll think about how to motivate you."

◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆

In the Green Tower kitchen, Dahlia was chopping vegetables and Wolf was chopping meat.

Dahlia suddenly had an idea. She took out some of the juice and sparkling water in the ice bucket and replaced them with white wine and dark ale.

"Dalia, would you like some wine later?"

"It's rare for everyone to get together, so I'm thinking of hosting a Roseti Chamber of Commerce exchange meeting. Oh, I have plenty of cheese at home, so I can make a cheese pot."

"Thank you. I was just trying out the stove, but it's becoming more and more fun."

Seeing Wolf's smile, Dalia also smiled.

Fortunately, the Green Tower’s courtyard is large and its walls are high, so the situation inside cannot be seen from the outside.

Moreover, the two families on the left side of the Green Tower moved to the central area due to work, and their houses are now empty.

Dahlia thought it wouldn't be too noisy in a while, but a little noise would be fine.

"I received the 'Fairy Crystal'. I'll bring it to you next time I come to the Green Tower."

"Thank you. I also got one from another source, so now I have two, so I can safely try making them as spare glasses."

"Thank you. Those glasses give me peace of mind, and I always wear them when I go out."

After Wolfe put on the fairy crystal glasses, Dahlia no longer faced stares when walking with him on the street. The glasses also made people feel at ease when walking with him.

"By the way, I heard... you received a blind date invitation."

"I didn't mean that, so I declined. I was even surprised that someone asked me out on a blind date."

He probably heard it from Gabriela or Ivano. Gabriela said that someone might propose a blind date through the Chamber of Commerce, so she wasn't surprised to be asked this question by Wolf.

But those golden eyes kept staring at her, making her a little nervous.

"If... you meet a very good blind date in the future, would you consider it?"

"No, I want to be free and do what I like like now."

After she answered, she suddenly thought of something.

What did she mean by "good conditions"? The other person's status, financial ability, or family background? Anyway, she wasn't interested in getting married right now.

Being able to do the work you love and live freely is much better than getting married.

Making magic tools and magic swords with Wolf, eating the food she wanted at the restaurants she wanted, chatting and laughing while drinking—if possible, she wanted to maintain this kind of life forever.

But she is not good at describing her feelings.

"If Wolfer meets a good blind date, would he consider it?"

"No, I also think... it's fine like this now."

Wolff gave a dry laugh, not meeting Dahlia's eyes.

◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆

When the four of them came to the yard with food and drinks, the sunlight was still glaring.

Dahlia spread a large piece of waterproof cloth on the grass and nailed nails in the four corners to prevent the cloth from rolling up. Then she placed two small magic furnaces and two expedition furnaces on it.

"I'll use this stove to sear the meat and vegetables, and the other side to cook the cheesecake."

"Cheese pot? Do you want to scoop up the melted cheese and drink it?"

"No, it's eaten with vegetables, sausage, and bread dipped in cheese."

She looked at Wolff, who smiled and nodded, still holding the cheesecake ingredients. It seemed he was ready to cook the cheesecake while he explained.

"Leave that to Wolff. I'll fry the sausages on the bone here."

Bone-in sausages are Marcella's favorite. Dalia is about to fry a specialty from a shop he recommended. This sausage is generously peppered with black pepper, and one is incredibly filling.

"Let's toast once the sausages are done. First, let's discuss what needs to be done with the stove."

Everyone stared at the running furnace and began to think.