Chapter 100 - The Rossetti Company’s Gathering
In the tower's kitchen, Dahlia was cutting vegetables while Volf worked on slicing meat.
On a whim, she decided to swap out the juice and sparkling water in the bucket of ice water with white wine and black ale.
"Dahlia, is this for everyone to drink?"
"Since we’re already here, I thought we could make this a little gathering for the company too. Oh, and we’ve got plenty of cheese, so let’s do cheese fondue as well."
"Thanks. We were only supposed to check the stoves, but this is starting to feel fun."
Volf’s smile was infectious, and Dahlia found herself smiling along with him.
Fortunately, the garden surrounding the tower was fairly spacious, and the high walls ensured privacy.
On top of that, the two houses to the left of the tower had been vacated when their owners moved to the central district for work, leaving them empty.
She didn’t think the gathering would get out of hand, but there wouldn’t be any problems if they made some noise.
"The 'fairy crystal' was delivered to my estate. I’ll bring it the next time I visit."
"Thank you. I’ve received another one from elsewhere, so that makes two now. Shall we make a spare pair of glasses the next time you’re here?"
"I’d appreciate that. Having these really puts my mind at ease. I always wear them when I’m out."
When Volf wore his fairy crystal glasses, the stares from passersby while they walked together in town were no longer as noticeable. It might also be a reassuring item for the people he moved around with.
"By the way... I heard you received a matchmaking proposal?"
"I hadn’t even been thinking about it, so I turned it down. I was surprised it even came to me in the first place."
It was likely Gabriella or Ivano who had told him. Since she had been warned that future proposals might come through the company, she wasn’t surprised when Volf brought it up.
However, being gazed at steadily by his golden eyes left her feeling oddly restless.
"Just hypothetically... if a really good proposal came your way, would you consider it?"
"No, I like the freedom to do what I want, just as I am now."
After answering, she found herself pondering.
What exactly would "good conditions" entail? The person’s character? Financial stability? Social standing? None of it held any appeal to her at the moment.
Far more appealing was being able to do the work she loved, while staying free.
Creating magical tools and magic swords with Volf, eating and drinking whatever they liked, and sharing laughter together—while it was still allowed, she wanted to continue this way, just as they were.
"...Volf, if a good matchmaking proposal came your way, would you consider it?"
"Not a chance. Honestly... I’m fine with how things are now."
Volf let out a quiet chuckle, but he didn’t meet Dahlia’s gaze.
・・・・・・・
Carrying food and drinks, they headed out to the garden together. The sun was still dazzlingly bright.
They spread a waterproof sheet over the grass, securing the edges with stakes to keep it from curling up. On top of the sheet, they set up two compact magic stoves and two expedition stoves.
"These stoves will be for grilling meat and vegetables, and that one will be for the cheese fondue pot."
"Cheese fondue? You scoop up the melted cheese and drink it?"
"No, you dip vegetables, sausages, or bread into it to eat."
When she turned her gaze toward Volf, he nodded enthusiastically with a cheerful smile. He had already prepared plates of ingredients for the cheese fondue. It seemed he was more than ready for the explanation.
"I’ll leave that to you, Volf. Over here, I’ll handle the bone-in sausages.”
The bone-in sausages were Marcella’s favorite. These particular ones, recommended by him, came from a shop he frequented. With a strong black pepper flavor, even a single one was quite satisfying.
"Then once the food is ready, let’s toast! In the meantime, let’s note any improvements we can make to the stoves."
As they watched the stoves in operation, everyone began thinking.
"Not all surfaces will be completely flat, so maybe the stoves could use something to prevent slipping underneath."
"How about adding serrated grooves to the base?"
"That sounds like too much effort for not much effect."
"Then maybe kraken tape for slip resistance?"
"That would make it expensive. Instead of magical tool material, why not attach gummy feet as stoppers?"
The "gummy feet" were made from a plant whose fruit, resembling gummy candy, was boiled, dried thoroughly, and cut into shape.
Gummy feet had decent elasticity, making them effective stoppers even on somewhat slippery surfaces. However, their downside was that they degraded relatively quickly.
"Gummy feet wear out over time, don’t they?"
"When they do, you can just replace them. If you drill four holes and make them attachable, the customer can handle replacements on their own."
"Oh, that’s a great idea! It could generate regular revenue from parts sales!"
The cheese began melting into the wine, releasing a unique aroma. Volf adjusted the heat carefully to avoid burning it, demonstrating by dipping skewered sausages and white bread into the pot.
Ivano, after receiving a quick explanation, cautiously tried it himself, looking somewhat hesitant.
"This pot seems a bit small, indeed..."
"Well, young folks eat a lot... I guess what we really need is bellows."
As Ivano skewered a piece of bread and dipped it into the cheese, he realized how shallow the pot was.
Meanwhile, Fermo also took a bite of white bread dipped in the fondue. While it tasted good, his mind was preoccupied with the idea of adding bellows to the pot.
"Dahlia-san, does the bottom of this stove get hot?"
"No, it doesn’t. I’ve lined it with reflective material for fire magic stones, so the heat only rises upwards. Over time, the entire thing warms up a bit, though."
"That’s good to know. It’s reassuring not to have to worry about fires."
Ivano flipped a bone-in sausage on his skewer with a look of approval.
Indeed, a fire breaking out inside a tent would be a major issue. Using reflective materials was essential for safety.
"Don’t you make a campfire every time you’re on an expedition? I always thought you would, for safety."
"Only about half the time. Depending on the situation, monsters can be drawn to the fire. And in places with a risk of wildfires, or on rainy days or in marshlands, a campfire just isn’t an option."
"Wait, monsters are attracted to fire?"
"Yeah, it’s usually because they see humans as food or get curious about fire and people if they’ve never encountered them before. But there are exceptions. For example, giant moths are drawn to light at night, so you really don’t want to make a campfire where those things live.”
"Giant moths? Are they as big as their name suggests?"
"They’re about half my size. One is manageable—you can take it down with a single swing of a sword—but dealing with a swarm is rough."
Since Volf was around two meters tall, that meant the moths were about one meter in size. The idea of such large creatures swarming was terrifying. As she imagined it, a chill ran down her spine. Fermo, on the other hand, turned pale.
"Um, Fermo-san, do you not like moths?"
"...Giant moths can go extinct for all I care."
"Th-that much?"
"When I went to the western mountains, I forgot to bring insect repellent. Those things stuck to me, and I ended up itching like crazy..."
"Yeah, the powder from their wings is toxic. It makes you unbearably itchy..."
Both Volf and Fermo wore identical expressions of disgust, clearly scarred by the experience.
"Is it really that itchy?"
"Every spot where the powder sticks itches like you’ve been bitten by a swarm of mosquitoes."
"I had it fall on my head once. I seriously considered shaving my hair off right then and there."
"Wow..."
Just hearing about it was enough to give an unpleasant itch.
Listening to them, Dahlia silently vowed never to forget insect repellent and anti-itch cream on any mountain trips.
"Oh, that reminds me! There’s an affordable type of anti-itch cream that comes in a metal container with a crimped lid. Could that be repurposed?"
"Cream container... Oh, you mean 'scrap magisteel'! The gray stuff with black specks in it, right?"
"Yes, that. So it’s called 'scrap magisteel'?"
"Magisteel" was a metal enchanted with magic to increase its durability.
"Scrap magisteel," on the other hand, was made from unused scraps or melted-down magical tool-related products. While most of its magical properties were removed during processing, making it unsuitable for further enchantments, it was much cheaper than regular magisteel.
"I heard scrap magisteel isn’t suitable for food use, though..."
"If you properly treat the surface, it’s fine to use for pots. It was even used for the interior of water flasks back in the day. The tricky part is that only a magical toolmaker can do the crimping work... But if you find a pliable piece of scrap magisteel, it’s doable."
It was a blind spot.
Shaping scrap magisteel required a magical toolmaker’s magic, and turning it into a pot demanded the expertise of a craftsman.
Creating a pot with bellows from scrap magisteel would require professionals from both professions working together.
"And how much would that cost?"
Ivano’s voice rang out coldly.
In the end, the cost was always the biggest hurdle.
Whether in her past life or this one, this one thing hadn’t changed.
An offer like "use as much budget and material as you want, just make it however you like" was never something that would just fall into your lap.
"About twice as much as the metal we’re using now..."
"Lightweight materials that can accommodate folds are rare, so it might be reasonable. We could either place a larger order or cut costs elsewhere."
"Yeah. For now, it might be better to summarize today’s improvements and give it a try."
"Fermo-san, sorry to bother you when you're busy, but I’d like to consult with you about surface treatment."
"Of course, I can always make time for that."
As Dahlia and Fermo continued their conversation, a thin trail of smoke rose to the side.
"This stove has a pretty strong flame, doesn’t it?"
The bone-in sausage on the grill was starting to char. Dahlia hurriedly handed plates and forks to the three of them.
"Uh, well then, let’s call this the provisional gathering of the company. A toast to everyone's good fortune tomorrow—cheers!"
"To the Rossetti Company, cheers!"
Though the toast was hastily initiated, it managed to take shape.
Since everyone had chosen black ale for their first drink, small bottles were handed out directly.
Eating a bone-in sausage neatly was no easy task.
Giving up on elegance, she took a big bite, causing hot meat juices to flood her mouth. Before she could decide whether to swallow or not, she chased it with a gulp of black ale to avoid burning herself.
The sharp spiciness of black pepper was mellowed by the ale, leaving the savory taste of the meat lingering on her tongue, while her throat relished the bitterness and chill of the drink.
Under the clear blue sky, it was an indescribable delight.
"Ah, this is the life! Eating and drinking outdoors at midday—it doesn’t get better than this!"
"Ivano-san, would you like another sausage?"
"Thank you! I won’t hold back!"
"...Didn’t you just complain about your waistline in the carriage earlier?"
"That's ancient history. Ah, this black ale is amazing!"
Ivano shot back with a laugh, cracking open another bottle.
Beside him, Volf, who had already finished his ale, was uncorking a bottle of white wine.
"Ivano, white wine pairs nicely too."
"Really? Dahlia-san, may I have some white wine as well?"
"Of course, help yourself."
"You two..."
Fermo sat down heavily on the edge of the waterproof sheet.
Admittedly, the black ale tasted phenomenal in the breeze-swept garden. But there was still an overwhelming pile of matters to think about.
While he brooded, the red-haired woman approached with a smile, holding a plate and a glass.
"Fermo-san, here’s some white wine and another sausage. They go great together."
"...Thanks, I’ll take it."
To his frustration, the combination of the bone-in sausage and white wine was absolutely delightful.
"Dahlia-san, excuse me! Could I get some water? I feel like I’m drinking too much."
"Got it. I’ll grab something else to go with it too."
Dahlia smiled as she made her way toward the tower. Just as she started walking, Ivano grabbed the sleeve of the man about to follow her and whispered in his ear.
"Volf-sama, just a moment."
"What is it?"
"I have a way to lower the price. If we secure a long-term contract with your squad, like we did with the drying insoles, we can buy the materials on a long-term basis, which should lead to significant discounts. So, could you introduce this to the captain?"
"Yeah, I was planning to show it to him eventually. I’ll bring it up soon."
"Do you think we could demonstrate it during the official delivery of the drying insoles?"
"Well, I’m not sure about that... I don’t have the authority for something like that."
Volf admitted, frowning slightly.
He could introduce it to the captain, but when it came to the whole squad, it was a different matter.
Though he was a part of the Scarlet Armor, he had no official role. He didn’t have the authority to be involved in anything related to formal announcements.
"Volf-sama, if the response isn’t great, could you whisper to the captain, 'Isn’t this something the knights need before other countries catch on?'"
"What are you getting at?"
"Expeditions aren’t just about monsters, but also about conflicts with humans, right? This device could work anywhere—without producing much smoke or leaving stove marks. If we pitch it like that, some places might want to buy it in bulk. If we’re only thinking about the company’s benefit, it doesn’t have to be limited to this country."
As he listened to the words of the man with indigo eyes, Volf’s face grew more and more stern.
"...Ivano, did you tell Dahlia about this?"
"There’s no need to, is there? Every product is just a matter of perspective. If we create something useful, it’s bound to attract attention—and yes, it could be misused. That’s why, for the sake of the company and Dahlia-san’s safety, we need to establish ourselves with the Chivalric Order as quickly as possible."
"Got it. I’ll do everything I can. Let me know if anything comes up."
"Will do. Oh, sorry for holding you up. Dahlia-san might have trouble carrying all those drinks by herself—please go give her a hand."
"Yeah, I’ll do that."
Volf nodded, set down his glass, and headed toward the tower.
As Ivano watched Volf's retreating figure in the corner of his vision, he stretched out widely.
"...Hey, what exactly are you planning?"
"Oh, Fermo-san, did you overhear that?"
Without turning around, Ivano lifted two bottles of black ale from the bucket.
"You made sure I’d hear it, didn’t you? Either way, once the knights start using the stoves, it won’t take long for other countries to catch on."
"Exactly. Well, think of it as proactive advertising. Just between us, though, I’m hoping Volf-sama catches the captain’s favor. Maybe he’ll decide he’s a good fit as a liaison with the company and pull him out of the Scarlet Armor early."
"You’re moving too fast, Ivano-san. If you’re not careful, you’ll trip and fall hard."
"I admit I’m rushing things. Please help me support them so no one ends up falling and crying."
Though his voice was light and teasing, Ivano's indigo eyes locked onto Fermo’s, calculating.
"With how dangerous this is, don't you worry about the 'woman you admire'?"
This man, through and through, was a merchant. He considered the will and passion of craftsmen but didn’t truly understand them.
And Volf was the same—knight to his core, and noble on top of that.
Though they were different in form, as makers—whether a magical toolmaker or a craftsman—he was the one closest to Dahlia.
She had saved his wife and workshop and earned his admiration as a talented craftsman.
Yet here was Ivano, placing Dahlia’s safety onto Fermo’s metaphorical scales without hesitation.
The audacity of it all was maddening.
"...Your heart must be black, right?"
"My heart may be wide, but it’s not black. And I often get complimented on my 'great personality.' Gabriella-san trained me well, after all."
Ivano’s deadpan reply left Fermo sighing deeply.
The younger man was shrewd. Now that he thought about it, he had a similar aura to the vice guildmaster.
The way Ivano would retreat easily at first, only to strike with a swift follow-up, was far too familiar.
"Fine. Count me in, 'Ivano.'"
"Haha! That was quicker than I thought, 'Fermo.'"
Ivano uncapped one of the bottles and tossed it lightly to Fermo.
The two clinked their bottles together with force and made a toast.
"To the bright future of the Rossetti Company and the devoted subordinate of the chairwoman—cheers!"
"...To our kind-hearted chairwoman, her round-bellied subordinate, and the lost knight’s promising future—cheers."
The sound of their toast was only heard by the grass in the garden.
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