Chapter 78 - The Wife and the Apprentices
"Fermo-san, though it's a bit late, please accept this as a token of greetings from my company."
Dahlia opened a package containing a compact magic stove on the table.
She had learned from Ivano that in initial transactions, merchants often offered products they dealt with as a gesture of introduction. With that in mind, she had brought the compact magic stove.
However, she became so engrossed in attaching kraken tape with Fermo that she almost forgot about it.
"This is... a magical tool?"
"Yes, it's a compact magic stove. You can place a pot on top and cook at the table or outdoors. You can make things like grilled meat or cheese fondue. I've included some recipes as well, so please try them if you'd like."
"Thank you. I’ll gladly accept it. Did you make this as well, Dahlia-san?"
"Yes, but all I did was shrink the magic stove, so it's nothing special."
"No, reducing the size of a magic stove to this extent must’ve been difficult."
"I’d like to make it even smaller and lighter, but it’s not easy..."
Fermo turned the compact magic stove around to inspect it, flipped it upside down, and carefully examined its structure.
He tapped the base twice with the back of his finger and removed the magic stone compartment as he asked:
"This is already small enough, but how much smaller are you aiming for?"
"My ideal size is two-thirds of this, with the weight of a single leather wine bag."
"...I don’t know if it’ll work for magical tools, but I do have a book on lightweight design for small items. Want it?"
"Thank you. Could I borrow it?"
"No need to borrow. I have two copies."
Fermo walked over to a shelf, picked up two books from the bottom row, and handed one to Dahlia. They were both about lightweight design, focusing on metals and glass.
After handing her the book, Fermo returned to examining the compact magic stove.
"As a magical toolmaker, you can’t just use magic to instantly shrink everything, can you?"
"No, while it's easy to make the parts, we can’t shrink them with magic. Everything has to be crafted one by one."
Dahlia couldn’t help but think how wonderful it would be if there were magic spells for shrinking and enlarging objects. Surely anyone involved in crafting had thought about such magic at least once.
“Dahlia-san, where did you learn to design magical tools?"
"I learned at the High Academy and from my father."
"Your father... he was the magical toolmaker who made water heaters..."
"Yes, Carlo Rossetti. He passed away a year ago."
"I see..."
The man placed the compact magic stove back on the table and directed his gaze at Dahlia.
"You’ve established a company and are earning a living with your own skills. I’m sure he wouldn’t be worried about you."
"No, I still have a long way to go. If my father were here while I was working, I’m sure he’d be giving me a mountain of advice."
"That’s only natural. Those who teach tend to be stricter with the apprentices they expect the most from..."
Fermo chuckled as if recalling something.
Just as his laughter subsided, there was a knock at the door at the back of the workshop.
"Excuse me. I’m sorry that my husband hasn’t even served tea..."
"Barbara, don’t push yourself. I’ll take care of the rest, so go lie down.”
A woman with light purple-colored hair entered, carrying a tray of tea.
Despite wearing gray work clothes, her movements were stiff and awkward. Every time she adjusted her posture, her eyebrows furrowed slightly, though she quickly tried to hide it with a strained smile.
"Oh, sorry about that. Dahlia-san, this is my wife, who helps run the workshop with me."
"My name is Barbara Gandolfi. Thank you, Chairwoman Rossetti, for reaching out to us."
"I’m Dahlia Rossetti. Thank you as well for your support. I’ll continue to be in your care, so please call me Dahlia."
"In that case, please call me Barbara."
Since Fermo already called her by her first name, it made sense to have both husband and wife do so. Barbara seemed genuinely pleased by the suggestion.
Barbara carefully carried the tea cups in both hands but winced in pain the moment she placed them on the table.
"Uhm, are you all right?"
"I'm sorry, it's nothing major. Last year, I caught 'Red Speckles' and had it treated at the church, but some of the pain still lingers a little..."
"Red Speckles" was a disease that caused red spots and small blisters to appear on the body in a band-like pattern. Based on her description, it seemed similar to the "shingles" Dahlia’s mother had in her previous life.
It appeared to be a relatively common illness in this world as well, as even one of her father’s friends had suffered from it.
Barbara mentioned that she had already undergone treatment, but Dahlia had a suspicion about the nature of her pain.
It reminded her of "postherpetic neuralgia," which her mother in her previous life had suffered from.
Postherpetic neuralgia was caused by nerve damage. In the church, recovery magic was generally effective only up to seven days after an injury, and fixed injuries beyond that timeframe could not be healed.
Most likely, Barbara had sought treatment after the seven-day window had passed.
"Don’t push yourself; take it easy."
"It’s nothing serious; I’ll be fine."
Barbara's response, spoken so matter-of-factly, revealed her resilience despite her visible pain, as if enduring it was second nature. That attitude overlapped heavily with the image of Dahlia's mother from her previous life.
Shortly before Dahlia’s death in her past life, her mother had said, "Come home once in a while." In response, Dahlia had merely sent a message: "I’ll come home for the Obon holiday.” Busy with work, she hadn’t even made a single phone call.
Never had she imagined that she would leave her parents behind and pass away first.
She hadn’t been much of a filial child, barely managing to send her father alcohol for Father’s Day and her mother some sweets for Mother’s Day after starting her job.
And then, she, the child, had been the one to go first. There was no greater unfilial act than that.
Thus, what she intended to do now wasn’t kindness—it was just a small, selfish attempt to soothe her own lingering regrets.
"Uhm, Barbara-san, I hope that you’ll excuse how I’ve already used it, but could you hold this for a moment?"
Dahlia took off the unicorn horn pendant she was wearing around her neck and handed it to Barbara.
The pendant, crafted from the horn of a unicorn and fashioned into a rose motif, was something Dahlia had made not long ago.
Unicorn horns had the property of alleviating pain. Perhaps it could ease Barbara’s suffering as well.
"Is this... a magical tool?"
"Yes, it's only a little, but it might help relieve the pain."
"But something this valuable..."
Dahlia stepped closer and, with a gentle firmness, placed the pendant into Barbara’s hand.
The magic within the pendant stirred faintly, perhaps reacting to either Barbara’s or Dahlia’s mana. The white pendant shimmered with a soft, radiant light.
"Oh my... the pain has subsided."
Seeing the woman’s eyes widen, Dahlia felt relieved and let go of the pendant.
"Please keep wearing it. When you put it around your neck, make sure the pendant touches your skin directly. If you take it off, I think the pain will return."
"Sorry, would it be alright if I borrowed it for a while? Oh, Dahlia-san, are you sure you’re okay? You’re not in pain or anything, are you?"
"I’m perfectly fine. This was just a prototype I made with some materials I received. I don’t even know how long it will remain effective, so please consider it a prototype test and use it freely."
"Dahlia-san, what material is it made of?"
"...It’s made from a unicorn horn."
"...I'm sorry, and thank you truly. I can't pay immediately, but I will definitely pay in installments."
Fermo must have known that the unicorn horn was a rare material. He bowed deeply.
"No, really, it’s fine. Uhm, but I’d like to know how long it remains effective, so please let me know when it stops working."
"That doesn’t feel like a fair trade."
"Uhm, then... please teach me the parts of the design that I don't understand. Also, I'd like to consult with you when I have something I want to make. Even with magical tools, a lot of the process depends on the design."
"Got it. I'll teach you everything I know. If I can't figure something out, I'll ask my colleagues. Also, if there's anything you need help with in subcontracting magical tools, even with low magic power, feel free to let me know anytime."
"Thank you. I won’t hesitate to ask."
Dahlia deliberately emphasized how she would not hesitate to ask to prevent Fermo from being bothered by it.
Beside them, Barbara, still surprised by the absence of pain, finally found her voice.
"Dahlia-san, thank you for your thoughtfulness. But as women age, this kind of pain becomes more common. Your mother might need it someday, so you should keep it for yourself..."
"It’s alright, since I don’t have a mother."
"Oh, I’m sorry. She’s passed away, hasn’t she? It must be lonely for someone as young as you."
"No, not really... I don’t have any memories of her, so..."
As memories of her mother from her past life surfaced, she thought about the mother she didn’t have in this life, leaving her feeling confused.
The image of her previous mother’s face and voice came to mind, but they felt distant—too far removed to evoke loneliness.
Unable to explain herself or find the right words to deflect the conversation, she hesitated.
Seeing Dahlia’s flustered state, Barbara now wore a concerned expression of her own.
"I’m sorry for asking something so personal. But isn’t this pendant very expensive? I’m not sure someone like me should be using it..."
"Magical tools are most effective when used by those who need them. Please, use it."
Her words were completely sincere.
At the same time, she had another reason. She wanted the people she worked with to be cheerful and smiling whenever possible.
After all, she was about to ask Gandolfi Workshop to take on some work for her. If a single pendant could boost morale and efficiency, it would ultimately benefit her as well.
"Well, the rest is just calculation. I thought I'd fuel Fermo-san's motivation."
"Oh, you’ve done more than that. It feels like 'you’ve thrown a fire magic stone straight at my chest.'"
"F-Fermo-san?!"
In this country, the phrase "throwing a fire magic stone at someone’s chest" was often used to mean "falling in love."
Just after Dahlia called Fermo's name in surprise, a loud smack echoed.
It was the sound of a wife's palm striking the back of her husband's head with force.
"I’m so sorry, Dahlia-san. This man has such a foul mouth..."
Barbara said with a bright smile, while Fermo groaned, holding the back of his head.
Dahlia only wished that the carriage to pick her up would arrive as soon as possible.
・・・・・・・
After the conversation about work continued as if nothing had happened, the carriage to pick up Dahlia arrived.
Watching the carriage leave, Fermo gently patted his graying head.
"It’s been a while since you hit me that hard."
"Well, you said something ridiculous to Dahlia-san."
Her tone was strict, but the corners of Barbara's mouth were raised.
"h, I couldn’t help it. Honestly, I wish I’d met someone like her when I was younger."
"Still talking? Are you declaring war on me?"
"No, no, no! Put that hand down, would you? That’s not what I meant. I just thought that if I’d had a craftsman like her around when I was younger, we could’ve made so many amazing things together..."
"You're still young, what are you talking about? I can move around now, so why not just do as many of the jobs you want?"
The woman said it casually as she moved the empty tea cup to the tray. Her quick, efficient movements seemed to have returned to how they were before she became ill.
"You seemed happy too."
“I was. I would’ve loved to have a daughter like her. All we’ve got are cheeky boys, after all. By the way, I didn’t get a chance to ask earlier, how much does a unicorn horn pendant like that usually cost?"
"When I saw a bracelet of similar size in another workshop, it was three gold coins. But this one has magical floral engravings, so it might be worth even more."
"We’ll need to work hard to repay her quickly."
“Yeah. With interest, too. Our workshop’s reputation is on the line."
Fermo ran his fingers over the worn surface of the workshop’s old wooden table, recalling the day he inherited it from his father. The table bore scars from years of use, including marks left by his apprentices. Though the wood had aged from white to a deep amber, it was still sturdy and reliable.
That night, Fermo resolved to draft the revised specifications for the new foaming pump bottle designs, even if it meant staying up all night.
"By the way, my magic power is also only at level two. Do you think I could apply kraken Tape?"
"Let me show you how. When the apprentices get back from deliveries, we’ll have them try it too. They should be at levels three and four, so they can probably handle more than I can."
There was nothing more satisfying for a craftsman than gaining the ability to do more with their own hands.
Anticipating the return of his apprentices, Fermo smiled as he passed the kraken tape to his wife.
Comments
Post a Comment