Chapter 98 - Bad Rumors and the Men’s Meeting
"I am Fermo of the Gandolfi Workshop. Pleased to meet you."
"Likewise, I am Volfred Scalfarotto from the Monster Subjugation Force."
Fermo stood from his chair and gave a bow.
However, he remained expressionless, even more so than when he first met Dahlia. Whether it was due to nervousness or because Volf was a noble, it was unclear.
The workshop in the tower felt incredibly cramped.
Beside Dahlia sat Volf, across from her was Fermo, and diagonally opposite her was Ivano.
It felt odd to be sitting with this group.
This afternoon, she was supposed to consult Fermo, the head of the Gandolfi Workshop, on improving the compact magic stove. Since it was a magical tool, Dahlia had planned to discuss it while making improvements in the workshop, and so she had invited them to the tower.
However, because Dahlia lived alone in the tower and Ivano also wanted to join the discussion on the improvements, he had come along as well.
Volf, who had been there since morning, had taken the day off, so he stayed.
Originally, the improvement of the compact magic stove had been initiated for Volf’s expeditions. Since they were all connected through the company, she thought that discussing it with the four of them might lead to even better ideas.
But Fermo had become unexpectedly taciturn. Had something bothered him?
Fermo's expressionless mood, almost as if he were grumpy, seemed to be affecting Volf as well.
"Umm, Fermo-san?"
"I don’t understand the etiquette of nobility, so I was worried I would be rude to Scalfarotto-sama..."
"Oh, don’t worry about it."
"...Yes, I thought this might happen."
Ivano glanced between Fermo and Volf, then, with a wry smile, spoke to Dahlia.
"Should we address this stiffness before discussing the stove?"
"Yes, I’ll make some tea first."
"Sorry, Dahlia-san, thank you."
Though there was still time before afternoon tea, it might help ease Fermo’s tension. Thinking this, Dahlia headed to the second floor.
"Now, while Dahlia-san is upstairs, let’s have a frank discussion and deepen our friendship, gentlemen!"
"Huh?"
"Ivano?"
The remaining two men looked suspiciously at Ivano, who had suddenly become casual in his speech.
"Since we’re running out of time, I’ll get straight to the point. Fermo-san, Volf-sama isn’t involved with Dahlia. He’s just a close friend and a business partner."
"Ivano-san, what are you suddenly..."
"Well, there are all kinds of rumors flying around in the guild. If you’ve heard anything strange, I understand why you would be concerned about Dahlia-san, Fermo-san. After all, Volf-sama looks like this."
"...Ivano, what do you want me to say about this?"
Volf scowled deeply and muttered in a frank manner.
Seeing this, Fermo scratched his brown hair mixed with some gray.
"Sorry. I heard some stuff in the guild today, and it got on my nerves."
"Gandolfi-san, if you don’t mind, could you tell me about this 'stuff' you heard?"
"Alright, but it’s bad. Ah... it’s concerning, Scalfarotto-sama."
He spoke casually but quickly corrected himself. Volf shook his head.
"Let’s just talk comfortably. This is how I usually speak anyway, and all the formality is getting tiresome. Just call me Volf."
"But..."
"Fermo-san, when it's just people from the company, I talk like this too, so it's fine. Besides, I’d also like to hear what you have to say, so please go ahead."
"...Alright, there's no point in pretending—I'll just slip up eventually anyway. You can call me Fermo as well."
Fermo unfastened the top button of his neatly closed shirt and let out a shallow breath.
There was no point in hiding anything, so he decided to share what he had heard, exactly as it was.
"At the guild, I heard rumors like, 'Dahlia-san broke off her engagement with Orlando’s second son to prioritize her work as a magical toolmaker and was taken under Scalfarotto-sama’s wing to start a business,' or 'She cozied up to Scalfarotto-sama to fund her company,' and even, 'Scalfarotto-sama swooped in to take advantage of Dahlia-san after her engagement was called off.' At the stables, there was another one: 'She even bewitched Ivano-san and lured him away.'"
"Later, I’d like you to tell me exactly where you heard this, and give me descriptions of the people who said it. But honestly, their imaginations are impressive. None of that even brushes close to the truth."
“Why does it even end up like this? When I met 'Dahlia,' she was already the head of her company, and we’re just friends."
Despite the lighthearted smile on his face, Volf’s pen bent ominously in his hand, while Ivano sighed openly, making no attempt to mask his irritation.
Fermo glanced at the contrasting pair before asking:
“Dahlia-san is so straightforward. Why are there such ridiculous rumors about her?”
"Part of it is Orlando & Co. trying to protect their second son. They spread the story that 'the engagement was broken because she wanted to focus on her work as a magical toolmaker.' That probably grew legs and turned into something worse. The rest is likely just spite."
Women who repeatedly asked about Volf, and sought an introduction. People who found it unappealing that a young woman like Dahlia was a skilled magical toolmaker and an owner of a company.
Such one-sided jealousy easily twisted facts into baseless gossip.
"So that’s how it is..."
"Fermo-san, this might not be my place to say, but you should know the truth. Orlando’s second son had another woman, and Dahlia-san’s engagement was called off the day before the wedding. She then started her company on her own to secure materials for her work. With her talent for invention, Volf-sama supported her as a guarantor, and I personally approached Dahlia-san to offer my services because I wanted to work with her company."
"Let me make this clear too: Dahlia did nothing wrong. Every negative rumor about her is entirely because of me."
The unyielding honesty in Volf’s golden gaze erased any lingering doubts from Fermo’s mind. He fully understood how far from the truth those rumors were.
"Got it. I’ll correct anyone who says otherwise."
"No, please leave it as is. Being rumored to be involved with Volf-sama is actually a good thing for Dahlia-san—it helps protect her."
"Wait, then what about Dahlia’s honor?"
"Her honor matters less right now than keeping her out of harm’s way. As her company grows, her reputation will naturally improve. It’s been barely a month since the engagement was called off, and she’s already gotten a marriage proposal. Imagine what’ll happen if it becomes public knowledge that she and you are just friends, Volf-sama. Suitors would flood in like a tidal wave."
With a smile, Ivano said this, while Volf only tilted his head.
"...Dahlia got a marriage proposal?"
“Yes, didn’t you know? She went to Gabriella-san and rejected it on the spot. Dahlia-san told her to turn down any future proposals as well."
"...Who sent it?"
"Viscount Bartolini. The proposal was for his son."
"...I see."
As Volf’s expression turned unreadable, Ivano turned his attention to Fermo and grinned.
"By the way, Fermo-san, there’s something I’ve been meaning to confirm."
"What is it?"
“Are you a chest guy or a hips guy?”
"What kind of question is that to ask out of nowhere at a table without drinks?"
Fermo responded with an exasperated voice, but Ivano’s grin didn’t fade.
"It’s just a quick way to gauge a man’s 'character.' So, which is it?"
"Chest, but more than that... it’s the 'nape.'"
"A rare nape person... Oh, so that’s why your wife always keeps her hair up."
"...Ivano-san, may I ask why you remember my wife’s hairstyle 'so well'?"
Fermo’s deep green eyes locked onto Ivano with unexpected intensity.
"...Ivano, weren’t we supposed to be deepening our friendship?"
"Well, uh… your wife spent a lot of time at the guild, Fermo-san, so I saw her often! Remembering faces is part of a guild member’s job, after all."
"I see. Then what about you and Volf-sama? Which camp do you belong to?"
"Chest."
"Hips."
Fermo nodded in response to their quick answers.
"While we’re at it, I’d like to hear the age ranges you two are comfortable with, especially you, Ivano-san."
"No, no, no! I’m completely devoted to my wife!"
"I..."
Volf suddenly looked up with a slight twitch.
"This conversation is over. Dahlia just opened the door on the second floor."
"You've got sharp ears, Volf-sama."
"...I’ve learned a lot."
He hadn’t forgotten the cold smile Dahlia had once given him after overhearing a similar discussion with Ivano.
He regretted it deeply.
So this time, he activated Body Reinforcement magic and kept an ear out for her presence while they talked.
Truth be told, as soon as the chest-and-hips topic came up, he had activated his anti-eavesdropper in his pocket at maximum output.
"Well then, let’s shift gears and talk about my expeditions!"
"Yes, let’s!"
As he watched the two switch topics seamlessly and in perfect sync, Fermo let out a faint chuckle.
Rumors really couldn’t be trusted.
What he had been hearing were about an insufferable nobleman whose only redeeming feature was his face and a former guild member swayed by the company’s interests.
But when he actually met and spoke with them, they were surprisingly dependable and straightforward men.
He could genuinely understand why they stood by Dahlia’s side, and why she allowed them to.
If possible, he even wished he could join them and have as much fun as they seemed to be having.
"Yeah, let’s hear it. This sounds like an interesting story."
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