Chapter 99 - The Magical Toolmaker, the Knight, the Small Item Craftsman, and the Merchant
By the time Dahlia brought over the tea, the three men were already engrossed in an animated discussion about expeditions.
The stiff atmosphere from earlier had vanished completely. In the short time since, Fermo and Volf had started addressing each other by name, and their tones had become casual and friendly.
Their lively and cheerful voices were almost enviable.
"It's nice that you're now able to talk, Fermo-san."
"Ivano did a great job steering the conversation. He helped ease my nerves."
Dahlia returned his smile and felt a sense of relief as she handed out the tea.
"Here’s the improved stove. I was thinking of calling it the 'Expedition Stove.'"
After taking a sip of tea and catching her breath, Dahlia retrieved two modified compact magic stoves from the shelf.
She placed them on the table, and the men’s eyes were immediately drawn to the devices.
"This is incredible! It’s so much smaller than before..."
"It looks like it’ll be a lot easier to carry."
"May I take a closer look?"
"Of course. Feel free to take it apart. The lid also functions as a pot."
Fermo hung his jacket on the back of his chair and eagerly removed the pot that doubled as the stove’s lid. He then examined the magic stone compartment and heat adjustment dial, carefully disassembling and inspecting each part.
"You’ve done an impressive job refining the design."
"Thank you. The book you lent me was a huge help."
Dahlia was pleased with Fermo’s compliment.
However, she noticed Volf staring at the pot with a slightly conflicted expression.
"Volf, is there something that bothers you about it?"
"It’s nothing major. The pot might be a bit too small, though. Most of the team members eat a lot. But if we cook in batches, this size would work just fine."
The members of the Monster Subjugation Force were mostly adult men who burned a lot of calories on their expeditions. It was only natural they’d need larger portions. Focusing too much on making the stove smaller, she had overlooked this aspect.
"Dahlia-san, what if you made the pot deeper?"
"That would increase the overall height of the stove..."
"In that case, why not make the sides of the pot into a fine S-shaped pattern, like bellows? Since this is a composite sheet of iron and copper, it should work, don’t you think?"
"Wouldn’t that significantly raise the production costs, Fermo-san?"
"Yeah, it’d be pricey..."
The concept of flexible S-shaped panels was inspired by the way metal hoses were constructed. However, the process required bending and connecting the metal plates, which was both time-consuming and labor-intensive.
While it was an excellent idea, the cost of skilled labor made it less feasible.
"Volf-sama, do we really need the stove to be this compact?"
"This size is perfect, but having a slightly larger version wouldn’t hurt either."
If they increased the size and capacity of the pot, it might address the issue. But that would also mean adding more weight—a tricky trade-off.
"Let me know if you have any other suggestions."
"Well, for example, even if it adds weight, having a lid for the pot while simmering would be convenient. A frying pan would be handy too, though that might be asking for too much..."
"What if we made a lightweight metal plate that could double as both a frying pan and a lid?"
"Or you could go with a set of stackable pots—one shallow and one deep—that fit together. That way, you’d have two pots, and the shallow one could work as a frying pan too."
Fermo was referring to stackable pots, slightly different in size so they could nest together. Still, it would inevitably add to the overall weight.
"How would the handles work with stackable pots?"
"We could use thick wire handles that fold flat against the pot’s sides. Or we could offset their sizes a bit more. If strength is an issue, we could add two handles that fold down on each side."
"Wouldn’t detachable handles make the design more compact?"
"It might be better if the handles aren’t detachable. It would be a problem if the handle gets lost during an expedition."
"Everything we’ve discussed seems to raise production costs..."
"Well, if it’s something essential, higher costs are inevitable."
The conversation continued, with the magical toolmaker, the knight, the craftsman, and the merchant each offering their own perspectives and priorities. Their differing viewpoints made it hard to settle on a clear direction.
"Dahlia-san, do you have an estimated price for the stove?"
"I'm considering setting it at three large silver coins for now."
"What about the material costs and production time?"
"The materials cost about one large silver coin and one silver coin. As for production, it takes roughly two hours."
"You’ll need to either raise the price or reduce material costs. To maintain profitability, the guideline is a 50% margin after deducting materials and labor."
"Fifty percent? That’s quite a lot..."
"For a workshop, unlike a company, you have to aim for that much. Otherwise, you won’t have funds for development or advertising. Fermo-san, is there a way to cut costs here?"
Ivano lifted the stove as he posed the question, his tone carrying the sharpness of a merchant.
Fermo thought for a moment before shaking his head.
"It’s tough. Thinner plates might work, but that would compromise durability..."
"I think the price could be higher."
"Does the squad have enough budget for that? It’s taxpayer money, after all, and there are plenty of restrictions, aren’t there?"
"It’s fine. Everyone will buy one with their own money."
Volf said confidently, his hand resting on the expedition stove as he smiled brightly.
"This will be a lifesaver for the squad. On expeditions, meals usually consist of black bread and dried meat for breakfast and dinner, with lukewarm soup that might have dried vegetables if we’re lucky. Lunch and snacks are just cheese, nuts, and dried fruit. Occasionally, we get a single glass of wine with dinner. And this routine can last anywhere from two days to over a month."
"I had no idea... That sounds incredibly harsh."
"How do the nobles in the squad handle it?"
"They’re probably just used to it. But there are people who leave the squad or fall ill because they can’t handle the food."
"It’s negatively impacting your missions. That needs to be changed."
“Yeah, I’d like to change it if possible. It could be our 'last supper,' after all, so it should be a little better..."
Volf’s words trailed off, and the room fell silent.
The "last supper"—a meal eaten before one’s death, the very last meal of their life.
Monster subjugation was a life-threatening duty, and it wasn’t uncommon for a meal during an expedition to truly become someone’s last. The black-haired man before them had undoubtedly witnessed this reality firsthand.
And that very person served as the vanguard in his Scarlet Armor—where the danger was always greatest.
"...I phrased that poorly. Please think of it as just an example."
"No, it’s an important point. Uhm... I attended the 'knightly funerals' for some of the squad members last year and this year."
"Thanks to the increased presence of mages and priests on expeditions, the number of casualties has gone down. But with monsters, you can never predict everything. Accidents still happen."
Dahlia heard their words clearly but didn’t want to process them.
She pressed her lips tightly together and stared at the other expedition stove on the table.
"...Hey, can this be used inside a tent?"
It was Fermo who changed the topic. At his voice, she hurriedly began to explain.
"Yes, it can. But you’ll need to be careful about fire safety and ventilation. Outside, it should work even in light winds since the pot sits close to the heat source."
"I’d love to go on an expedition right now just to use this and come straight back..."
Perhaps still confused from earlier, Volf started saying strange things.
There was no need to go on an expedition just for that. They could just test it outside.
"Would you like to try it in the yard? We could compare it with the compact magic stove and the expedition stove side by side."
"That sounds good. Let’s see how it performs outdoors. Should we try boiling some water?"
"Actually, I’ll cut up some ingredients. Testing the cooking capabilities would be better. Give me a moment."
"Oh, if you're cutting the ingredients, I'll help too."
"Then Fermo-san and I will stay here and brainstorm ways to cut costs."
As Dahlia and Volf headed to the second floor, Ivano placed the compact magic stove and the expedition stove side by side. Though he didn’t fully understand their mechanics, he marveled at how compact the design was.
Next to him, Fermo stood silently, gazing for a long time at the staircase leading to the second floor.
"...Ivano-san, those two—they’re dating, right?"
"They claim to be just friends."
The question came out of nowhere, but Ivano answered without hesitation.
When he glanced at Fermo, the man’s face was etched with confusion, as if a large question mark hovered above him.
"Friends...?"
"Well, there’s a social gap between them. He’s the younger brother of a future marquis, and she’s a commoner."
"I don’t get much about nobles, but is it really that complicated?"
"If it’s just about 'keeping her around' like the rumors suggest, that’s simple enough. But walking side by side as equals? That’s what they call a 'thorny path.' I heard it straight from a noble. Personally, I’m hoping Dahlia becomes a baroness someday."
"...And would that make her happy?"
"I can’t say. But if she chooses to walk that 'thorny path' herself, then that's what I hope for."
Fermo’s expression carried the deep concern of a father worrying about his daughter. That look reminded Ivano of Dahlia’s late father, Carlo.
So Ivano deliberately changed his tone to something more cheerful.
"Fermo-san, wouldn’t you like a new workshop? Something three—no, five times the size of the current one?"
"You really know how to drop things out of the blue, don’t you, Ivano-san?"
"Picture this: a spacious workshop, outfitted with the latest equipment, rare metals and materials, a glass workshop right next door. Skilled craftsmen and even mages working under the same roof—what do you think?"
"That’s a bit much for me. I’m content as long as I can manage it with my own two hands. I’m not at an age to be chasing dreams anymore."
The man narrowed his deep green eyes, tilting his body as he cast a sideways glance at him. Doubt and curiosity flickered in his gaze as he added a few more words.
"I see. So that approach doesn’t work. Let’s get straight to the point, then. How about becoming the Rossetti Company’s—or rather, Dahlia-san’s exclusive workshop? It might take some time, but we need a craftsman and workshop we can trust without question."
"Oh, so that's what this is about... Is this something Dahlia-san’s aware of?"
"No, it’s just my personal idea."
"In that case, then forget it. No, it's not about you, Ivano-san. It's just that me—no, we—acting without Dahlia-san wanting it would be wrong..."
Fermo sighed as he spoke, his words trailing off, and Ivano chuckled in response.
"You're a man, and yet you don't have the courage to make the first move? Or is it because you're getting 'too old' as a craftsman?"
"...Hey."
At the teasing words, his deep green eyes flickered as if reflecting flames.
However, he soon closed them, let out a breath, and allowed a small smirk to form at the corner of his lips. When he opened his eyes again, the fire in them had dimmed.
"...You almost got me there, but I’m not that easily provoked."
"Oh, so it’s the difference in experience, huh?"
"Yeah, I’ve got a few more years under my belt than you, after all."
"Then, for reference—how would someone go about provoking you, Fermo-san?"
"If a loved one was in danger, I’d move. And... if the woman I’m in love with was in trouble, I’d probably leap into action."
Ivano tilted his head down and clasped his hands in response to Fermo's sly smile.
"...I'll think a bit more on how to get better at provoking you."
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