Chapter 113 - Post-Delivery Dinner Party
The evening after the formal delivery to the royal castle, a dinner party was held with members of the Merchant Guild.
In attendance were Dahlia, Gabriella the vice guildmaster of the Merchant Guild, Dominic the notary, Volf, and Ivano.
The last time this group had gathered, they had discussed their concerns and managed to come up with a plan for the five-toed socks and shoe insoles. After many twists and turns, they had finally completed the formal delivery to the royal castle the day before.
Gabriella had reserved a private room at a restaurant in the central district, and the five of them sat around a round table.
The main course was red bear steak, which they had also enjoyed at the Merchant Guild.
The slightly gamey but delicious steak was paired with dry white wine, dark ale, and dry Eastern liquor. The atmosphere was lively, with three rounds of toasts.
However, the question of which drink paired best with the red bear steak remained unresolved, with the only result being an increase in alcohol consumption.
“Really, it’s been a whirlwind of a month.”
After the meal, Ivano seemed to be the most drunk. Holding a glass of dark ale in one hand, he nodded cheerfully to himself.
“Going from establishing the company to delivering to the royal castle in twenty days might be a new record for the Merchant Guild.”
“No, that was because we received an invitation from the Subjugation Force... From the company’s perspective, it’s been a month since then.”
“Still, that’s fast. The fastest I can remember is the Zola Company.”
“Ozwald-san was amazing too, wasn’t he?”
“Yes, Ozwald became a baron quite quickly. This year, with the ice-type cool wind fans, the ‘cold wind fan,’ being delivered to the royal castle in large quantities, he might become a viscount even before his children’s generation.”
“So, Ozwald-san would become the ‘Cold Wind Fan Viscount’?”
At Ivano’s words, Dahlia pondered for a moment.
The “cold wind fan” she had seen at the magical tool shop the “Goddess’ Right Eye” was essentially an air conditioner.
However, it seemed like it would be quite labor-intensive to produce. If they were delivering large quantities to the royal castle, Ozwald must be incredibly busy.
She had a meeting scheduled with him tomorrow afternoon, and she was starting to feel a bit worried.
“Dahlia-san, at this rate, you might even be recommended for a barony.”
“If possible, it’d be great to earn a barony with a cool name.”
At Dominic’s words, Ivano responded, but Dahlia couldn’t think of any cool magical tools.
Probably feeling the same, Gabriella swirled her glass of white wine and smiled wryly.
“‘Sock Baron’ or ‘Insole Baron’ doesn’t sound very impressive.”
Neither name was particularly appealing. Though it was certainly better than “Foot Fungal Infection Baron.”
She also briefly considered “Magic Sword Baron,” since she was making magic swords. But then she remembered the “Dagger of the Demon King’s Minion” and the “Crawling Magic Sword” she had created so far and immediately dismissed the idea.
“With the five-toed socks, drying insoles, and expedition stoves... how about ‘Expedition Baron’?”
“Volf-sama, that makes it sound like Dahlia-san herself would be going on expeditions.”
“That’s too dangerous, so let’s veto that.”
Volf, holding a glass of Eastern liquor, shook his head.
Indeed, if Dahlia were to join an expedition, she would only be a burden. While she was curious to see live monsters up close, her slow reflexes would likely make her easy prey.
“Ah, belatedly, Volf, thank you for introducing the ‘expedition stove.’”
Finally finding a break in the conversation, Dahlia turned to Volf and bowed her head.
She should have said this yesterday, but there hadn’t been time. Today, Volf had arrived after the others were already seated at the table.
She couldn’t stop the toast, and she ended up saying it far too late.
“I’d also like to thank you. Thank you for promoting it. I never expected to get a bulk order right from the start. I was speechless.”
“No need to thank me. All I did was fry pieces of smoked bacon in the captain’s office while saying, ‘This is the expedition stove.’”
“Volf-sama, that’s quite an innovative sales pitch.”
“I thought it would be faster than explaining.”
It was indeed innovative, but Dahlia couldn’t help but wonder if it was appropriate to do that in the captain’s office.
Also, she really wanted to know which shop that smoked bacon came from.
“Are you talking about that order for a hundred units?”
“Yeah. They asked, so I explained how to use it and the price. But I didn’t say anything about wanting them to buy it or where it would be needed. They did ask a bit about the developer, though.”
“Huh?”
Dahlia’s heart skipped a beat at the mention of herself being asked about.
Her father was an honorary baron, but she was a commoner, a novice magical toolmaker, and her company had just been established. Even with Jedda and Volf as guarantors, her credibility was low.
So why had they showcased it yesterday and placed an order?
“They asked who made it and for what purpose. So I said, ‘The developer is Dahlia, and she said she just wanted to help improve expedition meals.’... Oh, wait, should I have negotiated for better terms there?”
“No, that’s more than enough. I couldn’t ask for more. Actually, I forgot about your sales skills...”
Ivano sighed as he spoke, while Dominic smiled warmly.
“Improving expedition meals? The captain must have been delighted.”
“Yes. He took it home with him, and the next day, they were already discussing introducing it to expeditions. This royal castle delivery was perfect timing.”
If they found it useful for expeditions, that was great, but was the regular price really okay? Should they consider discounts? Dahlia’s mind was racing with things to discuss with Ivano tomorrow.
“...Hey, did I just hear something about an ‘order for a hundred units’?”
Gabriella had also seen the expedition stove, but she seemed surprised by the number. She narrowed her eyes as she looked at Dahlia.
“Yes, it’s a request from the captain. I honestly thought we’d start with maybe ten units as a trial.”
“You also gifted the ‘shoe dryers,’ right?”
“Yes, about five units. We’ve already contracted workshops that can make hair dryers, so we can easily produce a hundred or two hundred.”
“Ah, today, Captain Grato mentioned the ‘shoe dryers’ too. He said they’d let us know the quantity later and asked us to prepare a quote after the ‘expedition stoves.’”
“Thank you. This is also a great opportunity, Chairwoman.”
“Y-yes, thank you.”
It seemed like the number of items to deliver might increase, but the shoe dryer’s mechanism was relatively simple. Any workshop that could make hair dryers could produce them without issue. Ivano had taken charge of the shoe dryers, and he had quickly set up the production system by coordinating with various workshops.
However, if orders for over a hundred expedition stoves came in, there would be the question of which workshops to assign which tasks to.
There were mountains of things to consider and discuss with everyone.
Just like last time, there was no time to savor the afterglow of the red bear steak.
・・・・・・・
After the dinner party, they left the restaurant to find stars already dotting the sky.
The nearby carriage station was a bit crowded with people heading to their next destination or going home.
A sleek, dark brown box-shaped carriage was waiting, and Gabriella boarded it.
After seeing her off, Ivano straightened his jacket.
“Sorry, Volf-sama, can I leave Dahlia-san in your care?”
“Sure, but isn’t your place in the same direction? Why not ride together for part of the way?”
“I have some business to attend to.”
“You’re not going back to the guild to work overtime, are you?”
“No, our chairwoman is strict about overtime. I’m just meeting a friend for a drink.”
Ivano waved his right hand dismissively as he answered Dahlia with a laugh.
He seemed to have sobered up, as his face showed no signs of redness.
“Should I give you a ride to the shop?”
“No, I’m meeting them nearby, so it’s fine.”
“Alright. Well, I hope you have a good drink.”
“Yes, I’ll make sure not to get involved in any alcohol-related trouble.”
After a light bow, the man walked off in the opposite direction.
“Dominic-san, my carriage is here. If you’d like, I can give you a ride.”
“Thank you, Volfred-san. But I wouldn’t want to intrude on you two.”
“Not at all.”
“It’s alright.”
They answered simultaneously and laughed as they boarded the carriage.
The carriage Volf used was unremarkable, with a matte black exterior and interior.
However, once inside, the quality became apparent: the cushion’s elasticity, the backrest’s comfort, and the short-pile carpet on the floor were all meticulously crafted.
It was a comfortable ride, and Dahlia was grateful for how little fatigue or nausea it caused.
“Dahlia-san, it looks like you’re going to get even busier.”
As Dominic spoke with a gentle expression, Dahlia suddenly remembered.
The last time she had ridden in a carriage with Dominic was the day her engagement was broken off.
“Dominic-san, thank you so much for everything. Um... from the day my engagement was broken off until today, you’ve been so supportive, and I’ve burdened you with so many urgent documents...”
“There’s no need for you to worry about such things, Dahlia-san. Besides, urgent matters are common in business.”
On the day her engagement was broken off, Dominic had remained completely composed.
He had listened quietly to Dahlia’s story, prepared the documents, and told her to consult him if she had any problems. He had even returned the keys to the house that was supposed to be her new home.
At the time, she had been too overwhelmed to process it, but looking back, she realized how much she owed him.
“I also want to thank you for your advice. That day, I’m glad you were the notary I consulted.”
The day after creating the fairy crystal glasses, Volf had brought formal documents prepared by a notary.
The document stated, “Dahlia Rossetti is recognized as an equal friend, free to speak her mind without fear of disrespect.” It was Dominic who had prepared this document and encouraged him to get involved with the Rossetti Company.
“As a notary, I’m truly pleased. Thank you as well. By the way, the Rossetti Company reached the royal castle incredibly quickly.”
“That’s thanks to Volf’s introduction and everyone’s help. I couldn’t have done it alone...”
“I just introduced the products; I didn’t do much. It’s all Dahlia’s skill.”
As Dominic listened, he narrowed his dark brown eyes in amusement and lightly clasped his fingers.
“Since we’re on the topic, why don’t both of you aim for a barony?”
“A barony?”
“Yes. Dahlia-san, if you continue delivering excellent magical tools, you could earn it in a few years. For the Scarlet Armor, it usually takes over ten years, or you can shorten it by defeating a major threat. Volfred-san, have you ever defeated a large monster?”
“Once, I helped take down a cyclops, but it wasn’t a solo effort. It’s quite difficult...”
Volf hesitated, likely recalling that battle.
Fighting giant monsters was a life-or-death struggle. The ten years required for the Scarlet Armor seemed to balance out the barony.
“Even if it’s less than ten years, if you get a recommendation, it might be worth considering. If both of you become barons, it could open up new opportunities.”
“...I’ll think... about it.”
The barony, held by her father and Ozwald, had always seemed out of reach.
But to expand her freedom as a magical toolmaker and to stand as Volf’s equal, she had indeed considered it.
Though she was still inexperienced, she didn’t want to miss the chance to broaden her horizons.
It seemed she had become quite ambitious without realizing it.
“Dahlia-san, it seems my prayer that day has been answered.”
On the day her engagement was broken off, as Dominic stepped out of the carriage, he had said to her:
”I sincerely wish you good fortune in everything that comes.”
Indeed, since that day, her life had completely changed. As he had said, she had been blessed with luck and good people, and here she was now.
“...Yes, it has been answered.”
Dahlia smiled and nodded as she recalled the memory.
Dominic wore the same gentle smile as before. His gaze was directed not only at her but also at Volf beside her.
“Then, once again—I pray for great fortune in your futures.”
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