Chapter 134 - Proposal from an Employee
In the room rented by the Rossetti Company on the second floor of the Merchant Guild, Dahlia sat face-to-face with Ivano.
“Dahlia-san, you’ve created something amazing again...”
Ivano said, a quiet smile on his face as he glanced at a stack of documents.
The documents contained specifications for a cooling cloth, a list of items they wanted to create with it, and proposed production methods.
For now, Dahlia had compiled all the ideas that came up during last night’s discussion with Volf and the others.
Incidentally, Ivano had a light green scarf wrapped around his neck.
“Given the quantity, it might be impossible to produce everything at once, but I believe all of it is feasible.”
“These are all related to clothing, aren’t they? I’ll discuss this with Gabriella-san, but would it be alright to consult with Fort-sama from the Tailors Guild as well?”
“Yes, please do.”
The cooling cloth, designed to allow airflow, would likely be used primarily for undergarments. It would be best to seek the Tailors Guild’s cooperation for this.
“Aside from Volf-sama, does anyone else know about this?”
“Friends of Volf’s from the Monster Subjugation Force helped come up with the idea. Volf asked them not to talk about it.”
“Then there’s no need to worry about that side of things.”
Ivano neatly aligned the documents on the desk, tapping them into a tidy stack.
His expression turned serious, and his deep indigo eyes locked onto Dahlia.
“Now, Chairwoman. This is quite risky.”
“You’re right... We’ll run short on green slime, won’t we?”
When they worked on the waterproof fabric, they had caused significant trouble for the Adventurer Guild due to a shortage of blue slime.
This time, they didn’t want to cause similar issues. They needed to ensure a steady supply of materials and a smooth production process.
“That’s one concern, but the main issue is the Chivalric Order’s equipment. This involves interests and nobles. Once it spreads from nobles to commoners, there will inevitably be interference and meddling.”
“Should we stop? At the very least, I’d like to make it work for the Monster Subjugation Force...”
“No, there’s no need to stop. Didn’t I tell you before? Make what you want to make, Dahlia-san. Mass production, distribution, and safety—those are my responsibilities to figure out.”
Ivano gently touched his scarf, a soft smile returning to his lips.
“So, the priority is to deliver this to the Monster Subjugation Force, right?”
“Yes, I hope it can make their lives even a little easier.”
While the heat of the knights’ uniforms was a concern, Dahlia also wanted to improve their comfort during expeditions. As she explained this, Ivano listened intently, nodding repeatedly with his eyes closed.
“I understand your wishes, Chairwoman. In response, I have two proposals. First, let’s involve Fort-sama from the Tailors Guild in a joint development project. By sharing the honor, we can secure both financial stability and safety. Second, let’s propose to Captain Grato of the Monster Subjugation Force that we prioritize their unit in exchange for fixing the Rossetti Company as the official supplier to the royal castle through him.”
Ivano spoke casually, but the people involved were a Marquis and a Viscount.
Was it really appropriate for a company to make such requests?
“Um, won’t this cause trouble for Fort-sama and Captain Grato?”
“On the contrary, I think they’ll fully agree. Fort-sama likely wants to build achievements as the head of the Tailors Guild, and Captain Grato would naturally want to prioritize his unit, wouldn’t he?”
“That might be true, but...”
“If anyone tries to mess with the Rossetti Company, they’ll have to deal with the heads of the Merchant Guild, the Tailors Guild, and the Monster Subjugation Force. Not many would dare to cross that line.”
The only ones who might would be a Duke’s family or the royal family, Ivano joked, though such a scenario was highly unlikely.
As Dahlia struggled to laugh along, Ivano continued.
“If possible, I’d also like to pay a visit to Volf-sama’s older brother.”
“Volf’s older brother?”
“Yes, he’s set to be promoted next year, so he’ll be a Marquis. I heard it from Jedda-sama—ah, no, I’m still not used to it... From Leone-sama.”
Jedda, the head of the Merchant Guild, had instructed them to refer to him by his first name rather than his family name. However, both Ivano and Dahlia were still getting used to calling him “Leone.”
Still, if the head of the Merchant Guild said so, it must be a done deal.
By next year, Volf would become a member of a Marquis family, moving up from his current status as part of a Count family.
Dahlia felt a slight pang of loneliness as the distance between them seemed to grow, but she chose her words carefully to avoid showing it.
“That’s wonderful news.”
“Yes. By the way, currently, there are four Ducal families and seven Marquis families, right? Our kingdom has fewer of the upper two ranks compared to others, but I suppose that’s due to our long period of peace.”
“I think that’s something to be grateful for. If there were wars, the kingdom wouldn’t be as prosperous, and we wouldn’t have the freedom to create magical tools like this.”
In the kingdom of “Ordine,” as far as Dahlia knew, there were no titles granted for wartime achievements. This was because there had been no wars since the kingdom’s founding.
Instead, titles were often awarded or elevated based on contributions to infrastructure, education, agriculture, trade, inventions, or the development of magical tools.
Conversely, those involved in embezzlement, bribery, or crimes would swiftly have their titles stripped.
“Chairwoman, if my proposal makes you uncomfortable, we can rethink it. As a magical toolmaker, would you prefer to have your name alone on the product rather than sharing credit with Fort-sama?”
“No, I don’t mind a joint project. What’s more important to me is ensuring that any issues or complaints are properly communicated back to me.”
“Ah, I see... Speaking of which, there were some complaints about the shoe insoles, weren’t there? Requests for reusable ones, lower prices, more sizes—you’ve seen those, right?”
“Yes. Were there any other issues?”
“Recently, there have been nearly twenty requests saying, ‘I wish these insoles had been made sooner.’ I understand the sentiment, but that’s asking a bit much.”
Dahlia couldn’t help but smile at the encouraging feedback.
The shoe insoles had spread beyond the Monster Subjugation Force to the royal castle and various guilds.
Hearing that her work was helping others brought her great joy as a creator.
“Then let’s move forward with the cooling cloth as quickly as possible. Fortunately, summer is almost over, so we can prioritize prototypes for the Monster Subjugation Force and plan for full-scale production next year. The timing seems perfect.”
Ivano had a knack for motivating people. Dahlia knew this, but she still found herself inspired—perhaps because she was a magical toolmaker at heart, not a merchant.
“Is there anything else, Chairwoman?”
“Now that you mention it, something happened in the royal castle...”
When Dahlia brought up the matter with the maid, Ivano’s expression immediately turned grim.
“I’m sorry. I really should have accompanied you. Having an attendant would have made a difference... Ideally, an attendant who can also act as a guard would be best.”
“Is that necessary even in the royal castle?”
“Yes, it would be more reassuring. A physically imposing man alone can serve as a deterrent, though having actual combat skills would be even better. Of course, they can’t follow you into the etiquette rooms, so a female attendant who can also serve as a guard would be perfect...”
A female attendant who could also act as a guard—that seemed like a tall order.
Dahlia thought seriously about it.
The royal castle’s rooms and hallways were usually patrolled by knights. If she avoided the etiquette rooms as much as possible, perhaps she could manage.
“Next time, I’ll limit my liquid intake before going to the royal castle and avoid drinking tea while I’m there. That should prevent a situation like this from happening again.”
“Please don’t do that, Dahlia-san. You’ll collapse in the summer heat if you do.”
“I’ll be fine. When I’m busy with magical tool prototypes or other work, I often limit my water intake in the tower too.”
“...Chairwoman.”
Ivano’s voice dropped slightly, and Dahlia tilted her head in response.
His deep indigo eyes seemed even more intense than usual, narrowed like a cat’s.
For a moment, she thought he resembled Gabriella. Then, in a low voice, he continued.
“You always tell me not to overwork and to take care of my health, don’t you?”
“Uh, yes...”
“As the chairwoman, you’re above me, aren’t you? Those in leadership positions should set an example.”
What followed was a thorough lecture from Ivano on the importance of staying hydrated.
In the end, it was decided that Ivano would accompany Dahlia to the royal castle until a suitable guard could be found.
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