Chapter 704

Good grief.
In any case, as an automatic shaved ice maker it was superb, no, more than superb, so we decided to purchase it as-is.

Some of the attachments… specifically, those together with their magic-circle scrolls, would be bought outright and managed by our house.
On the condition that no other notes or records would be kept in Owen-san’s workshop, we would buy them at a price far higher than that of the shaved ice maker itself.

“I’m the one who got carried away and made it, so I wouldn’t mind if it were confiscated and kept in the Duke family’s custody, but…”

Owen-san said this while scratching his cheek awkwardly.

“That will not do. Regardless of the final form of the completed item, we must properly pay the price for what our house commissioned. Moreover, this includes hush money. Therefore, you must not speak of this matter to anyone… Well, if you desire a life of being endlessly made to produce weapons and concealed arms, then before another territory takes you in, my ducal house will gladly secure you, do feel free to say so.”

“Y-yes, sir! A-absolutely understood! N-no, wait, that’s not it! I respectfully decline!”

Glared at once more by Otousama, Owen-san snapped to attention and replied loudly and crisply.

“Hmph. You and Galvano need only concern yourselves with making what my daughter desires.”

No, no, no.
Otousama? Please don’t point the legendary blacksmith and the magic-tool fanatic at me.

“Of course. Lately it’s more fun than forging weapons. Weapons can be made as a diversion.”

… Ojisama?
That diversion is supposed to be kitchenware!
If not, I feel like all the people eagerly awaiting your weapons will start resenting me!

“That might be good too. It’s more fun making something with a twist than taking boring commissions.”

Owen-san, you too!
Kitchenware doesn’t need twists!
If you’d just make it straightforwardly, that would be perfectly fine!

“Hey, you lot! Don’t get carried away. Cristea-chan will be troubled, you know! No doing unnecessary things!”

Tirie-saaaan!
Thank you! You said exactly what I wanted to say!

“Huh? What are you talking about? You were getting carried away too.”
“Indeed. You were egging Owen on every now and then.”
“Hey, stop it! I finally said something good, and now you’ve ruined it!”

… He really is a disappointing elf!
Egging him on… about what?
If it’s about that vicious attachment, then Tirie-san is an accomplice too!

“Silence. For the time being, you are to do nothing extra and mass-produce only the shaved ice makers. This is a lord’s order.”

Otousama said sharply.

Huh,mass-produce?

“What is that, isn’t that far too tyrannical!?”
“Yeah, yeah!”
“I wouldn’t mind if it’s for Jouchan, but…”

Galvano Ojisama!?
I’m not making such unreasonable demands!

“Hmm. It is also a request from the royal family, you know. Shall I suggest to His Majesty that a formal royal command be issued…?”
“Stop, stop, stop, don’t! That’s a pain, so stop!”

Tirie-san shouted as if from the bottom of her heart.

“… The other day, shaved ice was served at a tea party hosted by the Queen-sama.”
“Huh? Wait a second, if it was hosted by Her Majesty, then that means it’s guaranteed to become a trend, doesn’t it!?”
“Her Majesty and the guests reportedly liked it very much. Those who wish to ride the trend will soon sniff this place out and requests will pour in. If a fixed number are delivered to me beforehand, I will stand on the front lines and deal with it. Wouldn’t quietly mass-producing them be the wiser course?”
“Ugh, seriously! It’s already turning into a hassle, isn’t it! Galvano alone won’t keep up… Owen, you’re helping too!”

“Heh, guess it can’t be helped… hey, old man. I’ll be staying over at the workshop for a while.”

As Owen-san said this while rubbing beneath his nose, Ojisama visibly lost his motivation.

“That’s fine and all… but this isn’t Jouchan’s request, is it? I just don’t feel like it…”

“Ojisama, for my sake… please do your best. Okay? Please?”

With a kyurun, or so I imagined, I tilted my head and looked up at him with my ultimate pleading attack.
… This is the kind that deals mental damage to me... Guh, that hurts.

“All right, let’s get to it at once! Hey, Owen, don’t stand there spacing out, get helping!”
“Hey, oi, you old geezer! Don’t pull me like that!”

Ojisama and Owen-san headed into the workshop.

“Phew… good grief.”
“Cristea-chan… you’re a terrifying child…”

Tirie-san was staring at me with white eyes like a certain actress from a famous theater manga, but I paid it no mind.
I am, after all, a noble lady in my own right. There are times when I must become a noble young lady (actress).

“… Umm, ah, Mariel-san? Why are you shaking so much…?”

Mariel-chan too had gone white-eyed like a certain theatrical heroine and was trembling.

“Could it be… another flag that the Meyer Company is going to get busy again…?”
“… Ah.”

Otousama made a face like he’d just realized something, and Mariel-chan burst into tears with a byah!.

“F-father… m-my father is going to die from overwork…!”

Her trembling worsened.

“W-wait… No, calm yourself. This time, let’s refrain from routing it through the Meyer Company. Right, Tirie. Couldn’t you manage something through the Adventurers’ Guild?”

Trying to calm Mariel-chan, Otousama asked Tirie-san hurriedly.

“Huh? Selling shaved ice makers? Through the Adventurers’ Guild? Don’t be ridiculous, that’s outside our jurisdiction.”

True enough.
If anything, it would fall under the Merchants’ Guild.

“I will remain the one responsible. Among those registered with the Adventurers’ Guild, there should be people who can use ice magic. I intend to hire them to handle explanations regarding ice products, manage the goods, and provide security. What do you say?”

“… If that’s the case, then maybe…”

Those youths, said to be mediocre as adventurers despite being able to use magic, came to mind, the ones who barely scraped by taking on odd jobs like replenishing ice in icehouses. For that kind of support work, they agreed to help.

Watching the exchange between Otousama and Tirie-san, Mariel-chan finally seemed to calm down.

Phew… good grief indeed.

What do you think about this chapter?