Chapter 385
Having gained Gato as an ally and setting our sights on a new scouting candidate, after going west, next was east.
After providing a vacation and some training for Gato, raising him to Class 4 and giving him skills, a smooth two weeks had passed.
In a way, this was convenient.
Unlike an ordinary householder like Gato, the person we were going to meet next was someone who ran a large workshop. A visit without an appointment would be unwise, and Gato's connection with him was from about ten years ago.
We had Gato write a letter, sent it by mail, stationed a return courier in the town to receive the reply and return.We sent the courier one way with Judas from the Entertainers and one support person, and had them return using a Transfer Pendulum.We considered using horses, but that would delay the return, so we just had them register the location and wait at an inn, and the reply to the letter arrived the other day.
In the meantime, I asked Gato about Percy and his wife, and the stories were quite interesting.
"So, this is the workshop born from a great romance..."Percy's wife, Felt, was originally the daughter of an ordinary inn. Percy, who came to the inn to stay while procuring materials for magic items, was how they met.
"It's like an electronics store."And then, as coincidence would have it, the stove broke down and they couldn't serve hot meals. Percy, simply because he wanted a hot meal, casually turned the stove into a magic item.
His skillful handling scored a direct hit on Felt's heart.Furthermore, he said he didn't need payment; he just wanted a hot meal—a double hit.And then, when Felt cooked in her father's place and he said it was delicious and even asked for seconds—a triple hit.
Despite already having a very good impression at this stage, this town had good circulation of eastern mineral resources and quality was assured. While looking for a workshop base here, he stayed at that inn because he liked the taste of the food. He would eat normally when the father cooked, but ask for seconds when Felt cooked.
It seems he hit a grand slam home run with that.
Gato told me he secretly heard this at a drinking session between men. Percy apparently said that at the time, he just liked the taste that only that inn had.
"A shop of this scale didn't exist in FBO."In other words, he had no ulterior motives—well, he was hungry, so there was that motive—but he had no intention of using it as a chance for anything else. Yet, he managed to win the heart of a woman famous in this town for her beauty.
"Ingrid, do you want anything here?""No, the spirits have prepared magic items for me, and they are all fine, carefully made items.""Indeed."From there, Felt's fierce pursuit didn't stop.After he set up his workshop, she came over to cook, almost like a visiting wife, to capture his stomach. She also self-studied business management and even learned about magic items from Percy.
Guts, perseverance, and love.Possessing these three is what allowed her to win over Percy, who in FBO was said to be married to magic items.
The items in this workshop run by this Percy I didn't know included magic items useful for combat and adventure, but more were closely tied to daily life.
Magic items like cassette stoves, faucet-like magic items, ceiling-hung lighting magic items, and even something like an electric fan.
"Welcome! What kind of magic item are you looking for?"They had a plentiful stock of magic items that would simply be convenient to have at home.This was an inventory that didn't exist in FBO.You could make them.But NPCs didn't sell them.
"No, I'm an old friend. I came to see the head of this workshop."The ones who came to such a workshop were Gato, the sender of the letter, me, Ingrid, Genjirou as guard, and three additional guards.
It was quite a large group, but the clerk paid no mind and attended to us proactively. While one might think we were getting special treatment for being a group with a maid and guards, I could see ordinary customers also visiting and clerks consulting with them.
It was a shop with a good atmosphere and little friction.
"Here is the invitation.""Let me see."They weren't rigid. The clerk's flexible attitude was good too.
After reading the contents of the letter from Gato and nodding several times, the clerk said:"Confirmed. Yes, you are Lord Gato and his party. Please, this way to the reception room.""Thank you."They guided us to the reception room deep inside the workshop and even served us tea.
Gato and I sat side by side, with guards and Ingrid lined up behind us.
"Hey, hey! Gato-san! It's been such a long time! I'm so glad to see my old friend looking so well!"We didn't have to wait long before a man in work clothes appeared.A man with cheerful, messy brown hair, wearing glasses.Dark eyes that, within their amiability, hinted at a slightly mad atmosphere. To a first-timer, he exuded a somewhat unapproachable aura.
There were visible spots soiled from work, but Gato didn't mind, standing up and firmly grasping the craftsman's hand.
"You also look well, and that's what matters most. How is your wife?""Ah! She cooks delicious meals for me every day!""Just like that day when she captured your stomach, unchanged, I see.""Yes! If anything, eating elsewhere feels painful now! No matter how delicious the food, a sense of insufficiency follows.""Ho ho ho ho! A fine pair!"Even though they hadn't met for over ten years, they interacted as if they'd met just recently. Appearing in work clothes might seem inappropriate externally, but conversely, it could also be proof that he wanted to meet so much that he dropped his work.
"So, so? The person you want to introduce to me is him, right? Looks like you found a proper good person after all. I'm so happy you're introducing such a splendid son to me!"After a round of laughter, Percy, with the face I knew, looked at me, smiled, approached, and extended his hand.
"No, Percy, he's not my son.""Then, a grandson? Don't tell me you had a hidden child..."The firm handshake was a sign of goodwill. Perhaps because I'd grown taller, I felt I was being treated properly.
"He's my employer.""Employer? I thought you'd retired from adventuring?"Hearing that my identity was not as a son or grandson, but as Gato's employer, Percy's expression showed a question mark floating above his head.
"Yes, I did retire. I just felt like chasing a dream again. I believed it could be realized with him.""I see, I see. My apologies. I'm Percy, the head of this workshop. May I ask your name?""Nice to meet you. I'm Liberta, Gato-san's employer."Hearing Gato's explanation and understanding it wasn't a lie or a joke, Percy realized I was the main guest and properly reintroduced himself.
During this exchange, the door was knocked on belatedly. Percy gave permission, the door opened, and a woman in a calm beige dress appeared.
"Dear, it's rude to appear before guests dressed like that. No matter how long it's been since Gato-san last visited.""Hey, Felt. Don't say that. He's an old friend who helped me many times with materials and gave me advice on magic items. Please forgive me for getting carried away."Accompanied by a maid, the woman with honey-brown hair—unusually styled in a short cut for a financially comfortable household—appeared. She admonished Percy with a gentle, charming smile.She was somewhat petite, but carried the composed aura of an adult woman, making her someone not to be underestimated in negotiations.
"Oh, dear, you're impossible. Lord Gato, it's been a long time. You look even more robust than when we last met, and that's wonderful.""Hey, Miss Felt. You also look well. Is Fleg-kun doing well?""Yes, he's off to the workshop in good spirits today as well.""Ho ho ho! Then it seems the successor is being raised well. Percy must be relieved, no?""He has talent for magic items, but there's one critical thing he lacks!""Oh? And what is that?"Standing swiftly beside Felt, who created such an atmosphere, Percy grinned.
"A wonderful wife like mine! I can assert that boy's talent for magic items comes from me. But he didn't inherit much of Felt's talent in that regard. His looks resemble Felt's and he has quite a charming face, yet he doesn't introduce a single girlfriend. As a parent, I'm worried he shows no interest in that area."That expression was Percy's face as a father, which I hadn't seen in FBO. He laughed in the game, but it was a childlike smile when praised for his achievements. A pure, innocent smile fitting for someone facing magic items. But what I was seeing now was a father's smile.
Not expecting such a conversation, I was caught off guard and simply stared at Percy's face.
"Oh, I should introduce you to my wife. Felt, he's not Gato-san's son or grandson; he's Gato-san's employer, Liberta.""My, my apologies. I'm Percy's wife, Felt. I handle accounting here at the workshop and also serve as the negotiation contact point.""Since the letter mentioned you have a request for me, I'll have my wife join us as well.""Yes, that's fine. From our side, we're grateful just to have you listen."
Perhaps it seemed like a complaint not to be disregarded? Looking slightly apologetic, Percy introduced Miss Felt and sat down again.
Now we were facing Percy and his wife.They made time for us only because of the connection through Gato; under normal circumstances, it would have been unthinkable for the couple to attend a meeting with first-time visitors.
At best, a sales representative from the business window would appear, and a negotiation table would be set up.
"So, what business brings you here today?"The small talk ended with the previous conversation.From here, it was business.
In this world's customs, many people think it improper for a woman to take the lead in negotiation talk, but in this workshop, this was the norm.
Having discussed work with female salespeople in my previous life, I proceeded without particular discomfort.
"First, this proposal is not mandatory; it's voluntary. And unless you find it appealing, there is no need to force yourselves to accept it. I swear that even if you decline, we have no intention of acting with malice or causing you harm.""I see. So, it's a rather difficult matter."I started with this preface as a precautionary line, because I didn't want to become hostile with Percy and his wife. Explicitly stating we have no hostile intent has a greater effect in this world than one might think.
Arguments about who said what, once rumors start, can have significant influence. Therefore, explicitly stating we have no hostility to Percy and his wife will have no small impact on future relations.
"Yes. The reason I've come this time is to recruit, in their entirety, the staff of this workshop, including you, Mr. Percy, the head."But even with such a preface, it took courage to utter these words. After all, what I'm saying is essentially asking them to abandon the foundation they worked so hard to build.
Now, I wonder what kind of reaction will come back.