Magical Device Craftsman Dahlia Won't Hang Her Head Down Anymore

After accepting even an after-lunch coffee at Irma’s house, Dahlia headed for the Commerce Guild .

The Commerce Guild was a five-storeyed building made of black bricks which stood out even on the main street . Through its three big doors, a never-ending stream of people came and went .

There were visitors from abroad as well, some with the fresh color of embroidered cloaks on their shoulders, others with their heads tightly wrapped in cloth and dressed in long sleeved and hemmed outfits . The scent of spices and perfume came wafting in from somewhere .

Dahlia lightly greeted the guard at the entrance before entering . The first floor was mainly for the client’s consultation, so she went up to the second floor .

“Good afternoon”

A young, dark-haired woman and a mature, middle-aged man with a good physique were at the contract-related counter on the second floor . Dahlia, who had come here several times for magical tools related contracts, had already made acquaintance with them .

“Oh Ms . Dahlia! Congratulations on your marriage!”
“Hey, newlywed, congratulations!”

The two exceptional smiles which turned towards Dahlia gave her a p.r.i.c.kly pain .

“… I appreciate your congratulatory words, but the engagement was canceled by Mr . Orlando . So I would like you to give me the written agreement at the time of the engagement . ”

Two chairs clattered on the ground as and the two receptionists stood up simultaneously . Maybe, there was a mechanism for a couple to react in a synchronized manner when informed of a sudden cancelation of an engagement?

“Wh-why?”
“The cancellation of the engagement was proposed by Mr . Orlando, so I couldn’t say .   1

Dahlia didn’t even want to explain regarding the ‘true love’ here . However, she might have to not for Tobias’s honor, but for her own honor having been engaged to him .

“If the request is from Mr . Orlando, then did something happen to Orlando Trading Company? ”
“I can’t say . Please direct questions pertaining to this matter to him instead . ”
“… I’m sorry . It was improper of me to ask about Mr . Orlando’s circ.u.mstances . I understand . ”

The man understood immediately .

“So, I would like to request a notary, the witnesses who attended the fulfillment of the engagement contract, and to settle the dissolution of working in a joint name”

A notary was a person a.s.signed by the state to settle various arrangements, ascertain business-related contracts, confirmations, and certifications . In the previous world, it might seem like a mixture of administrative clerk and lawyers . It was quite difficult to become one, with an exam where neither social position nor connections would help you, 5 years of study at a professional inst.i.tution, 10 people of guarantors, etc .

Even if one became a notary, it was a tough job . Even single misconduct would deprive one of one’s qualifications, condemn them to severe punishment and penalize that one’s responsible guarantors accordingly as well .

Incidentally, if one became a notary by lying, or abusing status or money, the penalty would be quite heavy .

The cost of asking for a notary was quite expensive, but it was often included with the witness to avoid problems with work and business . Thankfully, there were resident notaries in the commercial guild, so you could request for one immediately if other people hadn’t requested one too .

“The notary will be four large silver coins for one hour, are you sure?”
“Yes, because I will be the one to pay”

Four large silver coins were about 40,000 yen in the sense of previous life . If it was to prevent future troubles, it was not expensive .

The kingdom’s currency was half coin-> copper coin-> silver coin-> big silver coin-> gold coin .

Mostly, the price at which one could buy one staple bread was one copper coin, so a half coin was about 50 yen and a copper coin was about 100 yen . But roughly in a sense, a silver coin was about 1000 yen, a large silver coin was about 10,000 yen, and a gold coin was about 100,000 yen .

However, food and daily necessities were cheap, while clothes and precious metals were expensive, so this conversion was just Dahlia’s attempt to adjust .

“I would like to ask for a discussion from 2 o’clock if possible . Of course, if it is impossible, I’ll leave it up to you . ”
“Understood . I will confirm it”
The man ran to the 3rd floor where the notary waited .

“Um, Ms . Dahlia, you’ve just moved, right?”
“No, I was planning to live in a new home today, but I will return to my house, to the Green Tower . ”

The address registered with the commercial guild was her previous house . It was called “Green Tower” because it was a small old tower that had been entangled with ivy in the outskirts of the city . Since she just left this morning from the new house and was going right back, Dahlia would not be troubled by having to live there again .

“I don’t know what to say, but… Please don’t be disheartened . Um, you can still continue your job as a Magical Devices Craftswoman, right?” 2

The receptionist in front of Dahlia was earnestly trying to keep the conversation going .
Dahlia noticed that the staff at the back of the counter were also looking up at her .

“Yes . I will try my best to make magical devices in the tower . ”
“You know, Ms . Dahlia’s magical devices are really popular, so if we could continue to request them from now on as well, the guild we would be very happy”
“Thank you . I appreciate your continued support . ”

Dahlia turned to the desperate receptionist and tried smiling brightly . She was not sure if she was laughing well, but she thought that, at least, her expression shouldn’t be down on the level of feeling miserable because her engagement was canceled .

“Ms . Dahlia, Dominique’s reservation has been made”

The man at the reception, who left earlier to check, returned .

Dahlia had been taught by her father, “In the case of important negotiations and large transactions, be sure to include a notary . ” Dahlia alone had asked several times for the notary Dominique . Since he was a person who had also done business with her father, she felt more at ease requesting him .

When Dahlia was relieved, the line of sight of the people around shifted to slightly behind her . Looking back, a woman with ivory-white hair drew nearer .

“h.e.l.lo, Ms . Dahlia”
“I am always indebted to you, Deputy Guild Chief”

Dahlia gave a light bow .

The one who approached her was Gabriella Jedda, Deputy Guild Chief of the Commercial Guild . Age wise, you might say she was middle-aged, but she still caused people to turn their heads . Her long baroque pearl necklace looked good on her well-made dark blue dress . She was a guild staff who had looked after Dahlia’s father since he was young, and Dahlia had known Gabriella since she was a student .

“It’s about the discussion of the contract, a reservation may come in for the 3rd-floor meeting room, so you can use the room next to this office”
“… Thank you”

The fact that ‘a reservation might come in’ meant that there was no reservation originally . The meeting room next to the office was a place that, out of a consideration for safety, had not been soundproofed . Dahlia decided not to let out the words ‘I understand . You want me to let you listen to everything . ’

But Gabriella, in front of her eyes, loosely lifted up her scarlet lips .

“Everyone seems very busy today . Do you mind if I serve as one of the two witnesses of the commercial guild?”
“… No, I’d appreciate it . ”

There was no way for a novice magical tool craftswoman to refuse the Deputy Guild Chief . Dahlia left it to her without hesitation .