Volume 1 Chapter 11

Laurent took Charl along on a visit to a silverworks shop.

He hoped the visit would help her [Silverwork], [Product Development] and [Product Design] skills along, but it also doubled as market research.

The silverware, which were excellent teaching materials for Charl, spilled over the shelves.

Though it was supposed to be work research, she had forgotten herself. Her eyes were shining and her focus was enthralled by the beautiful silverware.

Laurent grinned. “Charl, this is market research, so keep your focus on the job.”

“Oh! I’m sorry,” Charl said guiltily at Laurent’s chiding.

She took a deep breath and steeled her expression. It lasted for a moment before the delight in her eyes shone through again.

Until now, she had always tried her best to refrain from anything related to alchemy. But now that she could freely take in all the silverware, she was absolutely overjoyed. 

My, my. When it comes to this, she’s still a child, isn’t she?

Laurent gave up on trying to make her study and let her drink in her fill.

But I’ll have to show her this, at the very least.

“Charl, take a look at this.” Laurent brought Charl over to a shelf and pointed at a silver piece. 

“This is…” Charl peered at the silver plate that Laurent had pointed out, and her expression blanked.

It was etched with a large, intricate floral design.

It was evident that this product was not the same as the rest.

“This platter was made by the city’s finest silverworker, Daevin. He’ll be your biggest competitor.”

Charl stared at it, an overwhelmed look in her eyes as she grew entranced by the silverwork. “Excuse me. I need some air,” Charl said, her face falling. She left the shop.

It’s an understandable response. Right now, she can only dream of crafting something of this level.

Laurent sighed.

Truthfully, Charl’s silverworking skills were considerable, but her designs  were childish, and still left much to be desired.

She didn’t yet have enough experience to meet the professional standard of the items displayed in the store.

In that, she would probably lose to even a C-rank silverworker.

But if I can’t bring her up to this level somehow, we won’t stand a chance against Lucius’s guilds. 

Laurent emerged from the shop, deep in his thoughts, and found Charl working on something over a bench in front of the shop.

He saw that she was sketching on the canvas she had brought.

She was muttering fervently under her breath, her pen flying across the surface.

Laurent took a look at the canvas and gaped in shock.

On the paper, she had sketched a perfect reproduction of the silver platter he had just shown her.

From the measurements of the plate’s length and depth to notes on how to create the same product, including its production process and its material composition—everything was written in detail in the annotations.

“Laurent-san, the silverware we saw earlier was just amazing. It’s the first time I’ve seen such a beautiful design. It was so daringly complicated, but each stroke is flawless and precise. If his hand had even slipped just a little, he would have ruined a piece of top-quality silver, but you wouldn’t think that from how bold each stroke was! He didn’t hesitate at all. I can’t be that confident in my skills,” Charl said, almost delirious with excitement. Her pen had not ceased moving over the canvas even once. 

She only needed that brief moment of observation to find out all that she needed to know. Truly, an S-ranked talent. She has to be a genius…

When Laurent appraised her skills again, her [Silverwork] had risen from B to A-rank.

And her previously E-ranked [Product Design] skill was now B-rank.

Laurent watched over her silently as she worked.

——

After Charl had finished her work, the two of them began to head home. 

Once she had finished her sketch, she had returned to being a sweet young girl.

She looked just like any other little girl as she walked, holding Laurent’s hand and nibbling away at the confectionery she had bought from a street stall.

“Laurent-san, when will my silverwork be displayed in the store?”

“That… will not happen.”

Charl looked up at him innocently, tilting her head. Laurent shook his head weakly. 

“The shops in this city will not accept the products that we make at our workshop.”

Only stores with special permission from the city’s administration could sell alchemical products.

But the alchemist guilds affiliated with Lucius had exclusive contracts with those stores to only stock the products that they made. 

And while it was true that the alchemist guilds controlled by Lucius produced top-quality products, the contract had closed the market off completely to other guilds, and commerce suffered because of it.

“That’s why at this time, we can’t sell your products in the shops.”

“I get it. The human world has its own problems, just like elves, huh?” She displayed wisdom beyond her years.

While she was an elf, she had also spent her childhood among the dwarves. She had come away from that strife with a varied perspective.

“Laurent-san, thank you for hiring me.”

“Eh?”

“It’s because of you that I can work hard on silverworking like this, as though it’s completely normal. I could never have even dreamed of doing this before,” Charl said, speaking of the time before she had been hired by Laurent.

Back then, she had practiced her alchemy in secret so that her parents would not find out.

Using crude silver that had been tossed into the junkyard, she had barely managed to craft anything.

She had thrown out the silverworks she had made after, afraid that her parents would discover them.

“But now, I don’t have to worry at all, and I can do silverworking whenever I please. And I even get to work with high-quality silver, like a great alchemist. It’s all thanks to you!”

“No, all I did was show you the way. I didn’t do much.”

“No way. You’ve done a lot for me. Even I know that much,” Charl said, and heedless of the fact that they were on the road, she knelt before him and clasped her hands together. She was offering Laurent an elven prayer. “For your nobility, I pray that you are bestowed with happiness equal to your merit.”

“… Charl.”

For a moment, it was as though time stood still, and the two of them were held in place.

A tear slid down Charl’s cheek.

It was in the elves’ nature that when they were overcome by gratitude, they would weep.

Laurent wiped away her tears.

He took her hand and helped her up.

“Anyway, is it alright, Laurent-san? That we can’t sell my silverworks. You even built a workshop for me, but it looks like I’ve just wasted your efforts…”

“Charl, you don’t need to think of those things.”

“But…”

“Don’t worry about it.”

It was true that he had spent quite a bit on her, but he refused to show any strain in his manner.

“All you need to do is think about how to raise your skills. Don’t be content with just producing silverworks. From here on, make as much as you can, and become a first-class silverworker.”

“… Okay,” she said, smiling tearfully.

Laurent was content.

It was different from his days at Golden Hawk.

Now, he worked in a place that was warm, bound together by friendship and people.

I have to protect this. For Charl—no, not just for Charl. For all the members, I will protect this guild.

——

At Golden Hawk’s headquarters, in the Guild Leader’s office, Lucius and Jill met alone.

Jill’s expression was dissatisfied.

She had just been informed by Lucius of her new duties.

“I am to… give silverware to the bride?”

“Yes, you’ve heard about it, too, haven’t you? The Silver Fair that Count Elson is holding for his daughter’s marriage?”

“Yes, but only in passing.”

“In the Fair’s finale, there will be an awards ceremony for the best silverwork and silverworker. The winning silver worker will have the honour of presenting to the bride-to-be their masterpiece.”

“And, I’m taking on that role?”

“The Fair will draw the attendance of not only people within the town but also distinguished individuals within the whole territory and neighbouring territories. Is there any better place to promote the guild? I want you to do that.”

“But isn’t this fair an event for alchemists? If that is the case, rather than me, isn’t it better for that honour to go to the alchemist who actually made the winning silverwork?”

“I’m sure that I’ve just told you. This is the ideal situation for promoting our guild.”

“…”

“If we send out some soot-covered, unwashed alchemist that spends all day in a workshop to promote our guild, it does nothing for our image. But a beautiful knight dressed in a magnificent dress presenting silverwork to a noblewoman will make for a much better picture, don’t you think? And a beautiful knight like you is just what we need,” Lucius cajoled her.

Jill did not so much as twitch an eyebrow as she looked stoically in Lucius’s direction.

“If all goes well, then our guild may even receive applications from esteemed adventurers of other cities. In other words, this is all for the guild’s advancement. You can do that for me, can’t you?”

“I understand. If it is for the guild’s advancement, I will accept this assignment. However, if we are speaking of the guild’s advancement, there is one more issue I would like you to take into consideration.”

“Oh? What is it, my dear?”

“The reinstatement of the appraiser, Laurent.”

At the mention of Laurent’s name, Lucius’s eyebrow twitched slightly. “Laurent? Ah yes, I remember, there was someone of that name in our guild. Though I haven’t seen him around lately. And? What of Laurent?”

“That man is an irreplaceable existence to the guild. Please, somehow, reinstate him.”

“If you require an appraiser, we have plenty in Golden Hawk. Why not make use of them?”

“I will not accept any other appraiser. Without Laurent-san, I will not be able to realise my full potential. I beg of you, let whatever trivial mistakes he made slide and reinstate him. I’m sure that there is something else going on with that business about advancing the interests of Guardians of the Magical Tree…”

Lucius tilted his head in confusion. “I won’t pretend to understand why you’re so fixated on this man, but I have my own position to consider. I simply cannot give special treatment to someone who will only be a burden, and neglect other appraisers who have produced better results.”

“Results?! If we speak about results, hasn’t he produced the best? The only reason I managed to become a B-rank adventurer… That I am able to stand here today, it is thanks to Laurent-san.”

“Jill-kun, you overestimate him. You becoming a B-rank adventurer has nothing to do with him, only your own merit.”

“That’s not true. Without Laurent-san’s teachings, I would still be nothing more than a second-rate archer…”

“Regardless, Laurent’s expulsion has been decided. I cannot overturn a decision that has already been made.”

“Guild Leader—”

“This has gone on long enough. If I reinstate someone who was expelled, it will affect our internal organisation as well. You would be better off paying attention to your duties. Surely, you’re not contenting yourself with a B-rank? You are our guild’s future. There are plenty of things that you must do to become an S-rank adventurer, no? How much free time do you really have to spend to quarrel about a single appraiser?”

“I understand,” Jill said through gritted teeth. “I won’t speak of this with you anymore.” She closed her eyes in grief and turned on her heel to leave.

“Wait,” Lucius said, calling out to her retreating back.

Jill halted, not turning back around.

Lucius had one more matter to discuss with her. It was why he had made it a point to summon her while Deanna was not around. “This has no direct relation to your duties, but… are you free tonight? If you’d like, we could get dinner or something?”

“I’ll take my leave,” Jill said, brushing him off firmly and exiting the room.

Lucius looked briefly indignant. Then he sighed. It was as I thought; she can’t be trusted. I’ll just have to appoint someone else as captain of the main force.

Outside, Jill stalked down the corridor with a determined look on her face. 

Laurent-san is not a burden, she thought. I’ll prove it to him!

Thus, each held onto their own intentions, and as they converged, the day of the Silver Fair arrived.