Dwarf and the Workshop
The next day, we left the inn and headed to the workshop together. Rather than spending the whole time there with my hands shaking and my money pouch feeling empty, I decided to just blow it all quickly.
“So, near the carriage workshop we're heading to now, I saw some insanely cool decorations. Don't know who the craftsman is, but the skill was phenomenal!”
“Ah, yeah.”
I hadn't noticed yesterday since Asha and I went alone, but after arriving at the workshop, old man Horn was way chattier than usual.
“Not 'ah, yeah.' Listen up, you brat. I'm talking about some mind-blowing decorations. Stuff even a dwarf would acknowledge. You telling me you're not curious?”
“Hoping it's as mind-blowing as you say. Didn't realize you'd be leaking already—such a shame.”
“...What the hell kind of lunatic says that.”
I couldn't tell if it was a dwarven trait, but he couldn't hide the grin tugging at his lips amid the familiar clamor of crafting noises.
“Anyway, we gotta check that out too. And the workshop's so damn huge, you couldn't see it all in just a few days.”
“...”
Even after I threw out that nonsense about him leaking and picked a fight for no reason, he just muttered “lunatic” once and dove right back into raving about the workshop.
“That billiard table's pretty impressive when you think about it, right? Foldable, easy to load on a carriage, and when you unfold it, the finish and joints are so seamless you wouldn't guess it's collapsible!”
“Old man, I get it, so calm down a bit...”
“Calm down? I'm always calm, brat. I'm just talking about the stuff we're gonna buy, that's all.”
To be honest, to me, the workshop was just a noisy, chaotic giant electronics market. But to him, that same noisy, chaotic space was filled with the most familiar things in the world.
“Looking at the workshop map earlier, there were all kinds of sections. Hm! If everyone's free today, we should go sightseeing!”
The fact that it was old man Horn—not Asha—dragging me by the hand said it all. His heavy steps, usually so leaden, felt light today. The geezer, who had to be centuries old, was grinning like a kid.
So, among us walking together, Horn was probably the most excited. Even more than the two kids pattering along with their short strides.
And then.
“There, look! What do you think!”
Upon arriving at the carriage workshop, Horn puffed up his chest proudly, chin held high.
“Keh keh, a top-notch carriage like this for a measly 40,000 dera? We should snap it up right now!”
He was all fired up, boasting that 40,000 dera was a steal.
But come on.
“Old man, I'm kinda speechless here, but did you make this carriage?”
“Nah, this craftsman did.”
So why the hell was he acting so damn proud when he didn't make it himself?
“Then why are you strutting around like you own the place? You're in the way—move so I can talk to the craftsman.”
“...No, wait... Hm, whatever. Same old rude little shit.”
I ignored the grumbling curses from behind and inspected the carriage Horn had picked out.
Unlike the rickety old cargo wagon we'd been using, this was a fancy-looking 10-seater. Bigger than our previous one, shaped for comfort. Not for hauling goods, but built for passengers—a luxury carriage through and through.
Maybe that's why.
““We love it! We test-drove it, and it's so comfy! You can even lay down a mattress and sleep inside!””
“I don't wanna squeeze between cargo anymore! This body belongs to Eileen Phrygia Delphinium, and no matter what, I'm still nobility!”
“Haha... The cargo goes on the second level and in the rear trunk. Y-yeah, it's definitely spacious...”
All my companions were sparkling-eyed, staring at the new carriage. Horn, puffed up with pride again.
Dwarven eyes didn't miss a beat when it came to goods. Horn's claim that 40,000 dera was a bargain held no exaggeration.
“Tsk... But saving 40,000 dera means putting up with a bit of discomfort...”
Still, 40,000 dera didn't grow on trees, so I hesitated.
“Hey hey hey! That might be nobility blasphemy?!”
“Don't like it? Go home then, you.”
“Hey hey, hey... That might be a bit harsh...?”
I kinda wanted to tease the bubbly noble miss too. But with everyone eyeing me and the carriage expectantly, I had no choice.
I sheepishly pulled out my money pouch, approached the craftsman by the carriage, and spoke up.
“Uh... 40,000 dera, right?”
Pride be damned—facing an expensive item, you grovel first. If my pitiful act sparked some pity and shaved off even 100 dera, it'd be a win for him.
The craftsman by the carriage chuckled heartily at my display.
“Haha, if you trade in your old carriage here at our workshop, I'll knock off more. Plus, I'll throw in extra mattresses and spare wheels.”
“Oh man, thank you!”
True to form for a craftsman who built such carriages, the workshop owner was a real stand-up guy. I swallowed the urge to bow low, thanked him, then fetched our old wagon from the inn and handed it over.
It was a wagon I'd grown attached to over nearly four years of journeys, so yeah, there was some regret handing it off.
The cargo wagon I'd bought for 10,000 dera at Yansen's shop had traveled with me all that time, only to reach the workshop first and quietly end its modest tale.
After that, we wandered the workshop more. Bought the foldable billiard table Horn wanted, four boxes of cookies the kids were drooling over at 500 dera a box.
Wait, thinking about it, a permanent billiard table for 3,000 dera versus cookies that vanish when eaten for 2,000 dera? My conscience prickled a bit. Huh. The cookies seemed the weirder price now.
But the kids were beaming, so I let it slide.
Anyway, we kept shopping: extra reagent vials and a new heating device that Aberly wanted.
I turned to Aberly, who was grinning ear-to-ear just from that.
“You could pick one or two more.”
“Y-yes...? R-really, it's okay...?”
We'd saved a bit on the carriage, so splurging a little on research gear was fine. Especially since Aberly had chosen the most reasonable stuff.
“U-up to 2,000 dera. The carriage is bigger now, so we can make space for reagent production inside.”
“Waaah... Th-then wait just a sec...! A g-generous Ain like this is a rare chance...!”
At my words, Aberly lit up even more, darting off to grab a basket and fill it while ogling everything.
That guy's adding unnecessary flattery. I shot an annoyed glare at his bouncing back.
Finally, we hit the workshop with the magic-etched staff Eileen was eyeing.
“Rejected.”
“Whaaat?! Look at me with this pointy hat and wooden staff! I'm a total wizard!”
I couldn't straight-up curse out a noble, but honestly, that staff was a no-go. A 7,000-dera stick memorizing just 20 barrier spells? How do you tell her she looks like a gullible idiot without hurting her feelings?
I was pondering how to explain when.
“Cut the bullshit and stop posing with that useless crap. Pick something else unless you want a beating.”
“That's too mean...!”
Asha stepped in with a thick curse where I'd held back.
“Asha...?”
“Yes? Something wrong?”
“...Nah, nothing.”
She tilted her head innocently, the picture of brazenness.
And then.
“Hm, you two sure look alike.”
“Haha... Y-yeah, you do.”
““You two are totally the same!””
The other four glanced between Asha and me, murmuring quietly.
“...”
Was Asha really picking this up from me? I'd tried holding back swears around her since she was little, though.
Weird.
Time flew. We'd left the inn in the morning, toured the workshop, and now it was late afternoon edging into evening.
We settled on gem staffs for Eileen instead—each memorizing 15 barrier and 15 healing spells—for 7,000 dera total for two.
Even in a craftsmen-only workshop, there were still hustlers trying to gouge. Tapping my sword hilt at the mage craftsman brought the price down bit by bit.
We got two so the kids could have spares too.
As we strolled the corridors, magic staffs and pointy hats dangling, Eileen's sighs echoed endlessly.
“Me, a sucker? That's ridiculous...”
“Honestly, you look like prime gullible bait—perfect for getting scammed.”
“Too mean...!!”
Truth was, a naive noble girl running off alone was the ultimate mark.
I reached to pat her head and said,
“Eileen, if you're not planning to go home, stop acting like a sheltered kid. Learn how the world works.”
“Hng... Yeah, I guess...”
She drooped her head in response. Naturally, my hand toward her head got caught by Asha, turning into an arm-link instead.
“Ain, don't pat Eileen's head. It's dirtier than you think.”
“...Uh, yeah. Okay.”
I remembered her washing her hair that morning. But before I could dwell, Asha shot her a glare, and Eileen yelped “Hieeek!” and hid behind Aberly. So I let it go.
Anyway.
With all our planned purchases done, we naturally kept sightseeing the workshop.
There was old man Horn, excited again, leading the way.
“Lemme see. Yeah, that workshop over there should have plenty to check out!”
He chattered tirelessly, urging us on without a hint of fatigue.
And then.
“...Horn?”
Someone called the dwarven elder's name.
“Horn Fortis Nickroom Petram.”
His full name, which he'd never shared with us.
It wasn't my voice, or any companion's—a third voice.
“What are you doing here.”