Chapter 139: Business

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Translator: Soafp

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The day after asking Naga and Joe about the Claw Fang labyrinth.

After breakfast, I kept my promise and taught Ashera how to use the magic shield and verniers. As expected, Ashera is a genius. Maybe it's because she can see mana, but she always seems to be one step ahead of what I’m teaching.

El and I struggled and debated endlessly to create the magic shield, but Ashera mastered the basics within one to two hours. At this rate, she’ll surpass my own proficiency with the verniers in no time, which is a bit scary.

As I watched in awe, Ashera muttered softly.

“Aldo, if I take my eyes off you, you quickly move ahead. It’s hard to keep up.”

Is that how she really feels? From my perspective, I’m struggling to keep up with her in many areas. With that in mind, we spent the entire morning training.

After lunch—

I needed to report Joe’s decision from yesterday to Naga and discuss our future plans. Ice Witch seemed determined to stay out of it, maintaining her indifferent stance.

I asked Ashera if she wanted to come to the guild with me, but she planned to practice the magic shield and verniers today. I wish she’d take it a bit easier so I wouldn't fall behind, but…

Dressed in commoner clothes with two knives, I headed for the guild. Since I wasn't in a hurry, I didn’t use the forbidden space kicks.

Today, I decided to blend in with the crowd and take my time getting to the guild. Without my armor, people found it easier to approach me. Street vendors called out about the sweetness of apple-like fruits and freshly baked bread.

Enjoying this different side of familiar streets, I arrived at the guild and went inside.

Since it was just after lunch, there were only a few people in the guild. Fortunately, I reached Naga without any trouble today.

“Good afternoon, Naga.”

“Good afternoon, Aldo-kun.”

As always, we started with a simple greeting. I then conveyed Joe's response from yesterday.

“Naga, Joe decided not to participate.”

“I see. That's unfortunate, but understandable.”

“Yes. So, I'd like to set a specific date for the assault.”

“Alright. How about three days from now?”

“Three days… So, we'll start the full-scale assault in three days?”

“Yes. Based on the preliminary test, I think we've got a good handle on everyone's abilities. Swapping Joe for Elphus shouldn't cause any issues.”

“I understand. I'll confirm with everyone and get back to you.”

“Please do.”

With Naga setting the date for three days later, I felt a bit rushed but started preparing immediately. First, I needed to check with Borg about the progress on modifying my wyvern leather armor.

On my way to the armorer, I saw the merchant I had encountered in the snow the other day. It looked like he was loading a lot of wooden boxes onto his wagon.

I approached him and offered my help.

“You seem to be having a hard time. Need a hand?”

The merchant turned around, startled by my sudden approach. After a moment of recognition, he smiled and spoke.

“Oh, thank you for the other day.”

“It was nothing. Don't worry about it.”

“No, without Aldo’s help I would not have met the deadline and would have had to pay a fine.”

“Glad you made it in time.”

“Yes. And I also stopped by the mansion. I spoke with your butler, and we have arranged for regular purchases of Mooni. I cannot thank you enough, Aldo-sama.”

“I see. That helps us as well. We were running low on stock.”

“Stock? What are you using so much Mooni for?”

As expected of a merchant, he subtly tries to gather information from me.

“That's a secret.”

“I apologize for prying.”

“Shall I help you carry the goods?”

“No, no, I couldn't possibly ask you to do that, Aldo-sama. Your offer is more than enough.”

“I see. Well then, I'll be off. I'm counting on you for the Mooni.”

“Yes. Understood.”

As I walked towards the armor shop, I recalled my conversation with the merchant.

Selling water heaters along with baths could greatly increase profits from consumables like soap. I also need to get loofahs for washing the body.

However, balancing dungeon exploration, school, training, and my duties as an apostle while running a business seems impossible.

Here is my plan for the Blue Ring family business: I will handle the planning and conception of magic tools. Rosa will handle development and prototyping. Serie will manage manufacturing and commercialization. Finally, we'll outsource sales and distribution to external merchants.

For the water heater, the prototype magic tool is almost finished, so it's Serie's job from here. We'll need to build the bathroom, arrange the interior and accessories. Since it's not something that can be sold cheaply or easily, we'll start with top-down sales pitches to Chancellor Dunhill and Countess Sandra.

Based on past experiences, I'm confident that once they use the bath, they'll become customers. Ideally, we should invite their whole families, especially the women—wives and daughters, to use it.

I should discuss this with Grandpa, Father, Serie, and Rosa. Naturally, we'll need to consider the budget and connections to craftsmen for building the bath.

I mentally noted these points as I headed towards the armor shop.

While lost in thought, I arrived at the armor shop without realizing it. I opened the familiar door to find no one inside. Thinking it was careless, I called out for Borg loudly, and heard a voice from the back.

“Oooi! Borg! Are you there?”

“Ou, Aldo! I'm in the back. Come on in!”

He seemed to be working in the back. Since he said it was fine, I entered without hesitation.

The back was a workshop, filled with various types of leather, cloth, and metal scraps.

“Oh. What's up?”

Apparently, Borg was modifying my armor; my wyvern leather armor was disassembled into pieces.

“I want to head to the Claw fang Labyrinth in three days. Can you tell me when the modifications will be done?”

“That's quite a sudden request.”

“Yes, I just found out myself. Sorry to rush you.”

“Well, if I hurry, I can probably finish by the end of the day.”

“Really? I'd appreciate it.”

“No problem, but…”

“What is it?”

“You mentioned the Claw fang Labyrinth?”

“Yes, is there an issue?”

“If possible, I'd like to get the skin of a Fire Lizard that appears below the fifth layer.”

“I'm not sure if I can get it, but if I do, I'll bring it back.”

“Thanks. I want to use that skin for a lining.”

“Don't get your hopes up.”

“I'll be hoping anyway.”

I shrugged and left the armor shop.

With the modifications to my armor set to be completed today, my preparations were all in order.

I headed straight back to the mansion and arrived without any problems. I immediately checked the schedules of Elle, Ashera, and Mother, and fortunately, all of them were available for the exploration in three days. I received positive responses from all of them.

Tomorrow morning, I plan to go to the guild and report to Naga-san.

As for the business matters, I want to get the tedious tasks done quickly so I can focus on dungeon exploration.

With that in mind, I headed straight to the office where Grandpa and Father were likely to be.

I knocked on the office door and called out.

“It’s Aldo. Could I have a moment regarding yesterday's matter?”

“…Come in.”

Inside the office were Grandpa, Father, and Serie, discussing something.

“We were just talking about that with Serie.”

“I see. May I bring Rosa here as well?”

“Hmm. Is the presence of a slave necessary?”

“Not as a slave, but as a magic tool craftsman, it would be faster to have Rosa here for the discussion.”

“…Very well.”

“Thank you. I'll be right back.”

I left the office and headed to find Rosa.

I knocked on Rosa's door and called out to her.

“Rosa, I'm sorry, but could you come with me for a bit?”

When I called, Rosa peeked out from the door. Not wanting to keep Grandpa and the others waiting, I explained the purpose while heading back to the office.

I didn't mention that we were going to meet Grandpa and the others, as I expected she might refuse if she knew.

We arrived at the office, and I knocked again.

“It's Aldo.”

“Come in.”

I opened the door and entered. Rosa followed closely behind me.

“Rosa, this is my Grandpa and Father. The person over there is the butler, Serie. Please introduce yourself.”

“L-Lord?”

Rosa visibly started to panic.

“Don't worry; no one's going to eat you. Just introduce yourself.”

She looked at me with pleading eyes.

“Y-Yes. I-I'm Rosa. I'm very grateful for the consideration I've received from the family head.”

“This is the office. Make yourself at ease.”

Grandpa said to Rosa and then signaled me to continue from earlier.

“Aldo, is everyone here now?”

“Yes. I will now explain the future business plans for the Blue Ring family.”

I laid out some papers on the desk and clarified the roles of myself, Rosa, and Serie.

I explained the concept of selling the water heater as part of a ‘bath' system rather than as a standalone magic tool until everyone understood.

“…So, I'll handle planning and proposal. Rosa, as a magic tool craftsman, will handle development and prototyping. Serie will manage the actual manufacturing and commercialization, with advice from Rosa. For some products, it might be best to use merchants for sales, depending on the circumstances.”

“I see… Serie, can you do it?”

“I can't say for sure until I try, but the plan is clear and seems feasible.”

“Rosa, what about you?”

“I-I will do my best with what I am asked to do.”

“Hold on a moment.”

My voice interrupted the conversation.

“Rosa's status is indeed that of a slave, but in this project, she is the head of development and prototyping, and an advisor for manufacturing and commercialization. She should be treated as a responsible party, not just as a slave. Otherwise, this plan might fail.”

“I see… Rosa, Aldo is saying this. Can you handle it?”

“I don't think I'm capable of such a grand role…”

“Aldo, Rosa is saying this.”

“Rosa, don't overthink it. The water heater is almost finished. All you need to do is advise Serie on manufacturing. The tasks for the next magic tool will be fundamentally similar. Can you manage that?”

“If it's similar to what I've been doing so far…”

“Yes, I'm just putting into words what you've already done. I'm not asking for anything extraordinary.”

“I understand…”

“Grandpa, Rosa says she'll do it.”

“Yes. And about the roles we discussed earlier… Aldo, you should oversee everything yourself when you have time.”

“…Understood.”

“We need to build the bath next. Serie, do you have any contacts for that?”

“Yes. I'll arrange it through the commercial guild. However, how do you want it completed? Wood, stone, the size, the layout—there are many decisions to make.”

“As for that…”

At this point, Grandpa, Father, and I started envisioning the kind of bath we wanted and decided on the specifications.

Even after dinner, we returned to the office to finalize the specifications. Partway through, Ice Witch came in. Using the powerful phrase “from a woman's perspective,” she systematically dismantled all my preferences.

With tears of blood, I managed to protect the sauna as the final vestige of my hope.

By the time all the specifications were settled, it was late at night, and the mansion was silent except for the office.