"I don't know if it will work."
"Whoa."
I put the pouch back into my bag and approached the door.
I knocked on the wooden door.
However, there was no answer.
I cautiously opened the door.
Creak... The door opened.
"Excuse me."
Perhaps because it's a place that deals with magic stones, the entrance is unusual.
I cautiously stepped inside.
Like its exterior, reminiscent of a home, the interior was also small and cozy, more like a living room than a <workshop>.
The long rays of sunset coming through the window on one wall warmly illuminated the interior.
A long table was attached to the window, and tools were scattered haphazardly on it.
"...Did I come to the right place?"
What should I say?
It was so different from what I had imagined that I wondered if I had come to the right place.
I had imagined a craftsman burning with fighting spirit and processing magic stones with all his might.
I was wondering if I should go out and check the sign again when it happened.
"It's not business hours now, who are you?"
A cynical voice came from the opening of the inner door.
Someone came out into the living room.
But...
"What?"
"Oh... hello."
I bowed my head.
My gaze was directed forward.
That's right. The person who came out was a middle-aged man in his early 50s, but he was only slightly taller than me.
'Wow.'
I tried to manage my expression so as not to be rude, but I was very amazed inside.
'I guess he's a dwarf.'
I had learned about different races in Ligrin's class.
A race characterized by a particularly small physique and large hands and feet, dwarves.
Their lifespan is much longer than humans, and above all, they are very skilled, so they have left behind many treasures in history.
Above all, the Loadbell Duchy's treasured sword, Knox, was also made by a dwarf.
I had passed it over without much interest when I learned it, but it was even more amazing to see it in person.
However, I wasn't the only one who was amazed.
"I don't know what you are, but it's a magical tool that changes appearance. It's interesting to see such an old relic, but it's presumptuous!"
'As expected.'
He immediately recognized my true identity.
'I didn't think I could deceive him.'
I bowed my head to him.
"I'm sorry. There were circumstances."
I took off the ring in front of him.
Swish-
My body gradually shrank.
He snorted when he saw my true appearance.
"Sorry, but this isn't a lost and found. Go find the constabulary."
I shook my head at his heartless words.
"I'm not lost."
"Then what are you, here on an errand? Hey, this isn't a grocery store."
He was treating me completely like a child.
No, even less. As he waved his hand dismissively, as if chasing away a fly, and tried to go back inside, I hurriedly said.
"I want to make a request."
"A request?"
He raised his eyebrows and turned to look at me.
His expression became arrogant.
"I don't know what you've heard, kid."
Thump. Thump.
He approached. Was it because his feet were big? Or was it because he was just short but thick, the floor shook every time he walked.
Before I knew it, he had come up to me.
His expression and eyes were so close that they seemed even more threatening.
"Do you know who I am? You must have found some cheap magic stone somewhere and came here after hearing rumors!"
Bang!
He grabbed a large hammer that was leaning against the wall and slammed it down on the floor.
Crack, a crack appeared on the floor.
I looked at the floor with the hammer mark and slowly looked at him.
"I don't handle just anything! Go find someone else!"
He had a very high pride.
Of course... I already knew that.
'<Workshop 1>’s master craftsman is very skilled, but he is very arrogant and aloof, so he doesn't take requests easily.'
He was exactly as Ligrin had described.
An arrogant and aloof dwarf.
I raised the corners of my lips.
'Perfect fit.'
"If you bother me any more, I'll punish you with this hammer, so disappear, kid-"
"It's not just a magic stone."
"What?"
"You'll probably find it quite interesting."
"Huh?"
He looked back at me with an absurd expression. Roughly, the look in his eyes said, 'Is this little human crazy?'
Well, it doesn't matter.
How he sees me.
Because it will change soon.
He narrowed his eyes at my confident appearance.
He looked at me as if he was gauging me and muttered.
"I don't know what you're so sure of. What if I'm not interested?"
"Then you can do whatever you want, Master Craftsman."
"Huh!"
"Instead, if I'm right, please grant my request."
He snorted as if he was stunned.
He stared at me intently and then nodded.
"Okay, you're arrogant, but you're interesting. If I'm not interested, then I'll grind you into powder while you're still alive!"
He bared his claws like a beast and took a threatening pose.
I nodded, took a step back, lightly lifted both sides of my skirt, and bowed slightly to him.
It was the perfect etiquette, learned from Ligrin.
"It's late, but let me introduce myself. I'm Lucia Loadbell."
"Loadbell?"
His eyes widened at the unexpected identity.
He stared at me intently and then snorted.
"What a trick! Everyone in the empire knows that Loadbells are characterized by white hair and purple eyes!"
"There were those who weren't. You know that too, Master Craftsman."
"That Loadbell... wait, could it be."
The man's eyes gradually widened in shock.
Seeing that, I was certain.
'As expected.'
He knows. Lucretia Loadbell, the first family head.
Before coming here, I had investigated <Workshop 1>.
Then I found out that there was a signature pattern on the products made here.
I found that pattern on the first family head's equipment.
In addition, the dwarves' lifespan is very long, and <Workshop 1> is a one-person workshop run by only one person.
Considering the fact that it's very closed off, I threw out the bait.
Mentioning Lucretia Loadbell's name based on her appearance is the same.
'The fact that she had black hair is something no one knows.'
Originally, I had suspected that the position of master craftsman was being secretly inherited.
'The reaction was a little different.'
There is a clear difference between 'knowing from hearing' and 'knowing directly.'
And a little while ago, his reaction was...
'He seemed to know Lucretia Loadbell for sure.'
Only then did I become certain.
'This man knows about Lucretia Loadbell.'
And...
"The fact that you know about her properly. Doesn't that prove that I'm a Loadbell?"
"Huh..."
He let out a breath as if he was stunned.
However, the look in his eyes as he looked at me had changed slightly.
That was enough.
He needed to see me as a slightly extraordinary child.
"That's enough. Now, show me the magic stone that will interest me."
Even though he had a bored expression, a faint interest flickered in his eyes.
The fact that I was a Loadbell and knew about the first family head seemed to have succeeded in changing his impression.
"Yes."
I took out the pouch from my bag.
His eyes turned cold when he found the shabby cloth pouch.
"Just that-"
However, the moment I took out the contents.
"...! That's...!"
His eyes completely changed.
As expected. He recognized it right away.
A heat began to spread in his eyes.
"Good heavens! To think I'd see this again!"
He looked at the magic core on my hand with a look of complete bewilderment.
His eyes trembled even more violently as he checked the magic core up close.
"Good lord. It's been a long time since I've seen such a noble magic core. Do you understand? The value of this is so great that it's much more than a normal magic core..."
He became engrossed in a state of trance and explained how outstanding the value of the magic core I had brought was.
As I listened to his words, I was secretly surprised.
'I didn't know it was that good.'
I was newly impressed by the Crown Prince's ability, but that was it.
I grabbed the magic core and hid it behind my back.
The man, who had been rattling on and on, looked at me with wide eyes.
I smiled brightly at him and said.
"Now, you'll grant my request, right?"
"......"
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