Contract Magic and Workshop Registration

"Here you go, sir."

"Ah."

Mark had prepared everything for the Contract Magic. On the table were arranged the Contract Paper used for Contract Magic and a strangely designed ink pot filled with Special Ink, both of which looked familiar.

Benno dipped his pen in the ink pot and began smoothly writing out the contract terms. The ink was blue rather than black, just as I remembered. I watched the words taking shape on the contract.

"The right to sell items produced by Mine Workshop belongs to Lutz.

Should an agent be appointed, the approval of Mine, Lutz, and Benno must be obtained, and a notification must be filed with the commercial guild."

"What's this clause?"

When I pointed at the contract, Benno raised an eyebrow slightly.

"It's insurance. With a contract involving just a child, some people will try to force its cancellation through threats of violence or even kidnapping. By involving me and the guild, you can prevent at least some of that. Whenever you make a contract like this, involve as many third parties as possible who might be on your side. Keep that in mind."

"...Thank you."

I hadn't expected him to not only suggest such a complicated form of Contract Magic, but to voluntarily involve himself on my behalf.

I took the pen Mark offered me and signed my name. Next was Lutz, and finally Benno wrote his name and pressed his Blood Seal.

"Lutz, please."

I closed my eyes tight and held out my hand. Lutz swiftly pricked my fingertip with a knife. I pressed the oozing red blood firmly onto my signature.

The moment the blood was absorbed, the blue ink turned black, just like before. And then, same as the previous Contract Magic, after all signatures were complete, the ink portions began to glow, holes burned through the ink and spread, and the Contract Paper itself disappeared.

Watching the last remnants dissolve into sparkling light, Benno slowly let out a breath.

"This way, at the very least, if Mine gets taken to the Noble District, we'll have the justification that she's needed to sell products, and Lutz and Mine will be able to meet. To prevent that from happening, Mine—learn to protect yourself."

"I'll do my best."

I clenched my fist to show my determination, but Benno, Lutz, and Mark all shook their heads with incredibly worried expressions.

"However, this approach will only work on those who see value in the products Mine creates."

"Huh?"

"If the other party only needs Magic Power, they'll declare that they couldn't care less about buying and selling products. ...Fortunately, I don't think any of the nobles in this city are wealthy enough to ignore an opportunity to earn big money without lifting a finger. Also, as I said before, this Contract Magic only takes effect within this city. Be aware of that."

"Yes."

After that, we exchanged a regular Parchment contract with the same content. This was for reporting to the guild, and while it wasn't much of a deterrent against nobility, it was to demonstrate that a contract already existed in case something happened in another city.

"Let's get the paperwork done today. We'll head straight to the commercial guild from here. Register Mine Workshop as a workshop and make Mine the Workshop Head. That will take care of any issues with buying and selling products. And by showing that you have options and ways to earn money beyond the Temple, you can go into the negotiation with a bit more backbone."

"Yes."

The commercial guild was on the way home, so if we could stop by and finish the procedures, that would provide some peace of mind for now.

Urged along by Benno's impatient "Hurry up," Lutz ran upstairs to the storage room where he'd left his change of clothes.

I looked up at Benno and asked.

"How can I make the negotiation go in my favor?"

"Right. ...First, picture the best possible outcome for yourself. Then figure out what concessions you need to get from the other party, what you can offer, and what they want. That's what you need to determine."

Listening to Benno's words, I tried to picture what I wanted.

What I wanted was access to and reading permission for the Library. For that, I needed to enter the Temple in a position that wasn't the labor-required grey Shrine Maiden Apprentice. What I could offer was Magic Power and money. If Benno's information was correct, what the other party wanted was also Magic Power and money.

Looks like a negotiation might work out... maybe?

"...Oh, by the way, the High Priest told me that in principle, you can't belong to another guild if you want to enter the Temple. He said the Guild Master would negotiate, but what happened with that? Will they let me register?"

As I suddenly remembered what the High Priest had said, Benno gave me a sharp chop on the head.

"Hey, Mine. Don't just dump your problems on other people. Get in there and make sure your interests are protected. You have no idea what unreasonable conditions they might try to impose."

"Yeah, you're right. Honestly, I never thought the Holy Cup was a Magical Tool that could extend my life, so I was kind of feeling like I could manage for another half year or so. I admit I was being careless."

Extending my life seemed possible, I'd found the Library, and my motivation had shot way up.

"Use your head so that motivation doesn't backfire."

"I'll handle it carefully."

Lutz came running down the stairs. He was huffing and puffing, so he must have rushed quite a bit. Looking up at the seventh floor, I was genuinely impressed. If I ran up and down from somewhere that high, I'd definitely collapse.

"All right, let's go."

Benno slid a hand under my arm and picked me up as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Otto had told me that my walking speed was far too fast for an adult man to endure, so lately I'd been letting myself be carried without protest. I'd given up resisting, realizing it was pointless and would only tire me out.

"If no one belonging to the Temple can belong to other guilds, then Mine is the only one who can deal with the commercial guild on behalf of the Temple. You're already registered, so if they try to overrule that, dangle money if you have to, but make sure they acknowledge the workshop's activities."

On the way to the commercial guild, Benno spared not a single moment, laying out countermeasures and negotiation tactics one after another. I wanted to write everything down, but couldn't, which frustrated me. I stared at Benno, mobilizing every bit of my brain power to absorb as much information as possible.

"Like I said earlier, the blue Priests have decreased, the orphans don't have work, and donations may have declined. Spout as many pretty words as you can about wanting to give them a new path, give them jobs, improve their living conditions—pile it on until they acknowledge the workshop's rights. Even the Temple should understand that everything requires money."

"Yes."

"Also, mention letting them work, or how they can't function without someone managing their health—blow one truth up to ten or twenty times its size, and secure your labor force. Lutz is already working at the shop, so he'll only be available half the week."

"I see."

Nodding again and again at each specific and clear-cut strategy, I organized everything in my head. Spout pretty words to win the workshop's rights, exaggerate my frailty to secure labor. It was true—even with a workshop, I couldn't run it alone.

"If the orphans show that they can work hard in the workshop, other workshops might start accepting them too. If you start creating new products and it becomes known that the orphans are making them, people's attitudes might shift a little. That part is up to your skill."

"Understood. I'll do my best."

As I was touched that Benno was thinking not just about me but about the orphans too, Benno sighed and shook his head.

"Sigh... You're way too easy to get worked up. Don't try to take everything on yourself. Set your priorities in advance."

"Huh?"

As I blinked at this completely reversed opinion, Benno furrowed his brows with a troubled look. It seemed he'd been testing me.

"Until you've secured your position within the Temple, prioritize your own safety over the orphans. If anything, think about using the orphans as allies. I don't like saying this, but there are more people who'd worry and grieve if something happened to you than if something happened to the orphans."

"...Understood."

By the time I nodded, we had arrived at the commercial guild. As Lutz held the door open with a creak, Benno's brows furrowed slightly into an annoyed expression.

"If you create new products, run into trouble, or need anything, come talk to me. I'll charge a proper fee, of course, but I'll do my best to accommodate you."

"Thank you. Thanks, Benno."

Since dusk was approaching and the commercial guild had grown less crowded, I passed quickly through the second floor and headed to the counter on the third. I returned my temporary guild card and submitted the documents Benno had been preparing since before the Baptism Ceremony to complete the official registration. The documents clearly stated that Benno's shop was designated as the trading store and Lutz as the negotiator.

"Oh my, Mine. You were here?"

Frieda, who must have been in the Guild Master's office, came down the stairs swaying her light pink twin tails, spotted me browsing the bookshelves in the waiting area, and hurried over.

"I thought you'd come register after the Baptism Ceremony, but I didn't hear a peep from you. I was worried you might have collapsed at the ceremony."

"Hehe, you saw right through me. I really did collapse. I just barely recovered."

I found it slightly amusing that Frieda's prediction was spot on, and when I let out a small laugh, Frieda lightly glared at Lutz, who was looking at a map.

"How could Mine collapse with Lutz there?"

"Lutz isn't to blame at all this time. If anything, it's my fault."

Since the cause was my stomach muscles giving out from excitement after finding the Library, it was entirely my fault. I felt I should bow down in apology for making everyone worry.

"Hey, Mine. They're calling you."

While I was talking with Frieda, it seemed the new guild card was ready. Frieda returned to her work behind the counter, and I headed to the counter to receive my explanation.

The new card carried over the information from the old one, but I was told a Blood Seal was still required, and I drew in a sharp breath.

"Mine, just accept it."

I pricked my finger with the needle handed to me and pressed the welling blood onto the card. The card glowed, and the registration was complete. Registration was simple, but it hurt.

After paying five small silver coins for the registration fee, I was receiving an explanation about the differences between the temporary registration and the Workshop Head card when Frieda, having overheard, peered down at my hands.

"Oh my, Mine Workshop? Weren't you supposed to become an apprentice merchant at Benno's shop?"

"I gave up because I couldn't handle the physical labor."

"Then perhaps you could sell items from Mine Workshop to my family as well?"

Seeing Frieda's eyes instantly sparkle as her face shifted into merchant mode, I glanced away slightly.

"Ah, sorry. Items from the Mine Workshop are set to be sold through Lutz at Benno's shop."

"...Lutz again, huh."

Frieda pouted her lips in dissatisfaction, but what was decided was decided. I'd already sold her the exclusive rights to the quatre-quarts, so I hoped that would be enough.

"I already gave you the quatre-quarts, remember? So? Does it look like it'll sell?"

"Yes! Ilse has been enthusiastically researching flavors. She wants to hear your opinion before we put them up for sale. Please come taste-test for us. How about tomorrow?"

I wanted to, of course. Sweet things when you're tired are the best, I thought. But I had no time to spare for taste-testing sweets until the negotiation with the Temple was over.

"I appreciate the invitation, but my schedule is packed until the day after tomorrow."

"Then how about the day after that? And if you'd like, bring your older sister along. If your sister comes, Lutz wouldn't need to be there, would he?"

Frieda dangled Turi's presence as leverage against Lutz, and Lutz glared at Frieda with a face like he was about to bite. Come to think of it, last time she'd put Turi in the carriage and left Lutz behind.

"Frieda, don't be so mean. It's more fun when everyone eats together, right? If Ilse is researching flavors, there must be several varieties, yes?"

"Well, yes, that's true, but..."

As Frieda pouted in displeasure, I considered how to redirect her thinking from emotional to merchant-mode by focusing on the angle of product taste-testing.

"I think it would be best to have as many people as possible taste them and give their feedback, in order to gauge the product's quality and predict how well it'll sell. Children and adults have different preferences, and men and women prefer different flavors too."

"...Many people? How would you have them taste? Even if we held a tea party, it's quite difficult to invite that many people."

Frieda's eyes were taking on the merchant glint. However, her thinking seemed to have shifted from including Lutz to hosting a tea party with many guests. Desperate to get Lutz approved for participation, I pressed on with my words.

"It doesn't have to be a tea party, does it? Prepare bite-sized quatre-quarts in various flavors and hold a tasting to ask which one people liked best and why. And Lutz could..."

"I'll take that proposal!"

Before I could even finish, Frieda clapped her hands together, her eyes shining. She had a completely elated expression on her face. She looked incredibly happy and excited, but I seemed to have dropped completely out of her field of vision.

"Huh? Frieda?"

"I'll let you know once the date and time for the tasting are set. Of course, your sister and Lutz too. Oh, I'm going to be so busy. Well then, Mine, Lutz. Take care."

As if she needed to put her idea into action immediately, Frieda spun on her heel and ran up the stairs. She was probably going to consult the Guild Master. I wasn't sure what she'd come up with or how she'd run with it, but since Frieda had willingly agreed to invite Lutz, the outcome was probably for the best.

Smiling warmly as I watched Frieda's retreating figure, thinking it would be nice to enjoy sweets of various flavors after the negotiation was over, Lutz let out a soft sigh.

"See? Frieda and Mine are pretty alike, right?"

At Lutz's words, Benno chuckled and nodded in agreement.

After successfully completing the procedures and leaving the commercial guild, even the long summer day was nearly over. The Central Plaza, which had been bustling when we entered the guild, now seemed to have fewer people passing through.

As I walked watching the long shadows stretch out, I felt a slight pressure in the hand holding mine—Lutz's hand.

"What's wrong?"

When I stopped and looked up at Lutz, his face was twisted in a complicated expression—part anger, part about to cry—as he looked down at me. Lutz's words dropped into the shadows one by one.

"...Are you really going to the Temple?"

"Yeah, probably. If everything Benno said is true, the Temple won't let me go. That's what he's predicting, right?"

Lutz pressed his lips tightly together, then looked at me with an anxious expression.

"Can you actually negotiate?"

With the setting sun casting ever-deeper shadows, he looked even more anxious, like he might cry. I could feel the grip on my hand gradually tightening.

Wanting to ease even a little of Lutz's anxiety, I gave him a bright smile.

"I've never negotiated with nobles before, so I don't know how it'll go. But if the Holy Cup really is a Magical Tool that can suppress the Self-Eating, then going to the Temple would be better. And I want to go because I want to read books. But there's no way I can become a grey Shrine Maiden no matter what, so it all comes down to the negotiation. I'll do my best to make my situation even a little better."

"Ah..."

Lutz's face contorted in pain for just a brief moment before he lowered his eyes and began walking.

The two of us walked in silence for a while. When I glanced up at Lutz, pretending to be concerned about the sound of a passing wagon, he had an expression like he wanted to say something but was holding it back. As we walked in silence, it bothered me more and more.

"Hey, Lutz. If there's something you want to say, just say it. I'll listen."

Lutz stopped, opened his mouth slightly, closed it, thought for a moment, then looked away.

"...It's not cool, so I don't want to say it."

"Okay, I understand."

No matter how curious I was, it was probably better to respect a guy's pride. I nodded, and we continued walking.

Silence fell once again. The sound of other people rushing home echoed on the cobblestones, and the evening bustle drifted from various windows, but around us it was dead silent, the air heavy. Whether the sun had set or the long shadows of buildings were overlapping to deepen the darkness, our surroundings grew dimmer by the step.

"...You said we'd make paper together, make books together, and sell them. You liar, Mine."

Lutz's murmur was almost drowned out by the clattering of a wagon passing by, but I heard every word clearly. Lutz's pent-up complaint, which he'd wanted to say but couldn't as the situation kept spinning around, pierced through my chest.

"I'm sorry, Lutz."

"It's not something you need to apologize for. I know that I'm powerless to do anything. Benno's right, and I want to do whatever I can to make sure you don't end up in any danger."

Lutz paused there and gritted his back teeth.

"...But it's frustrating. You said you'd open a bookstore with me..."

"That's right. But the reason I wanted to make books is because I want to read them. So even if I go to the Temple, I won't stop making books. In fact, now that my life's been extended, I'm going to push even harder. If I don't make more books, my ambition will never be fulfilled, right?"

At my words, Lutz looked up. With a twisted smile that looked like he might cry, Lutz shrugged his shoulders.

"An ambition to be surrounded by books and spend your days reading?"

"That's right. You want to become a merchant, don't you? Become a merchant and travel to all kinds of places? I have dreams too."

When I told him we should each work hard toward our own dreams, Lutz finally looked like he was about to cry. I could clearly see the tears threatening to overflow, even in the dim light.

"I want to support your dream. ...But I was able to work hard because I was with you, Mine. I wanted to keep working at Benno's shop together. I want to do so many things with you."

As he said this, Lutz hugged me and buried his downcast face against my shoulder. Small sobs that he was desperately trying to suppress fell onto my shoulder.

"It's okay. I can still do it even after entering the Temple. I'll definitely keep making books."

"No. That's not it. It's not about me selling books that someone else made with you. I wanted to make them together with you, Mine."

What must have been bottled up for a long time, Lutz's frustrations poured out like a dam breaking. Seeing Lutz shake his head like a child throwing a tantrum, my own chest ached and tears spilled. I hugged Lutz back, frustrations and all, and lightly patted his back.

"What we decided before hasn't changed. The things I come up with, Lutz, you'll make them, right? When I'm making something, I'll consult you before Benno, before anyone else, and I'll ask for your help."

"But I can't do anything?"

Lutz looked up in surprise. I gently wiped the tears from Lutz's cheeks with my hand and smiled softly.

"If you can't do anything, what does that make me? What could I possibly do? Besides, when I don't even know what I'm going to make or how it'll turn out, you're the only one who'll go along with my ideas. The one who'd be in trouble without you is me."

"...Nah. Everyone already knows that the things you make have value, so they'll all help."

Lutz puckered his lips in a sulky pout and hurriedly wiped his tears, apparently embarrassed about having cried. Having finally gotten his frustrations off his chest—whether he felt a little better or was trying to shake off the embarrassment—Lutz kept shifting his shoulders and arms.

"Hmm, even if I end up making things with someone else, I can't see it going well. In the end, I can only imagine calling on Lutz to mediate. Would you really help?"

When I shrugged, Lutz finally smiled. He squeezed my hand and began walking with a bright smile down the darkening path.

"It'll be fine. I'll make them for you."

Contract Magic and Workshop Registration were completed without incident.

This was Lutz, worried about Mine entering the Temple.

Next time: Surprised Parents and the Temple.