Chapter 219
Hera, whom he encountered in the Great Forest, looked a little different from usual.
Her long, flowing hair was braided and tied up, and a pink flower was tucked behind her ear.
“Is today a special day? You look different.”
“N-no, it’s not a particularly special day. The children who went herb gathering with me played a prank…”
Hera rambled on in a fluster.
Not only had he appeared suddenly, but she also looked different than usual, so she must be quite embarrassed.
“I’m sorry to show you such a sight…”
“Why? It looks fine.”
“I’m glad to hear that, but…”
Hera trailed off and deeply bowed her head.
Her reddened ears were flapping excitedly.
It was only after Hera’s emotions had settled down that their conversation moved on to the main point.
“So, what brings you here today?”
“Can’t I visit unless I have a reason?”
“There’s no way you would visit the Great Forest for no reason.”
Hera spoke as if it were obvious and burst into laughter.
'I’m not the kind of person who treats people so strictly only for business…'
Even as he thought that, he couldn’t come up with a retort.
After all, he had come today because he had business. It hadn’t been much different up until then, either.
Well, he just had to do better from now on.
“It’s nothing major. I was wondering if I could buy some furniture?”
“Buying furniture… To be honest, buying and selling is an unfamiliar concept to us. The entire tribe lives as a community, you see.”
In other words, if the Elves needed something, they helped each other out to resolve it.
For instance, if someone needed furniture for their lair, an Elf who was good at making furniture would make it and hand it over.
It was completely different from Roman society, where one received money in exchange for labor to purchase goods.
“Then it might be difficult…”
Franz smacked his lips in disappointment.
The comfort he felt when sitting in that chair was beyond words.
The chair in the Magic Tower Lord’s Office was originally made by a furniture craftsman, but this was even more comfortable than that.
“Hm? I don’t know why you’ve come to that conclusion.”
“You mean it’s not something to be bought and sold, right?”
“You are the grand chieftain. I meant that there is no reason to buy and sell.”
Franz and Hera stared blankly at each other, blinking their eyes.
After a moment, a gentle smile spread across Hera’s face.
“Franz, you need to be a little more aware of your own position.”
“Sorry, I completely forgot.”
“Be careful not to tell the others. They will surely be shocked.”
True, anyone would be shocked if the person holding the title of grand chieftain forgot that he was the grand chieftain.
Franz substituted his answer with an awkward smile.
“Then I will just leave this herb basket at home and guide you. If you’d like, it’s fine to wait here.”
“It’s fine. Let’s go together.”
Franz took a step forward alongside Hera.
During the short walk to Hera’s lair, the two shared various conversations.
How she realized anew that the Great Forest was inconvenient after living in Roman society.
Or how a certain couple had received grand congratulations for giving birth to twins.
“But where do you plan to use the furniture?”
“Ah, I’m going to put it in the Magic Tower Lord’s Office. I ended up having to dispose of everything inside.”
He couldn’t bring himself to say that Yusti-ah and Arian had fought.
It was enough for him to worry about such things alone.
While they were conversing like that, they arrived at Hera’s lair before they knew it.
“Then wait just a moment. I’ll just leave the basket inside.”
Hera opened the wooden door and went inside the lair.
Left alone, Franz casually looked around and waited for Hera.
“It feels like I end up walking a lot whenever I come here…”
Even distances he would normally use Spatial Movement Magic for, he ended up walking in the Great Forest.
Perhaps it was because walking on the dirt ground felt quite nice.
As he was questioning his own actions, the door opened again and Hera came out.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. I’ll guide you right away.”
“What’s there to be sorry about? I’m the one who’s more sorry for bothering you.”
“It’s not a bother at all, so don’t worry about it.”
Hera said so and flashed a bright smile.
Her tone seemed full of playfulness today.
She felt a little more excited than usual.
Though he didn’t really know the reason.
Afterwards, Franz was guided by Hera and arrived at the furniture craftsman’s workshop.
Inside the workshop, there were planes and chisels of various shapes, and sawdust from carving wood was scattered everywhere.
Amidst all that, what stole his gaze was the elegantly shaped pieces of furniture.
The furniture, adorned with the unique patterns used by Elves, was beautiful even to Franz, who was ignorant in this field.
“Nerise-! Are you inside-?”
When Hera called out loudly, a clattering sound could be heard from beyond the door connected to the workshop.
Soon, the door opened, and a middle-aged Elf who looked quite old revealed himself.
He must have lived for at least 150 years.
“Is there a big emergency? Why are you shouting so loudly…”
Discovering Franz, Nerise trailed off and blinked his eyes.
“Nice to meet you. I am Franz, the grand chieftain.”
Franz offered a polite greeting.
To think the day would come when he would utter the words “Grand chieftain”!
Perhaps because he wasn’t used to it, it felt incredibly awkward.
“So that’s who it was. I apologize for my late greeting. I am Nerise.”
“There’s no need to apologize. It’s my fault for visiting so suddenly. And please, speak comfortably. I have no desire to be a difficult person to approach.”
“Haha,, I will do that, then.”
Watching the man burst into hearty laughter reminded him of the ignorant but kind-hearted barbarians of the North.
Their voices had certainly been incredibly booming.
He should go visit them next time he has some free time.
“So, for what business has such a noble person sought me out?”
“Actually, I came because I’d like to request some furniture to be made.”
“Sounds good. Just say the word, whatever it is.”
“In that case…”
Franz didn’t decline and explained the things he had thought of to him.
A massive desk and chair to use while working, a guest sofa, a round table, and so on…
From the things that were originally in the Magic Tower Lord’s Office to the things he had thought would be nice to have someday.
“How about a shape like this?”
After hearing Franz’s explanation, he sketched out a blueprint right then and there. Scribble, scribble-.
Even though he drew it roughly, the outlines were clearly defined, which was amazing.
A craftsman who had lived for a long time was truly different in every way.
“This part in this direction…”
“Oho, this is quite new. Then how about something like this for this part?”
“Oh, that seems quite good as well.”
When the Elf craftsman’s aesthetic sense met Franz’s innovative design, a blueprint for furniture that could truly be called an item of a new era was born.
He quite liked this kind of conversation, so he inadvertently got absorbed in it.
Because of that, it weighed on his mind that he hadn’t been able to pay attention to Hera, but…
“Don’t mind me and keep going.”
Fortunately, she didn’t seem to mind much.
In addition to being introduced to the craftsman, he thought it might be good to give her a small gift next time.
The closer you are to someone, the more you should take care of them.
It wasn’t long after that when Franz and Nerise’s conversation ended.
“That was a good conversation. I was able to learn a lot thanks to you.”
“I’m glad if it was of help.”
“It should be finished in about three days.”
“Yes, then I will come see you again.”
He thought it would take at least a week, but the craftsman was truly different.
Three days coincided perfectly with the time Arian would return, so it was just right.
After exchanging farewells, Franz and Hera immediately left Nerise’s workshop.
“Franz, I didn’t know you were interested in that sort of thing.”
“I’m not particularly interested, though. I just paid a little more attention because it’s something I’ll be using.”
“For someone who isn’t, you seemed to know quite a lot in detail… Well, if you say so, then it must be so.”
Hera took a step forward, and Franz followed alongside her.
Where was their destination?
No, perhaps that wasn’t particularly important.
Because you don’t walk only when you have a destination.
However, where there is a beginning, there is always an end.
Eventually, Franz arrived in front of Hera’s lair.
“Franz, about today…”
Stopping her steps, Hera lowered her head and trailed off.
He was curious about what she was trying to say, but he didn’t want to rush her.
After waiting like that for a moment, Hera raised her head.
A strange redness lingered on her face.
“I didn’t do anything particularly amazing, but I would still like to receive a small reward.”
“Yeah, tell me anything. If there’s something you need, I’ll do it for you.”
“Then could you close your eyes for a moment and stay still…?”
Since it wasn’t a particularly difficult task, Franz immediately closed his eyes.
Meanwhile, a question arose in his mind.
Would something like this really be a reward? he wondered.
It was then.
Something quickly touched his lips and pulled away.