Roland was visiting a silversmith store with Cheal.


    The purpose was to develop her skills in silversmithing, product development, and product design, as well as to conduct market research.


    The store is filled with silverware, which is an excellent teaching tool for Cheal, on the shelves.


    She was simply admiring the beautiful silverware with a twinkle in her eye, oblivious to the fact that it was her job.


    Roland chuckled.


    Hey, Cheal. This is market research, you have to do your job properly."


    Huh, sorry."


    When Roland reminded him, Cheal apologized apologetically.


    Cheal then tightened up and became serious for a moment, but after a few moments, his eyes lit up and he was soon buoyant again.


    She had been forbidden to do anything related to alchemy until now, so she was more than happy to be able to look at silversmithing freely.


    (Oh dear. She is still a child in this respect.)


    Roland gave up trying to get her to study and let her do as she pleased.


    (But I have to show you this one thing.)


    Cheal. Look at this."


    Roland took Cheal to a shelf and pointed to a piece of silverwork.


    This is ......."


    Cheal looks at the silver plate Roland points to and freezes.


    It was silverwork engraved with an intricate design of a large flower.


    The silverwork was clearly different from the other products in the store.


    It was a platter made by Dorwin, the best silversmith in town. He will be your greatest rival."


    Cheal''s eyes darted around as if overwhelmed, and he was mesmerized by the silversmith for a while.


    I''m sorry," he said. I''ll take it off.


    Cheal walks out of the store with a heavy heart.


    (Is that too much to ask? Still at this level. I can''t even reach her now.)


    Roland sighed.


    In fact, although Cheal''s skill in producing silversmithing was great, the design of the product as a product was still too naive and was not in the realm of a child''s creation.


    He was still inexperienced when it came to meeting the standards that would allow him to put his work on display in stores.


    He was no match for a C-level silversmith in this regard.


    (However, if she is not somehow brought up to this level, she will not be able to compete with the guild led by Lucius.)


    As Roland ponderously walked out of the store, he saw Cheal working on something on a bench in the eaves of the building.


    Roland looked over and saw that she was drawing on a canvas she had brought with her.


    She was mumbling and mumbling and running her pen single-mindedly.


    Roland looked at the drawing and was shocked.


    There was a perfect replica of the silversmith''s work that he had just shown her.


    It shows the dimensions of the silversmith''s work, such as length and thickness, how to make the same piece, the production process, and even the mixing of the materials.


    Mr. Roland. The silversmithing you just described is amazing. I have never seen such a beautiful design. It''s an incredibly bold design, but it''s meticulously calculated without the slightest deviation. Even the slightest misstep could ruin all the fine silver, yet there is no hesitation at all. You have to be extremely confident to do something like this."


    Cheal continued scribbling on the drawing without stopping, looking somewhat feverish.


    (I can''t believe you were able to see so much in that one moment of observation. (To be able to see so much in that one moment of observation. He''s a genius. ......)


    When Roland appraised her skills, silversmithing, which was a B, became an A.


    Product Design, which was an E, was a B.


    Roland silently watched her work until she was finished.


    When Cheal''s work was finished, they headed home.


    When she finished copying, she was a sweet little girl again.


    She walked down the street hand in hand with Lorán, licking candy she had bought at a street vendor, as if she were a girl of her age.


    She was licking a piece of candy she had bought at a stall and walking down the street holding hands with Roland. When will my silversmithing be in your store?"


    I can''t ...... do that."


    Cheal shook his head emphatically in response to his innocent eyes as he asked.


    The stores in this town won''t buy anything we make in our workshop," he said.


    Only stores with special permission from the city could sell alchemical products.


    However, those stores were contracted to sell only products made by the alchemy guilds under Lucius.


    In fact, the alchemy guild under Lucius was the best in town, but because of this contract, the other guilds were completely shut out of the market, which was bad for business.


    ''So for the time being, we can''t put your wares in our store.


    I see. I see that the elves have many things to deal with, but it seems that the human world has many things to deal with as well.


    She showed an understanding that belied her age.


    Although she was an elf, she had spent her childhood with the dwarves and had developed a mature attitude through their quarrels.


    She had a good understanding of the things that made her a good person. Thank you for hiring me.


    What?


    It is thanks to Mr. Roland that I am able to engage in silversmithing in this way as a matter of course. I couldn''t have imagined this before.


    Cheal went on to talk about what happened before he was hired by Roland.


    He told of how he used to practice silversmithing in secret so that his parents would not find him.


    He used to make silversmithing work with poor quality silver that had been thrown away at a garbage dump.


    The silversmiths would throw away the silversmiths they made as soon as their father or mother found out about them.


    But now, I can freely make silversmithing all day long without any worries. But now I can work freely all day long without any worries, using fine silver processed by an excellent refiner. I owe it all to Mr. Roland.


    Oh, no. I just helped you develop your talent. I didn''t do much.


    No, it''s not true. You have done so much for me. Even I know that much.


    With that, Cheal kneeled down, despite the roadside, and with both palms crossed, offered an Elvish prayer to Loran.


    ''May you be blessed with the happiness that your nobility deserves.


    ...... chial."


    For a while, the two stood still as if time had stopped.


    A single tear flows down Cheal''s cheek.


    It was the habit of the elves to shed tears when they were filled with gratitude.


    Roland wiped her tear with his finger.


    Taking her hand, he helped her to stand up.


    I''m sure you''ll be fine, Mr. Roland.　I can''t believe you can''t sell my silversmithing. You even built a workshop for me. You must have taken on a lot. ......"


    Cheal. You don''t have to think about that.


    But ......


    It''s okay.


    In fact, Roland''s expenses for her were substantial, but he never showed any signs of bitterness.


    You just have to improve your skills," Roland said. You must not be satisfied with just being able to make silversmithing. You will make more and more silversmiths and become a first-class silversmith.


    ...... yes."


    She gave a tearful smile.


    Roland was happy.


    Not like when he was in The Golden Eagle.


    Now he was in a place of human connection and warmth.


    （I have to protect it. For Cheal''s sake, and not only for Cheal''s sake. I must protect this guild for the sake of all the members.)


    At the headquarters of the Golden Eagle, in the guild leader''s room, Lucius and Jill were meeting alone.


    Jill has an unexplained expression on her face.


    She had just been handed a new assignment by Lucius.


    ''Is your role ...... to hand over the silverware to the bride?''


    ''Yes, you heard me right.　The silversmithing fair that Count Elsen is holding for his daughter-in-law.


    Yeah, if you want to talk about it.


    At the finale of the fair, they give out awards to the best silversmiths and silversmiths. The silversmith who receives the award will have the honor of presenting the silverware to the bride.


    And you want me to serve in that capacity?"


    The fair attracts not only people from the city, but also from the surrounding area and even the neighboring dignitaries," he said. What better place to promote the guild?　I''d like you to do it."


    But the fair is an event for silversmiths, isn''t it?　In that case, shouldn''t the silversmith who actually produced the silverware be given that honor rather than me?"


    I told you. This is a great opportunity to promote the guild."


    "......"


    An alchemist who works in a workshop and is stained with soot and smoke will not improve his image even if he is presented at a publicity event. It would be more picturesque to have a knight in a gorgeous costume presenting his silversmithing work to the daughter of a nobleman. Don''t you think so?　A knight as beautiful as you are."


    Lukius said, trying to coax Jill.


    Jill stared at him without moving an eyebrow.


    If all goes well," he said, "we may even get some good adventurers from other cities to join our guild. In short, it is for the development of the guild. Will you do it?


    I am very glad to hear that. If it is for the development of the guild, I will accept your offer. However, if you are considering the development of the guild, there is one more thing I would like you to consider.


    How?　What is it?


    The return of Roland the Connoisseur to the guild.


    Hearing the word "Roland," Lucius'' eyebrows twitched faintly.


    Roland?　Ah, I remember such an appraiser. I haven''t seen him recently, though. So what''s up with that?　What''s wrong with this Roland?"


    That man is indispensable to the guild. Please let him return.


    If you need a connoisseur, there are plenty of them in the Gilded Eagle, aren''t there?　Why not take advantage of them?"


    No other appraiser will do. If it is not Mr. Roland, if it is not him, I will not be able to reach my full potential. Please. Please close your eyes to the minor mistakes and let Mr. Roland come back. I''m sure that even his hostile action against the "Guardian of the Magic Tree" is due to some circumstance. ......"


    ?"　I don''t know why you are so obsessed with that man, but I have a position. I can''t afford to give special treatment to a slow learner in favor of another successful appraiser."


    Results!　If it''s results, he has produced the most. The fact that I became a B-rank adventurer ...... and made it this far is all thanks to you, Mr. Roland."


    Gilles," he said. That''s overestimating him. You are a B-rank adventurer because of nothing else. It''s your ability.


    I don''t think so. Without Roland''s guidance, I would still be a mediocre archer ......."


    Anyway. Roland''s banishment is a decision. Once that decision is made, it cannot be overturned."


    Guild leader: ......


    I''ve had enough of this. It would be a disgrace to the organization if you so readily reinstate a person who was once banished. Instead, you should concentrate on your own mission. You are not satisfied with a B rank, are you? You are the future of this guild, and there are many things you must do to become an S-class adventurer.　Do you have time to spend endlessly bickering over a single appraiser?"


    I''m going to go to ....... I understand. I won''t ask the guild leader for this anymore."


    She seemed to close her eyes in disappointment, then turned and headed for the exit of the room.


    Wait for me.


    Lucius called to Jill''s back.


    Jill stopped without turning around.


    Lucius had one more thing to do for her.


    That was why he had summoned her at this hour, when Dianna was not around.


    ''This is not directly related to the mission, but ......, are you free tonight?　We could have dinner if you''d like. ......"


    Excuse me."


    Jill said with a pishy grin and left the room.


    Lucius looked discouraged for a moment, then sighed.


    (I still don''t trust her. Let''s leave the captain of the main force to someone else.)


    Jill leaves the room and walks down the hallway with a determined look on her face.


    (Roland-san is not a liability. I will prove it!)


    The day of the fair arrived amidst the intertwined thoughts of all the participants.


    <>