Where there are meetings, there must also be farewells.
I know that much.
My tutor, Erika-sensei, was to return to the Capital.
It was far too soon.
“I still have so much I want to learn from you, sensei.”
I tried to persuade her to stay.
“No, there’s nothing more I can teach you here.” Erika-sensei smiled gently.
“The president of the Levant Company himself recognized you. That alone proves you’re already a splendid Production Master. And to be acknowledged by the Dwarf Clan is no small feat. Besides, you can already confirm the quality of your own work, can’t you?”
The truth was, I’d recently learned to use Appraisal Magic to evaluate the items and materials I crafted, and I could now understand the quality of my finished goods.
“Only first-rate Production Masters can use Appraisal Magic. You have enough talent to stand on your own.”
It seemed sensei was firm in her decision.
Convincing her to stay would be difficult.
Perhaps because I looked sad, she gently patted my head—something she rarely did.
“William, your talent is something special. For example, I don’t have enough magical power to create large buildings like the Warehouse you built.
Nor do I have the creativity to come up with ideas like elaborate decorations on wooden furniture, or making folding chairs out of nothing.”
“Most of all, what’s truly wonderful about you is how you can strongly imagine the people who will use what you make—your family, or the Dwarf Clan. Of course, you will always be my proudest student. I’m looking forward to seeing what you do next.”
I watched Erika-sensei’s carriage until it disappeared from view, carrying her back to the Capital.
Erika-sensei had left.
For a while, I felt hollow, and I lost motivation for my crafts.
If all I wanted was a lazy life in the countryside, perhaps that would have been enough.
But if I kept living aimlessly like this, I’d never be able to face Erika-sensei, who had kindly taught and believed in me.
It would also be ungrateful to God, who granted me these excellent Production Skills.
Alright, from now on, I’ll walk the path of a Production Master by my own strength.
With that resolve, I went to Father.
“Father, to move forward as a Production Master, I need to gather materials myself. Please allow me to enter the Great Forest.”
Up until now, I’d bought materials from merchants in the domain.
It was easier that way, but if I wanted to make truly fine things, materials were crucial.
The Great Forest was a dangerous place where monsters appeared, but there grew high-quality timber, and there were beasts with fine hides.
And besides that, I might discover rare materials, too.
“The Great Forest isn’t a place for children like Will, you know,” Father shook his head, but he wasn’t as opposed as I’d expected.
“In fact, Erika-sensei asked me, if Will ever wanted to collect his own materials, to give him the opportunity.”
Ah, even until the end, Erika-sensei had been thinking about my future.
“Very well, I permit you to enter the Great Forest. But you must take some knights to guard you. You mustn’t go alone.”
“Yes, thank you very much.”
At once, I asked Liam, the captain of the Knight Order, to arrange for knights to accompany me, and the very next day we set out for the Great Forest.
A few knights came with me, which was nice, but…
“Isn’t it a bit much for Captain Liam himself to come along? I mean, I’m not even the heir to the Margrave.”
“What are you saying, William-sama? His Excellency the Margrave cherishes you just as much as your elder brother Edward-sama.”
I was grateful that, as the second son, my parents loved me just as much.
Still, having Liam—the strongest knight in the domain—come along seemed a little over the top.
“I appreciate Father’s concern, but I’m only going to the outskirts of the Great Forest.”
“Hahaha, but that’s exactly the kind of caution a parent wishes for.”