Bowlsmith (3)

Finer intervened, and Horne shouted with an angry face.

I looked at Elena. She nodded.

Elena can’t read minds. That is, she can only tell if it’s true or not when someone speaks.

The result showed that Finer’s current words were sincere. He genuinely wanted permission.

Then the young man next to him, who seemed to be a competitor, started speaking to Horne’s daughter.

“Tena, don’t think like that. I can make you happy for life. What can that guy do? Your brother will inherit the workshop, and if you marry someone like him, you won’t be able to make ends meet. His goal is clearly the inheritance. Once he gets it, he’ll just run away. It’s better to be with me for your happiness!”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t need that. Finer said he doesn’t need the inheritance either!”

“Then you’ll have to live more poorly. Tsk, you’ve never suffered, so you don’t know anything.”

“Gedroa, that’s enough.”

Horne shook his head at the rich young man from the neighboring city. The young man, called Gedroa, closed his mouth at that.

I looked at Elena, and she nodded. It was a bit ambiguous, but it seemed to be the truth. It meant that Finer genuinely felt that way.

“Tena! Stay put for now. There’s no need to fight right now. Today, I will decide who is more suitable for my daughter. Our family has been running this pottery workshop for generations, and you two are my disciples.”

Horne said so, and I sent Rurin in. Fresh from a bath and looking more radiant, Rurin pretended to serve and then spilled water on the two young men.

No, she just blatantly poured it on them.

No acting at all. I can’t believe this.

Anyway, the show must go on, so I jumped out reflexively.

“Hey! Why did you pour water on the guests?”

“You told me to pour it!”

“What?”

“I said spill it, spill it. When did I say pour it?”

I whispered quietly, and Rurin shook her head. She looked confused.

“Spilling is pouring. Don’t you know how to be bold! Hehe.”

Who doesn’t know her personality. Sigh.

“It’s fine. These things happen. Haha.”

But Gedroa, with a big smile, was pretending to be a nice guy.

How did I know he was acting?

But this time, Elena shook her head vigorously. He was caught in the lie detector.

At this moment, it’s been decided who the better man was.

Then I should help Finer.

“Hmm, anyway, both of you. This is my latest pottery. It’s a pair of plates I made for Tena’s wedding. It symbolizes two becoming one.”

“Oh, wonderful!”

When Horne took out the pottery he made from the wrapping cloth, the two young men looked at it in amazement. Gedroa fussed and flattered as he looked at the pottery, while Finer was almost dazed.

So this time, I sent Sereina and Rurin out.

At my signal, the two dragons suddenly started fighting. They always fought, so it was very natural, unlike the water pouring incident.

“You ugly Red!”

“You’re calling me ugly? I’m known as the flower of the Reds!”

“That’s right. I think I’m a hundred times better than you.”

“You’re funny. Did you damage your brain when you fainted last time?”

The two dragons, clearly fighting, approached Horne’s table. As the four at the table turned their attention to the dragons, Sereina shoved Rurin hard.

And Rurin fell back, knocking the pottery onto the floor.

“Oh? I don’t know! That stupid Black broke it!”

“You pushed me and broke it! I don’t know.”

“Where are you running off to!”

Red and Black disappeared outside as planned, and I rushed out again.

“Oh, I’m so sorry. The employees… Anyway, I’ll compensate for this immediately.”

“No. It’s also my fault for putting it on the table.”

“But…”

“Rather, this turned out well.”

“Yes?”

Both young men questioned their mentor and spoke simultaneously.

“The two plates have been split nicely into two parts. They’ve become four pieces. I was going to test something else, but this is a better idea. I’ll test who can repair these pieces better. Of course, I know your skills best. So remember, it’s not just about skill. The deadline is tomorrow! Bring the repaired plates back here at the same time.”

“A test, you say?”

“Yes.”

Finer looked at the plates, Tena, and Horne with surprise. Meanwhile, his competitor, Gedroa, confidently picked up the plates.

“I’m confident about the test, Master. But this test, is it…”

“Yes, the winner will marry my daughter.”

“Dad! How can you decide a marriage with such a test!”

“Child, such a test! I have devoted my life to this pottery. You have also grown up with the money from selling these plates. So it’s only natural that pottery decides your marriage. Since your mother is no longer here, I will decide everything through this test.”

At such a firm statement, Tena couldn’t argue anymore and ran to Finer, shaking his arm.

“Will you be okay? If you lose, we’ll die together!”

“Tena!”

At the firm shout, Tena had no choice but to return to Horne.

“I will do my best as well.”

When Finer answered, it meant both of them agreed, and the episode ended.

And the next day.

The two young men returned to the restaurant with the repaired plates wrapped in cloth.

“Finer. Will you be okay? If you can’t win, I…”

“It’s fine, Miss.”

Finer nodded confidently. Gedroa was also full of confidence. Such strong confidence couldn’t have been displayed without some trick overnight.

Gedroa finally took out the repaired plate. The reason for his confidence soon became clear.

The plate had been almost perfectly restored.

“Hmm.”

Horne stroked his chin as he looked at the restored plate.

“Gedroa, you’ve reached this level?”

“Thank you, Master!”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Do you think I don’t know you got help from your family’s craftsman?”

“Tena, don’t say such things without evidence!”

“Still…”

It seemed there was no evidence. Tena couldn’t argue with her father’s words and looked at Finer.

“It’s fine, Miss. You will gradually learn about my skills from now on.”

Gedroa, with a face of victory, spoke to Tena.

The plate was perfectly restored without any trace of joining. It made sense.

Finer had a firm expression but still took out the plate he had repaired without losing confidence.

Of course, it was a bit far from a perfect restoration.

There was a seam in the center, but it harmonized well with the plate.

“Hmm, you repaired it using traditional methods. It looks stylish, but it’s hard to say it’s a perfect restoration like Gedroa’s. As far as I know, you too have the skills to completely restore a plate. Why did you choose this?”

When Horne asked, Finer shook his head.

“I was honored but also worried to touch the Master’s work with my insignificant skills. I think I can also restore it perfectly like Gedroa’s. But Master, aren’t we making plates?”

“Of course.”

At Finer’s question, Horne’s eyebrows twitched.

“If you repair it like that, you have to use adhesives, which inevitably contain harmful substances. I thought that didn’t match the spirit of making plates. So I used traditional methods without harmful substances. I’m sorry for ruining the work with my poor skills, Master!”

“Huh.”

At Finer’s words, Horne nodded with a meaningful smile. And he declared.

“I’m sorry, but I have to entrust my daughter to Finer. Gedroa.”

That meant Finer’s victory.

“Wha-what do you mean! I don’t understand. Isn’t the one who did the best repair supposed to win?”

“I clearly said yesterday that I know your skills well. I wanted to see the spirit with which you treat the plates. As Finer said, we sell plates that directly hold food. You must not forget that essence.”

When Horne said that, Gedroa fumed and stood up abruptly.

“Ha, I tried to take in a woman with no use other than to help dominate the plate market in Greek City, and this is what I get!”

Gedroa shouted and stormed out. Seeing that, Horne shook his head, and Tena ran to Finer.

“Finer!”

“Miss…!”

“Congratulations to both of you. May I have the repaired plate? I want to celebrate with a beautiful dish.”

“We’d appreciate that.”

Horne nodded at me. Then Finer suddenly knelt in front of Horne.

“Master!”

“What’s that? And why do you still call me Master?”

It seemed he meant why not call him father-in-law, but Finer bowed his head deeply and spoke.

“In fact, I cheated. I… love the Young Lady so much… but I couldn’t bring myself to touch the Master’s work, so I was hesitating.”

“Huh, so?”

“At that time, I received advice from El. So it’s not fair, Master!”

Everyone’s eyes turned to me at Finer’s bombshell statement.

Of course, I did give some advice. But to call it cheating…

That was just yesterday.

“Why are you drinking so much?”

When I asked Finer, who was drinking soju after everyone had left, he let out a big sigh.

“It’s the Master’s masterpiece. How can I dare touch it… But I have to. But still!”

“Is that plate important, or is your beloved girlfriend important?”

“Of course, my girlfriend.”

“Then do it. It’s nothing to hesitate about.”

“But… how to touch it…”

“If I may give one piece of advice, focus on the essence.”

The essence of the plate.

Of course, I didn’t discuss how Horne would test the two. But I thought Horne was thinking about the essence of the plate. So I gave that advice to Finer.

“The essence… If it’s the essence of the plate? The essence of the plate is… Ah, I must go now. Something important has come to mind!”

Fortunately, Finer seemed to realize a lot from the word ‘essence’. And that’s how the current result came about.

I explained yesterday’s events and added a word.

“Finer left the store just hearing that word. He realized it because he always valued the essence. You can’t call that cheating, Horne.”

“Lift your head, Finer. Although you received some help, I have decided to entrust Tena to you.”

“Dad!”

At that declaration, Tena, who had a troubled expression, ran to her father.

Finer, with an expression that showed he was moved, repeatedly thanked him, finally calling Horne father-in-law.

Well, as long as it’s a happy ending.