Chapter 6 – Single Aristocrat Will Not Marry

“Good morning!”

　While I was at my desk in the workshop drawing up plans for an air conditioner, someone opened the workshop door and came in with great energy. A woman with slightly frizzly red hair and jade green eyes.

　Her name is Rouge, and she’s one of the employees of my workshop.

“We’ve got orders for new magic tools!”

　Rouge raised her voice cheerfully and laid out order forms on the desk.

　Her job is to take care of the workshop’s miscellaneous tasks, such as securing sales routes, making deliveries, and taking orders.

“Again?”

“Isn’t it good to have work? Don’t look so disgusted.”

“That’s true, but the problem is that we don’t have many employees, yeah.”

　Tristan directed a somewhat cutting remark at me. 

“Well, that’s true. We’ve increased our sales so much, but we have no more than two employees……”

　Yes, Tristan and Rouge are the only two employees at the Zirc workshop. If you include me, there are only three of us.

“Hey, Zirc. Now that the delivery of refrigerators has calmed down and we’re safely in the black, isn’t it time to hire people?” 

“Unnecessary.” 

　Rouge said in a sickening sweet voice, and I immediately dismissed the idea.

“Why not? If we hire more people, we can make more magic tools, and our workshop’s sales will go up even more, you know? In this world, there are many people who want Zirc’s magic tools.” 

“I’ve told you many times, but I make magic tools to make my own life more comfortable. I don’t have any noble thoughts about making them for someone else’s sake. I only make what I want to make.”

　Yes, I don’t have green thoughts about trying to make people smile or enriching the city with magic tools.

　Eveything I make is only for the purpose of making my own life more comfortable. I sell magic tools just to pay for development and to make a living for myself, I don’t harbour Rouge’s kind of enthusiasm. 

“Haa….. You don’t change your mind even a little bit, do you? Even though the magic tools invented are amazing, the person who made them is like this.” 

　People don’t change that easily.

　Regardless of whether I’ve already died once and had been sent to my second life, I can say that I haven’t changed at all. Make no mistake. 

　At any rate, I checked the order forms that Rouge brought to me.

　From this bunch, I’ll do only what I want to do. I won’t accept anything I’m not interested in.

　Rouge will take care of the rest on her own, either by passing them on to other workshops, declining them, or she’ll have other good ways of handling them.

“But I still want more employees!”

　Not caring about me dismissing Rouge’s opinion, Tristan again requests.

　There’s a part of me that wants to reject immediately, but since he might have an important opinion, I stop looking at the request orders and hear him out for now. 

“Why?”

“Because if things stay like this, no matter how much time passes, I’ll never be able to get a girlfriend! Ms. Rouge is beautiful, but she’s married, and there are no other women here, only a cold male boss! In a workplace like this, I can’t even meet anyone!” 

　I was a fool for taking his question seriously, thinking I would get at least some kind of diverse opinion. 

　What a shallow reason.

“I’m almost eighteen. It’s time for me to start going out with someone with marriage in mind!”

“The workplace is a place to work, not a place to meet people. What do you think our workshop is?”

“Uuh, that’s true, but I want some warmth, I want to get married!”

“What’s the good points of marriage anyway? If you get married, your assets will be shared and you won’t be able to spend as you like. You’ll also have no time to enjoy freely, no time to devote to your hobbies or work, surely? Also, you haven’t even qualified as a magic tool specialist yet, so what time do you have to be infatuated with women?”

　Tristan is an apprentice magic tool maker and has yet to pass the certification exam.

　To become a magic tool specialist, one must pass the national written exam as well as demonstrate the construction of a magic tool. 

　Without these two things, he cannot sell the magic tools he makes, nor can he open his own store.

　Even an average marriage is already expensive.

　For Tristan, who still can’t earn independent income, I wonder if he can go down a thorny path like marriage.

　He should throw away such silly ideas and first go directly on the road towards becoming a magic tool specialist. 

“Ugh, Ms. Rouge. Mr. Zirc is saying terrible things to me.”

“I don’t agree with everything he says, but the fact that he’s right in a way means there’s a problem with you.”

　Having his sore spot hit, Tristan is on the verge of tears and Rouge laughs wryly.

　If Tristan had told me in all seriousness that he’s usually overworked, I would have at least given it some consideration.

　Well, in the first place, since he didn’t come up with such a reason, it must mean that he has plenty to spare even with his current workload.

　Though we’re having an unproductive conversation, at least it was good in the sense that it allowed me to get a firm grasp on my subordinate’s work speed.

“But, Zirc. Marriage isn’t all bad, you know? It’s wonderful to be able to share the same time with the person you love, and to experience the joy of raising children.”

“I prefer to be alone. Spending the same time with someone else every day is nothing more than a pain. And I don’t like children either.”

　Rouge politely explains to me the wonders of marriage, but I don’t find any of it appealing.

　The gentle expression on Rouge’s gentle face fell flat after I denied her without hesitation.

“…..No matter how many times we talk about this, there’s no point, huh.”

“Indeed.”

　Those who love being single and those who are married can’t come to a common ground. 

　No matter how many times we discussed, it was impossible to compromise on our views of marriage. 

　It would be more productive to discuss such topics with those who share the same views.

“This is why you can’t get married, Mr. Zirc.”

“Let me correct you. It’s not that I can’t get married, it’s that I won’t get married. Don’t misunderstand.”

　There are many proposals of marriage meetings and talks. If I’m really bothered about it, I can get married.

　But I don’t want to get married because I like being single.

　I don’t want to be put in the same category as a man like Tristan who can’t get married.

　Even though I’m not interested in marriage at all, I don’t like to be branded as such.

　When I made that point, Tristan and Rouge looked at each other and gave each other looks of exasperation.

“Tall, well-educated, well-paid, good-looking. All the more, what a waste.”

　Rouge’s words mixed with a sigh echoed through the workshop.