Dea's coughing is seriously useful

"And so, let's hold a Divine Artifact Return Ceremony, Kari-chan!"

Mie-chan beamed with a smile as bright as the sun.

"Huh, why?"

"What do you mean, why? We're returning a Divine Artifact, you know? We can't just hand it back like it's nothing."

Besides, if we don't properly prove it's the real thing before returning it, someone might nitpick and say "They just claimed they returned it to cover up that it was stolen!"

To firmly demonstrate that point, apparently we need to publicly show that it's genuine.

"We'll need the Goddess and you, Kari-chan, her messenger, to reeally cooperate with us! Can you collect it in a divine manner?"

"In a divine manner, huh… Help me figure out the staging. I can probably pull off most things."

"Kyaa! As expected of Kari-chan, I love you! Forge me!"

"Ahem."

"Even so, to think Kari-chan was actually a messenger of the Goddess. I thought you weren't ordinary, but still."

Dea-kun's throat clearing is seriously useful.

"Even though I'm called a messenger, I'm basically just an errand girl, so it's not that big a deal… Normally I just collect socks and offer them to the Goddess."

"Oh, so when you said you offer socks to the Goddess, that was actually true? Then do you need the ones I'm wearing now?"

"… Well, you know the potion I gave you? Since you drank it, you've apparently fallen outside the Goddess's preferences. Me included. Apparently she prefers things that don't carry the Goddess's own scent."

"Eh, so… does that mean I smell like the Goddess now? Does that mean I've become one of the Goddess's followers too? Wow."

You could interpret it that way, I suppose.

"Oh, right. Are you going to make doors connecting to Kari-chan's base for the other four as well?"

"Yep. I'll make it so outsiders can't enter, but you all are special!"

"That'll make it easy to hold national defense meetings and such. I appreciate it."

Just like with Mashiro-san, I'm planning to create rooms for each of the five and connect them there.

The dwarf ratio at the base is going to spike. Oh, that's right.

"Want me to build you a workshop while I'm at it? There's already a crafting room, but from a professional dwarf's perspective it's probably just a cramped little space… I don't know the specifics, so if you give me blueprints I'll build it exactly to spec."

"!!"

Mie-chan's eyes snapped wide open.

"… Um, so, can I make anything in this workshop? What's the lot size? Ventilation? Air flow? Average temperature? Humidity? Wall insulation? Is there water nearby? Storage? Fuel depot?"

A torrent of rapid-fire questions. As expected of a top-tier artisan.

"Y-yeah. You can set it up however you like? I can configure everything you just mentioned however you want. I can change things later, too."

"I can set it however I want!? … slurp."

Ah, Mie-chan's eyes have turned into those of a predator eyeing its prey.

"… I'll need to consult with the other four about this. I'd be cursed if I monopolized the design!"

"Oh, besides individual workshops, I could also make a shared workshop where everyone can work together."

Don't you want to see five loli dwarves giggling and chatting while they work?

I really, really do.

"… Hold on a second. Kari-chan, are you actually a demon? Is this safe? You're not going to take my soul, are you? Hey, Aishia-chan, should I become a slave too?"

"Vermilion-sama. I am the one who serves as Master's slave. Please do not interfere."

"Oh, okay."

Aishia declared firmly. Strong.

"I need to start designing the workshop right away! Kari-chan, tell me everything you can do to make a workshop!"

"Everything? Hmm, I'm not sure I can explain everything…"

At that point, Dea-kun stepped in between me and Mie-chan.

"Vermilion-sama. Please save all of that for after the preparations for the return ceremony are complete."

"Whaat!? That's awful! Making me wait for my dream workshop, elves are so cruel!"

"That's right, Dea-kun. It's not like building it takes any time…"

"No. If such an ideal workshop were completed, you'd definitely hole up in it, wouldn't you? I wouldn't be surprised if the return ceremony ended up being five years from now."

"… That's true!!"

"I can't argue with this elf girl…! Grrr, fine then, I'll drag the others into this!"

And so, building the workshops became the reward for successfully completing the return ceremony, and preparations for the ceremony were pushed forward at full speed with the combined efforts of all Five Elders, resulting in it being scheduled for one week later.

… Dea-kun sure is skilled at managing people!!