Cozy Isekai Craftsman, ch 25 (end of book one)

Pretty much to no one's surprise, the barbecue was over, at least until everybody transferred to the Rusty Nail.

Lucas had several of the guards come discreetly clean up the scene as much as they could. Thomas had complained that the house had just been fixed up and now the back wall to the backyard was utterly destroyed.

Caroline had closed down business at the Rusty Nail for the night, stating that they were celebrating something for Joe.

Lucas's orders were that everybody had been sworn to secrecy about what had just happened. Apparently, none of this was supposed to get leaked, and everything had been contained until the protection field had been destroyed or failed. Joe didn't quite know the exact details since he wasn't privy to them. But apparently, Grace's absence as the sole sorcerer of Lockwood had given the monster an opportunity to break through the barrier.

Caroline had claimed that a monster had never broken through to Lockwood, and all the time that she had lived there, Paula seemed to have agreed. It had been a long time since his extended memory that he could remember seeing or even hearing about a monster entering the city proper.

When they reached the Rusty Nail, Joe had asked Louis Lucas, "Does this mean there are going to be more monster attacks?"

Lucas chuckled and said, "No, this is just a remnant of the problem that we've been dealing with for a little while now. He was the last one, the very bottom of the barrel."

Joe was itching with curiosity about the elusive problem that Lucas and the guards kept referring to. He could tell it was linked to Rick's injury and the nearby dungeon. Joe had read numerous books about people who were transported to different worlds, where adventurers made a name for themselves by plundering dungeons for fame, fortune, and power. It all sounded like a grand adventure, but now Joe knew the ugly truth - dungeons were treacherous places that could swallow you whole.

Lockwood's extensive safety measures only confirmed Joe's suspicions that dungeons were not to be taken lightly. He shuddered at the thought of being trapped inside with no hope of escape.

Joe relayed his desire to the sheriff, who sagged in a seat.

Lucas said, "That's a good idea. Even if you had the power and skill to traverse the dangerous dungeons, it's still a dumb idea."

Joe couldn't agree more. He said, "I just want to live a normal life. Nothing greater than a normal life without too much worry."

Lucas nodded, sipping on the summer beer that Joe had concocted alongside the staff of the restaurant. Now, Lucas's eyes widened. He said, "It's my first time tasting this beer. It's amazing."

Joe said, "Not as amazing as your combat abilities. I've never seen anybody move like that. You looked like you were a man half your age."

Lucas shrugged as if it was just another day's work. He said, "Honestly, if my saber hadn't given out, the monster wouldn't have been an issue." He said it so nonchalantly that Joe believed him.

Joe watched as Lucas shrugged off the recent monster attack like it was just another day at the office. His casual attitude made Joe's jaw drop. "Honestly, if my saber hadn't given out, the beast wouldn't have stood a chance," Lucas explained, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Joe was in awe of Lucas's bravery and nonchalance.

Meanwhile, behind the bar, Rick and Caroline were having a hushed conversation that was causing them both to look worried. The children, oblivious to the danger that had just passed, were playfully trading stories about who could throw pebbles the farthest. Despite the fearless front that Rick and Caroline had put on, Joe could sense that they were shaken up. He could tell that they were scared, just like everyone else.

As if sensing the tension in the air, Lucas beckoned Rick and Caroline over with a wave of his hand. They both approached him hesitantly, still exchanging worried glances. Rick leaned in close and whispered something in Lucas's ear, and Lucas responded in kind. Joe couldn't help but wonder what they were discussing in such hushed tones, but he trusted that whatever it was, Lucas had it under control.

They both looked at Joe, and Rick said, "Sorry, you're gonna have to sit this one out."

Joe put his hands up in a pacifying gesture and said, "No, it's okay. I understand. You guys are keeping the peace. Just holler at me if you need anything." He smiled.

Caroline tugged on Joe's arm for a quick moment and said, "Thank you, Joe. Again."

Joe left as the three discussed. However, he was able to catch the tail end of a couple of words passing between them. Lucas muttered, "I assure you that was the last one. The crystal appeared and I destroyed it. They won’t be an issue anymore."

It seemed both of them knew what was happening. Joe left them after that.

As Lucas's words echoed through the air, Joe felt the tension in his body slowly melt away. The monster was vanquished, and the black crystal had dissipated into a cloud of smoke. Lucas seemed to be at ease now, even confident that there wouldn't be any more monsters to contend with. Joe breathed a sigh of relief and allowed himself to relax.

As he sat there, Joe couldn't help but think of the surprise he had brought with him to the Rusty Nail. He had spent the past few days crafting portable freezer boxes, and he had brought one of them along with him today. But it wasn't just any ordinary freezer box - this one was filled with goodies that he hoped would brighten the children's day.

Bryan and John were in the middle of a heated conversation when they noticed Joe heading towards the freezer box. Intrigued, they stopped mid-sentence and watched as Joe lifted the lid to reveal its contents.

Suddenly, Bryan and John pushed the representative and her sister forward to speak on their behalf. Joe couldn't help but chuckle at their eagerness - it seemed like everyone was eager to get in on the action.

Niamh walked over and said, "Mr. Joe, do you need any help?"

There was an excited glint in her eye, and Joe decided to reciprocate. He said, "Why yes, young lady, I would love you and your brother's help. Here, help me with this box and get some bowls and spoons from the kitchen."

Bryan and John sprang into action, scurrying off to the kitchen to fetch bowls and spoons. Niamh lent a hand as well, helping Joe unstrap the freezer box. Joe watched with a sense of satisfaction as everyone worked together in perfect harmony, their movements fluid and effortless.

He couldn't help but feel a sense of pride as he looked around the room. Having worked with children before, he knew that giving them something to do in stressful situations was crucial to helping them feel like they had some sense of power and autonomy. He felt a wave of relief wash over him as he saw the children's faces light up with excitement and joy at the sight of the treats.

Despite the recent battle in the backyard, the mood in the Rusty Nail was anything but somber. Laughter and lighthearted conversation filled the air, and Joe felt grateful to be surrounded by such a resilient group of people. He took a moment to soak in the positive vibes, allowing himself to relax and bask in the warmth of the moment.

When the children all gathered around Joe with bowls around the table, John spoke up and said, "Mr. Joe, did you see Emily whack that monster? She was so strong with her fist. Do you think she could teach me how to do that?"

Joe said, "Maybe, but remember she's a lizard kin. Their bodies work differently than ours."

John seemed to deflate at that answer, and Joe felt bad about putting down the kid's dreams. So Joe added, "However, if you do talk to her, she might tell you secrets of the lizard kin fighting technique."

As soon as Joe lifted the lid of the freezer box, John's eyes widened with delight. Before long, the children had formed an orderly line, eagerly waiting to fill their bowls with scoops of ice cream. Joe watched with a sense of satisfaction as he used his power to transfer different flavors into each of the bowls, making sure that everyone got their fair share.

The last time Joe had revealed his ice cream-making abilities, he only had vanilla and cherries to work with. But this time, he had gone all out, bringing along a variety of flavors, including vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and even coffee. He couldn't help but feel a sense of pride as he handed out the different flavors, watching as everyone's eyes lit up with excitement and anticipation.

As he made his way around the room, Joe noticed that Emily and Luke were deep in conversation with their grandfather, who was holding the miniature locket that contained his essence. Joe smiled to himself, enjoying the sight of his friends experiencing ice cream for the first time.

Joe savored the sweet taste of the homemade ice cream as he watched Emily and Ava trade their bowls like kids at a carnival game booth. The creamy vanilla base mixed with the tangy burst of blueberries exploded on his tongue, and he couldn't help but smile at the joy on their faces.

He wished Thomas could taste it too, but for now, there was nothing he could do. However, he did have some ideas he would have to test in the future.

Joe had transferred all of the properties that he put inside the tablecloth back into Emily's stress again. He was just glad that his plan had worked, keeping them protected.

Emily beamed with excitement as she reached into her pocket and retrieved a small, intricately crafted hairpin. It was a shining silver sunflower, with delicate petals that seemed to catch the light in a way that made them appear almost ethereal. Emily carefully placed the hairpin in the fold of Ava's bangs, a protective charm emanating from its very core.

Ava's eyes widened with wonder as she gazed at the gift in her reflection. She threw her arms around her sister, the two of them giggling with joy and discussing the future and the latest town gossip.

As they chatted, Lucas caught Joe's attention with a beckoning gesture. Caroline and Rick wandered off with their children to savor the rest of the ice cream. Joe settled down across from Lucas. He couldn't help but notice how much more at ease the sheriff looked now that he had indulged in a few scoops of the delicious dessert.

Lucas said, "And this thing came from your world, this ice cream?"

Joe nodded. "Yeah, there are a couple of things that I'd like to make. I don't know if your world has them. Maybe they do, but they might not be known to this part of the continent. But I'd like to recreate as many of the things as I can for you guys to experience."

Lucas studied him for a long moment and twirled his gray mustache. His expression was somber and serious, calculating. Finally, he broke the silence and said, "I know you, Joe. You're going to try to blame yourself for the incident somehow. But don't. It's a bad road."

Joe said, "I've already spoken about it with Emily and Thomas. I promise I won't go down that road."

Lucas smiled as if he expected this. Then he said, "I know your ability is incredibly powerful. And what you did today was brave. However, I don't want you to use your power to create weapons, isn't understood?"

Joe replied, "You know me. I never plan to. It's my hard rule. However, I did have some plans to give some protection javelins to the guards, maybe even you and Grace and then the other future officers."

Lucas leaned forward and said, "Explain."

Joe went over his ideas given to him by Emily. He even talked about various possible modifications that he might give if he had access to new properties from items in the future.

Lucas leaned back in the seat, eating the last of his ice cream and sipping some beer quietly in thought. Then he said, "Okay, I approve. Those are good, safe ideas. Don't get me wrong. I don't want you to make weapons because they'll be incredibly dangerous to deal within the wrong hands."

Joe blinked. He said, "Then why?"

Lucas said, "It is for that reason, but also because I’m your friend. I know that if you make something that can cause harm to somebody else, even if it's with the intent of protecting someone, it would hurt something inside of you, something that you can't ever get back."

Joe studied Lucas's expression. The sheriff seemed to be speaking from experience. Lucas said, "So I just want you to focus on living a good life. And it's my job to make sure that Lockwood allows you and everyone else here to have that good life. Remember, it’s my job, not yours.”

Joe's tense shoulders sagged as Lucas's words washed over him like a soothing balm. He had never expected to feel so reassured by his friend's simple statement, but something about the way Lucas spoke made him feel safe, understood.

Despite his best efforts, Joe had always been plagued by a nagging worry that his creations could cause harm. He had poured all of his energy into making sure that he never created anything with malicious intent, and had taken great care to ensure that his inventions were never inadvertently harmful.

But now, as he listened to Lucas's words, Joe felt a weight lift from his chest. He realized that he had been holding onto this fear for far too long, and that it was time to let go. He allowed himself a small smile, grateful for the warmth and understanding that radiated from his friend.

Joe said, "Thank you, Lucas. I really appreciate that. Speaking of which, I do have something to reveal to everybody."

He stood up and he had brought with him on a cart the thing that had been sitting in the middle of the garden. Luckily, the monster hadn't broken it. He lugged it over to the Rusty Nail. Everybody hushed, expecting Joe to do something.

Finally, he just said, "Okay, I think it's time for me to reveal to everybody what it is that we've been working on."

Thomas woke up from the locket that Ava held. He said, "Are you going to finally reveal to us your business idea? Your career plan?"

Joe nodded. He said, "Thank you. In fact, I am."

Joe's fingers trembled with anticipation as he reached for the cloth that shrouded his latest creation. He had poured countless hours into this project, pouring his heart and soul into every intricate detail. With a theatrical flourish, he ripped the cloth away, revealing his masterpiece to the world.

But instead of the cheers and applause that he had expected, Joe was met with a deafening silence. He looked around at the faces of his friends and family, their expressions a mix of confusion and uncertainty.

Joe's heart sank as he realized that he had missed the mark. His creation had not elicited the reaction that he had hoped for, and he felt a wave of disappointment wash over him. But then, he took a deep breath and looked again at the faces around him.

Caroline said, "Is that a dog?"

Rick said, "No, it can't be. It looks like an ugly cat."

The kids started laughing uncontrollably. Joe felt himself blush, embarrassed.

Emily seemed to understand what Joe was going for. And she said, "It looks great, Joe…for a beginner.."

Lucas joined the kids in their laughter. He said, "Think of it this way, you have so much more to learn."

Thomas blurted out, "So that's the big reveal? The thing you've been hiding? You want to be a sculptor?"

Joe rolled his eyes. "What's so bad about that? Everybody needs art. And I don't see any sculptures around this entire town."

A ripple of laughter echoed through the room, and Joe couldn't help but join in. It was a warm, joyful sound that seemed to fill every corner of the space, washing away any tension or awkwardness that had lingered before.

As the laughter subsided, Joe looked around at the faces of his loved ones, taking in the good-natured grins and twinkling eyes. For a moment, he felt a twinge of insecurity - had he disappointed them with his simple answer? Had he failed to meet their expectations?

But as he watched their reactions, Joe realized that he had nothing to fear. They weren't laughing at him, he could tell, but with him - a lighthearted acknowledgement of the fact that he had surprised them with his unexpected answer.

And as he reflected on the moment, Joe couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in his chosen craft. Sculpting may not be as flashy or glamorous as some of his other inventions, but it was a skill that brought him true joy and fulfillment.

Joe asked Caroline, "I know you’ll give it to me straight. Can you tell me if I'm actually good enough to sell this?"

Without hesitation, Caroline said, “No, dear. Not yet. But it doesn’t mean you should give up. Work on it. Improve your craft. It's supposed to be the hellhound, right? The one that you found?"

Joe nodded. "Thank you! Someone finally got it!"

Then Caroline shook her head. "I don't think anybody in town is going to buy this. However, I think I can speak on behalf of all of us to say that we're very happy that you found your calling."

Rick asked, "Did the local guilds approve this?" Lucas was the one to answer. "If they didn't, I would have heard about it."

Joe added, "Yes. All the merchants and craftsmen agreed. Especially since there weren't any sculptors around here. And my business isn't going to affect anybody negatively."

Rick chuckled again. He said, “Even if there was a sculptor here, I don't think they're going to be worried about competition from you."

Caroline jabbed him good naturedly in the good arm. Rick yelped, but it just made the kids laugh. Caroline said, "Joe just started, he’ll get better. I seem to remember a young, dashing guard with a scraggly excuse for a beard whipping bumbling around with his sword everyday until he got better."

Rick blushed and buried his face in his beer mug.

Joe sighed. "You know, I spent a long time working on this in secret. I thought somebody would appreciate it. But I guess it's good to be bad at something. It gives me plenty of room to grow, right?"

Ava gave him a thumbs up. "I’m glad you found something you want to work on.'"

The low hum of conversation in the tavern came to an abrupt halt as a small figure padded into the room. At first, Joe couldn't quite make out what he was seeing - was it some kind of strange monster, or perhaps a new species of animal he had never encountered before?

But as the creature drew closer, he realized with a start that it was a dog - a small, fluffy poodle with delicate bat wings folded neatly against its back. Despite the strangeness of the sight, Joe couldn't help but feel a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

As the little dog made its way around the room, sniffing at various objects and people with a curious expression, Joe felt a wave of warmth wash over him. There was something so endearing about the tiny creature, with its unassuming presence and delicate features.

But then, something unexpected happened.

Her eyes fell on the poodle statue, which was a pale imitation of her crude self, and even though it was the best of Joe's abilities, he had to admit it wasn't a very good sculpture.

However, the hellhound's eyes widened and brightened, and she got a little excited. Her walk sped up to a trot as she hopped over to the statue that moderately resembled her features. She sniffed it a couple of times before circling around it and plopping right down next to it, closing her eyes and taking a nap.

Everybody was stunned by what was happening.

"Lucas, are you sure that's the hellhound?" asked Thomas.

"I'm sure, but I've never seen one so docile before," replied Thomas.

The kids bounded towards the hellhound without hesitation, their little feet pattering against the wooden floor.

Joe watched in astonishment as they reached out their hands to pet her, their tiny fingers brushing against her wings and fur. He held his breath, waiting for Isabella to snap or growl, but to his surprise, she didn't seem to mind.

Instead, she luxuriated in their touch, relishing in the warmth and affection of the children's small hands. Isabella opened one eye, regarding them with a contented expression before drifting back into her slumber, clearly pleased with the physical attention she was receiving.

"Well, I'll be," said Rick. "Looks like we have a pet now."

Caroline sighed. "You're cleaning up after it."

Ava laughed, saying, "This might be the weirdest day of my life."

Joe leaned back in his chair and gazed at the faces of his friends, illuminated by the warm glow of the tavern's torches. He had only known them for a short time, yet they had become more like family to him than anyone he had known in his previous life, with the exception of his mother and sister. The weight of his past troubles seemed like a distant memory now that he was free from cancer and given a chance to truly live.

The sound of their laughter and chatter filled him with a sense of contentment he had never known before. As he looked around at his newfound community, he couldn't help but feel that he had succeeded beyond his wildest dreams. With Grace's imminent return, he knew that they were all safe and protected, and he allowed himself to bask in the comfort of their company.

He closed his eyes, letting out a deep breath, and whispered a silent thanks to Goddess Quinn for this new life. All he had ever wanted was simple, peaceful days filled with easy smiles and relaxed evenings.

He finally found his cozy life.

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End of book one.  What do you think?

And book 2 should be finished by the end of this month.  There will be more conflict in book 2, but it'll still be much lower key than most other stuff I put out.  I could not have written this myself.  C. Cheesecake is much better at keeping it mellow than I am.