Chapter 151
Wrapped in light, my eye level rose.
Yes, among my characters, Shijima’s height ranked third tallest.
The tallest was Shilent, followed by Rue, and then Shijima.
Among production classes, the blacksmith is unusual in that it is strong even if it fights normally.
Of course, it doesn’t have exclusive attack skills or support skills, but its base stats are not much different from a warrior’s.
And since Shijima has Warrior set as his sub-class…the feel is basically that of a warrior with fewer usable skills.
“Alright, my consciousness is still mine. Melt, what do you think? This is the blacksmith, Shijima.” (Shizuma)
“Eek! Your voice is loud and deep… It’s scary…? And you’ve got such a bushy beard.” (Melt)
“Yeah… I was kind of imagining a dwarf.” (Shizuma)
But in the game I played, there wasn’t a dwarf race. So he ended up as a stereotypical huge, muscular old man blacksmith.
Back then, my friends said things like “Wow, that really looks the part,” or “Feels like anything he finishes would get a bonus effect.”
…Well, in reality there wasn’t even the slightest such effect.
“So you’re registering for the tournament tomorrow, right? Hey, hey…can I watch you make the swords, Shijima?” (Melt)
“Of course. I want you to know where the rented workshop is too, so let’s stick together tomorrow.” (Shizuma)
“I’m looking forward to it… Shijima, you really have presence. You feel like a master! Be careful how you talk, okay? Like…a stubborn craftsman, or a taciturn old man?” (Melt)
“…How about this?” (Shizuma)
“Perfect!” (Melt)
Alright then… I’m taking this blacksmith tournament…!
—————–
The next morning, I woke up inside the microbus.
Between the bus’s original insulation and the fact that it was buried underground, even without heating it was warm enough with just a blanket.
It was pitch black regardless of the time since the lights were off, but I got up, headed outside the bus, and climbed out of the hole.
“Mm…it’s morning. Still, this is amazing. From the outside, the bus is completely hidden.” (Shizuma)
The hole was completely covered, looking like nothing more than fallen leaves and snow piled up.
Even the slope leading down looked like nothing but abandoned, tangled tree roots.
Perfect camouflage. No one would find it unless they already knew it was there.
“Alright… Time to wake Melt.” (Shizuma)
I returned to the bus, gently woke Melt, who was sleeping soundly in the back seat, and, still half-asleep and mumbling, she followed me as we headed for the city.
—————–
“Fuaa…ahh… I’m still sleepy… Shijima, you’re up early…” (Melt)
“Maybe that’s just how craftsmen are.” (Shizuma)
Apparently it was still early morning; even the gate guards looked drowsy.
The city was wrapped in silence, with no one walking around, but occasionally a sharp ‘clang!’ of metal echoed from the workshop district, confirming my guess that craftsmen start early.
“Guess the eateries won’t be open yet… Want to go back and sleep a bit more, at least you?” (Shizuma)
“N-No… I’ll try to stay awake…” (Melt)
Melt walked unsteadily beside me with her floppy tail and floppy face.
I kind of felt bad… She must still be sleepy…
As we wandered looking for the Blacksmith Guild, we found it near the entrance to the workshop district: a building with a sign shaped like a huge hammer and sword.
True to a Blacksmith Guild, the sign itself was metal, engraved with fine carvings and gold inlay spelling “Blacksmith Guild.”
“That’s a sign with real gravitas. Alright…from now on, I’m a wandering blacksmith; a secretive, taciturn, stubborn old man.” (Shizuma)
“Okay… But be nice to me…” (Melt)
“…Got it.” (Shizuma)
Yeah. Even stubborn old men go soft on kids who feel like their own daughters.
Alright then…roleplay start.
—————–
I opened the guild door. Perhaps because the hinges were well-oiled, it opened without a single creak…something that made me admire even such a small detail, fitting for a Blacksmith Guild headquarters.
Honestly, you often see buildings where that kind of maintenance is neglected.
I headed straight for the counter.
It wasn’t very large unlike the Adventurer Guild… There was only one reception desk.
There probably just aren’t as many blacksmiths as adventurers.
“Excuse me. I heard I can register for the blacksmith tournament here.” (Shizuma)
“Hm? Don’t recognize your face. You a drifter?”
“Yeah. I work with something like a traveling mercenary group.”
The receptionist was also a burly man who looked like a blacksmith.
Even more beard than mine, a bit shorter but powerfully built.
He is probably a dwarf.
“Then you’ll need to rent a workshop too. We’ve got shared workshops and private ones…and the private ones come in ranks. Shared is five large gold coins a month. Private starts at eight, and the best one’s fifteen a month. What’ll it be?”
“What’s the difference in equipment? I don’t plan on letting anyone steal my techniques. I’ll take a private workshop. Tell me what changes with the price.” (Shizuma)
“Confident, huh. Either way, we show all private workshops to applicants. I’ll guide you now. You got the money?”
“Plenty.” (Shizuma)
“Good. Follow me.”
And so, led by the very craftsman-like receptionist, we headed into the workshop district.
…By the way, Melt was trailing right behind us.
“What’s the deal with the kid?”
“She’s a new recruit in our brigade. Boss ordered me to finally make her a proper weapon.” (Shizuma)
“I see… A newbie at Ruby Rank, huh. Sounds like a damn capable group’s dedicated smith. This’ll be interesting.”
“Yeah. I’m not aiming to win, but in the end, I’ll be the winner.” (Shizuma)
“Kuha! Big talk! Declaring that in a blacksmith town takes guts! Name?”
“Shijima.” (Shizuma)
“Alright then. Shijima, first one’s here.”
We arrived at a small workshop near the entrance while having some casual talk.
We were guided inside and…
“Well, as you can see, the furnace is small. Tools and fuel are there, but you’d only manage accessories here.”
“Then no. I want a furnace that can maintain high output, a reasonably large anvil, and a semi-automatic belt hammer for ingot refining.” (Shizuma)
“Hoh. That puts you in the top-tier workshop. It’s pricey. You sure?”
“I am. Take me there.” (Shizuma)
I still don’t fully have Shijima’s blacksmith knowledge.
From past experience, once I actually stand in a forge and touch the tools, all that knowledge -skills from the game, research materials, and videos from the developers- will flood into me at once.
Even without the knowledge yet, my instincts told me I needed the best equipment.
My desire to make a weapon for Melt, to win the tournament…this body, Shijima’s body, was responding to that resolve.
‘I’ll make the ultimate masterpiece.’
‘I’ll fulfill your wish.’
That feeling welled up from deep inside.
A blacksmith’s story is one of single-mindedly pursuing the craft. Swinging the hammer to fulfill clients’ wishes, to cut down evil, to realize people’s hopes; they are seekers of such justice.
I could feel that will, that experience, deeply ingrained in this body.
And so, I was guided to the deepest part of the district…to a massive workshop with a towering chimney.
—————–
“This is the highest-grade workshop. But the higher heat also means a single lapse can melt ingots instantly. Whether casting or forging, you’ll need constant precision. Still want it?”
“I do. Here, I’ll create the finest weapon. Watch closely…I’ll show you a supreme blade unlike any you’ve seen.” (Shizuma)
“Heh. If you’re gonna boast that big, I’ll hold you to it. Shijima, get materials from the wholesalers in this district. Show this entry badge and you’ll get discounts. You naturally can also use your own materials too. Some contestants are backed by nobles…top-tier skill and funding. Can a wandering smith like you really surpass them? Show me.”
“Leave it to me.” (Shizuma)
I took the heavy iron medal and hung it around my neck.
Materials… I should probably check what’s available.
I paid fifteen large gold coins for a month’s rent and watched the receptionist leave.
“Alright! Melt, I’ll keep requests minimal this time and design the best blade myself. Is that okay?” (Shizuma)
“Ah…yeah! You suddenly changed how you talk and surprised me. Right…it’s my present, after all. Let’s save the fun for when it’s finished.” (Melt)
“Exactly… Though I need basics like blade length and edge style. Melt, what kind of weapon do you want? There’s paper and pen… Could you draw it?” (Shizuma)
Melt made an unmistakably sour face when I placed the paper and pen on the table.
Rare… I have never seen her look like that before.
“Uuh… I’m bad at drawing…” (Melt)
“Well…like whether it’s single-edged or double-edged, or how sharp the tip should be…” (Shizuma)
I picked up the pen, trying to draw from memory.
At that moment, all the blacksmith knowledge -experience, materials, footage- flooded into my mind at once.
Kuh…! I was careless… Being here was the trigger, huh…
Headache, dizziness; images kept flowing even with my eyes shut.
A torrent of information.
I collapsed onto the table, enduring until it passed.
“Shijima? Are you okay? That thing again?” (Melt)
“Guh… Yeah…but I can still handle it…” (Shizuma)
It is probably thanks to this sturdy blacksmith body.
This was manageable compared to Rue.
…Amazing. The developer must have researched real swordsmiths, overseas craftsmen making replicas, weapon histories, forging techniques, endless manufacturing videos…
On top of that, Shijima’s life and experience as a craftsman felt like they were merging into me.
The workshop, once just scenery, now felt like extensions of my own limbs.
“…I can draw. Melt, watch. I’ll sketch several dagger designs. Tell me which feels best to you.” (Shizuma)
“O-Okay.” (Melt)
I drew blade shapes, edge placement, thickness, grip length, guard design, knuckle guards; everything, and questioned Melt again and again.
“Amazing… Everything I think ‘it’d be nice if…’ just turns into drawings… It’s like magic.” (Melt)
“Alright. Then: ‘double-edged flowing blade,’ ‘slightly thicker spine for thrust durability,’ ‘some biological components for magic activation,’ ‘slim, shorter grips,’ ‘both blades identical,’ and ‘guards designed for deflection.’” (Shizuma)
“Uh… It is weird for me to say it myself, but…it would turn into an incredible weapon. Won’t it turn into a kind of cursed weapon?” (Melt)
“It’s fine. I’ve made those before. I’ll make the ultimate twin daggers.” (Shizuma)
And so, I laid out every material I had -everything I’d acquired since coming to this world- and began assembling the design for Melt’s blades in my mind.
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