Chapter 160
The flaming greatsword of Shuris-san swung down.
Perhaps because of the wielder’s aptitude, the sword’s effect differed, going beyond mere red heat, it ignited the surrounding air, and a blow truly wreathed in flames exploded toward the dagger I had made.
A short, clear ‘kin’ rang through the venue.
A downward strike that looked as though it might cleave not only the dagger but even the stand beneath it in two.
But there, as expected of Shuris-san…
The blow stopped dead, perfectly, just before reaching the stand.
“…………I see. Yes, that’s how it is. So this is what your confidence was about.”
Faced with the result displayed on the stage, the master of Golha Workshop spoke quietly.
Yes, he accepted the result squarely…and acknowledged his defeat.
What was shown on the stage was a dagger that, despite receiving the colossal, flame-wreathed strike of a gigantic sword with its small blade, bore not a single crack nor a chip, remaining exactly as it had been at the start. Then why had the greatsword been able to come so close to touching the stand?
“…Magnificent. Amazing, Shijima-san’s sword. This is the first time I’ve ever seen it…a stopped sword that actually cuts the sword swung down at it instead.”
That’s right. From the point where it touched my dagger, the greatsword had been cleanly severed. That was why the attack seemed to reach the stand without any resistance at all.
The severed blade of the greatsword lay rolling on the table where the stand was placed.
An absolute conclusion. A result that displayed, beyond all doubt, the difference between my work and that of Golha Workshop.
“This is…decided without room for deliberation. Shijima’s work has defeated Golha Workshop’s piece! Loser’s revival…denied! Are there any other works that wish to challenge!?”
After that, things went so smoothly there was hardly anything left to say, and my victory was decided.
No one raised objections, no one stepped forward to challenge…and just like that, the smithing tournament showed its “other face.”
Yes…the buying war.
The proud items exhibited at this tournament, and the merchants and nobles, knights, adventurers, and mercenaries who sought to purchase them…all flocked to the craftsmen.
But…
“Ten million coins. How about it for ten million large gold coins? A fortune ordinary folk couldn’t earn in a lifetime.”
“I’ve got a fair idea that I can earn plenty right now. I refuse. My swords aren’t for sale. I forged them for one person alone. Give it up.” (Shizuma)
“Our household’s commissioned blade was ruined because of your work. Don’t you think that’s wrong?”
“That’s the responsibility of the one who challenged. You probably gave orders to your workshop from the start. Well…you look like the type who’d give ‘other orders’ too.” (Shizuma)
“W-What are you talking about!?”
The noble now trying to obtain my work was apparently named Count Goldania.
As the name suggests, he was a Lindblum noble who served as the patron of the Golha Workshop.
“Give it up. I’m heading back now. Oh, and about your commissioned craftsman, he said he wanted to go on a training journey for a while.” (Shizuma)
“Hmph, whatever! A loser like that! It’s you, Shijima. Forget the swords, come work for me! With your skill and my family’s financial power, we might climb to the very peaks of blacksmiths on this continent, even control weapon distribution and production! This country is on the verge of remarkable growth. Then weapons! The demand for superior weapons will surely rise! We shall prepare for the next war—”
He wasn’t wrong, about the outlook for the future, or about the need to prepare for war now that the great powers had taken notice.
But this isn’t something to say here and now, noble sir.
“Give it up… I don’t know if you’re aware, but I’m a smith of the Brigade. I don’t bend to anyone. You’d do better to quietly train new craftsmen.” (Shizuma)
“Huh? The Brigade? What’s that?”
…So he didn’t attend the banquet, then.
“Shijima-san, it’s no use. The Goldania household doesn’t involve itself in politics or overseas trade. They have no ties to attend such gatherings, nor the connections to hear about them.” (Shuris)
At that moment, Shuris-san, unable to ignore the exchange any longer, approached us.
A marquis’s daughter, one of the Thirteen Knights, and a guardian entrusted with protecting Lindblum… Her presence alone made even Count Goldania back down.
“Count Goldania, you should give up. He is…a smith belonging to a group that is extremely close with the royal family. Trying to poach him could very well incur the nation’s wrath.” (Shuris)
“What!? T-That means… Then I…”
“And also…the Adventurer Guild is planning to conduct a full investigation into incidents that have occurred in this city, including past ones. I’d like you to cooperate as well. All right?” (Shuris)
“…! I don’t think there’s anything I could help with! If you’ll excuse me!”
And with that, Count Goldania hurriedly left.
Hmm…interference, perhaps? If this leads to positive changes for the smithing tournament going forward, then it was worth entering.
“…Well, as long as I got this, there’s no problem.” (Shizuma)
I rolled the Quartz Dragon Heart-Silver I received along with the prize money in the palm of my hand.
It was only large enough to fit in a clenched fist, but its surface bore strange patterns that looked like scales or ripples…a beautiful blue-silver mass.
“Melt, take it. You wanted it, right?” (Shizuma)
“Ah, yeah! And the daggers too… I’ll equip them right away.” (Melt)
After handing her the daggers and the heart-silver, she busily attached them at her waist and tucked the heart-silver into her pocket…or so it looked, before slipping it into her waist-mounted storage magic tool instead.
As expected…our security-conscious fox girl.
“Hmm… Shijima, Shijima. I’m going to stop by the Adventurer Guild now, and then I’ll probably head straight back to base. What are you going to do?” (Melt)
At that moment, Melt made the suggestion with a thoughtful look on her face.
Well, Shijima’s role here is done. After that…it looked like I will be returning to Lindblum as Shilent in this town.
“I’m heading back to the main unit. Shilent should return to Lindblum once…go with him.” (Shizuma)
“Got it! Then tell Shilent to wait at the usual place!” (Melt)
So, meet at the bus.
In the end, I took only the goods and declined the titles given to craftsmen…High Tier Blacksmith or Meister and the like. There was no longer any reason to stay in this city.
After stirring up the tournament so thoroughly, I declined both the title ceremony and the right to be granted a personal workshop in this town.
Honestly, they probably thought I was a nuisance. Well, the tournament did get lively.
“So you’re returning to the main unit, Shijima-san? If Seimu-san is there… I believe Shilent has told you about the thanks…if you could pass that along, I’d appreciate it.” (Shuris)
“Hm? Ah, that matter. Got it…I’ll tell him.” (Shizuma)
…Our course of action after returning to Lindblum seems decided too, doesn’t it?
And so, after returning the workshop key to the Blacksmith Guild, I left the town of Izbel amid lingering regret…
—————–
Around the time Shijima left the town, Melt arrived at the bustling Adventurer Guild.
Her purpose was to look into “something.”
“Past records… Is that what you’re after?”
“Yeah. Records of incidents and things like that!” (Melt)
“Understood. I’ll guide you to the document room on the second floor.”
Only those with authorized guild tags were allowed into the upper floors, where the branch chief’s office, compiled guild records, and materials related to requests were kept.
In that place that was something of a safe zone, Melt began researching past incidents to confirm an idea she had after witnessing the exchange earlier.
“…Hmm, just as I thought. Around the end of last year, the damage was far higher than usual.” (Melt)
She flipped through the pages with her fingers as though merely glancing over them.
Just that alone was enough for the contents to be etched into her mind.
It wasn’t quite photographic memory, but thanks to her overwhelming dynamic vision, reading speed, and exceptional learning ability, she could perform something close to it.
After finding the information she needed, Melt headed straight for the branch chief’s office…
To convey her hypothesis, and the incident she believed would soon occur, in advance.
Unfamiliar with proper knocking etiquette, Melt knocked repeatedly on the branch chief’s door.
TototototonTototototon
The door echoed pleasantly, and she wore a slightly amused expression.
“Who’s playing such a prank…?”
“Sorry, it’s Melt. I came to talk.” (Melt)
“W-What!? Please, come in.”
Honestly, Melt was overwhelmingly at fault in this exchange, making the branch chief the real victim.
“Branch chief, how are the subjugation requests coming along?” (Melt)
“Yes. This time of year draws many adventurers, so we’re discreetly issuing designated requests to skilled individuals.”
“I see. Um, I think that woman, Amanda-san, will probably make her move today. She’ll likely rendezvous with the noble staying here, the Goldania household, and flee. Do you think you could apprehend them? And also, could you tell Bub—Shuris-san everything up to now, along with this: ‘Melt said the highway bandits and Count Goldania are connected.’” (Melt)
That was one answer Melt had arrived at by synthesizing the interactions at the smithing tournament and all the information she’d seen and heard so far.
Every year, a group that won the tournament moved together with large quantities of materials…yet they had never once suffered any losses.
Add to that the suspicion that they might be connected to people who handled dirty work like interference.
And furthermore, after investigating the primary goods handled by merchants who had fallen victim to bandits, she found that most were valuable smithing materials, leading to her conclusion.
She told all of this to the branch chief.
“I think they’ll probably flee tonight, with lots of evidence in tow. Destroying evidence, giving orders for bandits to escape…that sort of thing too, maybe?” (Melt)
“I see… Understood. I’ll attempt to contact Shuris-dono at once. Discreetly, yes?”
“Yeah, quietly. If it gets noisy, they might notice.” (Melt)
“Then, what will you be doing after this, Melt-san?”
“Huh? I’m heading back to Lindblum after this. Good luck with the subjugation and arrests!” (Melt)
She left it entirely to them. Despite having formed a hypothesis very close to the truth, Melt said she was going home.
Even though she might have been able to secure a major achievement firsthand, Melt was already completely focused on the next adventure, toward ports and islands.
She wanted to stand alongside them, wanted to reach Sapphire; that feeling was certainly there.
But rather than standing side by side in terms of status or position -those “invisible things”- Melt concluded that standing side by side here and now was far more important.
“See you, Branch Chief! I’ll probably come visit again sometime!” (Melt)
“Hahaha… Understood. Thank you very much for your cooperation this time.”
And with that, Melt cheerfully headed for the bus.
Amanda, who had been keeping watch at the guild, no longer considered Melt a threat.
“A girl having that much carefree fun isn’t worth being wary of,” she thought.
…Without realizing she herself was already cornered.
Thus, Melt’s actions, unnoticed, later led to the resolution of a major incident that had plagued both this town and Lindblum, and at the same time exposed the involvement of a Lendia noble in criminal acts, contributing greatly to the nation.
When Melt herself would learn of this…was a story for a little later.
—————–
“Phew… Returning to Lindblum in Shilent’s form, huh… This might cause quite a stir.” (Shizuma)
Mainly with Lemia-san, probably.
After returning to Shilent’s form on the bus and cleaning the interior in preparation for packing up, I sensed someone approaching the bus.
Naturally, it was Melt…
“Whew! Finished a job! So, are we putting this bus away again?” (Melt)
“Looks like it. That’s why I’m cleaning inside. Melt, you let trash pile up again, didn’t you?” (Shizuma)
“Ugh… But this time I gathered it all in one place…?” (Melt)
…Then I’ll allow it.
“Very well. Let’s go outside, store everything, and head back to Lindblum. We’ll be on foot this time… Are you okay with that?” (Shizuma)
“Yeah, I’m fine! Then when we get back to Lindblum, are we heading straight to the port?” (Melt)
“No, there are a few other things to take care of. Once those are done, we’ll leave.” (Shizuma)
“Okaaaay!” (Melt)
There were still plenty of plans ahead. Kokuri-san said she had business with Shizuma, and there was the matter with Shuris-san too.
But not once did I find any of it bothersome.
Melt smiled brightly beside me, stroking the brand-new daggers with the hand wearing the bracelet I’d given her.
If it’s with her, then no matter what happens, I think it’ll be fun.
The two of us set off side by side on our way home…
To meet new adventures, unforeseen difficulties, and interesting incidents.
“When we get back, I’m going to take on a big subjugation request! I want to test how these daggers feel!” (Melt)
“Hahaha, got it. I’ve got various things to do too, so once that’s finished, we’ll head to the port.” (Shizuma)
“I can’t wait! The sea, the sea! There are big shrimp there, right!?” (Melt)
“Yeah, I think there probably are.” (Shizuma)
Alright then…when we get to the port, maybe I’ll start by making some fried shrimp.
(´・ω・｀) And with that, Arc 10 comes to an end.
(´・ω・｀) As for Arc 11, its start is expected to be a little delayed.
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