Chapter 78

“Um, excuse me—”

Offering a greeting, I stepped into the workshop where black smoke billowed.

From the outside, it had looked spacious, but the interior was narrower than I expected. Work tools were scattered everywhere in the cramped space, which housed several aged workbenches and furnaces. The room temperature was unnaturally high, and the air was thick with soot and dust. It wasn’t a place I wanted to linger in for long.

“…Oh? A customer. Uh, how can I help you?”

A long-haired man who had been inspecting a sword at the back of the workshop noticed us and replied.

“I brought a variety of Magic Stones. I was wondering if you could make something for me?”

“Sure, sure, I see. No problem. I’m bored anyway.”

The long-haired man set down the sword he’d been examining and ran a hand through his hair as he approached. As his face became clear, I was startled by the sheer number of old scars.

One eye was clouded over, and both ears were partially missing. Countless burn marks remained on his face; just looking at him was painful.

“I-I look forward to working with you…”

“Oh, did I startle you? I guess it’s only natural for someone seeing me for the first time—wait, if it isn’t our Master. You don’t have to come all the way to a filthy place like this; if you call me, I’ll come to you, you know?”

“No, I’m the one with the request, so it’s only natural that I come here. Besides, I’m not here to ask as the Master. I’m here to ask a favor as an individual, as Kanami. Uh… Alibers?”

“Alibers Rivers. You remembered well. Even though you didn’t challenge me during the round-robin tournament.”

“I did my best to memorize everyone’s names…”

Alibers and I introduced ourselves while shaking hands. Then, I took a quick look at Alibers’s Status.

His Crafting skill wasn’t particularly high. Rather, he seemed more blessed with combat potential. Though his level wasn’t high, he still possessed first-class mana. His Status made it easier to believe he was a mage explorer. He likely used to be an explorer but switched to being a blacksmith after getting injured.

“So, Master, what kind of things did you bring?”

“I brought some things that Snow said were rare.”

Saying so, I pulled the Magic Stones from my Inventory. Since I was already here, I decided to show him all the rare-looking items I had been stockpiling for a while. As various colored Magic Stones spread across the workbench, Alibers’s eyes sparkled.

“W-Wow… These are all things you rarely see, even at the national exchange centers.”

“I’ve been saving them up. Can you use these to make some sturdy weapons?”

“Well, yeah, with this much, I can make just about anything.”

“Please. I’ve been troubled because my weapons keep breaking.”

“Heh, I don’t even want to imagine the kind of monsters that break weapons like that. But you know, I also do repairs for broken weapons? If you bring them in, I might be able to reuse them. Depending on the damage, of course.”

“Wait, really?”

“Though in most cases, buying a new one is cheaper than fixing it.”

“Hmm, I’ll go grab them then.”

Joyful that weapon repairs were possible so close by, I headed for the exit. Since it would be unnatural to pull large items like weapons out of a small bag, I needed to take them out of my Inventory while outside.

I took Snow and went outside. Moving to a spot out of public view, I began pulling the damaged weapons from my Inventory. Naturally, I took out the few swords I had used today, as well as the hammers and axes Snow had broken.

While taking things out, I found a broken sword in my Inventory that I didn’t recognize. The tip of the blade was warped—it was an old sword. The blade was melted as if it had been thrust into magma.

Its attack power was no different from swinging an iron bar. However, the name included “Heirloom Sword.” The name itself sounded grand. I just couldn’t recall the circumstances of how I had obtained it. Still, it was common for me to just shove anything of value left in the Labyrinth into my Inventory for the time being. I probably picked it up during my exploration.

I decided to have him look at the “Heirloom Sword of House Alais” as well. I forced the super-strong Snow to carry the luggage and returned to the workshop.

“I brought them, Alibers.”

“Oh, that was fast—wait, that’s a lot!”

“Haha, sorry…”

“…Let’s see, let me take a look.”

I decided to look at the weapons alongside Alibers. If I could learn the difference between what could be repaired and what couldn’t, it would be useful for future explorations. Meanwhile, Snow had curled up in a corner of the room in a “gymnastic sit” and started falling asleep.

“From the look of it, the swords are fine. They’re mostly things I can manage if I regrind them. But these big guys are no good. They’re warped from the base, and the blades are in tatters. It’s safer to melt them down and turn them into materials.”

“I see…”

The condition of the weapons Snow had handled seemed particularly bad.

“And then… hm, hmmm? This…”

Alibers picked up one sword from the pile of broken weapons. It was the Heirloom Sword of House Alais.

“Is something wrong with that one?”

“No, this is a masterpiece. It’s made of rare ore, so I’d expect it to have a signature, but… the condition is too terrible, I can’t read it…”

“Um, I feel like ‘Alais’ was written on it before.”

Thinking it might help with the repairs, I disclosed the information from my Display.

“Alais? You mean that Alais? But that doesn’t seem like a maker’s signature…”

“What does ‘Alais’ mean?”

“Huh? Why, I’m talking about that prestigious noble family. They’ve produced many elite swordsmen, and it’s the name of the house that claims the Sword Saint.”

“Heh, that’s impressive.”

Alibers didn’t take his eyes off the sword even as he answered my question. He seemed completely captivated by the rare masterpiece.

“Hmm. I’m sorry to say this, but I don’t think I can fix this. The ore is just too specialized.”

“In that case, you can just melt it down and use it for materials.”

I spoke dismissively, since it was just something I’d picked up anyway. At that moment, for some reason, I felt a chill run down my spine—but Alibers immediately shook his head in refusal.

“No, you should hold onto it. It’s impossible for me, but there might be hope if you take it to a blacksmith in Huzya.”

“I see…”

It’s not like I had any particular attachment to this sword. I would have been fine with turning it into scrap, but from Alibers’s perspective, that seemed like a terrible waste.

“Also, what’s really interesting is this Magic Stone. It’s a Crescent Pectrazuli, isn’t it? If you sell this, you could live comfortably for three years without working. Are you sure about this?”

“Wait, that much!?”

The price was far beyond anything I had imagined, and it left me stunned. One of my goals was to pay for Maria’s medical expenses. That problem could be solved just by selling this single stone.

“But if you use it, I guarantee I can make something decent. I can coat a blade with it to make it incredibly sturdy. Personally, I think it’d be better as a ring or a necklace—a magic item that utilizes the stone’s properties.”

“I have more need for a sturdy weapon than a magic item…”

“Looking at this wreckage you brought in, I can understand that feeling. Besides, making weapons is more my style anyway, so that works for me. …Well then, shall I take custody of the broken weapons and the suitable Magic Stones?”

“Go ahead.”

After that, Alibers and I recorded the weapons and stones being traded and set a date for the hand-off. I expressed my wish for a sturdy weapon as soon as possible, and after a moment’s thought, Alibers proposed a solution.

“To speed up the work, the ideal way is to increase the manpower. That way, the quality won’t drop. If I invite some blacksmith acquaintances from town, the work will naturally go faster. But if I do that, the cost will be quite high, you know?”

“No, it’s cheaper than breaking several weapons. Please, as fast as possible.”

“Understood. Then, the price will be roughly this much…? I’ll take the leftover Magic Stones to the exchange center and turn them into cash for you. You seem busy, Master.”

“That would be a big help.”

“Then I’ll get started on the weapons for you and Snow right away. Here is the contract. Ask Snow over there about the market rates and details. She looks like that, but she’s knowledgeable about these things. If the price seems unfair, don’t hesitate to come complain to me.”

“Snow is…? Understood.”

I glanced at Snow, who was lying in the corner of the room. I had intended to ask the Sub-Masters, Palinchron or Rail, about such matters, but apparently Snow was capable enough.

“And now, here is the most important part of the conversation…”

“The most important part?”

“Yes. The most vital aspect of creating a weapon hasn’t been decided yet.”

I thought we had settled most of the details, but from the eyes of a professional blacksmith, it seemed the most crucial element was still up in the air.

“And… what exactly is that?”

“It’s… the design!”

“I… see. The design?”

“Yes! The appearance! The ornamentation! That is what matters above all else! Beauty over craftsmanship! If the sword is beautiful, it will make your brilliant swordsmanship stand out even more, won’t it!?”

This guy is hopeless…

I thought he was a serious person, but as expected of the exclusive blacksmith for Epic Seeker, his thought process was completely warped.

“This is a weapon I’m trusting my life to. Please prioritize the craftsmanship over the appearance.”

“It’s precisely because you trust your life to it! At the moment your life fades, amidst the dancing fresh blood, if the sword you’re holding looks uncool, you won’t be able to rest in peace! A hero’s death should be beautiful!”

“No, I need the weapon so I don’t die. I’m not thinking about the moment I kick the bucket.”

“That won’t do, Master! What you achieve while living is important, but the way you die is even more so!?”

“Being alive is more important. The appearance doesn’t matter, so just make something sturdy.”

“How heartless! Having a cool swordsman use a cool sword is my reason for living!”

“This is a Master’s order. Make it with a focus on durability.”

“Haha! Unfortunately, that won’t work in Epic Seeker. Disobeying orders is a daily occurrence here!”

Even though I gave an order that felt out of character for me, Alibers continued to resist. Truly, Epic Seeker is full of nothing but eccentrics; it’s a real headache…

“Sigh… fine, then let’s just forget the whole thing…”

“W-Wait, that would be a disaster! I finally have the chance to work on the Master’s sword!”

“Then take the work seriously. It’s a hassle for me to go to a distant workshop instead of one right here.”

“Muu… I suppose it can’t be helped. How about this: I’ll make it sturdy first, and then I’ll add elaborate decorations later…?”

“If it only makes it a little heavier, I’ll compromise. But I’m not paying for those decorations.”

“It can’t be helped. I’ll manage that out of my own pocket.”

“Out of your own pocket… Is ‘giving up’ just not an option for you?”

“It is not.”

“It’s not, huh…”

Having said his piece, Alibers spread a thick sheet of paper on the workbench and began sketching a mockup with a quill.

“For now, I’ll hear any requests you have. Personally, I’m thinking of a simple straight sword with a white base. I can make it sturdy that way. Then I’ll add silver filigree and engrave letters using melted green jewels. How does that sound?”

I looked at the drawn sword and was captivated by its magnificent form.

“You certainly have an eye for this… However, if it’s my preference, I’d prefer blue over green for the letter color. It feels more refreshing.”

“So the Master prefers a refined design. Understood, I’ll take it into account.”

“Also, consistency and flow. An unbalanced sword is hard to use, so please keep it symmetrical.”

“Hmm, I prefer asymmetry myself… but fine, I’ll compensate for that with the decorations.”

Dreaming of the sword that would eventually be finished, Alibers and I clashed over our respective tastes. It seemed I had been caught up in his excitement. I could tell my inner “gamer” personality was starting to surface.

In this way, Alibers and I had a heated discussion about weapons for a long time, and before I knew it, the sun had gone down. Having said everything we wanted to say, we exchanged parting greetings with very satisfied smiles.

“Well then, Master. This is the first big job I’ve had in a while, so I’m going to give it my all.”

“Yes, I’m looking forward to it. Snow, it’s over. Let’s go.”

I grabbed the scruff of Snow’s neck as she lay in the corner. She had fallen into a deep sleep during the long, uninteresting conversation. Responding to Alibers’s small chuckle with a wry smile of my own, I dragged Snow out of the workshop.

With this, the Labyrinth exploration from the 20th floor onward, which would begin tomorrow, should become easier. To be honest, today’s exploration was more like play. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say the real challenge starts from the 20th floor.

After leaving the workshop, Snow and I headed into town. I did some shopping to prepare for the real exploration and stopped by the church.

My level reached 15, and as usual, I allocated my bonus points to Magic. Since the opportunities to use Dimension were increasing, I couldn’t consider any other option if I wanted to improve its precision.

While checking my newly strengthened magic power with Dimension, I returned to the room where Maria was waiting.