I Got The Flame Tiger Dagger!

One week later, Misha and I headed to the largest weapon and armor shop in Frast.

It was to receive the weapon we had requested to be made.

“We have been waiting for you.”

A shop clerk welcomed me with courteous gestures.

“Ios-sama, Misha-sama. This way.”

The clerk led us into the back and took out the product that had been prepared.

“Please accept it.”

What the clerk respectfully offered was a single dagger.

The Flame Tiger Dagger.

A weapon that embodied the power of a ferocious red tiger clad in flames. It had been made from Brennen Tiger ore.

It was a dagger with an impressive red blade.

Its attack power was +480.

Its special ability was the “fire attribute effect.” In other words, when facing ice-type monsters weak to fire, a positive correction would occur to its attack power. Conversely, its power would weaken against the fire attribute itself or enemies strong against fire.

To put it simply, it would be effective against the Ice Guard Largorin.

Sneak, Backstab, and a flame dagger—

With this, our preparations for Largorin were ready.

I accepted the dagger.

When I traced the flat of the blade with my finger, hot emotions spread deep in my chest.

Like the Great Green-Scale Scale Shield, this was something I had obtained after repeated hardship. Though that was because of that dangerous woman more than the Brennen Tiger itself—

Surely, every time I saw this dagger, I would remember it.

The exhilaration of getting one over on that woman, and the excitement of meeting Twilight Lightblade.

I nodded.

“Yes, this is good.”

“Nishishishi! Hey, hey, Ios. Are you not going to use the Magic Wolf Broadsword anymore?”

“Ah… no, I wonder.”

In terms of simple attack power alone, the Flame Tiger Dagger, which matched both the skills “Sword Saint” and “Assassination,” should be higher in total.

However, in reality, attack power and defense power were not everything.

There were differences there that did not appear in stats.

For weapons, for example, there was reach.

Naturally, a broadsword was longer than a dagger, which was a short sword. That difference in handling had nothing to do with attack power.

For shields, for example, there was evasion performance.

The buckler I had first equipped had less defense power than a large shield, but it excelled at parrying. Such differences in handling were not reflected in defense power.

In the end, it came down to using the right tool for the right job.

“…For everyday use, I guess the Magic Wolf Broadsword.”

Considering reach, that would probably be more stable.

But the Flame Tiger Dagger’s “attribute” and its “attack power boost from Assassination” had enough decisive power to change the situation.

A battle where I had options, huh—didn’t that sound fun?

Misha peered into my face.

“Nishishishi! You’re excited!”

“Huh? …Well, I’m a warrior, after all.”

When a warrior obtained a new weapon, his heart naturally stirred.

I wanted to try it soon.

It was then.

“Oh, if it isn’t Ios and the others?”

A familiar voice came from behind us.

When I turned around, the leader of Twilight Lightblade was standing there.

“Filardo-san!?”

“Oh, you remembered me?”

Filardo laughed.

…Rather than remembered him, I had known about him since before meeting him.

No, rather, I was the one getting excited like, “Huh? Did he just call me Ios!?”

To think that Filardo would remember my name—

It made me a little happy.

I was glad I became an adventurer….

Filardo looked at the dagger held in my hand.

“…You bought a Flame Tiger Dagger?”

Then he turned his gaze toward me and grinned.

“Fire attribute—could it be that you’re aiming for Largorin too?”

His mouth was smiling, but his eyes were not.

A chill ran down my spine.

They were the eyes of someone who had recognized me as an equal competitor.

It would be easy to gloss it over.

But I did not want to do that.

I looked back into Filardo’s eyes and said this.

“Yes. …If we get the chance.”

“You’re still holding back.”

Filardo twisted his mouth into a grin.

“No need to hold back. You can even say something like, ‘We’ll be taking Largorin.’”

“…”

After hesitating a little, I opened my mouth.

“We’ll be taking Largorin.”

Without running away, I looked straight into Filardo’s eyes.

Maybe I had been made to say it.

But being afraid was wrong. Holding back was wrong too. He had told me to challenge him. Even against someone far above me, at least my heart wanted to stay strong.

That was right.

I should have put in that much effort. My skills, and my weapons too. It was not as if there was absolutely no chance.

Believe in what we had built up!

Filardo nodded with satisfaction.

“I’ll look forward to it. …Well, I won’t give it up, though.”

After saying that, Filardo laughed loudly, hahahahaha!

His eyes looked at the window.

More precisely, at the mountain beyond the window—the mountain where Largorin appeared.

“…That’s right. I was thinking of climbing the mountain now.”

Looking equally at Misha and me, Filardo continued cheerfully.

“What do you think? Want to come with me?”

His tone was as casual as if he were inviting us on a walk.