Episode 114

“No, but…”

“I can fight well enough, and it seems the monsters in the dungeon itself aren’t that strong.”

“W-well, even so…”

There are always possibilities for a worst-case scenario.

Alicia poked my cheek, trying to wipe away my lingering worries.

“Faik, it’ll be fine. Okay?”

She pressed her finger, rolling it around just enough to be slightly uncomfortable but not painful.

I couldn’t bring myself to argue with her smiling face, so I slowly nodded.

“Well, if you’re saying that, then fine.”
“More than that, I’m worried about you too, Faik.”

“Huh, me?”

“Yeah. I mean, you’re going into the dungeon with us, right?”

“Of course.”

That was the main reason I was being sent to Rilnam this time.

The monsters inside the dungeon are made of mana, and Enchantments are apparently more prone to being affected.

Even if you’re careful, an Enchantment can be damaged and a sword’s abilities can drop several levels.

So by bringing along at least one blacksmith, the clearing of the dungeon becomes easier.

However, if the blacksmith can’t defend themselves, they’ll be dead weight, so that becomes a concern when planning the expedition.

It increases the luggage — whether to take multiple weapons or just bring the blacksmith.

Well, the dungeon run isn’t confirmed yet, but since it’s a possibility, Alicia and I will go together.

“Lord Faik, you’ll be fine. You were strong last time too! I heard you even beat up a Horned Dragon!”

When Ivas said that, Alicia’s eyebrows twitched upwards.

Then she fixed her gaze on me with a slightly accusing look.

“Come to think of it, Faik — you did something reckless then too.”

“…Th-that story’s over already, okay? Finished. Ivas, can we drop it now?”

“Ehh, I want to hear more… Ah, but there’s something else I’m curious about! If I remember correctly, Rilnam is near the sea, right?”

Ivas clasped his hands as if to change the subject, and although Alicia still seemed like she had something to say, she went along with Ivas’s topic.

“Yeah. Once everything’s done, I plan to go have a bit of fun.”

“Wow, the sea sounds great! I want to go too! Ah, but wouldn’t it still be a bit cold?”

Indeed, it’s started getting damp lately, but it’s still early for summer.

I thought going into the sea would feel cold, but Alicia shook her head.

“The area around Rilnam is a bit warmer. It’s because a dungeon appeared there long ago, you see.”

So dungeons cause problems like that too.

“Oh, is that so! Nice, I’ll look for quests around Rilnam for the summer too!”

The sea, huh.

Indeed, like Ivas said, there’s no point in dwelling only on pessimistic thoughts.

Watching Ivas and Alicia talk, I decided to put my worries aside for now.

I spent the day at the smithy and finished explaining my situation to everyone I’d met so far.

Thinking I wouldn’t be coming back to this workshop for a while made me feel a little lonely.

I locked up more carefully than usual and put a note on the door saying the shop would be closed for a while due to various circumstances, when—

“Hey, Faik.”

I heard my name called from behind.

When I turned around, it was Reberto standing there.

He wore his usual clothes and had minimal guards with him, but he approached me without any sign of wariness.

“Reberto? What’s up?”

I asked, surprised, since I hadn’t heard he was coming.

As I wondered about it, he grinned,

“Well, I heard you were going to Rilnam. I thought I should at least come say hello.”

I couldn’t believe even Reberto knew.

I hadn’t told Reberto I was going to Rilnam, so I wondered where he got the information from.

Besides, he visited irregularly, so I hadn’t bothered to tell him.

“So that’s why. Still, where did you hear I was going to Rilnam?”

It was a passing curiosity during small talk, so I asked.