Episode 126

When we left the manor to see the smithy, the setting sun leapt into my eyes.

The sun was almost entirely hidden already, and it had grown quite dark.

Is it already that late?

We’d been traveling nonstop to the city since morning, and I’d even taken part in the meeting until a little while ago, so I suppose it’s natural.

“Faik. Over here.”

Alicia gently pulled my hand, which had been watching the sunset.

I returned her soft handhold and stepped to walk beside her.

There was no hesitancy in Alicia’s steps. I asked the apparently accustomed her,

“Are you familiar with the city?”

“Yeah. I come about once a year. I know where the smithy is.”

“I see.”

I walked through the nobles’ district with Alicia.

Behind us, Refy and a few soldiers seemed to be following as guards, but still it felt as if it were just the two of us.

A lot had happened, but being able to spend time with Alicia like this was, after all, happiness.

The place Alicia and I were heading toward was the edge of the nobles’ district.

As we got closer, I could tell it had a slightly weathered atmosphere.

It seemed maintained to some degree, but the building itself was probably old to begin with.

“Does no one usually use it?”

“My brother does a bit of smithing as a hobby, I guess.”

“Eh, Sir Rigard can do it too?”

“He can, to some extent. Mostly as a hobby, I suppose.”

“I see.”

…Well, it’s natural since their ancestors were smiths.

We went inside and began checking the tools placed in the workshop.

Tilting her head slightly, Alicia leaned in to peer.

“Do the tools look okay?”

“Yeah. No problem.”

The equipment was about as complete as the smithy in Barnast’s manor.

As for materials, I was particularly interested in a box containing Birea Magic Ore, which had probably been prepared for the dungeon’s conquest.

They were all the same Birea Magic Ore, I suppose, but there were some differences in quality.

Yet, all of them were very beautiful.

Picking one up lightly, I could clearly see the high quality.

Having that prepared in a box full of them stirred the blood of a smith.

As I looked, I felt like smithing right away, but it was already late.

I forced myself to hold back.

…Sir Rigard might really start crying, too.

“Faik, you want to smith, don’t you?”

“Eh!?”

“It’s written all over your face.”

She poked my cheek playfully.

Alicia smiled teasingly, and I felt a little embarrassed.

“…Well, yeah. But also, Sir Rigard might dislike me for it.”

“That’s about the right way to treat him. If you spoil him too much he’ll try to take the easy way out.”

“That’s harsh.”

“Father told me to be strict with him too.”

“So that’s how it is. You had more presence than usual.”

“Eh, r-really? W-wasn’t I scary?”

“I don’t think you were, though.”

At my sincere remark, Alicia looked at me with an expression as if she were asking.

“I-it’s not like I’m always like that, you know?”

“Yeah. I’m glad I could see a different side of you. It felt kind of refreshing.”

“R-really?”

To Alicia, who watched my face with worry, I gave a wry smile and shook my head.

“Ah, I saw a different side of you, and like always, you are cu—”

“Cute?”

I was about to say “cute” and then closed my mouth.

However, Alicia leaned in as if urging me to continue.

“…I think you’re cute.”

“R-really?”

We might have looked like a lovey-dovey couple just now.

I’d seen that sort of thing once in the city before—hadn’t I just said something like that myself?

Well, it’s fine since Alicia looked happy.

While checking the smithy, I was thinking about Sir Rigard.

Earlier we had forced through and set the departure date, but would it really be okay?

If he went in without firm resolve, the result might be half-hearted.

Feeling uneasy, I decided to ask.

“You told Sir Rigard that, but isn’t it dangerous to take him along if his resolve isn’t set?”

“No, I think my brother has long since made up his mind. He’s just cowardly.”

“…Is that so?”

“Yeah. And being cautious isn’t entirely bad. Even this time, for whatever reason, they called Faik to be doubly sure.”

I see.

Perhaps because he’s cautious, he thoroughly creates an environment where he can challenge things more safely.

Indeed, this time they’re taking every precaution.

It feels like overkill, but given how many uncertainties the dungeon holds, this may be a tolerable level.

That had, as a result, seemed to lead to trust from his subordinates.

I turned my gaze to the box containing the Birea Magic Ore.

That’s quite a lot.

Seen as swords for ten people, it’s more than enough.

With this, I could probably make swords for even more people.

Even after the dungeon conquest ends, I might be allowed to do smithing.

Suddenly, what occurred to me was Alicia and me.

We’re going together, but we don’t have swords right now. Alicia might have prepared one separately, but as for me I’m completely unarmed.

“What about swords for Alicia and me?”

“Huh? Oh, right. I hadn’t thought about it since there’s not much chance of fighting, but we should prepare them, right?”

“Yeah. I think there might be a chance of self-defense-level combat.”

Alicia’s gaze turned toward the box containing Birea Magic Ore.

Then she looked at me with a little hope.

“I don’t have my own sword either, so it’d be better to have one prepared… but you don’t have to go too far out of your way, right? More importantly, I think Faik is the one we need.”

“But I think if they make mine there will still be leftovers. Time-wise it should probably be fine, and if Alicia doesn’t have a sword it’s better to prepare one, right?”

“If there will be leftovers… yeah. I’d like one made. I’ll check with my brother just in case.”

“…Ah, understood.”

After that, we walked around the smithy for a while, re-checking the tools and such.

So that smithing could start as early as tomorrow, I rearranged some of the items and wiped the sweat from my brow.

“The inspection should be fine now.”

“Really? Then let’s return to the manor.”

Alicia gripped my hand tightly with one hand, so I gripped back.

Leaving the smithy behind, I thought about various things.

What kind of sword would suit me? The same goes for Alicia’s sword.

I’ve never had a sword made for myself before, so I was quite troubled.

What kind of sword would fit me?