Episode 21

When I was at the court I was asked to perform powerful Enchantments, so weekly maintenance was mandatory.

That’s because knights take on dangerous monster-hunting requests that adventurers can’t handle, so it’s unavoidable, but for ordinary adventurer gear it’s better if it doesn’t need much maintenance.

Thinking that, I applied an Enchantment that was reasonably strong and wouldn’t require maintenance for about a month. …Well, that doesn’t hold if it’s used recklessly.

After finishing the second one I took a lunch break.

Then I spent the afternoon continuing to make longswords.

A blacksmith stops being able to work when their mana runs out, but I have a fair amount of mana.

Maybe because I did so many Enchantments at the court, I feel like my mana has increased compared to before.

If you use mana until you faint every day, your maximum magic capacity might increase. However, it’s a heavy toll on the body, so I don’t really recommend it.

With that, I finished making the fifth longsword in total.

After finishing and putting the longswords back in the box, I was about to move on. That’s when it happened.

Something moved at the edge of my vision. When I turned my attention that way, Alicia was there.

When I reacted with surprise, she laughed with a wry smile.

It was the kind of smile that said, “You didn’t notice?” I had done it again.

“It’s already getting dark, you know? You should rest.”

Alicia had popped up and said that.

I hadn’t really noticed because I’d set up a fire spell as a light source in the room, but when I looked outside it was already dark.

I looked at the box containing the finished longswords.

I finished five in one day. As proof that I made them, I put my name on the hilts during the finishing touches.

It was etched with mana so at first glance you wouldn’t recognize it as my name, but that’s what a signature is.

I did spend a bit too much time on the Enchantments, so if I were more efficient I might be able to make about ten in a day.

…After that, it’s simply a question of whether I get too fatigued.

“I’m not that tired…”

“B-but you have to rest. You’ve worked enough since this morning, you know?”

“Y-yeah, you’re right.”

Working had already become a habit. That’s dangerous. I need to be careful.

It would be terrible if I ruined my health like this.

“The longswords… are you going to go sell them tomorrow?”

“Yeah. Is there a market or something?”

For now I want to actually try selling them and see what kind of reaction I’ll get.

Even though I used Irea Magic Ore, I think I could trade them for around 30,000 to 50,000 gold.

At that price, D-rank adventurers could buy them as their main weapon quite comfortably.

E-rank adventurers would have to stretch their budget a bit to buy them.

“Yeah. I’m pretty sure the merchants gather in the square tomorrow and the day after.”

I had heard that when I was shown around the town before.

There’s a fountain square a bit south of the center of town. So it’s not exactly central, but some people call it the central square.

Apparently a market is held there every weekend, and depending on the season people even start staking out spots the day before.

I think I’ll just put the longswords on a cart and transport them, so I won’t need much space.

“For now, I’ll try selling five longswords tomorrow.”

“Then I’ll help too.”

“No, Lord Goral told me. He said it’s forbidden to flaunt the power of the duke’s family when selling.”

“I’ll wear a mask.”

“…Well, that…”

“I’ll help you. …Because I asked you to.”

“Understood. Can I check with Lord Goral first?”

“Yeah, I’ll ask him. I think if I do he’ll probably agree.”

…Well, Lord Goral might be more likely to give permission than if I asked myself.

After we ate dinner together, when I’d finished sweating in the bath, it happened.

When I stepped into the hallway, Alicia flashed a smile and made a peace sign.

“Father, he said it’s fine.”

“I see. Well then, I’m counting on you tomorrow.”

“Yeah. I’ll do my best to make sure everyone knows Feiku’s weapons are excellent.”

“…Ah, thanks.”

Alicia is going that far for me. I have to somehow avoid selling not a single one.

At the same time, I was looking forward to it.

Before I entered the court, exchanges were done by barter instead of money. Living as a blacksmith in a small village, we pretty much shared skills and lived off each other.

I made kitchen knives and weapons for the vigilante group, and in return they provided crops, clothes, and shelter.

So this type of business is new to me. Since becoming a royal court blacksmith I’ve studied the market on the side, so I think I know it to some degree, but I still don’t know how much people will value my longswords.

All of that is part of doing business.

…I should go and enjoy it.