Episode 90

Indeed, as Alicia said, if the shop gets even busier from now on, we’d better hire employees.

And there’s also whether we should keep the shop’s opening hours and the current two days off as the shop’s closed days.

It’s a matter to worry over.

“Leaving the shop’s operations to Faik on purpose… would be a waste of time.”

“You mean I should concentrate on smithing?”

“Yeah. I mean, only Faik can do the smithing, and looking at Faik’s improvement in smithing, I want to provide an environment where Faik can focus on smithing.”

“…Well, yeah.”

“So, if sales seem likely to keep increasing, I’ll hire people.”

“Can you do that?”

When I asked, Alicia pinched her cheek slightly but nodded once.

“I’m not exactly good at this… but a noblewoman’s main job is managing the household.”

“Managing the household?”

“Yeah. Hiring servants, managing and running gatherings held at the house—those are part of the job. So I have a fair amount of knowledge. If Refy helps too, I think the hiring side of things can be handled… I think.”

“I see.”

“Also, I plan to ask Arme, who is a fellow merchant.”

“If that’s the case, shall we talk when she comes next time?”

“That’s the plan. Leave this side to me. Faik, focus on smithing… do your best.”

“Of course.”

“But let’s both do our best without getting sick, okay?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

I nodded once to Alicia.

Since there were no customers left, we decided to close the shop.

We took down the sign at the entrance and closed the door.

“Faik. I’m going to restock some products.”

“Yeah, got it. I’ll help too.”

In the afternoon, we had been bringing out products here and there, and the quantity had decreased considerably.

That means they had sold that much.

I was very happy, but if this pace continued, we definitely wouldn’t keep up with stock.

Alicia and I restocked the goods and returned things to a morning-like state.

“Alright, I think that’s about it.”

“Yeah, that’s right. What about dinner?”

“…Hmm. I was thinking of staying over again tonight, but what about you, Alicia?”

“I’ll stay too. Then I’ll go make dinner.”

“…Got it. I’ll go work at the forge.”

“Don’t overdo it.”

“Yeah.”

After parting from Alicia, I headed to the smithy and started making a sword.

Even if I say I do smithing after work, smithing isn’t really a job for me.

It’s more like a hobby.

I finished making a sword, and I ended surprisingly quickly.

“You there, do you like smithing?”

“…You surprised me.”

When I thought a voice had suddenly come from behind me, there was Bestel.

He was staring intently at the sword I had forged.

“Well now. Didn’t I say I was watching you?”

“…Now that you mention it, that’s true. I like smithing, but… what is it?”

“I see. Then watch the Magic Ore more properly. Your skill is good, after all.”

“Watch the Magic Ore properly…? I do watch it enough…”

However, there was no reply to my question.

Bestel is… like my master.

“Smithing is something you learn by watching.” That was my stepfather’s catchphrase.

He didn’t teach with words. The skills you learned by watching would become yours.

I don’t know if that was the right way to teach, but at least that’s how I was raised.

…Even so.

About Bestel. I intended to keep it from Alicia, but maybe I should at least consult Refy.

I’m only worried that she’ll say I hallucinated from too much work.

After dinner, while Alicia was taking a shower, I called out to Refy.

I wanted to consult about the figure I had seen in the smithy.

“Refy, do you have a moment?”

“Yes, what is it?”

Refy, with her usual composed manner, tilted her head.

“I haven’t told Alicia this yet… but, have you heard any strange sounds coming from the smithy?”

“…Sounds?”

“Yeah. Sounds like someone hitting Magic Ore with a small hammer in the middle of the night…”

“Now that you mention it, I’ve received a report from Capri. You heard that sound late at night, right?”

I nodded once.

As I thought, it seems that sound can only be heard by me.

If so, then Alicia and the people staying here should, of course, be fine.

“Right. It seems the one making that sound is the smith Bestel. He says he’s watching to see whether he’ll hand this shop over to me or not.”

“…W-wait a moment, please.”

Refy put a hand to her forehead and then her face paled slightly.

“Lord Faik. Aren’t you overworking yourself?”

To be honest, I had expected that reaction.

Maybe I should have stayed quiet after all?

“No, it’s not that… Bestel is in the smithy. He says he’ll judge whether to hand the shop over by looking at my skill as a smith.”

“…I-I’ll grant you that much and try to understand it.”

She was very bewildered, but she still nodded.

“It doesn’t seem particularly harmful. If my skill doesn’t reach Bestel’s desired level, though, it seems I’ll be cursed.”

“C-cursed?”

“Yeah. He seems like he’ll keep making the sound of hammering Magic Ore with a small hammer so you’ll hear it all the time, as if to drive you out of the house.”

“…Th-that’s definitely the sort of thing that could make someone depressed.… Perhaps that’s what happened to the previous smiths too? Could that be the cause?”

“It’s possible.”

Refy put a hand to her chin and stared intently at me.

“…Are you going to be okay?”

“Leave it to me. I don’t think I’m fit to be Alicia’s husband unless I’m acknowledged by a legendary smith.”

Besides, after all, he’s a legendary smith.

He seems like a strange old man right now, but I’m sure there are many things I could learn from him.