Episode 94

From that reaction, I realized what my comment meant.

“No, it’s just… uh, I don’t mean anything weird by it, okay?”

“…Faik, how many children would you want?”

“…Huh?”

She asked that while blushing.

Ch-children, huh…

Alicia’s words made me think for a moment.

“Well, maybe two… or so?”

I couldn’t come up with a definite number.

Somehow I just thought two might be better than one.

I couldn’t imagine anything concrete at all.

But my words made Alicia blush.

“I-I see… then we’ll have to do our best, won’t we?”

Do what exactly??

No—of course I understood, so I didn’t ask that.

I kept my mouth shut, and Alicia muttered to herself, somewhat happily.

“When we have children… our children too… surely… hehe.”

…Ch-children, huh.

Alicia already seemed to be seeing that far ahead.

Someday we’ll become parents too, huh.

It’s still a world I can’t really picture.

I wonder what I’ll be doing then?

We’d kept the shop open all morning, but closed it once for a lunch break.

“Lord Faik. Lunch is ready.”

I heard Refy’s voice.

Earlier, Alicia and Refy had gone up to the second floor to prepare lunch.

I’d been forging swords in the smithy until a moment ago, but now I was in the shop.

“Refy, thanks. I’m coming now.”

“Yes. I’ll return to help Lady Alicia, so please come quickly, okay?”

Refy bowed and then went back upstairs.

In the morning, I left the shop to Alicia and Refy and worked at the forge in the back room.

That’s because Alicia and Refy said I didn’t need to help with the shopkeeping.

Indeed, the shop’s merchandise was what I had forged.

There were also the Capris who guarded the shop.

I think they’re much more capable than I would be standing beside Alicia, though…

If I can’t see things with my own eyes, I can’t help but worry.

I put the finished new items into a wooden basket, then climbed the stairs toward the second floor.

The room was filled with the smell of tomatoes. Come to think of it, I think they’d mentioned being able to buy a lot of fresh tomatoes.

Steaming tomato soup was already laid out on the table.

Tomato soup today, huh. I like tomatoes.

The smell made me grin without thinking.

I sat down and…

“Did Alicia make this for me?”

“With Refy… but. …How is it? It was my first time making tomato soup.”

“I see. Refy won’t eat with us… she won’t, right?”

“It seems so. I told her not to worry since it’s not the manor, though.”

Well, even if Alicia says that, I can’t help but be concerned.

After finishing lunch with Alicia, I was taking the dishes to the kitchen when Refy came over.

“We’ll handle the cleanup here, so please don’t worry about it.”

“…Ah, got it. I’ll leave it to you.”

“Thank you. Also, we received a notice from the manor earlier… it seems an S-rank adventurer has come into town and will be staying at the manor starting today.”

Ivas and the others were talking about that too.

“It’s to hunt the Horned Dragon, right?”

“Yes, that’s right. Also, it seems they want to meet the blacksmith, so we’ll have an introduction with Lord Goral at dinner, so please prepare.”

A blacksmith… meaning…

“…That’s me, right?”

“Yes. Apparently they want a sword forged to defeat the Horn Dragon.”

“To defeat the Horned Dragon? That person already has a sword, right?”

“Yes. I haven’t heard any more details, so you’ll have to find out in person.”

…They wouldn’t have forgotten to bring a sword, would they?

Why would they ask for me specifically?

As my questions piled up, Refy continued speaking.

“At dinner, please act as Lady Alicia’s husband, so thank you in advance.”

“…Understood.”

I’m getting coaching from Alicia and Refy in my spare time, after all.

At least, if it’s just interacting, there shouldn’t be a problem.

Still, I’m a little nervous.

In the afternoon, while the shop was open, Alicia came into the workshop.

As I sheathed the sword I had just finished making, I glanced at Alicia.

“What’s wrong?”

“Ivas is back. He wants to greet Faik—what do you want to do?”

“Got it. I’m just finished, so I’ll go meet him.”

I took the finished sword in one hand and headed to the shop.

There were Ivas and the three rookie adventurers I met this morning.

When they noticed us, they bowed politely.

“Lord Faik! This sword was insanely easy to use!”

“I’m good with this one too!”

“M-me too!”

…Oh, I see.

All three seemed satisfied with the weapons they bought this morning.

“That’s good. If you use it for a long time, the Enchantment applied to the sword will break down, so be sure to bring it in.”

“Understood. Is there any guideline, like a sign to watch for?”

“Bring it if it gets dull or you feel it becomes hard to use. Repairing the Enchantment costs money, but I’ll check it for free.”

“…I-I understand! Thank you for everything!”

The rookie adventurers exchanged glances and smiled.

“Lord Faik, thank you. Everyone was very satisfied.”

“That’s good to hear. Was Ivas’s sword alright too?”

“Yes, it’s perfect! We’ll come again then!”

“Yeah, don’t get hurt… everyone, do your best.”

When I said that to the rookies, they bowed with smiles.

“Yes! We’ll do our best too!”

Ivas and the rookie adventurers left the shop.

After they left, the shop was empty.

Looking outside, it was the time when the setting sun streamed in.

There were no more customers, so we might as well close the shop.

“Shall we close up soon?”

There’s also dinner tonight with the S-rank adventurer.

We should move early.

“Yeah, that’s right. I’ll go close up then.”

Alicia went to the entrance, tidied up the sign, and closed the door.

Dinner, huh… I wonder what an S-rank adventurer is like.

That was something I was a little curious about.