Episode 96

She answered, her eyes shining at the meal that had been brought.

“And I was thinking—could you combine the Horned Dragon’s scales and forge some kind of sword?”

“…Is that so.”

Esrea Magic Ore, huh.

I’ve heard that processing it is extremely difficult.

There are very few people in the world who can work it, and I have a lot of concerns.

I’m the same way.

“Could I ask you?”

“…I’ve never worked Esrea Magic Ore. So to be honest, I don’t know if I can forge the sword Bertie wants.”

“Huh? Well, but won’t it work out somehow?”

“N-no, it’s not like that. If I can’t make the sword, then taking down the Horned Dragon will probably be difficult, right?”

At best, I’ve only forged up to Eirea Magic Ore.

To be honest, in this situation where we don’t know when the Horned Dragon’s threat will arrive, I wasn’t sure if I should take it on.

If I can’t make the sword, this town will be put at risk.

People who know me might get injured because of it.

The adventurers I’d met so far, including Ivas and the others who came to mind.

And Rig and Arme…

More than anything, it could cause trouble even for Alicia and Lord Goral.

I’ve never even seen a sword made from Esrea Magic Ore.

I’ve forged swords using references before, but I’ve never made one from scratch.

I couldn’t imagine at all how to go about processing Esrea Magic Ore.

“Hmm, that might be true, but well, it’ll work out somehow.”

D-don’t say that so casually.

Bertie smiled when she saw me troubled.

“I’m not just saying anything, you know? After looking around the town, I think your skill is probably the best here.”

“……”

“So please! For now, won’t you try? Please!?”

Hearing Bertie say that with a smile, I looked at Lord Goral with slight unease.

He nodded and opened his mouth.

“…Try it. If you like, think of it as increasing our options.”

“Options, you say?”

“Yes. There are few smiths who can process Esrea Magic Ore. Even if we commission such a smith now, it won’t be finished immediately. At present, the people who can process it are only in the capital, and they’re occupied with other work.”

…Those would be the royal court blacksmiths, so to speak.

In the country I came from, there was no one who could work Esrea Magic Ore, but it seems there are some in this country.

Their work mainly involves managing weapons for the nation, so even if the ducal family asked, they probably couldn’t respond immediately.

Even if it were decided they’d process it smoothly, considering travel time to and from the capital, it could take a month, or at worst two months.

“But if it’s Faik, you can start the work from now, right?”

“…Yes.”

“Then one option increases. As things stand, the only option is to mobilize adventurers and soldiers with Bertie to slay the Horned Dragon. That will inevitably produce victims.”

“…Yes.”

“But if you can process Esrea Magic Ore, then Bertie could defeat the Horned Dragon on her own… In other words, even if Faik tries and fails, the overall response won’t change drastically. So won’t you try? Even if you fail, I won’t blame you.”

Bertie nodded at Lord Goral’s words.

“Yes, exactly. Even if the sword can’t be made, we’ll prepare so we can manage in the worst case. So please!”

Bertie pressed her hands together.

My dream is to become the world’s greatest smith, after all.

If so, I have to attempt it with the intent to succeed.

I reflected deeply on my pathetic expression and nodded.

“Yeah, I understand. I’ll make the best sword.”

“That’s great! I was worried you’d refuse.”

“However, I want some time for trial and error. I don’t think a finished product will be ready immediately.”

“Of course, I understand. It’s fine, I’ll wait as long as it takes.”

“Is ‘as long as it takes’ really okay?”

“I’ll ask the Horned Dragon to cooperate on that front, too.”

Lord Goral smiled wryly at Bertie’s cheerful grin.

“Bertie. If Faik can prepare the sword, is the Horned Dragon’s slaying possible…?”

Alicia interjected into the conversation and spoke.

Bertie gave a confident thumbs-up.

“Yes, absolutely. I promise you that. After all, I’m an S-rank adventurer.”

“…I see.”

“Ah, that’s right! There’s something I wanted to ask Lady Alicia too!”

“Huh? M-me?”

“Yeah, yeah, it’s about Lady Alicia, or rather also about Lord Faik…”

She glanced over at us.

Me and Alicia? What does she mean?

“Was Faik originally a commoner? Or a noble? And how far have you two gone!?”

Her eyes sparkled as she asked such things.

Alicia choked a little, and Lord Goral fixed his gaze on me.

“I-is the Horned Dragon’s topic over now?”

“But it’s over now, isn’t it? Faik forges the sword, I kill the Horned Dragon! Done! From here on, let’s have fun talking! So, what’s your relationship like now!? Was Lord Faik originally a noble?”

…This person is ridiculous.

Bertie leaned her face in close.

“I-I was originally a commoner… I married in as a son-in-law.”

“Oh, I thought so. No wonder you don’t seem very noble.”

“…R-really?”

“Yes, you seem to be trying so hard that it’s kind of endearing.”

Bertie said this with a smile, and there was no malice in it at all.

There was no malice, but being told that left me with a very complicated feeling.

No matter how much I tried to cover it up, it was proof that my behavior still bore the traces of a commoner.

However, there was also a bit of relief—I’d shown that pathetic side to someone who wasn’t yet of the nobility.

That said, I can’t relax. From now on I must tighten up and cultivate more noble bearing.

“Is that so… I’ll be more careful from now on.”

That was more of an apology to Lord Goral than an answer to Bertie.

Lord Goral’s expression didn’t show any particular change. I hope I haven’t disappointed him.

“I don’t mind. More importantly, what about the two of you!? What’s it like now!?”

Lord Goral, can you stop this person?

Even if I’m allowed to talk freely, being questioned this much is troublesome.

When I looked at Lord Goral as if seeking help, he just stared at me.

“How far have you two gone, Faik?”

…Lord Goral’s eyes were probing.

I couldn’t not answer that.

“N-no, it’s just a normal relationship.”

“…Hmm, so that’s how it is.”

Lord Goral fixed his gaze on Bertie.

Bertie nodded eagerly.

“I see, I see. I have a question for Lord Goral as well: Faik’s skill as a smith is quite something, isn’t it?”

“That’s right. He is a very talented smith.”

At Lord Goral’s clear declaration, my mouth threatened to relax into a smile.

However, that was an outward response.

Lord Goral’s words decorated Bertie’s eyes with even more curiosity.

“Speaking of the Barnast family, they were a lineage with a certain attachment to smithing, weren’t they?”

“You’re well informed.”

“No, not really. The coachwoman knew a lot, so I just asked her.”

“That’s right. Originally a blacksmithing family, we achieved considerable success in war and became nobles.”

After that, the two lightly discussed the history of the Barnast family.

The meal time passed, and we were having dessert.

Even so, Bertie’s appetite was extraordinary.

Where does it all go in that slender body, I wondered.

It was almost as if she had an item storage box in her stomach.

When everyone finished their dessert, Lord Goral spoke.

“Bertie. One last request. Leaving the Horned Dragon be will only stir anxiety among the citizens. If possible, I’d like it slain soon. I’ve already spoken to several smiths, including Faik. Not just Faik, but weapon commissions can be made at any time.”

“Yes, of course. Say, Sir Faik, there’s a smithy in the manor too, right? May we go take a look?”

I had no objection to that.

“Understood. Shall we head there now?”

“Yes, that’s fine! Then let’s go take a quick look!”

I returned a wry smile to her joyful grin.