Episode 97

After finishing the meal, I took Bertie and came to the blacksmith workshop.

Alicia had come along beside us.

She didn’t have any particular reason to come, but surely it was to prevent Bertie and me from being alone together.

I opened the workshop door. Inside, several swords were laid out on tables and the like.

These were the ones I planned to take to the shop later.

“Wow, there’s a lot of stuff here too!”

“Yeah. There are some that haven’t had enchantment finished yet, though.”

“These swords here are the ones you forged, right?”

“Yeah.”

“They’re all really well made. The material for these is Efrea Magic Ore, right?!”

“That’s right.”

“To be able to make something to this level, you really do have impressive skill.”

Bertie picked up one of the swords in the workshop and gave it a light swing.

Her expression was a mix of innocence and amazement.

“You’re drawing out the Magic Ore’s power to the fullest. I’ve never seen a smith like this.”

“…If you say that, I’m truly glad.”

The swords here were all the kind that only needed Enchantment applied to be finished.

Bertie gripped my sword and practiced swings, then turned her face toward me.

“This sword will be complete once you do the Enchantment, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“If you can make blades like this, I really want to ask you to make one for me.”

Bertie muttered something to herself.

When I picked up the longsword, she leaned in even closer.

Alicia, matching that, wore a flustered expression.

…It wasn’t that Bertie had any malicious intent. She wasn’t approaching me to tease Alicia; she was simply genuinely interested in my sword.

“You learned blacksmithing from your father, right? Was he some kind of famous smith?”

“No, I don’t really know the details. He was just someone who worked as a smith in the village…”

I had never asked where my stepfather had worked as a smith in the past, so I didn’t know the exact details.

But now that I think about it, I suspect my stepfather’s skill as a smith might have been quite exceptional.

At the time, I didn’t have the technique to tell, so I couldn’t really understand it.

Even the villagers didn’t say anything particularly notable about his smithing.

Maybe everyone thought his skill was just ordinary.

“I see… To be honest, I’m surprised. I think you might even be better than the smiths in the capital… you might even have better skill, to be frank.”

“… R-really?”

“Yes, that’s how it looks to me. …Maybe, if it’s you, you could somehow manage it――”

‘Manage it somehow?’

The tail end of her words was very quiet and hard to catch, but she probably said something like that.

Just as I tilted my head in doubt and took a step toward her,

Bertie quickly reached out and grabbed my hand.

“After all, I’m asking you to process the Esrea Magic Ore! So please do your best!”

“…Ah, o-okay, I understand.”

“I don’t think Esrea Magic Ore alone will be enough material, so I’m also ordering some Eirea Magic Ore. Combine those and make the best sword!”

“…Ah, ah.”

What a tremendous request.

It’s probably the hardest sword I’ve ever been asked to make.

I felt unease, but there was definitely also a desire to take on the challenge.

…I’ll do my best.

The next morning.

While I was out for a morning walk as exercise, Lord Goral came from the opposite direction.

Lord Goral noticed me and approached.

“Faik, good morning. Taking a walk?”

“Yes… Lord Goral, you as well?”

“That’s right. Just a little breather.”

Behind Lord Goral, soldiers stood in wait.

Even though it was within the manor, perhaps because anything could happen, the head of the household seemed to have guards with him.

Maybe I should really be walking with them.

“Faik. About processing the Esrea Magic Ore—how is it? Do you think you can manage it?”

“…No, um. I still don’t really know how it will turn out. But I’ll do my best to ensure it succeeds.”

I have worries.

But I can’t afford to speak weakly.

Especially not to this man.

“I see. If possible, I’d like to resolve the issue quickly. I’m counting on your ability as well.”

“Yes, I’ll do my best.”

Lord Goral nodded, then, as if remembering something, he asked.

“By the way, how’s the blacksmith shop doing?”

“It’s so-so, I guess. A few familiar adventurers have…”

Not only Ivas and the others, but people I met while selling goods in the market have come by once.

However, weapons aren’t something people replace often, so it didn’t translate into much in sales.

Still, the connections with people were solid.

“I see. Well, if it’s going smoothly then that’s fine. Is Alicia doing alright? Any problems?”

“Yes. Alicia is fine in particular. She’s been a great help, including with customer service.”

“That’s good to hear. …Am I just being too worried?”

“No, not at all. Maybe if I had a daughter too…”

“A daughter, huh. Someday I suppose I’ll see grandchildren as well.”

“…Y-you might be right…. How are Alicia’s older brothers?”

“Those guys are quite the playboys. You might even be the first, for all we know.”

Lord Goral looked at me with a teasing tone.

Ha ha, maybe so. I couldn’t possibly say that, so I could only give a wry smile.

When I fell silent, Lord Goral looked at me with curiosity.

“What? Are you saying Alicia isn’t attractive?”

“N-no, that’s not it! She’s full of charm! Precisely because of that, I could never do anything to harm her honor!”

When I implied that one shouldn’t make a move before marriage, Lord Goral nodded as if considering it.

“Now that you mention it, that’s true. …Well, I’m joking. Don’t worry about it. Lux… uh, no. Alicia’s brothers are a bit older than you, but they’re still idling about at the academy.”

“An academy?”

“Yes, it’s where they study as nobles. My wife is probably looking forward to it too.”

“Come to think of it, I haven’t greeted her mother yet.”

I still didn’t know anything about Alicia’s mother.

I’d heard she was a kind person, but I’d never seen her.

At my words, Lord Goral lifted his face and looked off into the distance a little.

“She’s a frail person. She’s not in this city—she’s recuperating in her hometown now. We’ve sent letters, and she knows about you.”

“…I-I see.”

“So don’t be nervous. She said she’d like to meet you sometime. There’s a sea you can swim in there; why not go around mid-summer?”

“…That sounds good.”

Summer, huh.

To go without any hesitation, a lot of preparation would be necessary.

The shop would probably have to close during that time… In short, it’d be a lot of trouble.