CH 158

I have a favor to ask you.

Arjan-san muttered this with a mysterious look on his face, and we looked at each other. In the meantime, I asked Arjan-san to ask him about the situation.

“A favor, sir?”

“Yes. I’ll do my best to process the dragon material. But if you do what I ask, I’ll learn about the price.”

If it’s cheaper, it’s a good deal, but we don’t know the prices yet. I guess we’ll have to find out first.

“I’m sorry, but I’d like to ask you first if you don’t mind if I check the original price? For example, if this fang is processed into an orthodox sword.”

I hold Sarge’s magnificent fang in my hand and look into Arjan-san’s eyes. My brother and Nora are also most curious about this price, so they wait with bated breath for an answer.

“If you were to make this into a sword, it would cost 150,000 beryls each. A dagger would cost ninety thousand, and a greatsword seventeen.”

“One hundred and fifty thousand!?”

“It’s really expensive …… I want a breastplate or something, how much would that be?”

“A breastplate for a young lady would cost seventy thousand with scales, but I don’t recommend making armor for a child.”

“Why not?”

Nora’s shoulders slumped when she was presented with an amount that easily exceeded her budget of 60,000 Beryl. Brother puts his hand on Nora’s shoulder and asked him why he didn’t recommend it. 

“Your bodies are still growing. If you make them to fit a child’s body shape, they’ll be useless when you’re older.”

“Oh, now that you mention it, you’re right.”

I remember when I was a freshman, the jacket I got when I won first place in the competition was pretty bulky. I think it was also designed to be worn when you grow up.

“Well, that’s the way it is. I think it’s better to buy something that doesn’t affect your size too much, like a hat, you know? And the price is about this, but if you do what I ask, I’ll do it all for half price.”

“Seriously? I can’t give them permission if it’s dangerous?”

“Isn’t half price too much ……?”

Tigre-sensei approached him with a grim face at the sudden offer of half price. I couldn’t help but wonder about it myself. There is always a story behind every good story.

“Well, that’s what you’d think …… But don’t worry, there’s nothing dangerous about it. I just need to lend some of the finished product.”

“Lend it …… Are you going to use it for something? Oh, by the way, you said something earlier about “getting back at those guys”.”

When I asked him about it, he nodded slowly and continued talking.

“I told you that the customers left, right? That’s because the person who asked me to make a sword spread a bad rumor. Apparently, he’s an adventurer from another town, and he and his friends did just fine. It didn’t actually surpass them completely, but still, I didn’t make anything that would be snickered at and treated like trash. So I thought if I showed the townspeople and the king something that was definitely made from this dragon material, they might change their minds.”

“Do you have a plan?”

“The king’s father used to distribute cooking utensils and equipment for soldiers and knights, so he should be able to get an audience. The problem is the adventurers.”

He said that he had gone to the nearest town to look for them, but had not been able to find them. I think it’s enough to be recognized by the king, but I want to give them a shot.

It’s not like we’re going to meet the king in person, so we agree to cut the price in half.

“Oh, yeah! I thought about leaving this town and getting a job elsewhere, but I couldn’t leave the place where my parents used to live. So, where do we start?”

Arjan-san said this with a little embarrassment. It seems that his mother hasn’t passed away yet and is still living in the same house. If that’s the case, it’s even harder to leave.

In the meantime, he’s going to start making preparations as soon as possible, so I think I’ll start with mine, since I have the funds?

“Then I want you to make me a sword.”

“Oh, then, then, I want a dagger! I guess I’ll get an armor later.”

“I want a hat!”

“I want a shortsword and a shield. Since I’m going to be working with my dad and we’ll be going out a lot.”

As soon as they give their order, Arjan-san smiles and nods, and starts to fire up the furnace.

“The hat will be ready by the end of the day. The dagger will be ready by tomorrow. Do you mind if I start with the girls? I’d appreciate it if you’d give two to three days for the boys.”

“I understand. Please start with Nora’s and Luciela’s then. You said you haven’t had any work lately, so I’ll give you the payment first.”

I took the beryl out of my bag and handed it to Arjan-san, who opened his eyes and said.

“Are you sure? It’s alright if it’s until it’s finished, you know?”

“No, from what you’ve told me, you seem to be very skilled, and I can expect you to surpass your father, can’t I? So I’ll trust you and start with them first.”

“…… Tch, I can’t do a bad job if you say that much! Leave it to me, I’ll definitely make something you’ll be satisfied with ……!”

The first unmotivated expression on Arjan-san’s face is gone, and he smiles fearlessly as he goes to work. But since the people who worked in the workshop had disappeared, we were interested in watching them work, handing them tools.

My sword wil be put up for evaluation, so I won’t get it until later, but I’m looking forward to the dagger and hat.

◆ 　 ◇ 　 ◆

Meanwhile–

“Ahhhh, It’s not fair, Sis, I wanted to go too.”

“Oh, by the way, it’s rare that he didn’t take Luciel with him, have you talked to him?”

Sorio, the father, asks with a wry smile as he looks at Luciel with his hands on his cheeks and his mouth agape, and Luciel replies 

“I knew that Lars-kun and the others were going to the blacksmith shop, but I didn’t know that Sis was going with them. You’re always with us, but you leave us behind at times like this.”

“Luciela’s about to turn fifteen, so maybe she stopped taking you around? Oh, welcome.”

“Welcome.”

While they were talking about Luciela, a group of four people dressed in what appeared to be adventurer gear came into the store.

“I heard that you can look at this…”

“Oh, yes, it’s jewelry. If it’s about that, I can look into it for you.”

“Take care of it.”

“Yes, sir♪”

Luciel responded with a smile and appraised the jewelry. The adventurer smiled and left with the jewels in cash.

“Luciel-sama has her Jewel Master which makes our work easier too.”

“Ehehe, really? Thank you. Don’t you think it would be cool to be a female merchant who runs a jewelry business after graduation?”

“Hmm, don’t you think you’re reading too many stories ……?”

Luciel’s cheeks puffed up as the sound of laughter from Sorio and the employees echoed through the store.

While the store is bustling with activity, outside the store–

“…… That girl is seriously amazing ……”

“I’m impressed that she can spot a gem with such precision and not miss a single flaw.”

“It was a shady pair, but the information was correct.”

“Now that the deal is done, the only question is how we’re going to get the girl to them. If we succeed, we can live happily.”

The four adventurers chattered away, looking back to the Bryon Chamber of Commerce at a slight distance and smiling.

Oops, for some reason, there’s something disturbing in the air ……?

Thank you for reading!

[Afterword Theater]

“This is how I went to collect the chapter title ……”

Don’t talk like a jerk!?

“I wonder what’s going to happen to the sisters.”

You’re making such an evil face, too ……