"Yes!"

　With his voice, Bune's dagger is thrust out, but... Ray easily avoids the blow and scoops Bune's feet with a death-size butt.
　Bune, who had been scooped up, fell straight down and buried his face in the snow.

"Huh! Huhhhuh!"

　Shaking his feet out of the snow, Bune looks at Ray with all his might, while remaining expressionless.

"Calm down, isn't it bad that Bune didn't take notice of his feet, though it was speed-oriented... but speed-oriented, so you have to be careful at your feet?"

　A short distance away, Vichela, leaning against Seto's lying belly watching them train, teases Bune.
　Bune knew that she had had the experience she had now because she was careless, but she was still dissatisfied with what she was dissatisfied with.

"Yes!"

　Unlike Vihela, Ray doesn't understand what Bune is saying.
　But I could only see that he wanted another war.
　It's a welcome thing for Ray to see his members become more aggressive in forming parties from spring.
　Considering the role of the party, fighting power is not everything... but it is also true that other faces still stand out.
　The notorious Ray, the silver lion's powerful Vihela, and the ex-Rank A adventurer Marina.
　In the midst of this, the thief Bune was clearly weak in battle.
　If you're an enemy of some intelligence among monsters, you might as well go after that weakness.
　For monsters like oaks, Bune would be a target, let alone dumb monsters like goblins.
　...and the fact that Bune is a woman is another factor to be targeted.
　You could still call yourself a child, but if monsters like Oak were to consider it, the answer is no.
　Therefore, it could be said that it was imperative this winter that Bune's fighting power should be raised to some extent.
　Maybe Bune understood it, but he was practicing battle with Vihela almost every day.
　Ray was helping with combat training in his own way... it had started again today.

"Ray, you're so nice! Be kinder to Bune!"
"Yes, yes! Bune should be more careful!"

　I can hear such a voice from the window of the inn facing the backyard.
　Bune hardly changes his expression and basically only says 'n'.
　However, it is true that she is still handsome and has a lovely figure.
　And many adventurers and merchants at the Wheat-tei at dusk have too much time to spare because it's winter.
　What would happen if that happened... that was Bune's popularity.

"Yes!"

　Bune, receiving such cheers -- like that -- confronted Ray with a dagger in his hand...

"Oh! Wait a minute for that fight!"
"Oh my gosh!

　The voice suddenly interrupts and screams.
　...it wasn't the cheers, it was the screams that came from Pamidor, who looked as violent as the thief's boss.
　Pamidor's name is also quite well known in Gilm.
　He was originally famous for being a skilled blacksmith known to all who knew him, but after he got acquainted with Ray, his name quickly spread.
　However, it is also the reason why he became famous for his vicious face, his lovely wife, and his unexpectedly childlike desires.
　However, many say they know their names but have never seen them, and I guess they are the ones who are screaming now.
　Vichela and Bune are not particularly upset when they see the violent face of Pamidor that suddenly appears near them.
　We had heard from Ray before, and above all, we had no ill will or desire for ourselves.
　... in Bune's case, it may be just that she doesn't show any expression when she feels something.
　At any rate, Vichela was confident that if Pamidor tried to do anything, he would soon be able to suppress it, and if he did, he could welcome it.

"Pamidol? What's wrong with you all of course.

　Ray, who had a death size, asks mysteriously as he unravels it.
　Bune, too, decides that the training has been canceled once, and approaches the lying-down set.
　Ray asks Pamidor again what he has come to do, listening to Seto, Vihela, and Bune's appearance again in the window.

"I'm not here to interrupt you," Here it is."

　and what Pamidor showed Ray was a dagger.
　However, the length is clearly longer than that of a regular dagger, but still shorter than that of a long sword.
　The blade was nearly fifty centimeters long, between a kind of long sword and a dagger... that was clearly another weapon close to the dagger.
　And the blade color is white.
　Ray understood that the blade, which did not appear to be made of metal, was made of silver lion's claws.

"This... has become a very distinctive dagger again." Can you call it a dagger?"

　Looking at a weapon that is neither a long sword nor a dagger, Pamidor nods with an expression of understanding to Ray's words, which are muttered with a slight stupidity.

"I understand what Ray means. I understand, but with this weapon, I judged this to be the best form. Of course, if it is difficult to use, I will adjust it later. But as a blacksmith, I can assure you that this weapon is now complete."

　In connection with the twilight spear, Ray trusts Pamidor's skill as a blacksmith.
　That's what Pamidor says. For the time being, Ray received the dagger without further complaints. . . . .

"Oh?"

　Ray exclaims in surprise that the dagger was given little weight.
　The blade is clearly longer than the ordinary dagger. It's long, but... for it was clearly lighter in weight than a regular dagger.

"Very light,"
"Oh, I suppose it's a characteristic of the material of a silver lion. It was a little heavier when it was made of materials, but perhaps some of the magic of the Silver Lion still remains, and that is the effect of it."
"... I see,"

　It's a longer blade than a regular dagger, and it's clearly better than a regular dagger in terms of range of attack.
　And it is also a dagger with silver lion's claws, which is clearly superior to the usual one in terms of offensive power.

"What do you think? It's not difficult to use as a weapon for that young lady, is it?"
"Well... but considering I've been using daggers, I think I need to get used to the difference... fortunately it's winter now."

　Pamidor nods proudly, right?
　Watching Pamidor like this, Ray screams to Beune, who is stroking Seto, with a dagger in his hand that would be more than he can complain about except his handling of weapons.

"Come over here, Bune!"

　Bune, who was called out, leans his head slightly, as usual, and approaches Ray because he called him.
　Vichela and... and Sett are coming to Rey, perhaps interested in Bune's appearance.

"Hold this for me," It's a dagger which you asked Pamidor to make as your weapon."
"Yes!"

　mutter a word at Ray's words and pick up a dagger.
　They move their eyebrows lightly, not as heavy as they look, then they stop for a few seconds, seeing the unusual white blade color, and then wielding a dagger.
　The length of the blade is different from that of the dagger that Beune usually uses, so the feeling of swinging is probably different.
　Shake the dagger once, twice, or three times, and then tilt your head to see if you are still not comfortable with your senses.
　The lovely figure again brings cheers from the inn, but Ray asks Bune unconcernedly.

"What do you think? Can you use it?"
「ん！」

　少し迷いながら短剣の柄を見せてくるビューネに、レイはヴィヘラに視線を向ける.
　大まかにビューネの言いたいことは分かるレイだったが、それでもこういうときにはその言葉を理解出来ない.
　レイの視線に、ヴィヘラは笑みを浮かべて口を開く.

「柄の握りの部分が少し太いそうよ」
「……おう？　あ、あー……悪い. それは俺のミスだった. そうだよな、大人が使うんじゃないんだから、握りもそっちに合わせる必要があった」

　一瞬ヴィヘラが何を言っているのか分からないといった様子のパミドールだったが、すぐに自分の作った短剣を使うのがビューネだと、つまり手の小さな子供だということを理解したのだろう. 納得したように頷く.
　もっとも、これはパミドールにとっても仕方のないことでもあった.
　基本的にパミドールに武器を作って欲しいと店にやって来る者は、殆どが冒険者として一人前になった者達だ.
　腕の立つパミドールに仕事を依頼するには相応の金が必要であるのを考えれば当然だろう.
　……中には何を勘違いしたのか、貴族や商人の息子といった家が金持ちの者が実力不相応な武器を欲してパミドールに依頼することもあったが、当然ながらパミドールがそんな依頼を受ける筈もない.
　以前などはどこぞの貴族の一族で縦と横が同じような体型の男が、自信満々に自分の武器を作らせてやろうと言ってきたこともあった.



　勿論そのような依頼をパミドールが受ける筈もなく、ただでさえ凶悪な顔付きのパミドールに睨まれると、即座に逃げ出したということもある.
　ともあれ、そのような事情からパミドールは子供が使うような武器というのは殆ど作ったことがない.
　また、今回はただの短剣ではなく、ランクSモンスターの……銀獅子の爪と骨を使って作った短剣だ.
　そのことを嬉しく思い、多少ミスをしてしまっても、仕方がなかったのだろう.

「そうだな、じゃあ嬢ちゃんの手にしっかりと合わせるか、ちょっと柄を握ってみてくれ」
「ん」

　パミドールに言われるがままに短剣の柄を握るビューネ.
　それを見ながら、パミドールは柄をどれ程調整すればいいのかを確認していく.
　盗賊の大親分と呼ぶのに相応しい容姿をしたパミドールが、少女……場合によっては幼女と呼ばれてもおかしくないビューネの手を握っている光景は、場合によっては警備兵を呼ばれるような事態にすらなっただろう.

（そうなったらそうなったで、ちょっと面白そうだけどな）

　二人の様子を見ながらそう考えていたレイだったが、パミドールがビューネから離れたのを見て、疑問に思っていたことを尋ねる.

「そう言えば、短剣を作るのは随分と早かったんだな. お前よりも前にスレイプニルの靴の強化を頼んだアジモフは、まだ苦戦してるけど」
「当然だろ」

　レイの言葉に、パミドールはさも当然といった様子で答える.

「当然？」
「ああ. アジモフがやってるのは、もうそこにある完成品のマジックアイテムを強化するという行為だ. それに比べて、俺がやったのは最初から短剣を作るといった行為. ましてや、俺の場合は短剣を作る工程もそこまで複雑じゃない」

　だから、アジモフとは比べものにならない程、楽だった.
　そう告げるパミドールだったが、レイが何かを言うよりも前に口を開く.

「言っておくが、作業工程が楽だったからって別に簡単だった訳じゃねえぞ. それこそ、銀獅子の素材を使うんだから、かなり集中して精密に手を出す必要がある」
「まぁ、何となく言いたいことは分かった」

　それはつまり、行程そのものは大変でなくても、行為の一つ一つに普段以上に気を使って行ったのだろうと、そんな風にレイは納得する.

「ふんっ、分かればいい. それに色々な面から考えないといけないアジモフと違って、俺の場合はある程度技術が確立してるからな. 勿論モンスターの素材によっては色々と手を加える必要があるが、銀獅子は例外に近い. 手を加えるのは最低限でよかった. いや、寧ろ下手に余計な手を加えれば、質が落ちる」

　自分の仕事に自信を持って告げるパミドールの言葉に、レイも職人のプライドが理解出来たのだろう. それ以上は何も口にせずに頷きだけを返す.

「じゃあ、俺はそろそろ戻るぞ. 短剣は今日……時間が掛かっても、明日には出来る筈だ」
「分かった. なら明日の午前中に取りにいく」

　そうして短く言葉を交わすと、パミドールはそのまま中庭から去っていく.

「ん」

　パミドールが去ったのを見たビューネは、レイに短く呟く.
　それを見たヴィヘラは、レイにビューネが何を言いたいのかを話す.

「自分が貰ってもいいのかって、そう言ってるのよ」
「ああ. そのことか. 俺達とパーティを組む以上、ビューネの能力を高めるのは最優先事項だからな」

　その言葉に、ビューネは無表情のまま……それでも頭を小さく下げるのだった.