Um, excuse me.

　As we greeted each other, we walked into the workshop with its rising black smoke.

　It looks spacious from the outside, but the inside is smaller than I expected.
　The work tools were scattered around, and there were several aged workbenches and furnaces set up here and there. The room temperature was unusually high, and the air was covered with soot and dust. It is a space where you don't want to stay too long.

...... Huh?　You have a visitor. Uh, what can I do for you?

　A man with long hair, who was looking at the sword at the back of the workshop, noticed us and replied.

''I brought all sorts of magic stones with me, can you make something for me?''
"Yes, yes, yes, I see. Okay, okay. I'm not busy anyway.

　The man with the long hair puts down the sword he was looking at and approaches us, ruffling his hair. His true face is exposed, and I'm surprised at how many old wounds he has.
　One eye is crushed and both ears have been shaved off. A large number of burn marks remain on his face, and it's painful just to look at him.

'Yo, nice to meet you. ......
Oh, I didn't mean to scare you. The first time someone sees it, it's not unreasonable - you're our master. You don't need to come all the way to this dirty place, I'll go if you call me.
'No, I'm the one who needs you, so it's only natural for me to go out. And I didn't come to ask you as a master. I came to ask you as an individual named Kanami. Um, ......, Alibers?
Alibers Rivers. You remembered it well. You didn't even challenge me in that round robin game.
I struggled to remember your names: ......

　Alibers and I shake hands and introduce ourselves to each other.
　And I lightly check Alibers-san's status.


[Alibers Revers]
　Inherent skill: sacred magic 1.34　
　Acquired Skills: attribute magic 0.23 Blacksmithing 0.89 Swordsmanship 0.07


　His blacksmithing skills are not that high. Rather, he is more blessed with combat skills. Although his level wasn't high, he still had a first-class magic power. It's a status that would be more convincing if he were called a wizard explorer.

　He used to be an explorer in the past, but it's highly likely that he turned into a blacksmith due to his injuries.

''So master, what kind of stuff do you have in store for me?''
I've got something Snow said was rare.

　Saying that, I take out the magic stones from my 'belongings'.
　Since it's a good time, I'll also show them all the rare things I've accumulated from before.

　Alibers-san's eyes shine as various colors of magic stones spread out on the processing table.

''Soooo, that's amazing ....... Even in the country's redemption centers, they're all rarely seen.''
I've been accumulating them for a long time. Can you make a sturdy weapon out of it?
No, that's all right. I can make anything out of this.
Please. I've had trouble with my weapons being damaged so many times.
Well, I don't like to think of a monster with a broken weapon. But I do repair broken weapons.　If you bring it to me, I might be able to reuse it. It depends on the degree.
'Oh, really?'
It's almost always cheaper to buy it than to fix it, though.
Hmmm, I'll just go get one.

　Delighted that I was able to repair the weapons so close at hand, I head for the exit. It's unnatural to take something as large as a weapon out of a small bag, so I need to get it out of my 'belongings' outside.

　I take Snow and head outside. Then, we move to a secluded area and take out the damaged weapons from the 'belongings'.

　Of course, I also take out a few swords that I used today and the hammer and axe that Snow broke.
　In the middle of taking out various things, I found a broken sword in my possessions that I don't remember.

　It's an old sword with a distorted blade tip.
　It's as if the blade is melted as if it had been plunged into magma.


[Aleis Family's Treasure Sword (Broken)]
　Attack power 1


　It's an attack power that's not unlike wielding an iron rod.
　However, the name "Treasure Sword" is attached to it. The name alone is splendid.

　However, I can't remember how I got this.
　However, there are many times when a golden-eyed object left in the labyrinth is put into the 'possession' for the time being. Perhaps he picked it up in the course of his labyrinth search.

　I'm going to ask them to take a look at the Aleiss family's treasure sword as well.
　I force the monstrous Snow to carry my luggage and return to the workshop.

''I've brought it, Alibers-san.
Oh, you're early-- that's a lot of food!
Ha, sorry. ......
Let me check out .......

　I'm going to take a look at the weapons with Mr. Alibers. If we can find out the difference between what can be repaired and what can't, it will be useful for future exploration.
　By the way, Snow was sitting in a gymnastic seat in the corner of the room and had begun to sleep.

'From the looks of it, the swords are better. They are all manageable with a little sharpening. However, I'm not sure about these big ones. They're twisted at the base, and the blades are tattered. The safest thing to do would be to smash them up and replace them with materials.
I see. ......

　The weapons Snow handled seemed to be in particularly bad shape.

'The rest is ...... hmmm?　Here: ......

　Mr. Alivers takes a sword from among the broken weapons.
　'The Treasure Sword of the House of Aleys.

''What about it?''
No, it's a work product. It's made of rare ore, so you'd think it would at least have an inscription: ....... The condition is so bad that I can't read the inscription: ......
Well, I think it used to be written as 'Aleiss'.

　I disclosed the 'display' information, thinking it might add to the repairs.

'Ares, you know what?　But that doesn't sound like an inscription: ......
What does it mean, Ares?
'What?　That would be that famous nobleman. It's a family that has produced many excellent swordsmen and has a certain swordmaster.
Oh, that's great.

　While answering my questions, Mr. Alibers never takes his eyes off his sword.
　He seems curious about the unusual karma.

Hmm. I'm sorry, but I don't think I can fix this one. The ore is too special.
Then you can have them cast up and turned into material.

　I speak appropriately, saying that it's a found object anyway. At that moment, I felt a chill run down my back for some reason - but Mr. Alibers immediately shakes his head and refuses to do so.

'No, you'd better have it. I can't, but the blacksmith at Hoosier's might have a hope.
Haha. ......

　It's not that I'm not attached to this sword.
　I could have had it turned into a material, but it seems to be a great waste in Alibers-san's eyes.

''The other interesting thing is this magic stone. As I recall, it's the 'Crescent Pectolazuli'. If I sell this, I can live for three years playing with it, are you sure?''
What, so much?

　I'm gobsmacked by the price, which is much higher than I imagined.
　One of my purposes is to pay for Maria's treatment. That goal is solved simply by selling this magic stone.

'But I guarantee you can make something good with it. We can coat the sword and make it sturdy. As far as I'm concerned, I'd rather make it into a ring or a necklace, a magic item that makes use of this magic stone.
It's more of a matter of needing a sturdy weapon than a magic item: ......
I know the feeling when I see the devastation. I'd be more inclined to make weapons too, so that helps. ...... Well then, I'll leave you with a broken weapon and a reasonable magic stone.
Come in.

　After that, Alibers-san and I recorded the weapons and magic stones to be traded and decided on a date for delivery.
　When I expressed my wish for a sturdy weapon, if possible, as soon as possible, Alibers-san thought about it for a bit and came up with a plan to deal with it.

The ideal way to speed up the job is to increase the number of people on hand, so the quality won't drop. That way the quality won't drop. If you invite a blacksmith you know from the city, the work will inevitably go faster. But then it would be quite pricey, wouldn't it?''
'No, it's cheaper than destroying several weapons. Please, as soon as you can.
Okay. Then this is how you'll pay for it: ......?　I'll turn the leftover magic stones into gold at the exchange station. The master is going to be busy.
Thank you.
Then we'll get Master and Snow's weapons ready at once. Here's the contract. You'll get the price and details from Snow here. He looks like that, but he knows his stuff. If the price is unreasonable, feel free to come and complain about it.
'Snow is ......?　I understand.

　I turn my attention to Snow, who is sprawled out in the corner of the room.
　I was going to ask the sub-master, Palinkron or Rail-san, about such things, but it seems that Snow can handle it.

'And here's the most important part of the story: ......
What's the big deal?
'Yeah. The most important part of building a weapon is still to be determined.

　I thought I had most of the story, but apparently I haven't decided on just what makes me say it's the most important thing in the eyes of my day job as a blacksmith.

''Oh, what the hell is that?''
It's ...... design!
'Ha, ha ....... Is it design?
'Oh!　Looks are what counts, decorations are what matters most!　More than a performance, it's a beauty!　If the sword is beautiful, the master's magnificent swordplay will look great!

　No, this guy: .......
　I thought he was a serious person, but the quintessential "Epic Seeker" resident blacksmith.
　He didn't have a good thought process.

''It's a weapon that holds your life in its hands, right?　Focus on the workmanship rather than the looks.
That's why I put my life in your hands!　At the moment when you spill your life, in the midst of fresh blood, if the sword you carry is not cool, you won't be able to die even if you die!　Because a hero's death should be beautiful, you know!
No, I need a weapon to keep me from dying. I'm not thinking about dying.　
That's not right, Master!　What you do while you're alive is important, but how you die is even more important!
'It's more important while you're alive. I don't care what it looks like, just make it a strong one.
That's bloody bullshit!　Having a good-looking swordsman use a good-looking sword is what I live for!
'Master orders. Make it sturdy.
'Haha. I'm sorry, but that's not going to work in 'Epic Seeker'. Violating orders is an everyday occurrence here!

　He even gave orders that were not in line with his s*xuality, but Mr. Alibers continues to disobey.
　I really don't want to have to deal with "Epic Seeker" because there are only freaks in .......

'Huh ....... Then we'll pretend this story never happened .......
Oh, that would be very embarrassing!　I could be working with the master's sword!
Then do your work diligently. It's a pain in the ass to go to a distant workshop instead of one that's close at hand.
Mmm. ....... It can't be helped. How about making something sturdy first and then elaborating on the decorations later on ......?
'If it's only a little heavier, we'll compromise on this one too. But I won't pay for that decoration.
It's no use. We'll pay our own way in there.
'Self-financing is ....... Do you have the option of giving up ......?
No.
Don't you have ......?

　Mr. Alibers spread out a thick sheet of paper on the processing table and began to draw a drawing of the finished product with a quill pen.

I'm going to ask you right now if you have any requests. For my part, I'm thinking of making a simple straight sword with a white background. This will be strong and durable. I'm going to be the first to say that I'm not going to be the only one. --What do you think?

　I look at the painted sword and am taken aback by its stunning form.

'You're just obsessed with it ....... I'm just saying that the color of the letters is more blue than blue for my taste, because it's more refreshing. It's just that my preference is for the color of the letters to be blue rather than blue, because it gives a more refreshing feel.
'Master likes a clean design, doesn't he? Okay, I'll consider it.
The other thing is uniformity and elegance. Unbalanced swords are difficult to use, so please make them symmetrical.
'Hmmm, I prefer the asymmetry: ....... It can't be helped, let's make up for it with decorations.

　Dreaming of the sword that would be completed, Alibers-san and I bumped into each other's interests.
　Apparently, Alibers-san has caught me and I'm getting excited about it too. I can see for myself that my game loving nature, which is at its core, is coming to the surface.

　Thus, Alibers and I got into a long, heated debate about weapons, and before I knew it, the sun had gone down.
　We said goodbye to each other with very good smiles on our faces, having said all the things we had to say.

Then, Master," he said, "it's been a long time since I've had a big job. Well then, master, I'll give it my best shot as it's my first big job in a long time.
Yes, thank you. --Snow, we're done. Let's go.

　He grabbed Snow by the scruff of her neck as she lay in the corner.
　She had fallen completely sound asleep due to a long story that didn't interest her.

　Responding to Alibers' small smile with a wry smile, I dragged Snow out of the workshop.

　With this, the labyrinth exploration attack from the 20th level onwards, which would begin tomorrow, should be easier.
　Honestly, today's exploration is just for fun. It's not an exaggeration to say that the real work will come after the 20th layer.

　After leaving the workshop, me and Snow go into town.
　We shop and stop at the church to prepare for the real work of exploring the labyrinth.
　My level is now 15, and as usual, I swing my bonus points to magic. As the opportunity to use 《Dimension》 increased, I couldn't think of any other option to improve my accuracy.

　I returned to Maria's waiting room while checking my magic power with 《Dimension》, not knowing how much it had been strengthened.