Me and Prine were invited to a small workshop at the end of a shopping street.
I'm sitting in a chair near the doorway, ready to escape at any moment.

What are you doing sitting in the corner? Come here, come here!

Elena waves her hand.

We have no choice but to bring a chair to the middle of the workshop and sit down again.

There is a reasonably large furnace in the back of the workshop.

Elena asked us as she lit the furnace.

What are your names?

I don't want to tell you.

'I'm Rana.
'I'm Prine.'
'Is it that easy? Don't be so careful. Show me your guild card.

What's this feeling of being mugged .......

'Here you go: ......'

I showed him my guild card.
I stopped by the guild before coming to the shopping arcade to make one.


Name: Rana Prata
Warrior: Lv10

H P: 136
M P: 0
Attack Power: 83 + 2 (broken longsword)
Defense: 83 + 12 (initial, complete armor)
Skill set: Physical Enhancement

Dungeon attack: 3 days



'Hmm . Rana Prata . Level 10....... Dungeon Strategy...... three days huh! Level 10 in three days!
Yes, well...
'Ha-- you're good at it. I like it. You're good enough for me to put a sword through you.
'Huh. ......'
'You're not getting anywhere! You don't trust me that much, do you?
'No, ...... honestly, you can't trust someone you've only just met.

I was brought here by force.

I was brought in forcefully. I see. So what do we do now? I don't know what to do with my life story. ......
'Are you an elf?'
You just asked me out of the blue to tell me a personal story. You're pretty good, aren't you?
'I'm sorry. I was just curious.
'Half-elf. My dad's a human and my mom's an elf. But my mom was taken back to the elf village before I can remember. I don't even know what she looks like.
'I didn't know that. I'm sorry. ......'
'It's all right.'

Elena says as she checks the fire in the furnace.

It's my dream to go to the elf village someday.
'So you're going to see your mother.'
Oh, yeah. We're going to destroy the elven village.

I see. We're not quite on the same page here. I wonder if it's all right to ask him to do this.
They say nothing costs more than free.
I'm planning to change jobs in the future, so I'd like to save as much money as possible.
By the way, Prine, who is shy, is frozen in a ball next to me. I'll leave her alone.

You're a half-elf, so you've been training for 30 years, haven't you? Is your father your master?
'Well, yeah. That stubborn old man won't let me be independent no matter how much I improve my skills. He said it's no job for a woman. There are plenty of female blacksmiths.
'So you're an apprentice.
'I'm the one who has to do the magic-related blacksmithing that my dad couldn't do in the first place,' he said. ....... Oh shit, I'm pissed off again now that I remember!

Aah! Elena kicks away a box that was lying around.
Prine freaked out. It's okay. I'll hold your hand.

So, where's Hobb's hatchet? Where is it?
'Yeah, I didn't bring it with me. ......'
'You ain't got it! What the hell are you doing here?
You brought them here on your own, that's enough!

We glared at each other for a while, me and Elena.
She growled at me.

'I guess you're right. I'm sorry.
No, I'm sorry I yelled at you.

He has a temper, but he seems to be reasonable. Good, we can barely talk to each other. Prine is on the verge of tears, though.



'Well, you want me to bring it?'
'So, is it really for free?'
'You're so stingy. I told you I'm in training.
'Then how do you make a living?'
'Except for blacksmithing. I make and sell artifacts and amulets. For adventurers. ''

Surprising.

Don't look so surprised. You think I can't do delicate work? I may be half-elf, but I'm still an elf.
'Well, I'll buy it.
'Oh? I don't care.
'It's not good. My teacher used to say. 'You have to pay for what you get.
'You mean it's a matter of your honor?'
'Humanity ....... Yes, well, yes.
'Well, I guess that's that then. So, what do you like?

Think about it for a while,

'Oh, I'm not going to do it.
You're not going to stop!
'In exchange, let me buy one of those swords. How much?'
'............? That's my practice sword, so it's not worth the ...... price tag.'
'Well then, is this enough?

He takes money out of his wallet and hands it over.
It is enough to buy three longswords, but much cheaper than the expensive sword I just bought.

You're getting a little too much.
'I'll fold this now.
You're not selling me a fight, are you?

Elena snapped. Of course she did. I'll tell her the truth.

I want a sword that can withstand the battle. I want to know your skill.
Then you should have said so from the beginning!

So is that.

I'm sorry.
I can't speak for others either, but you're pretty rude yourself. ......
'Elena, you were rude.
'Keep that kind of thing to yourself, okay? See?''

Well.

Can I try it?
'Sure, man. This is the target, okay?

Elena pulls out a piece of iron junk from the back and places it in the middle of the workshop.

The sword is made of steel. This piece of junk is steel. Of course steel is stronger. Then it should be able to cut. If you and I are good enough.

I nodded. I raise my sword,

'Then, let's go.'

Soo, hah.

--Attack!

Instead of Charge, which is a rushing technique, I launched Attack, which is a powerful blow on the spot.

My body is enveloped in light. A moment later, Elena-san's sword swung down sharply.


Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiin ......!


He has cut through the mass of iron.

After the hardening time, I look at the sword. It is not broken. But..,

'...... hmmm. That's for practice.

It was cracked. It will break next time.

'No, it's for practice, and it's made of steel. ......'
'Pass? No. I ain't got no explanation for this.
'Thank you very much. I'm sorry I made you try.
'I don't need your tempestuous apology. Go get Hobb's hatchet.
'Yes.'

I leave the workshop with Prine, who hasn't said a word since we got here.
Just before I leave,

'Hey.'

A voice called to my back.

'There's something I forgot to ask you when I was forging your weapon.
What is it?

'What are you guys doing in the dungeon? Gold? Honor? Or are you a battle junkie?
'............'

I'll shut up for a minute.
A month ago, I would have been talking about my desire to be a guild leader.
I would have been an innocent adventurer challenging dungeons.

But not anymore.
He changed everything.



'I have a sister.

Prine stares at me as I begin to speak. It's okay. I'm okay.

But I've been put to sleep. --'But I was put to sleep by the Witch of the North.

I told Elena what happened.





I see. ...... To save your sister from going to sleep. ...... eg! Go to the bottom of the dungeon ...... fugg!'

I'm not drunk.
When I told him about my situation, he was so moved that he cried. Maybe I have a weakness for duty and humanity. He is somewhat like a blacksmith in that way.

I see. ....... That's right, you need a strong weapon! All right, I'll take care of it!
'Ha, thank you very much.'

Elena sniffs her nose. A beautiful woman is ruined.
With a plop, she throws a rag on the floor,

'Even at ......?'

I questioned him.

'You guys look like you're having a good time, though, don't you? I can afford it.
'Ah.'

The same thing was once said to Anna, the guild receptionist.

Why are you so calm? If I don't dive within a year, my sister will die, right? Aren't you a little more impatient than that?'

Hmmm, I think about what to say.
But in the end, I decided to borrow a word from someone else.

'Being serious and having fun are not contradictory,' my teacher said.
'...... how?

Elena raises her eyebrows in amusement.
I continue.

'If you can get things done in a hurry, you won't have a hard time. If you succeed by pushing too hard, you will push too hard, but most of the time you will fail. So, the sooner you hurry, the better. There is a difference between 'hurry' and 'hurry.

Maybe Mary feels the same way I do.
--Oh, brother! No need to rush, hurry up and help me! I mean...

Is that your teacher, too?
'Yes.'
'I see. ......'

Elena gazed into the void for a moment,

'...... you're a good teacher.'

He mumbled something.

'Yes.
'You were a good shot, too. You are a level 10 warrior.
''Hi.''
'I've heard what I wanted to hear. Bring me Hobb's hatchet. I'll forge you the best sword I know.

Nodding her head, Elena already looked like a full-fledged blacksmith to me.





'Hah ...... I'm so nervous ......'

We walked out of the workshop until we were out of sight, and then Prine finally exhaled.

Haha. He was a bit scary.
I was so surprised. They suddenly got into a fight.
'It wasn't a fight. We just yelled at each other.
It's a fight. It was scary.

We pass through the shopping district and enter the inn district.

'Prine, I'll take the hatchet, what about you? Do you want to go to the library?''
'Hmmm. Maybe I'll do that. I can be alone there.
'Okay. See you at the inn.
'Yes! Ler-kun, don't fight, okay?
I won't.'

After seeing Prine off to the library, I went from my room at the inn to Elena's workshop again with Hobb's hatchet.

After she heard my order, her first words were

You're an idiot.
'I don't need you to tell me what to do.
'What the hell?
What is it, Kola?
'You wanted me to train your longsword, octopus.
'I said it, didn't you hear me, octopus?
'Look at this, you idiot.
'I'm watching you, a**h*le.

Hatchet.
Hobgoblin hatchet.

Yeah. It's small. Like, the blade. It's a hatchet.

It's not enough, you vaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Gunnu: .......
It's true, why didn't I notice it, my fool.......

'I'm sorry.
'Oh. This is a short sword at best, right?'


'I want a longsword.'
I know, I know. I know, I know, I know, I know.

Elena started rummaging through some boxes.
There's no way there are materials in there!

'There's no way I can find it. Here.
'Is this a ...... pickel? And a basket to carry it in?
The material used for this hatchet is something called 'eltra ore. What it lacks, it makes up for.'

No way.

'Go dig. It should be on the fourth level. I've got a basket full.

No way.
Rana Prata, warrior level 10.
The man with the strongest [breathing] skill.

I'm off on a gathering quest now.