You a**h*le!

　whack

　Kilt-san's fist bone falls to my brain. Ugh......

　The morning after we left Renu-san's village, we flew back to the town of Tupet, flying in the sky.

　And in a room in the town's inn, an angry demon princess was waiting for us........

(I, no, it was my fault.)

　Even though I knew it, it was very scary to see him standing on his knees.

''Oh, um, Marl, you're doing me a favor... so, you know,''

　Mr. Renu gives a desperate defense.

　But Mr. Kilt seems to be in a foul mood.

If you're going to act like that, you need to talk to me first.
..........
Even if the Son of Darkness speaks of a ceasefire, it does not guarantee that he will not actually lay a hand on you. What will you do if that should happen? You are a divine dog, Mar. You are a Godgu, Marle, and you belong to more than yourself.

　.............

.....................I'm sorry.

　I bowed my head honestly.

　To be honest, I didn't think that deeply about it.

　Solstice, the bespectacled girl behind Kilt-san, has a face that says 'horse deer~'.
　d*mn.........that face is the most frustrating.

　And.

Hey, Quilt.

　snappingly

　That sweet sister touched Mr. Kilt's shoulder.

'Mm.'
'Let him be that much. I'm sure Merle didn't mean any harm.

　Mr. Illtimina chuckled.

　Ms. Kilt looks at his face.

Mmmm... if you're so inclined, it's all right with me.
Thank you.

　Iltimina-san smiles at Kilt-san, who holds the brunt of her anger.

　I, Illtimina-san.....

　What a kind person you are for defending me after I caused you to worry. My heart is filled with happiness and apology.

'Merle.

　Then she turned to me.

　Kilt-san slinked back behind where Solstice was. .........hmm?

　Mr. Illtimina was smiling.

'Marle, did you have a good ride to the village?'
Yes.
Oh, I see. Well that's very sweet of you. You must have had a lot on your mind this time.

　As he says this, he puts his hands on both my shoulders.

　I knew he was worried about me, but his fingers are so strong that it hurts a little.

''But you can't do that again.

　I smiled so smilingly.

　.........?

　What's going on?

　Renu-san, who is beside me, is staring at Illtimina-san and is somehow pale.

　For some reason, Kilt-san and Solstice, who can be seen behind Iltimina-san, also refuse to make eye contact with me.

''Oh, where are you looking, Marle?''

　sizzling sound

　Oh, it hurts.

　He grabbed my shoulder a little too hard.

　I'm sorry, I said, and looked at Illtimina's beautiful face right in front of me.

　And I noticed.

　A smiling smile.

　But it wasn't changing like a mask, and underneath her eyes were large black circles.

(Eh....?)

　A shiver ran down my spine.

　Illtimina-san's white hand takes out a piece of paper from her pocket.

　It was tattered, as if it had been crushed repeatedly.

'Do you have any idea how worried I was that one note like this would make you disappear from my presence?
..........

　Shivering, I finally realize.

'I've been waiting without sleep for the last two days for Merle to leave at any moment.
..........
'I believed that I was going away, alone with a woman I'd just met... yeah, I believed there was nothing to it. I did believe it, but do you know how much my heart was about to break?

　

(Ha, ha, ha!)

　I rattled and shuddered, giving the other three a look for help.

　Solstice, quickly looks away.

　Mr. Kilt, quickly looks away.

　Renu-san, I can't see or hear anything, and I close my eyes tightly.

'Oh?　Also, where are you looking, Merle?

　squeezing

　Ka, my shoulder hurts!

　Forced by Illtimina's smiling smile, I apologized in a shaky voice.

''I'm sorry, I won't do it again!
...Really?
'Ho, it's true. I will never disappear from Mr. Illtimina's presence without a word again!

　Full force declaration.

　Ms. Illtimina gazes at me with crimson eyes that aren't smiling, with a smile on her face.

　Feeling like a prisoner waiting for judgment.

　Eventually, she nodded.

'Good.'

　Then he hugs my head, tucking it into his soft chest.

'You really were a bad boy, Marle. I won't forgive you next time, will I?
Yes!

　Like a lowly soldier responding to a superior officer, I responded loudly.

　She stroked my hair with such satisfaction.

　--I've learned on this day that I must never let Illtimina-san get angry.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


Well, have you encountered a snow basilisk?

　On the way to the Arvinka equipment store, Illtimina-san looked surprised at the story I had told her.

　Incidentally, her hand is firmly gripping mine.

　That's already, firmly.

(....................It even hurts a bit.

　But since I made her worry that much, it can't be helped.

　Illtimina-san's free hand touches the poultice on my cheek.

''And that's how you got these burns...?''
Uh-huh.
'Oh, how I wish I'd been by your side at the time, I never would have let you get hurt like this. I'm so sorry, Merle.

　She looks terribly regretful.

　This is the result of my selfish actions, even though it's not something for Illtimina-san to apologize for.......

　Renu-san, walking behind me, is also feeling responsible and has become small.

　On the contrary, Kilt-san put her hand to her chin, as if impressed.

What?　So, did you beat that snow basilisk?
Yeah, that's something.
''I see. ........So Marle's skill as a demon hunter has come to that point?

　They were nodding sincerely with the look of a master.

　Incidentally, when I told them that I was saved by the 'fairies' at that time, all three of them were very surprised.

　Especially that bespectacled girl.

You'll have to tell me where the village is.
Okay.

　He was crammed with notes in hand and was very annoyed with Renu.

　I know how you feel, but in moderation, Solstice?

　In the meantime, we arrived at the Arvinka Equipment Store.

　As soon as we entered the shop, we were shown into the reception room where the owner, Arvinka, was waiting for us.

'Hey, you're here,'

　Arvinka, a dwarf woman with red hair in braids.

　She smiled and smiled.

As promised, I'm ready for my fairy tale.
Hmm, okay.

　Mr. Kilt nodded.

　And Mr. Arvinka scratched his head with his big hands.

I just finished it this morning, though, and it's still in the basement workshop. I'll get it right away, so just wait for me.

　Then he urged us to sit down on the couch.

　Mr. Arvinka ordered his subordinates, who were waiting, to bring us some drinks.

　We each tried to sit down on the couch.

Come on, Merle.

　Illtimina-san, who sat down first, smacked her own knee at me.　

　.................
　No, no, no, no, no.

(As expected, that's embarrassing, isn't it?)

　At my confusion, Illtimina-san shakes her long hair in a salaried manner and nods her head.

'Marl?　You don't like it?
..........
Don't you want to be around me?
..........

　You look so sad.

(And I'm sorry I made you worry, at least for today...)

　Patience, Merle.

　I slowly pressed my hips against Illtimina's thighs, my face turning bright red.

''Hmph.''

　sizzling sound

　Ms. Illtimina hugs me and seems very happy.

　Oh, aren't you heavy?

　Kirt-san and Solstice made a dumbfounded face at us, and Renu-san was pouting.

(Don't look at me too much...)

　My male heart is about to cry.

　Even Mr. Arvinka looked stunned by the scene before him.

"What are you guys doing here?
It's a long story.

　Mr. Kilts chuckles and tells me that I've been out for two days on my own and caused him concern.

　When Mr. Arvinka heard that, he said

Oh, I see. That's what you mean.

　He nodded with great satisfaction.

　Then the dwarven blacksmith looked at Mr. Illtimina.

You must be really cute, this kid.
Yes, of course.

　Illtimina answers immediately.

　She strokes my hair happily.

　While looking at the scene, Arvinka said, "But hey, isn't that counterproductive?

But don't you think it would be counterproductive to go that far?
What?
It's fine to take care of them, but that doesn't mean they won't like you if you bind them too tightly, does it?
Hate me?

　Ms. Illtimina is stunned by the unexpected words.

　Mr. Arvinka, a well-dressed dwarf, leans back against the back of the sofa and looks at her.

'My husband is about ten years younger than me, too.
..........
So I've been there. Young men can be very selfish. But if you give them a certain amount of freedom, they will actually grow up to be good men. You have to let him run with the palm of your hand while letting him have some freedom.
..........
You're older than her, so don't take her to task. That's what being a good woman is all about.

　The older couple's predecessors advised them to do so.

　As expected of Illtimina-san, she also has a mysterious look on her face.

　She continued to look at me.

Did you not like it, Merle?
'Well that was a bit embarrassing, I guess.

　He laughed vaguely and answered honestly.

　''Iltimina-san, you look shocked.

''I'm ... sorry.''

　poof

　Sluggishly, he lowers me from his lap to the couch next to him.

(Hey, what's that?)

　I'm kind of feeling guilty over here....

　I'm confused.

　And Mr. Kirt looked at Mr. Arvinka as if he was a little surprised.

'You were married?
Well. I have two kids.
That's right.

　The bachelor demon princess-sama is also looking at things a little differently.

　Incidentally, according to Arvinka-san, her husband was one of the blacksmiths in this equipment shop.

　With her enthusiasm at work, Irvinka-san fell in love with him at first sight, and after a passionate attack, they reached the finish line.

　Her husband is still working in the underground forge, and her two sons are already working as apprentice blacksmiths.

''It was my husband who processed the promised fairy iron for me, too.

　Mr. Arvinka told me so.

(Heh, really?)

　A bit of an interesting story.

　It wasn't just me, everyone else seemed to be curious about it too. We all like to talk about love stories, don't we!

　Mr. Arvinka chuckled and

What do you say we go down to the basement workshop where your husband is now?

　I suggested.

　Of course, we nodded unanimously.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　I thought the underground workshop was just a basement, but it wasn't.

　The stairs lead down to a long passage.

'We use the lava flowing underneath the active volcano in Tupet for blacksmithing.

　It's going to take a while to get there.

(It's like a mine.)

　We walked down such a road, which was lit up.

　A few times along the way, we passed the staff of the equipment store, and they all bowed to Arvinka, the owner of the store.

　After all this time, she's the female president of the equipment store.

　Soon, a tremendous heat flowed in from the back, and the sound of clanging metal could be heard.

(Wha?)

　The front of the room was tinted with red light.

　As I approached, I saw that it was a large space like a gymnasium.

　There were a number of furnaces, an anvil, hammers, large pliers, steel, water troughs, and various other tools at the ready.

　And on the wall to the right, there was a large amount of scorchingly hot, glowing liquid flowing from top to bottom.

(Magma.....)

　The glow of the glow dyed the inside of this space red.

　Lava was pooled in a pool-like area, from which it flowed as several thin streams.

　Near the thin magma, there are several figures of people who look like blacksmiths, and they are working while putting steel into the magma.

　Kang Kang.

　The sound and smell of popping metal fills the air.

　There are about 40 to 50 blacksmiths working here, at a quick glance.

　That's a pretty big number.

'Isn't it hot to be that close to the magma?'

　I ask, wondering.

　Mr. Irvinka shrugs.

'Of course it's hot,' he says. But what's a blacksmith to do with heat?　You get used to it while you're practicing.
..........
..........
..........
..........
..........

　Something like that?

　Four people besides me look surprised.

(But even in a past life, there are cooks who would put their fingers in the oil of a tempura to check the temperature.)

　Maybe some of us can stay with the magma for a short time.

It's an amazing thing to be a craftsman.

　That quilt had an impressed look on his face, too.

(Yes.)

　And we're dealing with weapons and armor made by such awesome people, aren't we?

　Subconsciously, I touched the hilt of the "Fairy Sword".

　I didn't want to forget the fact that it was made after all this hard work.

　Arvinka called out to a nearby worker, who went to the back of the workshop, and soon, another man came back, one of them.

'Irvinka, what's up?'

　He is a male dwarf.

　His upper body muscles were stocky and he had a towel wrapped around his head.

　He was sweating profusely from all over his body.

'This is my husband.

　Mr. Arvinka laughs and introduces me to him.
　And.

Sorry to bother you at work, Totta. Look, it's your client.

　I told my husband.

　He gave me a surprised look and said, "Oh.

A kid who just slashed through Arvinka's shield in a heartbeat?
Yes,

　

　I'm a little embarrassed to be me.

　Totta-san removed the towel from his head and gave us a polite greeting.

　Then he ordered his subordinates to bring the 'fairy iron' to him.

　Eventually, two dwarven boys, not too much older than me and Solstice, appeared with it.

'They are my pride and joy.

　Mr. Arvinka smiled at that.

　We greeted them as well and we checked it in the crate.

　Blue, translucent armor.

　About ten pieces of that armor, before it was assembled, are stored in the box with sawdust.

　The reason why they haven't been assembled is because once they're assembled, it's difficult to adjust the details.

You'll just have to ask my dad to put it together and adjust it.

　Arvinka-san said.

　Her father, Benas-san, is a dwarven grandfather who runs an armor shop in the royal capital of the Kingdom of Shumuria, and his skills are apparently better than Arvinka-san and Totta-san. He said I should ask him to make the final adjustments.

''Mm, I certainly got it.

　Kilt-san nodded.

　The reason I originally came to the Tetet Confederacy was to get this fairy iron.

　Although there were some twists and turns.

You finally got what you wanted.

　I felt a sincere sense of accomplishment in my heart.

　We left Totta and her son and returned to the shop on the ground.

　Arvinka brought us a glass of water and told us to drink it while we worked up a sweat.

　It's cold and snowy here in Teteete, so it was a strange experience to be sweating so much.

　But it was kind of fun to see a group of craftsmen on the job site.

　And I was reminded of what a great guy Benas is, as he says he's better than all those craftsmen.

(I never thought I'd have the pleasure of working with someone like that with swords and armor...)

　I might be a lucky person.

　Eventually, Kirt wrote a receipt and received a certificate of receipt and so on, and "Fairy Iron" officially became our property.

'Sometimes, Irvinka, I have a little favor to ask of you.
Hmm, what is it?

　When he says this abruptly, Mr. Kilts has a whispered conversation with Mr. Arvinka.

(?)

　The conversation stopped and they both looked at Renu.

''..........''
..........

　Another whispered conversation.

　Mr. Arvinka looked a little difficult, but

This is a loan to Kirto Amandes here. That woman over there, even though she's a newcomer, is a gold standard.　What's the harm in ingratitude?
That's true.

　I finally nodded at Kilt's words.

'Well, you guys don't look like bad guys either. I guess it's a matter of circumstance.'
"Mm.
Okay, I'll give you a hand with that.

　And so the two ladies exchanged a firm handshake.

(Huh?)

　What in the world did Mr. Kilt ask for?

　The remaining four of us couldn't help but look at each other.