"Mr. Matteo, can you show us the stolen room?　I've been asked by the Adventurers' Guild to find out who stole the combustible stone."



"Okay. This room is this way.



　I went into the back of the armory and found a blacksmith shop where weapons and armor were being made.

　Inside the forge, swords and other items in the process of being manufactured were displayed in various places.



"This is where they used to put the combustible stones," he said.

　There was a desk in the back of the forge.

　The desk was littered with blacksmithing tools, and it was far from being neat and tidy.

　If you say it was stolen, then yes, but ...... it could have been left somewhere else.



"You're sure you didn't leave it somewhere else?"

"No, I don't think so. I've been getting a lot of thefts lately, so I've always made sure to check where I've left them. But I was robbed when I took my eyes off the road for a moment."



　Since there are two entrances to the store, it is possible for the thief to enter without being seen by the owner.

　What is their goal?　



　Going out of your way to steal a single combustible rock?

　It is too risky.



　But there are plenty of swords here for money. Obviously it would be easier to steal one of these for money. Matteo is an arms dealer, but he is also a very good blacksmith.



　Even a sword that you can find lying around will last longer than a sword bought elsewhere.

　So, I guess he is after the combustible stone.

　Is there any reason why you need combustible stones?



Where are the other combustible stones?

"Oh, they're over here.



　There was a closet one door down from the blacksmith shop that was securely locked.

　The lock had not been broken, and the inventory had never been stolen.

　When we were allowed to check inside, we found a combustible stone glowing blue inside the closet.

　It was about the size of an adult's fist.



　Hmmm... It's hard to say with just this.



"Matteo, can I summon my follower here?　It's a little big."

"Yeah, that's fine. You're welcome to investigate. The Knights say they'll investigate but they won't come in here. They're all talk and no action.

Don't be surprised. Lucky!"



　Lucky comes out of his bracelet.

"What a surprise ...... I've heard rumors, but I never thought ...... he'd actually join Fenrir."



　Matteo looks at Lucky and backs away a little.

"Matteo, let me introduce you. This is my follower Lucky. He doesn't attack people, so don't worry. He's very cute."

　Lucky is happy to be praised, and his tail is wagging wagging in the small space of the store.



"Oh. I'm just a little surprised, that's all. Nice to meet you."



--You called me into a very small space.

"Sorry. I think some flammable rocks were stolen from here. Can you track it by scent?"



　I point to the spot where the combustible rock was placed, and Lucky brings his nose close to it.



--Ummm... it's hard to track here. The smells are so mixed up, it's hard to tell which one is the one you're smelling.

"Okay. Thanks Lucky."

"I like it in the box, but I like it best by the rock, so you can call me anytime you want, okay?"

"Thanks, I'm counting on you."



　Lucky disappears back into his bracelet.

　He's a real sweetie.

"Wow. Is there a demon in that bracelet?"

"Yes. Yes. There's a whole garden inside.



　I show Matteo the bracelet and he looks at it with interest.

　It was found in the tenth level of the dungeon of fire and brimstone, so it is not something that is normally distributed in the world.



"I'm kind of ...... deeply moved. Rock has become a great adventurer. When he came to me, he was still so small that I was worried about him being an adventurer.



　Matteo's eyes are brimming with tears.

　He must feel like an uncle watching his relative's children grow up.

　Relatives' children grow up so fast.



"Matteo, ...... stop it!"



"Shut up!　I'm not crying!"

　I didn't say I was crying, but I won't go into it.

　Matteo wiped his tears with his sleeve as if he was a little flustered and said to change the subject.



"By the way, I did a bad thing to that orange-ant girl over there earlier. One of the customers who came to our house kicked her out of the blue.



"Uncle, I'm fine. I'm glad you're not hurt.



"No, it's not like that. I want you to give her an apology. Oh, yes!　Will you try these on, miss?"






　Matteo brought a piece of children's armor.



"I was asked to make this armor for a nobleman's child, but when I was about to finish it, the child got very sick and became bedridden. He didn't die, but the nobleman asked me to get rid of the armor, because it made him sick to look at it. I put a lot of effort into it, and I can't bear to break it. ...... I've already got the money from the nobleman, so if you don't mind, missy, could you use it?"



"Papa?"



　Patra looks at me.



"Are you sure? It looks like you're using some pretty expensive materials.



"Yes, it's fine. The material is mithril, so it's quite light and strong. It shouldn't interfere with your movements.



Mithril?



　Mithril was a very rare metal that only a few high ranking members of the royal family and nobility possessed.

　It's not that it can't be found in the world, but it's so precious and expensive that it would take six months to a year to gather the materials to make one from scratch.



"Ah. Well, even if I say mithril, this amount of mithril won't be worth much even if I reuse it, and my pride as a craftsman won't allow me to destroy a work of which I'm quite confident. So I'd like you to use it."



"That's what I've been told. Such a valuable thing is ......."

　Patra had indeed been kicked, but she was unharmed.

　That's too much to ask for a mithril suit of armor.



"Don't worry. If they don't use it, it will be on the wall for the rest of my life. Better to let them use it. Besides, if Locke's followers use it, it will be good publicity for our store. We're known as a weapons shop, but if we can show that we can also make armor, our sales will double, and we won't lose any money.



"Oh, okay. Then I'll use it to advertise my store. If you ever want it back, just let me know."



"Don't worry, I won't ask you to give it back. But the nobleman Montserrat is paying for it, so if you have any luck with him, please help him out. He's a very nice man, unlike that bastard nobleman. If that's the case, I'll have to make some adjustments for you, young lady."



　Matteo put the armor on Patra, it seemed to be a little too big for her.

"It will take me a few days to adjust it, so come back later.



　We left the arms shop with Matteo's request.

　After that we would go to ...... to do some research, but first we would try out the weapons we had bought for the orange-antes. There was a delivery of orc meat, so we'll go for orcs.