After my problems at the mine were taken care of, I got another call.

'I want to build a forge.'
Huh?

　The guild executive said to the bushes and sticks.
　What's a forge?

What do you think the human race is looking for in a mithril in the first place?

　The reason?
　...I hadn't even thought about it, even though it's so fundamental.

　That's right.
　Let's consider the case of the demon race, for example.
　In the case of the demon race, mithril is processed into magic tools.
　Magic tools are useful for a variety of magical aids. They can be relied on by everyone from novices to experts.

　In the case of the human race...?

It's a weapon. As a weapon, mithril is a very good material for a weapon.

　Indeed.
　The battle of the human race is nothing without weapons.

Swords, hammers, arrowheads, shields..... They can be made into any kind of weapon, and the quality is excellent. Almost all the famous swords given to the brave men of the past were made of mithril.
"Almost?
The only time a great sword not made of mithril would be made is if mithril was not available.

　Ah, I see.

''Therefore, it's a distressing thing that the brave men of our day and others have been given non-Mithriel-made famous swords to use........ That's an aside. The main subject is different.

　In other words, with the Mithril mine returning to human hands for the first time in decades, we can make all the Mithril weapons we want.

''We, the Guild, would also like to establish a mass production system for Mithril weapons that can be a powerful trump card. That's what the forge is for!

　I get the story.
　That's because in order to make a weapon, you have to ask a blacksmith for help.

　A blacksmith who does the blacksmithing work, and a forge where the blacksmith works.
　We need both.

"So, why are you telling me this?
'Because I want you to build a forge in the village of Lax.

　I don't get it.
　So why are you telling me?

　If you're going to ask Lux Village to build a forge, you should probably talk to the village chief, who is also the village representative and guild master, rather than me, who is only an adventurer, even though I am a resident of the village.

I'll be there.
Hey, there he is!

　And there's the village chief sitting next to me.

Mithril is only meaningful when it's in the form of a weapon. That's why I want to send it to the forge as soon as possible after mining it and process it.
That's why you're building a forge in the village of Lax...?

　Because this village is the closest to the Mithril mine.
　It makes sense.

'But then wouldn't it be most efficient to build a forge in the mine?
'We want to keep people in and out of the mine itself to a minimum. Now we have sub-race knockers and dealings with demons. So it's even more than it used to be.

　That being said, all I can say is, I'm sorry for being so cautious.
　Since I'm usually the culprit who brought in a different, modern flavor from the past.

''According to the records, there was a forge in this village even before the demon tribe took the mine in the past.

　The village chief says.

Even I was under ten years old, and I don't have a clear memory of it. Even if I had seen one, I don't think my child's mind would have understood it.
'I would like to ask you guys to revive the forge that used to be in the village of Lax. If any of the facilities from the past remain, we should be able to use them to speed up our journey.

　I know what the guild executive is asking for.
　However, there is one question that still hasn't been resolved.

''Why are you telling me this?''

　Wouldn't it be enough to talk to the village chief alone?
　Why did you call me here on behalf of the chief?

Because you're the faster and more reliable driver.
I'm just here to support you. You have my full support, Dariel, so you do what you do.

　Is that what you're saying?

　The project to revive the forge in Lax's village was launched with my help.

◆.

　In.
　I turned over the records at the village chief's house to find out where the forge was located in this village.

"So this is it.

　After investigating, I tracked down the place where the forge was located decades ago and came.

'I didn't know there was a building this big on the outskirts of the village.... I had no idea.
I didn't know that either. Just because there is a mysterious building, I didn't know what kind of facility it was.... This was the forge?

　Quite a bit outside of the village's central living area.
　There, quietly, was a building that had been forgotten in existence.

'According to the records, they specialized in forging mithril carried from the mines. There was a separate field forge for hammering farm tools and cooking utensils for the villagers to use.
'The cut off of the mithril supply caused it to disappear in a chain of events...'

　The information was provided by a diary written by the then village chief.
　In the countryside, such things are kept in a meticulous manner, which is convenient if you ask me.

　Naturally, there is no sign of life on the ruins of the former blacksmith's workshop, and even the traces of life have weathered and disappeared.

　Weeds have grown freely on the site.
　Even the walls are covered with ivy.

　It took a lot of effort to pick back and clean up all these things.

But the building itself was solid and looked like it could be used without any repairs.
It was used for blacksmithing, so it should be a sturdy structure. It's true that this should be just a matter of cleaning up and getting back to business.

　I was going to have a good report for the guild leaders.

''No, I can't.''

　Then a man's voice, who can't be identified, comes in.

"Who is that?

　When I turn around, I see a young white-haired fitbitan there.
　It's an adventurer from the city.

'Why are you here?'
Why?　You.........?

　A look of anger appeared on Fitbitan's face.
　Why?

It's your fault, of course. Your extra security guards in the mine have been reduced to the bare minimum because of your extra exit. And we're not going to be able to keep up...!
"Yeah.

　I've negotiated a guarantee that the demon tribe won't attack us, so I've created a guarantee.
　I'm sure the employers want to cut down on the unnecessary costs.

　I can understand the pissed off feelings of the people who got their heads cut off.
　Sorry.

"So what's such an unemployed person doing here?
"Don't tell me you have no job!　Our bodies don't allow us to go home without success. I've been looking for something to do to help you.

　So you think he's following us?
　How do you behave?

'I assure you, you will not be able to revive the forge by yourselves.
Don't be rude.

　You're going to be a little pissed off.
　On what basis?

'We'll tidy up this rundown ruin and return it to a usable condition. That's as far as we can go, I suppose, but we can't go beyond that.
And then?
'A facility of any kind is useless if the workers don't go in. Can you provide it?　A minimum number of blacksmiths with the minimum skills to operate this facility?

　Ah.
　That's right, come to think of it....

"In a village like this, where even natural extinction is in sight, it would be impossible to stand on your head.
''But won't the guild leaders be able to arrange that part...?
'So, if it is presumptuous of you, we have prepared it for you. ........Come!

　No, you're not listening to me, are you?
　A group of people appear before you can pay attention to them.
　What is this?

'These are some of the most skilled blacksmiths in the city of Campbell, sent by me at my request. They will be the core of Mithril weapons production.

　Oh, that's very kind of you.

"We'll keep the place neat and tidy. You guys are done here, you can go home and get ready for dinner. Go get your dinner on the table!
"What?
''Awwww...?

　The village chief and I were forcefully pushed back and kicked out of the ruins of the forge.

　What's this forcefulness?
　It's a good thing that the Fitbitan is more than just a witty guy, because of his energetic approach to recruiting people from his home base, but it seems to me that he is hiding his soul in his behavior.

◆

　Well.
　In conclusion, Fitbitan's attempt to take over the Lax Village Blacksmithing Facility is foiled spectacularly.

　What follows is the story of how to get there.