I took Theresia with me to the waiting room of the maids who worked at the mansion. I was hoping to learn about the blacksmith's shop if I knew anything about it--''

''........Huh?''

　I knock on the door, but there is no answer. There's a board on the wall outside the room that shows who the maid is who's coming to work, but Millet-san is 'in the room'.

''..........''
Do we go in?　

　Perhaps it was because it was the same woman, but when Theresia knocked once more and found there was no answer, she boldly opened the door and walked into the room.

''Kyah.......s-sorry, I just got startled. That lizard mask is Teresa-sama, isn't it?
..........
Sorry to pile on, but I was in the shower and I'll be right back to change.

　The maids also sweat a lot since they have jobs that involve a lot of physical activity, and it's possible that they take showers in the daytime, but if I had entered the room, I would have been in a lot of trouble.

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

　Theresia comes over here and opens the door for us, like we can come in. Well, Miray-san just couldn't answer, but she stayed in the room, so I guess I'd say the result was okay.

　◆ ◆ ◆

　As I waited with Theresia, Milay came out, dressed. Her light brown hair, which reached about shoulder length, was a little damp, as if she had dried it in a hurry, and she held it in her hands without wearing her headdress.

''I'm very sorry, I have to shower several times a day...''
Oh, no, I'm sorry to have barged in here myself. I have a question for you, Mr. Millet.
'Yes, if it's something I can answer for you. If there's something I don't understand, I can ask a colleague.

　The three of them sat together around a stylish table with cat legs. Even in the maid's waiting room, it was no less of a grade than the other furniture in the mansion.

'Do you know a skilled blacksmith, Milay-san?　I'd like to visit now if I could.
If you're a blacksmith, I have an acquaintance who fixes knives and such. If you would be so kind as to show me a map of your license?
Yes, please.

　I pulled out my license and displayed a map of the Eighth Ward, and Mr. Millay came up beside me.
He pointed to a point on the license as he peered from the side.

'From the central plaza, you'll pass through to the west street, and there's a workshop on the edge of the 'kuzakai' around here.
The borders of the boroughs... are you talking about this wall?
''Yes, the entire labyrinth country is surrounded by an almost circular wall, and each ward is divided by a wall called 'ward boundary'. It's divided in a clockwise direction into first and second, so the wall to the first ward is in the east direction. This one is thicker and more guarded than the one to the west.
So even if you can surpass the barrier with your skills, if you don't have the qualifications, you'll be eliminated immediately?
''I believe that's true. First of all, it's said that with any kind of transference magic, it's impossible to cross the wall without going through the proper procedures. The dividing line is broken in the sky, but if you try to overcome it, you'll be returned to your original location.

　The same is true of the system of flying to a room dedicated to opening boxes, but the Labyrinth Country makes use of 'transference' in a variety of situations. It can be said that the current form wouldn't be possible without transference.

　Even if you divide the first to the eighth district with walls, if the ceiling doesn't cover it, you can move beyond the walls to the other districts depending on your skills. Even if you don't have the skill to fly in the sky, it would be possible to climb a vertical wall, for example, if you use magic power - but I know from what Mirei-san just said that you can't get over the wall that way. Probably not even by digging into the ground.

　But there is a 'hole' in everything. There are exceptions, such as me, who might be in a position that is unique and have an unknown skill set to get behind the system. Go to the upper wards and conquer the difficult and rewarding labyrinth at a low level with the strength of your skills - personally, I think you should steadily level up and advance, but if you try to run up the pecking order as fast as you can, if you're playing it safe, you won't be able to outsmart your rivals and We'll be there.

(Strong job, high level... where such explorers are lounging around? (Is it because the competition in the upper wards is so fierce that such people rarely come down to the lower wards?

　There was a lot of noise about Elitia coming down to the eighth ward as something very unusual, so for the searchers who went to the upper ward once, there would be little benefit in returning to the lower ward. In fact, Elitia joined my party and has achieved great battle results, but her level has only risen by one.

''Atobe-sama, if you don't mind, can I show you to the workshop?''
'Oh no no it's okay, I've been given directions. May I ask the name of this workshop?
The name is Mistral Workshop. The owner of the workshop wears full body armor at all times, so it is also called the 'Armor Workshop'. I'm sure you'll be surprised at first, but please don't be afraid of him because he's a very gentle man.

　As was the case with Mr. Rykerton and Melissa, are most of the craftsmen a bit odd? No, don't assume they are weird just because they always wear armor.

　I say hello to Milay-san and leave the mansion. Theresia was following closely behind me for a while, but I guess she noticed me on the way and caught up with me and lined up beside me.

''...........''
The town's still being repaired, so watch your step. You might want to watch your overhead too.

　The parts damaged by the demon attack are being repaired by people who seem to have skills in construction. I'm sure the town will be back to its original shape within a few days.

　◆◇◆

　When I reached the place indicated on the map, I found a stone building with a sign that said 'Mistral Workshop'. The buildings in the town were built without much distance between them, but they were flanked on either side by waterways, perhaps because this was a workshop that used fire.

　When I rang the bell at the entrance, I heard the sound of heavy metal shoe footsteps, clank, clank.

　And when I opened the door - a figure in full body armor, a bit bigger than me, appeared.

''Oh, you are not the one who has an appointment, are you? I am Steiner, the blacksmith of our workshop. What business do you have here today?''

　The voice doesn't come from inside the armor, but rather sounds like it's echoing directly into your head - not the low voice you might imagine from its weighty armor, but a neutral, husky voice.

''Ah, you are surprised to see me, aren't you? I hope you don't mind about this, we need to equip you with equipment processed with magic stones to prevent the heat from the furnace and to prevent the light from damaging your eyes.''

I see...

　In an ancient steel mill called Taraiba, they often lost the use of one eye in old age because they had to keep looking at the light from the furnace that heated the iron.

　No wonder they had to wear full body armor. As long as it has a heat blocking effect, it won't be as steamy as it looks.

''.........''
Hmmm... Teresa, what is it?

　Theresia is alerted behind Mr. Steiner - toward the room. Apparently, there's someone inside.

'Your companion is a lizardman our guest has no discriminatory attitude towards sub-humans. Is it acceptable to take it that way?''
Yes, Theresa is my best friend.

　I answer without hesitation, and Theresa looks at me. She puts her hand on her chest and squeezes it tightly - I hope she can tell that I'm not lying about my feelings.

'That's a great idea. It is my own wish that there will be as many people as possible who treat sub-humans without discrimination, even to sub-humans. Sir, may I ask your name?''
'Oh I'm sorry, I'm sorry I'm late. My name is Arihito-Atobe.
'You must be Atobe, thank you. Once again, welcome to the Mistral Magic Blacksmithing Workshop. Then please come this way.''

　Mr. Steiner opens the door wide and invites us in. The first thing we enter is a living room, which is apparently used by guests to wait for work to be done.

　As we are being led to the forge in the back, Steiner asks us unexpectedly, "By the way, what are you doing today?

By the way, what can I do for you today?
I was wondering if I could enhance the weapon with magic and ore. The rune slot and the process of fitting a rune into it...
With a rune!

　A girl emerges from the forge, which seemed to be empty.

　The girl wears robes like a wizard and a hood - something different from a normal human being. She has flaxen hair and deep green eyes like a forest.

I was going to let you use Steiner to serve us.''
Well, nice to meet you Mr. Steiner, who is this girl?
I'm not a son. I'm just a big sister, even though I look like this. I see that you don't seem to mind non-humans, so I may as well reveal myself to you. I am the master of the Mistral Magic Blacksmithing Workshop, Ceres-Mistral!

　The girl who takes off her hood with a bang - her ears are pointed, and they are called elf ears.

''Those ears........I see, Celes-san is a race that originally existed in this world.''
"Mm-hmm, that's right. The reincarnates are called elves, but because of the color of their eyes, they are called Jade People.
Jade I see.
We can take jobs that no reincarnation can choose. In my case, I'm a rune maker. I'm a rune maker, and I use runes to move my armor. The difference is that Steiner has an ego.
''I am entrusted with the blacksmithing job because of my strength, even though I look like this. So the master is in charge of processing runes?

　Even when his identity is revealed, Steiner is unconcerned. If it's not an iron golem, but a living armor, that means it doesn't actually have any substance in it.　　

It's not just a matter of time before you find yourself in the same situation. Don't do any mischief if you think there's nothing in it.
I'm just a moving armor, you know?

　That being said, I'm curious about what's inside, but what exactly is in it? It's not a good idea to pry too much into the doll that was given an ego by the rune - and since he seems to want to hide it, it's not a good idea to pry.