After dinner. I had come to the back door of the kitchen, at the back of the servants' mansion, to keep my promise.

"Oh, is Sobra there?
Oh?　Who's ...... busy with this shit, let's go, Second-sama!

　One of the cooks who noticed me yelled out in surprise, as if his eyes were about to pop out of his head. That was the first sign of a commotion in the kitchen. The guy who dealt with me did a great jumping down on his knees. I felt sorry for him, so I made him stand up, and this time he started to cry. The situation was out of control.

Oh, hello there. I'm sorry to disturb you.

　A few seconds later, Sobra, an old chef with shaggy hair and stubble, rushed out from the back.

'Sorry to be so busy. Shall we come back later?
No, no, no!　I'm going, I'm going!

　Sobra looks impatient and pulls a cigarette out of his breast pocket and says 'Calameria' ......?　That's a brand I haven't heard of.

To tell you the truth, I haven't had a cigarette in a long time.

　We talk as we walk to the smoking area together. I can't say, "This is my first cigarette in this world," without hiding it, so I make it sound like it.
　In Japanese society, there was a term called "taba communication" in the past, and I feel that it's certainly easier to talk to someone you've just met if you have a smoke as an excuse. Well, I've never even been in society at my age, so I don't know what that culture was actually like.

'I see. This guy's good, you know?

　Sobra heard my words and tapped his cigarette box lightly with a thump as if he was proud of it. I wondered what the hell was so good about it, but I didn't say it.

'Heh. Well, I've decided that's what I'm going to do.
Haha, I understand. That's the kind of feeling you're having.

　No, no, no, I'd rather say it's nothing more than an obsession. In Mevion, cigarettes are "items for show-offs". It's virtual in nature, so of course we don't have to worry about things like tar and nicotine. It's just a fashion item for people who think "smoking is cool".

　My cigarette is "Hatsuse". I had a maid buy it for me at a tobacconist in the capital a while ago. Why did you choose Hatsuze?　It has to be because it has a cool name.

Well,
Oh, Hatsume, huh? That's a tough one.

　I walked over to where the ashtray was placed and I took one of the Hatsugase from my pocket and put it in my mouth. It felt a little better to be called reluctant. Instead of a response, I showed a grin on my face and the fragrant smell of tobacco leaves suddenly wafted out of the air. What's that, something strange ......?　Well, all right, let's light it up.


"Ew-ho!　Whoa!　Hmmm?

　Boo hah!　What the hell is this?

Haha, has it been too long?

　Sobra is smoking a cigarette and laughing while saying that.

　...... Wait a minute, wait a minute. Is this a real cigarette?　I've never smoked a real cigarette, so I don't know what I'm talking about, but I do know that this thing I'm holding in my fingers is completely different from the Mevion item "cigarettes" I've known. It's sore throat, smoky and smelly. What is this? ...... cigarettes are now real?

...... Oh, I don't know, it's no good. I think I've changed.
Oh, really?

　I fooled myself appropriately and put out Hatsume's fire. I've changed, Mevion. It's a little sad.

Hmm ......?　Your cigarettes are a little different, huh?　Doesn't smell that bad, does it?
'Oh, this one?　It's a brand that's all the rage in Wangdu right now.
Calameria?
Yes, it's a very fine smoke. It's very different from any other cigarette I've ever smoked. It also makes me feel much better and full of energy.
Okay. Well, you can keep working at it for as long as you want. And someday you'll be ready to feed me a good meal.
That's very impressive, haha, that's the best word I can think of.
I want a good katsudon. So I'll ask you to go in the direction of the common man's style. But since Yukari will probably be picky, you should study aristocratic cooking and also work on cooking for the common people at the same time.
'...... Okay, I see, you're telling me to die, aren't you?　Haha, I'll gladly die for you!
Ha, ha, well, just take it easy.

　After that, we talked for about five minutes about various things, and then it was over. We got to know each other, I think. Sobra was clearly more excited than when we talked during the day.

　Hmmm. Taba communication, not to be underestimated.




Well, the plan for today is to check on the master's progress in the morning. I'm going to the Second Prince's in the afternoon to say hello. Okay?
Okay.

　The next morning. Before breakfast, Winfiled tells me his plans for the day.

　Winfild is in a good mood after only one day in the position of secretary, but Yukari, who has been his secretary up until now, is silent and looks at him bitterly. I'm scared and I want you to do something about it. I'm your master.

''We've talked it over, properly.

　Don't be an esper or a heartbreaker ...... And if you're going to talk about it properly and look like that, you're going to have to punch each other now. I'm not going to be the only one. I'm not a fan of that.

I'm not going to be able to get my hands on any of them.　What's going on with Sylvia and Eco?

　Then it occurs to me. They haven't appeared at the breakfast table for any length of time.

I've given them a mission.
What's the mission of Noda ......?
I need you to contact an organization...
What organization is that like ......?
Hmm. Well, I guess you don't need to know that, Second. Or maybe it's better if you don't know.
That really bothers me.

　Organization?　You mean like a guild?　But why?


It's starting. The war.

　Winfiled looked me squarely in the eye and said that with a smile.

　...... game, hey. I'm sure it means exactly what it says to this guy. I'm sure it means something different to the pawn.

I'm going to use me. I won't forgive you if you don't win hands down.
Of course!

　He nodded his head with a heartfelt smile. It was the first big smile I'd seen in about half a day.




'Master. This will be the result of four months of work.
Let's see.

　After breakfast. Yukari showed me an item with various effects. That's right, Yukari had been trying to "grant" them for the past 4 months.

　It was the first time she was allowed to dabble in the Shura path after having the three [Blacksmithing] skills of [Creation], [Dismantling], and [Granting Magic] at a high level. That is granting.

This is great again: ......
............

　I couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. Yukari bowed her head with a silent and expressionless expression, but her pointed elf ears said, "Doyah! He was towering in the wind. He must be proud of his own achievements.

　That's right. The granting of benefits is such a troublesome field that even I, a rather patient person (as compared to our company), would like to avoid it.

　Let me explain in detail. Granting is basically a repetition of "grant -> dismantle -> create -> grant". 《Granting Magic》 is a skill that grants a random effect to a specific item. In other words, until the "desired" effect is granted, it will continue to "fail". Of course, there are times when you fail to grant an effect. No, more often than not. And if the equipment fails to grant the desired effect, or if the desired effect doesn't come, the equipment is dismantled, returned to the material, created, and then the magic granting spell is applied to it, and then it fails, dismantled, created, granted, failed, dismantled ......, and so on and so forth. It is necessary to continue.

　Of course, the materials obtained by Dismantling are not perfect, so they have to buy more materials to make it. That's why I had to buy more materials to create it, and the more I failed, the more I spent on materials.

　This time, Silvia and Eco had instructed me to only use the materials brought from the Limpophart dungeon to give it a try, so I didn't spend any money on materials. Instead, the resulting granting equipment was of Grade B. In other words, low risk, low return. If you think about trying it with grade A materials, you can see how severe it is.

　I'm not sure what I'm trying to say, but I didn't expect much from the beginning. But ...... is a growing type of "blacksmith", or should I say "blacksmith", and he did a wonderful job of exceeding my expectations.

　There were three items that Yukari was proud of as a result of her four months of work.

　The first one was a foot equipment called 'Anaguma: Rock Armor Shoes'. It was a pair of shoes made from a material obtained from the boss rock turtle of Limptofert. The "Anaguma" in front of the item's name indicates the effect it has. The effect is simple yet powerful: "The wearer's Vit is 150%. It is the highest level of defensive grant.

　Next is the Anakuma Rock Armor. This is also an Anakuma equipment. The Anakuma's armor is really good for a shield. In other words, it's the perfect equipment for eco-friendly use.

　Lastly, the "horn-changing shell earring" is the final piece of equipment. At first glance, the "horn-changing" effect is a seemingly trivial one: the wearer's criticality rate increases by 5%. The truth is, however, this horn-changing power is a special grant for cripples.

　Mevion's equipment consists of 6 parts: weapon, head, body, legs, hands, and shoes, plus accessories that can be attached to 4 parts: arms, fingers, ears, and neck. A total of 10 parts, and if you were able to give all of those parts the ability to change horns, your critical incidence rate would increase by 50%. That's right, if you add your own status to the increase, you can achieve a critical strike rate of 100%! As you can see, a change of heart is a wonderfully romantic charm.


Yukari.
Yes, sir.
Great.
Thank you.

　I can't say enough good things about it, it's produced 3 results in 4 months. I'm going to ask you to give them to Eco for the two Anakuma gears and Sylvia for the horn replacement earrings.

　I asked her to hand over the two Anakuma equipment to Eco and the replacement horn earrings to Sylvia. Yukari, who looks in a somewhat good mood, nodded her head willingly.

''Yes, we should give Yukari something for her to do.

　I suddenly realize. If you give it to Sylvia and Eco, but not to Yukari, there might be some discord.

''No. I've already summoned the f*cking m, gohon, and spirits, so...''

　...... I don't think there's already a discord between the two, but if so, the sooner you take action the better.

It's the reward for granting it then. It's also a thank-you for being a daily help to me. What do you wish to do?
Hope ...... anything, is that okay?
I don't care.

　When I said that, Yukari's eyes suddenly lit up. I could sense a hint that she was thinking of something good, but it was already too late.


　Then, a shocking statement came out.


''At ......, tonight ...... in my room ...... um, I'll be waiting for you.''


　Er, ...... it's that ............


...... Is that what you're saying?

　I can't help but ask. Yukari turned red to her ears, turned over and nodded her head.

　You can't get a glimpse of that expression because it's hidden by the long, beautiful mixed white and purple hair, but the mouth that you glimpse into was strained in an indescribably embarrassing way. Even though it's just the way the story goes, it's more than enough to convey that he's saying it with considerable resolve.

　I see. That was it.

　I made a woman say this much. If I don't respond here, I'm not a man.


I'm going no matter what.

　I just said yes and left the place.

　I left, but it was time for lunch. We would soon see each other again.


　...... In the end, I didn't get a taste for the lunch meal.