After eating a sandwich so bitter that it cancelled out the entire flavor of the chicken, Aldis left the inn.
　The goal was a blacksmith's shop.

　In order to replace the shortsword that was broken during the battle against the Red Eaters, Ardis had planned to visit the blacksmiths in the capital in the morning.
　Cesare, an informer, happened to appear there.
　It's a good thing that he showed me a skilled blacksmith in exchange for a small amount of information, and I'm on my way to him.

　It's a good thing that you're in the midst of a long journey.
　The sound of hammering metal echoed from buildings here and there, and the smell of burnt iron filled the air.
　White and black smoke rose from each chimney, and some buildings seemed to be emitting strange pink and blue smoke at times.

'Here?'

　In front of one of the houses, a single-story house that was nondescript from the outside, Aldis paused.
　According to the information he bought from Cesare, 'a blacksmith who does a pricey but solid job' was supposed to be here.

　He knocked on the door, which had no sign or nameplate, and waited for a while, but there was no response.
　I'm going to have to open the door and go inside.

　One step into the room and there is no one in the room.
　This room must serve as a resting place and reception area. A corner table is placed in the center of the room, and the shelves along the wall display weapons that would have been struck by a blacksmith.
　It wasn't flashy or clean, but it was moderately organized and had a calm atmosphere.

　The room was unoccupied, but there was also a door on the wall opposite the entrance, and the sound of metal being struck regularly could be heard from behind it.

''Is there anyone in there!''

　Aldis raised his voice to keep up with the metallic sound.

　Eventually, the door at the back opens and a young man appears.
　He is a taller, slender young man than Aldis, but despite his slender appearance, his arms peeking out of his sleeves are wrapped in tight muscles.

'Did you call for me?'

I came to ask for a job.

　Aldis is as blunt as the young man and tells him his business.

''I'd like you to strike three swords to replace these guys.

　As he said it, he put the broadsword and the sword-magic short sword on the table, which he had hung at his waist.

''You're in terrible shape.''

　Muttering to himself, the young man looked at the swords that were laid out.
　In the meantime, the sound of hitting metal could be heard from the back without interruption.
　Perhaps the owner of this place is working in the back.

　The young man was probably in his mid-twenties. I guess he's an apprentice.
　The young man, who has been watching the state of the sword for a while, lets out a short sigh and tells Ardis tossingly.

'Don't go home.'

Didn't I tell you I was here to ask you for a job?

　Aldis raises an eyebrow.

'That's why I'm telling you to go home. I'm not going to take your job.'

Why?

I said I don't want to be in the business of someone who treats swords in such a violent manner. What's this? I don't care about the broadsword, but the shortsword is a mess. The fact that the blade of a heavy iron sword spills over like this is either because they weren't cared for properly or they used it too recklessly. One of the swords is completely broken.

　The young man blames Ardis, pointing at the battered shortsword.

　Of course, Aldis had his own reasons.
　You will find that you will be able to get a good idea of what you are looking for.
　But even though the sword was made of heavy iron, it was still strong enough to fight three straight battles against the three most powerful demons. It's not just a matter of time before they break, it's a matter of force majeure.

"You're not good enough for this. Bring me the master here.

I don't need to bother my master with your half-breed like you. It's too much trouble for me to do my job, so get the hell out of here.

　A young man who treats Aldis as an inexperienced man because of his apparent youthfulness. Aldis insists on speaking to his master directly.
　After a few moments of arguing with each other, a door opens in the back and a burly, elderly man appears.

'Horst!　You're still selling oil!　Get the hell back here!

Oh, master!

　He had short, graying hair and brown eyes. The tension in his voice that belied his age and the sharpness in his eyes were truly worthy of the title of a skilled craftsman.
　His toned body and the scars of burn marks visible here and there tell the story of a man who has dedicated his years to blacksmithing.
　This man, whom the young man called his master, must be the master of this place.

'No, this little brat is going to bite me off forever.

Are you a customer?

''No, I refused because it's not as if I'm handling a sword: ......

　Hearing the young man's words, the man called the master looks at the sword on the table.

''Hm. ......''

It's awful, isn't it?　You treated my precious heavy steel sword like this.

　The master silently took the sword in his hand.
　After inspecting it for a moment, he turned to Ardis and asked.

''Was this all used by you?''

Yeah.

"Hmmm, yeah, ......

　The master, who had been watching Aldis's body for a while, brought out a swing of a sword from one of the shelves and handed it to him.

'Swing it and show me.'

　After receiving the sword, Ardis silently gestures as the master says.

Hmm ......, then let's just cut this off.

　The master held a grooming rag that was on the table in his hand and threw it towards Ardis as he said.

　Aldis cuts the rag in the air like a caress while lightly pouring magic power into the sword barrel.
　The rag that was cut in half fell to the floor with a crisp sound.

''Hou......''

　The master exclaims in admiration as he checks the cut of the rag he has picked up.

'Huh?　No way!

　On one hand, the young man looked away and expressed surprise.
　Cutting the cloth in the air is a feat that only a first-rate swordsman could accomplish.

You're pretty good for a young man. For someone as skilled as you are, how does he manage to do this?

　The master turns his attention to the broken shortsword on the table.

'It was the wrong person to cut, wasn't it?

What kind of person?

The 'bell-ringer,' the 'four-winged' and the 'red-eating'. The red bite was especially hard. In the end, one of them broke off.

'Red Eaters'?

What?

　The master and the young man all exclaimed in surprise.

''Well, no way. ....... You're the three strongest demon vanquishers rumored to be in the royal capital right now?

　The young man points to Ardis in disbelief.

I see. As expected of the three strongest demons, even a sword made of heavy iron couldn't stand up to them: ......

　The master, on the other hand, was satisfied.

It's good, isn't it? "That's good," he said, "but it seems to me that your skill is not going to be swept away by the sword. And then?　Are you sure you want two shortswords to strike?

'Two shortswords as well, but since this is the time to do it, I want you to hit a broadsword as well. Three in total.

What about materials?　It's still heavy iron, isn't it?

　This is what happens if the opponent is bad, even if it is heavy steel. Ardis doesn't want any weapons made of iron or steel now.

''The base is heavy iron, but I got some interesting stuff. I want you to use this.

　From inside the luggage bag, Aldis took out a leather bag. When she opened its mouth, she found a powdery object inside that glistened and shiny.

''Well, no way is that ......

　This time the master was exclaiming.

'Let me get a good look at you!'

　I pick up the leather bag as if I were snatching it up and pinch the powder inside and hold it up to the light.

'Ho, the real thing?　A real seven-colored powder (lecia powder)?

　The master's voice trembled.

　Among the many gold and silver gems, there is a gemstone called 'Lesia'.
　The hardest and most beautiful of all the gems, as well as being highly compatible with magic, Lesia has been known as the gem among gems since ancient times.

　However, its refining technology was long lost in ancient times, and nowadays there are no high-purity crystals, except for the very rare refined stones that are excavated from ruins.
　For this reason, the armor ornaments made from Lesia refining stones and Lesia are worth too much to be priced.
　Even unrefined raw stones are sold for nearly ten times the price of gold.

　Seven-colored powder is made by crushing refined leccia into a powder.
　Because it is impossible to crush or shave refined stone with current technology, it is a rare material that cannot be created anew.

I just happened to have a chance to get one. "I happened to have a chance to get some, so I thought I'd use it for a new sword.

　Ardis says absentmindedly.

　The seven-coloured powder can dramatically improve the performance of the armour manufacturing process.
　It can be applied to surfaces or mixed into the base of heavy iron.
　When used in swords, it increases their sharpness, and when used in armor, it is strong enough to repel several strikes.

　In this day and age when it is not possible to refine or process the resia, making armor using seven-colored powder is the greatest honor for a person who makes a living as a blacksmith, and at the same time, it is a job that stimulates the spirit of craftsmanship.

Can you really use it?　It's going to fetch a hell of a price if you sell it?

　The master of the house confirms it with reservations.

　Aldis doesn't know how much it will be worth if he actually sells it.
　It will probably be an amount of money that will haze the bounty of the three powerful demons.

　But the sword is much more valuable to Ardis than the many other ways of earning money, because it is strong and sharp.
　It was a found object that he found while defeating the 'Red Eaters' anyway. You can use it to make a replacement for the shortsword that was broken by the Red Eaters," Ardis said in her mind.

'No matter. Just use them all.

That's very nice of you to say. But ......, I hate to say it, but ....... It would cost a lot of money to hit it with seven-color powder, wouldn't it?

How much does it cost?

'Yes, that's right ....... Mmmm ....... At least a hundred gold coins per bottle. I'll need at least three hundred for three strikes. If you're going to put a lot of magic in when you hit it, you'll need to secure the magician for a long time.

All right. I'll give you six hundred gold pieces. I can pack the magic in myself. I'm more useful than some sorcerers.

I see, you have the bounty of the three powerful demons. If you can give me six hundred tickets, I won't have any complaints.

It's settled. How long will it take?

Give me three months ......, no, four months.

All right. When I'm in King's Landing, I stay at an inn called 'The Floating Pavilion' in the entertainment district. When I'm in King's Landing, I stay at the inn called 'The Little River Pavilion' in the entertainment district.

I'll take care of it. ...... I never thought I'd see the day when I'd be able to strike a sword with seven-color powder.

　I thought I was beginning to think about it, when suddenly my master grinned.

"Mmmm, the blood of a craftsman is flowing in my veins!　In the name of Schmelz, I will surely create a great sword that will last for generations to come!

　Beside the master, who was expressing his enthusiasm for his age, the young apprentice was stunned by the magnitude of the conversation.

''Ro, six hundred ....... Six hundred gold coins .......

　'Six hundred gold coins,' he muttered repeatedly, 'for an amount of money that was far beyond his imagination.