Chapter 53

"Um, Mr. Tanton..."

"Yes."

"Weren't we supposed to go to the blacksmith just the two of us...?"

"That's right."

Muyeon pointed at the presence beside me with a disgruntled voice.

"So why is this friend here right now?!"

Despite Muyeon's obvious sarcasm, Asti just gave her a blank look as if she didn't understand anything.

Hmm.

How should I put this.

I couldn't exactly say, 'Actually, she's an assassination maid, and while she doesn't really want to kill me, I'm afraid her mind might change if I leave her alone.' So I could only force a smile.

In response to my reaction, Muyeon just sighed and looked ahead again.

I guess Muyeon couldn't bring herself to say we should leave Asti alone, knowing she had been illegally kidnapped and only educated as a slave.

I'm sorry, Miss Muyeon!

I'll treat you to a meal next time.

Without any further conversation, we arrived at the blacksmith following Muyeon's guidance.

Unlike other modern-style buildings, its design was distinct, with walls made of cement and gravel.

A flat roof that seemed to ignore rain entirely covered the area up to the main entrance, and the almost rectangular design.

All of this gave a very rough image fitting for a building called a blacksmith's shop.

On the other hand, looking at the blacksmith's shop, I thought:

...It's smaller than I expected?

Given how highly the Vice Captain and Muyeon spoke of it, I thought it would be quite grand, but it felt more like a hole-in-the-wall shop run by a grandfather as a hobby in some rural corner.

"It's a bit small because the master works alone. But it's actually quite large for a one-person operation."

As if reading my eyes, Muyeon explained on his behalf.

Well, in a world where some people call themselves blacksmiths with just an anvil on the street, this wasn't strange.

Besides, usually these shabby-looking places are the real deal.

Muyeon approached the blacksmith's shop first and gently knocked on the door.

"Uncle, are you there?"

Uncle?

Is she close with the blacksmith here?

After Muyeon's voice spread, footsteps that sounded slightly limping came from inside the building that had been silent for a while.

The door opened abruptly without any response.

Beyond it stood an old man with a severely bent waist, his face barely visible under a headscarf.

But one thing was certain: judging by his twisted mouth corners, he was full of discontent.

The eyes beyond the headscarf turned towards me.

Even I, who had never cowered before Outer Gods - though largely because they all appeared as beautiful girls - flinched at that ominous gaze.

The gaze that seemed to be quietly examining me was soon withdrawn.

"...Where did you bring another weak-looking guy from?"

"Hehe, he said he wanted to make a weapon here."

"A weapon? Come on."

A voice that was almost gone.

The old man clicked his tongue as if in disbelief and turned his back on us.

"I'm sure I said I wouldn't sell weapons to incompetent fools full of vanity?"

My eyes widened at the harsh words thrown at me out of nowhere.

Ugh.

From the start, he was giving off strong vibes of a stubborn old craftsman.

It felt like a character device to make the dark fantasy world setting seem fresher.

"No! Mr. Tanton is... not that kind of person. He's even defeated two Greater Outer Gods!"

"That weakling-looking guy?"

The old man who had been casually throwing out harsh words still looked displeased, but seeing Muyeon, he seemed to decide to let it pass for now and gestured for us to enter the building.

"Come in for now."

As I was about to enter the blacksmith's shop, Muyeon came close to me.

"Don't mind it, Mr. Tanton. Uncle Simtol is like that because he's been disappointed by knights who didn't use his weapons properly."

...Knights who couldn't use weapons properly.

Suddenly, I remembered the knights who died due to the Hunter's solo run and Agartha's escape on the day we went to capture the Gardener.

Certainly, thinking about making weapons for such guys, it would be strange not to feel a sense of futility.

Sympathizing with the blacksmith's feelings, I walked into the workshop.

***

As soon as we entered, the acrid smell that assaulted my nose made me want to scrunch up my face involuntarily.

It wasn't just me; Asti, who followed us in, was completely covering her nose with her hand.

Still, I thought it would be better not to show it.

Perhaps annoyed by this, Simtol gave Asti a disapproving look.

"And who's that?"

"...I am the Mas..."

I quickly covered Asti's mouth as she was about to say something nonsensical again.

This crazy human!

If you say such things here, you'll be expelled immediately!

"Sh-She's a child who lost her way, so I'm taking care of her."

"...Well, if she's a child, it can't be helped."

When I quickly answered instead of Asti, I could see Simtol's expression softening suddenly.

Is he more lenient towards children than expected?

It seemed he wasn't as nasty a person as he appeared.

The inside of the blacksmith's shop was quite simple, unlike its exterior.

A single anvil and a furnace revealing hot flames, various tools for weapon manufacturing hanging above it, and various weapons laid out so carelessly it was embarrassing to call it a display.

The setup, which seemed intended to do just what he needed efficiently, already gave off the smell of a veteran.

"Um, Uncle. Could I possibly request a weapon to be made?"

"What are you talking about making? Just take any of the ones in front of you."

Simtol gestured towards the weapons carelessly spread out in front, speaking.

While none of them were unusable, they clearly looked to be in poor condition, a stark contrast to the protective gear Muyeon was wearing, and not in a good way.

"Uncle..."

"Why should I make a weapon for someone I have no trust in?"

"But you made one for me too."

"I made that for you because you reminded me of your father."

I was worried that Muyeon might be hurt by these blunt statements, but instead, she seemed used to it and just kept sticking close to Simtol.

"Uncle, don't be like that. Just this once."

"Oh my, are you being stubborn today, girl?"

Seeing Muyeon pleading so earnestly for my sake, I couldn't just stand by.

To show that I was different from those knights, I approached Simtol with as much strength in my eyes as possible.

Due to his bent back, Simtol had to look up at me considerably.

"What? Are you going to threaten me now?"

"...I need your weapon. To save more people in the future, no, to save this empire."

Simtol made an expression of utter disbelief.

I felt I needed to push a bit further here.

"My goal is to bring down the Giant of the Snowy Mountains."

"...?"

I saw Simtol's eyes change for a moment.

This might be my only chance to persuade him.

"The Giant of the Snowy Mountains is very strong. It would be difficult to defeat even a Lesser Outer God with inadequate knighthood. That's why I want to request a weapon to be made. I'm far from adequate now, but I came here to find a weapon that will grow with me in the future."

After finishing my words, I knelt before Simtol.

Muyeon waved her hands in panic, as if telling me not to go that far, but I didn't stop.

I need to become much stronger in the future.

There's a limit to relying solely on the power of the Party Flute.

Since that should be used as a technique to subdue opponents at critical moments, I ultimately needed professional martial skills.

For that, I needed a better weapon.

"If you make a weapon for me, I will cherish it. I won't let your efforts go to waste."

That was the end of my explanation and plea, the last I could do.

If he doesn't accept even after this, it's over.

Simtol just stared at me blankly.

How much time had passed?

A deep sigh was heard, and Simtol started walking somewhere.

Did it not work after all?

As I watched Simtol with a disappointed feeling, he turned back and furrowed his brow.

"What are you doing, not following?"

Simtol threw those words out gruffly and then started walking again.

...He could have just said so.

What an honest old man.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I twisted my lips a few times and followed behind Simtol.

***

The place Simtol led us to was underground, inside the blacksmith's shop.

As we went down the stairs, for some reason, the heat seemed to intensify.

After descending all the stairs, we opened the door in front and were immediately surprised by what we saw.

Something that looked like Ria, but unlike Ria, its body was made of fire, and it was shooting flames upwards.

I judged it was most likely related to an Outer God.

"The fire in the furnace upstairs also comes from this fellow."

Simtol said with a sneer.

So that's why the flames never weakened and remained constant.

Why on earth is this here?

"What they call Alienated Gods can occur anywhere. In the words of you knights, it's like a fragment that has fallen off from a Greater Outer God. I don't know how it came to be, but it suddenly appeared in the basement when I was still in my prime, and I've been raising it since then."

I thought this could be grounds for treason punishable by death, but...

"What? You think I'd be crazy enough to do this secretly? Of course, I reported it to the Knight Order, and the Imperial Princess said I could use it as a blacksmith's tool if needed, so I've kept it."

Instead, Simtol answered with irritation.

If that wasn't the case, the Vice Captain wouldn't have recommended this place.

I wonder why she allowed such a thing.

Perhaps she felt a sense of kinship with it, being an Outer God related to fire like herself.

...Considering the Imperial Princess's personality, it seemed quite plausible.

"So why are we here..."

"If it's true that you've defeated Greater Outer Gods, you shouldn't be afraid of a mere creature like this."

Simtol said, pointing at the Flame Outer God.

"It's about time to feed it. If you can feed it directly with your own hands, I'll accept your request."

Simtol said this to me as if it was an extremely difficult task.

For other knights who heard this, it would have been like a bolt from the blue.

But my thoughts upon hearing those words were different.

...Isn't this too easy?

After being so stubborn, he's willing to accept just for doing this?

I felt a bit uneasy, like I was getting something for nothing, but since it was a task he gave himself, I just had to silently carry it out.

"...Don't overdo it. Even knights who have defeated Lesser Outer Gods tremble in fear just facing this creature...?"

Simtol spoke gruffly, but his words were cut off in the end.

That's because I walked over without hesitation, grabbed a handful of what looked like coal pieces - the Flame Outer God's food - and approached.

The Flame Outer God, which had been quietly spewing fire, lowered its posture slightly as if on guard when I approached.

"Eung? Unknown human."

"Hello, want to eat this?"

"Go away...!"

Although it said it didn't want to, the fact that it didn't attack right away made me think it wasn't a bad Outer God.

It would be strange for it to attack, having been raised by human hands.

"Should I go then?"

"...Huh? You understand me?"

"Of course. I came to play with you."

I carefully continued the conversation, remembering my talks with the Alienated Gods in the underground prison.

When it realized we could communicate, the Flame Outer God's expression brightened considerably.

"A human who understands me, for the first time!"

"Yeah, yeah. Do you want to eat this?"

"Yes!"

If they become this friendly just from being able to communicate, how much must these beings have wanted to talk to humans?

When I put a piece of coal in its mouth, it chewed happily with a smile in its eyes.

Finding it cute, I gently patted its head, and it wasn't that hot if it wasn't attacking.

Just a bit hotter than human body temperature.

"Heheng!"

Pleased by my touch, it made cute sounds while moving its mouth enthusiastically.

If Ria was like a cat, this one is just like a dog that's wary at first but quickly opens up its heart.

As I gave it one piece of coal after another, I eventually ran out, and this creature, now full, was happily patting its belly while leaning against the wall.

Every little thing it did was so cute that I would have wanted to take it with me if it didn't have an owner.

"...Phew, my back. Sir, I'm done, so now..."

As I got up and stretched my back, I turned around to see strange looks on their faces.

Muyeon looked as if she had seen something marvelous, while Simtol's expression was unreadable.

But I could tell it wasn't a negative reaction.

***

We came back up to the blacksmith's shop.

Muyeon and I stood side by side, quietly waiting to see what answer Simtol would give.

Simtol returned to his original stern expression and just went back to the anvil without saying anything.

Because of this, I was thinking about looking for another blacksmith, thinking he might have just been saying empty words, when...

"...A sword will do, right?"

"...!"

The answer finally came.

As I was about to respond with excitement, Simtol waved his hand.

"Don't get worked up. The more pleased you are, the more calmly you should act. That's how you earn favor wherever you go."

"...Thank you!"

"Come back in a week. I won't charge you, as a special case."

An even more exceptional declaration of it being free.

Even Muyeon was surprised and looked at Simtol, who was busy gathering materials.

"I tend to keep my promises well. So stop asking unnecessary questions and go do what you need to do."

Could a gruff voice ever sound as heartwarming as it did today?

"Yes, sir."

I succeeded in getting a weapon made.

Now if I could just get some information from the market, my tasks for today would be done.

I was pleased that things were progressing more smoothly than expected.

At that moment, I heard what sounded like a sharp metallic noise and looked at Asti.

...Although Asti quickly put it away, I saw that she had been holding a knife in her hand.

"What is it?"

"If that blacksmith kept resisting, I was going to teach him a less... mmph."

...Sigh.

You shouldn't do that.

Before Simtol noticed, I quickly covered Asti's mouth with one hand and lifted her up, heading out of the blacksmith's shop.

"Uncle, thank you!"

"I told you not to get worked up."

Muyeon also said goodbye and quickly followed behind me.

Because of that, we didn't hear it.

"...It feels like I'm seeing that Mushin guy again."

Simtol's muttering.