High & Half and the Town of Wheat (7)

Living that way at such a leisurely pace, a month flew by. With Win having grown completely attached to Nonna, I made my way to the blacksmiths' guild to begin working, though it pained me to leave.

After all, a decent income was essential to maintaining a peaceful, tranquil life.

"We've been waiting for you. It's been a while—or rather, since I only saw your face the last time, it has actually been six years, hasn't it? We're very pleased that you've come to our guild."

The man who welcomed me at the blacksmiths' guild was the guild official I'd met in town that day.

He smiled, looking happy—and then relieved.

Ah, perhaps he'd been worried that, since I'd taken so long to come here, I'd simply gone on my way.

"Long time no see. I took some time to help the child who came with me adjust to the new environment. Do you have any work available?"

When I asked that, the staff member nodded and offered me three jobs.

Apparently, I was free to pick whichever one suited me.

That was remarkably generous.

The first job was repairing the weapons and armor used by the town's guards, as well as making more to replenish any shortages.

Of course, I wouldn't be expected to handle all of that myself; apparently, I would be paid by results, according to how much I completed and how my work was evaluated.

The second job was providing technical instruction to the blacksmiths of this town.

The sword I had forged before had been put on display at the blacksmiths' guild as an example and model, and apparently it had inspired the town's blacksmiths.

It was an exceedingly embarrassing yet flattering story, but apparently one of the blacksmiths had heard that the sword's maker had returned to town and asked to be taught by me.

The guild had apparently stepped in to keep him from coming straight to me himself.

Without going so far as taking someone on as an apprentice, the guild wanted to ask me once more to provide technical instruction to the town's blacksmiths in some form.

Finally, the third was an audience with the lord of this town... or rather, the king of the Duchy of Travoyia.

Apparently, the king had seen the sword that had become a minor local specialty in Jampemon, and after learning its maker was an elf, had taken an interest in me.

Once I laid them all out, only one was really an option.

For starters, the third was out of the question.

Even if I might eventually find myself unable to refuse for one reason or another, as long as I still had a choice, I didn't want to involve myself with royalty or nobility.

It might have been an honor for the people living here, but as a high elf who traveled from place to place, it was nothing more than an unnecessary entanglement.

Next, the second was out of the question as well.

Teaching several people was out of the question, barring someone I happened to click with exceptionally well or who was genuinely passionate.

I had no desire whatsoever to earn money by selling off, piece by piece, the skills my shitty dwarf master had passed on to me.

"So I'll take the first: repairs and replenishment. Fortunately, I'm fairly quick with my work, and piecework pay suits me just fine."

When I said that, he gave me a somewhat troubled smile.

Apparently, he too had expected from the beginning that I would accept only the first job.

From the guild's perspective, though, they had wanted me to accept both of the others as well.

"Yes, with your skill, Eisa-san, you should be able to earn plenty even from that job. However, if you turn down the others, we won't be able to keep those matters from reaching you..."

He hesitated over what to say next.

Perhaps an envoy from the king, or someone seeking to become an apprentice, might come to me directly; in that case, it would be difficult for the guild to intervene.

Well, that was unavoidable.

As far as I was concerned, I was already grateful enough that the guild had kept the matter at bay for this past month.

If some tactless visitor had intruded on my time with Win, I would surely have been in a terrible mood.

"I'll deal with anything that comes up myself. Ah, but I'm unfamiliar with how things work in this town, so I'd appreciate being able to consult you, if that's all right."

When I said that, the staff member smiled and nodded.

Still, it wasn't as though such visitors were certain to come, so there was no point in worrying about them this early.

There was no end to imagining what-ifs.

Even if the king sent an envoy, they might be a polite, humorous, and fascinating person, not at all overbearing.

Even if an aspiring apprentice came, they might be brimming with enthusiasm and turn out to be someone I liked.

It was important to anticipate problems and prepare for them beforehand, but it was just as important not to let them occupy too much of my attention.

"Please use the guild's blacksmithing facilities as before. Eisa-san, it's a great honor to work alongside a blacksmith like you again."

After shaking the hand he offered, I was shown to the familiar forge.

Nonna had grown considerably, and the staff member had aged a little. Time had certainly passed, but this forge remained just as it had been.

With a touch of nostalgia and a little happiness welling up, I fed fuel to the furnace and woke the sleeping fire spirit.