Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou ka - Volume 04

by Fujino Omori

  With a wry smile, Welf-san brought a chair over and advised me to sit down.

  “In short, you will only need to help with the sizing. Just leave the rest to me.”

  “Sizing, is it?”

  “Yes, it is similar to an order–made equipment. Since I have to make it anyways, why don’t I make an entire set of equipment that is specially for you.”

  The equipment sold at the weapon shop were all made for unknown Adventurers, so many of the items have sizes that did not match. Although we could still adjust the errors, weapons and armor that was created for a person’s standard would indeed be the most.

  “I want to make greaves, Bell, what do you think is better to be made?”

  “Ah……About that……?”

  “If you have any request for equipment, it is fine to say it out directly. For example, if you do not have a shield, you would feel uncomfortable or something similar……Right, if there is anything you want, you can still tell me.”

  While having his back facing me, Welf-san spoke as he began to look at the various tools hanging on the wall.

  I listened to the creaking sound while I was lost in thought.

  If there were any requests, then it would probably be Daggers or light armor, right? Although it is not me being polite, but if you try to ask me what new equipment I want, I could not immediately think of it.

  Ah……Although it is not a shield, should I try lightweight armors again?

  (Ah, a Large Sword……)

  Suddenly I noticed that there was a rack fixed at the corner of the workshop. There were many weapons hanging inside. It must be Welf-san’s previous works.

  I looked at the exceptionally large-sized weapons and recalled about the battle I had with the Minotaur.

  “……Welf-san, about this, can’t I use it?”

  I seemed to have been attracted towards the rack and I stared at the Large Sword without a sheath.

  There were no traces of decoration. It was simply used as a weapon. That silver, white sword blade clearly revealed this.

  Just like thee armor that Welf-san had given me, it was a product that incorporated Welf-san’s style.

  “It is not that you can’t……but this is an item that was returned as it wasn’t sold?”

  “But I want to try and use this.”

  I put it into my hand and seek for his consent. Welf-san’s puzzled face slowly nodded.

  I lifted the Large Sword into the air and grabbed the hilt. Then I let the blade that was originally pointing to the ground and spun it. A silver sheen appeared the moment I allowed it to point to the ceiling. I unintentionally laughed.

  I continued to gently swing the sword. As expected, because there was quite a bit of weight, it is harder to wield than a Dagger.

  “……”

  “……? What is it?”

  After I attempted to swing it twice, I noticed that Welf-san’s actions stopped.

  I asked and the corner of Welf-san’s lips loosened.

  “You don’t want a Magic Sword?”

  Welf-san revealed an unadorned smile towards me.

  “Eh?”

  “Nothing. It is just that I did not believe that you do not want a Magic Sword, but the leftover sword.”

  Standing in front of Welf-san, who was slightly happy, I muttered “Ah”.

  Right, ……Just the workspace and the weapons have attracted my attention and caused me to completely forget about it. Once I thought about it, I panicked.

  Just when I did not know how to react, Welf-san revealed a grin.

  “Then, your Main God……What did Hestia-sama say about me?”

  “!?”

  “The employees working at Babel had told me. It seems like the young Goddess girl that was employed at the shop was investigating about me.”

  In front of Welf-san, who pretentiously explained it to me, my expression worsened.

  Could it be that the fact that Kami-sama snooping around was already exposed!?

  “S…Sorry! Kami-sama did not mean to do anything bad, but more like she was worried about me, so she would investigate about Welf-san……As expected, it was still my fault!?”

  “It does not matter. After all, her own member is forming a party with someone from another . It is natural that she would worry.”

  Welf-san does not seem to care and said: “Isn’t this a nice Main God?”

  I felt at ease and sighed.

  “I am slightly curious……After Bell knew about my matters, would your attitude change towards me. Sorry, I did something such as probing you.”

  Welf-san revealed an apologetic, wry smile.

  ……In other words, he wanted to see if I would say the word ?

  Seeing if I would use Welf-san, who had the bloodline of the Magic Sword Blacksmith, to obtain a Magic Sword?

  The surname was famous, could it have made him a bit paranoid?

  I wrestled with the meaning behind Welf-san’s words, I felt that it seems unbelievable.

  “We left the main topic, let’s get back to business. Aside from the Large Sword, do you have anything else you want?”

  “Ah, yes……about that.”

  Because I was asked again, I began to consider it again. I thought that I should simply ask Welf-san to create a Short Sword while I wanted to use his past creations as reference, so I turned towards the direction of the rack.

  Thus, my back was facing Welf-san.

  “……I say, Bell. I am a bit curious, but is that a Drop Loot?”

  “Eh? Ah.”

  Welf-san pointed towards my waist. Aside from the and the , there was also the .

  “This……That’s correct, this is a Drop Loot from the Minotaur……I do not know why, but it always seems like it is hard to let go of it.”

  A sharp horn that was completely dyed with the color red. Although I do not want to only use it as a talisman, it feels that selling it would be the wrong choice.

  ……Perhaps it was because, whether it was the Monster or that battle, I did not want to easily neglect it.

  At the very least, it allowed me to leave traces of myself.

  Even if I was holding this item, it would not be possible to use it……

  “……If that’s the case, then do you want to use that?”

  “Eh?”

  “I am saying, to use that horn as the material to create equipment. Because it is a Drop Loot obtained from a Minotaur, it should be possible to utilize it as a weapon.”

  I widened my eyes.

  This! If I have a direct contract with a exclusive blacksmith, then I could just pass the Drop Loot to him and directly create a weapon!

  Welf-san’s proposal sounded like a revelation. If that’s the case, it would not be considered as if I was letting it go, but I would also not waste the Drop Loot that I had earned after working extremely hard. I bowed my headed deeply.

  “P…Please!”

  “Then we’ll decide it just like this.”

  Since the problem of the material was successfully resolved, I handed the to Welf-san.

  After Welf-san seriously observed the Drop Loot, he used his hands to explore the surface.

  “……A is that red?”

  “What?”

  “N…No……Well, nothing is broken and the hardness is above average. If that’s the case, as long as I change the shape by grinding it, it can already be treated as a weapon……”

  Welf-san passionately observed the .

  He frowned and muttered. After a while, he lifted his head towards me.

  “Bell. Can you leave the creation to me? I want to spend more effort on it.”

  “P…Please. Since I am not a blacksmith, I do not have any good advice……”

  “Sorry, it’s a big help. And then, if I use this Drop Loot to create a weapon, the things that can be created would be
extremely limited……”

  It can only create one Short Sword or a pair of Daggers.

  This is what Welf-san seemed to have judged. This is the Menu of items that can be created from the .

  Because it would be extremely thin if it was made into a Short Sword, Welf-san recommended the latter to me.

  Let’s first not mention the , the that the guild had supplied to me……I feel that it is about time for it to be changed. The supplied weapon should be ranked at the lowest. I was also doubting whether it could be used for the next battle, which is the battle against the Middle Floor monsters.

  Perhaps this was a good opportunity. I decided to let the weapon that had already been used for two months to retire.

  Thus, I requested Welf-san to help me make a Dagger.

  “Okay, I know. Anyways, this time I will first create a Dagger. The remaining materials, ah, let’s leave it as a surprise after I increase the ability.”

  “Ahaha……”

  I looked at Welf-san, who deliberately put on a proud expression, and smiled.

  We immediately began to decide on the size. Welf-san kept on exchanging different tools that was inside a bucket as he continued to measure my size.

  I do not know why, but the period when I removed my shoes to measure my foot size was something that had a deep impression on me.

  “With this, it is finished. You can already head back.”

  “About that, Welf-san, about this point……”

  “Ah?”

  “Can I look at the appearance of Welf-san working……?”

  I looked at Welf-san, who was confirming my palm that I use to wield a weapon, and timidly asked.

  Wanting to observe the scene of smithing. This is the truth. I was already extremely stimulated by my innocent curiosity when I was brought inside the workshop. My shoulders were restless and I was extremely interested about the coming scene.

  After I had told Welf-san what I wanted to do without beating around the bush, he was slightly puzzled and smiled as he said: “What a strange person.” And allowed me observe.

  I vowed that I would not disturb Welf-san’s work, but probably because of excitement, I could not help but my face heated up.

  “Because the room will become extremely hot, it is best to take off your armor first.”

  “Eh, Oh, okay.”

  I did not understand the meaning of these words, but I still followed.

  Welf-san help me place the light armor that I took off at the corner of the room. Just when I was left with a set of tight clothes, Welf-san walked towards the already prepared furnace……Then he began to prepare to light it up.

  “W…What is that for?”

  “Heating the Drop Loot”

  “You have to burn the monster’s horn?”

  Just when I said I would not disturb his work, I asked loudly from the side.

  An animal’s horn. Isn’t it similar to bones? No, although I am not sure……but won’t that thing become tatters after being burnt……?

  “Inside the monster’s horn and claws contains materials with metallic properties.”

  “Metallic……?”

  “Yes. Have you heard of ?”

  “……I seemed to have heard of it, yet I also don’t think I have heard of it.

  Within my mind, I had an impression that it is a rare metal……

  “Adamantite is an ore that can only be extracted inside the dungeon, it is the first-class material used for weapons. Its hardness is well-known.”

  “I…It is only obtained from inside the dungeon?”

  “Yes. It must be obtained from the walls that are able to give birth to Monsters. It is extremely rare. Although some people say it is possible to extract it at the Upper Floors, most of the time, it is brought back from the Lower or Deep Floors.”

  Only extracted from the dungeon, meaning that it is only possible to get it in Orario.

  The Adamantite seemed to be a specialty of the Labyrinth City, because it is a difficult to find ore, its value cannot be compared to Magic Stone.

  “……Could it be that the monsters that were born from the dungeon also have the special properties of Adamantite……?”

  “Oh, you’re quite smart. It is just like that. However, compared to the original blocks of ore, the hardness will drop a notch.

  If the monsters that were also nurtured by dungeon, it is not strange for them to reflect that metallic properties.

  Although it is only a few Monsters, Welf-san told me that the teeth or claws, the so-called attack organs, would have metallic properties.

  ……So to speak, even that thick Large Sword was broken by this horn.

  “The also have the side effect of having metallic properties. In other words, as long as you heat it up, then you could directly work on it.

  “I see”. I expressed my understanding. In short, it is to heat up the and process it……in other words, it is the preparations before smithing.

  An image of a metal that was like a red colored candy after heating appeared in my mind.

  Welf-san would probably refine the Drop Loot like he was smithing steel.

  “Sorry, Bell. Can you help me open all the shutters and doors?”

  “O…Okay.”

  Welf-san, who wrapped a towel on his head, said to me.

  I followed his instructions and opened all the windows and doors.

  Turning around, Welf-san was about to put the fire into the furnace. Using the Monster ’s Flame Stone as the ignitor……Because the effects are too strong, it should not be sold to ordinary people.

  “Although the Adamantite is the same, this guy’s horn cannot be processed with ordinary heat.”

  Maintaining his posture of squinting his eyes at the furnace, Welf-san spoke.

  In an instant, fire and heat suddenly scattered from within the furnace. The temperature of the room rose up exponentially. Even I, who was far away from the furnace, began to sweat from my forehead. This is the reason why he asked me to remove all my armor.

  Then Welf-san was immersed in the work to adjust the furnace. I sat on the chair and observed his work appearance.

  The time should be far away from noon. Because I had only split from Seal-san and the others not only an hour ago, there should be many Adventurers, who were lively as they head towards to explore the dungeon, at Babel.

  Whether it was inside the house or the scene shown through the shutters, the alley was extremely dark.

  The furnace that was gradually becoming red seemed to be somewhat mysterious.

  Welf-san’s serious expression was lit up by the flames quietly.

  “You seem to have something that you want to ask.”

  “Eh!?”

  “It does not matter, just ask what you want. I do not want to hide anything from a person whom I signed a contract with.”

  Some time had already passed. Did it slightly come to an end? Welf-san lifted his face from the furnace.

  I was shocked by his sudden phrase that hit the bull’s eye.

  Instead of saying that I wanted to ask, why not say I was concerned about it for a while. When I heard of Welf-san’s situation, this tiny question was always lingering inside my heart. It seems like I have carelessly exposed it. To the extent that even he had noticed it.

  Welf-san’s surrounding atmosphere was extremely warm. His face had a shallow smile and his eyes were filled with trust……It gave this feeling to others. I swallowed and decided to step further into the Welf-san’s inner world.

  “Welf-san, why…do you not want to make Magic Sword?”

  I recalled his happy expression when he had me as a customer.

  As long as he was willing to create Magic Sword, a customer like me and money would be countless.

  The Magic Weapon that would easily earn wealth and fame. The true skills of .

  I aske
d for the reason why Welf-san did not want to create a Magic Sword.

  “Mmmm, there are various reasons……”

  Welf-san’s face emerged a wry smile and he turned his gaze back towards the furnace.

  “I hate Magic Swords.”

  Then he declared a clear rejection towards Magic Sword.

  “Actually, although my works are not sold, the amount of customers were once numerous……No, even right now, there are still many.”

  “Eh……”

  “This is something that would simply make one angry. They will find my weapon at the weapon shop, see that there is a signature on it and head towards my workshop. Saying ”

  Welf-san manipulated the tools below his legs to send air into the furnace while he spoke.

  “They do not even look at my works. Magic Sword, Magic Sword, Magic Sword…… Aside from you, those people all mutter this word. I already knew that my own craftsmanship is still immature……But, you know? I just don’t feel happy about it.”

  Looking at the bright red flames, Welf-san’s lips seemed to have showed a few wrinkles.

  It was the world’s most terrifying Magic Sword that could even dry out an entire ocean. What the people sought after was , and not Welf-san’s products.

  The customers that come here, all of them are not looking at Welf-san himself……and instead could only see the value of the bloodline?

  Directed at the Magic Sword.

  “Then, Welf-san……That means.”

  “Mmmm, I had enough, I told them and said “You bunch of trash! Who would care about your commissions!” and severely rejected them.”

  “Ha…Hahaha……”

  I let out a dry laugh at Welf-san’s sentence, which followed my own. If it was like that, I could understand.

  It was the resentment towards the people who do not appreciate his own works. No, it could be his resistance against the blood that flows within his body.

  I was able to understand. Although I was able to understand……yet.

  “About that……Is that the only reason?”

  I think that there was something else.

  From within this person, who said he hated the Magic Sword, I could feel that there was a deeper meaning to it.

  “……”

  He did not immediately reply.

  Welf-san, who turned his gaze away from the furnace, stood up and walked towards the table that held the