Chapter 10 Bristly Beard

Deris-danna brought in a woman, he brought in a woman!

Oi, why did you say it twice?

This damn woman, shouting nonsensical things the moment we meet. She was screaming as loud as she can towards Gan-sans workshop. Thats absolutely intentional.

Haa, I feel refreshed. So, where did you catch that girl? Shes small and cute, aint she? Damn you.

Dont poke me with your elbow.

Its surprising that Deris-danna had this kind of taste. I misunderstood you as a pervert who loves big boobs. This is criminal in its own way though. But, I dont think its a good idea to choose this place for a date, yknow?

Dont say something misleading. Haru is my disciple and she has nothing to do with a love affair. Here, say hello.

I hit the back of Haru who was taken aback by Anitas preemptive strike.

Ah, yes! Im Shishous disciple, Katsuragi Haruna. Im learning as a magician. Pleased to meet you.

Oh, thats very polite of you. I am Anita. What, are you really took a disciple, Danna?

Things just happened.

Really?

Youre being awfully persistent today, arent you?

Maybe its because the shop keeper is usually so bored, so she feels like making fun of me. One day youll lose your few regulars, you know.

Is Gan-san in the back?

Das right, hes swinging the hammer as usual.

Youd have a great career too if you could work earnestly like that. Why did your way of talking became like that? Thats fishy, you know?

None of your business! Its the old-fashioned way of talking that I learned when I was a lowly merchant. A long time ago, it was said that Damaya, the god of money, talked like this and then being blessed with money and good business

Okay, okay. I will hear your story later. Just call Gan-san.

You are impatient as always. Well, Imma call him now.

For some reason Anita began to take a deep breath on the spot after saying so. And then, she turned towards Gan-sans workshop with a bright smile.

This aint a joke! They are living together under one roof, under the same roof!

Shut up, Anita! Your damn voice is reverberating noisily in the workshop! I dont give a damn about Deriss taste!

Gun-san, the owner of Bristly Beard, peered out from his workshop with his face blackened by the charcoal. His height is about 150cm, smaller than Haru, but his body is full of muscles. The huge hammer in his hand is probably used for blacksmithing, but its a thing that can be used as a weapon as well. Hes a sub-human, dwarf, and the best blacksmith I know.

Look, he came, right?

Well, yeah. But I cant say thank you though.

Its been a while, Deris. So you finally raised a family, eh?

Gan-san, Im enough with that crap.

Hmph, its a joke. I just heard this girls cheerful greetings after all. For the most part, today you are trying to prepare the equipment for this lovely disciple, right?

Gan-san has some parts that are difficult to approach for the first meeting, but if you deepen your exchange, hes a nice guy who says jokes like this. He sure tells an amusing joke.

That lovely part is unnecessary, but thats the gist of it. Id like to request you for a custom-made item, so can I talk to you about it?

Oh, well, I dont mind. If its your request, it will be quite a big job. Even our poor business can get profits from it. Lets talk about it in my workshop.

Thank you very much. Anita, in the meantime, go find some matching clothes and underwears for Haru. That girl doesnt have many clothes, you see.

Underwears will be hard to buy if I, a man, is here, so I ask Anita who has nothing better to do.

How sloppy I dunno how much it will cost if you ask me to do something like that, yknow? Imma make you buy it in high price, yknow?

Haru, you can beat down the price mercilessly, so buy as much as you need.

Understood!

Kufufu, you wanna haggle against me, eh? What an interesting joke.

Anita seems to be convinced that she will win, but Im afraid that her carelessness is going to bite back at her. Lets have her learn about a mothers seriousness. It would be good if she still has a little bit of confidence as a merchant.

So, what do you want me to make? A specialized weapon? Or an armor?

As we entered the hot and humid workshop, Gan-san, sitting in a log-like chair, asked me immediately.

Despite her appearances, shes an aspiring magician, so Im going to make her use a robe as her combat uniform. Setting that aside, what I want to request is a specialized weapon. Do you remember the staff that you forged for me a long time ago? I want you to make something similar to that.

Are you seriously going to make that girl use it? Shell be crushed, you know?

I know what you mean. But, Im convinced that she can do it. That damn Haru, shes basically a muscle-brain despite her looks.

A muscle-brain magician is ridiculous though well, its your disciple. I wont say anything more.

Thank you for your consideration.

I bow down to Gan-san deeply. Not too close, and not too distant. Gun-sans subtle sense of distance really helps.

But, I dont have enough materials. You have to fetch quite a number of ores before I make it, you know?

Im also considering that. I was planning to go to the guild after this, so we are going to collect it while doing a suitable subjugation. I want Haru to get some real combat experience by now, so this is just the right opportunity.

Good grief, you sure are a teacher huh. Thats something I cant imagine from the previous Deris, you know? Well, you have a tendency to get immersed in something that arouses your interest. Is that girl that amazing?

I wonder if I have to call her amazing or strange. Well, shes an interesting girl. For the time being, Im thinking of making her participate in the graduation festival of Adelheit Magic Academy in a month.

Hou, at the graduation festival wait, graduation festival!?

Adelheit Magic Academy is a school for talented people who will shoulder the future of this country. Its an institution for nurturing magicians that are especially regarded as important. All the students are talented people who have passed the rigorous examinations. Graduating from this school and then serving the country is the most honored and the shortest way to success in life.

The Magic Academys graduation festival is what stands in the peak. Its a big festival where participants from that years graduating class come together and compete in magic combat to decide who is the best. Participants must be the students that are going to graduate from the school, so normally an outsider like Haru cant participate. However, there is one slot for non-student to participate in this festival every year.

Im thinking of using the presidents recommendation to let Haru participate and then measure her strength. It was created by the olden days royalty on a whim, and it hasnt been used for years. Well, the president there has a debt, so Ill somehow make her participate.

Nobody has won the championship using this participation frame in the past, but if they won, they will be acknowledged in the top seat of this academy graduation. As a student, theres nothing better than this.

Whats with all that wasted energy but hey, the power of the students there are the real deal, you know? Many joning the Magic Knight Order after they graduate, and higher-ups come to scout them. Im sure many that eager to participate. Especially this year, I heard there are prodigies that usually not appear every year. I think its going to be tough, you know?

What, isnt that a good situation to test Harus strength? Besides, she can get the governments approval to graduate from the school without any effort.

No, work your ass off! You sometimes have a bad personality huh. Well, Ill try to get it done by then.

Equipment used at the graduation festival can be brought in if you apply in advance. The only thing you can bring is a staff.

Well, Haru has to do her best for that sake too.