Chapter 392: Bear-san, Watches Toyas Test

Chapter 392 Bear-san, Watches Toyas Test

[Before we go any further, I have to ask Jade, have you made a contract with anyone yet? If you havent, then how about making a contract with me?] Xelo

[A contract?] Jade

Jade-san repeated Xelo-sans words. Then, Jade-san looked at the others like what he just heard didnt make any sense.

[What? You didnt know?] Xelo

[We just arrived here yesterday, and after staying at the inn, we immediately come here.] Jade

[How about the Trial Gate in this city?] Xelo

[Trial Gate? Oh, that?] Jade

Jade-san seems to have remembered something.

Trial gate? I wonder what was that? It sounds interesting though.

[Come to think of it, there is such a thing in this city.] Jade

[Oh, there was certainly such thing in here.] Xelo

[I forgot.] Jade

[Maybe thats why there are so many adventurers and merchants around?] Senia

Jade-san and his friends seemed to understand it, theyre agreeing with each other. But me, Fina, and Ruimin dont know whats happening.

[What is the trial gate?] Yuna

I dont know about it, so I asked.

When I asked, Jade-san and Xelo-san explained to me.

According to them, theres a gate in this town called the

in this city. The gate opens once a year for a few days to test the skills of the blacksmiths, to see how much they have grown over the course of a year. Its said to be a place to test the skills of apprentice craftsmen.

[But whats with the adventurers?] Yuna

[Its only natural. Blacksmiths are sword makers. Adventurers are sword users.] Jade

At the trial gate, it seems that a blacksmith who made a sword and an adventurer, a person wholl handle the sword are needed. Its true that blacksmiths dont fight monsters, animals, or people. So its the adventurers job to handle the sword.

[So Jade, why dont you join us with the sword I made? Think of it as a simple test sword.] Xelo

[I dont mind partic.i.p.ating, but since its you, Xelo-san, theres probably an adventurer that youve been favoring even without asking me.] Jade

[Every year, theres an adventurer who always asking me to sign him up. I was going to ask that adventurer again this year, but I was informed that he was injured a few days ago. The other adventurers I know have already contracted with another blacksmith, or theyre in a place that cannot be contacted.] Xelo

So thats why hes asking Jade-san?

[At first, I didnt think Id have to join, but I figured I needed to make sure my skills werent getting rusty. Also, its good to see how far other adventurers can go with it, once in a while.] Jade

Most of the blacksmiths who have been doing this for a long time say that they hire the same person every year. The reason for this is that there is a difference between people and their abilities. Even when using the same weapon, can change depending on the person handling it.

They check their skills at that testing gate. It is growing? Or is it declining? Worst of all, they say, some of them are thinking of retiring.

Of course, adventurers have growth and decline and there is no end to it.

They also explained that some blacksmiths asked talented adventurers to show off their swords.

[Dont you want to be known as the best, Xelo-san?] Mel

[Im fine with you guys. I dont want to be bothered with making offerings or making the best swords. Ill give those jobs to whoever wants them. Ill make whatever I want, and if I make something good out of it, then Im satisfied with it.] Xelo

Xelo-san laughingly smiling.

Just because you can make one good sword, doesnt mean you can make a second one. If you could make top-quality weapons that quickly, then youd have nothing to worry about.

And its not like you can just tell the others to make it for you.

[Well, to each his own. You can spend a lifetime making the best masterpiece you can. Or you can make one for an adventurer like you. Life is different.] Xelo

Touching his majestic long beard as he spoke, he exuded the dignity that he had built up over the years.

[All right then. If its okay with you, Ill sign up with you.] Jade

[It would be a great help.] Xelo

The conversation was over, and now were going to check out Toyas arm.

Xelo-san started to walk and as were following him, Jade-san, who was walking in front of us, looked back.

[What about you, Yuna? If you want to go to Rojina-sans place, Ill let Mel guide you.] Jade

Hmmm, what should I do?

Personally, I would like to see how Toya would be judged. If its just a matter of looking at the hand as I imagine it to be, it should be fine here. But the fact that he started walking suggests otherwise.

However, if there are any other criteria, I would like to know fo future reference.

[Im curious to see if Toya will get a pa.s.s, so Ill stay and watch for a while.] Yuna

Im not in a hurry.

[Fina and Ruimin youre fine with it, right?] Yuna

[Yes, I dont mind.] Fina

[Im also curious. Id like to see it too.] Ruimin

It seems that both Fina and Ruimin are interested as well.

Well, after coming this far, it would be strange not to be curious. But Toya, the main character, has a face that says otherwise.

[You dont have to come with us. Im sure you girls have a lot of places to go.] Toya

Toya hates the idea that were trying to follow him. Its human nature that you want to follow someone when the person himself doesnt want to.

[Its kinda awkward if I refuse now.] Toya

[If you say it like that, you cant refuse anymore.] Mel

Thats a flag.

[Speaking of which, Xelo-san, have you taken on an apprentice?] Jade

I can hear the sound of iron hitting iron from the back of the room since earlier. Jade-san asks while looking towards the direction of the sound.

[My son. He said he wanted to be a blacksmith, so Im teaching him. Ive been beating him with my knowledge like that every day, but hes not quite there yet.] Xelo

I can hear the reverberating sound. Even if Im just listening to the sound, I can feel that hes working very hard.

[Jade, you know where the backyard is, right? Wait for me there. Ill be there in a minute.] Xelo

We went to the backyard while listening to the sound of iron hitting iron from the back of the building.

[But what do you think are they going to make Toya do?] Yuna

[If Xelo-san comes here, youll know.] Jade

After waiting in the backyard for a while, Xelo-san brought a few swords with him.

[Toya. Lets begin your test.] Xelo

[Y, yeah.] Toya

Toya replied a little nervously.

Xelo-san stabs one of his swords into the ground.

[Its a sword that my son made.] Xelo

Xelo-san held out another sword in his hand to Touya.

[Its not as good as the sword I made for Jade, but its still a mithril sword that I made. Try to cut it with this mithril sword. If you can do it, Ill make you a mithril sword.] Xelo

[Okay.] Toya

Toya took the sword offered to him. He pulled it out of the scabbard and stood in front of the sword stuck in the ground. He took a small deep breath and grasped the sword. He then swung his sword down at the sword stuck in the ground.

The sword that was stuck in the ground did not get cut, but bounced off and rolled on the ground instead.

They all looked at the sword that had flown away, then look back at Toya.

[Wait. Let me do it again.] Toya

Toya picked up the sword that had been flicked away and stabbed it into the ground again. He then took a deep breath to calm his mind. Then, he swung the sword down again. But the result was just the same as before.

Toya stared at the sword he was holding. And everyone is looking silently at Toyas figure.

[Old man Xelo. Isnt this a blunt sword?] Toya

Xelo-san picked up the sword that was silently blown and stabbed it once again in the ground. Then told Toya to give the sword back.

[Jade, you do it. Dont go easy on him. Its not good for Toya.] Xelo

When Jade-san silently received the sword, he flashed it at the sword stuck in the ground. Then, the sword stuck in the ground was cut in the middle.

[This is the difference between you and Jade. Mithril Sword is still too early for you. Even if I make it for you, the Mithril Sword will be wasted.] Xelo

I dont think he needed to say that much.

[Toya] Jade

Jade-san, Mel-san, and Senia-san looked worried. Toya clenched his fists tightly.

[There may be other blacksmiths who can make it for you. Well just have to look elsewhere.] Jade

[Xelo-san] Toya

Jade-san tried to say something, but Toya interrupted him.

[Old man Xelo, may I have another try?] Toya

Toya, who had been looking down in frustration, looked up and met Xelo-sans eyes, asking with a powerful gaze.

[Hou, if you can cut it, then Ill make it.] Xelo

[Old man, Im gonna borrow this sword.] Toya

Toya heads over to Jade-san and receives the mithril sword. Xelo-san looks at Toya intently.

[Ill lend it to you. Also, you can take that sword over there.] Xelo

He pointed to the sword, which was called a blunt sword.

[I promise you.] Toya

Toya left with one of the swords that seem to have been made by Xelo-sans son.

[Toya!] Jade

Jade-san shouted.

[Ill go after him. Jade, Mel, both of you stay here.] Senia

When she said that, Senia-san chased Toya.

Fina and Ruimin looked at Toya and Senia-san who had left, then looked at Jade-san, and finally looked at me to see what Im going to do.

[Well let Senia handle it for now.] Jade

As we were looking at the two who had left, Jade-san called out to us. Im a little worried about Toya, but Senia-san has gone after him, so I guess itll be okay.

[Xelo-san, arent you being a little hard on Toya? You didnt even do this before.] Jade

Speaking of strictness, he was indeed harsh. However, in some games, if you dont have enough muscle parameters, you cant equip good gear. Its probably the same here, if you dont grow inside, you cant equip a weapon with good performance.

Xero-san turned his back on us and began to speak.

[Theres not much of a reason behind it. Thats just my selfishness.] Xelo

[Selfishness?] Mel

[A new adventurer who used my sword just died. Because he had a good sword, he mistook it for his own ability. So he fought a strong demon and died, just like that.] Xelo

[]

[Its not Xelo-sans fault.] Jade

The new adventurer didnt know what he was capable of and was just being reckless. Its like an ordinary person got the heros sword and said,

. As Jade-san says, I dont think Xelo-san is at fault.

[Maybe so. But I want to make a sword that matches his ability. So if Toya cant do this well, Im not going to make it. And Im going to ask another blacksmith to make Toyas sword.] Xelo

Xelo-san picked up the sword that Jade-san slashed and looked at the sword.

[Youve become stronger.] Xelo

[Xelo-san] Jade

[Thats all I have to say. Tell Toya that he has until the gates of the trials close.] Xelo

[Understood.] Jade

Now, we can only hope that he can do it, right?

Authors Note:

Touya has been rejected. But it looks like he hasnt given up.

Next time, I will post in 3 days if nothing comes up, and in 4 days if something does.