Extra: Blacksmith 2

(Gozohs Point of View)

Several days later.

Ooh, Gozoh! Thanks for calling me. Is Roppu doing well?

Kantra! Youve come! Aye, full of energy as usual.

Reuniting with my friend again after such a long time, I hugged him.

Oops, almost forgot. I need to be introducing him to Kehma, who I captured on his way out of the dungeon a bit ago.

Kehma took up residence next to this dungeon, [Cave of Desires], someone whod absolutely never leave.

At any rate, hes the secretary of [Dancing Dolls Pavilion]s owner, as well as the unmatched top capturer of [Cave of Desires].

There are two parties that have gone to the fourth floor, but one of those is this Kehma.

Everyone in his party are slaves. Well, thats often the case, but Kehmas partys two slaves are cheerful and lively, so Id be a bit careless to call it something usual.

It isnt that usual at all.

Well, he does have the slaves work at the inn, but its easy to understand theyre well off there as well.

With that, Kehma. This is Kantra. Take care of him.

Ahyes

Like that, the meeting between Kehma and Kantra finished.

Or rather, he was a mage huh? I thought he was a swordsman judging by that magic sword at his waist.

Heh. After this is the reunion-required bout of drinks, but Kehma headed back without hanging out with us. What a cold guy. The only thing he left was that eggshell he gave to Kantra. It seems like itll become material for the furnace.

So its a fire attributed eggshell, what kind of egg is it?

Ah, I was so excited I forgot to ask Even taking a good look I dont know.

Hmmm, but just one of them eh

Oi oi. Monster eggs are wonderfully rare materials. Kehma-dono must have gone to great lengths to acquire this!

That so?

With so many monsters around here, I dont think itd be that weird to just casually pick up a fire attributed monsters eggshells though

Then why havent I seen any eggshell collection commissions?

Now thats because its such a rare material that its out of the question for B-Ranks to get a hold of on ordinary commissions. Gozoh, youre C-Rank aye?

Seriously? Woah

Whys it so hard? Even though its just an eggshell.

Gozoh. Have you seen any monster children in a dungeon?

Eh? What are you oh, I havent. Right.

Thinking about it, Ive only ever seen adult monsters in dungeons.

As for monster children Ive seen them, but only outside of dungeons.

Its not known why, but monster children are rare. Although worm-types and a few others are exceptions, its true that you wont see childish bodies that have no fighting strength in a dungeon at all. Well, theres no use questioning that the parents would have superior materials, but their eggs are the exception. Furthermore, monsters birthed by eggs eat their eggshells shortly after birth.

Eeh, woah. So that was it? I didnt know.

Parents fill the eggshells with power for the sake of their children. In other words, it could be called crystallized power. Its said that monsters can obtain their first divine protection by ingesting this well, thats how it is.

So there was something like that hmm?

Huh? Then how did he get the eggshell?

If they gobble it down as soon as theyre born, there shouldnt be anything left over.

In other words, its necessary to find a monsters egg somewhere. Then you have to somehow deal with the monsters parents. The parents would struggle to the death to defend their children.

Indeed, thatd be hard.

Honestly, its not unthinkable that parents would show strength to defend their children. Both people and monsters. Theyd probably raise one or two ranks doing it.

Moreover, isnt Kehma-dono still at a low rank? It depends on the opposing monster, but even getting lucky this is quite a rare material. To hand it over so willingly, I can give him a magic sword when I can make one. That guys important. Kukku.

Kantra laughed.

*

Then, the next day.

Holy shit. Kehma-dono holy shit. Hes beyond important.

Wh-what is it!? Oi, Kantra!

When I woke up, Kantras face was pale and he was trembling.

After the drinking bout yesterday while we gazed at the stars, we made plans to construct the smithy today and I fell asleep right there. Ah, I brought along several [Potato Aburaage] I ordered from Kehma. Its crunchy texture feels great and its saltiness would definitely work great with sake. A delicious dish. [1]

But why would Kantra wake up like that so afraid of Kehma? Ah!

Was something wrong with the aburaage!?

Whyre you talking about that!? Well, it was delicious though!

Mu, so that wasnt it? I do think it makes for a great snack even without having sake though.

So then whats the matter?

Remember the eggshell?

Huh? What about it?

That eggshell, its from a phoenix

A phoenix Ive heard those being subjugation targets for B-Rank commissions. Oi, this is serious.

Thats in other words, that, right? A ridiculously rare material? Am I right?

Yeah, theres no doubting it since it was examined using magic tools that can find out a materials name. Honestly, this shell is on a legend-grade rare item Kehma-dono, where in the world did you

Legend-class, thats incredible It looks like it could turn into the highest class of furnace if its mixed into bricks. As a material that any blacksmith would water at the mouth over, even one hundred gold coins would be a foolish offer. Seriously, oi. Wouldnt that be enough to drink as much sake as you wanted till your death?

So, whatll you do? That shell. Give it back?

Ill use it. I already promised to accept it. I just dont understand why Kehma-dono would give me something like this for a magic sword. Or rather, to build a furnace with such a rare material I truly never even dreamed of it this is a first.

To make a magic sword, that concept is often treated as something impossible. Currently, from what I hear even the top researchers in the imperial capital are just barely at the point where theyd say: Its somehow a magic sword I think? For a blacksmith like Kantra to make it by himself? Thatd surely be something impossible. Originally.

Sounds like drunken talk doesnt it? For a mere blacksmith, making a magic sword

Yeah Alright then, well, theres nothing to it but to give it a go. Perhaps, with this shell, I might be able to make a magic sword.

Did he calm down from speaking with me? Kantra was already looking like a full-fledged blacksmith.

Looking at it another way, this is a good chance to realize my dreams. Arent there magic swords in this dungeon? Theyd be good examples to work off of. Gozoh, for collecting the materials, could I get your help?

Aye, for the time being I can capture iron golems here.

Looking at Kantras straightforward eyes, I decided to give him my support.

How should I put it, I really cant read that Kehma Theres no way hes just some ordinary guy

Footnotes:

Heres a Wikipedia link for the food.