Chapter 16: Let’s Make a Weapon
Translator: ShiroiKaze/Soyokaze Translations
Since then, Alec1 beca a freeloader, and a week passed.
Perhaps because our circumstances are similar, I don’t recall feeling much aversion to him, and I quickly got used to touching him.
About the condition of his injury; my Master’s healing potion has a weak imdiate effect, but it was unusually strong in this case. By the ti we arrived at the cottage, his bleeding stopped, and by night ti he could stand up just fine. Three days later he had recovered to the point where he could do normal daily activities.
It has been four days since then. In the morning, when I return from drawing water, the clank, clank, of wooden swords eting reverberates in the air. In the afternoon they wash themselves off, and study magic. Then until nightfall, they continue their battle in the na of training.
And at night ti he eats dinner, takes a bath, and sleeps like log…
“Recently, hasn’t my presence here been kinda thin? It’s as I thought; n actually find boys cuter, don’t they?”
This feeling of alienation seems to be giving an inferiority complex, so let’s start showing off my own appeal tomorrow.
Fortunately, in the new cottage, thanks to my fierce request, we have a bath inside!
Well, though I call it a bath, it’s really just a stone bathing tub that my Master made. We have to get water from the pump to pour into it, and heat up the water with a [heat ball], so it’s a pretty rough set-up, but…
Anyhow, when you think of family skinship, it’s gotta be a family bath. Since I’m a child, there shouldn’t be any legal issues either!
That said, the next day when I intruded on the bathroom, not just my Master, but even Alec got angry at .
Soday I think I want my dream of a “Family Bath” to be realized.
~~~*~
The days continued on like that, but of course it’s not like I was doing nothing either.
Today I’m heading over to Mareba Village alone to do so research.
Instead of a paynt for our bridge construction work, we received a horse and a small carriage. As such, a round trip to the village has beco easier.
The the of my research right now is Alec’s gift: “two-handed sword talent”.
For that research, I need to know more about weapons.
“Oh, well if it isn’t Yuuri? On an errand today?”
Arriving at the village entrance, Mr. Ki, who I know, cos to et .
“Good afternoon. I have a little sothing I want to talk with the blacksmith about.”
“Mr. Ki, wassup with this suspicious kid?”
Another gatekeeper sends his bluntly distrustful gaze my way.
Well, I’ve got the black outfit from before equipped, so I can’t bla him, but…
“This is the apprentice from Mr. Haster’s place. In spite of her looks, she’s an amazing magician, so don’t be rude.”
“Wha, the rumored at—“
“Mr. Ki, what is “in spite of her looks” supposed to an? Also, don’t call a at slave!”
To the person calling by such a rude na, I raise both of my arms and make my protest clear.
What’s with that sunny look you’re sending over here, Mr. Ki?
“If it’s the blacksmith you need, then that would be Mr. Bartin. I’ll guide you to his house. Gordon, that being the case, I’ll leave you in charge here for a bit.”
“S-sure. I don’t mind, but…”
“Yuuri, may I use the carriage? I’ll handle driving.”
“Much obliged.”
Without being used to operating the carriage yet, places with people made a little scared, so I’ll gladly leave the driving to him.
I transfer from the drivers seat to the luggage area. Let’s enjoy taking in the village’s scenery. Since I’m a little scared of sitting next to him…
“Mr. Bartin is a little eccentric, but will you be alright?”
“Well, I’ve got an objective, so I’ll do my best.”
He’s probably worried about . When I t Mr. Ki, I vomited everywhere, so that would make sense.
“If it’s the blacksmith you need, then it must be about a weapon for Alec? Aah, speaking of which, his foster parents haven’t been decided yet. Sorry ’bout that.”
“No, it’s taking care of a person after all, so I don’t think it will be decided that easily.”
“Right now he’s receiving training from Mr. Haster, isn’t he? If he becos a competent enough swordsman, then I think the possibility of living on his own is also on the table though.”
“Except he’s only 12 years old. On top of that, he just lost his parents. Soone needs to be with him.”
“Though I think there are so problems with sitting in on a newlywed household, you know…”
Hm? What did he just say?
“Newlywed household…? Don’t tell , so nice person and my Master are?!”
“Ah, no, that’s not… right, there’s nobody by Mr. Haster besides you, Yuuri, so don’t worry.”
“Are you telling the truth?”
I glare at Mr. Ki with moistened eyes.
A cold sweat is flowing from him, but he doesn’t seem to be lying?
“But, I guess that’s true. If my Master were to get married, I’d have to leave the cottage as well…”
To be honest, just by imagining that future… I feel a chill and get goosebumps.
It doesn’t seem like I can separate myself from my Master yet. But I need to at least be prepared for such a situation.
“… Haaa.”
Seeing my face pulled tight in a serious expression, Mr. Ki lets out a sigh for so reason.
What is it? This is a very serious problem for , OK?
“Aah, over there is Mr. Bartin’s workshop. Can you rember the way?”
“Just fine. My mory is quite good after all.”
“I’ll introduce you so, let’s see, give a mont to find a place to stop the horse.”
“Roger that.”
After I jumped out of the luggage area, Mr. Ki went to tie up the carriage’s horse.
Mr. Bartin’s workshop gives off a sincere, no nonsense impression.
Since water is indispensable for household chores, there’s a well dug up for use outside, and firewood is piled up next to the house. On the roof there’s a chimney, and black smoke is billowing out of it.
The front of the house turns into a small shop, and from the window you can spy a dimly lit store interior.
“Woow…”
I reflexively let out a voice of wonder.
The dimly lit store interior was crowded with weapons and armor. There doesn’t seem to be much effort put in to selling it, but for a modern person like , it’s an exciting spectacle.
“This village is a pioneering village after all. Wild animals and mythical beasts occasionally co attacking, so instead of a fancy storefront, it’s better that we have an assortnt of items.”
Mr. Ki returned from tying up the horse, and nonchalantly pushed open the door.
With a cling, cling, the door bell attached to the door informs that visitors are here.
“Mr. Bartin, I’ve brought you a custor. She’s probably a really good one—“
“I won’t deny that, but what’s with that introduction?”
“What’s the racket about?”
Busily entering the store, Mr. Bartin replies frankly as he cos to greet us… Whoa!
“Beard! Plump! A dwarf?!”
“What’s with the suspicious character?”
A short in stature and thick boned body, a brambly beard, plump arms.
That is what you call the archetype of a dwarf before my eyes. The language center of my brain spontaneously brought forth an ERROR ssage.
“Ahaha, this girl is Mr. Haster’s dear apprentice. Though she looks suspicious, she’s actually an amazing magician.”
“What kinda business does a magician have at a weapon shop? Yer not expecting to repair a pot are ya?”
“You can relax. It seems she does indeed have weapon-based business.”
“Ah, yes, nice to et you! I’m Yuuri, Haster’s apprentith.”
“Na’s Bartin”
My greeting was rushed, so I ssed up a bit. Mr. Bartin ignored it for , which I appreciate.
“Ahem, umm, right then. Today I ca to ask about the difference between a sword and a large sword.”
“Ah?”
“Like, see, swords and two-handed swords are both “swords”, but the gifts for them divided, right? So about those differences, like the concrete disparities between them…”
“They’re entirely different.”
“Oh, is that right?”
I cannot help but return a question mark to that impossible response. But I was half-expecting this answer.
“If a sword for one hand is held with two, does it gain more power? If a sword for two hands is swung with one, does its blade grow dull? Nay is the answer. As it is, a sword’s effectiveness doesn’t change. However, to hold it with two hands, the handle has to be extended. That’ll change its balance too. Even the length of the blade changes it. A weapon for two hands is a weapon designed with the premise that it’ll be used two-handed. A one handed one is a sword all the sa, but they’re still different.”
“… …”
My mind brings up my swordsmanship training from a while back for a bit.
At the ti my Master broke off a wooden sword to the size of a kitchen knife for , which I held in two hands.
At that ti, could the performance of the wooden sword have changed? The length and weight were probably points of change, but…
That wooden sword I held with two hands, and my Master held with one… It was a sword made for two hands, and held with one.
Which ans, as far as Alec’s gift goes… there still seems to be so hope.
“Shall I… give it a try? Mr. Bartin, where would the biggest sword in this shop be?”
“Young lady, I don’t think you could lift it?”
“I won’t be the one using it, so that’s fine.”
“… Hm.”
Mr. Bartin goes to the back of the store, and then returns carrying a stupidly huge large sword.
“This is the biggest sword I’ve got. It’s called Sentinel, and is the kind of sword requested.”
“It’s huge?!”
The sword’s blade alone is over two ters, and the width looks to be about the sa as my shoulder width. And the blade has about as much thickness as a fist?!
“I designed it so it could also be used as a shield, but it got too heavy, and there were very few who could handle such a quirky thing.”
I tried to lift it to try it out, but I couldn’t even get it to budge.
“Mr. Bartin, can you handle this thing?”
“All I can do is carry it. Moreover, I’m not a swordsman.”
“Then, what about Mr. Ki?
“As if a beansprout like him could carry it?”
“That’s just rude, though, certainly, I can’t carry it.”
I tried using 1% of [body reinforcent], but I could only raise the handle up, and I was still far from lifting it.
Though it’s 1%, it should be close to the strength of two ordinary people…
Spending 2% on it, I managed to lift it. I’ll try lightly swinging it around.
Crack
“Hnghaaaaaaah!!?”
Since I forgot to put anything in vitality, I badly sprained my wrist.
The sword slipped out of my hand and magnificently destroyed the door at the entrance… is sothing this heavy supposed to be handled by people?!
“Ah, So-sorry!”
“I don’t mind the door… and in fact, I’m surprised that you could lift it, but… are you alright, young lady?”
“Yuuri, could you not attempt the impossible!?”
Giving it a little while, “Golden Ratio” takes effect to heal the sprain, and I give it another try.
—Outside this ti.
With a swoosh, swoosh I swing it around four or five tis, checking the balance and such.
Just by having it designed to be swung with two hands, compared to the physical strength demanded, it’s easy to swing.
There’s nothing I can’t lift with one hand if I use [body reinforcent]… but this passes the limit of what people can handle.
“Hmm… I see now.”
I carry it back into the store, and return Sentinel to the counter.
“Mr. Ki, Mr. Bartin. What are those pale, worn out looks for?”
“… Young lady… are you a monster?”
“Pr-pretty amazing, Yuuri.”
“All I did was supplent my strength with a spell? Normally I couldn’t even budge the thing.”
“That’s a relief… I, my dignity, and lots of other things, as a man were just about blown away.”
Next I asure Sentinel’s length, width, weight, and such.
Two tis the length, four tis the width, and five tis the thickness… what an unbelievable weapon this is.
There’s about a small child’s worth of mass to it.
“Hum… no problems with the size, huh?… The rest depends on Alec’s gift, I suppose?”
“Alec you say. Is he the one you’re giving it to? How strong of a person is his?”
“Ahaha, he’s still a child! He’s twelve.”
“Yuuri, I think this is impossible you know?”
“Well I think so too. “What a magician can’t do, they should make up for with spells” is what my Master says.”
At my words, Mr. Bartin’s eyebrows fell.
“The swords I make are like my children. If you’re gonna use it as an experint for your spells, then…”
“Ah, I guess that makes sense. But if it’s not this size, then… no, at that point, wouldn’t it be fine if I used it? I guarantee it will be used as a sword!”
Right, we would hardly want it to beco a sacrifice for an experint and break. And putting it to sleep in the warehouse would just be sad…
“I’ve decided. I want this sword, please.”
“Well, I suppose it’s better than letting it gather dust, but… It’s expensive you know?”
“For a while now I’ve been helping my Master with [enchanting], so I’m comparatively rich.”
“It’s 140 gold coins though?”
“O-one hundred and fourty~?!”
Mr. Ki is the one who gave that surprised shout.
For a sword like this, isn’t that a pretty reasonable amount?
By the way, for the most recent ring delivery, out of 500 gold coins, 200 coins entered my purse.
“And then, with the cost of the door repair, it cos to 150 gold coins.”
“Business is good… certainly.”
“Thank you very much as well, Mr. Ki. I got so good shopping done.”
“I-I appreciate you saying as such, but… haaaa.”
Mr. Ki appears to be unable to speak anymore. I guess he still has the monetary sensibility of a common man.
Now then, on to the experints!
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