“So, which items do you want me to process?”
“No no no, Ruzoi!””Humans must remain silent!””?!”
Nina stopped me as I tried to protest.
Aggie… was somehow sitting in a corner with his knees drawn up to his chest and his head bowed.
“Nina, what is that?””Ah, it’s the first ritual for apprenticeship.””…Ah!””You noticed.”
“Ah, yes yes yes… this is troublesome.””Silence, brat! …Understand?”
“I understand, but even though he is a slave, he is a full-fledged member of our party.”
Ruzoi flinched slightly.
Is it okay to use my authority in times like these?
I don’t know how much it will work against a Lizardman.
(He’s waiting in a prostration, asking to go home, and will wait until he’s forgiven… a ritual for apprenticeship, I see.)
“Deles, first, the Stone Succubus.”
“Ah, yes.”
I took it out of my item box.
This is a stone statue that shouldn’t be shown to children.
Even Rasser, the woman in charge of magic enchantment here, is screaming at it.
“What do you want me to do with this?”
“Can you do something?”
“…Just to plug the hole in its back.””What’s its purpose?””It’s for decoration.”
Since we came all the way here, we’ll have them do it.
A group that looked like young Lizardmen took it away.
“Next are these three staffs.”
“These are… staffs for undoing curses. They are specialized for petrification removal.”
“Can you combine these into one?””It’ll be long.””Please try your best.”
Ruzoi called Rasser over and they discussed it.
“…Can you do the magic itself?”
“It depends on how you combine them.””And the shape.””Connecting them vertically is the easiest way. If you can’t do that…”
They seem to be on good terms, but she’s Ruzoi’s daughter, right?
It’s hard to tell the age of Lizardmen. Ah, don’t blush just because I’m looking!
“Alright, I’ll take these three staffs apart.”
“What will be the effect?”
“If we can combine them successfully, we can amplify the magic power and remove not only petrification but also paralysis.”
Wow, I can look forward to this.
“What are the risks?”
“The success rate is 89%. If it fails, it can’t be undone, and you won’t have to pay.””What? If it were the Dwarf Princess, it would surely be 100%.””It’s 99% now!”
Huh? What was that?
“Then give it to the Dwarf Princess.””It’ll be 100%! 100%, no, I’ll complete it 1000%!!”
The success rate apparently became certain due to a mysterious sense of rivalry.
How does that work? Does the success rate change depending on their mood?
“I’m sorry, Lord Ruzoi, truly.”
“This is a matter of pride and honor as a Lizard blacksmith, as a craftsman.”
Clarice whispered to me.
“Perhaps, you’ll use precious materials, or a larger quantity, ignoring the cost-effectiveness.””I see. If it’s a money problem, I can pay any amount, but… magic stones?””
Yes, the currency here is magic stones.
“And you’ll probably use more people too.””I feel rather sorry about that.””They must not want to lose to Dwarf blacksmiths.”
While we were talking, we moved on to the next item.
“Next, I obtained precious feathers of the Angel Race.”
“W-what, r-r-really?””Yes, and I brought ten pairs, as many as I could get. I haven’t even shown them to the Dwarf Princess yet.”
When did he get them… Maybe when things were chaotic before we parted?
I was listening to Helen’s yandere tendencies, wasn’t I?
Or maybe when Nastasia showed me her claws.
(Since Nina’s soul hasn’t left her body, she didn’t get any of those charm feathers, did she?)
“It’s a small amount for ten pairs, but it’s enough.”
“What can you make with it?””If I have my way, I’d want the Angel Race’s skin. It’s best to peel it off while they’re alive.”
Ouch, ouch, ouch, stop that!
“What about dragon hide?”
“That’s fine. Demi-dragon hide is also acceptable.”
It’s okay, even a Darkness Wyvern whose meat is unpalatable would be fine.
“Hmm, I recall one with the Light Attribute.””That will be fine.”
Huh? Did we hunt something like that?
I remember hunting one with Shifrin.
Half of them are like that, not too many though.
“Then with this…”
“We’ll make a mantle.””Nastasia, is that okay?””
Ah, it’s for Nastasia.
She seemed to be thinking for a moment, then raised her hand.
She should just speak since she was asked.
“If I were to incorporate this into my Hero Assassin’s exclusive ‘Full Combo Kong Mantle’?”
“That’s what Ruzoi says.””You’ll need three times the feathers for that, and the success rate will be 45%.””If it’s the Dwarf Princess…”””It’s 68%!””Alright, give it to the Dwarf Princess!””I’LL MAKE IT 100%!!”
Oh, Ruzoi’s veins look like they’re about to burst.
This is going to be incredibly difficult for him, poor guy.
“Is that alright, Lord Ruzoi?””In that case, I’ll need eight times the feathers, and even higher quality ones.””Then should we pluck their feathers while they’re alive?””Can they be brought back alive?!”
Ah, this might turn into a situation where they’re made into mantles alive.
“Nina, surely, we’re not going to kill angels?”
“Even so, they’re demi-humans, and with that personality…”
“Well, she did have a poisonous tongue, but…”
I don’t want to take their lives, after all.
“Ruzoi, can you do it without killing them?”
“If you bring ten of them and line them up, I can just barely manage it. No, I will do it.””Nina…”””She’s eaten so much from me, she can’t refuse.””
In the end, Anju’s treat was a brilliant move.
“So, the finished product will be…””It will be even faster than the current mantle, and you’ll probably be able to fly.””
“Really?!”””However, it’s exclusive equipment for Hero Assassins.””Never mind.”
It’s practically Nastasia’s personal armor.
It’s better that way, though it’s not entirely impossible that it could be stolen.
(Now, I just need to negotiate with the Angel Race.)
“Nastasia, it’s 100%, alright?”
“Yes, I’ll leave it to you.””Is there anything else?””Well, let’s see…”
The conversation ended, and I handed over the items.
Nastasia’s mantle will be made when the Angel Race arrives.
“Please promise me something better than what the Dwarf Princess will make.””Can I see it?””Yes, I’ll show you everything.””Understood!”
“I’ll leave the payment to you again. I’ll pay with Gas Magic Stones when I pick it up.””I’m delighted.”
As we left the Lizard blacksmith, Aggie was still prostrating himself in a corner, out of the way.
Nina went over to him, squatted down, and spoke to him.
“Well then, if you need an inn, use Clarice Castle. I believe in you.”
She patted him on the shoulder and left.
Clarice also offered a prayer as she passed by.
As for me, well, well… I’ll leave a High-class Monaka.
(I hope he’s allowed to be an apprentice without incident.)
Stepping outside the blacksmith’s, we continued our conversation while looking around the Dwarf village.
“Nina, how long does it usually take to get accepted as an apprentice?”
“Who knows? But the Hero who came to be my grandfather’s apprentice prostrated himself for three days and three nights in front of his gate in wind and rain.”
“Three days?!”””Of course, he managed to go to the toilet and drink water during the unobserved moments in the middle of the night.”” ”
That’s still incredible.
“It’s good that the Lizard village is indoors.””No, it might actually take longer because of that.””What?””Our influence is effective; it’s good, but…” ”
She’s going to be Nina Starlights’ exclusive blacksmith.
For that, we’ll have to work hard, both herself and… well, her half-lizard self.
(Aggie… do your best!)
