◆ Kashiram Territory – In Front of Formas’s Mansion ◆
“What are you two to young Master Formas? What kind of relationship do you have?”
Finally arriving at Formas’s mansion, I found myself in this predicament. The Matere Trading Company is so well-known that there’s hardly anyone who hasn’t heard of it, and it was easy to gather information about the son of the company’s president through the Guild.
Beyond the iron-barred gate lies a path so long that I couldn’t even guess how many minutes it would take to walk. In the distance, a three-story building looms, sprawling across the ground. In other words, it’s enormous. I was surprised by Francoise’s mansion, but this one is on a whole different level.
Of course, there are guards stationed at the entrance of such a grand estate. They’re clad in armor and gauntlets, clearly ready for battle. One might wonder if they’re about to head off to war.
“I’m not a friend of Formas… I’m looking for that girl he always brings along, Tatarka. Do you know where she is right now?”
“I see, so it’s that kind of situation. Usually, when a woman comes to visit the young master, it’s not for anything good. Most of them are just bitter souls, clutching knives in their hands, ready to unleash their grudges, or they’re the type to go mad at the gate, claiming they can’t forget him.”
Am I the only one who finds it amusing to refer to him as young master Formas? I mean, really, is that what he is?
“Not every woman who visits is like that. After all, it’s the great Matere Trading Company we’re talking about. They’ve probably accumulated a mountain of grudges—one or two won’t even make a dent. Some even go so far as to hire armed Adventurers to launch attacks. Yet, up until today, this mansion has suffered no damage. Do you know why?”
“I don’t care, just tell me where Tatarka is!”
“Rua-chan, please, just be quiet for a moment! Um, why is that?”
“Don’t you get it? It’s because I’ve been guarding this place for thirty years.”
He doesn’t answer my questions at all, and now he’s crouching in a defensive stance at the gate. I understand he wants to keep us out, but all I want is to know where Tatarka is. Of course, I tried to gather information about Formas and Tatarka at the Guild, but that was a no-go.
While you can buy all sorts of information at the Adventurer’s Guild, personal information is notoriously unreliable and hard to come by. They won’t even sell it to you unless you’re at least an A-Rank Adventurer with a proven track record. I remember someone at the Guild telling me that they only sell information to those who have built up trust through accomplishments.
If I were an Adventurer taking on quests, I might have had a chance, but it seems Formas hasn’t been active since then. What on earth did he become an Adventurer for?
In this situation, I realize it’s unreasonable to expect someone I don’t even know to talk easily. This idea came from Kurinka, who seems reliable but is quite scatterbrained.
“I’ve been highly regarded by young Master Formas for my unparalleled skills. Whenever he passes by here, he always greets me, and I respond with a smile. It’s these small interactions that build a stronger bond of trust. You should remember that well. If you keep wandering around aimlessly, you’ll end up being discarded by him.”
Wow, it seems even Formas has some redeeming qualities. But now isn’t the time to be impressed by trivial matters. This gatekeeper talks a lot without answering any of my questions, and at this rate, we’ll get nowhere.
“I don’t know what your purpose is, but if you keep prying into his affairs, you won’t live to tell the tale. I suggest you leave this place immediately.”
“No, I’m not here for Formas; I’m looking for Tatarka!”
“They’re the same. The girl he always brings along is particularly favored. You’re probably plotting something out of spite for being discarded by him, but that won’t fly. Now, get out of here.”
“Wait, stop it!”
As the gatekeeper grabbed our shoulders, I instinctively shoved him away. I realized immediately that I had gone too far, especially when he not only flew back but also completely shattered the chest area of his silver armor.
“Ugh!”
The gatekeeper crashed dramatically against the iron-barred door. I was about to apologize, but I figured he wouldn’t forgive me.
“I-I’m sorry! I went too far… So, really, where is Tatarka?”
“U-uh, she’s been playing in the Royal Capital of Kashiram lately… I don’t know anything more than that… p-please don’t kill me…”
For a brief moment, he seemed dazed, but as I approached, his lips began to tremble in fear. Did my strike reveal my strength, or did I unconsciously intimidate him? Either way, if he can tell, then he must be quite strong. It makes sense that Formas would choose such a capable gatekeeper.
He even has a nice little hut near the gate, and from what I could see, it was stocked with all the essentials. It seems that being trusted isn’t just a lie after all.
“I’m sorry, my Rua-chan… I’ll take care of the treatment, and I’ll leave the payment for the armor here!”
After a remarkable display of skill, Kurinka transformed into a dragon and forcefully tossed me onto her back. I was taken aback by the sudden rough handling, but I knew we would definitely get scolded once the gatekeeper calmed down. I thought about that as I gazed down at the expansive mansion and grounds from the sky.
◆ Royal Capital of Kashiram – Weapon Shop – Black Gold Blade ◆
“Traveling has become easier, but don’t you think you’re treating me a bit harshly?”
“If someone else shows up, it’ll be a hassle, so it’s better to escape quickly. By the way, this staff feels nice. It’s the Staff of Scorching Tales. The price is… 50,000 gold. Hmm, that seems a bit steep…”
“Let’s buy it! I think it’s about time you replaced that Fire Rod.”
“But my budget…”
“Then how about we add my allowance to it? If it’s a gift from me, that’s fine, right?”
“B-but…”
Leaving behind the reluctant Kurinka, I picked up the staff and made the purchase. I’m not an expert on weapons, but I could tell this was a good one. I could feel the surging magical power, and it could definitely be considered an upgrade from the Fire Rod. Honestly, I even wondered if it was really okay to sell something this good for such a low price.
Looking around at the weapons propped up against the walls, most of them didn’t seem worth their prices. They all looked awkward or poorly designed for comfort. I wondered if Hans lamented about this.
“Rua-chan, you can’t just…”
“Here, it’s a gift.”
“…Fine.”
“Thank you.”
Kurinka turned around, cradling the Staff of Scorching Tales in both hands as she quietly expressed her gratitude. I had always wanted to give a gift, and it felt unfair that I had the Disballade while Kurinka was still stuck with the Fire Rod.
I also had a feeling that the power of that Fire Rod was influenced by the Flame Breath she unleashes in her dragon form. I can’t say for sure, but that’s just the impression I got.
“You should be happier about this, you know?”
“Geez! You’re so mean!”
She playfully swatted at me with her hands, which was adorable, but I hoped she wouldn’t direct that power at anyone else. Even Seigel would probably find it quite painful. It was a bit painful for me too.
“Still, the only good weapon here seems to be that staff. The others just don’t stand out.”
“Hmm, I’m not sure about that…”
“Wait, isn’t that Hans?”
In a corner of the bustling weapon shop filled with Adventurers, I spotted Hans, arms crossed and wearing a scowl. He looked so out of place compared to the cheerful Adventurers happily choosing their weapons.
“Hans, you’re here too.”
“Huh? You two are still here? I thought you’d run off ages ago.”
“Not at all. We’re definitely bringing back a successor that you’ll like.”
“Hmph, you should just give up already…”
“Ah! Can you buy this for me, please?”
“What? You want this? Let’s see… the Kalarotril Sword, 3,400 gold… well, it seems fine enough. I’ll buy it.”
Hans clicked his tongue in annoyance as he watched a group of Adventurers nearby happily swapping weapons.
“Is there something wrong with those people?”
“If they’re so eager to praise something that isn’t even worthy of being called a shoddy product, they’ll be monster fodder by tomorrow. Choosing weapons is part of one’s strength, you know.”
“Oh, so that sword is called the Kalarotril Sword? It seems a bit pricey… and the grip looks oddly uneven, making it hard to hold for long periods.”
“…You actually have a discerning eye.”
I felt like Hans’s gaze softened a bit as he looked at me. It was a small improvement, but I could sense it. Then again, we had just met, and I hadn’t done anything to be looked down upon.
“Those guys probably think that sword is made from Kalarotril ore. No, I doubt they even know if Kalarotril is the name of the ore.”
“Could it be that I’m mistaken?”
“Only part of it is Karatoriru; the rest is just cheap ore melted down. Plus, with that amount of metal and that size of the handle, it can’t support the blade at all. The moment you swing it, it’ll snap right at the base.
Not to mention, looking at that shape, it’s clear the one who forged it is deluded into thinking a sword should be straight. They clearly haven’t considered that it can change depending on the ore and its intended use.
Furthermore, they haven’t thought at all about the strain it puts on the arms and the body as a whole. If you keep fighting with something like that, even if you don’t end up as monster fodder, you’ll definitely wreck your body.”
“R-Really…?”
“A weapon should never be the same as another. It changes depending on the user’s physique and combat style, so you should think of it as there being as many weapons as there are people.
When I say this, there are idiots who argue that I’m just being neurotic or that it doesn’t matter. But they clearly don’t understand a thing.”
Watching Hans speak with such fervor, spitting as he went, gave me a strange sense of reassurance. It seemed Kurinka felt the same way, as she moved in front of Hans to peek at his face.
“Hehe, that’s good to hear.”
“W-What do you mean?”
“From the looks of it, your passion for weapons hasn’t faded.”
“Shut up! You idiot! Sit up straight!”
It was amusing to see Hans, usually so uptight and furious, flustered like this. Kurinka teasing him was also entertaining, or rather, impressive. She was still a strange person, but she couldn’t be a bad one. Though throwing a bottle at me was a bit dangerous.
“Hey! Is the shopkeeper around?!”
The loud voice that rang out in the store belonged to a rough-looking giant of a man. He kicked over shelves as soon as he entered, clearly in a foul mood.
“Sir, please refrain from causing a disturbance in the store.”
“You! What did you sell to me, Combo?! Look at this mithril club! After hitting a General Turtle, it ended up like this!”
In Combo’s hand was a cracked, purple club. I wondered what a General Turtle was. It sounded like a tough monster, so it made sense if it was damaged.
“This isn’t mithril, is it? You’ve ripped me off… how are you going to take responsibility for this?”
“That falls under your own responsibility, so please understand.”
“Who do you think I am?! I’m Combo, the C-rank ‘Golden Club’!”
“Please leave.”
The well-dressed, white-haired shopkeeper calmly dismissed him. I felt like I had heard the name ‘Golden Club Combo’ somewhere before. Maybe I had met him at some point.
“I’ll show this guy the terror of my big brother!”
“This crummy shop doesn’t deserve to exist. If you’re not going to take responsibility…”
“Excuse me, is there something I can help you with?”
From the back of the store emerged a man who was over a head taller than Combo. He was so large he seemed to almost touch the ceiling, and Combo was completely dwarfed by him.
“Uh, big brother… this is bad. We should get out of here.”
“O-Oh! Your store is like this…”
“If you want to talk, let’s do it over there. At length.”
“Ugh! L-Let go!”
Combo and a rat-like man were taken into the back of the store, and the silence that followed was so thick you could hear the adventurers inside swallowing hard.
“W-This is bad, Lua-chan…”
“Y-Yeah…”
“Just leave it be. If that really is mithril, it’s true it wouldn’t lose to a General Turtle, but both the one who sold the shoddy product and the one who bought it are fools.”
“Is that really how it is…?”
“That’s how Matere Trading Company operates. Even if someone like that comes in and makes a fuss, they’ll just be smoothed over. They prioritize quantity over quality to make a profit.”
“Matere Trading Company…?”
“Ah, but that staff is quite nice. How much did you buy it for?”
In the middle of the conversation, Hans suddenly focused on Kurinka’s Staff of Scorching Tales. His eyes lit up, and it was clear he had transformed into a sharp-eyed blacksmith the moment he saw it.
“50,000 gold… but that seems a bit high, right?”
“Whoa! 50,000?!”
“I-I knew it was overpriced…”
“Are you an idiot?! You sold something this high-quality for just 50,000?! I don’t know how it got into circulation, but it’s worth at least several hundred thousand! I can’t believe such a fine item was buried in a shop like this…”
“Oh, is that ruckus over there perhaps… the famous craftsman Hans?”
It was the white-haired shopkeeper from earlier. He had a kind-looking face, but after witnessing the earlier exchange, I felt I shouldn’t trust him. The phrase “famous craftsman” also felt like a jab.
“Well, you’re still selling garbage weapons, I see. You work hard every day to please the raccoon president.”
“To think a once-famous craftsman would stoop to such petty insults, the expansion of the market is truly remarkable, isn’t it? Hahaha.”
“Good for you, now another raccoon gets to fatten up.”
“A blacksmith competing with words instead of skill? What a sad state of affairs.”
The atmosphere suddenly turned hostile. Hans was trying to maintain his composure, but the corners of his mouth were twitching, and it felt like he could explode at any moment. Knowing how angry Hans could get, even Kurinka seemed flustered.
“Look, Matere Trading Company has completely monopolized the market in Kashiram. Not only that, but our weapons are now handled in weapon shops all over the world.
That once-ordinary weapon merchant is now a ruler… no, a Divine Being. The era of old-fashioned craftsmen is long over.”
“Shut your mouth!”
“Hans, are you scared?”
“Scared of what?!”
“Scared that your creations will be compared to our weapons. That’s why you’re so worked up and won’t forge anything. You don’t want to experience the despair of being chosen over your own weapons. So you cling to the title of ‘famous craftsman’ by refusing to forge.”
“Y-You…”
The tension was thick, like a brewing storm. Hans was so filled with anger that he seemed unable to explode, his face turning red as he looked ready to lash out.
“Well, feel free to keep dreaming. We’ll continue to win in reality.”
“You bastard!”
“Stop!”
Just as Hans was about to throw a punch at the shopkeeper, Kurinka grabbed his arm. The fact that she, a girl like Kurinka, could stop him left Hans momentarily stunned.
No matter how he twisted his fist, he couldn’t shake off Kurinka. With every effort he made to swing at the shopkeeper, Kurinka pushed him back instead.
“Hans, your arms aren’t meant for hitting people. If you want to make that guy eat his words, you need to compete in craftsmanship!”
“Ugh… you might be right…”
With a deflated sigh, it was as if all the air had been let out of him, and Hans slumped down. As he watched the shopkeeper walk away with a smug laugh, he stared blankly at a spot on the floor, deep in thought.
At that moment, a pair of individuals entered the store, changing the atmosphere entirely. They were the kind of customers no one would pay much attention to, but the moment they stepped in, the shopkeeper rushed to the entrance, his expression shifting drastically.
“Hey, how’s it going?”
“Yes! Absolutely! Are you here for an inspection today, Lord Formas?!”
It was the long-awaited return of Formas and Brikna. The last time I saw them, they were dressed in leather jackets, looking every bit the adventurers they were. Now, they were dressed far too casually in just light clothing, and the absence of Tatarka filled me with an inexplicable sense of unease.