◆ Royal Capital of Kashiram – Hans’s Workshop ◆
“That’s why that weapon doesn’t suit your stature. You’re still a D-rank, right? Newbies have their own weapons, you know, idiot.”
There are other customers in this workshop besides us. Well, I’m not really a customer since I didn’t pay for the weapon to be reforged. Anyway, since then, more and more people have started visiting Hans’s workshop.
It all began the other day. Apparently, the story of Weiss getting his spear reforged here spread like wildfire. Weiss, an S-rank Adventurer, is not only popular among other Adventurers in this country but also has a strong following among women. Not just young girls, but even older ladies have formed multiple fan clubs, sometimes even competing against each other, as Rama told me.
With someone like that, who attracts cheers from girls as if they were a battle squad just by walking down the street, it’s no wonder word got around that he visited this workshop. Now, it’s known throughout the Royal Capital. In fact, a huge crowd gathered at the entrance, but when Hans swung his hammer menacingly, they scattered like frightened rabbits. It’s almost enviable how he doesn’t care at all about being disliked.
And the spear I got to see, Grand Run. After seeing Disballade, it shines even more brilliantly. The blade is so beautifully reflective that it seems to capture one’s face, radiating a divine aura. If Disballade is a rabid dog chained up, then Grand Run is a noble dog with a fine coat.
“I’m letting you off easy since you’re a newbie.”
“Really?! Is that okay? It’s practically free…”
“Shut up! I said it’s fine, didn’t I?!”
“Y-yes!”
It’s obvious to anyone that this roughness is why people hesitate to come here. But I believe the draw of Hans’s skill is significant, even without Weiss’s involvement. In fact, Adventurers who have had their weapons reforged by Hans come back to thank him for their increased success in battles. Those small accumulations have built up to create the current situation.
“Anyway, I want a weapon with high destructive power. Don’t worry, I have enough strength to handle it.”
“Strength alone doesn’t mean you can wield a weapon! Don’t you know that? I’ll beat you to a pulp, so sit properly!”
“Yikes!”
If he dislikes something even a little, he’ll chase you down with full force and kick you out. His intensity is enough to make even B-rank Adventurers flee, and perhaps his craziness adds to the fear. The more I observe, the more I think about how I managed to get my weapon reforged for free by such a person.
“I was worried about how things would turn out, but now I have no worries, Lua-chan.”
“I never imagined a day would come when there would be a line at this workshop.”
“Haha… At this rate, that shabby weapon shop might just go under.”
“Yikes!”
Who just said “yikes” so casually? It must be that masked person standing in line discreetly. Wrapped in a thick hood, there’s no doubt that’s the owner of the Weapon Shop, Black Gold Blade. What’s he doing here?
“Hey, Black Gold Blade’s owner. Don’t tell me you’re here scouting or something cliché.”
“H-how did you know?!”
“That’s why your shop’s sales have dropped and you’re getting returns left and right. If you’re a merchant, you should at least brew some tea from Master Matere’s hair and drink it.”
“How dare a mere blacksmith insult Master Matere! If he were to get serious, he could crush this workshop in an instant!”
“Oh, go ahead and try. I’m looking forward to seeing how a lapdog with the intelligence to only spread bad rumors about the scrap metal you call weapons handles this.”
“N-no, that’s not what I meant…”
Having already become the laughingstock of this exchange, the shop owner seemed uncomfortable and sneaked away. The once arrogant uncle who boasted so much is nowhere to be seen now. His hunched back as he scurried away resembled a monster fleeing after losing its will to fight.
Hans’s workshop is doing well for now, which makes me happy, but I’m worried about the factory. In the end, everyone, including Douma, got caught, and we essentially brought that factory down ourselves. Plus, there’s no way Formas would stay quiet after being beaten up like that. This could lead to something, perhaps.
“Yawn~ It suddenly got busy. Maybe I should take a break and have a nap…”
“Excuse me.”
With a hefty grunt, an old man with a brown beard entered. Dressed in a striped suit with a pink bow tie, he looked more like a grandfather, his wrinkled, dry skin standing out. Despite his frail physique, his narrow eyes radiated unmistakable hostility.
We didn’t even need to ask who he was; we understood instantly. After all, Formas and the shop owner who just fled were standing behind him, confirming our suspicions.
“Long time no see, Hans. I hear you’ve been busy reopening your shop.”
“Cut the pointless greetings. What do you want, Matere?”
My worries have become reality. From their exchange, it’s clear they know each other, but they don’t seem friendly at all. Still, Hans maintains a smug smile and a confident demeanor.
“Recently, a fire broke out at my factory. You’ve heard about it, right? Apparently, the employees staged a rebellion. What a blow! My profits have plummeted, and for some reason, my reputation has taken a hit as well. It’s been nothing but trouble lately. And to top it off, my dear son was assaulted by a renowned blacksmith. I can’t just sit back and let this slide. You know my personality, right?”
“So, you’re going to destroy this workshop?”
“No apology, huh? At this point, I have no hesitation in crushing it.”
“Have you ever hesitated?”
It’s clear they know each other and aren’t on good terms. Moreover, it’s obvious that Hans is at fault for the assault on Formas. Considering all these facts, what can I do? Nothing.
“Daddy! I just wanted to help that Tatarka guy over there, and they—”
“Yes, yes, I know you’re a kind child. I’ve known that about you for a long time. You’ve always been compassionate, and I sometimes thought being too kind could be a problem. I’ll deal with these scoundrels who took advantage of your sincerity.”
Kurinka’s expression is tense. I probably look the same. That Formas is calling him “Daddy.” I never wanted to see this scene of a father patting his son’s head. And as Matere turns to face us with a smirk, he transforms into a different person.
“Your names are Lua and Roel, right? I looked into you, and you’re quite accomplished Adventurers. Considering your recent achievements in repelling the Demon Lord Army, it’s clear that Douma and the others were outmatched. Impressive.”
“Thank you…”
“However, I despise Adventurers. They scrape by day to day, sometimes throwing themselves into danger. Those who can only live such a haphazard life are already losers who have given up on happiness. But you know… it’s also important to understand such a cesspool of a world. That’s why I allowed Formas to become an Adventurer. With his skills, he’s certainly superior to those stray dogs known as Adventurers, and more importantly, he volunteered. It was a bitter decision for me, but I thought it necessary for a beast to push its child off a cliff for education. But… I never imagined he would get involved with such people and end up unhappy… ugh… ugh…”
Is being able to speak fluently without stuttering a skill in itself? I don’t want to see an old man crying as he hugs his grown son. And I wish he would just leave if he has no business here. We’re not in the Royal Capital of Kashiram for sightseeing, after all.
Even Hans seems to have lost interest, as he’s already trying to get back to work.
“I will never forgive you. You’ll learn what it means to have Matere as your enemy.”
Leaving behind that ominous parting line, Matere and Formas slammed the door shut as they left. I wonder why the shop owner was brought back here if he was just going to chase after them saying, “Wait!” But Hans, who didn’t even seem to hear that, has already begun reforging the requested weapon. Feeling the unspoken intent that we’d be in the way if we stood around, we decided to fulfill our original purpose.
◆ Kashiram Royal Palace – Conference Room ◆
“Currently, there are seven known existing bandit groups. However, it’s only a matter of time before they are absorbed by the Comet Wolf Brigade. Just the other day, we received information that the Red Tiger Brigade has entered a state of conflict with the Comet Wolf Brigade.”
“Do we know the locations of those seven hideouts?”
“We’ve almost pinpointed the locations of the Crazy Demon Brigade and the Cyclone Brigade, but the others remain unknown.”
In the heavy, sweat-scented conference room, dozens of commanders from the cavalry units of Kashiram were seated, including the overall commander, the S-rank Adventurer Weiss, and the King of Kashiram. In the midst of them, we felt out of place. It was unavoidable since we had learned that bandit groups were rampaging through the country, destroying villages and towns one after another.
Most of the villagers who were wiped out were killed, and the women and children were taken away. The gruesome tales of bandits displaying the heads of their victims to provoke the royal cavalry made my blood boil with rage. In a fit of anger, I smashed the table in our inn room, earning a near-tearful reprimand from Kurinka. I couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. However, there were no requests from the Guild regarding this matter. It seemed the country was taking it seriously, and they were intentionally keeping Adventurers in the dark to avoid alerting the bandits, who might flee their hideouts. So, we decided to go directly to the royal palace, where the King of Kashiram greeted us in high spirits, leading us to this moment.
The Comet Wolf Brigade was so powerful that even average Adventurers could find themselves turned into subordinates, potentially bolstering the enemy’s strength. I struggled to comprehend what it meant to be made a subordinate.
“It seems they are forcibly making Adventurers comply by taking their loved ones hostage. Moreover, some of them possess bizarre skills. Because of that, our cavalry has had to retreat numerous times. What on earth are those skills…?”
I shared everything I knew about Custom Magic, particularly the shock surrounding Shadow Entry. With that ability, one could easily approach the King’s bedroom at night and kill him without difficulty. It was no wonder everyone was so alarmed. I was surprised by it myself. The members of the Comet Wolf Brigade that Jag and I captured were being held underground, but I wondered if they were safe.
“If we could just locate the ‘Masked Giant’…”
“However, even Weiss has failed to capture him. If we were to confront him, we wouldn’t stand a chance…”
“What is this Masked Giant?”
“He is a high-ranking member of the Comet Wolf Brigade that is currently wreaking havoc in this country. We call him the Masked Giant due to his appearance, as his name is unknown. According to the captured members of the Comet Wolf Brigade, he recently joined and rapidly ascended to a leadership position. We know he controls this area, but…”
“Ahem! It seems we are unable to reach a decision.”
The King of Kashiram finally spoke, having grown impatient. Next to him, Basil, the commander of the cavalry, and Weiss, the S-rank Adventurer, remained expressionless. The boisterous King glared at the squabbling commanders, causing them to shrink back before continuing.
“The Comet Wolf Brigade is absorbing other bandit groups one after another. Eventually, they will come for the remaining seven groups. Surround the Crazy Demon Brigade and the Cyclone Brigade, and when the wolves bite the bait, we can take them all at once.”
“With all due respect, Your Majesty, securing provisions for surveillance will be extremely difficult. Moreover, it doesn’t seem realistic to evade their keen eyes for an extended period.”
“Then we have no choice but to eliminate the Crazy Demon Brigade and the Cyclone Brigade. It’s better than allowing them to be absorbed and strengthen their forces. Or do you think we should just sit back and do nothing, Weiss?”
“…I spoke out of turn.”
Weiss was someone who could voice his opinions without fear among this crowd, and he seemed reliable. Yet, when the King spoke, he would fall silent. I wondered what reason there was for an Adventurer like Weiss to be so obedient to the King.
“Then we have no choice but to torture the captured bandits for information.”
“However, we have failed to extract any useful information, no matter how many times we’ve tried. It’s likely that information within the brigade is managed according to rank. Or perhaps it’s due to their terrifying unity…”
The discussion dragged on in this manner, ultimately concluding with the decision to strengthen perimeter security and increase the number of scouts. Meanwhile, I struggled to keep my eyes open, feeling utterly useless. I felt guilty for having casually offered to help, but there was truly nothing I could do.
If they wanted us to defeat the bandits, I would gladly do so, but coming up with a strategy was beyond my capabilities. Kurinka was also at a loss. Essentially, it seemed we needed to find the Masked Giant, but if the Guild’s information was insufficient, I couldn’t think of any other way. If only the Masked Giant had a favorite bait, we might be able to lure him out. But then, I said this:
“Please refrain from making such foolish comments.”
Since that serious reprimand from one of the commanders, I hadn’t spoken a word. I just wanted them to handle it on their own.
◆ Royal Capital of Kashiram, Kutsurogi Inn Front ◆
“It’s completely dark now…”
“Yawn… I’m so sleepy.”
“After sleeping that much?”
“The time to sleep during those moments is different.”
“Like a separate stomach for sweets…”
If I said, “Call me when the plan is decided,” I would probably get scolded. I wasn’t fond of Weiss’s cold gaze, and I imagined the commanders would be shouting angrily. We were the ones who visited the royal palace, so I couldn’t say much, but I wondered if there was any point in holding a meeting for hours without results. I even thought it might be faster for me to fly with Kurinka and search for the hideouts from the sky.
“But bandit hideouts are usually caves in the mountains, so it might be hard to spot them from the air.”
“Ugh, if only we knew the location, it would be over quickly…”
“Memo, memo… memo, memo…”
And then there was that girl named Shin, who had been following us around. She was desperately scribbling something in what looked like a small notebook, glancing at us occasionally. During the meeting, she had crawled under the table and fallen asleep.
“What are you writing?”
“Yikes?! D-Don’t look! It’s a maiden’s secret!”
“O-Oh, I see. But you’ve been following us around. Do you need something from us?”
“I just happen to be going to the same place! Don’t misunderstand!”
“That’s fine. You want to come with us, right, Shin?”
“Y-Yes! Shin is an orphaned child!”
And then she started making excuses that I couldn’t verify, insisting she wouldn’t show us the contents. Kurinka was too lenient with her. The way she fluttered around in the air was more akin to a little devil than a fairy. I felt uneasy about being followed, and my curiosity about what was in that notebook made me consider using my full speed to sneak a peek from behind.
◆ Kutsurogi Inn, Counter ◆
“I’m sorry, but we cannot accommodate you two. Please leave.”
“Why not?!”
“I’m sorry… We’re currently fully booked…”
After being kicked out of the inn, Kurinka explained that this was Matere’s doing. It seemed our enemies weren’t just the Demon Lord Army and the bandits.
◆ Shin Report ◆
Shin, deep in thought!
Once discovered, hiding will only make it easier to be found again.
So, Shin thought of something.
What if she stuck close to them, making them trust her and think she was one of them?
Then, when the time came, Shin could ambush them and take them out. No, that’s impossible.
Anyway, they revived Disbarred, and Rua is in high spirits.
However, an unexpected rival, that is Matere.
Shin couldn’t understand what was so impressive about that scary old man.
He’s a spoiled brat, so it’s a fact that he’s quite infuriating.
With all that said, are you bandit hunters? Where are you planning to go?
I want to ask because you’re being so evasive.
That said, the Comet Wolf Brigade is not to be underestimated by the Demon Lord Army either.
There might be a chance to gather some useful information.
So I was sleeping around here during the meeting.
The dim-witted Rua was scratching her head after the meeting, trying to make sense of things.
Being foolish, I couldn’t be of any help—serves me right. It seemed like I was about to be seen around here.
The little girls were kicked out of the inn by the meddling of that annoying one.
In silence, I thought that at least I wouldn’t have to see those two cuddling in bed anymore.
It was quite convenient for me.
“Stop it! Really, just stop! Ah, stop!”