Chapter 198: Master Artisan Luciel
“Master Artisan… Luciel?”
It felt like I had heard that name somewhere before, but I couldn’t quite place it. My master’s name, as indicated by the appraisal results, is Welter, not Luciel.
“…Huh? You don’t know? That Master Artisan Luciel!?”
Paula pressed closer, her enthusiasm palpable, while Rio and I exchanged puzzled glances, both of us shaking our heads in confusion.
“…I’ve never heard of him.”
“Me neither!”
With our collective denial, Paula took a step back. Given our lack of knowledge about the blacksmithing world, I hoped she would forgive us.
“Anyway, if Master Artisan Luciel’s work is here, I must inform the boss!”
With that, she dashed out of the room.
“Did my master ever go by the name Luciel?”
“No, I’ve never heard that before.”
“But it feels like I’ve heard it somewhere… right?”
“…Does it?”
I definitely felt something nagging at me, but I just couldn’t pin it down.
“Oh, I remember!”
“Huh?”
“Wasn’t there a dagger up for auction?”
An auction? The one held in the Commercial City? I recalled the striking image of a vampire slave, but I also had a vague memory of a dagger being presented before that.
“But why would I confuse it with a dagger made by my master?”
“True. I didn’t really get a good look at the dagger during the auction, so I can’t say for sure…”
As I reminisced, it seemed Paula had returned with the boss in tow.
“……..!?”
I thought I heard the boss speak, but I couldn’t make out a word.
“He’s asking if it’s true that you have a piece by Master Artisan Luciel.”
Ah, so he was indeed speaking. I wondered if he was actually vocalizing his thoughts. Paula really had a knack for communicating with the boss.
“No, I don’t have it…”
I replied while enhancing my hearing, but the boss’s gaze remained fixed on the dagger I held.
“……..!”
I felt like I saw his bearded mouth move, but was he really speaking?
“He insists that can’t be true… and he wants to see that dagger.”
So he really was talking. Even with my enhanced hearing, I couldn’t catch it, but Paula was impressive.
“Go ahead.”
With my heart racing, I offered my master’s dagger. The boss received it with a respectful gesture, examining the dagger still in its scabbard with great care. After a moment of scrutinizing the blade, he suddenly lifted his head and rushed toward us.
“……..!!!”
I still couldn’t understand what he was saying! Paula, please translate!
Looking around, I saw Rio and Ivan looking utterly bewildered, while Phonia was playing with Nil, as usual.
“He’s certain this is a piece by Master Artisan Luciel! Where did you acquire it!?”
Paula joined in, pressing closer, but in this cramped room, I honestly wished for a little space.
“I’ll tell you, just calm down!”
I gave off a vibe that if they didn’t settle down, I wouldn’t say anything, and thankfully, they took a step back.
“Um, this dagger was passed down to us from our master.”
After clearing my throat, I spoke slowly, breaking the words into segments for clarity.
“Y-Your master!? Could it be…!?”
“Yes. The dagger was crafted by my master.”
“Wha—!? Then, could it be that you are… disciples of Master Artisan Luciel!?”
“Why would you think that?!”
Oops… I couldn’t help but blurt out my surprise.
While I didn’t deny being my master’s disciple, I still had no idea who Master Artisan Luciel was.
“My master’s name is Welter.”
““……..!?””
The moment I revealed the name, both of them gasped, alternating their gaze between the dagger and me, their eyes widening in disbelief.
I wanted to say, “I told you so,” but something felt off. The boss’s hand trembled as he pointed at the dagger again, mumbling something I couldn’t hear.
“Could… could we see that dagger of yours?”
Paula cautiously pointed at the two daggers we had made from clay and iron. While they didn’t compare to my master’s work, I had no objection to showing them.
“Of course. These two were made by me.”
As I handed over my dagger, the boss accepted it with the same reverent demeanor. Perhaps it was just how a blacksmith treated their weapons.
He drew the dagger from its scabbard, letting out a soft “Hmm” of admiration.
Paula, eager to touch my master’s dagger, was handed it without hesitation.
With six people and one creature crammed into the small room filled with weapons and armor, it felt quite cramped. Even after I clarified that it wasn’t Master Artisan Luciel’s work, the atmosphere remained unchanged as they continued to examine the dagger, time slipping by.
Eventually, satisfied, they returned the daggers to me, and I placed them back on the table. The boss then fixed me with a serious gaze and began to move his mouth… and the hair around it.
“……..!”
I still couldn’t hear him!