Isekai Nonbiri Sozai Saishu Seikatsu - Chapter 69

Four days later, after gathering materials with Lumia and completing several nomination requests, I remembered that I had asked Rosca to cut crystals and blue crystals for me. I headed to Drogan’s workshop to inquire about the progress.

Walking through the artisan street west of the inn, I reached the workshop as usual. Having visited this workshop many times before, I entered casually since the workshop also served as a storefront, and there was no need to knock.

“No way!”

Suddenly, Drogan’s loud reprimand echoed, causing me to startle. Huh? Is it really so bad for me to enter as a customer? I briefly thought so, but Drogan’s words were not directed at me; they were aimed at Rosca, who was standing across from him.

“Why not!? It’s fine to decorate the bosses weapon with accessories, isn’t it!?”

“Decorate with accessories… When you do it, it’s bound to become a flashy and gaudy thing like jewelry!”

“Accessories and sword decorations are different! I only do decorations that suit the item, and I don’t excessively decorate bosses sword!”

“I don’t know about that. I wouldn’t want my sword to be adorned with flashy things.”

“On the contrary, boss doesn’t care enough about the appearance. That’s why he gets criticized at competitions for not having a beautiful appearance and ends up in third place or something.”

“You, saying that as a mere underling!”

“That’s because it’s the truth!”

It seems like there’s a complicated situation. I should step back for now.

“Oh! Shuu-san! Isn’t it heartless to listen this far and then try to escape? Please listen to the end.”

As I was trying to exit in silence, I was instantly stopped by Rosca, who grabbed my arm.

Right, she’s a beast person, so she’s sensitive to my scent and presence.

“Eeh.”

“Don’t make such a disgusted face; I want you to listen.”

Even though I tried to make a deliberately unpleasant expression, it didn’t work on Rosca, and I was dragged into the room.

Then, Rosca explained the situation rapidly.

It seems that there will be a sword competition soon.

For a blacksmith who makes swords, it’s a significant event. If you can win at the competition or create something that catches the eyes of judges and investors, your name as a blacksmith can rise, and you can become famous overnight.

Drogan plans to participate in the competition and make a sword this time, and it seems that Rosca wanted to decorate that sword.

Drogan rejected the request, and that led to the argument from earlier.

“What do you think, Shuu-san?”

“Even if you tell me this…”

I’m neither a blacksmith nor a decorator, so it’s difficult for me to intervene. However, it’s clear that Rosca isn’t seeking such a vague response.

For now, I’ll grasp the current situation and try to reconcile their opinions.

“Why doesn’t Drogan-san want Rosca-san to decorate?”

“…Because she would attach gemstones like jewelry.”

“I’ve been saying that decorating swords and adding jewelry are different!”

“That’s what she’s saying, so…?”

“No.”

No no, just saying ‘no’ like a child won’t help.

Rosca seemed irritated and about to say something, but I halted her.

“Without giving a reason, just saying ‘no’ won’t satisfy Rosca-san, don’t you think?”

“…”

“Is it because Rosca is not skilled enough?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never let her decorate my sword.”

It’s surprising that Drogan has never let Rosca decorate a sword, but there’s no point in me poking into that.

“Isn’t it pitiful to say that without knowing Rosca-san’s actual abilities?”

“…Basically, she just barged into my workshop on her own. I don’t recall asking her to become a decorator.”

“Indeed, it’s quite presumptuous to suddenly barge in and demand to be allowed to decorate.”

“Right? It’s annoying.”

She probably expected me to take her side. Upon hearing my words, Rosca’s ears and tail drooped.

“But, that’s only if Rosca-san did nothing here.”

“What do you mean?”

“If it’s bothersome, why didn’t you just kick Rosca-san out?”

“Well, her persistence is… strong.”

The fact that a dwarf man, who can even lift a giant hammer, couldn’t kick her out just because she was persistent doesn’t really make sense.

“Since you have her helping with blacksmithing and working as an employee, I think it’s not unreasonable for Rosca-san to insist on decorating.”

“…”

Despite complaining about it being bothersome, Drogan is shrewd enough to have Rosca work for him as an employee.

If she expresses a desire to decorate, I think it’s wrong to reject her without any reason. If that were the case, it would make more sense to declare from the beginning that he has no intention of allowing decoration and prevent her from working in the workshop.

“I heard that Rosca-san has been working as an employee in this workshop for over half a year. Despite not being allowed to decorate Drogan-san’s weapons during that time, she hasn’t given up. I believe it’s because she has a strong desire to decorate the swords crafted by Drogan with her own hands.”

Upon hearing my words, Drogan looked a bit awkward and glanced at Rosca.

“I’m begging you, boss! Before rejecting me, just once, please see my skills! If it’s still a no after that, I’ll give up at that time.”

“…Come with me.”

When Rosca bowed her head and pleaded, Drogan said so and went downstairs.

I don’t know what that means, but it seems we can find out the continuation in the underground forge.

Rosca and I followed Drogan, descending the stairs to the underground.

And there, upon entering the forge, a large black sword was hanging on the wall.

“It’s a prototype I made for the competition. Decorate this, and if the result is good, I’ll let you decorate the large sword I made for the competition.”

“R-Really!?”

“Yeah.”

With a clear nod from Drogan, Rosca approached the large sword hanging on the wall.

“As expected of the bosses sword. It has a clean and elegant shape without any waste.”

Expressing admiration, Rosca carefully observed the large sword.

Within the deep black color, there seemed to be a hint of blue.

“Could it be that you used hard magic stone?”

“Yeah, not all of it like you did, but I mixed in a bit.”

Reinforcement can be achieved by using hard magic stone only in the core without using it for the entire sword. Surprisingly, hard magic stone might be quite versatile.

“Got it. I’ll finish the master’s prototype beautifully. And, I’ll make sure you win the competition with what I decorate.”

Rosca declared with determined eyes.

“Hmph, first, show me the skill to earn my approval. Considering the competition, the deadline is one week. Can you do it by then?”

“I don’t need to be told! I’ll get it done!”

In response to Drogan’s questioning words, Rosca replied decisively.