“Ugh, I hate him! Katia-chan!”
We were currently walking towards Blacksmith Van.
While listening to Fina’s complaints, that is.
Even as evening approached, though not as bustling as midday, the town remained lively.
We were also getting more used to the crowds, so our walking pace was faster than before.
“Why do we clash so much, I wonder?”
The complaints were about Nanashi.
Nanashi, on his part, didn’t seem to have very positive feelings towards Fina either.
“I want to say, ‘I don’t know!’ but…”
“Is there something?”
“Probably, it’s the way he seems to suppress his personality that I dislike.”
Personality?
But isn’t that a necessary skill for someone in the Intelligence Department?
It should be advantageous in espionage activities.
“Personality, huh? I’ve only met two or three people from the Intelligence Department’s field operatives myself, but he’s the most forgettable person I’ve ever met.”
Ah, so that blandness is exceptional.
I’ve only met Nanashi from the Intelligence Department, so I can’t compare him to someone like Neil.
Certainly, even if the Intelligence Department is excellent, if there were a lot of people at his level, they could probably win against the Empire with espionage alone.
“If you meet and talk to him, you’d know it’s Nanashi. But you wouldn’t recognize him if you passed him on the street.”
“The only distinctive thing is his sarcastic tone, but there’s no guarantee that’s not fake either…”
However, would Fina dislike someone so much just because they have a subdued personality?
Speaking of Fina, there’s her art.
If it’s related to her art, the reason for disliking him might become clearer.
So, I decided to throw out a random question.
“If you were told to draw Nanashi, Fina, what would you do?”
“That’s it! That’s the thing! If it’s just drawing what’s on the surface, if I’m looking at him, I could probably do it.”
She jumped on that quickly.
Judging from her reaction, she seemed to have already thought about it.
Of course, we can’t actually leave a record of an intelligence agent through art.
As a job, revealing their face is indirectly killing them.
“But, even if I just drew what I see, I feel like I wouldn’t have properly drawn him… Does that make sense? Sorry if it’s just a feeling.”
She mentioned something about the essence of a person before.
She wants to draw a picture that conveys their inner self… I think?
I’m not too confident.
I’m not an artist, after all.
However, I think I understand why Fina doesn’t like Nanashi.
“I see. Nanashi’s job is to act in a way so he isn’t remembered by enemies or the public. In contrast, Fina’s drawings…”
…are works that remain in someone’s memories.
Their goals are completely opposite.
“I guess so. Our ways of life are the exact opposite, him and me. I can understand it logically, though.”
Her emotions can’t accept it.
However, my opinion is that it’s fine as it is.
“Is it that bad? To just dislike someone?”
“Huh? But…”
“Because you dislike him, would you intentionally try to harm Nanashi? Would you, Fina?”
“I’d feel like beating him up, but I wouldn’t actually try to injure him.”
Beat him up… Well, okay.
“If you don’t deny or hurt the other person, I think it’s fine to dislike them. Doing that would make you no better than the Empire.”
“Hmm… Maybe you’re right. I kinda like that relaxed way of thinking. Yeah, I hate him! Is that okay, then?”
“I think that’s perfectly fine.”
“I-is it really okay?”
I think so.
Loving everyone is unnatural and creepy, isn’t it?
As long as they don’t become hostile or hurt each other, it should be fine.
The street with stalls that we were looking for was around where we were during the day.
Following Nanashi’s directions, we turned at a crossroads and saw a building that was obviously larger than the other shops.
A water wheel using an irrigation canal was turning, indicating they had a rather elaborate workshop.
The shop faced the street, and the workshop was behind it.
A symbol was attached as a sign, and the axe crest seemed to be the blacksmith’s mark.
“That’s a big shop.”
“Yeah. But, what could be the reason for Van-san’s slump, I wonder?”
“Hmm. There’s no point in guessing here. Let’s go.”
Entering the workshop directly could be rude, so we approached from the shop side for the time being.
The shop interior had a wide variety of weapons on display.
There were many types of swords alone, as well as spears, axes, staves, shields, even knuckle dusters – a line-up that seemed to have everything.
Every weapon had an axe crest engraved or branded onto it.
The axe crest on the swords and shields felt a little strange, though.
Looking at them, it was clear not just the types, but the quality, was top notch.
The mass-produced items seemed to have high precision. I tried taking two of the same sword and could barely feel any difference.
As we were overwhelmed by the quantity and quality of the weapons, a shop assistant called out to us.
A female dwarf was looking up at us with great effort.
Sorry, we’re unnecessarily tall…
“Excuse me, are you the people the Intelligence Department mentioned?”
Bending over would be rude, so I took a step back to make it easier for the female dwarf to see me.
Of course, the Intelligence Department had contacted them.
“Ah, yes. They did say they were sending people to help Van-san get back in shape.”
As she said that, the shop assistant’s face lit up.
“I thought so! Your descriptions matched perfectly.”
“Descriptions?”
Ah, I have a bad feeling.
Specifically, it involves Nanashi.
“Well, it’s a little awkward to say, but… ‘A red-haired female swordsman with a flashy appearance, a brown-haired male swordsman with a spaced-out face, and a flat-chested elf mage’ was how they described you three.”
“It gets worse as it goes on.”
I think just “red-haired” would be enough for me.
“I don’t have that spaced-out of a face…”
“Mine’s just a straight-up insult! Nanashi!”
“I-I’m sorry. It’s not what I said.”
My energy was already being drained before the request had even started.
Since that description worked, that’s probably how we look.
That’s definitely Nanashi, that Intelligence Department person.
Ah, the shop assistant is starting to panic.
“Ah, sorry. Could you please allow us to enter the workshop?”
I decided to move the conversation forward.
I secretly thought the troubled dwarf was a little cute.
“Yes, this way please!”
We were directed to a place at the back of the shop, probably a passageway for contacting the workshop.
Entering the workshop, we saw craftsmen moving around busily.
As expected of this country, there was a variety of races.
Some of them gave us suspicious looks as outsiders, but they quickly returned to their work as the shop assistant led us along.
As we passed near a furnace being worked on, the heat rushed out.
The difference from my previous life was that the fuel was fire magic, and wind magic tools were used instead of bellows or tatara.
I’m not that familiar with smithing, so I don’t know any further differences.
The workshop seemed to be in full operation producing weapons.
Yet, in the back of the workshop, in a corner of his workplace that had the best overall view, that spot alone was completely silent as if the fire had gone out.
An old dwarf was staring blankly at the workshop’s activity.
“Master, you have customers.”
The shop assistant called out.
The old man, who hadn’t noticed us approaching as a group, finally seemed to notice us at the shop assistant’s voice.
The shop assistant called him “Master,” so I’m sure this person is Van.
“Are you the ones that the Intelligence Department brat was talking about?”
The stooped old dwarf looked at us.
His eyes were somehow listless.
Just to be sure, I confirmed and introduced myself.
“Are you Van-san? My name is Katia Myers.”
“Yes, I’m Van. I heard that seeing you might restore my will to forge weapons.”
Van-san stared at me intently.
Come to think of it, I haven’t had the details of how he fell into this slump explained to me by anyone.
I came here as I was told, but what am I supposed to do?
Van-san looked at the area around my waist, and his eyes suddenly widened when he noticed the Black Sword.
“That sword, show it to me!”
“Ah, just a minute.”
The sword was snatched away almost violently.
It was removed from the sword belt in an instant, showing a familiarity with swordsmanship, or rather, a kind of dexterity.
Van-san stared intently at the sword as he drew it from its scabbard.
“This is, what is this… I see, so that’s it. To think I was conceited enough to believe I had mastered the art…”
He was muttering something.
Soon, Van-san closed his eyes and sighed, very deeply, deeply.
When he raised his face, Van-san’s face was already different from what it had been.
Vitality, a fiery passion, was dwelling in his eyes.
His back straightened, and there was no trace of his earlier fatigue.
“Thank you. So, that brat was right, after all.”
I took the returned Black Sword and put it back in its sword belt.
“Um, I don’t really understand the situation.”
My inner feelings were exactly as I said.
Moreover, Van-san has a bright expression on his face.
Didn’t the problem get solved without me doing anything?
“That’s right! Please explain properly!”
Fina also asked along with me.
“No, sorry, but I’m too embarrassed to explain. Ask that Intelligence Department brat later. Instead, you there, the brown-haired brat.”
“Ah, my name is Neil.”
“As a reward, I’ve promised to make a weapon for Neil. Please forgive me with that.”
“Really?!”
Neil-san looks happy.
After all, one of the best craftsmen in this country is going to make him a weapon.
In the end, there’s no explanation?
Neil and Van got into a detailed discussion about the weapon.
“Hey, Katia-chan.”
Yeah, I understand what Fina wants to say.
I feel the same way.
“Yes. It feels like we’re dancing in the palm of Nanashi’s hand, and I don’t like it.”
“Ugh! From now on, I’m going to ask about everything we might need to know beforehand!”
“That might be a good idea…”
Before I could understand the situation, I showed him the sword, and the problem was solved.
What was needed wasn’t me, but showing the Black Sword.
Neil-san’s sword is a welcome reward, but I’m not satisfied.
“Ah, you there, the girl. Katia, was it? Could you draw that sword from earlier? It would be even better if you could swing it lightly.”
Van-san called out to me.
Is the discussion over?
“I don’t mind, but why?”
“My clouded eyes couldn’t see it before, but I can see it now. Your stance doesn’t pale in comparison to that sword at all. I can see that you’re a skilled user. As a blacksmith, I would definitely like to see you with the sword.”
That’s quite the compliment. I don’t mind it, though.
“As expected of a master craftsman… To see through Katia-san’s skill just from her stance.”
“Katia-chan, your face is all red. Are you embarrassed?”
Fina is saying something, but it must be my imagination.
I didn’t hear anything, nothing at all.
It seems that a role has come around to me, myself.
Just coming to show the sword didn’t feel like I was useful, so maybe this is a good thing.
However, I want to ask one thing before I do it.
“Will that affect the creation of Neil-san’s sword?”
“Ah, I’m starting over from today. I want a little inspiration, or rather, stimulation. Please.”
Oh, it seems like I can also make amends for breaking Neil-san’s sword.
I’ll try to be of help even a little bit.
“Understood.”
Well, shall I do it?