Chapter 050

「The Swordsmith’s Goal」

Translator: Silver

Dwarves were biased.

Their craftsmanship was good from a distance, but dwarves were not suitable business partners at all.

Most of them weren’t moved by gains or losses.

When offended, they’d refuse to make anything for the offender ever again.

There was a saying that those unafraid of punishment and who weren’t motivated by profit had no issue disturbing the order.

There were such men in human society, but there was a small number of them when viewed from the whole. However, dwarven pride and stubbornness further made it difficult to deal with them.

However, their talent for crafting was unrivaled.

That was why, despite their biases, trade between the dwarves and humans, as a whole, was never broken.

They still remained challenging to handle.

In particular, dwarves dubbed master craftsmen were known for their peculiar personalities.

Even among his peers, master craftsman Gado and his pupils were said to be rather obtuse.

After all, they didn’t want to spell their name.

As a blacksmith, it’s an honor to leave your name attached to the masterpieces you create.

However, the Gado school was obsessed with creating masterpieces but disliked leaving their names.

So you’re only hope was to look at the style.

“Perhaps this is the work of one of Gado’s disciples.”

There was no other choice but to make that rough judgment.

“Speaking of master Gado’s works, a sword of his is a gem with ceiling-less price, even in the capital. I haven’t heard of his passing, but most of his weapons that the dwarves are hoarding are considered half-legendary artifacts.”

“Gado is a living legend whose whereabouts are unknown. There hasn’t been any news of any new creations in the last forty to fifty years. It’s said that if you request anything but equipment from him, Gado will get mad and never speak to you again. It’s impossible for a student who inherited that temperament to make such daily necessities.”

“Then the blacksmith who made this must be an admirer of Gado and imitated the style.”

The two high elves reached that conclusion.

I’m sorry, that person also makes sleds and dumbbells.

The other day, he made a gardening shovel for my sister.

The cute elf who introduced me to the dwarf was drinking her tea with a strange expression on her face.

She didn’t like to stand out either……

※※※

On a later date, Gado told me,

“I’ve retired, but I’m still active. I have a goal in mind, and I plan to achieve it. I’m already old. I want to achieve it before I die. So I need an environment where I can concentrate on it.”

“What’s Gado’s goal?”

“Baa, I’m a blacksmith, aren’t I? It can’t be anything but a sword.”

His thick finger pointed to my beloved magic teacher. More specifically, he was pointing to the slender longsword that hung on Abel’s waist.

“Abel’s sword……?”

“Aye. My great grandfather. It’s the work of Gio.”

The dwarven blacksmith Gio could be called a legendary figure from the mythic era.

It’s said that his swords, without being enhanced by magic, could cut through everything with just their blades. Such weapons were evaluated to be mere myths.

It’s said that even light and sound could be cut by those swords. Of course, that sounded shady if taken at face value.

Few people believed in the legend, and there were no known existing weapons that possessed that exaggerated sharpness.

“As far as I know, Abel’s sword is the only remaining piece of my great-grandfather’s work.”

There was only one sword left in existence.

The owner of said sword spoke up while stroking the sword’s sheath.

“………This is the sword Gio gave his life to forge. It’s my treasure.”

The fact that Abel called the sword her treasure showed how important it was to her.

However, given her personality, Abel’s value system was based on anecdotal measurement instead of performance.

Shall I ask about it next time?

“Certainly, there are those who appreciate my work. But in front of me is a masterpiece that surpasses every sword I struck so far. It’s impossible to be conceited.”

The old dwarf muttered that while picking up a hammer in a daze.

“But, Gado. Is it alright for me to take up so much of your time?”

I asked such a question.

If he wanted to spend the remainder of his time chasing after a single word, shouldn’t you swing away at it without looking aside? I thought so.

Then, the muscular Santa Claus put his large palm on my head with a toothy grin on his face.

“To concentrate isn’t the same as blocking out everything else. Rather, a little play is needed. Just rigidly making something isn’t the same as making a famous sword. I have to be a little soft. In additionー.”

My blacksmithing teaching glanced at my magic teacher.

“That person is offering me a tangible reward. It’s the material to make the best swing of my life.”

Gado’s eyes were so deep that the ‘reward” Abel gave him was probably precious.

(Maybe, he couldn’t tell me what it was.)

Once again, I was reminded that I was under Abel’s care in almost every aspect.

The Arch Elf turned her gaze on to her clumsy pupil and slightly tilted her head.

※※※

In conclusion, the nail clippers with evaluated highly, and the association bought them.

Oh, thank you.

With this, my sister’s comfortable life was one step closer to realization.

After all, the High Elves thought the prototypes I brought had nothing to do with Gado. I thought it through and chose to remain silent.

By the way,

“Nita, Nita. Want to look at Phe more……?”

My little angel, who was finally bored, tried to attract my attention.

She touched my cheeks and pulled on my clothes.

“Hmm? I’m watching you.”

“Meeー! Look moreー! Phe loves Nita! Nita has to look a Phe more!”

I was hugged.

It seems she was feeling lonely.

However, I couldn’t abandon the contracting of the product I was selling.

Forgive me, Phe……

That didn’t mean I was going to give up on my angel in need.

“Sho…… Sho……!”

My sister started climbing onto me.

Apparently, she’s going to make me a human climbing wall.

I struck now!

I captured my sister just before she reached my shoulders and forced her to sit on my lap.

She tried to escape, but I didn’t allow her to do so.

“Kyaー! Nita! Phe got caught by Nita!”

It seems she was happy to be captured. Phe wore a full-faced smile.

However, from here, it was absolute torture.

I decided to tickle Phe.

“Hahaha! Haha! Nita, tickle Phe! Phe, haha, is being tickled!”

Hehehehe. As expected of blood siblings.

Like me, she was weak to tickling.

“Al-chan! Are you bullying Phe-chan?”

I was scolded by my mother.

After a short session, my sister was already out of breath.

“Hau……! Ahyuu……!”

“I-I’m sorry. Sorry, Phe……”

“N-No. Phe will do anything for Nita…….”

Umm…… It was a declaration filled with determination.

That seemed to be the creed of my younger sister.

“I’m really sorry. Big brother did too much.”

“Phe-chan, do you want Al-chan to make up for his behavior?”

When I apologized again, my mother said something unnecessary.

At that moment, my sister’s eye shone. It was like a carnivore coming across their favorite prey.

“Then, Nita. Kiss Phe?”

Mumumu……

I was asked for a kiss.

I didn’t want Phe to remember such bad behavior, but……

There was no helping it. This was a seed I sowed.

I pecked my fidgeting sister on the cheek.

Chu.

“Fukuno～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～～n!”

My angel, with a floating expression, started to spin around.

She spun over and over again as if she were drunk.

My mother, who Phe couldn’t see, caught her beloved daughter.

“Oh, excuse me, may I use the restroom.”

I managed to escape the capture.

I wanted some quiet time to think.

Phe didn’t try to follow after me, probably because she was still affected by the kiss.

She may not be aware of what was happening.

I left the reception room.

Then I met an unexpected person.

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