Kays Translations

Chapter 157

That day, I finished the sheath for the magic sword and set out—not to submit it to the Blacksmiths’ Guild, but simply to show them the completed work.

It had been twenty days since the tournament began. By now, more and more craftsmen were entering the final stretch.

“Heading out, Silent.”

“……”

I spoke to Silent, the silent gatekeeper, and left the workshop.

Ever since I stationed him there, no one had dared approach my workshop.
Not that I had visitors to begin with—other than would-be intruders, of course.

“…I’m being tailed.”

My workshop was in a rather secluded part of the district.

Better equipment meant more space was needed, and so my place had been built on one of the broader plots, away from most others.

That also meant few witnesses around if intruders showed up—making not just infiltration, but other forms of sabotage much easier.

“Hmph!”

Sensing an attack from behind, I spun and lashed out with a backfist.

My hand struck something hard—pain jolted from my knuckles, but the strike landed. The threat was dealt with.

“What the hell are you? I’ll kill you.”

At my feet writhed a man in full plate armor, face obscured, gasping as he rolled on the ground with his dented breastplate caved in.

“Ah, the armor’s crushed—you can’t breathe, can you?”

The man nodded frantically, helm clattering.
…Planning to ambush me and steal my entry weapon, were you? Too bad. When it comes to raw stats—without skills factored in—Shijima is actually stronger than Silent.

“Die like that!”

I kicked him with all my strength. His body flew as if hollow, slammed into the rock wall, and crumpled. Blood poured from the gaps in his armor, his body limp.

Too much? Don’t make me laugh. I let them go the first time. There’s no second chance.

If they dared wreck my workshop, truth be told, I’d have loved to storm that so-called Golhar Workshop and wipe them all out myself.

If I’d left the weapons-in-progress behind that day…
If the sword had been stolen, leaving Melt in despair, unable to obtain the materials she wanted…

No question—I would have slaughtered the workshop, the patron noble, all of them.

“…I’m getting hot-headed too easily. Is this Shijima’s influence?”

Just another report to hand to the guild.

I’d only repelled an attacker. I wouldn’t be blamed for that.

And since I’d finished him off in a secluded spot with no witnesses—convenient, wasn’t it? For both of us.

“…And that’s what happened. I fought off an assailant, but I might have overdone it and killed him.”

“Wha… Well, it’s good you’re unharmed, but fought off—?!”

“He underestimated a blacksmith’s strength. I don’t even know who I should report this to.”

“…It’ll go from the Adventurers’ Guild to the kingdom’s knights. I’ll file the report with the Adventurers’ Guild for you. And… from the sound of it, your work is complete, isn’t it?”

At the Blacksmiths’ Guild, I explained what happened. It seemed I wouldn’t be arrested.

The attacker had been fully armed, after all. Whether his aim was sabotage or robbery and murder, no one could say. That uncertainty worked in my favor.

“I’m not submitting the sword itself, just showing it. If I left it here, the odds of it being stolen would only increase. But if I keep it—well, any attacker would lose to me, and my workshop is guarded day and night by a ‘Sapphire-ranked adventurer.’ I doubt there’s safer storage than that.”

“S-Sapphire rank… I’d heard rumors about a dangerous-looking man guarding your place, but to think he was that level… Yes, indeed, it’s far safer in your care.”

No one in their right mind would try to slip past Silent after just one look at him.

And so I was brought into a private room to present my intended submission: the magic sword.

“This is my masterpiece. Its name is Nocturne Light. A pair of twin daggers.”

“Two!? You forged two magic blades in this short time, even if they’re only daggers?!”

“That’s right. Record them for the guild, please. I don’t want anyone claiming later that I smuggled them in from elsewhere.”

Apparently, in the past, some smiths had tried to pass off outside weapons as their own.

But all weapons forged here bore a telltale feature—so-called mana residue traces that appeared when using ores from the hidden mines beneath this city.

The test was simple. Weapons made from this ore gave off a faint pull toward the same ore.

The guild clerk prepared the appraisal equipment.

“So this is the blade… May I draw it from the sheath?”

“Go ahead.”

I had crafted the sheath as well—white leather reinforced with metal fittings, designed in a style Melt would like.

Thanks to my 【Craftsmanship】 skills, I had carved intricate patterns into the leather using the carving technique.

Black and gold daggers resting in a sheath of white and silver—the contrast made the weapons’ beauty shine even more.

“Wh-What is this blade… These layers, these lines… Not dye, not etched patterns… A technique I’ve never seen… W-What is this…?!”

“They’re blades of supreme sharpness that also function as magic conduits. And maybe it’s thanks to the local ore, but they showed some magic power-absorption as well.”

“You already tested them… and yet there’s not a chip or scratch… Black steel veined with gold… I’ve never seen such a magnificent weapon…”

The clerk’s voice trembled. His hands holding the sword trembled too.

“Run the test.”

“R-Right.”

He placed the dagger on a glass pedestal. Fine particles stirred as though drawn to the weapon, flowing like iron filings to a magnet.

“The pattern of the grains is unmistakable. Proof it was made from local ore. I acknowledge this as a weapon born here. So you won’t be leaving it in guild storage, then?”

“That’s right. The judging day was nine days from now, wasn’t it?”

“Yes. A special stage will be set up in the square outside the guild. Shijima, bring it yourself on the day.”

“Understood.”

“…I haven’t even examined it fully, but anyone can see at a glance—it’s a top-class masterpiece. I may not be on the front lines as a smith anymore, but still… This is a weapon that will make every craftsman envious. Shijima, I pray for your victory. Show them true craftsmanship.”

“Leave it to me.”

Later, word came from the Adventurers’ Guild—the attacker had barely survived.

He was taken into custody, to be treated and interrogated afterward.

And so, when I finally returned to the workshop… I realized, far too late, that I had made a terrible mistake.

“What’s wrong… Why won’t you say anything, Silent-sama!? Don’t tell me… is this some aftereffect of that terrible injury…? Please… just look at me…”

…Crap!! I didn’t even consider the possibility that someone who knew Silent might stumble across the workshop!!! And now Shuris-san is standing right in front of it!!!!

This is bad, this is really bad… how the hell do I get out of this… what do I do, damn it!!!!

“…Alright!”

I steeled myself, clutching a barely plausible story, and walked over to where Shuris was desperately calling out to Silent in front of the workshop—

“What is it, a customer?”

“! You are… the smith who uses this workshop!? Sorry, but this man is your guard, isn’t he? Do you know anything about him!?”

“…Shuris Veil, right? I’ve heard about you from Same, Silent, and from the Captain. I’m the blacksmith of the brigade. I know him well.”

“What! Then do you know what’s happened to him!? No matter what I say, he won’t respond. What in the world has happened to him…?”

Now… will this story fly or not…

“He’s still not at full strength. To pour all his power into physical recovery, he’s temporarily taking a medicine that robs him of his mind. For about half a day, under its effect, he only carries out the first order given to him—like a living doll. It’s the brigade’s secret medicine, a last resort. Keep it quiet, Thirteenth Knight.”

“Losing… his mind…? Forcing him to take such a dreadful drug…”

“Normally, we’d never do such a thing. But he returned at death’s door, nearly beyond saving. We had no choice but to use every method to keep him alive. Outwardly the wounds have healed, but his organs are still in tatters.”

“No… So even now, you’re forced to rely on such medicine…”

My trump card! The ‘Secret Medicine Excuse’ strategy!! Maybe this’ll get me through!!

“The effect should be wearing off soon. Wait at the Adventurers’ Guild. You probably came here after hearing about the assault, and then happened to spot a familiar face, right?”

“Yes, exactly. I’ve come to this tournament every year… when I heard about the attack, I came here. I see… so once the medicine’s effect wears off, he’ll return to normal?”

“That’s right. And soon he won’t need the medicine at all.”

“I see… I was terrified that someone I knew had been irreparably harmed. Then I’ll head back to the Adventurers’ Guild. Could you tell Silent-sama to come see me later?”

“Understood.”

With that, Shuris finally relaxed her tense expression and left.

…That was close! Of course—since the smithing tournament is entering its final stages, more outsiders are showing up. Careless of me…

“Alright… I’ll just switch Silent and Shijima’s roles.”

I went back inside the workshop, locked the door tight, closed the curtains, and dismissed Silent. Then I swapped control from Shijima to Silent.

“…Good.”

I checked my now taller body and physique, confirming I had become Silent again. Next, I used Order Summon to call Shijima.

“Now all that’s left… is to set him to making some accessory, so he’ll look busy working.”

If he was concentrating on smithing, it would be easy enough to explain why he wasn’t answering anyone.

I tasked Shijima with accessory work, opened the curtains to make the inside visible, and left the workshop in the guise of Silent.

When I arrived at the Adventurers’ Guild as Silent, I immediately felt the stir I caused.

I knew it well—Silent’s physique was downright monstrous.

No wonder the guild was buzzing. A towering mountain of muscle, his body covered in scars—the look of a true veteran warrior. Even back in Lindblum, you didn’t often see someone like this.

“…There. Shuris. Shijima said you were looking for me.”

Inside the guild, I spotted Shuris at the center of a crowd. I went over to speak—
and there, standing with her, was Melt.

It seemed that the people around us couldn’t suppress their curiosity anymore and were gathering — after all, Melt, who was rapidly rising in this city and becoming famous, and Shris, who was both in name and reality the top adventurer, apparently knew each other.

 “Oh, Silent! Huh, why are you…?”

 “‘Switch.’”

With just that single word, Melt understood the situation.
Shuris probably didn’t, but that wasn’t really a problem.

“Silent, I’m glad. You don’t remember what happened just now, do you?”

“Yeah. Sorry about that. I must’ve shown you an unseemly sight while under treatment.”

 “No, I should’ve realized there was something behind it. Honestly, I just wanted to hear how you’ve been doing lately.”

So it wasn’t like she had any particular business.

Well… if you saw someone you knew in that kind of state, of course you’d worry and want to ask.

“…We’re drawing a bit too much attention. Shall we move somewhere quieter?”

“Good idea. Then… shall we go back to that workshop from earlier?”

“No, Shijima’s working. Once he starts, he notices even less than I did just now. Let’s go to some tavern or café instead.”

Come to think of it, hadn’t she said she was moving her base to an island?
So what happened with that? Did she come here to watch the tournament before relocating?

We ended up heading to a somewhat pricey restaurant, one with private rooms, to hear Shris’s story in more detail.

“…It’s true, I came to watch the forging tournament, but I also came hoping I might see Same one last time. But Melt tells me he’s already gone back to Lindblum, and I was wondering what that meant.”

“Uh, um… what do you think that means…?”

So that’s what Melt and Shuris were talking about at the guild earlier.

Melt looked troubled and threw the question to me, so I stepped in with a made-up explanation.

 “Most likely, he went to check in with the main brigade moving around this area. I came here from there myself. The main brigade can’t be found by outsiders. Best give up.”

“I see…”

“But why are you so intent on meeting Same?”

Just like when I first heard about her relocating, it was clear Shuris was quite taken with Same.
She had said he was her first equal friend, after all.

“Well… well… how should I put this, um… the truth is…”

Shuris grew flustered at my question.

“I mean… I feel bad for Melt, but… with Same… um…”

“Huh? Why would that be bad for me?”

“…Hm.”

And then—Shuris dropped a bombshell.

“I’d like it to be said that Same and I… are in a relationship with marriage in mind…”

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