Chapter 39: The Thing at the Waist

As a craftsman, I have earned the highest honor as an adjunct spellcaster.

And yet, no, perhaps because of that, I realized that there was no one to consult with when a problem arose.

Patrick, a decorator, asked to see the Count’s favorite sword, but it is not something that a commoner and an aristocrat would want to see and be shown. It is true that Patrick made the scabbard, etc., but it is already out of his hands.

I thought about consulting Jocel, who was both a disciple and a high-ranking knight, but I quickly changed my mind. I can see that Jocel will either eliminate Patrick or move in the direction of making him give up.

Making him give up was probably the closest to the correct answer, but Gerhard, who was frustrated with Patrick, wanted to avoid this.

I said that I would just ask, but if I offer this to the Count, he will probably look at me with suspicious eyes. I want to avoid that too.

I got irritated while thinking about it. Why do I have to worry about such a silly thing?

I’ve come to hate working for a perverted decorator whose distinction between a woman and a sword has become ambiguous.

Enough, I don’t know. Let’s just drink and go to bed.

At that time when he was about to throw everything away due to his bad habit, he suddenly thought of something. If there is no one in the castle that you can talk to, you should go outside.

Those are people who have nothing to do with aristocratic society, but they might come up with good ideas.

“Yeah!”

Lutz covered his head with water with enthusiasm. This is a river, and he is completely naked.

He was of average height, and although he wasn’t muscular, he had a body that looked like his muscles were condensed. His skin, which had countless burn marks, repelled the water.

I fetched a tub of water and covered myself with more. The sweat and discomfort that had coated my entire body flowed away.

“It’s like I’m doing a forge job for this moment. ……”

It is an exaggeration, but it sure feels good.

Next, I washed the donkey I had with me. I sprinkled water on it and rubbed it with a straw bundle and the donkey pulled and shook as if it felt good.

Every time the donkey shook, water splashed on Lutz’s face, but he didn’t mind and laughed. He laughed and said, “I’ll just get water on my face again, too”.

Come winter, I won’t be able to take it easy and bathe in the water. Before that, I will wash in it again several times.

I felt the presence of a person. I turned around and there was an old man I knew, who was walking in with a donkey as well.

“Oh, you’re taking a bath.”

Lutz left his “tools of the trade” out, but Gerhard did not mention it. He knew how good it felt for a craftsman to bathe in the water as much as he could at the end of his work.

“May I join you?”

“Here you go. Ah, do you want to use a bucket?”

“Thank you”

Gerhard took the bucket, took off his clothes, and carefully folded them. Seeing his naked body, Lutz widened his eyes.

This is the entry of a macho old man. He had old wounds here and there, probably from his adventurer days. Looking at him from the other side, it was a wonder that he did not die.

“Hnnnnnnn!”

Soak your ankles in the river and cover yourself with water. again and again.

“Well, it’s nice to bathe in the water, isn’t it? It’s not easy to do so when you live within the city walls.”

Gerhard muttered somberly. Lutz nodded his head in agreement. If an old wounded macho nudist old man was occupying the well, it would be a case for the Knights to be dispatched.

In terms of openness, it is much better outside than inside the walls. But that’s about it in terms of advantages.

Two men are soft-shelled. They were facing each other from the front, so their “work tools” were perfectly visible. Somewhat awkwardly, they put on their clothes in silence.

“Gerhard-san, are you here today to discuss a new commission?”

“No, I’m not sure how to say it. I need to talk to you about something.”

” A Consultation.”

Not work, but consultation. Lutz had no idea what he was talking about.

They both pulled their donkeys and decided to talk as they headed towards the workshop.

“What would you think if someone asked you to show them your famous sword? Would you be willing to show it off, or would you turn them down?”

“It depends on who you’re dealing with.”

“Hmm, how”

“If I know the person to some extent, I will invite him or her by all means. But if it is a stranger who initiates the invitation, I would be a little wary.”

Gerhardt considered Lutz’s opinion as it applies to the present case.

The Count and Patrick are not acquaintances or anything. If Gerhard asked to see the sword, the Count would gladly comply. He would even show him the inside of the warehouse. But what if it was Patrick, a craftsman whose face and name he did not know? He would certainly not want to show it to him.

“Well, I guess you’re right…”

“Did something happen?”

“Ummm, that’s the thing….”

“We showed each other our dicks.”

“You mean you want me to say it.”

It was strange that he was so tight-lipped after coming to the workshop for advice. Gerhard was determined to talk, but since he had already arrived at the workshop, he decided to add Claudia to the discussion. I’m sure she would be able to give us some good advice at a time like this.

Claudia appeared at the door and welcomed me.

Two donkeys were tied up in a simple hut. The two donkeys were huddled together, having become good friends.

After looking at the scene with a smile, we entered the house and the three of us sat around the table.

“I’ve been teased by a pervert.”

“… Hmm?”

As expected, that alone did not convey what I was talking about, but at any rate, I hope you understood that it was a troublesome story.

Gerhard told about the decorator named Patrick. He neatly left out the fact that he forgot to tell the Count his name, so the story was full of chivalry, as he wanted to fulfill his wishes as a fellow craftsman.

“The demon wailing sword…”

Claudia was in a strange mood when it was called by the name she gave herself.

“Are you sure that person is OK? If you meet the wailing sword, won’t you start licking it?　Wouldn’t that person start self-mutilating even though he is not cursed?”

“I don’t know, he might do it. He would or ……”

“Is that the level of perversity?”

“I think it would be better for the world and for people if we got rid of him quickly.”

Gerhard wanted to strongly agree with Lutz’s words, but he couldn’t.

“The two of you didn’t see the finished product of the Demon Wailing Sword, did you? That pervert may not have the brains, but he has the skill. The loss of him would be the loss of the entire Count’s territory. The lion sheath, it is really a good thing.”

It was a complicated position that I wanted to cut the relationship, and I didn’t want to cut it.

“That’s why I’m here to see if you have any ideas on how to bring him and the Wailing Sword together.”

“There is a plan”

Claudia said simply. Gerhard had been so worried about the problem that he couldn’t do anything about it, and now he could solve it so easily?

“Hmm, let’s hear it.”

Gerhard said with a bit of a mean streak, as if challenging her to see if she could really do it.

“If you can’t get an appointment, then attack them from another angle, which is the basic principle of a merchant. If you can’t get the Count to show you his sword, then we can take a look at it for you.”

What is this person talking about? Claudia’s smile suggests that she’s not trying to be coy by saying random things. She has an answer ready and is enjoying wondering when the other party will find out.

“…… Oh, right, maintenance.”

If you say you will keep the sword to examine it, you can easily achieve your goal. The main decorator is a bit weak, but he or she should at least be able to be present when the sword is examined by the spellcaster.

Patrick’s goal is not to see the Count’s poor showmanship. It would be a good story for him if he could pick it up and examine it closely.

‘Can I talk to you for a second?

Lutz raised his hand.

“The Count is just pretending, he didn’t slay any people or demons, did he?. Is there a need for maintenance?”

If it’s just a quick clean-up to reapply sword oil, it can be done quickly. If I told you that I would take care of something that has nothing wrong with it for a while, you might be suspicious.

No good. No, Gerhard thought, the operation itself was not so bad. He often wondered if there was any excuse to keep it.

“Yes, the Count gets together with a group of aristocrats who love weapons about once every six months. He will surely bring his wailing sword to that gathering. There is no way that the blade could have spilled, but it would not be unnatural to ask him to let us examine it in case there are any small scratches.”

“I see, then it wouldn’t be strange to have a decorator.”

“What are you talking about? Lutz is going to have to sit in.”

“Oh, yes……”

Lutz agreed that it was not a bad idea to see the demon weeping sword in its finished form, although he was unwilling to be forced to go along with the decorator’s proclivities.

“So when is the next meeting of the weapons enthusiasts? I’m sure we’ll get together before then.”

“When was it? I forgot.”

I’ve been forgetful lately, but I’m not dumbfounded. It’s just that I can’t seem to remember anything that doesn’t interest me. It is even worse when I think about it.

“Gerhard-san?”

“Okay, I’ll let you know when I find out, so please wait patiently. I’m sure Patrick will be quiet now that the policy has been decided.”

Gerhard said he was saved today and left.

Lutz and Claudia started preparing dinner, laughing at the fact that the old man was as free-spirited as ever.

Returning to the castle, Gerhard asked his apprentice about the Count’s plans.

“The meeting, we are leaving in three days.”

I was easily told such things.

He had to quickly explain to the count that he had to take custody of the sword and gather all the craftsmen. Gerhard had to run around the castle in a hurry.

This is the result of properly handling promises and schedules.

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