Kays Translations

Chapter 40: The Three in the Workshop

　Sixties, forties, twenties.

　Although the combination of grandfather, father, and grandson might seem convincing, they were a group of artisans in their own right.

“Mmmm, brilliant …….”

　In Gerhard’s workshop, Lutz was snarling at the sheath of the Wailing Sword Kikokuto. The silver lion, overflowing with dynamism and a sense of drive, seemed ready to leap out and bite him at any moment.

　Lutz wasn’t really interested in the decoration. What mattered was what was inside, whether the sword could cut or not. He had seen and despised many swords that were all glitz and glamour on the outside, but were dull on the inside. That is why the sheaths, brims, and hilts he made were made only for practical use.

　It was an encounter that turned Lutz’s values around. If I had to decide whether I wanted this sculpture or not, I would want it badly.

I had been told beforehand that Patrick the decorator was a pervert, so I had looked at him with a certain amount of suspicion, but when I saw his work in this way, I could see that he was a top-notch craftsman.

　Will I be able to reach this level if I practise sculpture for the next ten or twenty years? No, it is impossible.

　Lutz turned his respectful eyes to Patrick. Patrick was now staring at the Demon Wailing Sword with a drooling face, as if he were licking it.

“Oh, it’s nice. It’s very nice, Kikoutou-chan…”

　The blade shines in silvery white. The blade crest is delicate and boldly wavy. Ancient characters glowing dimly in light green. All of them captured Patrick’s heart and did not let go.

　It’s not just that the girl I liked was beautiful. She is a princess.

“Hey Patrick. Don’t try to lick the blade. Your face is too close, don’t breathe on it.”

　If Gerhard, who had an exasperated face, warned him, he would withdraw his face, but Patrick quickly approached again.

　His face is red and he is breathing heavily. After all, he looks like a complete pervert. If high-ranking knight Jocel had been here, he might have been arrested.

“Haa haa, Kikoutou-chan. I can’t believe you’re a virgin…”

　It meant that it had never killed a person yet, but the way he said it was disgusting.

“It was a real eye-opener.”

　Lutz returned the sheath and Patrick reluctantly let go of the demon wailing sword as Gerhard glared at him.

　Gerhard sheathed the sword, looked to his left and right, and said.

“…The inspection is over. Just out of curiosity, did you find any scratches or anything?”

“Nothing. Well, I knew from the beginning that there would be nothing.”

　This concludes today’s business. But no one dared to leave their seats.

　Lutz opened his mouth as a representative.

“It’s sad to say goodbye like this. Because we have the best craftsmen in each field.”

“Number one, that came out big”

“In the face of this sword, humility will be meaningless.”

　Gerhard nodded his head in satisfaction at Lutz’s assurance.  We wanted to be proud of the fact that we were the ones who made this wonderful sword.

“With the three of us here, we can make as many of the best swords as possible. It is a strange feeling to think so.”

　Gerhard said that proudly, and Lutz and Patrick nodded deeply.

　There are inevitably some works that are not perfect. Also, striking a single sword is a gruelling, soul-destroying process. It is an exaggeration to say that a great sword can be mass-produced.

　Still, it was a dream come true that the three of us might be able to make another great sword like the Demon Wailing Sword.

“How about the three of us make a new sword that is even more powerful than the Demon Wailing Sword?”

　Patrick said cheerfully.

“… No, there are some problems.”

　Gerhard said in a sombre voice. Patrick, who had thought he would get unanimous support, looked a little disgruntled.

“First of all, who is going to pay for it? I can only recall the horrifying amount of money I spent on materials when I enchanted the Wailing Sword.”

　Gerhard, who always tells his pupils that a sorcerer should never think about money once he is seated in front of the ritual table, spent so much jewellery and mercury that even he was afraid to spend it.

　It is totally different to engrave three or four characters than to engrave five characters. I am not kidding when I say that you have to do that at your own expense.

　In addition, he had recently made his own sword and prepared a sword for his apprentice, and his savings were running low.

“Even you have to spend a lot of money to decorate your sword. Lutz must devote his entire life to the sword for a while. It is not something he can do comfortably without a sponsor.”

　Getting a sponsor. To put it simply, beconing a string of rich men was a major challenge for a craftsman. In some cases, luck and communication skills were more important than skill.

　Lutz wanted to protest that this was not a good idea, but when he thought about it, it was only with Claudia’s full-fledged cooperation that he himself was recognized as a craftsman. Without her, Lutz would probably still be sitting in a corner of the hut with his skills.

　We can’t do anything without someone to pay for it. That is also true.

“Next, we will make it by ourselves, and after that, who will own it? Don’t be foolish enough to say, ‘Let’s keep it on a rotating basis’.”

“With your permission, I will represent…”

“Patrick, for what it’s worth, you just want a sword. Why don’t you just say it out loud and clear?”

“I want a beautiful sword like Kikokutou-chan!”

“You said it well. Yeah, it’s impossible. Give it up.”

“How mean!”

　Ignoring Patrick, a middle-aged man in tears, Gerhard went further.

“One last thing. When the Count returns from the meeting, there is a strong possibility that he will receive a new request. For now, the best thing to do is just prepare and wait.”

“Why do you think a request will come in?”

“It’s a gathering of weapons enthusiasts. There, the Count will show off his wailing sword. No, I would say that he would attend the meeting to show it off. What will the participants think? Will they ask him to sell them the wailing sword? or……”

“They would like to request something similar.”

“If someone like a baron or a large merchant asked me to do it, I would probably just say “Well, it’s quite difficult” and laugh vaguely, but the rumour is that the marquis will also participate.”

“If the Marquis asked him, he couldn’t say he wouldn’t give it to him.”

“That’s how aristocratic power relations work. If you refuse, they may not do anything to you directly, but you will be kicked out of your faction, cut off from many nobles, and kept away from them. In the long run, it may be equivalent to thousands or tens of thousands of gold coins. And unless you improve relations, the damage will only increase, not decrease.”

　Most of the common people have never seen gold coins. Lutz could not have imagined that there were tens of thousands of such valuable items.

“That’s the way it is with money in politics.”

　Gerhard said with a wry smile that he understood Lutz’s feelings. He is a craftsman in the Count’s service, but he is not originally from a noble family. Emotionally, he was close to Lutz and the others.

“Even so, I don’t feel very good about it. The sword being treated as a mere political tool.”

“Fu, fu… You’re young, Lutz.”

“I don’t want to think that being desensitised to these feelings is what it means to be an adult.”

　Gerhardt’s eyes were dazzled by Lutz, who said straight out. Was he being selfish and self-indulgent? No, he wanted to call it a craftsman’s passion.

　At the very least, Gerhard, who had been hostile to the hero for a long time just because he was disappointed with his reward, doesn’t have the right to blame Lutz for his adult attitude.

“Don’t think so deeply, what we do doesn’t change. We can make whatever we want with other people’s wallets. Perks, perks.”

“……is that so”

　Lutz smiled thinly. Rather than agreeing with Gerhard’s words, he was grateful for his concern.

　For the time being, let’s just prepare, so that day was disbanded.

　From behind, as Lutz was leaving the room.

“I don’t want to break up with Kikoutou-chan!”

　I heard a shout, followed by a sound like a blow to the head, but I pretended I heard nothing and left the workshop.

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