Chapter 6- The blacksmith wants materials

While talking about it, they arrive at the old workshop in a corner of the blacksmith district—Velrich’s workshop.

Reaching out to the soot-covered door that looks like it could crumble at any moment, Estelle boldly swings it open.

Bam! Soot flies as the door is forcefully opened. Inside the workshop, Velrich, who was there, looks at Estelle without surprise. Despite its appearance, the door seems to be made of sturdy wood and shows no signs of crumbling.

It’s even less noticeable than the scar Ulysses gave it when he was young.

“Hey, Velrich, I’ve come.”

“Hey, onee-san! I was waiting!”

Velrich, a blacksmith and a mage ship engineer. He has a small dwarf-like stature and a stocky muscular silhouette. Scratching his beard, he looks at Estelle and then at Ren and Licia.

“Huh? Why are you two here?”

“Estelle-sama invited us. By the way, we haven’t heard anything about what’s going to happen from here.”

“Oh, I see. Then it’s simple.”

There’s nothing simple about it when they haven’t heard anything, but Ren still doesn’t mind.

“The talk is too fast… Uhm… Ren…?”

“Don’t worry about it. Just think of it as going with the flow.”

“Um, alright… I’ll do that.”

Licia hasn’t had many chances to talk to Velrich, but she still understands his personality to some extent, so she decides to smile awkwardly instead of delving further. Even though they are criticized for their boisterousness, she can’t dislike them for their dynamism.

“Alright, let’s go, both of you.”

“Sure thing. We’ll head to Elendil first and then take off into the sky!”

“…So, why are we heading to the sky?”

When Ren asks tentatively, Velrich’s voice springs back with enthusiasm.

“We’re going to gather materials necessary for repairing Lemuria. I asked Onee-san for permission, and she granted me this precious day off.”

The matter regarding Lemuria is kept somewhat confidential, but it seems that Estelle, as expected, knew about it.

On the other hand, she hasn’t been informed about the use of Asval materials.

“That’s right. Hunting is good, Ren.”

“The repairs are going smoothly. We just need to fill in the places where we need a few more materials. The problem lies in the component used for the core of the furnace…”

“Um… What do you mean…?”

Licia knows about Lemuria to an extent. It’s the magic airship that was left in the aerial garden, a massive complex station boasted by Elendil. For the past few years, Verlich has been involved in its repairs, and they need materials from it… she can understand that much.

What Licia is most curious about is…

“Are we going to hunt in the sky?”

Licia voices her question.

“That’s right. We’re heading towards the sky on our Drake family’s ship.”

Both Ren and Licia themselves think that it’s important because it ultimately relates to the repair of Lemuria. They also want to know what kind of monsters they will be hunting.

Leaving the workshop, Estelle speaks while walking.

“It’s like half work. Recently, a flock of Lesser Griffons has been spotted. They are the designated target for extermination by Leomel. Ren, try answering why.”

“Because they’re fierce. When Lesser Griffons form a flock, they become even more aggressive and it’s not uncommon for them to prey on other monsters of the same rank or higher.”

“Correct. They are creatures that resemble pure Griffons, with a lion-like body and a bird’s head. They are about the size of a wagon bed. While they are far inferior to the purebred species that correspond to Rank B, they are strong and dangerous.”

Most of the time, Leomel dispatches troops to exterminate them. Occasionally, the Adventurers Guild deals with them, but it’s not very common.

Although the order for extermination hasn’t been given yet, Estelle heard about the Lesser Griffons, and upon hearing that, Velrich wanted materials and decided to go hunting.

The next step is to head to the area where there have been sightings.

“By the way, where do you use the materials from the Lesser Griffon?”

“We use them to process materials from purebred Griffons. The materials from Lesser Griffons are not suitable for proper processing unless they are infused with the flames they produce. It’s a matter of magic compatibility, you see.”

Now that I think about it, using materials from Lesser Griffons on a ship that utilizes Asval’s materials does lower its status a bit. Given the exceptional nature of purebred Griffons, Ren nodded in understanding.

Continuing the conversation, Estelle said,

“The location is a three-hour journey into the mountains by the magic ship. Once we get close, they will immediately attack us. There have already been several casualties. Feel free to fight without reservation.”

“Is it okay for me to be there?”

“What’s the problem? Speak up, Licia.”

“Of course, it’s because of my abilities.”

“In that case, there’s no need to worry. I believe that Ren and Licia alone can handle it, and with the two of you, there’s nothing to be concerned about. Above all, I am here.”

“Onee-san! When the time comes, I can fight to some extent as well!”

“That’s the idea. By the way, you can easily defeat a C-rank monster with one hand while yawning.”

Laughing, Velrich added,

“This is the perfect opportunity, so go ahead and hunt them without hesitation!”

The Drake family’s magic ship is currently docked in Erendil.

◇ ◇ ◇ ◇

As Estelle said, the journey to the destination took three hours by magic ship from the imperial capital.

By the time they arrived at their destination, the sky had turned crimson, and night was approaching from beyond the horizon.

It was not as sharp as the Baldor Mountain Range, but the mountains had steep and jagged slopes. There were no trees, and it resembled giant rocks. This was where the Lesser Griffons had made their habitat, within the crater at the top of the mountain.

The Drake family’s magic ship, although slightly smaller than civilian transport magic ships, was incomparable in its sturdiness compared to them.

Upon hearing the approaching sound of the magic ship, the Lesser Griffons took flight. The number of individuals in the flock was likely less than twenty.

“Um.”

Ren, holding his mithril magic sword, asked Estelle,

“Do Lesser Griffon flocks suddenly form like this?”

“No, not really. In Leomel, if there are two occurrences in a year, it would be considered a lot. This year is the year of the Glacier Crossing… so that might have an effect.”

“Glacier Crossing… Have you heard of it, Ren?”

“No, it’s the first time I’m hearing about it.”

While they were talking, the Lesser Griffons were observing them from a higher position on the deck of the magic ship. A few of them spread their wings wide and glided on the wind.

“Though it may be unnecessary to explain, if you let your guard down, you’ll get hurt.”

With a confident smile, Estelle, Ren, and Licia nodded in agreement. The Lesser Griffon wasn’t just capable of flying; it also boasted great physical strength. By flapping its wings and creating strong winds, it could even breathe out flames.

One of the Griffons glided towards Ren with great speed. It aimed to breathe fire and attack him head-on, but…

“—I wonder if you’re not interested in me?”

Licia’s calm voice resonated unnaturally strong within the Lesser Griffon’s mind.

“Grrr—”

The Lesser Griffon suddenly lost its ability to fly properly. Without realizing it, its wing feathers had been cut off completely, making it unable to maintain balance or move its wings. Even when it tried to raise its forelimbs and crush Licia’s perfect face with its sharp talons, it was futile. Its claws were gone. The white blade held by Licia had cut through them as well.

“Well done.”

Estelle praised them with a whistle from a distance. Taken aback, the Lesser Griffon was swiftly pierced through the throat by Ren.

“You’re doing great, Licia.”

“Thanks. This is my first time fighting such monsters, but somehow, it’s manageable.”

“Haha… Especially after that battle we had, right?”

They subtly hint at the Sword Demon, sharing a laugh, but they don’t let their guard down.

Perhaps their experiences during the summer had caused both of them to grow significantly, as the Lesser Griffons could only cower before them.

However, the experience points gained from such a battlefield were invaluable.

“Kruu…”

“Gaa! Gaa!”

They had underestimated their opponents. The Lesser Griffons had thought humans were nothing more than insignificant beings.

The Lesser Griffons intensified their fighting spirit, targeting Ren and Licia with sharper gazes and movements.

Their gliding became even faster, and the wind generated by their vigorously flapping wings gained more momentum. The flames they spewed from their wide-open mouths grew even stronger.

However, those flames were a type of magic.

“That’s where I come in.”

“Yes, today… I’ll leave it to you.”

Even among hard sword users, those who are master swordsmen or above can handle a certain combat skill. By wielding the Star killer and cutting through magic, the flames dispersed instantly.

Startled, the monsters swung their legs and attacked, but Licia evaded their movements with minimal effort.

The Mithril magic sword, evolved from the iron one, reflected the evening sunlight.

The sapphire-like blue color shed the remnants of the black iron sword. The fresh blood of the Lesser Griffons was repelled by the blade, making any bloodshed unnecessary.

With the added effect of Enhanced Physical Abilities  UP (Large), Ren seemed even more composed than Licia.

Moreover, at this moment, Ren was effortlessly fighting without fully displaying his true strength. Although it was a showcase for the power of the Mithril magic sword, the Lesser Griffons proved to be too weak.

It couldn’t be considered the grand stage for the Mithril magic sword; it had turned into a small-scale training ground.

However, Ren believed that one day, that grand stage might come, so he swung his sword without lowering his guard.

“Ren! Licia!”

While Estelle watched the two fighting, she said:

“Let me tell you about the Glacier Crossing! It’s a phenomenon that occurs only once every dozen years in the north of the Elfen Continent and the Martel Continent—”

Especially during harsh winters, a different type of glacier drifts in the sea, unlike the usual glaciers. It occurs when the Sky Continent swimming in the distant sky arrives in the sky of that area.

The battle at dusk had only just begun.

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