Chapter 57

"Hey, welcome—oh, it's you."

When I visited the weapon smith's workshop, the dwarf master said this as soon as he saw me. It seems he remembered my face from the first visit. ...Probably because I brought in Swordboar hide and made all sorts of strange requests. It also seemed that my reputation as a demon slayer was quickly known.

"Hello. I came to pick up the items I ordered."

"Yeah, everything's ready. Hey, you guys, bring them out."

The master said, and the apprentices brought out the weapons and armor from the back room.

"First... the shield. Maybe we should call it a felt shield."

This shield is for Ashley. The Swordboar's fur has been processed into felt and used as the surface armor. Surprisingly, it's very light.

"Good. It seems easy to handle."

"It's not just the weight."

The master grinned and pointed to a spear with a crushed tip.

"I tried it out a bit, and this is the result."

Despite its lightness, it seems to be stronger than a metal shield. Since it's made from biological materials, it's also more receptive to enchantments. With a light and durable fabric-like material, there are many uses. I also had chest plates, gauntlets, and greaves made to protect the upper body, arms, and legs. I plan to distribute them according to the party's roles.

"Wasn't it difficult to make the felt?"

"Well, that's the thing. The workshops in the border city receive all sorts of materials."

The master looked proud, indicating that they have a lot of expertise.

"So, this is the dagger, right?"

I also had a pair of daggers made for Sheila from the Swordboar's tusks. The thick blades are incredibly vicious.

"Those are just shaped and sharpened. I guarantee they're durable. The edge is also quite sharp."

Naturally, they have good affinity with battle auras, making them suitable for combat techniques. The problem is Grace's equipment. The axe is a well-designed weapon, and she doesn't prioritize armor because of her regenerative abilities. So, I had an apron dress made from Lunaworm silk at the same shop as my coat. This way, it can be enchanted in emergencies.

"Alright, this is the problematic one."

The master finally brought out a large bow and arrows. The bow has some decorations, but it doesn't look particularly special. There's a magic stone embedded in it. The arrows include a few with special shapes, intended for Ilmehilt. They are experimental, based on my ideas, so I want to test them. However, I also prepared a standard set of bow and arrows just in case.

"Sure, I had a hard time. After all, it was the first time I received such an order. Well, as a weapon, the accuracy is sufficient, and I think everything was made according to your specifications."

The string is made from processed Swordboar parts. Strings can be made from intestines or leather.

"I understand. I'll get the user's opinion."

"Sure. If there are any problems, let me know."

The master grinned, showing his teeth. Since we provided the materials, the total cost was 2500 kirig. Recently, I've had a bit of extra money.

We decided to test the new weapons immediately by exploring the dungeon with everyone. We parked the carriage at the stable and distributed the weapons and armor. The chest plate, which didn't have a specific user, went to Ilmehilt, who would use the bow. The gauntlets and greaves went to Sheila, who relies on hit-and-run tactics.

"So, I prepared a bow. I'd like to hear your opinion."

I handed the special order to Ilmehilt and asked for her thoughts. She took the bow, examined it, and touched the string, looking surprised.

"Um... it seems to be a very good item, but is it okay for me to use it?"

"This is a prototype. If it's easy to make, I want to experiment with it."

"Experiment?"

"Can you try drawing the string?"

Ilmehilt, looking puzzled, drew the bow without an arrow. When she released the string, a pleasant twang echoed around.

"This is...?"

"Well... according to literature, there's a country where the sound of the string being released is used in rituals to ward off evil. Since you can channel magic through instruments, I thought you might be able to do something similar."

...That country is Japan. I saw a priest at a shrine release a bow when I was young. Inspired by Ilmehilt's skill with stringed instruments, I wanted to try this. It's a traditional ceremony, but I'm curious to see what would happen if a lamia did it. It's truly an experiment.

So, I asked for a bow that would produce a good sound. The dwarf master looked puzzled, but it's one of the reasons he remembered my face.

The bow is made from the same wood used in magic wands, which allows magic to flow easily. The embedded magic stone should amplify the sound when the circuit is activated.

I also prepared arrows with a whistle structure, thinking they might cast a curse when released. We'll have to test it to see if it works. If it doesn't, it'll be a bit of a joke.

"Alright, I'll try it."

Ilmehilt drew the bow again. When she released it, the sound was indeed infused with magic and spread out. It seems to be working as intended. The next step is to see how it performs in combat.

We descended into the Twilight Forest and decided to have Ilmehilt fight normally first to see her archery skills and her adventurer-like qualities.

She took the form of a lamia, nocked an arrow, and stood up—securing a high vantage point. She began attacking the monsters without hesitation, even without a fairy light. It seems she can see in the dark or detect the enemy's position through subtle heat signatures. She shot arrows into the bushes whenever she heard rustling.

The arrows hit their targets accurately. The darkness of the Twilight Forest doesn't seem to be a problem for her. Moreover, the cycle from releasing one arrow to nocking and firing the next is incredibly fast. She draws arrows from the quiver on her back and fires them in quick succession. It's as if she has a third arm.

An arrow was shot at a Kira Plant that emerged from the bushes. The twang of the string echoed strongly, and the Kira Plant suddenly attacked the nearby Whisper Mushrooms. Was that a confusion effect? Can a simple arrow carry a curse?

High-altitude shooting, a stable upper body while moving, high accuracy, and the ability to detect the enemy's position. Fast firing cycle. Arrows with additional effects. ...This is quite strong, isn't it? I thought lamias were known for constricting and biting, but it seems that's not their main tactic. Contact with miscellaneous monsters is risky, so it's good to have a backup plan if they get too close.

"...In lamia form, I'm strong, but in human form, I'm much weaker. I can only use weaker bows."

"Ugh..."

Sheila, understanding my question, revealed this without mercy. Ilmehilt looked sad. ...Yes, that's important information. It means she can't fully utilize her strength unless she's in her original form. I need to keep this in mind, just like with Grace.

This explains why she was captured by a Snake Bite. If she was knocked out or forcibly teleported, it would be a problem before she could even revert to her original form.

"Well... in her original form, she's strong enough. I think we can prepare a much stronger bow for her."

Her posture while drawing the bow still seemed to have a lot of room for improvement.

"Hmm... if I use my tail, I think I can draw most bows."

I see... then I'll prepare a trump card for emergencies. At least, I think she has the necessary skills to explore the dungeon with us.

When Ilmehilt had subdued the surrounding monsters, I entered the bushes to collect herbs. Last time, we came to the Twilight Forest but didn't manage to collect anything.

"What's that?"

"Oh, these are ingredients for potions. We can process and sell them or store them. There are many uses. From now on, I want to do more than just stripping; I want to collect as well."

Everyone looked at each other and nodded.

—So, our goal is to process and sell potions in large quantities. It's good to sell and good to use. The sap from the Sabon Tree, which can be used as detergent, is also a reason we came to the Twilight Forest.