Chapter 56

After having lunch at the inn "The Nest of the Wild Eagle" in Periclitur, I took a deep breath and tightly held the letter containing the secret that my mother had given me. Although I had wasted some time due to my chatter, it was still not yet three o'clock. Guided by Guy, we decided to explore the town of Periclitur.

When Guy asked, "Where would you like to go?" I promptly replied, "I want to see the headquarters of the Adventurers' Guild." Guy responded, "It's not a particularly interesting place, but I'll lead the way," and started walking.

The headquarters of the Adventurers' Guild is located in the center of Periclitur. We left the inn and returned to the main street that runs north to south, heading north. In the southern part of the town, there were many people who looked like adventurers, armed with weapons, wearing well-used leather armor, and carrying sturdy mantles and backpacks. As we moved north, more people who looked like merchants, wearing tunics, appeared.

Most of the buildings in Periclitur are made of wood. In the center of the town, despite being a major city, there are many impressive wooden structures. Among them, a grand three-story stone building caught my eye. Two guards in plate armor stood in front of the impressive double doors.

"This is the headquarters of the Guild. We should be able to tour it, but I'll check just to be sure."

Guy went to confirm with the guards. After nodding to the guards, he quickly returned and reported, "It seems to be fine." I later learned that the headquarters is not open to the public, and it's difficult to enter without being registered with the Adventurers' Guild. This time, we were allowed entry under the name of the Lockhart family, which holds a knightly rank.

We showed the orb to the guards and entered the building. Inside, a spacious hall with a high ceiling, open to the second floor, spread before us. Unlike the Kilnareck branch of the Guild, there was no counter for reception, and the staff stood at a reception desk similar to those found in government offices or hospitals. The hall was almost empty, and the inside was quiet, unlike the bustling outside.

(There's no reception counter. Come to think of it, the headquarters also serves as the administrative office of Periclitur, so it feels more like a government office. It's similar to a prefectural office or a city hall in a designated city. There's a similar sense of inaccessibility... Maybe it's because I don't have good memories of government offices...)

I recalled the various government offices I had visited during my time as a salaryman.

"I think this place only manages the operations of the branches. The rest is related to the administration of this town..."

My muttered words were answered by Guy, who replied diligently.

"Yes, they also analyze information gathered from the branches."

General visitors are not allowed to go beyond the first-floor hall. After a quick tour, we went back outside.

"It wasn't that interesting, was it? Sharon, where would you like to go?"

I asked Sharon, but she only shook her head, not giving a specific answer. She seemed overwhelmed by her first visit to a major city.

"Let's wander around the southern district and return to the inn."

Guy nodded at my suggestion. Remembering my interest in weapons, he said, "How about we visit a weapon shop?"

I nodded with a smile, saying, "That sounds interesting."

(There was only one blacksmith, Beltram, in Kilnareck. He's a dwarf blacksmith, which is a fantasy staple, but the weapon shops in an adventurer's town are exciting for an RPG enthusiast...)

As we entered the southern district, the number of adventurers returning from the forest, covered in dust, increased. Some were bloodied and leaning on their companions for support. I asked Lidi, "Don't they need healing magic?"

She shook her head slightly, saying, "There's a healing clinic nearby, so it's fine."

She answered without much interest, but I couldn't take my eyes off the injured adventurers.

"But with those injuries, it must be painful to walk. They should at least get some first aid..."

"In the forest, it might be different, but in the city, it's not good to cast healing magic for free. It affects the livelihood of healers. Besides, injuries are a matter of personal responsibility. If you can't include a healer in your party, you should try to avoid getting injured..."

Guy nodded in agreement with Lidi's opinion. She continued,

"If you get injured, you burden your party members. Even if you manage to return safely, one mistake could lead to a total party wipe."

Her point was that a competent adventurer should complete quests without getting injured, and if they take on dangerous quests, they should include a healer in their party. Injuries not only make completing quests difficult but also increase the danger by spreading the scent of blood in the forest. In severe cases, abandoning an injured party member is an option, but it's a harsh choice that is rarely made, even among non-party members.

"But what if something unexpected happens? For example, if there's a powerful monster that shouldn't be there?"

Before Lidi could answer, Guy responded,

"Such things rarely happen. Usually, there are always some signs. If you gather information thoroughly, unexpected situations rarely occur. Even if there's no information about a powerful monster, being aware of your surroundings should prevent it from happening."

(Both Lidi and Guy are surprisingly strict. It's true that injuries can endanger everyone, but unexpected situations are, by definition, unpredictable... Well, if you're as skilled as Guy at detecting the presence of monsters, you can probably escape before they attack...)

We continued through the town, leaving the injured adventurers behind. I reflected on our conversation.

(I understand what Lidi and Guy are saying. But if I were asked if I could make such a calm judgment, I'm not sure. I might get too focused on hunting monsters and neglect my surroundings, and if nothing happens in the forest, I might become complacent and neglect information gathering. They might have wanted to teach me that...)

In the eastern part of the southern district, there are many weapon shops, armor shops, and equipment shops. The specialization of weapon shops, such as those specializing in one-handed swords or spears, made it fun just to look at the signs.

"This is a shop that specializes in swords. I've been here before, and if the owner hasn't changed, he should be a skilled craftsman."

The weapon shop Guy pointed to was a small two-story wooden workshop with a large chimney on the roof, emitting black smoke. The sign, shaped like a sword, read "Gieselheil's Shop." There was nothing outside the shop, and the only sound coming from the open windows was the hammering.

I was a bit hesitant to enter, but Guy walked in confidently, so I followed him inside. The sound of a bell rang as we opened the door, and the hammering stopped.

Looking around the shop, there were about ten types of swords, including longswords, shortswords, and two-handed swords. From the back of the shop, a bearded dwarf craftsman approached with a heavy tread. It was difficult to tell his age, but he looked like a veteran craftsman, similar to Beltram, the blacksmith from Rasmor Village. The dwarf looked at us with a puzzled expression, seeing a group of four, including two children.

"Are you here to buy or for maintenance?"

"We'd like to take a look. We don't plan to buy anything right now."

To my surprise, Guy's answer was met with a nod.

(I thought we'd be told to leave if we were just browsing... He seems to handle it calmly. Maybe he thinks we're comparing different shops...)

Guy picked up a bastard sword from the display and handed it to me, saying, "Would you like to take a look, Sir Zach?"

I have a bastard sword made by Beltram, so I didn't understand Guy's intention at first. However, when I took the sword, I began to understand. Gieselheil, being a skilled dwarf craftsman, made a well-balanced sword. However, the swords here were mass-produced, not unique pieces.

(The balance is good, but the craftsmanship is completely different from Beltram's. Guy probably wanted to show me that my sword is a high-quality piece. The swords in the Lockhart family are all high-quality, so he wanted me to know that this is a regular sword...)

"How much is this one?"

At my question, Gieselheil raised an eyebrow and asked, "Can you use it?"

Indeed, a slender boy about 150 cm tall wanting a bastard sword might sound like he just wants it for show. But I have a bastard sword made by Beltram on my back, and he should be able to see it. I didn't understand his question.

(Maybe he thinks I'm just carrying it for show, like a child trying to act grown-up without being able to use it...)

When I answered, "Of course, I can use it," he said, "Try it out," in a low voice. I didn't want to cause any trouble, so I looked at Guy, who nodded with a smile.

(Guy seems to have some plan. He could have told me beforehand... Oh well. I didn't say anything to Byron either...)

Since the shop was narrow, I asked, "Can I try it outside?" Gieselheil nodded slightly.

I didn't want to make a spectacle on the street, so I went around to the back of the shop, put down my belongings, and readied the sword.

(It's a bit heavier than Beltram's. It's a bit tough with one hand, but I can manage with both hands)

I started with the forms I learned from my grandfather, moving slowly. After a few swings, I got used to the weight and increased my speed, swinging for about a minute.

After finishing, I asked, "Is this okay?" Gieselheil shook his head, looking puzzled. I looked at Guy and mouthed, "What's going on?" Guy nodded with a mischievous expression and said,

"You're testing my lord's son. Shouldn't you say something, Giesel?"

It seems Guy and Gieselheil were old acquaintances.

"You're the son of my lord, from the Lockhart family... I see. So, Guy, why are you here if you're not planning to buy anything?"

"This is a preliminary visit for when Sir Zacharias comes here in the future. I thought you could maintain Beltram's swords from Rasmor Village and introduce me to someone in Doctus who can handle them."

Guy knew my sword was special and was considering its future maintenance.

"I'm Zacharias Lockhart. You can call me Zach."

I extended my right hand, and Gieselheil took it with a curious look.

"I'm Gieselheil. Just call me Giesel if it's too much trouble. By the way, how old are you?"

When I said I was ten, he shook his head and said, "Ten years old... I see." He looked at the sword from Beltram, which I had placed with my belongings, and was even more surprised.

"This isn't something a novice can even maintain. There's only one person in Doctus who can handle this... Zergius. I'll write you a letter of introduction later."

After that, he asked me detailed questions about my bastard sword and said, "If you're going to base yourself in Periclitur, come see me."

Incidentally, according to Gieselheil, Beltram's sword, made from the highest-quality steel and using a special forging technique, is worth at least 30,000 C (30 million yen).

(The materials alone cost 10,000 C, so I thought it would be about double that, but this is an incredible birthday gift. Even including the scotch, it's still over the top...)

After leaving Gieselheil's shop, I thanked Guy.

"I hadn't considered maintenance. I thought any skilled craftsman could do it. Thanks for the help."

"Beltram is an exceptional blacksmith, even for Rasmor Village. If it weren't for his friendship with the previous lord, my grandfather Gowan Lockhart, he would have set up his own workshop in Ars, the capital of the Kingdom of Caum, where many dwarf blacksmiths are based. If he uses the highest-quality steel, his swords are bound to be top-notch. Such swords are not handled by ordinary blacksmiths."

Because we spent more time than expected at Gieselheil's shop, we returned to "The Nest of the Wild Eagle" inn.