Chapter 68

After dinner, I came to the back door of the kitchen, deep in the mansion, to keep my promise.

"Hey, is Sobura around?"

"Wh-what? Who the hell... S-S-S-Second Master!?"

One of the cooks, who noticed me, shouted in surprise, his eyes nearly popping out. The kitchen erupted into chaos. The one who responded to me performed a perfect jumping prostration. Feeling sorry for him, I helped him up, but then he started crying. It was really getting out of hand.

"Ah, sorry about that. I didn't mean to cause a commotion."

A few seconds later, Sobura, the head chef with his messy hair and unkempt beard, came running out from the back.

"Sorry to bother you during a busy time. Should I come back later?"

"No, no, no! I'm coming, I'm coming!"

Sobura, looking flustered, took a cigarette from his chest pocket. "Caramelia"...? I've never heard of that brand.

"To be honest, it's been a while since I've had a cigarette."

We walked to the smoking area together, chatting. I couldn't say outright that it was my first cigarette in this world, so I played it cool.

In Japanese society, there used to be a term called "taba-communication," but indeed, it's easier to talk to someone you just met if you share a smoke. Although I've never actually experienced that culture since I've never been in society at this age.

"Is that so? This one is pretty good, you know?"

Sobura, hearing my words, tapped his cigarette pack proudly. I wondered what was so good about it but didn't say anything.

"Wow. Well, I've got my choice, you know."

"Hehe, I understand. It's that kind of attachment, right?"

No, what else could it be? In Mefion, cigarettes are "cool accessories." Since they are virtual, there's no need to worry about tar or nicotine. They are just fashion items for people who think "cigarettes are cool."

My cigarette is "Shiose." I had it bought from the capital's tobacco shop by a maid earlier. Why did I choose Shiose? Because the name sounds cool, of course.

"Well, then."

"Whoa, Shiose? That's pretty cool."

We reached the ashtray, and I took out a Shiose from my pocket and put it in my mouth. Feeling a bit good about being called cool, I showed a grin. Suddenly, a fragrant smell of tobacco leaves wafted by. Wait, something feels off... Oh well, let's light it up.

"---Ngh! Nge! Nhooh!?"

Buhah! What the hell is this?!

"Haha, has it been too long for you?"

Sobura laughed while smoking.

...Hold on. Is this a real cigarette? I've never smoked a real cigarette, but I can tell this is completely different from the Mefion item "cigarette" I know. My throat hurts, it's smoky, and it smells. What is this? Did cigarettes become real?

"...Ah, something's wrong. My body must have changed."

"Oh, I see."

I faked it and extinguished the Shiose. Mefion has changed. It's a bit sad.

"Hmm...? Is your cigarette a bit different? It doesn't smell much?"

"Yeah, this one? It's a popular brand in the capital right now."

"Caramelia?"

"Yeah, it's got a really high-quality smoke. It's a whole different level from regular cigarettes. It makes you feel great and boosts your motivation."

"I see. Then work on improving yourself as much as you feel motivated. And one day, cook me a delicious meal."

"Of course, that's the best compliment I could ask for."

"I want a delicious katsu don. So, aim for something more down-to-earth. But since Yuki will be a pain, also study more refined, noble-style cooking while you're at it."

"...I see. So you're telling me to die, huh? Well, I'll die happily!"

"Haha, just take it easy."

After that, we chatted for about five minutes and then parted ways. I felt we had connected. Sobura was clearly more energetic than when we talked earlier.

Hmm. Taba-communication, can't underestimate it.

"So, today's schedule is: check on Master's progress in the morning, and visit the Second Prince in the afternoon. Okay?"

"Okay."

The next morning, before breakfast, Winfield informed me of the day's schedule.

Winfield, who had quickly secured the position of secretary and was in a good mood, but Yuki, who used to be the secretary, was silently glaring at me with a resentful look. It's scary; I wish someone would do something about it. She's your master, you know.

"We talked it out."

ESP is not cool, it's bad for the heart... Plus, if we talked it out and she still looks like that, we're just going to end up fighting. Look at her. She looks like a grudge demon.

"...Hmm? Where are Silvia and Eko?"

I suddenly noticed that they hadn't shown up for breakfast.

"I gave them a mission."

"A mission? What kind of mission?"

"To contact a certain organization."

"Contact... what organization?"

"Hmm. Well, Second Master, you don't need to know. In fact, it might be better if you don't."

"What? That's really intriguing."

An organization? A guild or something? Why?

"The war is starting."

Winfield looked me straight in the eye and said this with a smile.

...A game, huh. For him, it probably means exactly that. But for the pawns, it means something different.

"I'm using you. I won't forgive anything less than a decisive victory."

"Of course!"

I nodded, genuinely happy. It was the first time I had seen him smile so broadly in half a day.

"Master, here are the results of the past four months."

"Let me see."

After breakfast, Yuki showed me various items with attached effects. She had been challenging herself with "attachment" for the past four months.

"Wow... this is amazing."

"..."

I couldn't help but exclaim. Yuki, silent and expressionless, bowed her head, but her pointed elf ears stood up proudly, showing her pride in her work.

Of course, it's impressive. Attachment is a field so tedious that even I, who am relatively patient, would want to avoid it.

To explain it concretely, attachment is basically a cycle of "attachment → disassembly → creation → attachment." The Enchantment Magic skill randomly attaches some effect to a specific item. So, until the desired effect is attached, you will keep failing. Of course, there are times when the effect fails to attach. In fact, that happens more often. When you fail, or when the desired effect doesn't come, you have to disassemble the equipment back into materials, use those materials to create again, and then apply Enchantment Magic, fail, disassemble, create, attach, fail, disassemble... and continue this cycle indefinitely.

Of course, the materials obtained from disassembly are not complete, so you need to buy additional materials for creation, and the more you fail, the more material costs you incur.

This time, I instructed them to try attachment using only the materials Silvia and Eko brought back from the Rimpfort Dungeon, so there were no material costs. However, the resulting attached equipment was of the second grade. In other words, low risk, low return. If you think about doing it with first-grade materials, you can imagine how difficult it is.

In short, I didn't expect much from the start. But... as expected of a growth type "blacksmith," she did a job beyond my expectations.

Yuki's results from the past four months were three items.

The first was the "Mole Rock Armor Boots," a foot item. It is part of the Rock Armor series made from materials obtained from the boss Rock Turtle in Rimpfort. The "Mole" in front of the item name indicates the attached effect. The effect is "150% increase in the wearer's VIT," a simple but powerful effect. It is the highest level in defensive attachments.

The second is the "Mole Rock Armor." Again, a Mole-equipped item. Mole-equipped armor is very suitable for a tank, making it perfect for Eko.

The third is the "Horn Replacement Shell Piercing." The "Horn Replacement" effect is "5% increase in the wearer's critical hit rate," which seems trivial at first glance. However, in reality, Horn Replacement is a highly sought-after attachment.

In Mefion, you can equip accessories in four additional slots: wrist, finger, ear, and neck, in addition to the six main slots: weapon, head, body, legs, hands, and feet. If you could attach Horn Replacement to all ten slots, it would result in a "50% increase in critical hit rate." Adding your own stats, it could even achieve a "100% critical hit rate." Thus, Horn Replacement is a highly romantic attachment.

"Yuki"

"Yes?"

"Amazing."

"Thank you very much."

There's no other way to describe it. She produced three items in four months. I hope she keeps up the good work and continues to attach more.

I asked her to give the two Mole items to Eko and the Horn Replacement Piercing to Silvia. Yuki, who seemed in a good mood, nodded happily.

"By the way, I should give Yuki a reward too."

I suddenly realized. If I only gave rewards to Silvia and Eko and not to Yuki, it might cause some discord.

"No, I have already... summoned a spirit, cough, summoned a spirit."

...I can't help but feel that some discord has already arisen, but it's better to address it early.

"Then, this is a reward for your attachment work. It's also a thank you for all your help. Do you have any preferences?"

"Preferences... anything?"

"Anything is fine."

As I said this, Yuki's eyes suddenly lit up. I could feel she was up to something, but it was too late.

And then, the shocking words came out.

"...Then, tonight... in my room... I'll be waiting."

Eh... that... that...

"Is that what you mean?"

I couldn't help but ask. Yuki, blushing from ear to ear, looked down and nodded.

Her long, beautiful white and purple hair hid her face, but the corner of her mouth, which I could see, was tightly tensed, looking very embarrassed. It was clear she had made a significant decision.

I see. That's what it is.

To have a woman go this far. I have to respond, or I'm not a man.

"I'll come no matter what."

I said only that and left the scene.

I left, but it was already lunchtime. We would have to face each other again soon.

...In the end, I couldn't taste the lunch at all.

Thank you for reading.