Chapter 69

"Wait, Ichiya-kun. I can't follow what you're saying—uh, is there really such a medicine?"

"Um, did you call me Ichiya-kun? How much does it cost?"

Mizuno-san and Mizuno-san's mother ask.

"Well, um, yeah. I made it. The selling price is around a few million yen?"

"‘—!?’"

"But I can get it for free. Besides, I have a lot left over. If too much is released to the market, it could affect the livelihood of people who make a living from simple synthesis and appraisal, so I'm not allowed to release more than a certain number. Please keep this between us."

I'm telling you this because you're Mizuno-san. Well, now that I have the backing of Dapon, the government, and Ono Group, it's not a big problem if this level of information gets out, but just to be safe.

"Keep it between us?"

"I'm telling you this because you're Mizuno-san—"

I look at the materials that Ako-san left behind.

"To level 10, you need 7,000 experience points, so if you drink seven, you'll reach level 10. After that, the required experience points increase, so you'll need more medicine. For example, to go from level 29 to 30, you'd need to drink over 1,000 experience potions."

"1,000 bottles? A few million yen per bottle... that's tens of billions of yen?"

"Don't worry about the price. As I said, it's practically free. Oh, right. The ring and this ribbon—each increases experience points by 20%, and if you wear both, it increases by 40%. So, why don't you drink five or six today and reach level 10?"

I take out five more experience potions.

"Ichiya-kun? So, how much do you plan to sell this for?"

"I don't need money. I really have so much left over. I'm already level 36, so drinking this doesn't really do much for me. Nowadays, I sometimes drink it when I'm thirsty, like a water bottle."

I take out ten more experience potions from my inventory via my bag.

"So, are you offering to hire my daughter as a blacksmith under these conditions?"

"I don't have any such intentions. I just thought this might help Mizuno-san level up without fighting, since that's what she said she wanted."

"…You said you drink this regularly? Are there any side effects? Any addictive properties?"

"Hey, Dad, what are you saying? That's rude to Ichiya-kun."

"There are no side effects. If you're worried about giving your daughter an unknown medicine, would you like to try it yourself? I think you'll see there are no strange hallucinogenic effects."

"Is that okay?"

"Of course. Mizuno-san's father—have you ever been to a dungeon?"

"I've gone with clients. I'm still level 1."

What kind of relationship is that? But if you've been to a dungeon, you can see your status.

"Here."

I take out another bottle of medicine.

"Ah…"

Mizuno-san's father smells the experience potion, takes a sip, and then drinks the rest in one go. He stares into space, probably checking his status.

"Dad?"

"My level has increased. I'm level 3 now. There are no other changes in my condition."

"Really? That's amazing—"

It seems he believes me.

"Can I try it too?"

"Don't forget the ring and the ribbon."

I've already confirmed this with both normal and detailed appraisal. Mizuno-san ties the ribbon to the end of her braid and then puts on the ring—

"Your left ring finger is no good."

"I know! I'll put it on my right ring finger."

Mizuno-san drinks the experience potion.

"…! Amazing, my level really did increase. I'm level 4 now."

"Then, let's go to level 10."

"Okay."

Mizuno-san drinks four more experience potions. Even though they're small bottles, the fifth one seems tough.

"I'm level 10 now. I got two new skills!"

"What skills?"

"Let me check. I'll read out my status."

――――――――――――――――――

Mizuno Maiko: Level 10

Cash Value: 0 (Rank: -)

HP: 23/23

MP: 0/0

Attack: 95

Defense: 12

Skill: 91

Agility: 30

Luck: 7

Skills: Basic Smithing, Equipment Repair, Equipment Enhancement

――――――――――――――――――

Her attack and skill are ridiculously high. On the other hand, her HP and defense are quite low. Even though they say attack is the best defense, there are limits. It's easy to see why blacksmiths are considered dangerous.

"My HP and defense are lower than Ichiya-kun's level 3…"

Mizuno-san's father says. I've seen this information on the internet. Basic Smithing allows you to create equipment from materials. Equipment Repair lets you fix broken equipment, which can take time for something like a broken sword. Equipment Enhancement lets you improve the sharpness of weapons or strengthen armor using materials. All of these are basic blacksmith skills, but learning two at level 10 is a good start, isn't it?

"Dad, Mom, with this, I think I can become a blacksmith."

"But you said it takes over 1,000 experience potions to go from level 29 to 30, right? I've heard that top blacksmiths need to be level 40 or 50. Will you ever be forced to go into a dungeon?"

"When the time comes, I might be able to prepare more effective experience potions by going to deeper levels of the dungeon—ah, if you don't want to be forced into a dungeon, we can make a personal employment contract with me instead of the company. In that case, you wouldn't have to follow the company's orders, so you wouldn't be forced into a dungeon, and you'd still get the company's benefits and the same salary."

I learned the details from Hime on Saturday. I just heard about the benefits a little while ago.

"Hey, Ichiya-kun, why are you doing so much for me?"

"Why? Well, because you're Mizuno-san. I wouldn't do this for other blacksmiths."

"Does that mean…?"

"If Mizuno-san becomes unhappy, Kuro and Shiro will be mad at me. They both love you. Besides, I think people who work hard should be rewarded. If you can't accept that, just think of it as good luck."

"Good luck?"

"Exactly. I became a board member of EPO and can get a lot of experience potions because of good luck. So, think of it as good luck for you too."

"I see—so I'm lucky."

Mizuno-san smiled. It was her usual smile, but it was the first time she showed it today. We decided to do the detailed contract at Umeda's office on Wednesday when school ends early. I returned the ring and left a few experience potions before going home.

If Mizuno-san decides not to become a blacksmith, then so be it. I've done everything I can. The rest is up to her.

※ ※ ※

After Ichiya-kun left, I checked my status again. I was really level 10. This isn't a dream. People at the Dungeon Bureau said it takes dozens of days in a dungeon to reach level 10, but I can reach level 10 so easily. If this gets out, it will cause a big stir. Maybe we're being too trusting.

And—

"Good luck…?"

"What's wrong?"

"I've never thought of myself as unlucky. My parents are kind, and Yuta and Airi are cute. I'd want to be born as Mizuno Maiko again even if I were reborn."

"…Maiko"

"But others don't think so. Some people look at me with pity… and some even say I'm pitiful—But Ichiya-kun said I'm lucky—That made me happy."

Ichiya-kun probably said what he thought. But maybe it would have been better if he said he wanted to help because he likes me? I think Ichiya-kun would have helped me even if I were a boy. He doesn't ask for anything in return.

"So, Dad, Mom, before we sign the contract, I have one request."

"‘Request?’"

"I want to work. I'll put half of my salary into the household. You must accept it."

"You…"

"It's normal for employees to put part of their salary into the household. In return, I'll save the other half. I won't put money into your wallets without permission anymore."

I look them in the eye. Dad and Mom look at each other and nod deeply.

Even Dad, who usually doesn't budge from his opinion.

If changing a hard piece of iron into the shape you want is the job of a blacksmith, then at this moment, when I confronted Dad's hard will and changed it, I felt like I took the first step as a blacksmith.

The epilogue from Mizuno-san's perspective, which I thought about making a bonus, I decided to include in the main story.

※ I made some minor corrections to the conversation with Dad.