Chapter 70

Wednesday.

When I went to the office in Umeda with Mr. Mizuno, for some reason, Hime, not Akashi, became the one to handle the contract, but we managed to conclude it successfully.

Mr. Mizuno officially became a full member of EPO as my direct subordinate, but after that, both Mr. Mizuno and I were made to sit seiza.

We ended up being lectured, sweating profusely side by side.

"So, Taira, do you understand what I'm saying?"

"I'm sorry for acting on my own."

"Can you be more specific?"

"Leaking important information such as the growth ring and growth ribbon, and providing experience potions to Mr. Mizuno personally before the contract was signed, was extremely reckless. I sincerely reflect on my actions and will strive to ensure this never happens again."

"Really, you two. The contract is important. Well, there's no place better than us, so there was no worry of losing him to another company."

When I talked to Hime on the phone yesterday, I felt she was laughing, and this seems to be the reason.

I thought Mr. Mizuno and the others were trustworthy, but it turned out to be a major misconduct, and we were scolded severely.

"Um... Hime, why am I being scolded too?"

"Of course, I'm going to scold you. What? You were putting money from your part-time job into your parents' wallet? Any normal parent would be angry. The reason your parents aren't angry is because they feel inferior."

"Ugh... But I had no other choice."

"Of course not. If you could handle it on your own, your parents would have done it. If you really wanted to do something, you should find a job you like and focus on it, or if you haven't decided on a job yet, study hard to get into a good university. That's the best way to show filial piety, right?"

"You're right."

Mr. Mizuno was also completely defeated.

Hime is usually right in situations like this.

"It's fine for Maiko to put living expenses into her parents' home, but Taira, don't be too lenient and hand over large sums of money. Give the standard blacksmith's salary."

"Would the amount Mr. Akashi proposed be appropriate?"

I asked in polite language.

I believe it was 200,000 yen as the base salary.

"No way. That includes danger pay. Well, since you have three blacksmithing skills, it's not useless, but for two days a week, six hours a day, the base salary would be 150,000 yen, and the skill pay would be 30,000 yen, totaling 180,000 yen. Of course, you'll also help with office work."

"Even so, it's much higher than a convenience store part-time job. Thank you."

Mr. Mizuno bowed deeply.

"You can relax now."

"Thank you. By the way, there's something I want you two to see."

"Something you want us to see?"

"Here—these are what I made with blacksmithing skills. I got iron ingots from Ichino-kun."

Mr. Mizuno took out shurikens and some pointed iron rods.

"I understand the shurikens, but what's this rod? Do you put it in the ring of the shuriken and spin it?"

"This rod is a bo-shuriken. The one you're calling a shuriken is a hira-shuriken. Bo-shuriken are convenient to carry and make no sound when thrown, but they are very difficult to throw. Hira-shuriken are easier to throw but are inconvenient to carry and make noise when thrown. Did you make these?"

"Yep."

"Blacksmithing skills allow you to make these with just a hammer and anvil, without a furnace. However, just because you're a blacksmith doesn't mean you can make or carry dangerous items."

"I have the necessary permits. Our factory used to subcontract parts for dungeon-related weapons, so I thought it would be necessary."

Ah, Mr. Mizuno's father mentioned he had entered a dungeon as a favor, but this must be the reason.

"Akashi!"

"Yes. According to my recent investigation, Mr. Mizuno's father's factory indeed obtained permission from the Osaka Dungeon Bureau seven years ago to create dungeon weapons after completing the Dungeon Weapon Craftsmanship Development Training Program. The factory's technology was excellent, and they were involved in developing high-quality weapons."

"Why is such a factory in danger of bankruptcy?"

"The company that had been subcontracting the manufacture of weapon parts cut the contract to save costs and outsourced the work to a factory in Southeast Asia. Additionally, Mr. Mizuno's father became a co-signer for a friend who then went missing."

"---!? Really!?"

It seems Mr. Mizuno didn't know this. Was it right to tell him?

However, this pattern.

Isn't this the best possible development?

"Will we consider providing financial assistance based on the factory's technology?"

Mr. Mizuno looked at me with hopeful eyes.

"Too much TV. We are a newly established EPO corporation. Even if we were to provide financial assistance to the factory, we lack the know-how and personnel."

You're right.

I'm sorry, Mr. Mizuno.

I shouldn't have raised your hopes.

"Hmm? Hime, these shurikens are amazing?"

"How are they amazing?"

"They have three attributes: increased accuracy, increased destructive power, and increased throwing speed."

"Really? It's difficult to attach three attributes?"

Hime took the shuriken and looked at Mr. Mizuno.

Mr. Mizuno nodded and explained.

"At first, I couldn't do it well, but as I made a few, I thought I could use the equipment enhancement skill together, and I felt something like attributes attaching. After making more, I could do it like this."

"To do that, blacksmithing skills require a lot of concentration, and beginners can't do it so easily."

"Is that so? I've been carving molds since I was young, so it wasn't that difficult compared to that."

Even Hime seemed surprised.

Could Mr. Mizuno be an unexpected talent?

At that moment, two presences approached the office.

They were moving with incredible speed.

Then, the owners of those presences entered the room.

"Is it true (Is it true, Ichino-kun) that Taira (brought a new girl)?!"

Milk and Ayame burst into the room and shouted loudly.

Drama "..." (Creak)