Chapter 31

Tomorrow's schedule is set.

For now, I'll add it to my to-do list.

- Go to the guild tomorrow morning.

- Defeat the huge slimes.

Well, should I head to the blacksmith as planned?

The building with the large chimney must be the blacksmith.

The sign has a sword and a pot emblazoned on it. Do they forge household items too?

In a village, household items are probably more common.

"Hello."

No one is at the counter.

"Hello!"

I call out.

No response.

"Hello!"

I raise my voice a bit louder, and I can sense movement from the back of the store.

"Hey, welcome. Customer?"

"Yes. I'd like to look at weapons and have something made."

It was a man in his fifties with reddish-brown hair and a beard. He had a sturdy build and thick, strong-looking eyebrows that made him look intense.

"Weapons... a grave? No, this is just for now. I'm looking for a spear."

"Hmm. For personal use, right? With that outfit, you must be an adventurer. With your height... this one should do."

He brings out a spear about 150 cm long.

"It's a short spear, but the spearhead is 40 cm of forged steel. The middle 40 cm of the shaft is reinforced. It won't bend even with heavy use."

When I pick it up, it's heavier than I expected.

"Want to try some practice swings?"

"Sure, you can use the backyard."

I step into the yard, grip the spear by the middle, and assume a half-body stance.

The butt end is also coated in iron and has a weight embedded in it. Holding it by the middle makes it feel lighter.

I swing it along the centerline. The tip drops much lower than with a grave-like weapon.

"Wow. I've never seen one in person, but this is heavy."

I can't believe anyone can swing this around on their first try.

In those transfer novels and manga, high school students are always swinging swords and spears around, but aren't they just bamboo practice weapons?

I continue practicing, trying to draw the character for "rice," but the tip goes far beyond where I intended to stop.

When I thrust, the tip drops significantly.

Honestly, I underestimated real spears. This is a short spear.

Indeed, a machete has a 30 cm blade. This has more than twice the amount of iron. No wonder it's heavy.

"The wood for the shaft is high-quality oak, so it won't warp. The leather wrapping is also good, so it won't slip and will feel comfortable in your hand."

Hmm, I want it.

"How much is it?"

"70,000. The sheath is free."

It's quite expensive. On Earth, that would be about the cost of building a high-end PC.

If I consider it as a three-year investment, it might be worth it.

"I'm sorry, but I don't have the money on me today. Can I come back tomorrow or later?"

"Sure, no problem. I'll hold it for you."

Yeah, I have some planned income, and since it's essential for my survival, I'll go ahead and buy it.

"So, what do you want me to make?"

He asks as I hand him the spear.

"Ah, can I have some parchment? And is there a place where I can write?"

"Sure, you can use the room. It's a bit messy, though."

He leads me to a room that is cluttered with design drawings and ledgers but not dirty. He seems to be meticulous despite his appearance.

I borrow a desk and, while looking at the encyclopedia on my smartphone, I roughly sketch a third-angle projection, cross-section, and scale of the design. I also include a conceptual illustration of its use and an explanation of the materials.

"Here it is."

"Hmm."

He grunts as he examines the design.

"The mechanism of this valve is an application of a bellows, and this lever raises water... It's a simple structure, but I never thought of it."

It seems he understands the basic operation.

"Wow, this is amazing. Honestly, it's a shame to keep this just between us. I want to take it to the lord."

The conversation is getting bigger.

"The area around here is effectively governed by a viscount. His father is a duke. If the story reaches that level, it will go all the way to the king."

"Do you have a patent?"

"Yeah. As a reward from the king, an exclusive sales right is granted. A large guild would handle both manufacturing and sales, but you can't do it alone, right? It would be better to work through a trustworthy guild and receive a percentage of the sales. I have connections with the blacksmith guild leader. I won't let you down."

The only question is whether I can trust this guy.

"My mother also struggles with fetching water every day. Especially in a blacksmith's household, we use a lot of water. I know how painful it is. I really want to get this to her as soon as possible. That's my honest feeling."

Hmm, I'll trust him.

"Since the structure is simple, it can be cast. If you give me a little time, I can bring you a prototype."

"Can I ask you to do it at Ast's place?"

"Yeah, sure..."

"I'm Akihiro. I'm a 10th-level adventurer."

"Akihiro, huh? I'm Ness. This will help my mother. From today, consider me family."

He's more passionate than I expected.

"Alright, I'll start the casting prototype right away. There's no time to sleep."

Ness yells and then quickly disappears into the back of the store.

Well, regardless of the patent, it would be great to get a prototype.

While thinking about the local governance system, I decide to head back to Ast's place.