Chapter 71

"Anyway, things will be quicker if the owner comes out. It should be easier to talk to you than that stubborn old man. There's only one thing I want to say: sell me the mithril sword."

"I refuse. I had it made because I need it too."

A weapon suitable for B-rank or higher adventurers shouldn't be easy to come by in this adventurer's city. If I give in here, who knows when the next opportunity will come? Besides, we have no obligation to do such a thing.

Hilde must have understood this, which is why he was pestering the stubborn blacksmith Berga, even resorting to threats.

"Don't get so worked up, heavy knight. It doesn't really matter if you have such equipment. What's the point of a nobody having a well-equipped sword? You don't understand how this world works."

Hilde shrugged his shoulders as if mocking me and shook his head from side to side.

"You must be all excited about getting a rare weapon, but to Lana, it's just gold. The world of adventurers is surprisingly small. If you catch the eye of someone higher up, it's all over. I'll teach you a lesson. Which do you prefer: getting all worked up and defying me, or selling the mithril sword willingly? I'm not trying to lowball you. I'll pay you a fair price."

"A fair price... huh."

I want to save money for the *Skill Book*. However, I don't think Hilde will buy it at a much higher price than the market rate. Besides, from my perspective, it would be much more efficient to use good equipment and delve into a higher-level *Dream Hole* rather than sell it for a good price.

"Would thirty million gold be enough? Ha, for you, it must be an unimaginable fortune. I'll help you sort your items and make some gold..."

"I refuse. Thirty million is nothing to talk about."

"Huh?"

I expected him to make such an offer. The market price for *Mithril Ingots* is twenty-five million gold, so he probably thinks adding the forging cost and a bit of profit would be around that price.

However, this equipment is embedded with expensive gemstones, and even without that, losing this equipment would drop the rank of *Dream Holes* I can challenge. Considering the loss, there's no reason to agree to thirty million gold.

"Hey, kid... This brat may look and act like a punk, but his skills are real. He's a B-rank adventurer with a record of soloing *Lord of Dreams*. However, his character is thoroughly rotten. It might be best not to make him an enemy."

Berga said this to me cautiously.

"Is that why you refuse jobs for your beliefs? I don't like this guy either. I have no intention of negotiating."

"I'm prepared... but you kids are still young. It's better not to make troublesome enemies within the guild."

"If it comes to that, we'll just move to another city. Besides, I don't think I'm weaker than him."

In terms of adventurer rank, I'm also a B-rank. I believe I can fight him on equal terms. There's no reason to be underestimated just because I'm a lower rank.

"You say some interesting things. A nameless heavy knight claiming to be stronger than me?"

Hilde covered his mouth and laughed. No, it was a forced laugh. If he had a goal, it was to create an opening.

As I jumped back, Hilde moved. He drew his sword and pointed it at my chest. In the process, the blacksmith tools on the table were knocked over.

"Hmm, good reaction. You have some nerve to talk back to me. But your stats are too weak. That's the limit of a heavy knight. Lucky for you, if I had been any angrier, I would have killed you right there."

Hilde stepped back from me and sheathed his sword.

He probably didn't have the intention to kill, but he showed no hesitation in drawing his blade.

"You'll just die with an inappropriate weapon. Hand it over quietly."

"Are you okay, Elma-san!"

Luca rushed to me, flustered.

"W-What are you thinking, all of a sudden! Lady!"

"Quiet. I just showed you the extent of your weakness. I'm surprisingly kind, you know?"

I glared at Hilde as I regained my composure.

"Just because I was caught off guard doesn't prove anything about our skill difference. In battles between adventurers, class compatibility is a significant factor, and the range and conditions each class excels at can vary greatly. It's said that a completely fair duel is impossible."

To put it simply, in *Magic World*, if a magic-type class and a melee-type class duel, the outcome is determined by the initial distance between them. Naturally, the further the distance, the more advantageous it is for the magic-type class.

"Come on, you've proven the skill difference enough. Don't quibble. So what, are you saying if I set the conditions and win, you'll give up the mithril sword? I'll accept that. I won't lose to a heavy knight."

"I was just stating a general point. Besides, since there's no benefit for me even if I win the duel, there's no reason to accept..."

"You're being stubborn. I said it's impossible. If I lose, I'll give up on the mithril sword and pay you its market value. How about that? Now you have no reason to run, right?"

Hilde licked his lips and smiled mockingly.

"You shouldn't accept, kid. Originally, classes like a magic swordsman excel in one-on-one battles. If I follow your logic, a duel to compare skills is inherently unfair..."

Berga looked worried. But I quickly stopped him with a gesture.

"Are you really okay with those conditions? Then I'll gladly accept."

Luca and Berga turned pale simultaneously.

"That's too dangerous! The opponent is a B-rank adventurer and a magic swordsman! He's fast, has high attack power, and skills for both close and long range... He's unbeatable in duels, even I know that!"

"I was planning to play it safe, but I'm a bit angry now."

I glanced at the scattered blacksmith tools on the floor.

"If I can easily get tens of millions of gold, there's no reason to pass it up. I'll make a little extra money and give Hilde a taste of his own medicine."

"I don't like your cocky attitude, but you being a fool is a relief. To prevent any excuses, I'll call a guild official as a witness. Don't regret it."