Chapter 51

After finishing a sandwich so bitter it seemed to negate the flavor of the chicken entirely, Aldis left the inn.

His destination was a single blacksmith's shop.

He intended to visit blacksmiths around the capital city throughout the morning to have a short sword made to replace the one that had broken during the battle with the "Red Eater."

It was then that the information broker Cesare happened to appear.

Seizing the opportunity, Aldis received information about a skilled blacksmith in exchange for a small fee and was now on his way there.

The artisan district, where blacksmiths' shops lined up, was located away from the main street.

The sound of metal being struck echoed from various buildings, and the air was filled with the smell of burning iron.

White and black smoke rose from the chimneys, and occasionally, buildings emitted pink or blue smoke.

"Is this it?"

Stopping in front of one of the houses, which from the outside looked like an ordinary single-story building, Aldis stood still.

According to the information he had bought from Cesare, a blacksmith who "charged a lot but did reliable work" was supposed to be here.

After knocking on the door, which had no sign or nameplate, and waiting for a while, there was no response.

With no other choice, Aldis opened the door and entered.

No one was in the room he stepped into.

This room seemed to serve as both a break room and a reception area. A square table was placed in the center, and weapons that the blacksmith had forged were displayed on shelves along the walls.

It was neither ostentatious nor overly clean but was neatly organized and had a calm atmosphere.

Although no one was in the room, there was another door on the opposite side of the entrance, and the regular sound of metal being struck could be heard from behind it.

"Is anyone here!"

Aldis raised his voice to be heard over the metal sounds.

Eventually, a young man appeared from the back room.

The young man was taller than Aldis and had a slender build, but contrary to his lanky appearance, his arms, visible from under his sleeves, were well-toned.

"Did you call?"

"I came to request a job."

In response to the young man's indifferent attitude, Aldis bluntly stated his business.

"I want you to forge about three swords to replace these."

As he spoke, he took a broadsword and a short sword for sword magic from his waist and placed them on the table.

"They're in bad shape, aren't they?"

Muttering to himself, the young man examined the swords.

The sound of metal being struck continued to come from the back room.

The owner of the shop was probably working back there.

The young man was probably in his mid-twenties and seemed to be an apprentice.

After examining the swords for a while, the young man let out a short sigh and told Aldis dismissively.

"Go home."

"But I came to request a job."

Aldis frowned.

"That's why I'm telling you to go home. I don't intend to take your job."

"Why not?"

"I don't want to work for someone who treats their swords so roughly. What's with these? The broadsword is one thing, but the short sword is a mess. A heavy iron sword shouldn't be this chipped unless you neglected maintenance or used it recklessly. One of them is completely broken."

Pointing to the battered short sword, the young man scolded Aldis.

Of course, Aldis had his own reasons.

He had never neglected maintenance, and he had never treated his swords carelessly.

However, even if heavy iron swords were durable, he had fought three consecutive battles against the three major demons. If they were broken, it was due to circumstances beyond his control.

"You're not the one to talk to. Bring the master here."

"You're just a half-trained kid. There's no need to bother the master. You're in the way, so go home."

The young man, treating Aldis as an inexperienced youth due to his youthful appearance, and Aldis, insisting on speaking directly to the master, continued their argument.

After a while, a sturdy middle-aged man appeared from the back room.

"Holst! How long are you going to dawdle! Get back to work!"

"Ah, Master!"

The man had short hair streaked with white and brown eyes. His voice was strong and his gaze sharp, befitting a seasoned craftsman.

His toned body and burn scars visible here and there told the story of the years he had dedicated to blacksmithing.

This man, whom the young man called "Master," was likely the owner of the shop.

"No, this kid kept pestering me."

"Is this a customer?"

"No, I refused him because he doesn't know how to handle swords properly..."

Hearing the young man's words, the man called "Master" looked at the swords on the table.

"Hmm..."

"They're in terrible condition, aren't they? He treated a heavy iron sword like this."

The master picked up the swords in silence.

After examining them for a while, he asked Aldis.

"Did you use all of these?"

"Yes."

"Hmm, I see..."

The master, who had been examining Aldis's build, took a sword from one of the shelves and handed it to him.

"Show me how you swing it."

Aldis, taking the sword, silently did as the master said.

"Hmm... Now, cut this."

The master, holding a cleaning cloth from the table, threw it at Aldis as he spoke.

Aldis, channeling a light amount of magic into the blade, sliced the cloth in mid-air.

The cloth, cut in half, fell to the floor with a soft thud.

"Hmm..."

Picking up the cut cloth and examining the edge, the master let out an exclamation of admiration.

"What? No way!"

The young man, on the other hand, was wide-eyed with surprise.

Cutting a cloth in mid-air was a feat only a top-tier swordsman could accomplish.

"You're quite skilled for your age. How did you end up in this state?"

The master's gaze turned to the broken short sword on the table.

"You fought the wrong opponent."

"Who was it?"

"The 'Bell Ringer,' the 'Four Feathers,' and the 'Red Eater.' The 'Red Eater' was particularly tough. One of them ended up breaking."

"The 'Red Eater'!?"

"What!?"

The master and the young man both exclaimed in surprise.

"Y-You're the one who defeated the three major demons that everyone's talking about in the capital!?"

The young man pointed at Aldis in disbelief.

"I see. No wonder even a heavy iron sword couldn't withstand the three major demons..."

The master, on the other hand, looked convinced.

"Alright. With your skills, you shouldn't be at the mercy of your weapons. So, you want two short swords, right?"

"Two short swords, and while we're at it, a broadsword as well. A total of three."

"What material do you want? Heavy iron, I assume?"

Heavy iron had failed against such formidable opponents. Aldis had no desire for iron or steel weapons anymore.

"The base will be heavy iron, but I have something interesting. I want you to use this."

From his bag, Aldis took out a leather pouch. Opening it, he revealed a powder that shimmered with a metallic luster.

"Could this be..."

This time, the master was speechless.

"Let me see it!"

Snatching the leather pouch, the master pinched some of the powder and held it up to the light.

"Is this... real? Real rainbow powder!?"

The master's voice trembled.

Among the many precious metals and gems, there existed a gem called "Lechia."

The hardest, most beautiful, and with the highest affinity for magic, Lechia had been known as the gem of gems since ancient times.

However, the refining techniques for Lechia were lost long ago, and now, only a few refined stones are occasionally excavated from ruins. As a result, high-purity crystals no longer exist.

Therefore, Lechia refined stones or weapons and ornaments made from Lechia are of incalculable value.

Even the raw stones, before refinement, are traded for nearly ten times the price of gold.

Rainbow powder is the powdered form of refined Lechia.

With current technology, it is impossible to crush or cut refined stones, making it a rare material that cannot be newly produced.

"I had a chance to get it. I thought I might as well use it for new swords."

Aldis said this casually.

Rainbow powder can significantly enhance the performance of weapons.

It can be used as a coating or mixed into the base heavy iron.

When used in a sword, it increases sharpness, and when used in armor, it provides strength to repel multiple strikes.

Using rainbow powder to make weapons is a great honor for a blacksmith and a job that stirs the soul of a craftsman, especially in an age where Lechia cannot be refined or processed.

"Are you sure you want to use it? It could fetch an astronomical price if sold?"

The master asked hesitantly.

Aldis didn't know how much it would fetch if sold, but it would likely be a sum that would dwarf the bounty for the three major demons.

However, to Aldis, a sword that was unbreakable and had a sharp edge was far more valuable than gold coins, which he could earn in other ways.

Besides, it was a lucky find during the "Red Eater" hunt. Using it to replace the short sword broken by the Red Eater would balance things out, a logical argument that would likely leave Ted and the others speechless.

"Go ahead and use it all."

"That's a generous offer. However... it's a bit difficult to say... Using rainbow powder will be quite expensive."

"How much?"

"Hmm... At the very least, 100 gold coins per sword. For three, you'll need 300. If you want to infuse magic during the forging, you'll need to secure a magician for a long period."

"I understand. I'll pay 600 gold coins. I'll infuse the magic myself. I'll be more useful than any magician around here."

"Ah, right. You have the bounty for the three major demons. If you're willing to pay 600 coins, I have no complaints."

"Deal. How long will it take?"

"Three months... No, four months."

"Alright. Let me know when you need me to infuse the magic. When I'm in the capital, I stay at the 'Rivulet Inn' in the pleasure district."

"Understood. I'll take care of it. ...I never thought I'd be forging swords with rainbow powder."

The master's face suddenly broke into a smile, as if lost in thought.

"Hehehe, the blood of a craftsman is boiling! In the name of Schmelz, I will create a legendary sword that will be remembered for generations!"

Beside the enthusiastic master, the young apprentice was stunned by the scale of the project.

"Six hundred... Six hundred gold coins..."

The young man muttered the amount, which far exceeded his imagination.