Chapter 60

Summary of the previous episode ------------------------------------------------------

The next morning, I lined up early and successfully secured a good job. For the next three days, I worked diligently. On the last day, after finishing work, I was called by Toya.

Toya led me to an inn that was relatively close to the city center but located in a narrow alley that was hard to find. It was a place that one wouldn't notice unless introduced by someone, yet the dining room was already bustling with many people. Perhaps it was popular among regulars or locals?

"Come on, let's sit. Dad, give this guy an ale and me some water, and bring something to snack on."

I sat next to Toya at the counter, and a mug of ale was quickly placed in front of me. This was the ale I had heard wasn't very tasty, but it still made me smile a little.

"Itadakimasu."

"Yep. Try to drink it up."

I took a sip from the mug.

...Huh? It's not that tasty, but it's not as bad as they said?

It doesn't really taste like alcohol. Maybe it's because of the [Python]?

"How is it?"

"Well, I can't say it's delicious, but it's not undrinkable, right?"

Toya chuckled and asked, and I tilted my head in response.

"Really? Try it. ...Still no good. What's the deal? Is it a racial trait? Or is Tommy just bad at tasting?"

"Being bad at tasting is harsh. But what do you mean by racial trait?"

"It's not a big deal. For example, elves have excellent balance in trees, and beastmen like me are strong and have a good sense of smell. I thought dwarves might find alcohol more delicious."

"That makes sense."

Just the presence of alcohol might make it taste good.

"Well, if you like it, drink it. It's not that expensive, and you can afford it if you work hard. Personally, I think you should decide how much you're going to drink in advance. You won't know when to stop, right?"

"If I don't get drunk, then that's fine. The [Python] seems to be pretty useless and even dangerous."

"That's one kind of 'landmine.' At least you can be careful, which is better."

"Hai, I'll be careful."

Even if I could do something 'very dwarven,' it wouldn't be funny if I ended up with acute alcohol poisoning. It would be nice if there was a racial trait that made me strong against alcohol, but it's too scary to try.

If the body's warning signals are ignored, you might drink normally until you exceed your limit and die. The [Python] really is a landmine.

"By the way, why were you there, Toya? Did you have something for me? I thought you went to another town."

"Yeah, I did. I finished my business smoothly and came back quickly. I think I'll be based in this town for a while."

"Oh, really? ...By the way, Toya, do you know someone named Yasue? She's probably a classmate."

"Yasue? Who's that? --Did something happen with her?"

"Oh, no, we just narrowly missed each other, but it seems she has [Skill Copy]."

When I said that, Toya thought for a moment and then snapped his fingers.

"Maybe it's Umezono? I can't remember her first name."

"Umezono? ...Now that you mention it, it sounds familiar. Have you met her? Since you came here."

"Yeah. After she copied our skills, she challenged us and ran away."

"Really? To Haruka? She's pretty brave."

I wouldn't have the courage to do that. Especially after the other day, when she smiled and said, "I won't show mercy to enemies."

"Huh? But [Skill Copy] can't be used unless you know the skill name and level, right?"

"Yeah. She politely asked for our skill names and levels."

"So you told her, even though you almost certainly knew she had [Skill Copy], especially Haruka?"

"Good guess. Besides, Haruka has [Pierce], so she knew."

"And you told her everything, without explaining the disadvantages?"

"Yeah. Well, I skipped a few skills that don't have levels."

"Even if you told her about [Pierce], she should have realized you knew, right?"

Still, she copied them without thinking? Umezono.

Did she not find it strange that you were so willing to tell her? Or was she seen as very naive?

"Hmm, maybe Haruka was testing her. She knew Umezono was hiding her skills, and by telling her about [Pierce], she might have changed her attitude."

"In the end, she copied them and challenged us."

At that point, if she had apologized sincerely, she might have been forgiven and even helped.

Hmm, Umezono is pretty stupid, isn't she?

Did she not realize her lies were exposed? Or did she think it would be fine once she copied them...?

"Even if she copied them, she might have been 'irrelevant' to Haruka, but challenging us and running away was a different story... Honestly, I'm more exasperated than angry."

"If you knew the reality of [Skill Copy], she's almost a clown."

She even complained to the receptionist at the Adventurer's Guild... Hmm.

"I saw her at the Adventurer's Guild. If you're going to be based in this town, you might run into her. It might be better to be careful if you don't want to get involved."

"Thanks. But it's a bit troublesome, as I have to go to the guild sometimes."

"I've been helped a lot by everyone, so if there's anything I can do, I'll do it. I'm not well-known here."

"Yeah, but thanks for the offer. We have to report our jobs ourselves."

"You're right. I overstepped."

"No, I appreciate your offer. Besides, even Umezono wouldn't complain to us that 'the copied skills don't work.'"

"True. She wouldn't know the reason unless someone told her."

Would someone with [Help] be willing to listen to her honestly? There's also the fundamental issue of whether they would even meet.

"Anyway, let's talk about why I came. About the debt, if you can wait a bit more..."

I have enough money to pay now, but it would be tough if I did.

"That's fine... It's not good, but it's not urgent. I came to see how you work. I actually watched you yesterday too."

"Really? I didn't notice at all."

I wasn't that relaxed yesterday.

"I tried not to be noticed. You seem to be working diligently."

"Yes, I try my best."

I'm just an amateur, but I didn't intend to slack off or be lazy. Because I'm not used to it, I worked extra hard to do my part. The site supervisor's evaluation wasn't bad, so I think I did well.

"If you were slacking off or doing a poor job, I wouldn't have gotten involved. But since you seem to be serious, I have a proposal."

"Proposal... What is it?"

"Tommy, do you want to try making a shovel?"

For a moment, I didn't understand what he meant, and I tilted my head. When I finally understood, I tilted my head again.

"A shovel? A regular one? Not a power shovel?"

"Well, if you could make a power shovel, that would be amazing, but that's impossible, right?"

"Yeah, it's impossible."

At least a hydraulic system is needed. I know the principle of hydraulics, but it's not something that can be made easily because it requires leak-proof pistons and hoses.

"Right? Just a regular shovel. Did you notice there were no shovels at the site earlier?"

"...Now that you mention it, there weren't any?"

The tools for digging were hoes, and the soil was carried in baskets. The tool used to load the soil was a shovel-like thing, but it was quite difficult to use.

By the way, according to JIS standards, a shovel is for digging holes, and a spade is for shoveling snow or soil, but the terms vary by region and industry, so it can be confusing.

"Do you think a shovel would sell?"

"Yeah, it would improve efficiency and sell well. But how would you make it? Even with blacksmithing skills, it's not easy."

In a game, you could pick up iron ore, smelt it in a furnace, and hammer it into an item, but reality is different.

You need a furnace and fuel to smelt iron ore, another furnace and fuel to forge the iron, and other tools. Iron ore itself isn't easy to obtain.

Even if you solved those problems and made a shovel, you'd need to figure out where to sell it. Would it sell at a roadside stall?

"You're not thinking that far ahead, are you? I've talked to a blacksmith I know. You can borrow iron and facilities from there."

"Really!? Would a blacksmith lend them so easily!?"

They usually don't lend them out easily, right?

"Not easily. I negotiated with someone I know, and they agreed under certain conditions."

Toya didn't say it clearly, but it seems he asked a blacksmith who sells a lot of weapons and armor. If the shovel is successful, he might get the sales rights, though I'm not sure if 'sales rights' alone would be enough to get such a favor. It might be because the blacksmith couldn't refuse a regular customer.

"Also, Tommy, you want to be a blacksmith, right? I heard from Diora, the guild receptionist."

So her name is Diora.

Toya knew her and had done some research. He didn't just come to check out the workplace.

"Yeah, but... there's no personal information protection?"

"Well, there isn't. If you want it protected, you have to be someone who deserves it. Diora trusts me more than you, but not by much. We've known each other for a long time, and it's not a big secret, so she told me."

"Ugh, the world is harsh."

"Really bad information, Diora wouldn't tell you. Probably."

"Probably?"

"Keep your secrets to yourself."

"Ugh... Yes. So, what about that? You said it's 'almost impossible.'"

At least for a few years. It's quite difficult to raise your adventurer rank, and it will take a while to gain enough trust to get job referrals.

"Yeah. It depends on your results and work ethic, but if you do well, you might be able to become an apprentice."

"---What!? Really!?"

"Yeah. They just said they'd 'consider it.' If you work hard and show some talent, there's a chance."

"Thank you!"

"But! If you become an apprentice and don't do well or slack off, they said they'll kick you out without mercy."

"Even so, just getting a chance is enough for me!"

It's not decided yet, but compared to not even getting a chance, being considered is very grateful. Considering that introducing someone is like being a guarantor in this world, it's a huge favor. Really.

"Well, that's if you can make the shovel successfully. We'll start work tomorrow morning, so for today, just enjoy the food and drink. The food here is delicious."

"Yes, itadakimasu! --Really, it's delicious!?"

When the innkeeper brought the food and Toya offered it to me, I took a bite and couldn't help but say that.

The food at stalls and inns is usually not very tasty, so I didn't expect much, but this food and ale went well together.

"Right? I haven't found a better place in this town yet. It's pretty cheap and a good place."

By the way, Toya and his group are staying here. Is it expensive?

The current inn is cheap, but it's not suitable for a long stay.

"Hey, Toya, how much is a night here?"

"Here? Dad, do you have single rooms? Yes? How much? I see. The room is 300, breakfast and dinner are 80, and a bucket of hot water is 15. Total is about 400 rea."

"Eh, the innkeeper didn't answer, did he?"

When Toya asked, the innkeeper didn't say anything.

"The innkeeper here is quiet. He nodded and showed three fingers, right?"

Oh, that's how you knew. You knew about the food and hot water because you're staying here.

If I think simply, it's four times the current inn, but it's a manageable amount if I have a job like today's.

Should I pay that much to sleep soundly?

"Tommy, you seem to be thinking about changing inns. How about waiting until the blacksmithing results are in? It might change depending on whether you become an apprentice or not."

"Oh, right. --If I become an apprentice, will I live in?"

"I don't know... Even if I introduce you, to Gants -- the blacksmith, you're still a stranger. I think you'll commute."

"Right. I won't be trusted enough to stay at their house right away. Will I get paid as an apprentice?"

"You should be able to afford this inn. If it goes well, you'll get decent treatment, and if not, you won't become an apprentice. There's no in-between."

"---I'll do my best!"

"Good, do your best. As a morale booster, I'll buy you another drink. Dad, another ale for this guy."

That day, I enjoyed the delicious food and decent drink for the first time in a while, and parted ways with Toya before sunset.