Chapter 2-5 : Competition (part 2)
By the way, the village square where the exam took place was quite large, so it was divided into several areas.
It took me about half an hour to appraise all the products in the first area.
「Everyone, I’ve examined your products and I found that most of you neglected the durability of your products, and that’s not good at all. You guys make equipment to be used in real combat, so you should make sure that your products are as durable as possible so that they can save the users’ lives and won’t break easily in battle. I suggest you improve the durability of your products without neglecting any other aspects. But, of course, before you can do that you have to improve your skills first!」(Kako)
I put my hands on my waist as I said that loudly.
This is called the “ultimate harsh criticism” strategy!
The other apprentices who watched me judging these people’s products won’t dare to talk to me!
Now I can enjoy this festival in peace.
…That’s what I thought at first, but I was wrong…
When I was about to keep moving, the apprentices in other areas started calling me.
「Amazing… Who is that girl?」
「You don’t know her? It’s the Scrap Iron Lady!」
「Ah, I see. I want her to see my products too!」
「Yeah, me too! Scrap Iron Lady, would you visit our stalls too?」
「Scrap Iron Lady, please come see our equipment!」(apprentices)
This is strange… I’m sure I gave harsh criticism to their friends, but why are they looking at me with such sparkling eyes?
It seems that the “ultimate harsh criticism” strategy has failed…
「Scrap Iron Lady ーNo, Scrap Iron Goddess, how can I improve the quality of my shield?」
「Scrap Iron Goddess, please tell me what you think about my axe!」
「Scrap Iron Goddess, come check out my weapons too!」(apprentices)
Ugh… They’re now calling me goddess… Seems like my strategy has the opposite effect.
「Please, calm down. One at a time, okay?」(Kako)
I sighed and moved to the next area and began appraising the products of the apprentices there.
「Hmm… Unlike the people in the first area, your shield is quite durable. However, I think it’s a bit too heavy even for a trained adult knight.」(Kako)
「I see… So I have to make it lighter without sacrificing the durability, huh?」(shield-specialist apprentice)
「That’s right. Nextー Hmm… Your one-handed battle axes are sharp and have strong power, but I think they’re a bit hard to use. You should make the handles more easy to grip or they will slip off your hands when you swing them.」(Kako)
「I got it. Thank you, Scrap Iron Goddess-sama!」(muscular apprentice)
「Alright… Next…」(Kako)
Ugh… This is kinda tiring…
While I was examining equipment from one stall to another, I heard people, who seemed to be professional blacksmiths, talking to each other.
「That young lady has a great observation skill.」
「She’s no ordinary girl, that’s for sure.」
「Her parents must be talented blacksmiths.」
「If your guess is right, then they have trained her very well.」(professional blacksmiths)
Uhh… Sir, my parents don’t know anything about blacksmithing…
Well, me neither. I’m just using my appraisal skill…
As I kept appraising equipment, the apprentices from other areas started to approach me.
「Scrap Iron Goddess, would you visit my stall too after this?」
「Me too, please!」
「Yeah, me too! It’s on the west side of the square!」(apprentices)
「E, Eehh… But…」(Kako)
Ugh… This is bad…
If it kept going like this, I would end up appraising all the apprentices’ products in this village square!
I need to get out of here now!
That’s right, Nyat might be able to help me!
Wait… Come to think of it, I haven’t seen him for a while… Where is he…?
While avoiding eye contact with the apprentices around me, I looked around and found Nyat eating some grilled skewers in the food stall area.
That damn cat! How can he enjoy some delicious food while I’m in trouble!?
「Scrap Iron Goddess, please!」
「Bless us with your infinite knowledge!」
「Let us be a better person with your blessing!」(apprentices)
Geh! Now they’re treating me like an actual goddess…
「Ugh… Alright, alright! But don’t cry if my criticism is too harsh for you!」(Kako)
「Woohoo! That’s our Scrap Iron Goddess!」
「Long live Scrap Iron Goddess!」(apprentices)
◆◆◆
「Here you go, Mr. Catto. Enjoy~」(stallkeeper)
「Thank you-nya!」(Nyat)
After I was done with those troublesome apprentices, I went to the food stall area and approached Nyat who was buying more food from another stall.
「Ugh… I’m tired…」(Kako)
「You did a good job-nya. *munch munch*」(Nyat)
Nyat, who had abandoned me, was enjoying delicious meatballs in front of me.
Seeing his mouth covered with sauce when he smiled at me somehow irritated me even more.
「Nyaaat! How dare you abandonー」(Kako)
「ーHere’s some fruit juice for you-nya. You must be thirsty, aren’t you-nya?」(Nyat)
「Eh? Y, yeah, I do. Thanks…」(Kako)
I was about to yell at him, but then he handed me a glass of juice.
「Mmm!! What is this juice? It tastes good and refreshing!」(Kako)
I felt like eighty percent of my fatigue instantly disappeared as soon as I drank this super delicious juice.
「Khu khu. She’s so easy to handle-nya.」(Nyat)
Nyat put his paw on his mouth and murmured something.
「Hm? Did you say something?」(Kako)
「Nothing-nya. Anyway, that’s the a purua fruit juice-nya.」(Nyat)
Purua fruit? That means this is this world’s version of apple juice.
I think it’s ten times more delicious than apple juice on Earth. It’s sweeter and has a refreshing taste that is similar to mint.
「By the way, you were surrounded by so many people back there, but did you find your friend-nya?」(Nyat)
「Aa! I totally forgot about Sheila! Yeah, I haven’t seen her yet.」(Kako)
The reason I stayed in this village in the first place was to see Sheila’s ultimate creations, but I forgot about that thanks to those troublesome apprentices.
「I better go look for her now.」(Kako)
「No, you don’t have to. She’s here-nya.」(Nyat)
「Ooi~ Kako~」(Sheila)
I was about to go around the village square and see if I could find Sheila, but when I turned around, I could see her waving at me.
「Sheila, you finally show up!」(Kako)
「You were surrounded by a lot of people, so it was hard to approach you.」(Sheila)
「Ahaha… I’m sorry about that.」(Kako)
「No worries. Now it’s time for you to examine my products!」(Sheila)
「Un! I’ve been waiting for this! Take me to your stall!」(Kako)
「Alright, let’s go!」(Sheila)
Sheila suddenly grabbed my hand, and then we headed to the area where she set up her stall while holding hands.
「Umm, I don’t mind you holding my hand, but… Do you have to?」(Kako)
「Fufu. You know that you’re popular in this village, right? It’s to prevent someone from taking my Scrap Iron Goddess away from me.」(Sheila)
「Uhh, I see. Alright, lead the way!」(Kako)
Holding hands like this makes me feel a bit embarrassed, but to be honest, it’s not a bad feeling at all.
◆◆◆
After walking for a while, we got to the area around the center of the village square.
「You see that? That’s my stall.」(Sheila)
「Hm? Which one?」(Kako)
「It’s that table ーWait… what…?」(Sheila)
When I looked in the direction where Sheila was pointing, I saw some large tables with nothing on top of them.
「What’s wrong?」(Kako)
「My products are gone… No, not just mine. My seniors’ are gone too… What the hell happened!?」(Sheila)
Her products are gone? Is it her seniors’ doing?
No, she said her seniors’ products are gone too.
What is going on here?
「Oi, Sheila, where have you been!?」(senior A)
While we were wondering, one of Sheila’s seniors called out to her.
「You! Where did you hide them!? You hid them because you knew you couldn’t win against me, didn’t you!?」(Sheila)
「You’re cocky as always, huh? You see that our products are gone too, don’t you? They were stolen! All of the products from our workshop! All of them were stolen!」(senior A)
「Wh, Whaaatt!?」(Sheila)
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Lol too obviously it’s these seniors move