Chapter 3-2 : Preparing For The Trip (part 2)
After buying some cheap, broken magic bags, I went to a textile shop to buy some cloth to be used as the material to repair the magic bags.
I need to repair them before I can buy the goods to sell, so I have to go home first, but before that, I decided to visit Arcel first since his house wasn’t that far from here.
「Hmm… Should I sell potions? Selling food is not a bad idea either. Long-lasting food like dried fruit may be great.」(Kako)
While walking down the street, I stopped by some shops to window shop and decide what kind of goods I will sell in the south.
「If I were to sell dried fruit, I wonder if I should sell them individually or by weight… Hmm… I think it will be cheaper by weight. I might profit a bit less, but I want it to be as affordable as possible for commoners.」(Kako)
「Dried meat is a good product to sell too-nya.」(Nyat)
「You always talk about meat, but, yeah, I agree.」(Kako)
After about fifteen minutes of walking and thinking, I arrived at Arcel’s house.
I plan to sell cheap, affordable goods for commoners, but it will be wise if I also bring some expensive items, such as magic weapons, just in case. If my cheap products don’t sell well, I can still make money by selling expensive items to rich people and nobles there.
The Blizzard Magic Sword was sold to Raykard-sama for 3,500 gold coins. I think a similar magic weapon will sell at a slightly higher price in the south.
Judging from Arcel’s current productivity, he should have made at least two or three new magic weapons by now, so I think he has some for sale.
With that in mind, I knocked on the old wooden door and called his name.
「Arcel-san, are you thereー?」(Kako)
「Come inー」(Arcel)
I opened the door and saw the man polishing a sword at his table.
「Hello, Arcel-san.」(Kako)
「Lady Kako, Mr. Nyat, welcome! Please have a seat.」(Arcel)
Nyat and I approached the table and joined him.
Arcel looked energetic. His face was bright and his eyes were sparkling, showing that he had been eating well and having a healthy lifestyle.
He looked completely different from the first time I saw him. We thought he was a corpse back then since we found him lying on the ground half-dead.
「How’s business?」(Kako)
「Thanks to you, it’s been going well!」(Arcel)
「I’m glad for you.」(Kako)
「Oh? Kako, sup!」(Sheila)
Suddenly, I heard a familiar voice coming from the back room.
「Ah, Sheila-san!」(Kako)
We have successfully retrieved the stolen weapons from her village, but she’s still staying in this city while working for her master’s friend. She said her master told her to stay for a bit longer and learn more from his friend before she could go home.
She seems to come here to deliver some cheap weapons for Arcel’s experiment materials as usual.
「Good timing. I’m thinking of visiting you later.」(Kako)
「Hm? You wanted to see me?」(Sheila)
「Yeah. Actually, I came here to buy Arcel-san’s magic weapons and say goodbye to him, and to you since you’re here.」(Kako)
「Say goodbye?」(Sheila)
「Lady Kako, are you going somewhere?」(Arcel)
「Yes, I’m going to the southern region, so I’ll be away for a while. Do you have some magic weapons to sell now?」(Kako)
「I do. Please wait a minute. I’ll go prepare them for you.」(Arcel)
Arcel put away the sword he was polishing and went to his workshop in the back room.
Sheila then sat on the chair Arcel had just sat on.
「So, you’re going on an adventure, huh? Why the south, though?」(Sheila)
「I heard they had the only port city in this country there. Foreign ships from neighboring countries across the sea often come and bring many rare items. As a merchant, I can’t miss it. Oh, right! Sheila-san, would you like to come with me? Let’s go on an adventure together!」(Kako)
「That sounds nice, but… Sorry, I have to decline. You see, I’m still an apprentice. I have to go back to my village eventually.」(Sheila)
I was thinking it would be a fun trip if we could go together, butー
「Shame… But, well, I understand. By the way, when will you return home?」(Kako)
「In a few weeks, I think, but in the future, after I graduate and become a full-fledged blacksmith, I will come back to this city and open my own workshop here! I don’t want to spend my entire life in that small village.」(Sheila)
「Oh! That’s nice! You know what? I will talk to my father about this. He will help you when the time comes.」(Kako)
「Really!? Having the lord of this city backing me up will be very helpful! You have my humble gratitude, Lady Kako.」(Sheila)
Sheila stood up and bowed to me as she said that jokingly.
「Oh, stop it!」(Kako)
「Haha! Oh right, Kako, there’s something I want to show you.」(Sheila)
「What is it?」(Kako)
「Gimme a sec. Luckily, I always bring it with me.」(Sheila)
As I wondered what Sheila wanted to show me, she opened her bag and took something out.
「A dagger…?」(Kako)
It was a simple-looking dagger. It didn’t look that special, but judging from its shiny blade, its durability and sharpness seemed to be first-grade.
「I promised you I would show you the weapon I made for the exam once we get it back, right? Here it is.」(Sheila)
「Aah!」(Kako)
So many things had happened that I forgot about that promise.
「Hm? You forgot about it, didn’t you?」(Sheila)
「Eh? Ah, umm… No…? A, anyway, so this is your masterpiece you talked about.」(Kako)
「Suspicious… Oh, well. Yeah, I made it from the top-quality iron ores you gave me.」(Sheila)
Speaking of which, I remember giving her top-quality iron ores before the blacksmith exam. I made them from scrap iron I gathered from all over the village.
Ugh, it reminds me… they called me ‘Scrap Iron Lady’ because of that…
「I see, I see. Not bad at all. This is a good piece!」(Kako)
「You think so? Actually, I wanted to give it to you after I showed it to my master, but then I changed my mind.」(Sheila)
「I see…」(Kako)
Well, it’s not that I want her to give me this dagger.
「I changed my mind because I thought it wasn’t good enough, so I made another one for you. A much better one.」(Sheila)
「Eh?」(Kako)
Saying that, Sheila put the dagger back in her bag and then took out another dagger.
This time, she showed me a dagger with a pale purple blade and a small handle. It looks much better than the other one.
「Here, take it.」(Sheila)
「For me…?」(Kako)
Sheila placed the dagger in my palm.
When I held the handle firmly, it fit perfectly in my hand. It felt so comfortable to hold.
「I made the handle a bit small so you can use it. I also ground a fuller in the blade to make it as light as possible, but durable at the same time.」(Sheila)
「This feeling… Sheila-san, did youー」(Kako)
「Umm, yeah… I made it with you in mind… Kako, I made this dagger special for you.」(Sheila)
Saying that, Sheila shifted her gaze shily and scratched her cheek with her index finger. I saw her face turn a bit red.
「Sheila-san…」(Kako)
I’m very happy that she made this masterpiece just for me.
However, I noticed that it was no ordinary dagger. After all, the material used to make it wasn’t something that a blacksmith apprentice like her could afford.
「But, this dagger…」(Kako)
Looking at my face, Sheila smiled. She seemed to realize I was noticing something.
「Oh? As expected from Kako. I knew you would notice it. That’s right, it’s a mithril dagger.」(Sheila)
I knew it.
「Sheila-san, I really appreciate it, but… I can’t take it. Mithril weapons are extremely valuable. You know that, don’t you?」(Kako)
「Yup. That’s why I made it just for you.」(Sheila)
「But…」(Kako)
Mithril is extremely expensive even when it’s still in the form of raw stone.
An apprentice like her would have to save money for years to even buy enough mithril to make a small dagger like this.
There’s no way I can accept it for free.
I reached my hand to my bag, was about to take out my wallet, but Sheila quickly extended her arm and grabbed mine.
「Kako, don’t tell me you’re going to pay me money.」(Sheila)
「Uhh… I am…」(Kako)
「No, don’t. If it’s my money that concerns you, then there’s nothing to worry about. This dagger wasn’t made with my money alone. It’s from everyone’s money.」(Sheila)
「Everyone?」(Kako)
「Yes, the village blacksmiths. My master, the shop owners, and even the seniors who bullied me. Everyone was thankful to you. Because of you, we could catch those bandits and get our weapons back.」(Sheila)
「I see… But I didn’t do much, you know? It’s all thanks to my father, the Wings of Steel members, and the knights. And it’s thanks to you and Nyat who found the stolen weapons.」(Kako)
「Nah, don’t lie to me. I heard from Lady Maitena that you risked your precious swords in this mission. She said those swords were as precious as your life.」(Sheila)
「Swords…? Aahh…」(Kako)
I think she’s talking about the quicksand sword and the blizzard sword.
Well, they are expensive and valuable, but I never think they are precious to me.
「Still. Let me at least give you some coins.」(Kako)
「No, I won’t take coins from my friend.」(Sheila)
「Sheila-san…」(Kako)
She’s so stubborn.
I feel bad if I keep refusing.
「Hahh… Alright. I’ll take this dagger.」(Kako)
「Awesome!」(Sheila)
I didn’t want to upset my friend, so I gratefully accepted the dagger and put it in my bag.
After that, I stood up from my seat.
「You don’t want to take my money, but you won’t refuse a hug, will you?」(Kako)
「Eh?」(Sheila)
I then approached Sheila and hugged her.
「Ka, Kako!?」(Sheila)
「Thank you, Sheila-san. I will cherish it and put it to good use.」(Kako)
「Y, you’re welcome… And, umm… Have a safe journey, Kako…」(Sheila)
「Un… Until we meet again.」(Kako)
If we’re talking about my real age, Sheila may be much younger than me, but she’s the closest friend I have in this world.
We’ve only known each other for several months, but… I’m going to miss her…
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Idk why but I thougtht ask for hug to sneak in money to her pocket lol