Thanks to the elves coming to our farm, the range of items we were able to make have expanded. All that weâve made up until now were made with âThe Hand of Supremacyâsâ support as well as the very little knowledge I have with me. Nonetheless, it still had its limits. We werenât able to eradicate the technical flaws. Well, my gift still helped cover those, but it still wasnât perfect.
And thatâs where the elves come in.
With their knowledge and skills as forest-dwellers, combined with my knowledge from the previous world, we were able to achieve our ideal results.
Back then, every time I thought I was only one step away from succeeding, I was only met with a dead end. Now, things have finally come together.
Even nowâŠ
âThe shield is complete!â
An orc and elf came together to show me something.
âŠ
For some reason, their combination is making me think of something entirely differentâŠ
No, I must get rid of the corrupted mindset I got from my world.
The orcs and elves on my farm are in charge of the construction work and production of small articles respectively.
Due to the nature of their work, itâs only natural that they would collaborate every now and then!
âWhat was completed again?â
âThis shield!â
The orc and elf held up a round and large tortoise shell.
âAh, is that what I think it is?!â
Itâs the shell of the tortoise-type monster we defeated at Veilâs remodeled dungeon some time ago.
We examined them closely whether or not they could be prepared as food, but their insides were so grotesque we established them as inedible. Their shells, however, were hard and had a nice shape to them, so we thought of using them for something else. After multiple attempts, we finally arrived at a result.
âA shield?â
Or rather, a shell shield. Quite an orthodox way to use it, if you ask me.
âYessir! Itâs the strongest part of the monster. Not only is it hard, but its hemispherical shape is also very effective at deflecting attacks!â said one of the orc recruits.
Compared to his seniors, he gives off the impression of being young and lively.
ââŠThat being said, the gaps between the shell have become brittle after the monster inside it died. â
âAnd just when we thought that we wonât be able to use it on anythingâŠâ
Ta-da!
âEverything changed thanks to their wonderful cooperation,â said the orc as he and his group pose to highlight the elves.
âŠUm, arenât these elves from the woodwork group?
âNo, um, all we ever did wasâŠâ
âVarnishing the gaps of the brittle shell, thinking it would enhance their durabilityâŠâ
Varnish?
Come to think of it, something like that also existed in my previous world. Itâs some kind of sap thatâs used to cover woodenware to give it a shiny finish and make it durable. It was even used as a substitute for glue in the past.
âWe found varnish trees from a distant forest, so we took some of its sap with us!â
âThatâs why this shield evolved into the most durable armor after being varnished, all thanks to the elves!â
They then gave each other a high-five.
âŠ
Uh-huh.
The orcs and elves on my farm get along well, and thatâs what matters the most.
âWeâd like to ask you, Lord Saint, to assess its quality!â
All right.
The tortoise shell had a handle on the other side of it, just like any other shield.
It felt incredibly heavy when held and seemed difficult to manage, but its quality as protective gear is legit.
âHyah!â
âWoah!â
The orcs suddenly rushed at me, but I was able to defend myself with the shield.
The elves also fired their arrows, but the shell shield repelled all of them with its inherent hardness.
Not one arrow was able to make a scratch, let alone pierce through it.
âI understand your intentions, but donât just charge at me like that, it freaks me out!â
âSORRY!â
Still, it was quite a fierce attack, yet I got out of it unscathed. This is amazing.
I wonder what tier would this be classified as according to the standards of this world?
I donât expect it to be some kind of legendary armor, but I still think itâs a piece of fairly high-ranking equipment.
âLord Saint!â
One of the goblins shouted from afar.
âPrince Arowana has come to visit us!â
Prince Arowana came to visit us just like he always does.
âLetâsâŠsumo!!!â
Aaaand heâs addicted to sumo as usual.
Some of the orcs and goblins immediately gathered near him and wrestled each other, only to be flung away one by one.
ââŠIsnât Prince Arowana a little too strong?â
I, who have avoided getting into a bout with him for some time now, thought to myself as I watched his grappling skills.
The newer orcs and goblins who have mutated into Warrior Orcs and Spartan Goblins with the help of âThe Hand of Supremacyâ are supposed to be strong. Even their seniors, Legatus Orcs and Great Goblins, are more powerful and are said to defeat heroes in one hit.
Yet they still lost to Prince Arowana in sumo.
Gobusaemon, our sumo veteran and also one of the Stage-Two mutated goblins, got hurled just now.
âOh! Lord Saint! Forgive me for rampaging around before I even said my hellos!â
Would you please refrain from addressing me while youâre in a ready stance?
Youâre also going to hurl me the moment you see an opening, arenât you?
âHm? You seem to have something interesting with you,â said Prince Arowana as he immediately took notice of the shield Iâm holding.
I unconsciously kept it with me even after our little experiment.
âThis looks like a fine shield indeed. It has the perfect weight and stability to it.â
âŠHuh? When did the shield go from my hand to his?
âDo merfolk use shields?â
âAside from using magic potions, as part of merfolkâs basic tactics, we use our swimming momentum to rush at our opponents, hence a shield is important to parry them,â said Prince Arowana as he moved the shield as if he were trying to dodge a harpoon coming at him.
âWhy donât you take it home with you? Itâs still a prototype, though.â
âMy goodness! Are you sure?!â
He says that but he seems pretty delighted.
A manâs heart will always race upon getting new armor and weapons, regardless of the world heâs in.
âPrince Arowana!â
Oh, if it isnât Puffer, our princeâs admirer.
âIf youâre going to come here, at least tell us in advance! Donât you think youâre troubling Lord Saint?â
Er, not really.
âY-Youâre right! My apologies Lord Saint, it seems I have become casual with my visits that I have forgotten to inform youâŠâ
And thatâs exactly what Iâm hoping for, so please keep being casual about it.
âWhatever. Now that youâre here, I want you to be my guinea pig for my new recipe.â
âGuinea pig?â
That sounds dangerous.
âI made a new type of pickles at the brewery called nukazuke. Donât you and Lifeless King share the same favorite? Thatâs why I thought it would be better to break up that demand and make you develop another one.â
âIâm sorry you had to pay attention to my needs like that. Youâve put your heart and soul into making this, so Iâm sure itâs delicious.â
â⊠âĄâĄâĄâ
Her face went beet-red and smoke started fuming out of her head.
She really is like an open book.
âSo, these are nukazuke, huh? They do look delicious.â
What Prince Arowana held in his hand were round, pickled cucumbers.
He took a bite out of the cucumber and looked like he really was enjoying it.
ââŠ?â
Wait a minute.
Looking at Prince Arowana made me think of something.
Heâs into sumo, is holding a shield made of a tortoiseâs shell, and is deliciously eating cucumbersâŠ
Sumo.
Shell.
Cucumber.
âHeâs becoming more and more like a kappa!â
Arowana, prince of the seas, is slowly transforming into a kappa every time he comes here!!!