As if I could lose to this sort of man! ā He thought.
Were Eiji to be outlasted by Franko, his position would reversely turn for the worse.
Why are you trying to stop me? ā The situation would change into such.
And then, as a result of being doubted, the spear heads would be discovered and Eijiās happiness for tomorrow would most likely disappear.
If that happens, perhaps they couldāve just lived peacefully without considering any rebellion.
Imagining their lost future, Eiji felt the urge to shiver with his body.
However, he looked straight at Franko while suppressing his movements.
Eiji suffered a bitter experience during his last yearās negotiation.
Being utterly cornered by Franko, he was close to feeling that he wasnāt up to negotiations.
No, Eiji most likely understood that Franko was hard to deal withā¦.
āā A bitter experience, it was.
But, within this single year, Eiji gained lots experience.
Thatās right, after all, a year had passed.
He took the initiative and carried out a business negotiation during his trip for trading.
Eiji was able to lead Jean by the nose toward the development he desired at the time of their negotiation.
And he had also become resolute in protecting his growing family.
I canāt lose.
It was Eijiās turn to win this year.
The moment for vindicating his honor arrived.
Whatās more, this was a blacksmithās workshop, his arena.
No matter what kind of negotiation it was, there was no way for him to lose as long he would do what he was best at.
Eiji fixed his eyes on Franko.
ā āāIām serious.
ā Do you understand the meaning of your words? Refusing my request for inspection would be similar to expressing your intention of mutiny against us.
ā Franko-san, Iād be troubled to have you misunderstand my intention that way.
ā Whatā¦.? If thereās a reason behind your conduct, please explain.
Franko wasnāt the sort of man who would simply get angry.
Even now, he would quickly work his head by trying to understand Eijiās implication.
That was an obvious thing.
A shabby man, who was short-tempered, could be, by no means, a shrewd government official.
Eiji believed that Franko was a capable person.
This man wouldnāt pass down rash decisions.
Because of that, Franko couldnāt help but follow Eijiās words.
That part of him would also become a winning chance for Eiji.
ā Iām one of those obedient people who will fulfil their duties. Itās not like youāre completely forbidden from entering or anything, but I just want you to go through the proper procedure. First, please cleanse your body. Since thereās a river behind the workshop, please clean your feet and rinse your mouth. Once youāre done, you can go in. Thatās the custom of this place.
ā Whatās that? Is there some sort of meaning in doing so?
ā Itās purification. Anyway, if you want to enter, please follow that rule. Apart from my disciples, so far, nobody has entered into this place.
A silent atmosphere continued for a while, but Eiji wouldnāt change his mind.
Whatās more, it was merely a request for abiding oneās rules rather than anything unreasonable.
There was no way for him to prohibit Franko from coming in.
Eiji had no reason to withdraw.
Their sights, which entwined with each otherās, were intense to the extent of giving off sparks.
Eiji wouldnāt avert his eyes as this was a do-or-die situation.
It canāt be helped ā Franko probably yielded due to Eijiās resolution which he felt.
ā It shouldnāt matter how I wash myself, right?
ā Since it must have been a long journey for you, please clean yourself thoroughly and make your toes look neat.
ā Just what kind of meaning does it bear?
ā Thatās in order not to profane this sacred place, which is a blacksmithās workshop.
Once he confirmed Franko moving to the back of the building, he checked, without rush but quickly, the inside of it.
There was no time.
With Franko washing his feet and rinsing his mouthāā how much time could he earn?
Eiji checked the place in which he stored the spear heads.
They were casually lined up in a clearly exposed way.
That was dangerous.
These items would probably be discovered, were they left just like this.
Well then, where should I hide them?
Damn, itās cold ā While Eiji was contemplating on that, a voice filled with abusive language was heard from the direction of a louver door.
ā Oi, lend me a towel so that I can wipe my feet!
ā Right away, I wonder, where did I put?
ā Do it fast! My feet are freezing, so I donāt care!
Hearing the voice, Eiji first searched for a towel while being a bit rushed.
And at the same time, he grabbed the spear heads from the box for delivering goods.
Eiji ran his eyes around the room.
Where, where was it completely safe to hide the items?
A guarantee was needed.
ā Please wait a bit. Iāll be there soon.
After he uttered some words, Eiji hid the items in a specific place quickly and carefully. Luckily, no sound of him doing so was heard.
Letās go. ā He thought.
Were Eiji to make Franko wait too long, the latter would start to hold a suspicion.
āāā-
The river water was chilly.
That chill will probably correspond to fall once it deepens.
Franko wiped his feet carefully.
Since he would usually ride his horse, there was no considerable cloud of dust or mud on him.
Franko, who adjusted his appearance, looked at him in a gazing manner, which made Eiji tremble a little.
-ā¦ā¦Is it okay now?
ā Yes, thatās enough. Let me guide you in.
ā This is what everyone is supposed to do, right?
ā Even if they were guests, I wouldnāt make them stand by the gate, you see. In the case of my disciples, itās been decided that they have to welcome the New Year when they enter the workplace for the first time during that year.
ā New Yearā¦.that would be in the middle of winter. So you make them wash their feet despite their surroundings being covered in snow?
ā Yes, thatās because thereās a god residing in this workshop, you see.
ā I canāt believe itā¦.
As if unable to comprehend, Franko shook his head from side to side.
In a world of polytheism, the god of a blacksmithās workshop would be a common thing.
The presence of the god would most likely be felt when handling a quivering metal in high heat.
Or when noticing the sharpness of a tool changing with a slight difference in temperature and considering that mystery as a manifestation of the god.
ā Fumu, indeed, the workplace is overflowing with things.
ā Itās because I receive orders from many different places.
Right after coming in, Franko ran his sight through various places.
His gaze didnāt seem to rest on just rare items.
Eiji understood he was diligently carrying out his inspection while trying to grasp the nature of the so-called blacksmithās workshop.
For a while, Eiji decided to have him sit in front of the furnace and face the fire.
ā What are these things here?
ā They are tools intended to supply Tal Village and are called a hoe and a spatula.
ā Fumu, is there a need to craft that hoe with iron? As far as Iām concerned, they should be carrying bronze-made tools, stillā¦
ā Both tools have different strength. Whatās more, I can make this hoe put less of a burden on its user just by hardening it with no need of reshaping.
ā I see.
Having Frankoās consent, Eiji drew out a single box.
Arrowheads and a Nata sheathed in a scabbard were stored inside. The Nata, which stuck out, was leaning against the side of the box.
Taking it out, he passed the tool to Franko.
ā This is one of the Natas, which I promised to supply you with together with the arrowheads. Go ahead and try it out.
ā Fumu, so this is a Nataā¦.? Itās quite heavy and balanced. I wonder how strong it is.
ā To the extent of lightly cutting up lumber and copper.
ā ā¦..Seriously?
ā And even a thin iron plate. With this single thing, you can even take a beast as your opponent, lop off bushes, and make firewood. Well, itās perfect for use in the mountains.
ā Iāve heard from other people about how superior it is, but after learning about its actual purpose from you, itās indeed tremendousā¦.
Franko scrutinized and observed the Nata.
Was Eiji able to convince him? As soon as Franko sheathed the tool back into the scabbard, Eiji stored it into the box and placed it on the shelves.
ā Canāt I bring these back with me right now?
ā I still have to grind their blades, so please wait til when you come for tax collection.
ā Is that so? I thought the citizens in Nazioni would be pleased with these, but I guess it canāt be helped.
ā Thatās because peopleās evaluation of these products will decrease if I hand them half-baked items. And then, these are the newly developed tools, which I promised you last year.
Eiji introduced the things, which he had made during this whole year.
Starting from carpentry tools, he showed Franko a plane, a set of chisels, screws, a vise, and a sledgehammer.
Even if he presented the tools one by one, depending on their usage, they could be divided into several dozens of varieties, making that number enormous.
Obviously, explaining how each of them works in detail wasnāt possible.
As doing so required people engaging in a practical work; without which one would be unable to understand the secret in a toolās shape and its weight.
ā Thatās a terrifying number indeed.
ā Each of these tools has their own reason behind their shape. For the sake of making them convenient in use, itās important to subdivide them.
As Eiji made a simple explanation, Franko nodded from time to time while listening attentively to him.
Passing their time like that, the explanation was close to reaching its end.
Good grief, so it came to this? ā While he was thinking so, he noticed a stern gaze directed at him by Franko.
ā Thereās something I need to ask you.
ā ā¦ā¦.What could it be?
Unlike before, Frankoās attitude changed all of sudden.
Sensing a clear vigor coming from him, Eiji braced himself.
Just what kind of a bombshell statement will jump out?
Still, no matter what he was told, Eiji would, by no mean, lose his composure.
He was completely prepared.
ā It appears youāre making spear heads, right?