I straightened my posture and solemnly declared. When I return from Permask, there will be something for you to do. I took out the caterpillar monster card from the item box. I also removed the bracelet wrapped around my ankle and handed it to Seri.
Bracelet: Accessory
Skill: Empty
Of course, the bracelet has already been replaced. It comes with an empty skill slot.
"Yes."
"Seri, my judgment that you are indeed excellent will be put to the test."
"Um, the belief that a blacksmith who fuses a substitute bracelet made from the first one will succeed is a superstition, a kind of folklore."
Seri is rational. Her rational guard is quite strong. However, she is not entirely calm. I haven’t told her that the bracelet I gave her was the first one I made.
Fish heads are also a matter of faith. Those who believe will grasp even a straw. A drowning beggar gets little. The agitated are saved. Sun Tzu also said this.
Warfare is known for its speed, but not for its skill. There are examples of victory through speed despite poor methods, but there are no examples of victory through hesitation despite good methods.
Knock, and it will be opened. Seek, and it will be given.
"If you call it a superstition, then Seri should become an example of a blacksmith who made a substitute bracelet from the first one and succeeded. It should be simple, right? Roxane?"
"Yes. Since Master has judged so, Seri will surely succeed."
Roxane also used this to pressure Seri. The greater the pressure, the greater the joy when it succeeds. So, I pushed as much as I could. I do wonder what I would do if she fails the fusion.
Hmm?
What would I do if she fails?
Would it be bad if she fails after all this pressure?
Is it really okay?
Will it really succeed?
There is a possibility that it has only succeeded by chance so far.
For example, even if there is an empty skill slot, it can fail if the level is low.
It is not yet guaranteed to succeed 100%.
It is not certain that it will succeed absolutely.
"Then I will start the fusion."
"No, wait. Ah, no, it’s too late now. No, I’m sorry. Yes, please make it."
After all this hype, what would I really do if she fails?
Thinking about this, I became suspicious.
It is not yet decided that it will succeed with absolute certainty.
Is it really okay?
Well, Seri is rational.
She will probably overcome it even if she fails.
Most blacksmiths fail, after all.
Even if she fails, it is a trial given by God.
Happiness comes from overcoming trials.
Blessed are the poor, for the kingdom of God is theirs.
Crescent moon, give me seven trials and eight hardships.
As I prayed to the moon in my heart, Seri began the fusion.
Light was emitted.
The dazzling light gradually subsided.
I watched in silence.
Substitute Bracelet: Accessory
Skill: Substitute
Oh, good.
It succeeded.
"I did it."
"My heart can’t take it."
"Sure enough, Seri. As a blacksmith, you will surely succeed. Master’s judgment was correct. Master’s insight is impressive."
Roxane cheered.
I was supposed to cheer, but I was too nervous to do so.
"Thank you, Roxane."
"Well, at least it’s good. As expected, Seri."
"Yes, thank you."
Well, this is how it should be.
If I cheered, it would sound fake.
Kagatou Michio, Male, 17 years old
Explorer Lv35, Hero Lv32, Mage Lv34, Priest Lv34, Chef Lv30
We immediately put on the substitute bracelet and entered the Bael Labyrinth.
We hunted rabbits and other monsters with a buoyant mood.
By the way, when I tested the substitute bracelet and a regular bracelet, it turned out that only the first one equipped was effective, no matter how many I wore.
Even if I wore multiple bracelets, only the first one was displayed in the identification.
If I wore a regular bracelet on my right ankle and then a substitute bracelet on my left ankle, the identification only showed the regular bracelet.
If I removed the regular bracelet from my right ankle, the identification showed that nothing was equipped.
The substitute bracelet on my left ankle was probably judged as invalid when equipped.
It’s better not to expect that it will be effective even if it’s not displayed.
According to Seri, the substitute bracelet needs to be re-equipped every time it breaks.
It seems that the second substitute bracelet does not automatically become effective when the first one breaks and take the next hit.
It seems that the strategy of equipping multiple substitute bracelets to take multiple hits from enemies is not possible.
That day, we arrived at the boss room of the ninth floor of the Bael Labyrinth.
I used Overwhelming to slay the Rapid Rabbit.
Since I knew how to defeat it, I was able to do so without much difficulty this time.
It seems that I didn’t become weak against it.
"What are the monsters on the tenth floor of the Bael Labyrinth?"
"Neet Ants."
Seri told me.
Neet Ants, huh.
I’ve been a bit weak against Neet Ants since I received the poison.
We moved to the tenth floor and hunted the monsters.
It seems that level 10 Neet Ants require three water spells to defeat.
If three spells can defeat them, there should be no problem.
It seems that I can fight on the tenth floor of the Bael Labyrinth.
After leaving the labyrinth, we went to the capital for market research.
Before taking the mirror to Gosler, it’s better to check the price in the capital.
I went alone, leaving Roxane and Seri to prepare dinner.
I looked at the mirror in a high-end general store in the capital.
It was a wall-mounted mirror with a gaudy frame.
The wooden decorations were intertwined in a geometric pattern.
So, a decorated mirror is like this.
It’s indeed unnecessarily flashy.
There were also stand mirrors, but no large full-length mirrors or three-way mirrors.
The price was higher than I expected.
There was nothing like the one I have, but the cheapest one of the same size was 18,000 nals.
The expensive ones were even more ridiculously expensive.
It’s probably three to four times the price in Permask.
Since it was too expensive, I left early.
I don’t know what the shop clerk thought of me just asking about the price.
They might have sprinkled salt on me later.
The next morning, we moved to the tenth floor of the Koolatul Labyrinth.
Before that, we faced the boss.
"The boss of the Neet Ants is the Hunt Ant. It’s a monster that is simply a stronger version of the Neet Ant. Its skill-based poison attacks are powerful, and it also poisons with normal attacks."
I received a briefing from Seri.
If it’s just a stronger ant, it’s not a formidable opponent for Roxane.
We entered the boss room.
Roxane stood in front, dodging the ant’s attacks while I hit it with Durandal from behind.
This strategy is still effective.
"What are the monsters on the tenth floor?"
"Escape Goat."
"Oh, that one."
The Escape Goat that appears on the upper floors is troublesome.
The first Escape Goat I encountered started to run away after three spells, as expected.
It seems that it starts to run away when it takes half damage.
I hit it with three more spells and defeated it with six.
The timing to hit it three times after it starts to run away is tight.
If I’m even a little late, it will escape.
In the tenth floor of Koolatul, Neet Ants often appear with the ninth floor monsters, so I don’t want to attract them.
What would happen if a monster that runs away appears on even higher floors?
If it takes seven spells to defeat, it will start to run away after the fourth spell, and I can defeat it with the remaining three. But if it takes eight spells, it will escape.
The Escape Goat will become a troublesome monster.
With Durandal, I can defeat a level 10 Escape Goat with one Rush.
A level 10 Neet Ant can also be defeated with one Rush.
With normal attacks, it takes two swings with Durandal.
It might be better to use Rush on Neet Ants, which can poison.
I want to recover MP, but using Rush, which consumes MP, seems counterproductive.
However, I probably absorb more MP than needed for Rush.
The MP efficiency of Rush is poor, but it’s unavoidable.
When using Durandal on the tenth floor, I should bring a warrior.
After leaving the labyrinth, I went to the Bode in the Hartz Duchy alone with the mirror.
It’s better not to bring Roxane and Seri to the garden of handsome elves.
I asked them to do the laundry and prepare breakfast.
Considering the possibility of a 30% increase, it would be better to prepare two mirrors, but I didn’t do that this time.
If they don’t sell, it will be a total loss.
The first one is a sample, so it can’t be helped.
I appeared in one of the rooms of the palace used for disaster relief.
Since it’s a room with a wall where adventurers can use Field Walk, this should be fine.
"I would like to meet Sir Gosler."
I handed the badge to a knight who looked like a knight.
The knight checked both sides of the badge.
"May I ask your name?"
"My name is Michio. I’m the adventurer from the flood."
"Please wait here for a moment."
The knight went deeper into the castle.
Thanks to the badge, I was easily let in.
I waited in the lobby.
The room was quite bright.
The side windows were open, letting in light.
The last time I came, the wooden door was closed.
Since it was for disaster relief, it was probably raining that day.
In Koolatul, the sun had just risen.
But here, it was already high.
It’s supposed to be north, but it might be east.
"Ah, it’s you, the adventurer."
As I was looking out the window, a voice called from behind.
Is this Gosler’s voice?
I turned around, and the Duke of Hartz was standing there.
He had a radiant smile.
Why can’t I curse and kill elves?
It was a good decision not to bring Roxane and Seri.
"Um, where is Sir Gosler?"
"Gosler is at the training ground now. I will hear your story. Follow me to the room."
The duke quickly turned and went out of the lobby.
He’s as impatient as before.
Shouldn’t the head of a noble family be more composed?
Maybe he looks good doing anything because he’s handsome.
"I thought I would come early since I thought you would leave as soon as the sun rises, but was I late?"
"No problem. It’s this season. Soon, we will wake up after it gets bright."
"Ah, I see."
I see.
Since the season matters, it’s because it’s in the north.
From spring to summer, the sun rises earlier the further north you go.
In the Arctic Circle, it becomes a white night.
Since it’s north of Koolatul, it rises earlier than Koolatul.
"Last time, you caused us a lot of trouble. The rain has stopped, and the water level is settling. There should be no more flooding."
"I’m glad it didn’t become a big issue."
The duke opened the door and entered the room.
It was the same small office as before.
"Please sit. By the way, what do you have?"
"Last time, I met Sir Gosler at the Koolatul Merchant Guild."
"Oh, that time."
The duke sat in the chair.
I placed the mirror on the duke’s desk.
"I heard that mirrors from Permask are sometimes used as gifts."
I removed the papyrus wrapping the mirror.
I was a bit scared to show it to the duke instead of Gosler.
He might say something like, "Thank you for the gift."
"Even my audience room has one, but it’s a good one. It doesn’t have decorations, though."
"Well, good wood can be obtained in the territory."
"Ah, I see. Tarum can be used."
There seems to be something.
I thought of it when I saw the forest outside the window, and it worked.
If there’s a forest, there should be forestry and wood processing industries.
"If it’s for gifts, it’s better to use frames made in the territory."
"Yes, that’s true."
The duke nodded and rang a bell on the desk.
"Are you calling someone?"
As soon as the bell rang, someone came in.
They’re fast.
"Yes. Please tell Gosler to come immediately."
"Yes, sir."
They answered briefly and left.
They bowed deeply and didn’t show their face to me.
They’re probably a guard.
If someone is called in the castle, they will rush over, but they are definitely keeping an eye on me.
It seems that even if I act freely, there are guards in the shadows.
"Regarding the purchase of the mirror, please discuss it with Gosler. I will return this emblem."
The duke placed the badge on the desk.
I took it and sat on the sofa, waiting for Gosler.
Soon, there was a knock, and Gosler came in.
"Excuse me. I’m late. Oh, it’s the adventurer."
"You are Michio, I believe."
I thought I introduced myself to the duke, but maybe I said my name to the receptionist first.
"I’m Michio."
"You’ve brought a mirror from Permask."
"Oh."
Gosler looked at the mirror on the desk.
"Tarum can be used to make the frame."
"I see. Yes, that’s right."
"I don’t think it’s bad."
Gosler and the duke discussed the mirror while looking at it.
Gosler turned to me.
"Undecorated ones are hard to come by, but is that okay?"
"They can be bought in Permask."
"Did you go to Permask?"
Did I make a mistake?
"...Yes."
"Hmm. You are indeed a capable adventurer. You are as good as I thought."
The duke’s misunderstanding grew.
"There are no adventurers in the knight order who can go from Bode to Permask."
"Well, it’s not easy."
I don’t know if I can go from Bode to Permask.
At least, I hope they will cut me some slack.
"We need to have a craftsman make a test frame, so we need about ten more for now. Can you supply them?"
"I can’t transport them all at once."
"That’s fine. We can receive them over several days."
"That should be fine."
As long as they can be sold in Permask, it should be fine.
"Regarding the size, it’s better to have some variety. How much do you think they will cost?"
The price.
In the capital, it’s more than three times the price.
Since it was 35 silver coins, three times would be 10,500 nals.
Should I boldly ask for that much?
Or is it too high?
If the knight order is determined, they can buy mirrors themselves.
Even if one person can’t go, a party of six adventurers can use Field Walk in turns to go to Permask.
If it’s too tough, they can stay overnight in Permask.
Considering the cost of adventurers at 1,000 nals per person per day, a party of six bringing back one mirror in two days would cost 2,