Episode.75 The Bow Is Stronger Than the Sword (1)
“Then, where is your friend?”
“Our little master surely has friends.”
“Hey, you little maid, why aren’t you listening to me? I told you not to call me little master! And I’m not that small, you know? I’ve grown!”
【You’re not questioning the part about having friends, huh…】
We pushed through the throngs of elves around us.
Irlya had her white parasol tucked under her arm and was pointing her finger at Triche.
Triche was listening with one ear and letting the other ear take it in.
Still, she pretended to have heard.
‘It seems like even though it’s not a sunny time of day, she’s still carrying a parasol…’
I had a gut feeling that Irlya’s parasol wasn’t an ordinary one.
Could it have some defensive function?
【Guess it’s a habit.】
“Um, but what’s the name of this country?”
I asked Triche, leaving Chaewon behind with no particular thought.
“Is this another pointless playtime of otherworlders? I bet a young master like you loves this sort of thing.”
Triche cleverly switched from calling me little master to young master.
‘Hmm… but isn’t Irlya too old to be considered young?’
【That would be according to human standards… well, to the mosquitoes, she might look quite young.】
“What? Are you… serious?”
Irlya looked genuinely surprised.
“No, how can you make that face… I told you everything before.”
“Ah, right. Wasn’t it about your first love? After hearing that, I realized you were from another world…”
Seemingly recalling something, Irlya appeared to be reminiscing about her memories with me.
“… You proved you were from another world with a first love story? I think that’s pushing it… Hmm… that’s quite a clever way to navigate, isn’t it?”
Triche still appeared skeptical and full of doubt about Irlya’s words.
“My servant, listen. The name of the elf country is—”
Irlya dramatically spread her palm towards me.
“Yes? I already know that…”
“Not you!”
“What? Were you calling me your servant? Why would I be your servant?”
【So, what is it? I’m dying of curiosity.】
“Well… anyway, go on.”
“It’s not like it’s anything grand… the name of this country is ‘Hevron.’ It doesn’t really have a meaning. I just use it because it sounds nice.”
【Hevron? It does sound like a name for a country inhabited by elves…】
‘That’s right.’
Triche jumped in before Irlya could explain further.
Irlya was wearing a proud expression as she thought of imparting knowledge to me, but it twisted in an instant.
“… If I become the head of the family, you’ll be the first one I fire.”
“Since I’m human, I’ll probably be long gone if Irlya becomes the head of the family.”
Triche, unaware of Irlya’s father’s assassination plan, stated something everyone knew.
【Sure, the lifespan issue can’t be helped.】
Irlya, Triche, and I first headed to the blacksmith.
You might wonder why we didn’t go look for the thieving dog first.
I wondered the same.
To be honest, I wanted to save the thieving dog first, but Irlya said:
– “My friend works at night, so it would be pointless to visit now. Let’s go after some time.”
So we ended up going to the blacksmith first.
Irlya, not hearing our conversation, wondered why we came to the hot blacksmith in the first place.
I answered her truthfully.
“Ah… you know that weapon that broke when you fought against your father, right? I wanted to see if I could do something about it. It’s important to me.”
【Oh, so it’s because it was a gift from the white-haired woman? I know all about it.】
‘It’s from your house too.’
【… Are you flirting now?】
“Excuse me, is anyone here?”
I ignored the sultry gaze from Chaewon and looked for the blacksmith.
By the way, is this civilization inside the gate a remnant of the past?
I couldn’t tell.
No, I felt like I had a vague idea.
The crimson-colored gate I learned about through the system had a significant power leading to moments from the past.
The black gates that weren’t moments from the past seemed to always lead somewhere that had been destroyed.
In such destroyed nations, there wouldn’t likely be any facilities that could be properly called a blacksmith.
“Boss, I’m here.”
As no one answered my call when I entered the blacksmith, Triche impatiently called out for the blacksmith again.
As soon as she did, we heard a voice from inside calling us.
“It seems we have permission, let’s go in.”
“By the way, you said you were a regular here?”
“Yes, I come here often. Irlya, please wait here and don’t come in. It will be too hot inside for you to endure.”
【Oh… so you do care for a race that’s weak to heat?】
“Really? If you say so… I’ll sit here and wait.”
Irlya sat on a rough wooden chair.
“Finish your business quickly and come back fast.”
I nodded at that.
I followed Triche as she opened the old door.
– Creak, creak.
The door opened with a peculiar sound.
Unlike the blacksmiths from my usual world, this place was quite special.
It was very different from what I had in mind.
– Creak, thud.
I closed the door behind me as I came in.
This wasn’t merely a workshop dealing with metals; it was infused with magical elements.
I naturally expected the owner of this blacksmith to be a ‘dwarf.’
‘Usually, in fantasy novels, the blacksmith is presented as a dwarf…’
【That’s true.】
However, a graceful elf with excellent aesthetic sense was working as a blacksmith.
He was tall and strikingly handsome.
He was an elven male blacksmith with a slender, elegant appearance.
His skin was smooth and fair.
Looking at his appearance, this blacksmith seemed to be ‘pure-blooded elf.’
【Wow… his hair is completely milky white!】
With long hair that seemed to flow like freshly churned milk and big eyes that exuded masculinity, he had a handsome face that didn’t detract from his masculine aura.
‘He really looks like a character out of a fantasy world.’
【That’s right, in a fantasy world.】
Typically, one would expect a blacksmith to wear a thin tank top due to the hot working environment, but he was dressed in neat clothes made from natural materials.
“Wow…”
Without realizing it, I admired the creative space.
“Boss, I hope you can take care of this person’s weapon too, not just mine today.”
“Do you think I can take any requests from you?”
“Weren’t you asking about fixing the weapons?”
Triche’s tone changed the moment she lost sight of Irlya.
“No… well, yes, but…”
“Then just be quiet. I’ll handle it.”
Coldly, like a sentry standing guard.
Could it be that being a maid is just a cover?
If not, she couldn’t possibly show such a dual personality.
… Although she had begun to show a bit of her true self even in front of Irlya.
【What the…? Why is this crazy girl acting like this?】
Certainly, this was probably the first time Chaewon saw this side of Triche.
She must have always appeared playful yet respectful, like a maid who speaks her mind when necessary.
I thought the same at first.
‘Skip it; she seems sensitive, so let’s not poke.’
But I had seen Triche, with her dagger aimed at my neck during the guard duty, so I was well aware.
I didn’t feel like explaining everything about that night of guard duty, so I opted for a harmless lie.
A so-called white lie.
【Oh, sorry about calling you a crazy girl… but then again, I’m sure she didn’t hear it.】
“Hmm… let’s take a look at the dagger first… and please place yours over there.”
Triche handed her dagger to the elven blacksmith.
It didn’t seem to be her first time visiting.
“Hmm… the blade is still intact without a sharp edge… Were there two daggers? Let’s check the other one too.”
The blacksmith examined Triche’s other dagger.
That dagger was the one that had come to my neck during the guard duty.
“… This dagger is badly damaged. Please wait a moment.”
He silently carried out his work.
I also took out my broken weapon from my inventory.
By the way, if it broke, it should have been in two parts, but why is there only the hilt?
【Oh… but the broken end looks sharper and pointier, doesn’t it?】
‘The reach is too short, you dimwit.’
【What was reach again?】
‘Range?’
What I referred to was ‘reach,’ a term used in boxing, while ‘range’ has a slightly different meaning.
Still, since the meanings are somewhat similar, does it matter?
【What? Range?… Hehe… range, hehe.】
I heavily ignored Chaewon, who was acting crazy.
The blacksmith swiftly restored the damaged edge with magical light and fantastic equipment.
“Now, let’s see yours too… Wait, what’s that you’re holding in your hand?”
Seeing the broken sword I pulled out from my inventory, the elven blacksmith looked taken aback.
