Volume 2 Chapter 2 Some People Ride High on Their Horses, While Others May Throw Punches
Some people will throw a punch.
"Whoa, so this is the Smith Area of Dragonstone Kingdom. It's super busy!"
"I hear just setting up a shop here gets you subsidies from the country. Like, 'Don't worry about living costs, just focus on making the best item.'"
"Got it. Well, it's really about whether we can sell it, and if someone with good taste shows up."
Horace and Ramella had come to an area filled with shops run by the blacksmiths of Jewel City Lapis.
They found themselves in a prime location where the 'high-quality' stuff was displayed, and the sounds of metal being struck rang out from all around.
But it wasn't as noisy as expected, probably because the workshop walls were made of sound-proof materials.
"So they sell weapons and armor on the first floor while working in the back... If Ellie saw this, she'd probably be like, 'Just let the merchants handle the sales and deliver the goods already!'"
"Well, that's just how the country operates. They probably do a lot of custom orders... but, as for sword quality, there are definitely some great ones here."
Horace looked at the weapons displayed in the shop's showcase, clearly impressed by their quality.
"My master taught me about combat methods for blacksmiths, but only the basics on making weapons. Still, I guess looking at them tells me a lot, right?"
"I can appraise them, but I'm not a blacksmith."
After all, Horace is a Golem Master, and his skills are a mix of 'alchemy', 'Magic Item Crafting', and 'earth magic'.
Sure, Horace makes and uses swords, but they're more like 'sword-shaped golems', and if you take away the golem function, his crafting skills probably fall short of a pro's.
...Though, the metal he uses for his weapons is rare enough that most blacksmiths couldn't handle it, so the conclusion would be 'it's hopeless anyway'.
"Hey! Are you kidding me? What do you mean it won't sell?!"
"Huh?"
They turned at the sound of the shout and spotted a shop.
"What's going on in broad daylight like this..."
As Horace walked in, Ramella followed behind him.
As he stepped into the shop, there was a guy who looked like an adventurer, pressing the shopkeeper.
Adventurers usually dress casual, but there's no denying their solid stance.
"Hmph. So you're a B-ranker, huh?"
Hearing Ramella, Horace got the gist.
The Adventurers Guild ranks them based on their strength and achievements,
S - Exceptional
A - Excellent
B - Advanced
C - Upper Intermediate
D - Lower Intermediate
E - Beginner
F - Rookie
That's how it goes.
By the way, there are also SS ranks and the 'Hero Rank' for people like Rangella, but these two are quite 'special,' so they can't be compared to the 7 levels above.
The B-rank Ramella mentioned means 'advanced'──the kind of level where having just one of them in a remote town with a tight budget is enough to maintain order.
"That's what I'm saying! This thing is made of special metal. If someone who sucks at magic manipulation tries to use it, it'll rip them apart from the inside. Go to the Adventurers Guild in this town and get a certificate proving your magic manipulation skills, or I can't sell it to you! It's the law!"
On the counter, there was a sword with a blade that was pure white.
The hilt and guard were also fine pieces, definitely worth calling professional.
"Shut up! I've never heard such bullshit! I'm a B-rank Adventurer! Of course I can handle magic manipulation!"
"So go get the certificate! How many times do I have to tell you it's the rules!"
""...""
Horace and Ramella thought it was a pretty childish argument.
"Don't fuck with me, old man!"
Finally, the adventurer raised his fist──and Ramella dominated the air around him, pressing down on the man.
Under the pressure, the man's forehead smacked right into the corner of the table!
"Gyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"
"Ah, sorry."
It was such a critical hit that she even apologized, Ramella.
"──Ramella, when it's time to act, you don't press down, you use a binding spell."
"Got it, master."
This disciple is truly meant for this master.
No hesitation, no mercy.
"Wh-what the hell──"
The man turned around, and the words got all jumbled up in his head.
"...huh? What's up?"
Ramella looks suspicious but... Ramella's one of the few who got Horace to personally teach combat tech.
In other words, just like Rangella and crew, she's got body upgrades so good they make her body all fancy and new.
Her face's kinda young-looking, but... she's stunning.
Wears a tank top up top.
Short shorts and expose-y clothes down below, but man, her figure's top-notch.
Honestly, it's weird if you don't get drawn in.
"Whoa, she's totally gorgeous."
"Can't you tell you're the one who just threw down that mighty threat?"
"Huh?"
"Oh, I get it now, it's so sudden, you don't even know what just happened, right?"
"What... I mean, no. Hey, let's join my guild. Looks like you're a blacksmith, yeah? I'll make good use of that."
"Idiot. That's never gonna match."
"What the hell are you saying──ARRRGH!"
The guy swings a fist, charging at Ramella.
Ramella catches his fist with her left hand, then...
"This is self-defense, right?"
"Huh?"
In the next moment, Ramella's iron fist hits the guy's stomach hard.
"──ugh!"
The guy screams but can't even get words out, just faints right there.
She casually tosses him behind her and kicks him out of the shop.
"Can you just go around hitting women without a care? Sure, sometimes monsters disguise as humans, so I don't totally blame you... but still, huh?"
When Ramella looks over, Horace is staring at swords lined up on the shelf.
"Master, what're you doing?"
"Ah, uh, I guess I kinda turned into air, so I thought maybe I can just do other stuff too."
"Well, I don't mind."
Ramella sighs, kinda surprised.
From how he reacts, this probably isn't the first time he's zoned out like that.
"Ah... you guys..."
"Oh, I'm Ramella, shopkeeper. Nice to meet you."
"Ramella... huh, the best blacksmith in the hero community!?"
The shopkeeper glances at Horace.
"You called him master just now, huh? So..."
"Yep. 'Hero's Master' Horace."
"T-That big shot's in my shop..."
When the store manager is stunned...
"Ah, these and these. I don't see these materials much. But, this place know how to use the materials well. Ramella. I'll buy them to study."
He takes 2 swords from the shelf, and walks to the counter, looking happy.
"Shopkeeper. I'll buy these two. Ring me up."
"My swords are going to hero's master... I can brag about this for life!"
"Shopkeeper, ring me up..."
"Ah, sorry, sorry."
He paid the coins and left the shop.
"Hmm... This town, the magic tool tech isn't that good, so I didn't look at the shops, but they have better stuff than I thought."
"It's always been like that. Master."
"Well, yeah... But, there are Adventurers who don't listen, huh?"
Horace mumbles, remembering the Adventurers from before.
"They don't handle minerals with annoying abilities. But, this town is different. Other Adventurer's Guilds don't have the function to give those certificates, so this is unique to this town."
"Yeah, I guess."
"You need to get used to doing things that people don't ask for... But there are people who are so obvious about not listening to others."
"Do you think there are many of those types?"
"It's not most of them, but the chances of meeting them are pretty high."
"...Is that how it is?"
Because many ask for large lodging, that means there are cases of guilds coming here.
Many of them will get cocky because they have someone backing them.
Even so, he can't help but think, can't they live a little more skillfully?
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