There was a light popping sound. It was the sound of Gonbugur hitting his knee.
“Hmm. It seems that the story has gone astray”
Gonbugur resumed his story, 「Let’s get back to it」, he said, recalling that time.
“A well-known blacksmith, an excellent decorator and a leader in the research and production of magic tools have been gathered in the Derim Empire. The purpose was quite simple――『Create the best armor worthy of the strongest man』”
“Old Gonbugur, on whose orders were these men gathered?”
“Emperor Derim. Apparently, Emperor Derim seems to be obsessed with armor made by humans, not armor from the labyrinth”
“That’s a strange guy”
“Woods-dono, what is so strange about what I’m saying?”
“I don’t know much about it, but national armies tend to have a lot of armaments. If they don’t have a uniform equipment to manage a unit of swordsmen, spearmen, archers and magicians, it will affect the effectiveness of their tactics”
“If so, something strange――”
“So far, we’re talking about soldiers. If you are a commander or general, the story changes. The so-called warrior is very particular about his armor. Even the higher-ups in the country don’t have a say in it. There is no such thing as an individual armed force that stands out because it can change the battle situation”
To Mauno, who growls, 「Mmm」 Woods says, 「If you look at Yuu, you’ll understand」.
“But more and more I don’t understand. Where is the connection between warriors and the armor from the labyrinth?”
“Hmmm. Because the armor from the labyrinth is better”
“That’s absurd!!”
Mauno strongly repels Gonbugur’s words. It would also be so. He is a man who was born as a fallen demon and has lived by blacksmithing. It is said that the armor from the labyrinth is superior and that the same blacksmiths Woods and Gonbugur also deny it.
“Hmm. Mauno-dono, I don’t know how you feel, but you need to calm down a bit”
Mauno seemed to say something, but when he noticed that the children were looking at him, he shut up with a sullen look.
“If you want to mass-produce uniform armor, you’re better off. You can’t get the exact armor you want in the labyrinth. If you use the same materials and steel materials, at least I’m not going to lose to the armor from the labyrinth”
“Then――”
“There’s only one big difference between what we make and what you can get in the labyrinth, right?”
“――Difference…………skill!”
“That’s right. The armor you get in the labyrinth often has skills attached to it”
Skills attached to armor made by blacksmiths should be as much as 50% by skilled blacksmiths and the skills given are also random. Gonbugur, the pinnacle of blacksmiths, can give you the skills you’re aiming for at almost 100%, but it’s still within the bounds of common sense.
“Then it would be the same as the armor we make”
“You can’t give skills to the armor you make because of the unique skills you were born with. But it can be made with certain ores and materials, such as mithril”
“Sorry”
Woods apologizes awkwardly to Mauno, who knows that the armor he builds doesn’t have the skill because of his unique skill 『Misfortune』.
“Don’t apologize. I don’t care now, aside from the old days”
“If you say that, it will help me. That’s why the skills given to the armor from the labyrinth――”
“Hmm. The armor produced from the labyrinth is stronger than the skills given by us and the number of skills given is also large. The deeper you go into the labyrinth, the more powerful it becomes. You know how much a single skill can change the value and strength of a piece of armor, don’t you? I’ve heard that the Dwarves were the first to seek out new power in order to keep up with the armor from the labyrinth”
“What!? I’m not sure if that’s true or not…………I didn’t know that”
Mauno finds out about the origins of the fallen demon tribe in an unexpected way and opens his eyes without hiding his surprise.
“Tell me more than that”
“That’s it!?”
Mauno was shocked by Woods’ words.
Hmm. As I said earlier, Emperor Derim seemed to be more particular about human-made armor than from the labyrinth. I think he believed in the potential of……humans, or maybe he was convinced of it. Anyway, now that I had received the request, I had to do my best, so I asked Emperor Derim about the cost of making the armor and the materials and steel that he would prepare. After all, it was the best armor suitable for the strongest man”
Woods and Mauno’s gazes focused strongly on Gonbugur. This is because they were curious to see how much money and materials the emperor of the Derim Empire, which boasts the largest land mass among the five major powers, would have to spend.
“The Emperor said to me as I hung my head, 『You need not worry about such trifles. Use as much gold and materials as you need』”
“Houu!!”
Mauno’s voice leaked out in excitement. You don’t have to worry about the budget. It’s one of the best things a client can say to someone who is involved in building things.
“That’s a very generous thing to say”
“Hmmm. Well, I wasn’t surprised, because there had been a few people who had offered similar conditions in the past. The only problem is that some of the noble families have fallen as a result and some of the requests have been cancelled. I wanted to make a detailed agreement, because I would be in trouble if that happened”
“Hey, you’re a terrible man”
Gonbugur’s response to Woods’ accusation was, 「Because he said I could use as much as I wanted」.
But it was indeed the Derim Emperor Gamma Derim Ray Auclair. He let me use as much as I wanted, as he declared. He arranged for a blacksmith’s workshop and paid for all the costs involved, materials from high-ranking monsters such as dragons and heavenly demons, ores such as mithril, damascus, orichalcum and adamantite, as well as heirloom gold and blue souls that are not available in the general market”
This is a very enviable story for Woods and Mauno. Woods was shunned by adventurers and mercenaries because of his unique skill, 『Misfortune』 and Mauno continued to flee with his clan to escape persecution. Both of them couldn’t get decent materials and ores until they met Yuu and they couldn’t shake the hammer satisfactorily.
“Hmm. Then, from among the many famous blacksmiths, the spear made by me was chosen. Well, I knew that it would be chosen. You see, I’m a genius, aren’t I?”
Gonbugur said without any modesty and Mauno said to Woods, 「You say so yourself?」Gonbugur, you are a genius.
“Gonbugur, you don’t look too happy about that”
“Hmm. Do you understand? That’s right. I went to see Joseph before I made the spear. Look, you guys also listen to the user’s request? The center of gravity of the weapon, the shape of the blade, the weight, the length, the skills they want to have. I’ve done the same. And you know what that man said to me?”
Gonbugur stroked his beard to calm himself down.
“Come on? Do you understand Mauno?”
“I don’t know”
“Not really…. That’s what he said in front of me. If someone else had said it, I wouldn’t have allowed it. Joseph was of a different class. I, too, have been called a master craftsman. I’ve been called upon by many warriors. I’ve been called a master craftsman. But compared to them, the air that Joseph wore was exceptional. I felt like I was being crushed by that pressure just by breathing the air in the same room. Even if I was casually standing, I was convinced that he was an warrior’s incarnation. No wonder the emperor orders the armor for the strongest man”
Woods was at a loss for words as to what to say. Joseph´s feet stink, he scratches his butt in public and he farts. Even though he is a heavy drinker, he is noisy in taste and hangs around in his underwear. It was too far from Yuu’s impression of Joseph.
“Gahahaa. What, you mean the armor that old Gonbugur is most attached to, not in a good way, but in a bad way?”
“Hmm. Mauno-dono, you are right. To that man, it does not matter who made the armor. That’s because he wasn’t interested in it”
Gonbugur affirmed Mauno’s words without losing his usual mild smile.
“Did you make the other armor as well?”
“Oh, I was wondering that myself”
Gonbugur’s smile froze for a moment. The hand holding the cup of tea sways in small steps and the wrinkles on his face gradually become deep and steep.
“A……Armor other than…………a spear?”
“He, Hey. The tea is spilling”
“What’s wrong, old Gonbugur?”
“Nuuu……I was chosen for the spear, but not for the armor and ornaments”
“Hee, I didn’t know there was a better smith than you. What are their names?
“Bartolt and Ivo”
Woods murmured, 「Is it the three great master craftsmen?」. The giant Bartolt, the midget Ivo and the dwarf Gonbugur, are the greatest smiths of their time.
“Baltort was chosen for the armor, and Ivo was chosen for the ornaments. It’s not my area of expertise. But the armor, of all things, was chosen by Bartolt! Gununuu! I’ve never forgotten the look on Bartolt’s face! What, I gave you the spear! You sore loser!!”
Mauno sips tea while making a strange impression, 「Today’s old Gonbugur speaks a lot」.
“Hmm. I’m sorry about that. I’m afraid I’ve shown myself in a very shabby light. You see? I want to make the best armor I can. The kind of armor that would make Joseph jealous when he couldn’t even look at my work”
Gonbugur’s eyes glittered like a dreamy boy’s behind his old, drooping eyelids.
“The best armor you said. Gonbugur, you can make first-rate armor. The spear you presented to Emperor Derim is probably first-rate, isn’t it?”
“No, Woods-dono, it means the best armor in the first class”
Woods nodded, convinced of Mauno’s words.
“Hmm. Mauno-dono, that’s not the case. I want to make special-grade armor”
“”Special grade!?””
“Wahahaa. It’s an old tradition among the dwarves. It’s an old saying among the dwarves that those involved in blacksmithing should not be too proud. The best adventurer rank is usually S rank, but there are SS and SSS ranks to prevent adventurers from becoming conceited once they reach S rank.
There are similar words of warning among the fallen demon tribe”
“Yes. There is a special grade!”
Woods, who had heard half the story, tells that Gonbugur has a first-class and a special-class.
“Even if I look like this, I live longer than you”
“No matter what it looks like. No matter how you look at it, you´re a old man”
“Umm. An old man”
Woods and the others were dismayed by the thick-headed old man.
“Nanuu! I thought I was still young, but oh well. I’m one of the three greatest craftsman in the world, so I’m often invited as a guest of honor by the heads of many countries. One time, I was invited to the Udon Kingdom. Speaking of the Udon Kingdom, there is a 『Great Sage』 that you know very well, isn’t there? I’ve always wanted to ask him something and I thought I’d take this opportunity to get closer to him”
“Great Sage! So the famous ring was a special grade?”
Gonbugur was not joking. Woods realizes that he is seriously talking about the special grade and leans forward and asks Gonbugur.
“Hmm. The ring? You mean 『Solomon´s Ring』? That was first class”
He was invited as a guest of honor and was asked if he had 『Appraisal』 the ring worn by the great sage, who was said to have power and authority far beyond that of the lowly nobles of the Udon Kingdom. Woods was impressed with Gonbugur’s inquisitiveness and courage. If he hadn’t done it right, it would have become an international issue between the Udon Kingdom and the Dwarf Kingdom.
“Old Gonbugur, if the Ring of the Great Sage――Solomon´s Ring was so famous and first class, then there was no such thing as a special class, was there?”
Mauno had a good point, but Gonbugur slowly shook his head.
“The Great Sage has always been the subject of rumors, both good and bad. One of those rumors is that he possesses items created by the gods. So I asked the Great Sage”
Before they knew it, both Woods and Mauno had clenched their fists.
“Will you show me the special armor that you have in your possession? And”
“A, And?What did the Great Sage say?”
“Hmm. He laughed and walked away from me”
“What”
Contrary to the disappointing Mauno, Woods has a straight face.
“Gonbugur, the great sage…………great sage didn’t say no, right?”
“Umm. No, he didn’t say there wasn’t. I believe there is a special class. And I’m not the first person who’s ever wanted to make a special grade weapon. You see, there have been blacksmiths in the past who were trapped in madness. I’ve heard that he was also trying to make a special grade of armor”
“The 『Fallen Master Craftsman』? That’s just an old story, a fictional tale”
“Hmm. I don’t know if it’s a special grade or not, but it’s a real thing, so it’s not all bullshit”
“What the hell!? Is there a real thing!”
“Hmm. Yes, I do. Sadly, it’s in the possession of one of the criminals――you know, one of the 『Seventy-Seven Evil Guys』 or something like that”
“Hoo. I’d love to see the actual thing if you have it. Don’t you think so, Woods-dono?”
“Yes, I agree”
Gonbugur thinks as he sees Woods and Mauno enthusiastically talking about the finest armor. If the equipment of the Nameless Kingdom, the materials and these two people cooperate, it is not a dream to make special-grade armor. Other blacksmiths are not good enough. The other blacksmiths could not be the ones who respected him, one of the three great craftsmen and blindly followed him without expressing their opinions. They should be the ones who compete with each other, share their opinions and think that they are the best. In this respect, Woods and Mauno, although inferior to him in skill, are greedily absorbing techniques and eventually trying to surpass him. Gonbugur thought that if he didn’t have that kind of skill, he wouldn’t have any motivation. As he sipped his tea, he wondered, 「Good morning, will you grow up to be a threat to me?」.