第１７０６堀：武具の妖精さん (Part1)
Dungeon 1706: The Armaments Fairy
The Armaments Fairy
Side: Narjia
I spotted some members rarely seen in the Blacksmith District, so I called out to them. It was Yuki and his accompanying party. At this hour, he should be wrestling with documents in his office. Lately, he's often been out in the field for things like investigating the Dark Guild or developing the port, but to show his face in the Blacksmith District...
"Ah, have you come to check on the engine development or the manufacturing status of other fishing boats?" It dawned on me. The fact that he brought not only Yuki but also Yayu and the others meant they were involved too. In other words, it must be about the fishing boats used in the port town.
"Ah, come to think of it, there was engine development and fishing boats."
"Oh, is it something else?" My guess was wrong. Could there be some other problem? We should be completing everything that's been issued as orders from above, and progress reports are being submitted in detail, so what could it be?
"It's about equipment."
"Equipment? I see. Did something break during training?" I understood his words. Yuki, his wives, and his close retainers always use high-quality equipment. Since Firia, Agil, and I are the ones who adjust their equipment, for Yuki and the others to visit me means...
"You want me to maintain your equipment, don't you?" That must be it. After all, I'm the one who primarily makes the equipment for Yuki and Orelia. Firia and Agil could also look at them, but both of them are busy, and I'm generally in charge of equipment.
However, it seemed that wasn't it either.
"No, it's not maintenance."
"Hmm? Then, is it new weapons?"
New weapons. While new ones are made, it's usually me who suggests it, and rarely Yuki and his party. Thankfully, Yuki and the others treat the weapons I make with great care. Ah, Seraria, Deryu, Jessica, Stasia, and Fiora, being military personnel who train frequently, experience heavy wear and tear, but the weapons aren't made to be exhausted by that degree. After all, they come with self-repair, so not only is their sharpness maintained, but damage is also mended. Of course, if Yuki and the others use them at full power, they can't keep up and break, but even then, they return to normal after some time. Though they haven't conducted such extensive experiments recently. My thoughts wandered, didn't they?
So, as for Yuki and his party's answer...
"It's new, in a sense, but it's for intimidation."
"For intimidation?" I tilted my head, not understanding what he meant. After all, the armaments Yuki and his party possess already far surpass the legendary weapons existing in various countries, and those countries are well aware of this. I do receive personal requests to craft armaments, but naturally, I have no intention of selling them to anyone outside of Weed's inner circle. Even I understand how extraordinary they are. Therefore, I had no idea what 'for intimidation' could possibly mean.
"Right, it starts from there. Uh, well, this began with information gathered mainly by Kirue and Sasari's Maid Guild..." And so, he explained the sequence of events that led them here.
"I see, I see. So you want armaments that are immediately recognizable by their appearance?"
"Exactly. If they know Weed or the International Exchange Alliance, there's no problem, but this kind of summoning usually happens in a different land, as you know."
"And there, we can't be sure if there's anyone who can understand the true value of the weapons Firia and I have crafted."
Especially regarding the armaments Yuki and Steve possess, they are deliberately crafted to appear shabby, so as not to be recognized as fine weapons. The reason for this, as I mentioned earlier, is that carrying conspicuous weapons or armor makes one a target as a commander. So, while it goes against our previous intentions, it's certainly important to be able to immediately show that Holy and Vilia possess the strength to wield and handle such armaments, to prevent unnecessary battles. However...
"Was it alright for Nina? She's also heading out for an investigation, isn't she?"
"We hadn't considered it when Nina left. Besides, unlike Holy and Vilia, she wouldn't act in a way that invites being underestimated, and she knows how to use that kind of intimidation."
"Ah, indeed."
Since Nina was operating covertly on the If Continent, she would certainly be well-versed in such methods of intimidation. In contrast, Holy, as a Demon Lord, likely primarily demonstrated power through physical means, or rather, destruction, while Vilia, like Yuki, is fundamentally the type to engage in repeated dialogue. Indeed, they are ill-suited for short-sighted opponents desperate enough to resort to summoning.
"Well, it would be easier if they had them, but first, I was wondering if we had any equipment for Holy and Vilia."
"How much time do we have before their departure?"
"It depends on Nina's investigation, but it's doubtful if there will be any leeway once Nina arrives."
"So, there's a possibility of immediate departure if things go badly, isn't there? Considering the recent departure, perhaps about ten days?"
"That's right. I think it's dangerous to assume we have plenty of time." While the possibility of finding no traces isn't zero, given the frequency of missing persons, it's unlikely Nina won't find any, and there's no guarantee Nina herself won't go missing. And it's a given that these kinds of situations only get more troublesome if left to linger.
"I understand the situation, but when it comes to large armaments, we truly don't have many, and they can't be easily crafted. More importantly, there are no suitable wielders."
"Well, I suppose so. Nevertheless, the purpose is intimidation. Being able to swing them around is enough."
The important thing isn't to fully master the armaments, but merely to show that one can handle them, but...
"That's certainly true, but to simply ask for heavy, large weapons feels rather unrefined, doesn't it?" To be honest, I'm displeased. Weapons are meant to be crafted for their users. It's rather disheartening to be asked for something devoid of any craftsmanship or skill. While it might be acceptable for amateurs, this time it's a stopgap measure for people who should be reasonably capable.
"I understand how you feel, but this is for Holy and Vilia's safety. Rather than making new ones, do we have any in stock? Look, we have some spare heavy shields for Hiiro, don't we?"
"We do! Of course, we also have items prioritizing weight and sturdiness for training. And weapons too, of course."
"Then, can we have Holy and Vilia carry those?"