kscans

Chapter 10 - The Young Weaponsmith's Eyes Sparkle Even in a Danger Zone

He had a rough idea of their location.

This was deep in the Tree Sea. An attack from the outside was practically impossible.

Only the highest ranking officials would know about this place.

It wasn't on the regular patrol route of the Tree Sea Defense Force either.

Barring anything extraordinary, no one would come here.

...Rather, the concern was Mireille getting lost or encountering a monster.

He finished checking the area visible from the top of the tower.

Alright, let's head down. And while I'm at it, I might as well test the sword.

There was an open space a short distance away. If he let loose a little there, it should be fine.

"Alright, Mireille, you wait here—"

"I, I want to see the test cut!!"

Her eyes were sparkling.

It was exactly the reaction of a dog when asked, "Want to go for a walk?"

"It’s dangerous, so no."

"I won’t get in the way! This is a once in a lifetime chance to see up close what effects the weapon has, what it’s lacking, and what its limits are! Especially with weapons!"

An artisan’s spirit....

He understood the feeling. He understood, but—

"I’ll explain later, but this place is a monster’s nest. It’s too dangerous."

"That’s exactly why! I need to get a grasp of the materials here too, and I need to make some defensive tools. While you’re here, Leonhard-san!"

She pressed closer. She was desperate....

Well, it was nearby, and if he guarded her, it should be manageable.

"What do you have to protect yourself? You have the dagger I brought. What about armor or monster repellent?"

"The medicine... the whole shop was destroyed, so I couldn’t bring any. I never had armor to begin with. But there might be something left on the shelves. I found a High Potion yesterday, so I managed with that."

"...A High Potion!?"

Hey, that’s three months’ salary. It might even be more expensive than my sword.

"I can make them if I have the materials. It’s just an extension of a regular Potion. If I can make one here, I’ll make one for you as thanks."

No, that wasn't an item he could accept with a simple "thank you." But... depending on the ingredients, it might not be a bad deal. Wait, no!

As he was thinking this, they descended the tower. Apparently, there was a shelf on the second floor, and Mireille said, "Wait a minute," and ran off.

Next to Mireille, who was rummaging through the shelf, he could see an old bed. ...Feeling like he had seen something he shouldn’t have, he moved his gaze to the floor.

There were bloodstains on the floor.

He gasped involuntarily. What kind of beating did they give her? For her family’s embezzlement...? An injury that required a High Potion couldn’t have been from a simple interrogation. There must have been some other motive.

"I found an antidote and a repellent bell. If I ring this, it messes with a monster’s semicircular canals, and they won’t come near for about an hour."

"Oh, that’s helpful. ...Wait, just monsters? Does it not affect humans?"

His question must have been written on his face.

"Humans are built differently. Monsters can distinguish even the smallest sounds, so... it precisely disrupts that."

She talked happily about how to deal with monsters. Hearing such a grim topic from such a cute face would surely make a normal man flinch.

...It didn't bother him, though.

Now he felt he understood a little of why Darius and her master had been concerned about her future and brought up the idea of an arranged marriage.