Volume 13 - Chapter 2 – Part 3 (2/2)

shi+n realized that it would be useless to try to pull the wool over Vulcan’s eyes, so he stated his purpose with total honesty

Techniques were always the fruit of long processes of trial and error shi+n had decided that he would never try to steal such a thing He could tell a nu at the finished product, but couldn’t steal a technique with just that He had planned to negotiate to achieve that, if possible

“Who the hell are you, anyway?”

“Like you said, I’m a blacks techniques, so I wanted to ask about it”

Vulcan seehtly confused, and shi+n started to feel doubtful too Trying to test their skill had been a bad approach, maybe, so he started to feel concerned

“Recent s species”

“Do you think so?”

“The lady over there is an Elf, but you’re just a Huht? You look just a bit over 20 Even if you were holed up in a smithy since you were a brat, you couldn’t have a presence of fire this strong, nor send, no, Mythology grade weapons, can’t you?”

“Grandpa!? What are you saying!?”

The young randson, apparently

“Did your trained eyes tell you that too?”

“No, this is a special skill of ain a particular presence froer their furnace, the stronger fire presence they have If they use high grade or rare materials, they smell different than iron or steel Of course, without sufficient skill no one can have that presence or ser, much more powerful than even the chief I used to work for Makes me almost doubt my instincts”

Sweat streamed down Vulcan’s cheeks, but it wasn’t because of the heat co from the furnace room

“I must say that I’m really surprised How did you acquire such a skill?”

“This is just what my senses tell h So, what do you say? Not that I want to force you to talk”

“No, I was the one that tested you after all It is true thatthat shouldn’t be revealed openly, I think But that’s only what my master told me, I really don’t know about eneration…how can I say it, he was so like a hermit”

It would be troublesoh Human, so shi+n explained that he had learned his skills under aspecies, so it was a biteneration…they probably knew heaps of lost techniques we have no idea of If you were his disciple, well I guess that explains it all”

Vulcan didn’t seem fully convinced, but since he had justas if he couldn’t say anye But in exchange, you’ll do the same too, deal?”

“Grand—I mean boss! Is this really okay!? I know that your senses are sharp, but you’ve justman had listened quietly to Vulcan and shi+n’s conversation, but finally interrupted Things had been proceeding really quickly, so shi+n was also wondering if it was really all right, a suspicion that turned out to be correct

“It’s all right, Vaal It frustrates me to no end to say this, but the skills this man learned make mine look like child’s play Don’t tellat those weapons”

“That’s…right, but…”

Vulcan clearly stated that looking at a weapon was enough to learn of the skills of its creator The young man, Vaal, had no objections about that point, but was perplexed about the situation

“Well, we plan to stay in town for a while, so you don’t have to decide right away…”

“Can’t do that With the union as it is now, even if they see these weapons, not all of the that their y, but there are always the types that get lost in faction quarreling I don’t want those in the way”

Dwarves too had their own circumstances

shi+n re of techniques and technology, created by Dwarves instead of for a country Dwarves were nor creation-type skills, but in an organization, authority and position always came into play

“But boss, if you show your skills without perht be in trouble”

“Just shut up and we’ll be fine”

“No way!? You want to make me into an acco new techniques, Vulcan didn’t give a hoot about the union’s rules It seeht that shi+n would not cause trouble, but as a union member, it was a problem nonetheless

“You say that, but you want to see too, don’t you? How a e weapons like these actually tempers the iron?”

“That…that’s…”

Vaal looked away, very clearly conflicted because of Vulcan’s question He still glared at the very eager Vulcan, but he actually shared the sa to do? This sort of chance won’t cori on, grinning widely shi+n, on the other hand, stepped away from them

“…okay Today he…er…”

“The name’s shi+n”

“Thank you very much Today, Mr shi+n never came here Let’s put it like that”

Vaal finally surrendered Between unknown techniques and the union’s rules, the curiosity towards the unknoon

“Is this okay?”

“Yes As boss said before, he was assistant to the Dwarves’ chief before If he says that this was an exchange of techniques ais will be settled somehow Fortunately, you too are a blackse for such an exchange to be held”

Vaal looked a bit concerned still, but shi+n was very eager to see Vulcan’s skills, so he pretended not to notice

After Vaal agreed, things proceeded even quicker Vulcan would show his technique first, then it would be shi+n’s turn

“It may be too late to ask, but is this really fine? It seereed so fast…”

Vaal talked to Schnee, as s behind shi+n He was involved too, so he felt a bit uncomfortable

He had frozen for athat she had to be connected to shi+n, he didn’t get strange ideas about her

“When shi+n seeks new techniques, it’s always for our sake I have nothing to say”

“Is, is that so”

Schnee’s reply radiated trust It couldn’t be helped that Vaal felt a little envious

“Sorry, Schnee Please wait a bit”

“I know that it’s like a sickness you have I’ll wait, don’t worry”

shi+n apologized profusely, but Schnee si “he just can’t help it” She sat down on a chair Vaal took out for her, opened a book with a blue cover and put on glasses with a red rim The book, 『Book Maker』, automatically searched for the story that the holder desired and displayed it; the glasses, an item called『The Eyes』, were a support accessory

“Schnee with glasses…not bad”

shi+n let this comment slip when he saw Schnee take out iteave the wearer an intellectual atmosphere; it was a mystery Another reason was probably that Schnee usually did not wear glasses

“Stop being silly and get this over with quickly!”

Schnee pushed shi+n in the corridor to the furnace roo face When the blacksmiths disappeared in the shadows of the corridor, she said to herself “ my look once in a while would be nice…” as she tried to cool down her flushed cheeks, unaware that shi+n heard that all too well