Chapter 173 Hellenguard Smithy (2/2)
”You just said you ain't gonna judge.”
”Did I? You must have heard wrong.”
”Yeah, it's my hearing that's impaired, not your brain.”
”Exactly, kiddo!” the man exclaimed, his lips straining into a full smile. ”You've got a promising future.”
”And if you keep this shit up you won't have one.” Lino said, smiling kindly.
”... ah. You're the devil sort with fiendishly handsome smile.” the man chuckled. ”You lot are the most dangerous! I constantly warn my daughters to avoid you like a plague, but... eh. They're young. They don't listen! Two of 'em married a devil like you and year later came back to my house with four kids in tow -- each! Can you believe it?!”
”... sorry, what?”
”Eh, whatever, personal tales come later,” the man stroked his beard as he glanced between the sword on the shelf and Lino. ”You've got a good eye for the materials. A smith?”
”More so than you, at least.” Lino replied with a smile.
”Hah, a cocky one too? Heh, I take more pleasure in striking cocky bastards like you down than anything else in my life.”
”... maybe you should rephrase that sentence.”
”Heh, I take more pleasure in striking cocky bastards like you down almost as much as other things I enjoy doing with my life.”
”Good boy.”
”You interested in a job, kiddo?” the man asked.
”Aye. That's why I'm here.” Lino said.
”I gotta test you first, though.”
”Test away, old man.”
”Are you a virgin?”
”No.”
”Good, you're hired.”
”... you're not gonna explain that?” Lino asked.
”Eh, it's nothing complicated,” the man spoke out as he led Lino out of the store and to the second floor. ”But the last kid we hired was an up-and-coming star who spent most of his youth barred between the four walls. We have a few female assistants working with us, and because it can sometimes get really hot, they tend to dress scarcely -- if at all -- which, as you can imagine, wasn't really the best working environment for a green kid.”
”Huh. Wait--”
”No, they're not dwarfs like me,” as though reading Lino's mind, the man quickly interrupted him. ”But keep your kinks when you're out there somewhere. Here, we're all professionals.”
”Eh, I don't know about that,” Lino said. ”I've never heard of other professionals that strip naked in front of other people because it got kind of hot.”
”... so you'd rather work in a smithy full of sweaty, topless men who stink of pig shit?”
”No, I'd really rather not. This is paradise.”
”Ha ha, you know it.” the man winked at him as they reached the second floor which was sectioned off into small portions out of which sounds of continuous ringing of hammers and metals echoed. ”Anyway, my name is Edward.” the man turned toward Lino and said. ”And my brother and I are owners of the Hellenguard Smithy, the number 1 smithy in town! You're lucky you came to us kiddo! Your talents would have been wasted elsewhere!”
”Why do I have a feeling every single one of them would have said the same thing?”
”It's because they would.” Edward shrugged. ”Anyway, even though I've hired you already, I still gotta know your exact limits. So, choose one of the three tests: knowledge, practice, guidance.”
”Practice.” Lino replied without a second thought.
”Ho ho, we have a bold one over here, no? Alright, practice it is. As you already seem rather familiar with [Frosted Steel], I'll give you a chunk alongside a few pieces of [Hardening Stone] and, well, I'll watch you make magic! Well, not just me... we have this tradition where each time we've got a newcomer, we all gather on the third floor and constantly chirp in while the newcomer's crafting to test his patience and resilience to the outside factors. You've no problem with that, right?”
”For all I care you guys can start an orgy.” Lino shrugged.
”Ha ha, good lad! Heh, anyway, wait here. I'll go gather the rest, and we'll see just where your cockiness stems from, alright?”
Lino faintly nodded, already ignoring Edward's words. He inwardly mused that there was nothing more beautiful than having other people provide you with materials for free. In his head, he already began figuring out what to craft; he, naturally, had no intention of holding back. He was here to make a name for himself -- but, even more so, he hated holding back far more than anything else. Looking at an item that he had crafted knowing that he could have done ten times better... he found it rather depressing and hypocritical. Looks like that old bastard's teachings are really kicking my guts... haah...