Chapter 189

Crave, the Master Craftsman.

He was renowned not only for his exceptional skills but also for his eccentric personality.

He was so stubborn that he wouldn’t lift a finger for anything that didn’t pique his interest, even if a sword was held to his throat.

Therefore, even emperors or kings couldn’t force him to do anything he didn’t want to do.

Ran, his youngest disciple, was Crave’s most cherished student.

Like master, like disciple, she inherited his eccentric nature.

She had a personality that made her unwilling to even wiggle a finger for anything she didn’t find interesting.

So, the reason Ran agreed to my request, besides the fact that I provided her with a forge and full support, was primarily because the items I requested sparked her curiosity.

Just by looking at the turtle battering ram, crafted with 120% of her artisan spirit, it was clear that she had made it with interest.

But that was it.

Getting her to do anything beyond that was no easy feat.

‘There’s a reason why I personally funded the equipment upgrades.’

The equipment of the 11th floor residents, newly purchased with my money.

If Ran got her hands on them, she could easily produce equipment of much higher quality than those available on the market.

Yet, I didn’t ask her.

Because I knew.

That she had no interest in crafting such mundane weapons and armor.

But…

‘She’s giving me a sword as a gift?’

This had never happened before.

‘Is it because of the major changes in the overall flow of events?’

I had wiped out the Red Wolf bandit group, which I should have struggled to defeat, in one fell swoop.

I had also ended the war with the monsters and undead in a single day, a war that should have dragged on.

To Ran’s eyes, I must have appeared incredibly impressive.

On top of that, I provided full support with my overwhelming wealth.

I provided her with a forge, various materials, and even orichalcum, the dream metal that most craftsmen wouldn’t even get to touch in their lifetime.

‘Thinking about it again, it’s impossible for her not to be impressed.’

Ran was also desperate to escape this dreadful underground space as soon as possible.

To Ran, who suddenly appeared out of nowhere and accomplished unbelievable feats, I must have seemed like a hero who offered a glimmer of hope for salvation.

Thinking about it that way, I could understand Ran’s gesture of goodwill and her gift.

Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!

The sound of hammering from the forge could be heard again.

It sounded even more pleasant today.

I smiled faintly.

“Um, Senior.”

Annette cautiously spoke to me, gauging my mood.

“Yeah? What is it?”

“Ah, earlier, you seemed…”

“Seemed?”

“…Servile.”

“Cough, cough, cough!”

To hear such words from the kind-hearted Annette, why do I feel like such a gold digger?

Don’t do this to me, Annette…

I can’t handle your attacks.

“It’s not being servile, it’s being realistic.”

Huh?

Camian was defending me for once.

Did he eat something wrong?

“R-Realistic?”

“Yes. The opportunity for a swordsman to obtain a good sword doesn’t come often. In fact, it might never come at all. A good sword isn’t something you can just get because you want it.”

“K-Camian…”

Annette stared at Camian with wide eyes.

I understand.

I also don’t know why he’s suddenly defending me…

“So, Senior.”

“What is it now?”

“Could you please put in a good word for me?”

“A good word for what?”

“C-Could you maybe ask her to make one for me too, while you’re at it… a sword, I mean.”

“…”

My dumbfounded expression.

“…”

Annette’s dumbfounded expression.

“Ah, n-no… I mean… Ugh…”

Unable to withstand the silent pressure of the atmosphere, Camian finally lowered his gaze.

I clicked my tongue and said in an understanding tone,

“You really wanted a good sword too, huh?”

“Yes… Uh…”

“Sob, I’m sorry, Camian. I didn’t even know…”

“Huh? Y-You don’t have to cry…”

“Suppress your desires, Camian. The wielder is more important than the tool.”

I spoke like an enlightened monk.

“…You seem to be overflowing with desires, Senior.”

“Oh, the misery. Namu Amitabha.”

“I don’t know what strange things you’re saying, but I just got a very bad feeling.”

“It’s your imagination.”

As I said that, Ran walked out of the forge.

She was holding a sword.

“I don’t like making things too flashy, but I didn’t want it to be plain, so I added some patterns. How is it? Do you like it?”

Ran showed me the scabbard.

The silver scabbard had a cute turtle pattern engraved on it…

“Do you like turtles?”

“Yes, I do.”

“…”

“Huh? Don’t you like it?”

“No… It’s unique, I like it.”

It would be interesting to have a powerful sword come out of a cute scabbard.

But why are my eyes getting teary?

“I’m glad. It wouldn’t do if you didn’t like the gift.”

Ran’s eyes sparkled with innocence.

I couldn’t bring myself to say, “Why a turtle of all things…” to that dazzling expression.

“Y-Yeah.”

“Then let’s move on to the important part.”

Swoosh.

Ran drew the sword from its scabbard without hesitation.

At that moment.

“Oh.”

“Ah.”

“Huh.”

Exclamations of admiration escaped from the three of us involuntarily.

The faint black blade, revealing its hidden beauty.

I had never felt the emotion of “beautiful” when looking at a sword blade before.

But this blade was beautiful.

First of all, the lines were sleek.

Yet, it was perfectly straight, without a single twist or flaw.

It meant it was perfectly crafted.

Those perfect lines formed a captivating proportion.

Horizontally and vertically.

It was truly a work of art crafted by a master.

And on top of that artistic beauty, I could feel a condensed sturdiness.

Every part of it felt solid and strong.

“I-Is this…”

The skill of a genius craftsman who poured their heart into it?

My voice trembled as I spoke.

“A-Amazing…”

Annette’s jaw dropped, her eyes glued to the sword.

“A-Are you a god…?”

Camian, who had been using shabby swords every day, seemed to have lost his mind after witnessing a ‘real’ masterpiece.

In response to their reactions, Ran proudly shrugged her shoulders.

“Big Brother Max.”

“Huh? Uh… What?”

“You don’t need that old sword anymore, right?”

“Huh? Ah… I guess not. But why?”

“Do you want to try it out? We need to test its strength.”

“Ah… Strength test.”

I drew the sword I had been using, Max’s sword.

It was a decent sword, considered a treasure sword in its own right.

Max must have bought it somewhere for a hefty price.

I held the blade up.

“Then. Here goes.”

Whoosh!

Ran swung with a powerful force, like a true craftsman.

Clang!

The blades clashed.

And then.

Clang!

My original sword was pathetically cut in half.

“T-This strong?”

My eyes widened.

“Ah, I did hit the part where there was a hairline crack.”

“Huh, there was a crack in my sword?”

“Yes, a hairline crack.”

Damn, I almost died.

I wiped the sweat from my brow.

If that unknown durability issue had surfaced at a crucial moment, I would have been dead.

Thinking about it that way, Ran was my lifesaver.

“Thank you, Ran. I received a great gift at just the right time.”

“You’re welcome. It’s just a small token of appreciation. I was able to make it because Big Brother Max provided the orichalcum.”

Swoosh.

Ran sheathed the sword and handed it to me.

I received the sword.

It felt perfect in my hand.

Deadly.

I immediately checked the item window.

– A masterpiece sword made of orichalcum alloy, crafted and gifted by the genius craftsman Ran.

– A cute turtle pattern is engraved on the scabbard.

– Beautiful.

– Sturdy.

– Sharp.

A simple description.

But I knew.

That no further explanation was needed.

If a sword is sturdy and sharp, what more could you ask for?

And since it’s also beautiful, I’ll look cool using it.

…Except for the cute turtle pattern.

“E-Excuse me.”

Camian, who had been spacing out, seemed to have come to his senses and spoke to Ran.

“Yes?”

“D-Do you take crafting orders, Ran? For swords, I mean.”

He stuttered, seemingly very nervous about the answer.

“Crafting orders? I do take them.”

Camian’s face brightened.

He must have thought it was a positive answer.

But as far as I know, that can’t be true, right?

“Then, if I were to request a sword…”

“Ah, but I don’t take orders from just ‘anyone’. Sorry.”

“Gasp…”

Boom.

I heard a sound like Camian’s world crumbling.

Camian’s soul seemed to have left his body after being openly labeled as ‘anyone’.

Hey, do you think it’s that easy to be recognized by a genius craftsman?

I’ve been rejected so many times.

“But you never know. People’s minds change.”

Still, Ran gave him a glimmer of hope.

Camian’s soul returned to his body.

…Isn’t your mood swing a bit too fast?

“I-I’ll work hard!”

“Thank you, Camian. I’ll do my best too.”

A heartwarming ending.

Seeing the motivation in Camian’s eyes, it seemed like it was good motivation for him.

Well, as the second son of a minor noble, it would be almost impossible for him to obtain a sword of the level that Ran crafts.

It was understandable for his will to be ignited.

‘Then shall we head back for today?’

I had confirmed the situation and even received an unexpected masterpiece sword as a gift, so it was a very successful trip.

‘Ah, I should discuss the date before leaving.’

The date to conquer a new underground floor.

It was a very important matter for both us and the residents.

‘The weapons are complete.’

Their training also seemed to be 90% complete.

‘Two weeks should be enough.’

My eyes were looking towards two weeks later.

* * *

Two weeks passed.

When I went down to the 11th underground floor again, the residents were already fully prepared.

They were armed in armor, not their usual clothes.

The 11th floor residents also seemed to have gotten used to it, as they moved comfortably despite wearing heavy armor.

Next to the large ballista and the battering ram, there were residents ready to transport them.

They were perfectly organized, as if they had already practiced transporting them.

I was satisfied.

Even though they had wheels, moving them wouldn’t be easy without practice.

“Judging by the preparations, you’re expecting large monsters or a fortress, right?”

Gwen asked with a smile.

Since I had built a forge and provided materials to produce those weapons, everyone must have known.

“Heh, of course.”

Although the battering ram wouldn’t be used immediately, the large ballista was the key to conquering the 12th underground floor.

“How’s the ballista practice going?”

“We’re fully prepared.”

Gwen answered confidently.

If he was answering like that, it was trustworthy enough.

“Very good. Then is everyone ready to go down?”

I scanned the residents with my eyes.

The group consisted of the original 10th floor residents and the newly joined 11th floor residents.

They had enjoyed a peaceful time here, albeit only for a few months.

It meant that some of them, being human, couldn’t help but want to settle down.

But.

‘Their eyes are alive.’

They all had eyes that shone with resolute determination.

They understood.

What would happen if they became complacent in this place.

“There’s no need to ask, everyone is perfectly prepared.”

Gwen said with an unwavering expression.

I smiled and nodded.

“Then let’s go down.”

And so, we took another step into a new territory.