Chapter 424: Matching Weapons (4)

“Then, since you both got new weapons, just go train in the back for a bit.”

“Huh? What about… Unnie?”

“I have a few things to talk about with Areum for a moment. I’ll be right back.”

“See you later, Sungchul Unnie.”

“Alright then, Areum-ah, let’s talk over there for a bit, just the two of us.”

“Ah, okay…. But what are you going to talk to me about….”

“It’ll only take a moment.”

After telling Jin-ah and Seon-ah to go swing their weapons around on their own in the training area behind the shop for a while.

I took Areum to a spot where my two younger sisters couldn’t see us, and shared a secret conversation with her that I didn’t want the twins finding out about.

“Areum-ah, can you make custom weapons too?”

“Custom? Of course, I can make those. Why, do you need a new sword, Unnie?”

“It’s not for me to use, I want to get custom weapons made for those two over there.”

“Jin-ah-ssi and Seon-ah-ssi?”

“Yeah.”

Areum tilted her head slightly, questioning my request to make custom weapons. It seemed my suggestion was quite unfamiliar to her.

“…Isn’t that a bit excessive?”

“Huh?”

“From what I gather, they seem like they’re only just D-rank. Wouldn’t giving them custom weapons spoil them? Honestly, you never know when someone might quit being a Hunter. I’m just saying it feels like making a big fuss over custom gear and such.”

“Well, I suppose it could look that way. But still, I want to give those two proper, good weapons if possible.”

“Hmph….”

She tilted her head strangely, still not seeming entirely convinced by my words. As Areum, it seemed she wasn’t keen on making custom weapons for mere rookie Hunters. After all, unlike just selling pre-made weapons, custom weapons carry a stronger sense of being made specifically for the recipient, so Areum probably had her own considerations. Any decent blacksmith would want their creations used by skilled Hunters, wouldn’t they? What dwarf blacksmith wants to be known as someone who mindlessly crafts weapons for mediocre chicks just because they have the money?

“Okay. Let’s just forget it. I haven’t even mentioned it to the kids yet, so don’t worry about what I just said.”

I couldn’t force her into something that might tarnish her reputation and pride just because of my own selfish desire. Besides, the weapons the two of them were currently using were already quite masterful works.

Just as I was about to end the conversation with a hint of disappointment, Areum turned the tables and spoke to me.

“…Actually, no. I’ll do it.”

“Oh, really?”

“But you have to get a custom weapon made for yourself too, Unnie. Then I’ll make theirs.”

“Even for me…?”

“I have my pride as a craftswoman, you know. I only make custom weapons for people I approve of. But if I don’t make one for you, Unnie, whom I approve of, I’d feel kinda bad, wouldn’t I?”

If that’s the reason, I certainly can’t refuse. I would have welcomed a custom weapon made by Areum’s hands anytime. In fact, I almost wanted to ask for one myself. The issue was that I already had most of the weapons I needed right now, so I hadn’t specifically requested one. Still, having a spare weapon wouldn’t hurt, so I agreed to the offer without hesitation…

“……”

…Wait a second, come to think of it, custom weapons for three people would cost quite a bit. How much cash do I actually have left in my account right now…?

“Hold on, Areum-ah. I don’t think I can afford all three weapons right now. But my financial situation will be better next month, so maybe you could start making my weapon next month….”

“My, what strange worries you have. Since I said I’d make your weapon, Unnie, of course, I’m not charging you for it.”

“…Oh, really?”

“Ah, but I will be charging for the weapons for those two over there, naturally.”

“Well, that goes without saying.”

I’m not so shameless as to make such a brazen request to Areum.

“Then I’ll ask you to. Including mine, that’s three custom weapons.”

“Those two already have their claw knuckles and spears decided, but what do you want for your custom weapon, Unnie?”

“Huh? I can choose what I want?”

I naturally assumed ‘custom weapon’ meant she’d offer to make me a new greatsword or something. Areum simply responded as if it were obvious, without any particular reaction to my question.

“Of course. You’re already wielding a Mithril Greatsword, Unnie. Do you know how many years it would take me to make something better than that?”

“…Well, I suppose that’s true.”

“It doesn’t have to be a sword. I heard last time that you’re proficient with various weapons, Unnie, so tell me what you need the most.”

“What I need most right now… hmm….”

…Well, having a backup weapon for emergencies wouldn’t be bad. Besides, with my spatial pouch, I don’t need to worry about weapon storage.

In response to Areum’s question, I immediately asked if the weapon that came to mind could be made. Areum nodded immediately, confirming it was possible.

“Got it. Then that’s settled for you, Unnie. And for those two, you’ll make what we discussed earlier, right?”

“Yeah, please do.”

“Calculating the materials needed, the crafting time, and everything else… this is roughly the estimated cost. Is that okay?”

“…Yeah. That’s fine.”

Although it was a bit tight after setting aside living expenses, it was a very reasonable price for a weapon crafted by a dwarf artisan. I nodded and handed her the check card I took out of my wallet.

“You can just swipe it. Handle the signature however you want.”

“Got it.”

“Oh, right. I also need my sword sharpened, so include that too.”

“Got it, got it.”

“And just in case, please keep the custom weapons for the kids a secret until the very end. You can use ‘measuring for weapon maintenance’ as an excuse or something.”

“I know. Do you think I’m that clueless? You brought the sisters over here specifically to talk privately, so of course, I get it.”

Areum, with a confident smile, took my card and walked towards the counter. Not long after, a payment confirmation text message arrived on my smartphone, showing a balance of two commas. Despite the rather painful expenditure that made it hard to just smile, I tried my best to maintain a nonchalant expression. Still, compared to the value of those two lives, this was incredibly cheap.

“Unnie, get home safe! Jin-ah-ssi and Seon-ah-ssi too!”

“Take care, Areum.”

“G-goodbye….”

“Don’t forget to come pick up the weapons next week!”

“Goodbye, Areum-ssi.”

After seeing off Kim Sungchul and her two younger sisters who had suddenly burst into the shop. Back in the suddenly empty shop, Soo Areum secretly wore a triumphant smile. Not only had Sungchul Unnie, whom she worried had completely lost interest in her, visited her shop again, but they had also exchanged phone numbers, with Sungchul Unnie saying they should keep in touch often. Any worries about not being able to see her anymore melted away like snow, and she felt their connection had actually deepened compared to before.

“I wasted my time and effort worrying pointlessly. What a foolish girl I am.”

Soo Areum, while blaming herself, couldn’t hide her inner delight, and sat at the counter grinning foolishly even after the three had left. Only after her excitement subsided a bit did she start organizing the tasks ahead.

“First, I’ll make Jin-ah-ssi’s spear and Seon-ah-ssi’s claw knuckles. Then, I’ll work on Unnie’s greatsword. Since she said she doesn’t need her weapon immediately, I can start working on it step-by-step from next week….”

She had unintentionally taken on quite a few tasks at once, so she was bound to be very busy for a while. However, she didn’t feel tired at all; instead, she felt delighted. The thought of crafting a custom weapon for Sungchul Unnie with her own hands wouldn’t leave her mind. Of course, her main weapon, the Mithril Greatsword, required years of dedicated effort and couldn’t be easily replaced, but just imagining her custom weapon being wielded by Sungchul Unnie someday was enough to bring her immense joy.

The gloomy feelings that had plagued Soo Areum for days vanished without a trace, leaving only a refreshing sense of relief, as if a weight had been lifted. For the first time in a long while, she could end the day feeling good instead of anxious.

…However, there was one thing. The behavior of the two younger sisters who came with Sungchul Unnie today was slightly bothering her.

“It felt strangely off, not like just close friends, Unnie and sisters….”

There was a peculiar vibe between the three of them that couldn’t be dismissed as simple female friendship. Soo Areum, despite her inexperience with romance, wasn’t so clueless as to miss that atmosphere. Every time she glanced at the twins, they were looking at Sungchul Unnie about seventy to eighty percent of the time, and seeing them blush or speak shyly towards Sungchul Unnie, who was a woman, struck Soo Areum as distinctly odd. What solidified her suspicion into certainty was a single slip of the tongue from Han Jin-ah.

‘I-it’s okay to talk about wishes, right? It’s also the weapon O-oppa uses.’

‘Oppa? Does Jin-ah-ssi have any brothers?’

‘Ah, n-no, that… not Oppa, I mean Unnie….’

“It didn’t seem like a slip of the tongue; she said ‘Oppa’ so naturally….”

Kim Sungchul, as far as I knew, was definitely a woman. So why did Han Jin-ah call her Oppa? It wasn’t just that it came out so naturally, making it hard to dismiss as a simple mistake. Listening closely afterward, I confirmed she almost called her ‘Oppa’ several more times before quickly correcting herself. Faced with this contradictory situation, Soo Areum cautiously entertained a somewhat dangerous hypothesis.

“Could it be that Sungchul Unnie… has a preference for women too…?”

She had heard through the grapevine that sometimes, among lesbians, the one playing the masculine role is referred to as ‘Oppa’. If Sungchul Unnie was indeed interested in women and dating someone of the same sex, all the pieces would fall into place. It would explain why the two twins looked at Kim Sungchul like they were attracted to her, and why they kept almost calling her Oppa. Moreover, it wasn’t just one person looking at her like a man; it was two. It was also the moment she cautiously considered the possibility that Sungchul Unnie might be involved in polyamorous relationships, not just one-on-one. She had heard stories about homosexuals enjoying polygamous relationships, but this was the first time she was witnessing it firsthand. She never imagined that one of the people involved would be Sungchul Unnie, whom she admired so much.

Of course, it was possible that this was all just her imagination, and that Sungchul Unnie and the twins were nothing more than acquaintances. But deep down, Soo Areum found herself hoping her wild theory was true.

“If Unnie really likes girls instead of boys… Ugh, ughhh….”

If Kim Sungchul was truly gay and enjoyed dating multiple women, a dangerous thought sparked within her: maybe, just maybe, she might stand a chance too.