episode_0021

47th day in the Misty Forest.

Dwarf Volkan was in the midst of drinking underground and starting his hammering.

[Kasyan.]

I called the third elf of the Elven God, Kasyan, to my house.

Swoosh!~

Thud!

“Did you call me?”

Not even a minute had passed since I called.

A male elf entered the house like the wind and gracefully kneeled down.

Short, dark green hair.

A sleek physique is his characteristic.

And….

“I want to see your sword.”

A sword is strapped to his waist.

I heard it was an item picked up from a human in the Misty Forest during territory expansion.

I demanded to see the sword.

“Yes, of course.”

Thud.

Kasyan politely handed over the sword with both hands.

As I took the sword with one hand and drew it out, the well-polished blade reflected my face.

It looks like a fine sword at first glance.

But how will it look to Volkan?

As the only craftsman, I had favored and treated Volkan well, but I hadn’t properly assessed his skills.

This sword will be the measure of that.

“Let’s go to Volkan together. I want to compare the sword he made. If a better sword than this comes out, you can use it.”

“…Thank you.”

Kasyan replied earnestly.

He is the complete opposite of the second Tinnia.

If I had to say, he gives off the vibe of a diligent inspector who speaks less and quietly does his job.

So he must be different from other elves in holding a sword.

“Let’s go.”

“I will follow.”

Leaving Shaela rolling around on the bed, I went outside the house.

As soon as I stepped out, I walked about thirty steps to the left.

Swish.

Ordinary dirt.

I inserted my finger into a crevice that was hard to see without looking closely and pushed.

Crunch.

The underground door disguised with dirt opened.

This is the passage leading to Volkan’s forge.

He said he originally hid and disguised the door, so even if you knew the location, it was difficult to find with the naked eye.

It’s not a problem for me.

This place is all mine, even underground.

I can see Volkan, with a flushed face from drinking, hammering away.

Luckily, he is making a sword.

It’s perfect for comparing with Kasyan’s sword.

“Come.”

“Yes.”

I went down to the underground with Kasyan.

*

“Hey~ Is this failure supposed to be called a sword that you brought to me?”

When Volkan saw Kasyan’s sword, he sneered and dismissed it. It looked like a fine sword, but it didn’t seem to suit him.

It’s proof that his skills are quite high.

“Then, how good is the sword you made?”

“Hah! You were curious about my skills, huh? Why don’t you compare it yourself.”

Swish.

Volkan threw the sword he made.

I caught the sword lightly and examined it closely.

Black blade.

But it felt different somehow.

If Kasyan’s sword was well-crafted and elegant, Volkan’s sword had a presence and an unknown energy.

I feel power from the sword.

Am I feeling it correctly?

“Kasyan.”

“Yes.”

I handed the sword to Kasyan and had him swing it at the empty wall.

Swish!-

Crash!

The wall cleanly split.

And flames from the sword flickered and penetrated into the wall.

If that was a living being….

“An impressive sword.”

“I felt a resonance with the sword when I swung it. It seems like I can control the flames… It’s definitely a fine sword.”

Even the few words from Kasyan were high praise.

I thought the sword would be just average, but my expectations were completely overturned.

His craftsmanship was exceptional.

“Haha!! Of course. It was made as a test, but if you like it, take it. In return, give me the materials of the sword you used to use.”

“T-Thank you!”

Kasyan acquired a new sword.

In just one day, I made a sword, but the quality is absolutely undeniable.

I never knew I was such a skilled craftsman.

I guess I’ll have to keep making more in the future.

No, that alone is not enough.

What if even the elves learned this skill?

If we mass-produce weapons and arm the villagers, how much power would we gain?

“Vulkan. Do you have any thoughts on taking on an apprentice?”

“An apprentice? I’m not sure about that, but it would be convenient to have someone to help with the work.”

“If I provide an assistant, can you teach them your skills?”

“Of course. As long as they can handle my drinking, don’t shy away from dirty work in front of the furnace, I’ll teach them freely. Oh, and make sure we never run out of alcohol and materials. Otherwise, my enthusiasm will die down.”

“I’ll make sure to stock up on alcohol in the warehouse. We’re still digging up ore from the ground. We just need to find an assistant.”

“Great! I love that the wine barrel is so big. Giving away delicious alcohol, free materials, and a drinking buddy.”

“It’s not a drinking buddy, it’s an assistant.”

“Whatever! I’ll teach them well.”

Deal made.

Now the question is, who will work under Vulkan?

“I want to do it!”

Eighth Fermion.

Male.

Light green hair.

Despite being tall, he has a balanced muscle tone and physique.

He seems like he would handle a hammer well.

“Great Lord! Please let me work with Fermion! I want to work with him.”

The High Elf he raises is the same.

He wants to follow as an assistant.

The eighth is the most unique.

Apart from working hours, he used to carve trees on the outskirts of the village.

He also did sculpting with ice magic.

It seemed like his nature was to create something.

I’m fine with that.

If he willingly works, it will be a great benefit to the village if he learns Vulkan’s skills.

Without hesitation, I entrusted Fermion to Vulkan.

Fortunately, they got along well.

“It’s amazing that you can shape and process objects like this. Please teach me your skills. I will call you Master.”

“Haha! He’s more passionate than I thought. An elf who is not like an elf.”

Things started to loosen up in a cheerful and cool way.

Vulkan said he would make the equipment the elf wanted.

When he said he would make it when he was drunk.

As long as he provides good alcohol, there should be no problem.

However, Vulkan demanded special materials.

“Give me your stem. I touched it and it’s surprisingly good at conducting mana and tough. It seems like it would be good to use as a buffer material or with other materials when making items.”

That’s not a problem.

It’s leftover material anyway.

“If you tell me the desired material or shape, I can shape it or compress it as is.”

“Oh?”

There’s nothing to see next.

If he liked my stem, he started making various things.

1. An elf-exclusive armor made by adding a stem that imitates leather to a bent alloy plate.

Lightweight, tough, and absorbs shocks well.

2. A bowstring and arrows made by combining a long metal thread and a stem.

When aimed, mana automatically condensed and clung to the arrowhead.

3. A staff with a stem densely wrapped around an iron rod.

It has the function of absorbing and amplifying mana.

4. A weapon of similar quality to Kasyan’s sword.

Not only fire but also other attributes were added, and a sword hilt was made with a modified stem.

5. A stable wine bag.

…Why did he make this?

And so on.

Good test products were born in just one day.

This should be enough help.

As long as I provide alcohol and materials well, the two of them will make various weapons.

Soon, we’ll be able to arm all the elves.

Swish~

Observing Fermion and Volcan working together, she quietly stepped back.

Foggy Forest, 48th day.

“Ah-goo-goo-goo~♡ My cute little baby.”

A strange voice of Phloen was heard.

Looking closer, she was petting and carrying a young elf boy from the farm, cuddling and adoring him.

“Shh, call me big sister!!……”

A green-haired elf who looked about 15 years old.

None other than a high elf born from the fruit Phloen was taking care of.

Technically, he was everyone’s elf, but Phloen genuinely took care of him, and knowing that, the elf boy followed her obediently.

“Will you be my mom?”

“…Call me big sister.”

“Gasp!?”

“Do you not like it?”

“No. I love it!!”

What is it?

Seems like there’s something sinister about it.

Should I just leave them be?

I shook my head and approached Phloen.

“Oh, Lord Muchan?”

“Great divine Lord!!!”

As the young high elf approached, I petted his head and asked Phloen.

“Are you doing well?”

“Yes! The elves decorated my house, so I feel blessed. It feels like a dream to live here in peace.”

“How about the other humans?”

“Oh, that… ”

Though it was a casual question, his expression wasn’t good.

What could be the problem?

I urged him.

“Tell me. It’s okay.”

“Actually, they seem quite dissatisfied. They talk as if they are being kept here and only given work without knowing the great benefits they are receiving.”

Being kept and only given work… Is it a sign of dissatisfaction from the rescued ones?

That’s why I was hesitant to accept humans.

“Do you think any action is needed?”

“Oh, no. It’s not that serious. They are doing all the work asked of them. It’s just a bit uncomfortable. It’s a matter of perception. They all want to go back after climbing the tower and coming here. That’s why complaints arise.”

“I see. You understand well. But if anything happens, tell me immediately.”

“Oh, yes!”

I changed the subject.

The main topic I originally wanted to ask.

“Are you going to raise this elf?”

“Yes! The other elves also gave permission.”

“He’ll grow up quickly. Even though he looks like a child now, he’ll grow up suddenly. Can you handle it?”

“No problem!”

I lowered my gaze and asked the child as well.

“Are you okay?”

“Yes! I’m fine too. I’ve felt your caring touch even before I was born. Surely, Phloen sister is a good person.”

“Alright. Take care of each other.”

“Yes!!”

“Thank you. Let’s go eat together at Nuna’s house, Ryan~”

“…Yes!!”

Phloen took the elf to her house.

If they are happy, it doesn’t matter.

I hope they will be well.

However, at that time, I didn’t know. In the future, it wasn’t the elf who would be eaten.

Thud~

I glanced back for a moment and turned around.

It’s time for Shayla to be hungry.

“It’s not to my liking.”

A soft blonde woman.

Letza Magnet.

She frowned as she looked at the elf village.

Until the disposal, she was praised as an S-class hunter in her own world. Born into a noble family, she was an elite among elites with power, status, and beauty.

But what about now?

Working on a farm in a place like this.

She didn’t like it.

But there was no choice if she didn’t want to die.

She was close to level 200, capable of handling the monsters in the Foggy Forest alone, but with more than one or two monsters, it was not enough to escape this vast foggy forest on her own.

Right now, she had no choice but to work under the elves.

That’s why.

“When people gather, we’ll form a party together and escape from this place.”

“I agree. My daughter and wife are waiting back home. I have to find a way to escape from here.”

“I have no intention of working here forever.”

She secretly incited the villagers.

When enough people gathered and shared the same goal, they would escape from the misty forest.

That was the plan.