Chapter 36

Chapter 36

Five Days (3)

#36

“Aeu, refreshing! As expected people have to sleep well.”

Ilark stretched.

It was a part where the toughness of a dragonblood was revealed.

She only took a one-hour nap and got up, but the fatigue had completely cleared from the face.

“Hiiik.”

Kale hunched his shoulders.

The frightened gaze was fixed on the heavy chest.

Having become an attachment doll in Bran’s place he had to suffer from difficulty breathing while buried in the hot embrace until Ilark opened her eyes.

“Huek. I can’t even look straight···.”

“Tch tch. Think of it as a good experience.”

Bran comforted him.

Thanks to Kale sacrificing one body he could be tucked under a normal side.

In the middle of the conversation people’s shouts were being heard.

“Damn bastards. Move quickly quickly!”

“Aak! How the hell do you want me to meet the deadline!”

The three were heading to Bilmoris’s forge while crossing the Steel District.

The street full of artisans and workers was overflowing with passion as always.

He didn’t know if it was his imagination, but today the atmosphere seemed somehow more excited.

Bran asked.

“So Ilark. Where did you go for three days?”

“The weather today is really good. Iya, as expected I like the Steel District the most.”

“Hey.”

“Yes? What did you say?”

Ilark asked back.

The appearance of desperately avoiding his gaze was artificial to the point of being dumbfounding.

This kid absolutely should not be allowed to buy things alone.

“I noticed everything so just say the truth. You came back after fighting a dragon.”

“Huk.”

Ilark gasped.

Slowly turning to Bran she stammered and opened her mouth.

“H-how do you···.”

“The area around the wound is scorched. The cross section is rough for being cut with a blade. Above all the healing is slow.”

“Aak! Don’t touch!”

When Bran lightly touched the wound Ilark shuddered.

Judging from experience it was definitely a dragon.

Among them it was a characteristic of a wound received from a Fire Dragon or Thunder Dragon.

And, there was only one dragon residing within a distance Ilark could go and return in three days.

“Did you have a scuffle among family?”

“Haaaa··· completely caught. I should have at least wrapped a bandage.”

Because it was an attire no different from wearing only underwear it was a limit that she could not cover the wounds.

Ilark nodded.

“Right. I had a big fight with Alto and came.”

“As expected.”

Alto Zarheim.

The eldest son of the great Fire Dragon Zarheim and Ilark’s half older brother.

Unlike her both parents were dragons so he was pureblood among pureblood.

“Why did you fight?”

“I told him to hand over a treasure usable when fighting. Right away a method that could help only this came to mind. There was no request that satisfied me in the mercenary guild.”

“···You.”

“You guys are working so hard so I can’t only play right?”

Ilark smiled awkwardly.

At the too commendable action Bran ended up letting out a hollow laugh himself.

He had only been thinking of it as the level of a sulky high school girl’s runaway.

“Well done Ilark. So did you win?”

“No. I got unilaterally beaten.”

“As expected.”

It was a natural result to the point even Ilark said it calmly.

Because dragons were treated as one of the most powerful races in Return Road.

No matter how tough a dragonblood is the pure specs never reach a pureblood.

And telling a dragon to hand over a treasure was practically an act no different from declaring that one of us two dies.

“I was dirty really. I wasn’t going to say this because it’s embarrassing, but actually I couldn’t even meet Alto.”

“Eh? Then who did you get those wounds from?”

“That is···.”

Ilark chewed her lower lip.

A somewhat frightened voice leaked from between her lips.

“···Our house’s attendant.”

“Attendant?”

“Precisely the head attendant. That kid is also a pureblood. I don’t know why he’s cleaning under Alto.”

It was a setting he was hearing for the first time.

He didn’t know about Zarheim but he had never been to Alto’s lair.

However it seemed certain that he was a considerable strong person.

Even if pureblood for an attendant to thrash Ilark.

“Still it was a big help. Definitely rather than facing hundreds of mediocre guys colliding and losing with a guy stronger than me learns more. The mind also became much more at ease.”

“The mind became at ease.”

“Yes. I realized that if I live like this I’ll live pressed by the shadow of the old man and Alto for a lifetime. To become a better existence there has to be change.”

Ilark continued while bumping both fists with a thud thud.

“For now I’m going to start by listening to your words Bran.”

“Excellent mindset. I think tears will come.”

Not a joke really.

The appearance of throwing a tantrum like a goldfish saying why does a dragon use a weapon seems like yesterday.

Ilark cackled.

“Fussy. So did you do mana cultivation well?”

“I’m just normal, this guy was a genius. Show that once Kale.”

“If that··· ah.”

Kale was a friend with quick sense.

The moment he slightly pulled out his index finger a mana sphere the size of an apricot floated up.

Ilark’s eyes widened as if they would pop out.

“My god, you know how to manifest?!”

“I said he’s a genius.”

“Amazing. Really amazing. I’m trying not to feel wronged that I was left out.”

The talent of a mage was sufficiently surprising even in the eyes of a dragonblood.

Bran stroked Kale’s head as if petting a large dog.

“You heard Kale. Have confidence.”

“Th-that much is not··· ehehe···.”

Kale scratched his cheek.

The appearance of liking while pretending not to was exactly a kid.

While sharing this and that conversation they arrived at the Song of Iron forge at some point.

The sound of the Dragon Heart Furnace pulsing was ringing out from inside the giant crater.

“Bilmoris. We came.”

Knock knock. Bran knocked.

Whether because Endurance and Mental Power increased it was not as hard as the first time.

Ilark was also immune to heat so only Kale drank the heat resistance potion.

A moment later. The door opened and Bilmoris revealed himself.

“······You came. I was waiting.”

“What. Why is your appearance like that?”

Bran flinched.

Bilmoris met after four days looked like a person who just escaped from some prisoner camp.

Especially the blood stains stuck thickly on the clothes gave that impression.

He knew it was not his blood.

A cracked voice leaked from between Bilmoris’s lips.

“Aah··· sorry. Because it was an extremely picky material I worked overnight. If my memory is not wrong today is the fourth day.”

“Amazing. Then you haven’t slept since the last time I saw you?”

“Does it become like that? Hehehe··· for now please follow.”

Even the laughter had no strength.

Bran followed behind while tense so that he could catch his head even if he fainted anytime.

Seeing the interior of the remodeled forge Kale opened his mouth and admired.

“Uwaaa···! It feels like a completely different place from when I first saw it!”

“Hehe, Lord Leodorn made a large investment. Finishing the work in four days was also largely thanks to the facilities being improved.”

Definitely changed.

The Song of Iron forge had become a much more refined and expert-like space than the past.

Of course repairing the parts broken while being attacked by assailants, even large-scale expansion work!

“What is this?”

“Aah, that is a precision processor called the Tongue of Pendrev. Equipment transported from the capital, definitely it could engrave inscriptions more precisely than me carving by hand.”

Even advanced magic engineering equipment that can be seen in the renowned forges of the capital were prepared.

Seeing the smoothed ceiling Ilark scratched the back of her head.

“···The place I broke is also all fixed. Sorry then.”

“What sorry! All this luxury was fortune that could be enjoyed because you guys were there, rather I should express gratitude. I’m thinking of selecting one apprentice soon.”

Bilmoris smiled.

It was a scene where the guilt for making him suffer hardships not in his fate was subsiding.

He guided Bran’s group to a newly built room.

Red silk was spread on a wide flat bed wide enough for even two Ilarks to lie down.

The outline presumed to be equipment was clearly standing out over the silk.

“Then, I’ll introduce.”

Bilmoris pulled the silk.

Flutter! Along with a sound like a bird flapping its wings the hidden equipment was revealed.

Kale and Ilark’s eyes widened round.

“Uwa. Cool···!”

“Huu, the color is amazing?”

The equipment was a total of four.

Shoes, gloves, pauldron covering one shoulder, cloak made of fur.

All were items made from the hide of Zerban who had transformed into an ancient beast.

“Because it was an extremely picky material I had a bit of trouble. If not for the experience of handling ancient species before I wouldn’t have even dared. I’m only sorry that I couldn’t use the hide more efficiently.”

Bilmoris let out a sigh.

Except for the cloak the rest were prepared one each by type.

Definitely thinking of Zerban’s size it was not a large amount, but Bran had not a bit of complaint.

“No Bilmoris. More than sufficient.”

Rather he was only thankful.

It was a much more abundant reward than expected.

Bran could not hold back the rising corner of his mouth and burst into laughter.

‘Jackpot. Since the game-like production disappeared this kind of thing becomes possible.’

Originally in the game only one among those could be made.

If he catches the Beastification Zerban the hidden piece item “Hide of the Red Wolf” drops, and the structure of consuming that to craft the desired equipment.

The reason so much equipment could come out is probably thanks to directly skinning the hide.

“Then I’ll introduce from the personal equipment. Lord Bran’s items are the shoes and gloves.”

“Aha. Good.”

Fortunately the armor of the parts that were exactly needed was safely produced.

Picking up the leather gloves Bran whistled.

First the appearance is to his liking.

Although there were no particular decorations, the unique dignity coming from the toughness of the material could not be hidden.

It was the moment he wore the gloves with Bilmoris’s help.

『Equipped gloves made with the hidden item “Hide of the Red Wolf”!』

『While wearing the gloves the following skills are acquired.』

The reason he caught the Iron Blood Twin Shadows while shitting blood and guts appeared as a translucent window.

『Sense Guidance: Strength increases. The accuracy of bare-handed or weapon close-range attacks greatly increases.』

『Beast’s Tenacity: Every time you repeatedly attack the same position the damage increases.』

Both were passive skills maintained just by wearing the gloves.

At the effect matching the game Bran inwardly called for joy.

As expected performance fitting a hidden piece!

Just as the notification disappeared the sensation of Strength increasing was clearly felt.

“Do you like it?”

“The best.”

It was sincere.

Especially Beast’s Tenacity was an S-rank passive skill that can be used in most battles.

One that can be sucked to the bone until obtaining a higher compatibility skill later.

Bilmoris continued.

“Hehe, glad you like it. Then shall we move right to the shoes?”

“No. Please introduce Ilark’s equipment first before me. If possible that one first.”

“Aha. That one you mean.”

Exchanging gazes with Bran Bilmoris made a meaningful smile.

Ilark pointed at herself with her finger.

“Me?”

“Yes. The most urgent one here is you. How much there is to tell in one day today.”

“Ugh. That’s true.”

“Hehe, personally I thought it was the climax of today so I was going to introduce it last··· if you say so then no choice.”

Saying that Bilmoris operated a nearby lever.

Along with the sound of gears turning the wall behind the flat bed began to slowly flip.

Just as Bran’s group was admiring the technical production.

Kkirik. Click!

As the wall completely flipped a giant double-bladed axe revealed itself.

“In my blacksmith life I’ve never made an item like this. This is exactly Lord Ilark’s weapon.”

“···This axe is mine?”

Ilark froze.

Kale was covering his mouth with both hands.

The unrealistically giant double-bladed axe looked more like construction equipment than a weapon.

The axe blade wider than Bran spreading his arms approached almost 2m.

Inscriptions engraved in the fairy language were engraved in various places on the axe blade.

“It is a weapon produced by Lord Bran’s request. Of course he covered all the costs, and even proposed the basic design.”

“W-why to this extent···?”

“Investment. I rate Lady Ilark very highly.”

Bran smiled.

As he said to Kale it was fact as is.

Ilark’s ears slightly reddened.

“Really. Keep calling Lady and acting crazy···.”

“Then Ilark. Let’s start normalization.”

Although time was limited so perfect improvement would be hard he had to do his best.

The ultimate goal was to change her position from an ambiguous dealer-tank to a perfect close-range burst dealer.

Especially the first stage heat operation needed to be accomplished unconditionally.

‘Regrettable that there is no time to accumulate practical experience. As for me I would be insufficient as an opponent.’

Just as he was about to say try gripping the axe for now.

Knock, knock.

A dignified knock sound rang out from beyond the front door.

“What. Is there someone you called besides us?”

The four turned their heads at the same time.

Bilmoris raised an eyebrow.

“No. There is nothing prearranged.”

“Tch, at an important time··· I’ll go out.”

Bran grumbled and headed to the front door.

Recently it seemed he was experiencing similar situations a lot.

Whatever guy it is if he crawled in this far the passion is certain.

When Bran flung the door open, a soft greeting rang out.

“Excuse me.”

“Eh.”

Bran’s eyes widened.

A person who perfectly deviated from the expectation that it would be a furry adventurer was standing.

A neat beauty who looked around early to mid 20s.

Eyes so thin that the pupils were not visible gave off a strange atmosphere.

However, what catches the gaze more was the attire that absolutely does not match the Steel District.

‘···Maid?’

She was wearing a so-called classic maid uniform.

A black skirt that comes down to the ankles.

A frilled apron was swaying in the hot wind.

Quite tall for a woman. About 175cm?

The woman politely bowed her head.

“Sorry for suddenly visiting. Because there is a person I am urgently looking for.”

“Looking for a person? Who is it?”

“It is a dragonblood girl named Ilark Zarheim. The smell clearly connected here. If you don’t mind could I enter for a moment?”

Bran lost his words and froze as is.

Because he was hit with a combo following the maid outfit.

Suddenly looking for Ilark? And what, a girl?

“Surely.”

Suddenly, a reptile’s tail swaying behind the woman’s waist came into Bran’s eyes.

Just as Bran who intuited her identity was about to say something.

“Fr-Freude?!”

From the mouth of Ilark who was glancing at the front door a voice close to a scream burst out.

The face of the woman called Freude brightened.

“Oh my. You were there.”

As the thin eyes slightly opened golden pupils appeared.

It was the moment Freude moved one step into the forge.

Pat!

Along with the sensation of a chill running down the spine, a red warning window rose before the eyes.

『Warning! The dragon’s intimidation presses you!』