More Money Than We Could Ever Need
"Fwaaah~... I'm stuffed."
The table was covered with empty plates.
Lufen and I had prepared a ridiculous amount of food, and she'd polished off every last bite.
Well, she was huge. It made sense she'd eat on a completely different level.
"I haven't had any commissions lately... you really saved me. Thank you very much."
Maybe she'd gotten used to us a little, because the nervous fidgeting from before had all but disappeared.
Thanks to that, we could actually hold a normal conversation now.
"You eat this much, your food expenses must be insane."
"Hey. Tact."
Thunk.
Lufen smacked me with the soup ladle. That actually hurt.
Reiba fidgeted, clasping her hands together between her knees as she lowered her blushing face.
"I-It's embarrassing to admit... but my food alone costs about one gold coin a month..."
"Ah, it's okay, Reiba-san. You don't have to be that honest."
"Eep..."
She hung her head again.
Still, one gold coin a month just for food? That was way too much. But for us, it worked out perfectly.
A master craftsman with no money and no work was sitting right in front of us. There was no way she'd refuse.
Lufen must've been thinking the same thing, because her eyes lit up as she leaned forward.
"Reiba-san, I'd like to formally ask you to take on a commission. Would that be alright?"
"Y-yes! I-I wanted work too, so I'd be happy to!"
Reiba clenched her fists, looking eager.
Alright. Perfect. Now we'd finally have the signature product our shop needed…
"Then I'll accept the commission... for one hundred gold coins."
...
I froze.
Lufen's smile stayed plastered on her face, but she stopped moving too.
That was a fortune. An absolutely absurd fortune.
Even someone as hopeless at business as me couldn't keep quiet.
"R-Reiba-san... don't you think that's a little expensive?"
"Eh!? I-I'm s-s-s-sorry! B-but forging fifty swords means... two gold coins per sword... s-so I don't think it's that expensive..."
I couldn't argue with that.
If anything, a master swordsmith forging legendary-quality blades for only two gold coins each was dirt cheap.
But we didn't have a hundred gold coins to spare.
Even if we sold the accessories from the mansion, we still hadn't found people who'd truly treasure them.
Besides, we hadn't even registered as merchants yet.
Trying to sell them now would only make us look suspicious.
"W-what do we do, Lufen...?"
She thought for only a moment before nodding.
Then she placed two gold coins and one piece of iron on the table.
"We'll prepare the rest of the money. For now, please forge us the finest sword you possibly can."
"U-understood! Leave it to me...!"
She snorted enthusiastically through her nose, full of determination.
Well... as long as she'd make it.
While Reiba busied herself with preparations, I quietly spoke to Lufen.
"Are you sure about this? A hundred gold coins... can we really come up with that much?"
"That depends on how hard we work from here on. More importantly, our immediate priority is registering as merchants. Worrying about things that come after that, when we haven't even taken the first step yet, is nonsense."
… She had a point.
Right now, the important thing was simply getting ourselves onto the starting line.
After taking the money and the iron, Reiba stood up and wrapped the black towel hanging from her belt around her head.
"T-then I'll begin immediately. Please come back in three days."
"Understood. We're counting on you."
Following Lufen's lead, I bowed as well.
Then Reiba picked up her massive hammer and slowly took several deep breaths.
Bzzz...
The atmosphere changed.
… At least, it felt like it did.
Her eyes sharpened. Every movement became precise, efficient, without a single wasted motion as she prepared her workspace.
W-What's this? Just moments ago she'd been timid and lacking confidence...
But the aura Reiba gave off now was the same as a true master.
I swallowed hard.
Reiba stopped moving and looked at us from beneath the black towel.
Her eyes were terrifyingly cold.
"From this point onward... this is a craftsman's domain. Please leave."
"... R-right! We're only in your way. E-excuse us, then. We're looking forward to it, Reiba-san!"
Lufen hurriedly grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the workshop.
A little while later, the sound of hammer striking iron echoed from inside. She'd started forging.
"Haaah... that surprised me. Some craftsmen completely change personalities when they're working, but Reiba-san's transformation is especially dramatic."
Lufen let out a breath, placing a hand on her chest.
So people like that really did exist.
"But with this, we've solved the problems of merchandise and money. Now all that's left is the shop. You said you'd found a good location, right? Where is it?"
"Huh? You've already found it yourself, Dyrel."
… What was she talking about?
I tilted my head in confusion.
Then she said something completely outrageous.
"That mansion. We're turning it into our shop."
Read Chapters 18-25 in Advance on Patreon
What do you think about this chapter?
