A little while after I handed over the bracelet, the witch made a proposal.
"So, you want to make the 'Vambrace of the Silent Saint' stronger...?"
"Mhm. I was thinking it's got a bit of a fragile spot here and there."
Fragile. Hearing that, I couldn't help but agree — but was it really?
Narcissus. Alverd. Both of them were first-rank delvers.
The opponents were just that strong, weren't they?
But if she could make it stronger, I wanted to ask.
"Got it. I'll leave it to you."
I entrusted the Vambrace of the Silent Saint to the witch.
I was looking forward to seeing what would come of it.
Shiro was asleep, and Chaib and Munieka were both out.
So I decided to hand those over later and left the witch's house.
"Wait, wait, wait. Young Wof. You've left something behind."
"Left something behind?"
The witch smiled, leaned down a little, and pressed her lips lightly to my forehead — a kiss.
"Wha—!?"
"Fufu, fufu. Looks like you received it properly."
"Y-yes..."
I was red all the way to my ears.
A rematch with Alverd.
There was a sense of closure, for sure. Winning had felt satisfying, too.
Most of all, I felt like I'd gotten stronger than when I'd been training.
But the cost was steep.
Every knife except the dagaa was destroyed. Every single one.
I was pretty sure the Audience with the Knife Goddess had been twenty knives, so the remainder was... how many?
Either way, I was getting closer.
I had just over 200,000 oro. But once I restocked on gear, it would all be gone, probably.
Oh, right—I'd been told to go to the Delvers' Guild.
On the way, I passed by the dungeon entrance.
The gatekeeper was watching sharply, and I could see delvers streaming in one after another.
The dungeon had finally been reopened.
A lot of delvers had been waiting for it. Gauro wasn't at the gate today. Maybe he had the day off.
I arrived at the Delvers' Guild.
Same impressive three-story building as always.
I walked in and got lost. I had no idea where to go.
After wandering around for a bit, I spotted the Consultation Desk reception counter.
"Excuse me."
"Welcome! How can I help you?"
A fluffy, golden-haired receptionist with sheep horns smiled warmly and asked.
Must be a sheep-person.
"So, at the 'Great Oberrowns,'
I was a
follower—"
"A
follower?
What's your name?"
"Wof."
"Do you have a delver tag?"
"Yes. Here it is."
I take it out of my pouch and present it. Been a while since I've seen one of these.
"I'll hold onto it for you. Please wait just a moment."
"Okay."
I sit in a chair behind the counter and wait.
There's a laid-back atmosphere in the air.
Been a while since I've been somewhere like this.
"Sorry for the wait! Wof, sir. Rank V delver Wof, sir."
"Coming~"
I get called over, so I head to the counter.
"Your identity has been confirmed. Here's your tag back."
I'm handed back my tag.
"Here is
your reward as an
attendant. Please accept it."
With that, she places a small cloth bag on the counter. Oh, right — I guess I get a reward for this.
"Thanks."
That helps. I take it, thinking it'd be nice if it could at least cover some expenses.
"That's 806,400 oro. Please confirm the amount."
"80... thousand?!"
"Yes, that's correct."
I'm stunned by the sudden windfall.
200,000 a day? The bag holds eight large, ornate gold coins, six silver coins, and four copper coins.
These large, ornate gold coins are royal coins — 100,000 oro each.
"I've confirmed it... Come to think of it, I think I deposited some money before."
A bank account is automatically created when you get your tag made.
And I think I deposited some amount? Hmm, I don't really remember.
"Yes, we have a deposit system available. I'm sorry, but you'll need to visit the reception at the deposit desk for account-related matters."
"Understood."
I bow my head and head to the deposit desk as directed. There, I put 400,000 into my account.
After exchanging for smaller coins, I leave the Guild.
"War fund is set! First up, a knife."
A knife. Hmm. A knife... hmm.
What should I do? Up until now, I've been prioritizing durability to keep them from breaking.
But I'm starting to think that hasn't really worked.
Still, a knife is essential. A knife is the only weapon I've got.
But when they keep breaking one right after another... you just start expecting it to happen anyway.
"Well, if it isn't Wof."
"Why, it's Wof, isn't it."
"Yo... young man."
While I was mulling it over, voices called out to me all at once.
I turned around to find Pakira, Riv, and Luminas.
The up-and-coming, all-female Rank III delver party known as a team of beautiful girls: Torquetam.
And all three of them were, unusually, armed.
"Hello. Pakira. Riv. Luminas."
"Why, hello there."
"'Sup..."
"Ho there. Greetings. So then, Wof. What is it you're doing?"
Pakira flicked her long and short white tails and perked up her cat ears.
A beautiful cat-beastkin girl with light green hair streaked with white highlights.
Clad in a black robe with one eye hidden behind her hair. One of her blue cat eyes reflected my figure.
"Actually, I've been going back and forth on equipment. What about you, Pakira?"
"We just finished up a commission."
"Mhm... today too... complete... yay."
Expressionless, Riv made a V-sign with her fingers.
A beautiful girl with short, peach-white hair. Red eyes that gave her a drowsy look.
A black jacket with red lines running through it.
Underneath, she wore a space-tech mechanical bodysuit.
And tattered, jeans-like pants. That was her outfit.
Hanging at her hip was the Pleiades Blade. A sci-fi weapon.
"Also, we were looking for materials for Luminas's new equipment."
"Oh right, if I remember... it was a crystal, wasn't it?"
"A blue-green crystal."
The one who answered so crisply had long golden hair reaching her waist and pointed ears.
A beauty clad in distinctive white full-body armor. She carried a large round shield on her back.
"That's all there is for now."
"...Still... no results... bummer."
"Should we ask the witch?"
I felt like we'd said the same thing before.
Pakira and Luminas gave small wry smiles.
"Well, that's the thing..."
"I already heard about it, you know."
"Well... we ran into each other in the bath... so..."
"And?"
"He said he might remember hearing something about it, so I agreed to have him look into it."
"There's no answer yet, though."
"I see..."
I felt like I'd heard something about it before.
I'd assumed it was in some earth-type dungeon.
"So you're having trouble with your equipment."
"What kind of knife I should get. The thing is, all my knives got destroyed."
"...Boy... that knife too...?"
"That one, just the tip..."
Agaro's Custom Knife had its tip filed down into a curved arc shape.
Other than that, it was perfectly intact.
"Hmm... just the tip...?"
"Yes."
"......Then I might be able to fix it."
"Really?"
"Well... first, bring the actual thing here..."
"Got it."
"Hmm. A knife, then. Why not just use a sword at this point?"
"I... can't use a sword because of the cursed Relic."
"Oh my."
"My, my."
"...Whoa-oh."
There weren't even any clues to breaking the curse, let alone a solution.
Wait. Maybe Narcissus knew something?
I'd ask when I went to give him my thanks.
"Very well. Then shall we go to the shop together?"
"Is that really okay?"
"That's a good idea."
"Mmm... I'm free anyway..."
"You say that like it's nothing..."
"Riv, don't be like that. There are things you can't solve alone but can solve when people come together. Besides, I'd been thinking of getting a knife for self-defense for a while now."
"That's true. Keeping one on hand is a smart move."
"...The Pleiades Blade... also has... a sub-weapon... a knife..."
So it does.
Having them help me figure this out was a relief.
"I really appreciate this."
"Then, hmm. Let me guide you to our regular weapons and armor shop."
"Not Arifa's place?"
"No, it isn't."
"Hmm… a regular spot? Your go-to shop?"
"That one's an antique dealer, not a specialist. They do have finds, though."
A regular shop for Torquetam, then.
On the opposite side of the central aristocratic district from Arifa's place in Hydrangea.
That area was called the industrial quarter.
Workshops and factories for all manner of craftsmen lined the streets, and the smiths' row was there too.
Smoke billowed constantly from the chimneys, so it was also known as Smokestack Lane.
At the top of stone-paved slopes and stairways, brick buildings stood in rows.
Every single one of them was a smithy.
"The smiths' row?"
"Below there."
Descending from the smiths' row led to — more smiths' row.
At the far end sat a red-brick shop. The sign "Kikka's Armory Workshop" caught my eye.
This looks like the place.
Pakira and the others headed inside. I followed. A bronze cowbell clanged overhead.
"Come on in."
From behind the counter emerged a powerfully built dwarf.
He had a shaggy, snow-white beard and a large burn scar over his left eye.
"Mr. Varent?"
"Yeah, that's me. What's this? If it isn't the witch's boy apprentice."
Mr. Varent.
He's the blacksmith who helped the witch forge my "Quiet Saint's Gauntlet."
He's also known for his skill at restoring OOPArts.
"Why is Mr. Varent here?"
"Well, it's my daughter's shop."
"Your daughter?"
"Perfect timing. We haven't met before. Hey! Hey, Kikka! Kikka!"
"What is it, old man?"
From the back emerged a woman with messy black hair streaked with yellow highlights.