Chapter 27 Encounters That Stir the Wind
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Sorry, I’m Tatia. I’m a knight trainee.”
”Hey, sorry to interrupt your introduction, but if you’re looking for the city’s top Crafter, go see the City Mayor.”
”You don’t seem like the type to listen, Tatara.”
The knight trainee, Tatia, puffed out her chest and introduced herself boldly. Honestly, the city’s top Crafter is unquestionably the City Mayor, so she should head there. Even as a trainee, a knight should at least be able to show her face, right?
”Our squad’s going to participate in the ceremony! We need armor that can withstand battle and look beautiful!”
”I’m not listening to you, and this one isn’t either.”
”Sorry, Tatara, I’m not really good with this person.”
Ethelena dislikes people who won’t listen. She isn’t bothered by fools or by those skilled at keeping distance, but this Tatia seems entirely outside her comfort zone. Honestly, I feel the same. Treating her like a fellow knight, like Calmys-san, isn’t going to work.
”So! I want to commission a work from the city’s top Crafter—YOU!”
”I refuse.”
”Wonderful! I’m so glad you accepted!”
”No—I said I refuse!”
Ethelena reached for a magical tool to summon assistance. In that instant, the door burst open violently, and a dark figure lunged toward Tatia’s back. The next moment, with a heavy crash, something collided with Tatia’s head, and she hit the floor face-first.
The dark figure was Rogas—a tall, imposing man in black armor with red hair.
<p class=”roar”>”You foolish girl! What are you doing causing trouble for others!?”</p>
Ethelena shrank back at the unheard-of roar, and I was stunned. Even during the plaza destruction incident, he never shouted like that… he’s human after all.
”Boy, I’m truly sorry.”
”No need to apologize… wait, who is this?”
Rogas looked unusually unsettled, a side I had never seen before.
”Ugh… what to say…”
His hesitation was rare. Could he be family? I only know Rogas as a friend of my father, and as an Explorer with a team including Daruma, venturing deep into the Dungeon. I know his first name but not his family name. I never cared much—it wasn’t relevant.
”Ouch… oh! Father, why are you here!?”
”Because I knew you’d get troubled by this girl, idiot!”
Tatia scrambled upright, clearly shocked, while Rogas glared at her with fury. Trouble me?
”Rogas, I have a question.”
”What is it, boy? I need to lecture this one.”
”Well, this Tatia said she came to me looking for the city’s top Crafter. Why?”
Rogas froze, eyes narrowing as if rusty machinery were groaning.
”Didn’t I tell you? The most promising young Crafter in Whirlwind is Tatara Julon-dono!”
”That doesn’t mean I am right now!”
”Gah!?”
Rogas’s full-powered right straight hit Tatia’s side of the face. Is she okay? His Physical Attack is easily over 50.
”Boy, don’t worry. Her Physical Defense is over 40, and HP over 300. Even after that, it’s barely ten percent damage.”
”Seriously…”
Even unarmored, her defense surpasses mine. A knight trainee, presumably low level… is she a born tank?
”Oh, Father… you could hit harder if you wanted.”
”Why did you end up like this…?”
Tatia’s calm boldness seems to give Rogas a headache. I don’t want to learn that side of her!
”Hey, Tatara… are these two parent and child?”
”Hard to say. Their facial features aren’t that similar…”
Rogas exudes an almost tangible dandyism, while Tatia’s face is cute and almond-shaped eyes, slightly low nose, large mouth with a thicker lower lip. Her sharp jawline changes her expression drastically when serious. Still, she doesn’t resemble Rogas.
”So, can we explain why I was called the city’s top Crafter?”
”Tatara, I said not yet, didn’t I? It’s an expectation for the future, so relax.”
The story isn’t moving, so I’ll clarify the details with Rogas. Ethelena tries to correct, but I still don’t understand why I’d be called the city’s top Crafter—that role should be for the original protagonist.
”Ha… boy, can I explain this upstairs?”
”…Fine. Ethelena, show them to the living room. I’ll handle closing the shop.”
”Okay. I’ll prepare tea and snacks.”
”Thanks. Follow Ethelena, both of you.”
Leaving Rogas and Tatia to Ethelena, I finish closing the shop. The magical cash register makes auditing easy—truly a genius’s work. Coins go into an Orichalcum safe, warded with my defensive spells and fixed in space with a Spell Formula, impossible to remove even by a Demon Lord.
Rushing to the living room, I see Rogas sipping tea, Ethelena flustered, and Tatia collapsed on the floor.
”…Seriously, what happened?”
Seated with Tatia unmoving, Ethelena pours tea. The citrus aroma, acidity, and subtle sweetness fill my mouth, and I feel proud of my wife for picking tea that relieves fatigue.
”So… why did this humanoid Orichalcum Golem call me the city’s top Crafter, Rogas?”
”Humanoid Orichalcum Golem…”
”Fitting description. I once told it about a promising young Crafter. Without favoritism, I believe the next Chief Crafter could only be you, boy. That’s why I told it.”
”Next Chief Crafter? That’s impossible.”
”No one else could do it. Your crafting is unparalleled in the city.”
Why do Rogas and the City Mayor overestimate me? I value techniques anyone can inherit over one-off inventions. One-generation-only skills feel meaningless and lonely.
”Ha… let’s set aside next Chief Crafter. Next, what’s your relationship with this girl?”
”…Would you accept ‘daughter’?”
”Fine, I’ll accept that to avoid being tricked.”
Rogas hesitates, exhales, drinks tea, and looks me straight in the eyes.
”What I’m about to say is secret. Can you swear?”
”I can. Ethelena?”
”Just keep the secret. I will.”
Hearing our answers, Rogas sets his expression with resolve.
”This girl’s real name is Orsaia. She’s the illegitimate child of a certain noble. No inheritance rights, but the blood she carries is… troublesome.”
”I regret hearing that.”
”Calm down, Ethelena. She’s just a noble’s illegitimate child. Not a royal; no disaster will fall on us.”
”…Rogas, when you said noble, it’s not a Duke, right? No royal blood?”
”…”
”Please, deny it!?”
The troublesome bloodline isn’t just troublesome—it’s practically a curse. In this world, even the royal family carries the blood of gods who once walked the earth or the sealed lineage of Demon Lords. Pure hellish potential, basically.
”They were sent to this city because their origins were unknown. Basic education aside, for higher education they attended the central knight academy,” Rogas explained.
”Get a knight title, become a one-generation noble, or die gloriously on the battlefield… Nobles really have no other options?”
Ethelena had her own bad experiences with nobles who seized her family home, so her impression of them wasn’t exactly favorable.
”So why did this cursed Tatia come to me asking for armor?”
”Right, that was the trigger.”
Despite the headache forming in my mind, I tried to piece together the chain of misfortune that brought Tatia to us. Something about a festival, though I’d never heard of any grand event in Whirlwind.
”Soon, a delegation from the capital will arrive for inspection.”
”Oh?”
”Hey, isn’t this classified…”
”They’ll be welcomed by a ceremony held by the knight academy. Trainees, of course, don’t have official armor yet, so they need to prepare their own equipment.”
”Then couldn’t they just order standard knight armor or Full Armor? Performance is uniform across the city’s stores… wait.”
I realized ordering from me had almost no practical advantage. For my shop to matter, I’d have to use cutting-edge tech like Demonsteel. But Demonsteel is inferior to Mithril or Orichalcum. Would Tatia’s noble bloodline provide funds to get my armor instead of the top-tier metals?
”…Tatia’s family doesn’t even acknowledge her existence.”
”Boy, what’s up?”
I spoke aloud as if completing a puzzle, trying to reason why Tatia came to me.
”Tatia is a student at the knight academy, expected to excel in combat and possibly command. Even while enrolled, she receives a stipend…”
”Tatara?”
Calling it a knight academy sounds distant and fantastical, but it’s basically like a military academy for future officers, with a salary provided by the state as a special privilege. If she can only afford high-quality armor within her stipend, does she go to the crafter with the best skills in her age group?
Crafters come in all ranks—some are scions of noble houses, some inherit family styles, and some, like me, appear suddenly without history, a spontaneous anomaly.
”Tatia is an illegitimate child without support in school. That counts as a serious disadvantage.”
If children from non-heir noble lines clash at school, they might fight using branded items from famous crafters. If Tatia can’t afford that, perhaps her guardian—Rogas—sought out a promising young crafter like me.
”So, she couldn’t buy high-brand noble equipment and compromised by coming to my shop. Makes sense.”
”Boy, why such low self-esteem?”
Even if I say that, aren’t nobles inherently obsessed with appearances?
”Ouch… oh! Crafter Julon, you’re willing to make my armor!”
The noisy interruption made Rogas clutch his head in timing with Tatia. Why didn’t she listen earlier? Seriously, stop charging forward like an Orc.
”I’ll make it, but explain why you chose me properly.”
”Really? You’ll do it? Thank you, right away!”
”Listen, you wild girl!”
Do I even have to treat her as a customer? Should I call Calmys-san through Ethelena… or have Rogas take her home?
”…Tatia, enough. My patience is at its limit.”
In that instant, a fierce pressure, neither anger nor killing intent but a mix, radiated from Rogas. He was seriously fed up, but he couldn’t let harm come to the child of a now-deceased friend.
”But, Father!”
”Silence. If you want cooperation, listen to them. My words come second, third—you’ve been arrogant since when?”
The sheer force from Rogas was staggering. He’s ranked among the top five explorers in the city, according to a fool’s previous remark—and I can’t deny it.
”…Have you calmed down enough to listen, Tatia?”
”…Yes. I apologize for disregarding your will.”
Finally, the moment to actually talk arrived. I needed to understand the situation.
”Tatia… I understand there’s a big event soon, and that’s why armor is needed.”
”Correct.”
”But why me? I’m, frankly, still a half-trained student. What can my armor do?”
”…Half-trained?”
”Yes, the city judges based on academy graduation.”
”I see… but Father said you’re the top young Crafter?”
”‘Top young,’ yes. I only became the record-holder for patents before graduation. Nothing special.”
”Record-holder? Before graduating!?”
”Got my first patent in elementary division—nothing extraordinary.”
”That’s insane! Father, isn’t it?”
”Frankly, yes, it’s abnormal.”
”Tatara, notice your own abnormality a bit more.”
”My allies (Ethelena) just vanished suddenly…”
Betrayed by both Rogas and Ethelena—whose side are you on?
”I can craft with iron, steel, and Demonsteel. But only for sale.”
”For sale only? I’ve never heard of Demonsteel.”
”It’s a failed experiment from my elementary division. Twice as strong as iron, a pseudo-Magic Metal.”
”Father, isn’t that… odd?”
”Your standards are odd, boy.”
”I’ll end up crying.”
Tatia’s reactions poke at Rogas, and he approves with a grimace. Is this fun for them?
”And, sales are limited because the merchant guild and City Mayor forbid me from selling Mithril or Orichalcum.”
”Why?”
”Selling Mithril or Orichalcum alongside Demonsteel would steal customers from other stores.”
”…You’re human, right?”
”Without doubt, human. Anything wrong?”
”…Father?”
”Boy is certainly human, though suspicious in other ways.”
”Can I cry?”
Half of this feels like bullying. I hold back tears because I don’t want Ethelena to see me lose composure.
”So Mithril and Orichalcum aren’t available?”
”Yes, only material-provided orders are allowed. Nothing pre-made.”
”You can still make it, right?”
”Yeah. It’s just metal—what’s difficult about it?”
”Father.”
”See? This is the next Chief Crafter.”
”Still dragging that topic?”
Metals are metals; differences with iron and steel are minor—different elements, same characteristics. Change approach slightly, problem solved.
”Boy, a question?”
”What is it, Rogas-san?”
”Do you work on Magic Metal enhancements?”
”Ha, what are you talking about?”
”Ah… right. You’ve just not had enough materials yet.”
”Of course. No way I wouldn’t.”
With Ethelena’s help, Mithril could progress more, but for now, I’m taking it slow. Also, current Mana Stones aren’t powerful enough—large ones or Soul Core-class materials will likely be necessary.
Tatia’s arrival prompted memories of a previous tea talk with the City Mayor, where I nearly spat out my drink laughing—and Calmys-san ended up soaked. The liquid streaming from his eyes? Not tears, just tea.
”…Father, did I make the wrong choice?”
”Yeah, you did. Even getting knight armor might be a long shot.”
”Eek!”
Tatia, relying on me, seemed genuinely startled—really, it’s about time.
”Alright, I don’t mind taking the commission,” Rogas said.
”Um… well…”
”However, the merchant guild rules state you must first request iron equipment before anything else.”
”That’s the first I’ve heard of that.”
”You wouldn’t learn that at the knight academy, but it’s a common rule in Whirlwind. Every shop enforces it.”
”Father… I see.”
The merchant guild’s rules are non-negotiable. Break them and risk suspension—no tears wanted.
”If you manage to get even one iron ingot from the Dungeon, I’ll craft a weapon first. Armor comes later, and you can gather the materials with Rogas-san.”
This is the bare minimum compromise. If she can withstand Rogas’s punches, she’ll survive the shallow Dungeon layers.
”And, Rogas, do you have these materials?”
”Hm? Let’s see…”
I handed him a note from my inventory listing materials for a particular accessory.
”This… these are deep-dungeon materials. I have some extras… what’s the plan?”
”A doping item so Tatia won’t be underestimated.”
”Disturbing, hey.”
Rogas looked taken aback. Still, starting young ensures better results. He handed me the listed materials from his own inventory. The quantity was sufficient; we could make it.
”And Tatia, gather what’s needed for the armor.”
I handed her a note with the listed materials. She winced after seeing it.
”Iron and steel are fine, but what’s with all these Mana Stones?”
”You came to me—this isn’t just ordinary armor, right?”
I listed the stones needed to convert the armor into Magic Metal. Being full plate, iron and steel alone require vast amounts, so these were added.
”Good, this will ensure she isn’t underestimated. Measurements can come later.”
”Huh? Measurements?”
”Of course, it’s custom-made.”
”Then let’s do it right away!”
”Wait—didn’t I say later!?”
Tatia rose slowly and began removing her knight attire on the spot.
”Hey, stop! Are you seriously trying to socially kill me, you wild girl!?”
”Stop, idiot! Knight or not, don’t just expose yourself!!”
Rogas and I panicked as she continued undressing, ignoring our shouts. Her chest, compressed under a plain bra and stiff garments, revealed a surprisingly ample figure—not as extreme as Ethelena, but still large.
Her knight-trained body was taut, shoulders, arms, and abs sculpted with striking definition.
And then I noticed the most striking feature—
”…Wings?”
A pair of wings, hidden beneath her clothes, now fully extended. Their size was abnormal for being concealed. Colored like her hair, sharp and predatory.
”Impossible… half-Angel?”
Worse than a mere complication, this was a disaster: the blood of royalty mixed with Angelic lineage—a recipe for chaos.
She likely hid them while wearing her knight outfit, perhaps storing them in her body with Mana. Removing the clothes caused them to unfold… this is a secret fit for a grave.
”You… you! You idiot! Wild girl!!”
Rogas’s vocabulary collapsed completely. Understandable—the world still scrutinizes hybrids harshly. Only the Demon Lord-conquered kingdoms of past works allow for such comfort; otherwise, life would be stifling.
”Ah… so that’s the real reason.”
”Exactly! And since I’m the one having it made, I have to show it!!”
”…Tatara, we’ll talk later.”
”Yes.”
Ethelena ruled it an unavoidable, non-negotiable act. How did a happy morning turn into this?
”…Angel blood, high Physical Defense… right, Tatia?”
”Hm? Let’s see, measurements first…”
”Stop it! I want to know about Mana!!”
”Oh? My Mana is substantial—currently over 150!”
”I don’t know the level, but that is huge… Magic Attack?”
”Brace yourself: one!”
”Seriously? What a waste of potential.”
”Magic Defense is over 60!”
”You’re insane…”
Physical over 40, magical over 60—seriously, is she a golem? With low Magic Attack but abundant Mana, she resembles Ethelena in one way but is a physical elite.
”Switching tactics for crafting. Lend me that note for a moment.”
”Hm?”
Tatia handed it back with a question mark over her face. I quickly rewrote it and returned it.
Seeing the contents, her expression froze.
”Julon? The materials are nearly doubled, and there’s Mithril added too!”
Rogas hurried to check the note. Three ingots of Mithril—not much. The real challenge: 30kg of iron and 20kg of steel.
”Boy, what are you trying to make? Saying it’s Demonsteel isn’t enough.”
Rogas’s gaze was sharp—he worries about this girl under his care.
”Wasn’t enthusiastic, but fine. This will also serve as promotion for my shop.”
If we’re entangled in noble matters, I’ll profit. I might as well go big.
”This won’t be ordinary Full Armor. I’ll make Arcane Armor, the culmination of my research and development. And those wings? No one will ever deny them!”
Notes:
• Calmys – War God’s knight, Mayor’s guard chief, whip-master hiding as a swordswoman; sharp tongue, big-sister vibe to Tatara, grants him and Ethelena church protection.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply