Chapter 417 First Day of the ‘Grand Market’ (Part VII)
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
(Gargantua’s POV)
──Since we’re here, let’s take a walk.
The two of them indulged my whim and accompanied me.
We strolled through a district filled with newly constructed residences, lush with greenery, an expanded living space that retained the charm of Raetia.
It was a pleasant walk.
”Oh, that large building over there looks like a barracks.”
Hernando pointed ahead, and I could see a 3-story building in the distance.
Adjacent to it were several taverns and eateries, and a short distance away stood a smaller but sturdy-looking workshop, with smoke billowing from its chimney.
”Hmm, a nice-looking workshop.”
Esperanza peered through the workshop’s window, commenting softly.
The stone-built workshop had a familiar feel to it, reminiscent of the homes in our hometown.
Most buildings in the Balthoga settlement were constructed to withstand the powerful sea squalls.
This workshop, too, exuded that same sense of durability.
”The Blacksmith Freeberry’s Razia Village Branch. This must be the place. – Esperanza, stop peeking from there and let’s go inside.”
Hernando opened the door and stepped in without hesitation.
I followed, along with Esperanza.
Inside, there were 5 or 6 customers, who appeared to be adventurers.
Two men were leaning against the counter, trying to strike up a conversation with the dwarf girl behind it, but she seemed to be ignoring them.
Probably just another attempt at flirting, given her charming looks.
”Welcome! What brings you here today?”
The dwarf girl turned towards us, her braided hair swaying with the movement.
”Ah… Um…!”
”We’ve heard that this is the workshop of the renowned Toldo Freeberry. Is he here?”
Hernando, who defeated Esperanza, was about to move forward with energy, asked dwarf’s daughter.
Esperanza, with her love for young girls, almost got brushed off like those 2 adventurers. Well done, Hernando.
”If it’s grandpa you seek, he’s currently working in the back workshop. May I ask the nature of your business?”
The Dwarf girl gently moved the two men aside with her hands, clearing a path to the counter.
”Aw, come on…”
The men grumbled, clicking their tongues as they left.
”I told you to check out the weapons, not flirt with the shop girl… right?”
The Dwarf girl smiled at us.
(Haha… Well played, young lady, you beat Esperanza to it.)
I patted Esperanza’s shoulder and stepped up to the now-empty counter.
”We are Oni-kin from the Far East, Balthoga. I am Gargantua, the chieftain of our clan, Gargantua Barurasa Antia.”
”Hernando Estevan Barrera, also an Oni-kin.”
”I am Esperanza Jourquet Flores.”
Hernando introduced himself confidently, while Esperanza seemed a bit downcast.
”A pleasure to meet you. I’m Meluda Freeberry.”
The Dwarf girl tilted her head and smiled.
”We’ve heard of your exceptional skills, and we’d like Mr. Toldo to take care of these weapons.”
I placed my tachi and the great naginata I was holding on the counter.
”Let me take a look.”
Meluda, the Dwarf girl, drew the tachi from its sheath first, holding the blade upwards and examining it intently.
(Hmm, she has a keen eye.)
She was most likely Mr. Toldo’s granddaughter, and her skill as a blacksmith was evident from the way she handled and scrutinized the blade.
”This is quite a masterpiece…”
”It’s a tachi forged by the first Kuniyasu. And this great naginata too, they are treasures of our clan.”
”The first Kuniyasu, you say?!”
A loud voice came from behind the door at the back of the counter, followed by the door swinging open to reveal an elderly Dwarf with a characteristic beard.
”Old man, do you know?”
”Is there any blacksmith who doesn’t know about this? If it’s the first Kuniyasu you’re referring to, then he’s the legendary master swordsmith who perfected the art of forging katana.”
The old dwarf received the tachi from his granddaughter, examining the blade with the same critical eye.
Satisfied, he sheathed the tachi.
”It has an elegance that Kansenmaru and Kaenmaru lack. Truly a masterpiece from the first generation.”
He then picked up a great naginata from the counter, carefully inspecting the blade from the cutting edge to the tip and then tracing the spine with his finger.
”It’s made of tamahagane, well-maintained. Just like the tachi, even though it’s not made of Hihi’irokane, the magical power emanating from it is extraordinary…”
”There’s no magic imbued in it, but my swordsmanship tends to attract such phenomena. I suspect it’s a remnant of that magical power.”
”Hmm… Apologies for the late introduction. I am Toldo.”
Putting great naginata on the counter and holding out his right hand.
I grabbed that hand back.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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