Chapter 26 Something Always Comes Up When We Run the Shop Together
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I’m tinkering with the shop’s layout, morning light spilling through the windows, while Ethelena handles breakfast prep. Gotta admit, it’s kinda nice—her humming in the kitchen, me rearranging swords like some fantasy interior designer.
I grab the new Goblin Killer we crafted, its blade gleaming with that satisfying heft. Cross it with the original to form an X-shape display—badass and eye-catching. Then I stock the counter’s showcase with fresh gear. Calmus-san’s words echo in my head: “Put out a signature weapon, kid.” Took me a while to commit, since no other shop carries Demonsteel stuff, but screw it—I’m doing it.
The showcase now boasts a single katana, its black blade glinting with a faint blue shimmer. Pure Demonsteel—^[Magical alloy, rare and tough.]—no frills, just raw power. A longsword that screams “don’t mess with me.”
Talked to the Merchant Guild, and they priced the blade alone at 70,000. With the sheath and handle? I’m aiming for 75,000. I slap a poster on the shop window: Demonsteel Equipment Orders Accepted!^[Custom crafting service.] If someone brings iron and a Mana Stone, I’ll take the job. Guild says I should charge at least 30,000 for the crafting fee—tried to push me to gouge more, but I’m keeping it low to light a fire under other crafters. Options like engravings? Extra charge, non-negotiable—Guild’s orders.
Mithril equipment’s a no-go for display, though. I’ve got the materials from my Explorer dives, but the City Mayor banned me from selling it. Guild’s cool with it—says if I, the only stable Demonsteel supplier in town, started selling Mithril too, it’d stir up trouble. Crafting orders are fine, though; Mayor and Guild both signed off. Oh, and Calmus-san’s Fiero? Mayor pointed at it and warned me not to make gear requiring new patents. Noted.
”Breakfast’s ready! Let’s eat!” Ethelena’s voice floats from the kitchen, soft but bright.
I finish wiping down the counter, the showcase sparkling. Her timing’s perfect—always is. It’s like we’re in sync^[Aun: intuitive harmony.], our internal clocks ticking as one. Makes me grin like an idiot. Am I a perv for loving this?
”Got it! Washing my hands—gimme a sec!” I call back.
As I pass her at the doorway, I steal a quick kiss on her cheek. Ethelena freezes, eyes wide, then touches the spot, her face melting into a dreamy smile. Damn, she’s cute.
”God, Tatara, you’re such an idiot,” she murmurs, her voice all soft and gooey.
I laugh. We’re probably that annoying couple everyone calls bakappuru^[Sappy lovebirds.], but if anyone mocks us, I’d just smirk and say, “Find someone you love enough to be this dumb.” No shame.
Ethelena’s breakfast is her usual: scrambled eggs and onion soup, straight from Lady Baral’s recipe book^[Noble mentor’s wife.]. She wasn’t great at it initially, but now? Pro-level. The eggs might have cheese or sliced sausage tossed in, and the soup sometimes gets potatoes or bacon. She calls it her Julon Special^[Family recipe twist.], maybe her bridal training or something. Once, when I overheard her say that, she turned beet-red and yelled at me. Pinned her down, got called “idiot” a million times—no regrets. She’s too adorable when she’s flustered.
”Helping with the shop today, right?” she asks, spooning eggs onto my plate.
”Yup, you said you’d pitch in yesterday,” I reply, digging in.
She pouts. “I wanted to help, but you wouldn’t let me.”
I snort. “Let a girl who freezes up when anyone gets close handle customers? Yeah, right.”
”Ugh… sorry,” she mumbles, eyes down.
Ethelena’s got a touch of social anxiety from her past. Took a while, but she’s getting better—as long as I’m nearby. So, I’m easing her into people-facing work. It’s not exactly “rehab,” but it’s a start.
”Don’t apologize,” I say, leaning closer. “I’m in this for the long haul, baggage and all.”
Her face lights up, a soft smile spreading. “Thanks, Tatara.”
That smile kills me. She’s too generous with it, especially around me. Wish she’d save it for when we’re alone—don’t need other guys seeing that glow.
I can’t help it. Before I know it, I’m kissing her again. Not a peck this time—deep, tongues tangling, my hands on her shoulders as she sits there, tilting her face up. She looks a little overwhelmed, and normally I’d hate that, but right now? It’s fuel.
I pull back for a breather. “Tastes like onion soup,” I tease.
She giggles, cheeks pink. “Straight after breakfast, huh? You’re such a perv, Tatara.”
”Perv’s a compliment when it’s you,” I shoot back, grinning.
She pouts, lips all cute and pointy, so I kiss her again—light this time, just a brush. Her voice turns playful, almost childish. “Pervert. Idiot. Hentai.“
”Hate me for it?” I ask, smirking.
”…Can’t hate you. Guess I’m a perv too,” she admits, her tone adorable.
Another kiss, and I tug her shirt up, revealing those curves. She’s a succubus^[Mythical seductress.], so her body’s basically male-fantasy fuel—perfectly shaped, no bra needed at home. Exploring’s a pain with those bouncing, she says, but otherwise? Free and flawless.
”You really love my boobs, huh?” she teases, catching me staring.
I laugh. “Always have, but you made me worse. Ethelena-only, though.”
”That’s so stupid,” she says, but she’s stroking my hair as I bury my face in her chest. She loves petting my head—wonder if she knows I’ve noticed.
My body’s screaming now, pants way too tight. Ethelena meets my eyes, reads my mind, and stands. She shimmies out of her shorts and panties, and I see the glisten on her thighs. Succubus perk: her body preps itself the second I want her^[Instinctive arousal trait.]. Gotta love that erogame physique.
I unzip, adjust, and my guy’s ready to go. Ethelena straddles me, sliding down, and we’re off. No time for a long session before opening, so I let her take the lead. When she moves on instinct, it’s intense—almost too much. Her succubus side kicks in, hips rocking like she’s possessed, and it’s a race to keep up. Her mix of shy embarrassment and raw desire? Freaking adorable. I’m not sharing how she looks right now—sue me for monopolizing.
We cling tight, kissing deep, moving together. It hits fast, and I hold her closer, letting go inside her. She marks my neck like always, and I stroke her head gently. We lock eyes, share a quick kiss, and burst out laughing. This bakappuru life? I wouldn’t trade it.
After a quick bath to wash off the sweat, we head to open the shop.
The shop didn’t really have a uniform, just thick, chick-yellow aprons with the store name, “forgeron,” stitched across the chest. Ethelena wore hers over a ribbed, off-shoulder sweater and a skirt—an outfit that could probably make any guy’s heart skip a beat—and the apron stretched awkwardly across her chest, though I didn’t mind the view one bit.
Flipping the sign outside, we officially opened for business.
The first customer was a flashy-looking adventurer, the same guy who’d ogled the steel sword before.
”Store owner! I want as many healing potions as you’ve got!”
”Certainly. I can provide 2,798 right now.”
”Even more than before!? Uh, sorry, I’ll just take fifty.”
”That will be 7,500 for fifty at 150 each. You could afford a regular steel sword for that, just saying.”
”Oh, that’s fine. Thank you.”
He left, casting a long look at the display sword. He still didn’t quite grasp the value of weaponry—buying fifty healing potions instead of upgrading his gear—but I kept that thought to myself.
Next up was the idiot, spotting Ethelena and freezing for a second. As a regular, he could immediately notice the difference. He knew she struggled in front of people, so the surprise was understandable.
”Here for a crafting request?”
”Yeah, maintenance too… wait, you’re seriously handling Demonsteel?”
He approached the counter, eyes immediately locking onto the Demonsteel blade in the case. Apparently, the poster had caught his attention, but he’d doubted it until now.
”I’m telling you, the minimum price from the merchant guild is seventy thousand, so maybe don’t do it now.”
”Damn, that’s expensive… is making it that tough?”
”Not really. I don’t find it hard.”
”You really notice how out of the ordinary Tatara is, huh?”
”Yeah.”
”Seriously, you guys are brutal.”
It hurt to hear that from two close friends, but there it was.
”Anyway, hand over your weapon and I’ll take a look.”
”Ah, thanks.”
He handed me a steel sword from his inventory. Pulling it from its sheath, I could see it had been well cared for: no major bends, little monster grease, still in good shape.
”You’ve used it carefully. Some bones were probably forced through, but a skilled user has treated it well.”
”I really admire that about you, Tatara.”
”Judging someone by how they handle their weapon is kind of my thing, you know?”
”Stop showing off like newlyweds already.”
”We’re not married yet! Well… not yet.”
Ethelena was getting a little embarrassed, but honestly, I was enjoying being called a newlywed.
”So, what’ll it be? Maintenance will take ten minutes, creating equipment about an hour.”
”Even I can see this is crazy fast. No way normal people are that quick.”
”Calmus-san mentioned it too…”
”Calmus? You mean Knight Calmus!? Even someone like him calls Tatara abnormal…?”
”Well, I can handle it, so…”
”Let’s just take it slow today. Can you make a one-handed sword?”
”Hmm… just about, yeah. One-handed sword it is.”
The idiot paused, looking serious. He probably wanted to ask about making Demonsteel equipment.
”How much for a full set of Demonsteel gear?”
”Even with materials provided, each piece is thirty thousand. For you, that’s sword, torso, gauntlets, and greaves—four pieces.”
”Minimum of 120,000… that’s a lot.”
”And that’s not counting the iron ingots and Mana Stones you’ll need.”
”Yeah, better off grabbing Mithril from the 22nd floor.”
Ethelena seemed a little concerned at his slump, but she’d recover soon enough.
A bit later, the idiot returned, bought ten healing potions, and left. Total sales with maintenance and equipment fees: 12,500. Not bad.
Next in was a close-combat-type female explorer, her outfit revealing but still less striking than Ethelena’s presence.
”So, this Demonsteel equipment offer is real?”
”Yes, it is.”
She immediately focused on the Demonsteel gear in the case, kneeling slightly to get a closer look.
”This… really Demonsteel?”
”Yes, truly Demonsteel.”
”I saw a different color at another shop before…”
I raised an eyebrow. Another shop, huh?
Ethelena, dusting off nearby items, also glanced at the woman. She must have heard my previous complaints about Calmus-san, after all.
The City Mayor had been lamenting that no crafter could make Demonsteel.
Demonsteel rarely hit the market. Twice as strong as regular iron, this artificial Magic Metal could only be made by two crafters in all of Whirlwind. The recipe was public, but few could actually produce it. Otherwise, Ethelena and I wouldn’t be able to sell Mithril.
If another shop started carrying Demonsteel, the rumor mill would explode immediately. That alone proved top-tier skill. And if the City Mayor caught wind and inspected the shop, of course I’d get a report—the technology usage fees alone would trigger action.
”Excuse me, which store are you comparing to?”
”Oh? Curious about rival shops?”
”Yes, I’ve never heard of anywhere else selling Demonsteel equipment.”
I hadn’t even hinted that we were accepting Demonsteel orders today. Our location isn’t ideal for spreading rumors quickly, and the flashy adventurer hadn’t noticed. The idiot was taking the day off. Maybe someone passing by might ask for a price drop using the other shop as leverage, but the minimum price is fixed by the guild.
”Oh, you’re a bit out of the loop, aren’t you?”
”I try to keep up with the latest tech, but I don’t know about rival shops.”
”See? There’s your answer.”
”Exactly.”
Turns out, the other store was a scammer. Without me—the patent holder—producing Demonsteel, it wouldn’t hit the market, and the City Mayor and merchant guild would ensure prices couldn’t be undercut.
Even the City Mayor couldn’t produce something of the same quality as I could, yet this girl claimed she could do better. If she actually existed, I’d want to see her for myself.
I noticed Ethelena subtly reaching for a magical communication device—about ten minutes before a guard could sprint over, I guessed.
”Hmph, selling it for half price, are we? That’s bold.”
I decided to play along a little with this audacious little lady.
”Yes, that’s right.”
”Well then, make your purchase there. Sorry, but I can’t sell below this price.”
”Cheaper…?”
I couldn’t help but chuckle at the look on her face—like a pigeon struck by a bean cannon.
”What did you say?”
”I told you to buy that cheap, high-quality Demonsteel from another store.”
Her mouth went dry at my words. Trying to flip my Demonsteel blade into someone else’s hands? Not on my watch. And don’t start twitching that overly made-up face of yours—it’s not cute.
”…Hmph, are you serious? You’d turn away sales like this?”
”The store can survive even without you.”
”Do you know what happens if I spread rumors about this shop?”
”That’s fine. It’ll just advertise us as the only place handling Demonsteel. Now, please leave and spread those rumors.”
”This shop would collapse easily!”
”Oh? How so?”
”Customers would disappear, maybe some thugs would show up… and your little lady might end up surrounded and… you know!”
Her words made me seriously consider ending her life on the spot. Not that I would—someone even angrier showed up first.
”Oh? Attempting wrongs against those sworn to protect under the name of my god?”
Just three minutes after her message, the City Mayor had dispatched an envoy to verify the situation. Sending the so-called strongest in the city like a messenger? Unbelievably overpowered.
”What the hell, you!?”
”Is this for real?”
Couldn’t even tell she was wearing official Military Church gear? Did she even attend proper education?
”What? I have questions only you can answer, knight.”
”A mere knight, huh?!”
Ignoring the church affiliation, a knight is still a noble, even at the lowest rank. Most take pride in their achievements… and, oh man, Calmus-san is seriously pissed.
”Ah, disrespect charges added too.”
”Huh!? What are you—”
”Uh, better stop now…”
”Shut up!”
Ethelena tried to intervene but got yelled at, and flinched. I almost felt homicidal.
”Julon, hand over the record crystal.”
”Yes, here you go.”
”Huh? What’s this?”
”You’ll have to answer questions. Resistance is optional, if you can.”
Calmus-san demanded the record crystal, so I retrieved it from behind the counter and handed it over. Would the merchant guild get involved just to confirm? Poor them.
”Now then—”
”Hey, let go… let go!”
Ignoring the struggle, Calmus-san left, glancing at Ethelena and silently conveying something as she went.
”You alright, Ethelena?”
”Yeah. Just startled by the loud voice, that’s all.”
Mentally, she seemed fine, which was a relief. As for what Calmus-san mouthed, I’d leave it alone—if it’s important, she’d tell me later.
The next customer was a huge man, muscles bulging beneath light armor, head shaved, carrying a massive battle axe on his back.
”Well, little lady, out here in the shop? Fancy seeing you!”
”Long time no see.”
”Glad to see you’re doing well. And you too, kid!”
”Indeed, Daruma-san.”
One of the old man’s party members, Daruma Geek, looked intimidating but was thoughtful. He wore light armor due to sensitive skin and metal allergies.
”What brings you today?”
”A weapon, sort of.”
He handed over the battle axe on his back—its condition was terrible.
”How does a weapon get this wrecked? Even with your skill, Daruma-san?”
”Ran into an enhanced monster with Rogas. Just trying to block attacks with it, and this happened.”
The axe was steel, crafted by a dwarf master, originally giving around +9 stats. And now this.
”Being a heavy weapon, it’s not compatible with Mithril… even if you grab it, making it an axe is tricky.”
”Why not just coat the blade, leave the core?”
”…Only this shop can handle that kind of modification.”
Daruma-san buried his face in his hands at my words. Why that reaction, I had no idea.
”Anyway, can you fix it?”
”Not without messing up the balance. Better to take it back to the dwarf or get a new one.”
That’s why bringing weapons back to the shop you bought them from is standard—another shop might ruin its performance.
”Huh… no good weapons here, huh?”
Daruma-san noticed the Demonsteel weapons in the case, checked the price, and frowned in thought.
”Kid, are all these Demonsteel weapons the same price?”
”Yes, lowest price set by the guild, no negotiations.”
”Cheaper than Mithril, and still complaining?”
I saw it coming—someone naive as ever.
”Can you make an axe with this?”
”Sure. If you have no special requests, it’ll match the one on the wall.”
I pointed to the axe on display. Daruma-san picked it up, swung a few times, then returned it.
”Can you make it heavier?”
”To match the old one, you’d need to bring materials. Iron ingots and Mana Stones, right?”
”Yes. Nine ingots for the weight, nine small Mana Stones or one medium, either works.”
The axes I used in the past weren’t even three kilos—why is this close to ten?
”I’ll discuss with Rogas. Can you take it?”
”Material-borne fee is thirty thousand. If that’s okay, we can make the whole thing Demonsteel.”
”Yes, and I’ll handle the handle modifications myself.”
Daruma-san left after exchanging greetings. Seems like Demonsteel has decent demand—heavier than steel, cheaper than Mithril.
Time passed, and just as we were about to close, the door burst open with a loud crash.
A girl around our age, breathing hard, stood at the entrance.
Her hair was a mix of red and gold, clothes decent quality but poorly sewn, and a rapier hung at her waist. She took a deep breath, lifted her face, and her blue eyes—like the clear sky—met mine.
”Excuse me! I heard the city’s top crafter is here!?”
”Go to the City Mayor.”
She shouted at us, voice huge and ridiculous.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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