Chapter 63 The Oni Speaks of the Blacksmith’s Eye
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”So then, Tatara-san, I don’t know about marriages or dowries, but… do you have anything nice to give us?”
”Mother… that’s really going too far, you know.”
Yohira said that with a slight frown. Well, it was true that in my previous life, it was an act that would be mocked as “greedy beggar”… Hmm.
”Um, about the dryer I gave Mother for Mother’s Day… would that be okay? The one I used on Yohira’s hair here before?”
”Oh, so that contraption was made for that reason?”
”Well, I already had something to dry with, but the mechanism that applies healing ointment to keep hair moist and glossy was something I made.”
”My, my… and you gave that to Mother?”
”Yes, she was delighted.”
Now, about this dryer… the City Mayor has filed a patent for it, and the mass production and sales rights are quite complicated. All I can do is allow the use of my patent for the cartridge loading and the mechanism that sprays a small amount of healing ointment in sync with the wind. The dryer itself will have to be manufactured by a company in Hizuru.
”Mother was pleased, then?”
”Yes, her hair, which had been damaged by daily Explorer life, became beautiful and she was happy.”
”Fufu, she was very happy, wasn’t she?”
”Yes, Mother smiled… and Father smiled seeing her. It was a very, very happy time.”
It’s rare that I don’t feel pain when I recall the days my parents were alive. Perhaps it’s because they are good memories?
Yohira was smiling looking at my face. Did something happy happen?
”Then, could I have one of those dryers?”
”Yes, that’s perfectly fine.”
”Speaking of which, why did you change the medicine when you used it on Yohira’s hair?”
”That’s simple. It’s because that’s the only medicine we have here that can heal demonkind like Yohira and the others. Normal healing ointment can’t overcome the demon race’s drug resistance.”
My wife… my mother-in-law is pondering my explanation.
”And that medicine you mentioned?”
”It’s a medicine blessed by one of the gods of healing worshipped here. We receive it as a donation from the church.”
”I see. So that’s why Yohira said it was precious.”
My mother-in-law seemed convinced. She probably felt it was wrong to give away something I received as a donation, so she didn’t ask me to share the healing medicine. And then──
”So, Tatara-san, you want to try forging a katana using true silver, hihi’irokane, and diamond ore?”
”Yes. From what I’ve researched, the katana is a weapon forged by folding and layering multiple metals. So, I thought, couldn’t I create a wonderful alloy by layering the Magic Metals available here?”
”That’s wonderful. I’d like you to teach that technique to the blacksmiths we send from our side.”
”I’ll teach it, but I don’t know if they can do it… My technique apparently lacks reproducibility.”
”If you stop there, wouldn’t that be a disgrace to the name of blacksmith?”
”I’m happy to hear you say that. There’s no one here who thinks like you do.”
”Oh? Even so, you won’t be staying here, will you? Tatara-san, you’re quite heartless.”
”I’ll accompany Yohira on her visits to her village, so please forgive me.”
”…They’re getting along awfully well.”
There’s a difference between a crafter and a blacksmith, but our conversation is really heating up. Hearing about each of my techniques, and the various questions and answers, is enjoyable. When I mentioned Fluid Mana Stones, she asked about their mana transmission efficiency, which was an eye-opener. If a Mana Reactor were filled with Fluid Mana Stones, the mana transmission efficiency could be far higher than using reinforced copper. Of course, it requires the utmost care in handling, but it’s worth trying.
Yohira, however, seemed displeased. Her sulky attitude was so cute that I couldn’t help letting go of her hand and pulling her into a hug.
Yohira was surprised, but relaxed and leaned into me. Her mother looked pleased.
”My, my… Tatara-san, you’re completely smitten with Yohira, aren’t you?”
”…Honestly, if Ethelena weren’t around, I would have confessed to her.”
”Oh? That’s unfortunate. But it’s precisely because of Ethelena that Yohira can be so happy now, isn’t it?”
”Yes, she’s my proud wife.”
”Fufu, thank you for the treat.”
My mother-in-law listened with a smile, not taking offense at my words. I always thought mothers would be unforgiving of men who neglected their daughters, but why? I was too scared to ask, but…
”Tatara-san, if you were to take a name here, what would you choose?”
”You mean a surname… ‘Kokaji’ perhaps?”
”Oh? I thought you’d adapt ‘Julon’ with local characters.”
”So did I. Is there a reason for that?” Yohira asked.
I explained the circumstances. It wasn’t particularly complicated.
”My surname, Julon, comes from the ancient word ‘Forl Julon,’ meaning ‘blacksmith’s house,’ which evolved over time.”
I found this origin while translating ancient languages at a city library long ago. It’s a rare surname nowadays, with only about 1,000 people worldwide. So, if I were to give it a Japanese-style name, I’d choose one that includes ‘blacksmith,’ hence ‘Kokaji.’
”It might be considered simple, but that’s how it is.”
”Well,” the matriarch said, “if you hold the ceremony here, it will be either Yohira Kokaji or Torakuma Tatara. So the surname is important, you see?”
”Then, if we were to marry here, it would be Yohira Julon.”
”Tatara, calm down…”
”If we have the ceremony here, it’s a white wedding kimono!”
”On our side, it’s a wedding dress!”
”Tatara, please calm down… you’re embarrassing me!”
”We’re having a cuteness contest right now, so don’t interrupt!”
”This is an important battle, Yohira—don’t stop us!”
”Both Tatara and Mother, calm down!!”
”…In the end, aren’t you and Okusama quite similar?”
”Master and Okusama are just starting to say ‘Ojou-sama is cute,’ the battle is yet to come, degozaru.”
What am I doing while important diplomacy is happening?
After a while, Yohira, who had calmed down, gently patted my shoulder. She must have been embarrassed, as her ears were red, and she was looking down.
”Um, sorry Yohira. I got too excited.”
”Yohira, lift your head. A daughter of the Torakuma family must not bow her head.”
”Is Okusama… a demon, degozaru?”
”Okusama was born a demon, wasn’t she?”
”No, I don’t think foolish fox meant it that way.”
Hinagiku-san is showing a lot of her natural airheadedness lately. Perhaps foolish fox had a hard time on her journey? I don’t get the feeling that foolish fox, living together with us, would mess up at immigration. Was the paperwork error actually Hinagiku-san, who swapped it to prevent foolish fox from being discovered and caused a commotion? I don’t know, but I’ll make foolish fox something she likes next time… though if she asks for inari sushi, I’m doomed.
”By the way, it doesn’t look like the discussion over there is ending anytime soon, degozaru?”
Foolish fox was looking towards where the City Mayor, the Treasurer, and the Head of Judiciary were engaged in a fierce battle with the Acting Head of Family.
It seems they were doing everything they could to increase the city’s profits, but I could see there was nothing I could do about it. No, what could I possibly do in that situation?
”Fufu, then shall I join the fray as well?”
”Ah, yes. Since it concerns politics, you can participate in the discussion.”
”…You completely forgot about that, didn’t you, Tatara-san?”
”No, I’m sorry, I just got carried away.”
I got so caught up talking about blacksmithing with her, even more so than with Yohira’s mother, that I forgot. Later, it shifted to how cute Yohira is. Is my mother-in-law the skilled blacksmith? No, she probably can’t be moved from her country.
”For now, I will incorporate the idea you mentioned earlier, Tatara-san.”
”…You mean the one about involving the central government?”
”Yes. A national project for the Torakuma family… it was a brilliant idea, Tatara-san.”
”Can you do it?”
”Of course.”
My mother-in-law answered immediately. Then, I’ll leave it to her.
”Please.”
”Yes. Then, I’ll be going.”
With that, my mother-in-law left her seat and walked towards the Acting Head of Family. The negotiations were likely to become even more contentious.
After we were out of the loop for a while, the negotiations seemed to have ended. The exchange rate was settled, documents were prepared, and the reparations for the two guards were decided to be in the form of curios, not the Hizuru sweets I had suggested earlier. If they took them to a pawn shop, they would fetch a considerable sum.
To my surprise, the patent fee for Mana Reactor production had increased to six billion. Apparently, my mother-in-law had proposed this amount, assuming my suggestion of splitting it with the central government, as a payment for the originally planned three billion with a “friend discount.” It also included an apology for the previous incident where they tried to get me to fire by gifting a home-use Mana Reactor and a cheaper Mana Reactor.
The City Mayor and the Acting Head of Family glared at me. It was understandable; it was bad form to have a subordinate convey an opinion that should have been presented by the top person. However, the Head of Judiciary was smiling at me for some reason.
Smile originally comes from a threat, a baring of teeth, but was that smile like that? I didn’t feel any pressure, though.
And then, the Treasurer was hunched over in a corner, clutching his stomach. For someone with such a stern appearance, this person is quite delicate and has low HP. When I asked foolish fox if she could share some stomach medicine, I was promised that we would go buy the ingredients together later, but I gave him one dose. He swallowed it without suspicion, and his stomach pain immediately subsided. He quickly revived and thanked me. When I patted foolish fox’s head and praised her, her tail wagged busily. She’s quite cute.
”By the way, I have something to tell you both.”
When both sides had a moment to breathe, I spoke up. City Mayor, please prepare yourself for another bombshell.
”Hmm, is it something important?”
”In a way, it concerns Yohira.”
”I see, what is it?”
I took a breath and answered.
”I taught Yohira how to use a certain Special Ability, ‘Appraisal.’”
”Hmm, a Special Ability ‘Appraisal’?”
”…Tatara-san, what exactly do you mean?”
The Acting Head of Family and my mother-in-law turned their attention to me—and someone else too. Perhaps the Head of Judiciary?
”To put it simply, ‘Appraisal’ removes the existing restraints and allows one to perceive phenomena on a deeper, conceptual level.”
”…Your explanation is clearer than before.”
City Mayor, don’t focus on that right now.
”…Tatara-san, what do you mean by restraints?”
”Let me ask you a question in return.”
”Yes, what is it?”
”Where does the information you can get with ‘Appraisal’ come from?”
”…I see.”
She understood that? Amazing, my mother-in-law.
”Kasumi, what does that mean?”
”…Tatara-san means the source of the information obtained through ‘Appraisal.’ It’s not from the user’s brain or memories, but from somewhere else… that’s the information obtained through ‘Appraisal,’ isn’t it?”
”Whether you call it truth, the world’s memory, or something else, I don’t know. But I can say for certain that it’s in contact with the world’s memory.”
”I see, skills are profound.”
The Acting Head of Family also seemed to understand ‘Appraisal,’ wearing a thoughtful expression. Then, my mother-in-law thought of the Equipment I made.
”…Yohira’s armor, it didn’t show any information when ‘Appraisal’ was used on it, not just because it was true silver armor…”
”Yes, it’s armor I newly created, a form that didn’t exist in the world before. That’s why ‘Appraisal’ didn’t work.”
”…Tatara-san, have you had similar experiences before?”
”Since childhood, many times. It started with a metal I named Demonsteel.”
”Demonsteel…”
”Shall I demonstrate? City Mayor, do you have iron and a Mana Stone?”
I called out to the City Mayor to get the materials.
”What about yours?”
”Lately, I’ve only been finding mithril during exploration, so I don’t have much iron left.”
”Specifically?”
”Recently, 70kg of mithril to 20kg of iron.”
”‘That’s insane!’”
The Acting Head of Family and the City Mayor spoke at the same time.
Yes, I know it’s insane. And since I can’t sell it on the market, and my shop can’t sell mithril products, I can only use it for research or making equipment for companions.
”Besides,” I added, “it’s more meaningful to do it on someone else’s property where I can’t prepare in advance.”
”…Haa, fine. In that case, I’ll take that ingot.”
”It was yours to begin with, wasn’t it…”
The City Mayor took out an iron ingot and a small Mana Stone from her Inventory and held them up. For the demonstration, I used ‘Concept Appraisal’ and channeled the Mana Stone’s mana into the iron. I didn’t time it, but it took about five minutes by my internal clock.
”…This is Demonsteel.”
My mother-in-law stared at the Demonsteel ingot in surprise. Of course, she’d be shocked to see something that only circulates within ‘Whirlwind.’
”There’s also a Shape Memory Alloy, where steel is reinforced with mana in the same way, and an Artificial Orichalcum that I co-created with the City Mayor because it required intricate Magic Circles that I couldn’t make at the time.”
”The reinforced copper wire that lined the Mana Reactor’s interior was also that, wasn’t it?”
”Yes. I tried that when I was looking for a substitute for mithril.”
”What about precious metals?”
”Since I was doing this with my childhood allowance, silver and gold were too expensive…”
”The fact that a child made this is terrifying.”
As I answered my mother-in-law’s questions, the Acting Head of Family muttered that. Well, it’s true that in ‘Whirlwind,’ I’ve been called everything from a natural disaster to an automaton maiden or a devil. It’s hard to deny.
”Please accept everything up to this point as a premise.”
”My stomach already hurts just hearing the premise.”
”You—be quiet.”
”Yes.”
”If you make something that doesn’t exist in the world, Appraisal, which has no information, is somehow filtered—either by the skill or by the world itself, I don’t know—but some kind of filter is installed, and the flow of information is restricted… As a child, I thought that.”
The pressure from my mother-in-law’s gaze intensified, and pressure came from elsewhere too.
”I wanted to know more about this world, and with that childish desire, I spent day after day searching for a way to use ‘Appraisal’… and I found it.”
My mother-in-law remained silent, urging me to continue.
”I called it the ‘deep method,’ but the City Mayor and others named it ‘Concept Appraisal.’ I taught this to Yohira.”
”You saw enough value in knowing and learning that, Yohira?”
”Yes, Mother. When Tatara showed it to me during our labyrinth exploration, I saw its value.”
My mother-in-law’s gaze demanded an explanation. Then, I should demonstrate.
I returned the Demonsteel ingot to the City Mayor and took out a mithril ingot from my Inventory. The surrounding people murmured in surprise at the casually produced, originally rare Magic Metal.
”My ‘Concept Appraisal’ recognizes a substance at its smallest constituent unit… and identifies its weakness.”
Using ‘Concept Appraisal,’ I looked for distortions in the mithril ingot.
”If you exploit this weakness visible in minerals and inorganic matter…”
I pressed my finger against the distortion of the mithril ingot and applied force. My finger sank into the ingot, and it eventually shattered.
”Like this, anything can be destroyed. This is the ‘Concept Appraisal’ that Yohira asked me to teach her.”
I picked up the shattered mithril and threw it into my Inventory. My mother-in-law, on the other side of the screen, had her eyes wide open. The Acting Head of Family had a grim expression.
”Tatara-san, can this technique be taught?”
”Currently, besides me and Yohira, only two people in this city can use it. Many have tried, but… it seems they weren’t successful.”
”A matter of talent, then?”
”Perhaps, but it seems difficult if one’s fixed ideas are too rigid. It might also be influenced by the fact that the people I taught had low ‘Appraisal’ levels.”
”I see…”
My mother-in-law put her hand to her mouth and pondered. Actually, the explanation is still ongoing.
”Um, may I continue?”
”…Is there more?”
”Yes, this is important regarding Yohira.”
My ‘Concept Appraisal’ can be used by only a few people, four in total. Of those, three could use it on inorganic matter, and one was an exception. This is what complicates things.
”I explained that only a few people can use my ‘Concept Appraisal,’ but I underestimated its impact.”
”What impact?”
”The difference in individual perspective. When I first taught Yohira, she was a Crafter, so what she saw was the same as me. However, Yohira, who was a swordswoman, was different.”
”What?”
”Allow me to explain from here, thank you Tatara.”
”…Are you alright?”
”I’m fine, trust me Tatara.”
”Understood.”
I watched Yohira, who had taken over the explanation from me. Casually, I scanned the surroundings and identified the person who was sending me a strong gaze. As expected, it was the Head of Judiciary. Is this person also handling behind-the-scenes work as a guardian of the law?
”Father, Mother. First, I apologize for learning Tatara’s ‘Appraisal’ without permission.”
”You broke your promise to acquire ‘songcraft’ next. You will be punished when you return.”
”I understand.”
Punishment… what is that… No. Hold on, endure it for now.
My mother-in-law’s gaze is directed at me. She must suspect me of firing. That’s natural, I just triggered it.
”I decided to learn ‘Appraisal’ after seeing Tatara crush an iron automaton as easily as crushing tofu.”
”That’s…”
”There is no one here who can sharpen my katana. Therefore, I thought, if I could use Tatara’s ‘Appraisal’ to remove the burden on the blade…”
”I see, it makes sense. It was probably before the teleportation gate was even prepared.”
She finally understood… or would she tell me not to go into dungeons?
”It makes sense, logically. However, wouldn’t it be fine to leave it to Tatara-dono?”
”With all due respect, Father. The monsters here sometimes wear armor. Against such opponents, a technique that can cut through steel is essential. If ‘Appraisal’ alone can achieve that, it’s a small price to pay.”
”You, Tatara-san is a blacksmith. Therefore, your combat skills are likely low. It makes more sense for Yohira to stand in front.”
”However, I don’t like hiding behind my daughter.”
”…Can a human protect the strongest combatant of the Torakuma family?”
”…No, that…”
I can step forward and take attacks, but Yohira’s pure ability is high. And Yohira doesn’t seem to like me putting myself on the line.
”However, Yohira-jousama cannot win against Master, degozaru?”
”That’s sudden, foolish fox. What’s your basis for that?”
I questioned the words of foolish fox who interrupted. Did I have any element to win against Yohira?
”While Master sleeps soundly in the living room chair, Lady Yohira strokes his hair, watches his sleeping face… and even rests her chest against him and sleeps together, degozaru.”
”Wait, I didn’t know that.”
I involuntarily looked at Yohira. She looked at foolish fox as if to say, ‘Why do you know that?’ Seriously, did you do that?
”Today, before the meeting, I gave Master a sleeping drug to help him rest for a short time, degozaru. That’s when she did it, so it’s fresh news, degozaru!”
”Fresh blackmail material, you mean? And you drugged him… when did you do it?”
”Just after lunch, degozaru. I quickly stirred water-soluble sleeping drug into the tea!”
Don’t act so dramatically with a casual “saaah!”
”He looked so happy, sleeping peacefully…”
”Ichika!!?”
Yohira suddenly lunged and covered foolish fox’s mouth. She was gripping it so hard that I could hear a terrible creaking sound.
”…So, it’s a case of ‘love and you lose,’ isn’t it?”
My mother-in-law is grinning and looking at me. Did my mother-in-law send foolish fox, by any chance? For the reason that she wanted to see Yohira’s cute side.
”…Tatara-dono, you haven’t had any careless contact with Yohira, have you?”
”No, well…”
I kissed her lips once, and then her cheeks and horns… this is bad.
”I entrusted my precious daughter before her marriage to you because Lady Ethelena stood beside you as a companion and saw Yohira as a friend… If you cross that boundary, you know what will happen?”
Even through the screen, the pressure is immense. However, I have to answer honestly.
”Will you kill me?”
”Of course. And we will sever ties with your city. That will be the end of it.”
”The blame is solely on me, is that acceptable?”
”Yes.”
”Understood. Your daughter Yohira likes me, but I once refused her feelings.”
”…And then?”
”My fiancée Ethelena urged me to accept Yohira. I repeatedly said I wouldn’t betray her, but Ethelena rejected this. I conveyed Ethelena’s feelings to Yohira and let her decide.”
”…And then?”
”Yohira accepted this relationship.”
”I’ll kill you.”
”Please calm down.”
”Silence! This man betrayed my trust… If Ethelena-dono hadn’t been there, I would have gladly let Yohira marry him. And this is how he repays me. This betrayal deserves death!”
”I told you to calm down!”
*BOOM*, a tremendous sound, far more intense than usual, echoed, and the Acting Head of Family’s face was embedded in the floor. Usually, his fist was separate, but this time he hit him while slamming him to the floor. The impact must have reverberated in his head without escaping… he’s alive, right?
”Yohira accepted it, you know? And Tatara-san refused him several times. Even so, she still desires him, that’s the instinct of a demon. Don’t you remember how obsessed you were when you pursued me?”
”Um, shouldn’t you let go now…?”
”…Oh?”
My mother-in-law spoke at length to the Acting Head of Family, who didn’t move an inch, but I doubt he could hear her… I’m even worried if he’s still in this world.
”Ow… Kasumi, I think I saw the river for a second.”
Ah, good, he was alive.
”If you try to steal our daughter’s happiness, it’s all-out war, dear!”
”No, but—!?”
”No buts. This is her last chance to have a child with someone she loves. We can’t let it slip away.”
”No, um… Tatara-dono!?”
”Are you dragging me into this!?”
Please don’t involve me in your marital spat, I thought. Even though I’m the cause.
”Besides, you yourself said you would have approved if Ethelena-san wasn’t involved, didn’t you? Since Ethelena-san has given her approval, let’s take this opportunity to have Yohira marry him.”
”No, but then Yohira wouldn’t be fulfilled!”
”I am fulfilled! I’m Tatara and Ethelena’s number one supporter! Every time I see Tatara and Ethelena being lovey-dovey, my brain repeats destruction and regeneration, and I’ve gotten addicted to that feeling!!”
”Are you really okay with that!?”
I’m worried about that too. She’s been quite clingy lately, which is nice… but sometimes she watches Tatara and me from afar.
”Um, Acting Head of Family…”
”My daughter is broken because of you, Tatara-dono!?”
”What was I supposed to do!? I’m worried about this child, seeing her panting and staring from afar!”
”That really happens!?”
”It happens all the time!”
On top of that, she was masturbating while watching Tatara and Ethelena have sex. I can’t say that, though.
The atmosphere has completely gone downhill.
”Besides, I’ve already told Tatara-san to call me ‘Mother.’ Right, Tatara-san?”
”That’s… it’s too high a hurdle… Uh, M-Mother.”
My face is burning with shame. I feel like I could breathe fire. I involuntarily looked down, embarrassed. Yohira, who patted my head, is reliable.
”By the way, you don’t seem to realize it, but you were calling her that naturally when Tatara and Mother were discussing katana forging.”
”Seriously? I didn’t realize.”
Subconsciously, I’ve completely accepted her. She’s strong in more ways than one.
”May I speak for a moment?”
The Head of Judiciary spoke up. What’s happening at this timing?
”I apologize, but in our country, polygamy is not permitted in principle.”
”Hmm, that’s the same in our country. There isn’t much difference in the law.”
”Therefore, your Ojou-sama cannot be legally recognized as the wife of this city’s Chief Crafter.”
That’s a perfectly reasonable opinion. Royalty and some nobles are exceptions, but there is always only one principal wife, and the others are treated as concubines. It is the law of this country that they cannot officially become husband and wife.
”Then there is no problem.”
”Oh? How so?”
”In Hizuru, Tatara-san is ‘Kokaji Tatara,’ so he is a different person from Tatara Julon!”
”You’re using the surname thing now!?”
”Kokaji… ah, it’s from the ancient word ‘Forl Julon,’ isn’t it?”
”You know that well, City Mayor-dono.”
”I haven’t read Tatara’s translation notes for nothing.”
I’ll ignore Yohira and the City Mayor talking on the side. Getting involved would likely lead to trouble.
”Hmm, you mean that he is a different person from this city’s family register?”
”Yes, as long as you don’t get married on your side, there should be no problem.”
”I see… I can’t refute that.”
”You can’t!?”
Head of Judiciary, why can’t you refute that?
”In a sense, it’s a legal loophole. If someone with multiple citizenships were to have local wives in each country, there would be nothing we could say.”
”I only have citizenship in this country, though.”
”Oh, you’ll soon have our country’s nationality too. The name will be ‘Kokaji Tatara.’”
”Impossible, that was too fast, degozaru!”
”Don’t make jokes here, it’s hard to react.”
Also, isn’t the scale of having local wives across countries too large?
”I, I refuse! I refuse!! I haven’t stayed up drinking with Tatara-dono yet, haven’t gone fishing, and haven’t talked in the bath!!”
”The requirements for acceptance aren’t low, are they!?”
”Father actually likes Tatara. He just wants to have interactions like father and son.”
Did the Acting Head of Family have a past where he was neglected by his own children? If I meet him in person, I’ll try to be a little kind. I also wished I could have stayed up drinking with my father.
Notes:
• Yohira – Torakuma’s first name.
• Hinagiku – A tengu woman as Ranka’s potential companion. She stays with Tatara’s group after travels. Joins household scenes only. Linked to Ranka by shared gluttony jokes. No direct tie to Tatara beyond cohabitation. Cheerful eater.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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