Save Log 11: The Blacksmith’s Helping Hands (Part 2)

~The night before the operation Shopkeeper~

We are currently taking shelter under Grodmin’s roof. It feels good to be back in this sweet home of mine. It used to be.

We ended up here after Grodmin announced that we are going to stay in this house for the next two weeks. As we agreed to help him with the store, he said he will be giving three meals and a place to stay. We tried to refuse the offer and just wanted to help the store. But he resisted and made us stay in the house.

~That day before dawn~

“I guess I will just send a letter to the mansion about this. Sylfi, do you have any paper?”

“Hai, I will bring them.” she went to fetch some papers for us.

“Man, staying at someone else’s house is pretty embarrassing sometimes. But, since its Grodmin ojisan, I can manage it out. What about you Furara? ...Furara? You alright?” Furara’s body, well the robe that she's wearing was shaking. She must be nervous.

“Are you alright?” I asked her.

“I never stayed in someone else’s house before.”

“Eh?! Are you fo’ real? Aa I get it now. You are a daughter of a nobl..”

“Please don’t say that. I-I will stay at the house if you stop.”

“Heh! That’s the spirit.” Lina was patting Furara softly.

“Why are you patting me?”

“I just wanted to pat you.” Lina continued to pat her softly and steadily.

Sylfia came with a dozen of paper. I only needed one though but who cares. After Furara finished writing the letter, I went out and delivered the letter to the guild since the shop was closer to the guild. They will deliver it to the mansion. I can’t go all the way from here.

~Present Time~

I was leaning on the sofa reading the manga ‘single punch man’ for the one hundred and twenty-sixth time. Likewise, I am getting bored to read the same book for a long time. It is a good manga but still, no one would like to read the same book for a thousand times right?

“What are you doing niisan?”

“Sylfi? Well I am reading the man- I mean the ancient tome. Still trying to figure what the secret it holds.”

“Oh, good luck niisan. Oh right. Niisan, remember when you left this place? You forgot something to take with you.”

“Oh really? I think I took everything with me.” I put the manga on the table facing down and sit up.

“I will bring it for you.” saying that, Sylfia left the guest-room. I turned to the fireplace which was alive. The crimson-yellowish fire was illuminating the whole room. I was able to read the book with its light. Everything is on its place like how I remembered.

“Here niisan. You forgot this photo-frame.” Sylfia handed me a photo frame. Wait a minute, is this.....This is my family photo.

“This is really important to you right? Don’t just for get about it you dummy niisan.”

The reason I left this here was not to get homesick each time seeing this. Well, fate brought it back to me.

“Niisan, are you crying?”

Crap! I started to cry without noticing. I quickly wiped them out.

“Don’t worry niisan. I will make you feel better.” Sylfia hugged me tightly. I can’t believe I am getting comforted by a kid. This is so embarrassing.

“Oh, Hanji, we are going to...” Lina entered the scene. Nooo! Why her of all things! That night, I was humiliated by Lina.

~Day 01 of operation: Shopkeeper!~

After spending the first night at the Grodmin’s, it was finally time to open the shop for business. Grodmin carried us here to the shop with the holf cart of his and then went back at home to his workshop.

“Alright, I am gonna advertise the sale with right? Are we gonna wear any costume for that?”

“I am not sure. Otosan didn’t say anything about that.” Sylfia replied. She grabbed her head trying to remember if Grodmin did say anything.

“You don’t need to work hard if you can’t remember. Why don’t you wear one of the showcase armor? That will work too.”

“An armor? But they are too heavy for me. Is there anything else?”

“Just stand there with that banner.” I said, pointing to a square paper attached in front of a long stick. It reads,

‘Come visit our wonderful weapon and armory shop. We are having a 20-60% sale!!

It will end before Harvest Festival.’

There were some cute looking drawings in it. A big muscly elf with a chibi ver. of me and Sylfia standing beside him. A smiling sun and few trees can be seen on the banner as well.

“Wait, where is Furara and me?”

“Oh, sorry. I forgot to add them. Let me draw it right now.” Sylfia apologized and grabbed the banner, collecting some color ink and a feather quill.

(Before you continue reading, here is a little fact with Razahan-sama: In medieval times, drawing was only used for literature and scientific works. If you have watched Shrek movies, then you will see that they start with a story book of the fairy tale with illustration. In the 15th century drawing became popular in general. Anyway, back to the story.)

Sylfia did a good job, painting chibi Furara and Sylfia. All of them smiling except Furara. She only had a pair of eyes in the dark hood.

“Wow! That’s pretty Sylfi! You are pretty good at this.”

“Hehe! I was good at it since I was a kid.” Sylfia giggled and replied with her chest puffed up with confident. Furara was examining herself in the painting.

“My face only has a pair of glowing blue eyes.”

“Cuz that’s all we can see about you. Even if we take off the hood now we are gonna see that mask of yours. See?” Lina made Furara’s hood off. It revealed the white kitsune mask like mask with no ears and almost covering the mouth. It looks kinda cool actually. Everyone said in the guild said that no one has seen her face except Maruka.

“Do-don’t just take off my hood all of a sudden.”

“Wow that’s a cool mask Furara neesan. I think I am gonna draw that instead.” said Sylfia as she began to redraw Furara and Furara wearing her hood.

“Anyway, we better get to work. People will start to come out now.”

“Hai hai boss. We are going to start our duty as soon as Furara finishes her drawing.”

“Done! Is it good?”

We checked the banner together. Furara was now unhooded wearing the cute mask ver of that white mask.

“It’s pretty cute.” I commented.

“I liked it too.”

“Sylfi is pretty good at drawing huh. Man, wish I can draw like that.”

“Don’t worry Lina neesan. You can draw pretty well if you try.”

“Enough messing around. We better get to work. Lina, Sylfi. Go out and start the advertisement. Just stay around the shop. Don’t go too far.”

“Hai hai.”

Lina and Sylfi left the store with bell clinging as the opened and shut the door. After that I turned to Furara.

“Alright, I guess you know what to do.”

“Yes, I will be at the counter. Umm, good luck.”

“Yeah. You too.”

Furara went toward the reception counter. I also took my position around the door. Before that, I think I should check once more if everything is placed in order.

~After few minutes~

Nothing happened. Furara and I stayed in the shop idly with nothing to do. I kept brushing the stocks once in a while for no reason. Furara was sitting there still for a long time. Is she ok? Oh wait, the blue eyes are gone? I guess she can sleep a bit. What did she do all night this time?

~Another boring minutes past~

It has been like thirty minutes. With no customer yet visited the shop. Furara was still sleeping lying her head on the table. I let her sleep a bit longer. I can hear Sylfia and Lina yelling out there and advertising the sale now. They were quiet till a few minutes ago.

‘Kling’

The bell on the door finally rang. I quickly turned to the door to see who is the customer while Furara’s sleep got disturbed and raised her head.

“This advertising work is boring than I thought.” it was Lina. She came to complain about her work.

“Get back to work.”

The bell rang again as the door was shut. Furara again went back to sleep. I continued to dust the goods.

~Kling~

Damn it, it hasn’t been a minute. Why is back complaining again?!

“Hello, I here to buy some weapons. You guys are doing a sale right?” a guy wearing a light metal armor came in to the shop shortly after Lina left.

“Oh hello there. Welcome to Grodmin’s Weapon and Armory. Yes, we are putting on sale. Please step right in.”

Finally, a customer. I went toward him and welcomed him to the shop. He bought a regular long sword for 600 azuls with 40% discount. Furara almost dropped the coins on the but caught it quickly. I could see her shaking when the guy was approaching her with the money.

“Thank you for visiting our shop. Hope we will see you again.”

“Yeah, I will come by again if I can. I thought Grodmin and Sylfia run this shop.”

“Grodmin is busy. So he hired us as part-timers until the Harvest Festival.”

“I see. Well, see ya again.”

“Alright. See you too.”

Before the guy could even leave the shop, another person came in right away. After that, people started to come to our shop in a large number.

~Afternoon break~

“Ahh! Nothing beats a good mashiki wine after doing a hard work.”

“Can I take that ‘munch’ ‘munch’ cuckler piece Hanjiro ‘munch’?”

“No! You took two already. No more!”

“The guild food is really tasty.”

We are now at the guild eating our lunch for afternoon break. Lina was enjoying her wine and rice with carp like fish that I forgot the name, Furara kept eating away my food and Sylfia and I are enjoying the meal.

“I am going to keep this for ‘chew’ ‘chew’ otosan. He loves beef and ‘chew’ ‘chew’ rice.” said Sylfia while chewing her food.

“Don’t talk while chewing your meal Sylfi.” Sylfia stick her tongue a bit with her left eye closed.

“Excuse Hanjiro-sama.” said a deep voice said from behind. I turned around and saw the old butler Dermin.

“Oh Dermin old man. What’s up? Hmm? Who is that behind ya?”

“We received your letter right after the sun set. Zefira wanted to help you out with your work as well. So I brought her with me.”

Zefira walked out from his behind. He was facing the ground being bashful while playing with her fingers.

“Umm, Hanjiro-sama. Hope you don’t mind that I came here without permission.”

“Eh? No no. It’s alright. But, you could stay in the mansion if you liked.”

“I had nothing to do there. Joro-sama isn’t my master and besides, he has about 19 maids working under him. I thought it will be a waste if a clumsy maid like me working for him.”

“I don’t think he will mind though. But, you can stay ‘chew’ ‘chew’ with us if you like.” said Fuara chewing one of my cuckler piece.

“Hey! Don’t take advantage of the situation and eat my meat.”

“Who is that niisan?” asked Sylfia.

“I am Zefira, the servant of Hanjiro-sama. Pleasure to meet you young master.”

“Oh! A real maid. Nice to meet you too Zefira neesan! I am Sylfia. Daughter of the greatest blacksmith of this town...ehehe. I think I said too much.”

“Here is the cloak you asked for Hanjiro-sama.” Dermin gave me the green cloak that Sylfia made for me.

“Isn’t that the cloak I made for you niisan?”

“Yes. Thank you Dermin.”

“I am just doing my duty. Now if you will excuse me Hanjiro-sama, I’ll be leaving.”

“Eh? That early? Why don’t you come eat with us? You too Zefira.” said Furara.

“Umm alright.”

“No need for that. I will be fine, Furara-sama.”

“Oh come on old man. Just sit with us. You never ate with us before.”

“Yeah. I will be very sad if you don’t eat with us for this time Dermin.”

“I will be mad too.” said Sylfia.

“Al-alright. If you insist. Sorry to disturb you.”

“No need to apologize for nothing. Oi! Miya! We got more order!” Lina called out the waitress. After that we had a nice meal with Dermin. He bade us goodbye finishing his meal, and we went back to the shop with Zefira.

“Now, what role will you play with…”

“Huh?”

“Maybe let her do the advertisement thing with me. I bet we can attract more customer with her.”

“Nope. Can’t do that.”

“What are you two talking about Hanjiro-sama?”

“You will know when we reach the shop.” Furara replied to Zefira.

“Hey! You guys are falling behind!” Sylfia called out from ahead. She was running the whole time with excitement, carrying the lunchbox for her father. I am sure the business will go just fine