Chapter 53: Blacksmith

(Morax: POV)

After splitting up from the Varma sisters Athena and I continued on our way to our destination.

Eventually reaching it.

Coming to a stop we found ourselves outside a giant Japanese-style mansion, bordered by a tall gate that spans the length of the entire property.

[Image Here]

This is the home of the Hephaestus familia.

I have to say it looks very nice.

As the two guards standing at the gate noticed me and Athena we approached them.

"Greetings, we're here to meet with your captain." I told them. "Just tell her Athena and Morax are her and she'll understand." I explained.

One of the guards nodded.

"Excuse me." He said.

The man then entered through the gate, while the other one kept a close eye on me and Athena. His weapon at the ready in case we tried anything.

I don't blame him at all though. Not with Evilus running rampart. In this point in Orario's history it pays to be paranoid.

Lest you end up dead before you even realize it.

Five minutes passed but eventually the other guard returned.

Bringing Tsubaki in tow with him.

As usual she's dressed in the same attire. Red hakama pants, sandals, and no shirt with only bandages wrapped around her massive rack.

Which I am doing my best not to look at.

But it's damn hard when those lethal weapons are bouncing up and down with each step she takes.

Even the two male guards are having a hard time not looking at their captain.

Reaching the two of us Tsubaki put a smile on her face. "Welcome you two." She told us.

"Thank you Tsubaki." Athena said.

"Yes, thank you." I told her. Looking her in her one good eye as I did so.

Well actually I'm not exactly sure if she only has one good eye. I have no idea what's under her eyepatch, and I feel that asking would be rude. So I'll leave it alone.

But one day I intend to solve the mystery of it.

"So, you said you found a smith willing to forge me a weapon and give me a decent deal on it." I spoke.

Tsubaki nodded. "Yep, that's right. Only..."

"Only what?" I asked her.

"Well this guy I'm going to introduce you to is difficult in a lot of ways." Tsubaki explained. Sighing after she did so. "Don't get me wrong, his work is good stuff. But his personality on the other hand is hard for many to deal with. That's why he has so few contracts. However if you ask anyone of his clients they'll tell you he's the best smith they've ever known. I know I've done so. Now then young Morax my question is, do you still wish to meet with this smith?"

I nodded. "I do." I said. "So he's a bit difficult. Doesn't bother me. If I wanted my life to be easy I wouldn't have become an adventurer in the first place."

"Hahaha!" Tsubaki laughed. "What an interesting kid you are." She told me. "Well then since I have your answer let's go. Follow me." She said.

Tsubaki then turned around and we started following behind her.

As we did so I noticed her butt through her pants.

'I see. So not only is she dangerous from the front but the back as well.' I thought.

Tsubaki leaves no openings.

As expected of a top-class adventurer and woman.

The three of us maneuvered through the Hephaestus familia compound with ease.

Eventually we arrived at a small building.

As soon as we did Tsubaki walked up to the front door, and then kicked it in without any hesitation.

"Am, Tsubaki?" I questioned.

She waved me off. "Don't worry. Unless I do this the guy inside won't pay any attention to us at all. He won't even come to answer the door." She explained to me.

As she did so she walked inside. "Hey old man, you still alive!" She shouted.

"Quiet down you annoying girl!" A male voice shouted back. "Of course I'm still alive. Also, how many times do I have to tell you, don't kick my door in!"

"Well if I didn't you wouldn't even notice me when I enter would you?" Tsubaki asked.

"Tch." The man clicked his tongue.

"Yeah, that's what I thought." Tsubaki said. "Anyway I brought over that person I wanted you to meet."

"Then hurry up and call them in. I don't have all day." The man said.

"Right, right." Tsubaki said. She then looked at us. "Please, come in." She said.

So Athena and I walked inside.

As soon as we did so I looked around and saw various crates filled with weapons, along with tons of them lining the walls as well.

[Image Here]

But other than the weapons I also noticed a dwarf looking right at me.

[Image Here]

Turning my gaze towards the dwarf I locked eye with him.

"Hello, the name is Morax Lapis, a pleasure to meet you sir." I told him.

"Well as least you didn't bring me a brat with no manners to see me." The dwarf said. "Greetings brat, the name is Kaijin." He told me. "So then let's get straight to the point. I here you want me to forge you a weapon."

"Well I want a smith to forge me a weapon." I said. "And from what Tsubaki says you'll give me a good price. But just because that's the case doesn't mean it has to be you that forges me my weapon." I said. "I mean I could always go elsewhere."

"Yeah, you could." Kaijin agreed with me.

"Right, I could. But I think I'll go with you." I told him.

"And why is that?" Kaijin asked me.

"I mean, you're a smith you takes good care of your works after all." I said. "So going with someone like you is the best choice, and I like your personality as well." I explained.

Which is true.

I like Kaijin's straightforward personality.

As for the other thing I mentioned I noticed it when I first entered his workshop. Despite it being a bit messy I noticed not one of the weapons have any sort of dust or soot on them. All of them are polished pristinely and the weapons lining the walls are sharpened to perfection.

Which tells me Kaijin really cares about his craft.

Finding that in a blacksmith is one of the most important qualities.

Hearing my words Kaijin's eyes went wide, and he then laughed. "Hahaha! Oh, Tsubaki I was skeptical at first but now it looks like I was wrong. This kid you brought me truly is a good one." He admitted.

Tsubaki simply nodded.

After calming down from laughter Kaijin gave me a serious look. "So then, what do you want me to forge and how soon do you need it done by?" He asked me.

"I would like you to forge me a weapon made from Mithril and a Goliath's Tooth." I told him. "The time table is under two weeks. Since that's when my familia and I leave for our guild mandatory expedition. Also, if its not too much trouble can you make me some armor as well in the same time table."

Kaijin rubbed his chin. "Yeah, I can do it." He told me. "But it won't be cheap."

"How much?" I asked her.

"25,000,000 valis." Kaijin told me.

Yeah, just as I thought. Equipment from smithing familia isn't cheap.

But again, it's worth it.

"Sure, I can pay that." I told him. "Also, here are the designs for the weapon and armor." I said. I then reached into my pocket and handed the paper with both designs over to Kaijin.

Taking it he looked at them both and then nodded. "I can make it happen." He told me.

"Thank you." I said. "So, I guess that concludes our business."

"It does." Kaijin said. "But one more question boy. How about you allow me to become your exclusive smith in the future?"

"Oh, and why would you want to do that?" I asked Kaijin.

"I've got a good eye and I can tell you'll go far." Kaijin admitted. "And what kind of person would I be if I let such a gem slip away?"

"I get that." I said. "Well, first complete the weapon and armor. Then after I see their performance during my expedition we can talk about an exclusive contract." I said. "Any problems with that?"

"Not one." Kaijin said.

"Well then, good day." I said.

Athena and I then left Kaijin's forge.

Me with a smile on my face as I did so.

Even though I told Kaijin to wait, I'm probably going to make him my exclusive smith in the future.

I have a good feeling about him.

Our business concluded Athena and I started making our way back home.

Today has been a good day.