Chapter 405 Bear-san Talks to Guildmaster

Guildmaster led us into the building.

Inside, the ceiling is high and it’s quite s.p.a.cious. At the entrance, there was a long table with a reception sign. It seems that this is where the reception desk is located. At the end of the reception area, there were several couches like a waiting room in a large hospital. And when I looked at the far end, I could see a large double swinging door. I wonder if the Gate of Trials is behind that door. I want to take a peek.

But Guildmaster walks in a different direction.

[This way.] Guildmaster

There was a door in the direction Guildmaster was walking. I suppressed my feeling of reluctance and followed Guildmaster. The room was a bit large, with tables and chairs set up like a conference room.

[Well then, have a seat] Guildmaster

We did as we were told and sat down on the chairs.

Then, Guildmaster served us tea. Dwarves have an image of drinking alcohol, but as expected, they don’t drink early in the morning.

[How can you be so laid back?] Yuna

[It happens every year. We’ve been preparing for a few days now. All we have to do is wait for the guild staff and the smiths to arrive.] Guildmaster

Guildmaster prepared tea for all of us, then sat himself down on a chair.

[You look excited.] Yuna

[Well, you get to see an apprentice blacksmith grow up. Dalton’s apprentices are looking good this year. There are also a few others I’m looking forward to.] Guildmaster

Guildmaster speaks happily. He’s like a father who watches over his children as they grow up. He looks like he would be a good teacher at an orphanage. Then, Guildmaster turns his gaze to me.

[Missy, you’re dressed as a Bear, right?] Guildmaster

[That’s right, but...] Yuna

I shouldn’t look like anything but a bear.

[Is that kind of style popular in other cities?] Guildmaster

Rojina-san told me not to worry about it. He was still concerned about my outfit though. But it was too much trouble to explain, so I’ll just answer appropriately.

[It’s popular.] Yuna

[Yuna-oneesan!?] Fina

Fina, sitting next to me, was surprised by my response. What’s so surprising? Maybe it will catch on. And if it does, it will be a problem.

[Just kidding. It’s my favorite outfit, so I hope you don’t mind.] Yuna

[Well, no matter how one looks, it’s different for each person.] Guildmaster

Don’t look at me like you pity me. I don’t dress up as a bear because I want to. I wear it to live.

[So, do you girls know Ghazal and Gordo?] Guildmaster

[You know those two?] Yuna

[Of course, I know. I know all the blacksmiths in this city.] Guildmaster

[All of them?] Yuna

[It’s only natural since he’s the Guildmaster. Besides, a good new blacksmith is always remembered.] Rojina

I don’t know how many people there are, but, amazingly, you know them all. I can’t even remember people’s names, so, weirdly, you know them all. The idea I had earlier that he was everyone’s father might not be a joke.

[How are those two doing?] Guildmaster

[They’re doing fine.] Yuna

[Well, I was disappointed when I heard the story of them leaving the city, but I wish they were fine. So what did the ladies come here for? Did you come with your father?] Guildmaster

He’s asking for my father even though I wasn’t a kid, but Fina is with me. What’s making him worry is whether the person inside this costume is a child.

[Surprisingly, it was just the three of them who came to town to buy some pots and pans.] Rojina

Guildmaster looked surprised at Rojina-san’s words and looked at me like some strange creature.

Of course, he’d be surprised to hear that us three girls went here on our own. Rojina-san explained that he was making our orders of pots and pans.

[Well, the pots Rojina makes are very popular. You’re in luck, girls. This eccentric old man won’t make it unless he’s in the mood.] Guildmaster

[Because of that, you can’t ignore Gordo and Ghazal’s acquaintance.] Rojina

That saved me from having to look for it in other stores. In addition, I got a discount on the price. I have to be grateful for that.

[So, today, you girls came to see Rojina and the Gate of Trials?] Guildmaster

[I only met Rojina-san by chance. And I was just curious, so I came to have a look.] Yuna

[Even if you just came to take a look, you can’t see it inside.] Guildmaster

[I thought maybe I could watch it from the outside, but I guess not. I was just hoping I’d get lucky and be able to join in.] Yuna

I was wondering if there was a possibility that something might happen to the adventurers on the day of the event and some of them might not be able to partic.i.p.ate. But even if that were to happen, no one would ask me, someone, who’s dressed as a bear, right?

[You want to partic.i.p.ate? Are you trying to be a blacksmith, Missy?] Guildmaster

Guildmaster looked surprised. I’m the one who’s surprised. How do I look like I’m aiming to become a blacksmith?

[No, I’m not. I’m the one handling the weapon.] Yuna

He looked dubious at my words.

[Tarotoba, she may be dressed like this, but she’s an adventurer.] Rojina (TN: タロトバ)

[An adventurer? This bear Missy?] Guildmaster

Guildmaster looks at me, then he lets out a small laugh. I know, I don’t look like an adventurer myself.

[You’ve got to be kidding me. I’d be more convinced if you said she’s a street performer.] Guildmaster

A street performer is someone who gets paid to do tricks. This reminds me of what I did at Misa’s birthday party. It’s true that when I summoned Swaying Bear and Hugging Bear, it made me look one.

[Well, I agree with you about her outfit, but she seems to be a reasonably good adventurer. Ghazal even made a weapon just for her.] Rojina

[I’m sure they’ll make one when they’re asked.] Guildmaster

[Even if it is a first-cla.s.s mithril knife? Giving this girl the best weapon he can make and not just a randomly made weapon. Guildmaster, you know what that means, right?] Rojina

[.........] Guildmaster

Rojina-san looks at me again and asks.

[Missy. Are you sure you want to challenge the Gate of Trials?] Rojina

[Yeah, I want to.] Yuna

Because I’m curious about it.

As a former gamer, I want to partic.i.p.ate in events that look interesting.

[Tarotoba, do me a favor. Can you register her under my name?] Rojina

[Register under you? You haven’t made any weapons, have you? Then you can’t partic.i.p.ate.] Guildmaster

[Missy, let me check something. When did he make that knife? Is it over a year old?] Rojina

[Are you talking about Ghazal-san’s knife? I just had it made, so it’s been less than a year.] Yuna

[Rojina. Are you sure you want to join with a knife made by Ghazal?] Guildmaster

[It’s not that I want to record it. I don’t care if you pretend it never happened. But it’s not only the knife that Ghazal made. I also wanted to see what she’s capable of.] Rojina

[How will you do that? You’d have to be with the blacksmith who made the weapon.] Guildmaster

[There’s nothing wrong with it during the Gate of Trials. Whoever uses whose weapon is free to do so. In fact, there are no such rules in the Gate of Trials. The only definition is that the weapon must have been made within a year.] Rojina

[Is that so? Then you don’t really need a blacksmith on-site, do you?] Yuna

[It’s a rule made by the Blacksmith’s Guild. There was a lot of trouble a long time ago, so they decided on that.] Rojina

He said that in the past, one was able to make many challenges by himself. Like if he had ten swords, he could challenge it ten times.

But the Gate of Trials is tested by magic power. The number of challenges is not infinite, and the gate closes when a certain number of challenges are reached.

If one person took the test many times, not everyone who wanted to take the test at the Gate of Trials would be able to. So the blacksmith guild managed it and made the regulations.

Rule #1: Each person can only challenge the Gate of Trials once.

Rule #2: You must be registered with the Blacksmith Guild.

Rule #3: If you want to partic.i.p.ate, you must be with the blacksmith who made the weapon.

Rule #4: Do not partic.i.p.ate with weapons made by others as your own. (If you are found out, you will not be allowed to partic.i.p.ate for three years)

Rule #5: Apprentices and new blacksmiths are given priority on Day 1.

Rule #6: The Blacksmith Guild does not guarantee whether the gates will close earlier than scheduled. (The following year, you will have priority)

Rule #7: Don’t tell anyone about the trials.

I was brilliantly caught in the 3rd and 4th rule.

[But how could you make such rules and not get any complaints?] Yuna

[Of course, it wasn’t all there in the beginning. Every time there was an inconvenience, something was added, and here we are. Besides, I heard that the guild master at the time said, .] Guildmaster

It’s true that if you can’t pick the best one out of the weapons you’ve made, it’s like telling yourself that you can’t be a connoisseur. If you made your own sword, you should be able to tell which one is the best.

[Well, some of them still let their apprentices carry the weapons they made, so all sorts of regulations were added.] Guildmaster

[Besides, if he did that, his apprentice’s sword would be perceived as a better sword than his own. If he admitted that his apprentice’s sword was the same as his own, the other blacksmiths and his customers would hate him, and everyone would lose their trust in him as a blacksmith. Trust is the most important thing in business.] Rojina

[Also, some of the apprentices have bought swords from other weapon shops and partic.i.p.ate with them as their own creation.] Guildmaster

[There’s no point in doing that, though. Even if you’re recognized as a full-fledged Blacksmith for that, it won’t last long. Lies will eventually be discovered.] Rojina

I guess it’s true with what they say. It’s true that no matter how many craftsmen make good weapons, I wouldn’t want them to be made by people who tell lies. This is a weapon that I entrust with my life. I want to buy it from a weapon maker I can trust. The better the weapon, the more I trust it. If it’s a cheap weapon, I think anyone can make it. I want to buy a good weapon from a blacksmith I can trust.

[No one does that anymore, though.] Rojina

[Since I forbid the other blacksmiths to partic.i.p.ate with weapons made by others as their own creation.] Guildmaster

[Tarotoba, I won’t record this as my own. Will you do me a favor?] Rojina

[............] Guildmaster

After a short silence, Guildmaster slowly opens his mouth.

[Fine then. There’s no one here yet anyway. If you do this now, I’ll pretend I never saw you.] Guildmaster

[I appreciate it.] Rojina

[I also want to know how much Ghazal has grown. But isn’t the question how much of the weapon’s power can be drawn out with that Bear Missy?] Guildmaster

[Well, I also want to see that.] Rojina

Thanks to Rojina-san, I was able to challenge the Gate of Trials.

Author’s Note:

Yuna was able to partic.i.p.ate safely.

The end of the Dwarf Arc is in sight.

And something I always think about. The plot I had in mind at the beginning and the finished novel are often two different things.

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