341 - - In the Living Room of the General Store

The dull-colored blade shines faintly, giving the mysterious impression of being wet black or flaming white. The curved single-edged blade is wide for a Japanese sword and thin for a sword.

--A beautiful sword.

"The current rank (・・・・・) is 1, [indestructible]. When the number of demons slain reaches a certain number, it can be strengthened. When you can strengthen it, gather the strengthening materials and bring them to me, and I will strengthen it."

Luba says.

"Thank you."

For a moment I hesitated whether I should accept the sword, but then I realized that it was for me. To hesitate would be to make Luba feel nothing.

I think I have inadvertently acquired the final weapon before I use the , but I will use that sword in the party when I reach the proper level. There's the problem of only playing wizard in the party, though!

"At the beginning and at multiples of 10 of the rank, the item can be strengthened to have special effects. The maximum number of effects that can be applied is six in total."

It is a must to use the <> with the [Zanmagic Growth]. No, if the sword itself can be strengthened, another one can also be used. ....... I'm not sure about the [Equipment Restriction Removal], since I changed my job to a black-and-white swordsman and I can add up to 30 ranks to my level for swords and staffs. As a wizard, the restrictions on swords are tighter, and as a mage, the level and the ranks of swords and staffs that can be equipped are the same. The wizard swordsman can equip the same ranks of sword and staff as the wizard.

A list of special effects and their corresponding items is given to the wizard, written in ink on a piece of votive paper, and can be found in the menu. Ruba is also a good calligrapher, though not as good as Koume.

When I looked at the blade in front of me and examined it, I found that the sword is called . There is a description of the materials used to strengthen the sword, such as demon fangs for basic attack power and bones for durability. It seems that items of the same rank or higher as the sword are required, and the number of items is ten times the number of the sword's rank. I have a lot of items that I couldn't sell, so it seems that I won't have a problem with strengthening materials for a while.

"I'm going to get all the items and ask for reinforcement as soon as possible."

He bows his eyes to Luba and delivers the .

"I'll be waiting."

Luba laughs in short answer.

"Bahamut-sama ......."

"Master Parthin, calm down!"

This one is over, but Paltin and Reno are still fussing, and Narn continues to play dead.

"Pertin, I don't mind if you come to the general store in human form once in a while, but if you come to the island..."

If the gold dragon comes as a dragon, the general store will physically collapse.

No, the land around ...... would be cleared in Kal's defense. I still say no.

Cal, let's go home.

"Yes, Lord."

Cal, who had been standing still, turns to me in a flash and replies.

"Good work, Luba. Reno, let's go home first.

It is a mystery to me whether Ruba has fulfilled his true desire after that, but it is over for now.

Ruba is sent back to Fuso.

"I thought that with the death of the Green Dragon, I would lose my goal and become as lethargic as before. ....... Aside from the joy of defeating an enemy, the existence of the Green Dragon seems to be less important than I thought when it comes to swordsmanship.

Ruba says before going through the torii gate in the precincts of the shrine. --The transition gate of Fuso is within the precincts of the shrine.

"I will train hard so that I will not be overtaken. It would be unbecoming if I could not strengthen the sword I have made.

Luba smiles pleasantly.

<. My character is such that I will be working hard to defeat demons and raise the rank of my sword, so I hope you will do your best.

"Take the ore and sake with you!"

We give them the materials here and there.

The production workers of the residents I have met produce and level up with the requests and materials brought by the players. Well, even without that, I hope Luba will continue his blacksmithing. After all, Luba looks happy when he is thinking about blacksmithing, even though he has a difficult face.

When we first met, Luba was depressed. He continued to strike the sword he wielded to slay the green dragon, and as a result, he made a name for himself as a blacksmith. The price of his swords rose with his fame, and the only people who came to him were those who wanted to display the sword of <. No one has come forward to claim the sword as their own.

But I'm sure that Luba was beating his sword before the Green Dragon appeared. Perhaps he was enjoying it as he is now. I think the reason for his depression is that his purpose has been changed to avenging his enemies. There may be some decorations, but I suspect that he became bitter because he could no longer strike purely for the sake of it. I want to enjoy doing what I love without any hassle.

"Thank you. Let's drink today in memory of our friends.

We see Luba off as he walks through the torii gate and down the stairs.

"I guess we're done here."

"Yes."

Cal gave me a brief word of advice.

I feel warm and a little sad, and I also have a strange feeling of warmth and a little sadness, knowing that Ruba's long-held feelings have been settled.

"I'm home."

But now is the time when the store is open, and there is no one on the third floor. I thought so, but Merlin was there.

"My Lord! I congratulate you on your safe return.

Merlin appears, placing his right hand on top of his left, lifts it to chest level, and bows his head. The exaggerated phrasing seems to be normal operation.

I heard a loud noise next to me and looked to see a smiling Kal. I look back at Merlin to see if it is just my imagination, but he is smiling a smile of his own. What?

"Nothing is safe, I'm just standing here. We have a little while before we close. Let's have some tea."

With the voices of customers coming through the stairs, I enter the living room of the liquor store.

I've asked Trinh to do some renovations, but he says it will be a while before he gets around to it. I hear that there are more and more gentiles who own their own houses or clan houses, so there is a waiting list.

We sit on the living room sofa and are served a baked cheesecake as a snack. Baked in a hot oven, the surface is caramelized until it turns black, and when you cut it open with a knife, the cross section is moist and very pale yellow. The cream and sweet and sour berry sauce is served in a small jar to pour over as much as you like.

"Thank you, Lord!"

Tea is brewed by Cal.

"Thank you. Thanks to you too, Cal."

I thank him and take it.

Unlike me, who was just there, he had worked in defense. He doesn't look tired at all, but I would like to thank him for accompanying me.

And you, Mr. Merlin.

"Since when did you become such a man of your word ......?"

Merlin looks at the tea and kalu placed in front of him with a scowl on his face.

"Dru congratulates me on this."

Cal smiles in answer.

Come to think of it, Dulu also presided over the family ......?　Is that why you're so good at making tea?　But I have a feeling that he was always a bit of a hard-working guy.

"No, wait. No, wait. That's a lot of ......."

Merlin is drawing on the plate in front of Cal.

The cake on the plate is one piece for me, one for Merlin, and the rest for Cal.

"Wasn't Dragonut the only one who devours sweetness ......!　You've never been interested in food in general!"

Sorry to burst your bubble, but that's not much, Merlin.

"Everything the Lord makes is delicious."

You don't eat carrots, Cal replies with a smile.

The sweetmeats in the cupboard have normally decreased while I was away, but did you eat them without Merlin's knowledge?　Did you want to hide it? .......

"I admit this dish is delicious, but ....... "I'm a man who doesn't care what it tastes like as long as it's well-presented."

Mumbling, Marlin takes a bite and adds more berry sauce.

Cal adds more cream. He does not put sugar in the cream, but he seems to like the texture of the cream.

The baked cheesecake is softly fragrant with vanilla beans, and the rich but light cream cheese fills the mouth, leaving a slight lemon taste at the end. The cake is quite tasty and goes well with tea. According to Kikuhime, it also goes well with wine, but I'll leave that to the drinkers.

After finishing the cake, I ask Cal to make another cup of tea and look at the window. I ask Cal to make me another cup of tea and look at the window to check the titles and items I have received, but I am not sure what they are anymore.

The effects of the titles "Slayer of the Cruel Fire Dragon" and "Slayer of the Vicious Green Dragon", which are the first solo titles, are slight recovery in the fire realm and the poison realm, respectively.

The [Fire Suppressor] already halves the damage from fire-attribute types and nullifies damage effects from climate such as scorching heat and terrain such as lava, but this one is location-specific?　A trap that finally heals.

Gyakurescale is an item that calls up the phantom of the dragon once every seven days. I don't think I need ....... No, wait, it seems that if you place a dragon corresponding to <>, it can be strengthened. The romance of the dragon dungeon. ......　I want a labyrinth. For the time being, let's raise the level of [Change Demon] and prepare for when we get it.

The orb is still a reinforcement. Unlike <>, which increases the basic ability of the orb, it does not enhance the basic ability of the orb. It can enhance the attribute of any target, though the enhancement is small.

Usually, attributes cancel each other out, so the number of attributes that can be enhanced is limited. For example, if a fire attribute is 100 and a water attribute is strengthened, the fire attribute tends to be reduced, resulting in a fire attribute of 60 and a water attribute of 5, and so on. It is normal to strengthen the equipment if it is in conflict with one's own attribute.

My most peculiarity is probably that I have all [favorites] and can accept each attribute without offsetting each other. Poison does not have much of an offsetting effect, though. So I will use it on myself as soon as possible.

<. Kikuhime fights with a wide sword and uses it as a shield, so I don't think she needs a sword, even if it is a large sword.　Galahad is also a big sword lover, and although Eagle has the fire attribute, I think that perhaps a different attribute would be more suitable. We should ask Kikuhime and Eagle about it, and if they say they don't want it, we should sell it to the Flame King.

was a poison pot. It is said that the poison can be collected once a day.

Hmmm... What special effect should I put on the sword that Luba gave me? The effects on the list are so varied, from the unusable ones (like a glass of water) to the ones that are very effective but have strict activation conditions.

I exclude the great moves from the list, because there are the "Great Sword of Verus" and the "Great Sword of Asha Sweep". I am tempted to use [Weapon Retention] and overkill all the great techniques of all the weapons at once, but first of all, practicality is the most important factor. I will think about it when I have more slots.

"Is something wrong?"

Cal asked me if I was making a difficult face.

"No, I was wondering about a special effect to put on the sword that Luba gave me.

"That's why you looked so happy."

I suspect he was the one with the smirk on his face!　I'm a little embarrassed.

"Luba, you mean ?　I heard you retired because you were fed up with the mundane world. --I see, so you pulled him out in exchange for the green dragon.

Marlin nods to himself.

"Putting aside the Sword of Verus, is not my master a wizard like me?"

"I'm a magic swordsman."

They call me a magic de swordsman, but I'm a magic swordsman by lineage. He is a magical swordsman, you know?

"......"

Merlin gets a frown on his face.

"Even with Merlin's help, can't you see or read the Lord's current status?"

Cal lets out a rare chuckle.

"......"

Merlin looks at Cal with a vacant stare, a hint of cunning that belies his apparent age.

And Cal, a man of indeterminate age, continues to laugh regardless.

No, why would my profession do that to me?