83 This Hero and the Smith!

After a few more moments of attempting to wrest myself from his grasp, I decided that I needed strategy instead of power, so in a desperate attempt to get free I turned to the rest of my party. Surely they will help me get out of this, right? This is basically kidnapping!

Unfortunately for me, it seemed as if they were trying to appear as uninvolved as possible. I think Tael is trying to whistle to look unassuming.

Maybe if I use my ability boost power I can break free? It's worth a shot I suppose. I mean, there's no way this smith can have a higher strength stat than me, right?

Ability Boost: Strength! My muscles bulged with power. I could feel a slight heat surge through me as I could feel the energy course through me.

…

Well... That didn't work. How is he this strong? I can't break free! Ah, please stop! Don't drag me in further to your smithee! Please it's starting to hurt my wrist!

"L-Look, Um… Sir! Let me go! It's hot in here!" I finally gave up and started to beg for my freedom. While I hate looking pathetic, I couldn't think of any other method to get out of this and in my experience people take pity on me when I try.

"Hot? It's not hot! This is barely even warm!" He gave a light chuckle as he pulled me in further.

I could feel my skin begin to glisten as sweat began to pour out of me. It's like I'm standing inside of a fire! The waves of heat made visible ripples in the air as I moved around. My breath became uncomfortable. It's as if I am standing in the center of a sauna.

I continued to be dragged by the dwarf. Each turn brought me deeper and deeper into this strange building which is unnaturally large for its exterior size. Every turn I could see different worktables as well as items that appeared in the process of being forged. There were swords, shields, armor, and even a strange object that resembled a sickle. Above all else, the items that were here were all tools of war. I could see crates that appear to be in the process of being loaded. All of them were labeled, such as "Bows. Iron. 100." or "Swords. Steel. 50." I suppose this is truly what a blacksmith should be doing during wartime.

"We're almost... there, lad! Just... stop... resisting me! You'll be there in only a moment!" The smith shouted out past his visor. He had begun jerking me forward as I gained more and more footing.

"Hot as Hell? Nah this ain't nearly that hot, though I do appreciate the compliment!"

Finally, the dwarven smith pushed open a metal door in front of him, revealing a furnace that could only be described as made of lava. Being face to face with this is too much. I can't take it anymore.

"Magic Skin!" I shouted. Quickly, a thin veil of my mana encompassed me as I could feel myself begin to cool. Unfortunately, it seems that the smith didn't appreciate me doing that, as he pulled up his visor to spit at me once more. This time, however, the majority of the spit evaporated before it even reached me, and the rest of it was blocked by my spell.

"You tall freaks and your heat intolerance. 'Oooh waaah! It's hot! I can't stand 150 degrees celsius! Come on Bugder, I haven't had water for 13 hours and I think I'm about to die of dehydration! Waaah!' That's what you all sound like to me. Just a bunch'a wimps!" He quickly flung his visor back down.

We stood in silence for a moment as I tried to process his statement.

"Well? Got any quips?"

"No I… I don't think I do. You have to admit that 50 degrees above boiling is a bit much for a regular person, though."

"Not for a smith! With the mundane class we get immunity to heat from a forge! A REAL smith would get used to it quickly!"

"But I'm not a smith. I just came to deliver a package. Now can you please let go of my wrist before you break my arm? I think my hand is turning purple."

"...Fine. I needed to open the package anyway." He said as he released his vice-like grip. I could immediately feel blood flow resume in my hand as I clutched it softly.

The smith that is apparently named Bugder began tearing into the package like a gorilla. He ripped it apart like it was made of tissue paper despite it having been made of something akin to cardboard. It only took him about a second to get to the contents of the package, which seem to be a letter and a package of… cookies?

"Heh. He knew I love these things. No I'm not sharing them before you ask." He said as he shifted away from me to protect his confections, somewhat similar to a toddler. This image was not helped by the fact that he is the size of a toddler as well. "Well, let's read the letter then, shall we? That's just a saying of course. It's my letter. You're not reading it, tall-boy."

Despite feeling slightly insulted, I decided to leave well enough alone and instead look around the room. Only now did I realize that there are swords that are forging themselves in the furnace. This must be the work of some strange magic. On top of the forge, there is a rune marking that is glowing red. This must be the key to its heat. Other than that, the room is nearly empty, except for the metal desk that holds all the incomplete items, such as sword hilts, blades, and armor pieces.

"Huh. Well that confirms it. That dagger of yours was forged by Gudo alright." Bugder turned to me as he placed the letter into one of his many pockets.

"Uh, I suppose. It's not like I met him or anything."

"Well, when you get back you ought to change that, now shouldn't you? What smith have you been visiting to get your other supplies?"

"Well this sword and armor I got from…" I stopped talking as I began to shudder. I hate even imagining the visage of that man with his bulging eye and lust-filled actions. "Some… random smith. Don't worry about it."

"Well… I can tell your sword is pretty shoddily made. It looks like it will break easily when put under severe stress. Other than that, your armor is just fine." He said as he gave me a quick up and down glance.

"So… I should go to Gudo from now on is what you're saying?"

"Obviously. Now hand me your dagger."

"What are you gonna do to it?"

"Well, since you brought this package all this way and you did it without EXPECTING MONEY, I feel like I owe you a little favor. Give me that dagger and I'll improve it before you head back to Ruks next week. Okay? Don't worry, I won't steal it.���

"You'll improve my dagger for free? What's in it for you?"

"I get to work on adamantite. That's plenty a reason. Of course, I'd rather work on a theoretical ore instead, but adamantite is good enough too."

"Theoretical ores?"

"Just give me the damn dagger before I slap ya."

I quickly handed my blue dagger to the smith. He slowly inspected it once more with a sharp eye that could only come from a true master of their craft.

"Yeah… that's some fine work alright. I'll have this finished up in around 4 to 5 days time. I promise you that. In the meantime, you should leave so I can get to work. I have orders to fulfill and you being here is taking away from my time." He said as he began to shove me out of the sweltering building back outside.

After only a few moments, I had been shoved out of the stone carved smithee. Bugder clapped his hands together and shouted out an "Alright!" I could hear the door behind me lock as I stood up.

"So… How'd that go?" Tael awkwardly approached me to ask.

"About as well as your whistling. Come on. We're going to the hot springs now."

"Oh, uh… I'll pass on that." Kany quickly interjected.

"What? Kany I thought you said you were looking forward to them!" Erana made no effort to hide her surprise.

"Heh… well I just um…" She shuffled around awkwardly as she seemed to shrink slightly.

"I kinda don't have any money to go to the hot springs." She muttered.