CH 27

With the black-haired girl in a daze, I begin the final step of the crafting process.

I scrap and sharpen the fallen forest stone with a nearby rock to make an arrowhead.

I shape a Mean Bird Feather and attach it to the back of the shaved arrow. ……

===========

Hiroeda and Mean Bird Wood Arrows

Quantity 10

Quality Level 18 (Material Level 5 + Dexterity Bonus 3 + Occupation Bonus 10)

Arrows made from the feathers of Hiroeda and Mean Bird, and forest stone.

Excellent accuracy due to various bonuses.

===========

Un, it’s not bad for something I made on the spur of the moment.

After checking the results, I present the girl with a bundle of ten arrows.

“Here, I’ll pay you back tenfold. If it’s not enough, I’ll make more.”

“Th-, thank you, so much…”

The girl receives the arrows with both hands as if she is being bewitched by a fox.

Her language and gestures are elegant, so she’s probably a young lady like Monaka.

And then my gaze is caught by the bow she was holding at her side.

“Hey, isn’t that a ‘Seikyu’?”

I’ve been watching your stance, and you’re a user of the ‘Kyudo’ skill, right?”

If that’s the case, the bow you use must be the ‘East Bow’.”

The archery skill differs from region to region, with “Kyujutsu” originating in the western countries and “Kyudo” originating in the eastern countries.

It is the same to use a bow and arrows to shoot a target, but the tools and techniques are completely different.

The girl answers with an expression of uncertainty.

“What? Oh, this one is …… made by a woodworker from another class. ……”

I take the bow from her half-heartedly, “Let me borrow it.”

It is so shabby that it does not need to be appraised.

“Really, it doesn’t matter how much of a woodworker you are, you’re just making it up as you go along. ……”

I couldn’t take it anymore, so I look around for materials.

“What are you planning to do with it?”

“I’m going to make a bow for you.”

“What?” While the girl blinked her eyes, I cut off a thick tree branch and sharpen it with a stone knife.

===========

Shinarigi Wood (Small)

Quantity 1

Quality Level 16 (Material Level 3 + Dexterity Bonus 3 + Profession Bonus 10)

Soft and bendy wood.

It is suitable for wooden weapons because it is difficult to break due to various bonuses.

===========

“Oh, that’s wonderful. …… It’s like magic. ……

It’s just that the shape and length of the bow is exactly the same as the one I used to use!”

The girl’s dark eyes finally shine like jewels, instead of being confused.

“That’s right. The west bow has a symmetrical shape, but the east bow has an asymmetrical shape.

If you’re a beginner, you’ll find the west bow easier to use, but if you’re used to the east bow, you’ll find it harder to use.”

While I am talking about it, the main body, the bow handle, is made.

All that is left to do is to tie the “daijazuru thread” that I have brought along as a wire to make a string. ……

===========

Shinarigi Wood Bow

Quantity 1

Quality level 46 (material level 33 + dexterity bonus 3 + occupation bonus 10)

An eastern bow made of Shinarigi and Daijazuru.

It is light and strong, and has excellent power and accuracy.

===========

The girl has a look of admiration on her face.

“Oh, splendid, …… too, splendid, ……!”

A bow of this quality is rarely found in my country!”

“I see. Arrows are consumable, but bows are meant to be used for a long time, so I was very particular about the materials I chose. Here we go.”

I check the quality of the bow and hand it to the girl.

The girl looks as if her cheeks are pinched from both sides by a fox and a raccoon.

“What? I can’t accept such a magnificent bow from someone I’ve never met before!”

“It’s okay, I made it because I wanted to.”

I saw your stance and understood. This is the right bow for you.”

Just try it and you’ll see.”

“Yes, yes, …….”

The girl receives the bow in a dreamy state.

She fixes an arrow, and squeeze it.

… Pikarii!

It’s a beautiful pose. ……

But I didn’t miss her white fingertips that were about to release the arrow.

“Wait, you’re feeling a little light-headed, aren’t you?

Take a deep breath and calm your mind.”

She huffs, as if coming to her senses.

She closes her eyelids, lets her chest rise and fall with a sigh, and then opens her eyes with a snap.

Shyupaaaan!

A blinding flash of light scatters the treetops of the forest.

The arrow, like a ray of light, pierced the Mean Bird that was perched on the branch without giving it time to fly away.

“Piggy!” It groans as a scream reaches me.

“I’m impressed with your one-hit kill. I knew you were …….”

The next thing I know, the girl is lying face down at my feet.

With the hakama sleeves and long black hair spread on the ground, she has her hands under her head and is bowing deeply.

“What’s wrong?” When I ask her, she says with her forehead on the ground.

“My name is Kotone, and I’m from Class 1-19.”

Please take me as your disciple!”

Class 1-19 is led by a girl who is a “Miko”.

It’s the same as Monaka’s Class 1-2, and seems to be made up entirely of female students.

Kotone’s tone is decisive.

“You made a bow that feels like a part of my body just by looking at my stance…

In fact, you even saw through the confusion in my mind!”

She looks up quickly and looks at me with an uncanny expression.

“Please, Master! I won’t move even a little bit until you makes me your disciple!”

This is the first time in my life I’ve ever heard someone say “Master”.

I have no intention of taking an apprentice, but I chose my words to see what I could say to convince her.

“Hmmm, disciples are a bit ……. I’d be happy to give you some advice when I see you from time to time.”

“‘Adobaisu’, is it ……?

“Yes. It’s like advice.”

“Yes, sir. So, if Master finds me worthy, he’ll make me his disciple!

I’ll do my best to be worthy of Master’s approval!”

“No, that’s not it. ……”