Chapter 99.1 - The Second Year at the Academy - Distant Mentor (1)


    Two days afterpleting the ranch request, I spent a full day of rest before heading into town wearing leather armor.


    My goal was to repair the leather armor.


    In hindsight, the leather armor didn''t prove very useful in this recent battle.


    Any armor is weak against piercing attacks.


    Under the influence of Laniel''s [Earthen Breath], my beloved leather armor suffered significant damage to the arms and legs.


    However, unless there''s a good reason, it''s dangerous to remove armor, as you never know what might happen.


    I had to ept it as a consumable item.


    Also, the reason I didn''t immediately take it for repair wasn''t due to fatigue.


    It was because Icked the motivation.


    Throughout the previous day of rest, I pondered on this reason.


    Truth be told, when us cleanly sliced through my armor, I experienced a simr sensation.


    Afterward, I took the damaged sword to the Larsen Trading Company, where I had purchased the armored rhino, and entrusted its repair to a skilled craftsman even superior to Selene.


    It eventually got restored, but for some reason, I felt dissatisfied.


    Wearing it didn''t feel ufortable.


    And at the time, I thought it was just my imagination.


    And now, with it damaged again, suspicions arose.


    While lounging in the living room, I suddenly realized.


    It was the finish and the repair costs.


    It wasn''t that the Larsen Trading Company charged exorbitant fees.


    The prices were fair, and the repairs were wless.


    The disparityy with my acquaintance, the decorative artisan Katie.


    I had seen her take on repairs before, and her prices were unusually low.


    However,pared to the craftsmen at the Larsen Trading Company, there wasn''t much difference in skill to justify the gap in cost.


    After realizing this, I deliberated for a while and decided to entrust Katie with the repairs.


    Even if slightly inferior, she was a skilled craftsman.


    "Oh, Altair-kun. It''s been a while."


    As I entered the workshop, Katie greeted me with a smile.


    I nodded lightly and returned the greeting.


    "Long time no see. Are you organizing documents?"


    "Yeah. It''s a pain, but if I don''t do it now, I''ll regret itter."


    Katie nced through the parchment and sorted them.


    "So, what brings you here today? Another workshop――don''t even say it, okay?"


    "No, I came for a job request."


    I ced arge bag on the counter.


    Katie set aside the documents and inspected the leather armor.


    "You got quite a beating again. Did you get stabbed by a spear?"


    "It was [Earth Bolt]."


    "I see. Magic can be scary, huh?"


    I had informed Katie and Narubano that I was doubling as an adventurer.


    Of course, I kept it confidential.


    Honestly, even if they found out, the impact would be minimal.


    Respectfully, their connection to the upper world was thin.


    While pointing at the leather armor, I exined to Katie.


    "This is a cowhide armor reinforced with Eras Rhino leather. ording to the creator, repairs should be sufficient with cowhide, but if Eras Rhino leather is needed, I can provide it――"


    Feeling a sense of incongruity, I cut off my words.


    When I looked up, Katie''s behavior seemed strange.


    But, she had her face close to the leather armor, frozen in ce.


    Perhaps something was bothering her.


    And for several seconds, Katie remained motionless.


    She opened her mouth in a whisper.


    "What is this…?"


    "Huh?"


    I leaned in, squinting.


    Katie was staring at the fasteners that secured the leather armor.


    "Oh, that. It seems like the engraver did whatever they liked."


    "Whatever they liked…?"


    Katie''s voice trembled, and suddenly, she leaned forward.


    "Whatever they liked!? Don''t you understand the greatness of this!? Different engravings on each fastener! Moreover, it all forms a connected story! This is a heroic tale!"


    Startled by her fervor, I stumbled back.


    So, that rascal Rag did something like that.


    I only thought the design looked a bit different.


    Katie grabbed my shoulders and pulled me closer.


    "Who did this!? Who created this masterpiece!?"


    "Too close. The one who engraved it is Ragnidig, the engraver from Reedwald, a dwarf."


    "Ragnidig-sama! An artist of this caliber was buried in obscurity! I''ll leave it to you while I''m away!"


    "Wait a minute."


    I said, grabbing Katie''s cor as she tried to dash out.


    "If you go there suddenly, you''ll definitely get turned away."


    "I can ovee it with my passion!"


    "No, you can''t. His stubbornness is ingrained. Besides, what about the jobs you''re currently handling? Do you think a craftsman who neglects their work will be epted?"


    Katie came to a sudden stop.


    "Even if you go, finish your current work first. And Rag is quite skilled. You won''t even get a hearing until you prove your abilities."


    "Ugh… that''s true. I don''t have skills surpassing his teachings…"


    Katie slumped.


    She had been deified quite a bit.


    I''d like to see Rag''s reaction.


    "Anyway, please repair the leather armor for now. Feel free to observe as much as you want during that time."


    "Oh, right!"


    Once again, Katie pounced on the leather armor, inspecting it closely.


    "By the way, there are also a sword and a cape that Lag worked on."


    "Will you sell them!?"


    Katie''s head turned around. A bit creepy.


    "No, you can''t. They''re precious items. But I can lend them――"


    Hold on, lend?


    I gazed at Katie with dted pupils.


    Well, it could be mutually beneficial.


    "Actually, during lectures, I''ve left valuables at the guild. If you''re willing, could you take care of them all at once?"


    "Of course! Please bring them to me right away! No, I''ll go get them now!"


    I restrained Katie as she tried to dash out again and headed to the adventurer''s guild to pick up the Kousei Sword and the Stiletto.


    I hadn''t nned to go outside for a while, so I left them there for safekeeping.


    I also stopped by my home to collect the Azure Mantle.


    As I arranged them together, Katie had a blissful expression.


    If Battle Axe of Destruction was still with Selene, the Azure series would be almostplete.


    Katie looked like she was about to faint.


    That side seems more outstanding as a work of art.


    I was worried about whether she would properly fix the leather armor, but after emphasizing the importance, I left the workshop.


    On the way, I passed by Narubano''s cksmith shop.


    Many top-notch artisans I had encountered so far were entric.


    Katie, being of the same kind, might be one of Selene''s top artisans in the future.


    As I nced at the cksmith shop, I recalled the encounter with Narubano. When he saw the Kousai Sword, he tly refused to handle it with all his might.


    If it were Katie, she would have had the opposite reaction.


    Even if I refused, she would have begged to see it.


    The sound of the hammer striking the metal resonated peacefully.


    Perhaps Narubano should be more greedy.


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