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"Honestly, Emir, I think you're something like my lucky charm..." says Erick in a cheerful, joking tone, as he admires the fruit of his labor.
'Haha...
Oh, Erick, you'll never know how true those words are...
It seems that this time Luck really did work in my favor...
But I'm not going to get used to that.'
On the anvil is a huge rectangular shield, 1.70 meters high and 90 centimeters wide, with various details and reliefs, which seems designed to stop any type of attack in its tracks.
In the center of the protective object, on the side designed to stop impacts, there is a series of sharp reliefs that form a cross ending in a spike about 15 centimeters long.
The sharp accessory is intended to give the shield a little offensive capability.
But those features are nothing compared to what I can perceive with my interface.
[Tempered Steel tower shield] [Slot: (Physical Shield+) (Magical Shield+)]
A shield with 4 rune slots!
"... I confess that when I saw the number of blue lines appearing on the steel, I allowed myself to feel a little bit of hope, as that is usually a sign that the result will be good..."
With this shield, anyone can be virtually invulnerable to damage.
It's true that it's damn big and heavy, so not just anyone could use it.
But that's not a problem for me or my girls.
"... That's why I decided to make it enormous and add so many details. But even in my wildest dreams, I never imagined I would be able to make something like this."
"I told you you could do it. It was just a matter of time," I say with a cheerful smile, seeing that the blacksmith's spirits are back to normal.
"Yes... I guess you were right all along to trust me... Thank you. Thank you so much for that. If it weren't for that trust, I wouldn't have been able to create this beauty..." says Erick as he reverently caresses the intricate details and reliefs on the surface of the shield.
"... Now I regret not using a rarer metal. But that would have greatly reduced the chances of success... No. This shield is perfect as it is. This is my masterpiece."
"I hope that doesn't prevent you from selling it to me," I say with a somewhat nervous laugh, seeing the almost paternal affection with which Erick admires his creation.
"Nah... That would be silly and disrespectful on my part..." says Erick, looking away for the first time in several minutes from the image of the absurd object he created to look me straight in the eye.
"... I would never have been able to achieve this if it weren't for you. However, the thing we are going to have to discuss in a little more detail is the price I'm going to put on it."
"Hahaha... Don't worry. Money won't be a problem," I say with a relieved smile.
"Yeah, I figured you'd say that..." Erick says with a smile similar to mine.
"... There are times when I'd like to find out what your secret is for that, but I guess it's because, as you said a few hours ago, you're not like most people."
"You hit the nail on the head. It's something only I can do," I say, my smile tightening slightly, unsure of how much I should say, as the memory of the story my parents told me about the three wise men flashes through my mind.
'Erick has been my friend since I arrived in the capital...
But a secret like this could test our friendship...
Haa... Even so, I think he has more than earned the right to know a few more things about me...
After all, he's known since he met me that I can see things that the rest of the world can't.'
"Thanks for confirming that for me. Don't worry, I don't need to know any more. Your secret is safe with me..." says Erick, who seems to realize the internal conflict I'm having, so he decides not to pursue the subject further.
"... Well, as I was saying, it's difficult to put a price on something like this. As far as I know, this shield is one of a kind..."
'Haa...
I guess everything good comes at a price...
I just hope I have enough money right now...
It's been a while since I've turned any runes into money.'
"... It's something worthy of being called a national treasure. Something of such special significance... I'm sorry, Emir, but I can't sell it for less than 14 white gold coins."
'Damn, I don't think I have that much money right now.'
"That amount is..." I say hesitantly, frowning as I calculate the amount of coins I have in my inventory.
"I really can't sell it for less. In fact, I know I would get a lot more if I put it up for auction... But that would be very mean of me," says Erick with a sad look, seeing my thoughtful expression and misinterpreting it.
"It's okay. The amount isn't a problem, Erick. It's just that I don't think I have that much money right now," I say, realizing that the sum of silver coins and gold coins I have in my inventory is only worth a little more than five white gold coins.
"Ahhh..." Erick says with a relieved tone.
"... That was never a problem between us. Pay me what you can now and pay me the rest later."
"Really?..." I ask, very surprised.
"... A sum of money like this is—"
"I trust you, kid..." Erick says, interrupting me.
"... We've known each other for a while, and I know you're a person who pays his debts. Besides, in the worst-case scenario, I remind you that I know where you live, so you won't be able to escape your debt."
He says those last words in a joking tone with a carefree smile on his face, but then he frowns momentarily with a troubled look.
"What's wrong?" I ask curiously.
"No... I was just thinking it would be wonderful if, every so often, you could lend me the shield for a few days... I know it's a strange request. But I'd like to show it to my friends and colleagues," Erick says cautiously.
'Hahaha... The rascal wants to show off what he's created to his friends.'
"Don't worry about it, Erick. As you said, we're friends. I can bring it to you on the weekends if you want," I say, trying to hold back a smile.
'He's almost like a little kid who wants to show his parents what he's accomplished.'
"In exchange for that favor, I'll polish it and maintain it for free... Although... Now that I think about it, you've never brought me any of the things you bought for me to take care of them," says Erick, his voice lowering as he speaks and his brow furrowing in confusion.
"They don't need it. It's also part of... my peculiarities..." I say as I glance for a moment at Jack, who is fast asleep sitting in the chair where he lay down to rest after helping his master make the shield.
"... It's not that I take them to another blacksmith. You're the only and the best blacksmith I know."
That's not entirely true.
But the reality is that I have no intention of going back to the blacksmith I went to buy Beatrice's combat equipment from.
"Haha... I'm glad you haven't been cheating on me with the competition. But I'm even more glad that you agreed to my request. Displaying this marvel in my store can greatly increase my prestige as a metal craftsman," explains Erick as he strokes the huge shield again.
'Ahh, sure... That makes a lot more sense.'
"I'm glad to hear it. Hmm, sorry to change the subject, but before I forget, I'd also like to buy a few more things from you besides the shield," I say, suddenly remembering the combat equipment I promised to buy for Melisa right after she went to a labyrinth for the first time, which I should have had ready before she left for Drial Cenit.
'Damn... I'm an idiot... Haa... But I guess it's better late than never.'
"Okay. As you can see, lately I don't have much to sell apart from a ridiculous amount of shields, but I still have some things left that I didn't put on display so I wouldn't run out of stock completely..." says Erick as he looks at a door in the room, which is not the one we used to enter and which surely leads to the store's warehouse.
"...Now that my schedule is free again, I'll finally be able to make those two swords you mentioned to me once. I hope this time it won't be so hard to fulfill your order."
"Ahh... That. I don't need them anymore. One of them was for Alessia, but a while ago I bought your grandfather the sword with three slots that I had used as a down payment to make sure he wouldn't sell Alessia," I explain apologetically.
"Ahh... That's fine. It would have been a shame for a weapon like that to be used only for display," Erick said with a nostalgic smile.
"Yes, your grandfather said something similar when he sold it to me..." I said as I tapped Zariche lightly, which hung from my waist.
"... The other sword was for me, but I've already found a weapon that I'm happy with for now."
Erick looks at Zariche curiously for a few moments, but his expression gradually clouds over the longer he looks at him, and he quickly looks away from the sword as a visible shiver runs down his spine.
"Be careful with that sword, Emir. I don't really know how to explain it, but I don't have a favorable feeling about it," says Erick as he looks closely at the shield, appreciating every detail, as if he wants to erase the memory of Zariche.
"Yes. I know exactly what you mean. I wish I had been as wise as you the first time I saw it... But don't worry. I have it under control," I say, feeling the slight contempt and mockery coming from Zariche at my words.
'We have a deal, don't we?' I say to the cursed sword.
'I didn't say anything,' says Zariche, but instantly I stop perceiving his feelings.
"If you say so, then I guess it must be true..." says Erick hesitantly.
"... After all, you were right to trust me to make this extraordinary shield."