8 months after Makoto's execution.
---------------- Varolon. The Capital of Aurelia. The nearby forest. Night. ----------------
"Oh, my sword is made of Mithril, young man!" Sir Hicks declared proudly as he unsheathed his sword by the campfire, moonlight catching the polished metal. A circle of students leaned closer beneath the deep blue night sky.
"Ohh... it's reflecting the moonlight, even!" Takeshi blurted.
"It's so pretty and clean..." Mika whispered, eyes wide.
"I mean, I use a dagger, so whatever," another student, Shin, muttered. "But yeah, it looks nice."
"Hmh," Sir Hicks nodded with a satisfied smile, "I needed ten gold coins to have it made. That's a four-year salary for you."
"H-huh? Aren't you, like, a big deal in the Royal Guards, Sir Hicks? Being Sir Nickelson's advisor and all..." Sato asked, amazed.
"Hahaha, far less impressive than our Captain, Sir Nickelson, as you know," Hicks said modestly, "but my salary is second only to his within the Guards' ranks. And we both have our own lands and castles! You lot could reach that level with enough discipline and recognition!" His mustache twitched with warmth as he grinned.
Sato and a group of selected students were the last ones of the bunch.
The last ones to be selected to go into a dungeon. The rest of the classroom were all split into groups, and all had been triumphant so far.
'Kazuya's group must've felt really relieved to do it with him... I heard he did it in less than an hour. I guess level 47 is no joke...'
Sato felt disappointed he had failed the Captain in becoming his assistant.
"Ohhhh, I want a castleeeee~~" Mika practically melted forward, leaning on her bow. "And marry the prince or some nice-looking noble where I get to have a bath every day~..."
"Ugh... do not smell my breath," Takeshi sighed, turning his head away from her. "I cannot even remember the last time I brushed my teeth in this fucking world..."
"Gross! Then stay away from me!" Mika shot up dramatically, hopping a step back from him.
"What the fuck is your problem?" Takeshi snapped. "You didn't brush your teeth either! Why are you making such a damn scene!?"
"SO!?" Mika fired back. "Does that mean I have to smell your mouth!?"
"This is insane..." Sato muttered, barely listening, his eyes fixed on the blade in Hicks' hands. "Mithril of this size is worth that much...?!"
"Hmh. Once you've used as many swords as I have, you learn exactly why," Hicks said, rotating the blade so its gleam swept across their faces.
"It slices through even the toughest monsters with ease, and I barely need to bring it in for repairs. I don't have to clean it often, either! It is very convenient."
"Yeah..." Takeshi groaned, rubbing his arm. "Didn't know monster fat... Or, really, any form of grime you get after cutting down an enemy could dull a blade. I started to clean my sword after every fight because of that. Sucks so much. Ahhh... I want a Mithril sword too..." He slumped forward.
"If only there was a skill that could repair your gear, ugh, I'd kill for—" Takeshi cut himself off and held his breath.
Silence fell over the group. In that stillness, the same image surfaced in all their minds: Makoto, standing alone in front of the crystal, then being sentenced to die.
'Right...' Sato lowered his head. 'Makoto had... what was it... Gear Maintenance. And Takeshi laughed at him about it, along with Kazuya and the rest... I think.'
Hicks tilted his head, noticing the sudden heaviness in their expressions.
"Hmhmh," Hicks chuckled, "surely an A-Ranked Dark Knight such as yourself will get something like that if you keep improving."
"Y... yeah..." Takeshi forced a laugh, scratching his hair. "Thank you, sir..."
Sato looked at Takeshi, quietly studying him.
'He's one of Kazuya's groupies and someone who tormented Makoto-kun. But when Kazuya isn't around, especially since we came to this world... he seems...'
Sato's expression softened faintly.
'...a decent guy, actually. Someone you could hang out with.'
"S-say, sir!" Takeshi snapped back to attention. "Is Mithril the strongest metal in the world?"
'If Kazuya saw him asking that, he'd mock him for being a nerd of this world.'
'... And Takeshi would deny it, and call metals stupid as well, a minute later.'
"Well, yes..." Hicks began, clearing his throat, "at least, the strongest one you can actually obtain."
"Huh...?" The students leaned forward. Even the thief, Shin, tuned in.
"There are four metals considered even rarer and far mightier than Mithril." Hicks detailed.
"FOUR!?" they all shouted.
"Indeed," Hicks added, voice dipping lower. "So rare that even with all the coin in this world, you couldn't buy them. Because no one has them. And the few who do would never, ever put a price on them."
He let the silence hang before continuing.
"Mithril is at the top. Then Dwarven-made metals… And then—"
"W-what do you mean? Aren't like, all metals the same?" Takeshi asked.
"Oh yes, they are!" Hicks said, "But dwarves are much, much more capable craftsmen than us humans. A steel sword made by a dwarf could shatter a Mithrill sword made by a human, despite Mithril being much stronger than steel."
"Fucking awesome… I wanna go to a dwarven village someday. Get myself a better sword."
Shin raised his eyebrow at him.
"Huh… Didn't know you were a nerd for swords, Takeshi. That was supposed to be something our 'Sage' said…"
"Shut the fuck up," Takeshi snapped, "I just want a better fucking sword. If a.. Du-wars or whatever can make me a better sword, I'll go there!"
"Sheesh, fine, fine…" Shin sighed.
'There it is… Again.' Sato narrowed his eyes at Shin. Even Mika lowered her head slightly, looking away.
Hicks sighed before continuing.
"... At the pinnacle stands Black Steel. A craftsman's dream. Just a small chunk of it the size of my finger is worth as much as our entire Capital."
"WHAT!?" They all erupted.
"But that doesn't make sense!" Takeshi shot back. "That's not enough to make a sword or a shield!"
"You are correct!" Hicks smiled knowingly. "That's because there's no chance in our world that anyone will find more than that in their whole lifetime. So if, by some cosmic luck, someone does find some... a craftsman will simply mix it into lower-class metal, like Mithril, to reinforce a weapon. There simply isn't enough in existence to forge an entire piece of gear out of Black Steel."
"That's just... Crazy..." Takeshi murmured in awe.
"Now, now," Hicks smiled, gently raising his palms, "I believe we've all overdone it this evening. You all need rest before tackling the dungeon tomorrow. If you've finished eating, get some sleep. That is an order! Mika, Shin; I believe it is your turn to stay watch tonight. Make sure you properly share your shift, alright?" Hicks said with a smile.
"Yes sir." They all chimed.
'Sir Hicks... Is nice,' Sato thought before going over to the large bag they brought, taking out the night-sacks; having to take out some other equipment to take it out.
'Item Storages... Haaah... Apparently they're too luxurious to be given even to us Heroes. If I can help it, before we fight the demon lord and leave this world, I have to get me one. I'd settle with a pouch-sized one...' Sato sighed as he handed each one their night-sack.
As he made it to Takeshi, he let out.
"Man. Sucks that we don't have those item storage things Sir Hicks talked about," Takeshi said in annoyance.
"..." Sato looked at him for a moment, "... I-I suppose. Would've made life a lot easier. I constantly have to carry my spellbook with me. It tore more than once on the smallest of trips, and I even had to replace it a few times."
"UGH, tell me about it!" Takeshi grunted, "I have to constantly carry a whetstone and cloth to clean out blood from my greatsword. I also have to have spare water to clean the cloth... Fuck me," He laid down on the night sack.
"I thought that those other world stuff is like, the ultimate fantasy. S'least is what you nerds made it out to be." He let out as Sato stood there.
'Does he... Want to talk to me?' Sato wondered as he stood.
A distant scoff echoed from Shin.
"Got a problem?" Takeshi challenged, turning to Shin.
"... Nah. I guess an otaku like Sato would know everything about the ultimate fantasies." Shin replied.
"Whatever, man." Takeshi looked away; noticing Sato already going away.
"Fuck're you doin'?" Takeshi said, stopping him, "Siddown. Why you standin'? Going somewhere?"
"N-no reason.. I... Yeah, I'll also sit," Sato muttered before turning around and sitting down next to Takeshi, settling atop his nightsack while looking down.
A moment passed.
"You nerds talked about it like its gospel, actually. So pathetic." Takeshi blurted.
"..." Sato looked down.
Takeshi blinked, swallowing.
"Even that cabbage head read all about it. Didn't he?"
Sato clenched his fist, 'He's already dead... Why can't you just leave him alone?' Sato wondered as he looked down.
Even Mika who stood watch flinched slightly, while the others quietly listened in.
"Didn't he!?" Takeshi said, louder.
"Y-yeah. He did. H-he did..." Sato said, startled.
"...."
And with that, Sato thought that's where this conversation would end.
But to his surprise...
"Fuck's he read about anyway?"
"...?" Sato turned his head, looking at Takeshi. Confused.
"You deaf?" He turned his head, "I asked, like..." Takeshi looked away, to the sky.
"... Specifically. Like, what stories he... Like, y'know, what did he read about the most... I mean... That stuff..."
"...!"
Sato's eyes widened as Takeshi specified what he meant.
'Does he...' Sato looked into Takeshi's unreadable expression, 'want to know more about Makoto?'