Volume 4
Side Story 4
A Twisted Bond
Translator : PolterGlast
A section in the
craftsman's district.
In a workshop filled
with the smell of burning coals and heated iron, Mars looks down at the broken
greatsword with a sigh. Across the workbench from him is a burly dwarf.
Wandor Kaul, the owner
of the blacksmith shop, [Flame Hammer], turns away from Mars's gaze and snorts
while folding his arms which are as thick as logs.
"This is
impossible. I can't fix it. This is what happens when you try things beyond
your capabilities."
"I thought
so..."
Dwarves are a
demi-human race that originally lived on the eastern side of the Central
Mountain Range. They are unrivaled in mineral processing and crafting, but have
a stubborn personality. Wandor was no exception, and like most dwarves, he
didn't bother with fancy shops, conducting all his business in the forge.
The shop floor was
stained with iron, and the workbench was littered with oily tools.
Among them, a single,
delicately carved vase stood on the edge of the workbench, oddly catching
Mars's eye. A beautiful lily was blooming inside.
"So, what kind of
sword are you going to use next?"
"Well, let's
see... Sorry, I need to think about it for a bit."
"Tch... I have
something to do today. I'll be putting out the fire in the furnace early. If
you're going to place an order, do it quickly."
Mars left the workshop
to collect his thoughts. As he walked through the craftsman's district, a
glittering shop caught his eye. It was a decoration shop. As the name suggests,
it was a shop that specialized in custom-made decorations for various tools. It
was a business that was highly valued by the aristocrats who had a strong taste
for luxury, but what caught Mars' attention was the appearance of Tima in front
of the store. She was dressed in casual
clothes and carrying her treasured staff.
"Hey, what are
you doing in the craftsman's district, especially in a decoration shop like
this?"
"Oh, hi Mars-kun.
I was thinking of getting my staff adjusted. Mars-kun, why are you here?"
"My sword broke
in that incident, so I had Wandor take a look at it to see if it could be
fixed."
"Ah, the Dwarven
blacksmith. So, did he fix it?"
"No. In the end,
I had to scrap it and make a new one. Well, that's enough about me. Why are you
coming to a decoration shop to have your wand adjusted?"
"Hmm, I could
explain it to you, but it would be faster if you-... shall we go in
together?"
"Ah. Sure."
Surprised by Tima's
unexpected invitation, but going along with it nonetheless, Mars entered the
decoration shop with her.
Inside the tidy shop
was a middle-aged dwarf woman dressed in a beautiful outfit. She was probably
the owner of the shop. Wearing a monocle, she was staring at a ring on a
workbench adorned with intricate and meticulous carvings, but when she noticed
Mars and Tima entering, she stopped and turned around.
"Good afternoon,
Aunt Domine."
"Oya~, Miss Lime.
I never thought you'd bring your boyfriend."
"N-no, t-that's
wr-...!"
"Don't lie.
You're always so indifferent to men, and now you're inviting him
yourself."
"You saw!?"
"It's impossible
for me not to see when you're right in front of my shop."
"What are you
guys talking about?"
"Gosh, nevermind!
The usual please!"
"Alright,
alright, there's no need to be embarrassed. Just give me a minute."
With those words,
Domine took Tima's staff and disappeared into the back of the shop. Mars looked
around the store.
As expected of a
decoration shop, the store was filled with small items like combs and
necklaces, as well as finely crafted furnishings like chairs and wardrobes.
The price of the
furnishings is one thing, but what caught Mars' eye was the fact that all of
them emit a subtle magic power.
"Amazing..."
"Domine is one of
the most skilled magic craftsmen among dwarves. She's one of the people who
made my staff, and before she came to this town, she and her husband were very
popular in the Union."
"Hee..."
Mars's gaze shifted
from small items to larger ones like chairs.
Among them, he was
drawn to a particularly striking object leaning against the wall.
It was a greatsword. A
real sword that could be used in battle. Its size was almost the same as the
greatsword Mars used. But what really caught Mars's eye was the powerful wind
aura coming from it.
"This is a magic
sword, isn't it? And it's a pretty good one too..."
"Oh, that one?
It's junk, but it won't fit in the warehouse. Honestly, it has been sitting
there, getting in the way."
Domine, who had
returned from the back of the store with Tima's staff in her hand after
adjusting it, spoke so.
"My husband sent
it to me when we got married. Seriously, he doesn't understand women's hearts
at all. So I tried to modify it, and now he's mad at me."
"Husband?"
"It's Wandor-san.
They're married."
"We're living
separately, though. A mole who doesn't understand elegance... Here, take this
home with you."
Domine, with a
displeased look on his face, handed the adjusted staff to Tima.
"Hmph. So, what
about your boyfriend over there? Do you want that sword?"
"Honestly, I do.
But I'll pass. It's too much for me right now. If I'm not careful, I might be
the one used by this sword."
"I see... Well,
do your best."
Without denying or
affirming Mars' words, Domine returned to her workbench.
There seemed to be a
hint of relief in the corner of her mouth.
At that moment, the
shop door burst open with a bang. It was Wandor.
"Oi, Mars! How
long are you going to dawdle!? The furnace is getting cold! After making me search all over the place,
you bring me to such a sissy store!"
"I don't want to
hear that from the owner of a rusty shop. If you're not a customer, don't
come!"
And suddenly, they
started quarreling.
While Mars was
surprised by the sudden turn of events, Tima smiled while sighing.
"They argue a
lot, but they actually get along pretty well."
"You think so?...
Ah, I see."
A greatsword without a
price tag and a pretty little vase with lilies that don't fit in the store.
The fact that they both
clearly placed such items within each other's sight meant...
"See? They get
along pretty well, right?"
"Indeed..."
Mars and Tima couldn't
help but smile as they watched the dwarven couple continue their lively
argument.
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