Though Fabio made the armor, he believed that the person was the most important in the end.
Weed's eyes lit up.
“Please give me the Pauldrons of the Iron Wheel.”
“The Pauldrons of the Iron Wheel? Even among armor, that's an severe item with an offensive build… No, besides that, isn't it impossible for you to use it because of the level and profession requirements?”
In the middle of asking the question, Fabio looked like he himself had just found the answer.
“No. Seems like you can use it.”
“That's so.”
“Alright. I'll give it to you.”
Fabio changed the evaluation he'd made of Weed. He noted that Weed's Blacksmithing skill was considerable and that he was an extremely high-level user.
'Since he dared to ask for that, he's a guy with ample boldness. No shame either. I shouldn't have asked him to choose anything.'
As he mentally grumbled, he swore quite a bit too. That was because even out of the armor he had made, the Pauldrons of the Iron Wheel was at the peak of his works.
As Weed collected presents, he reached Herman as well. His body staggered and he was unable to steady himself.
“You're very drunk.”
“I am not.”
“Will you receive my beer too.”
“Anytime.”
Weed guzzled down the beer. Then, Herman took out a pair of earrings.
“Maryong's Earrings. It's an item that has the effect of amplifying Mana.”
As an advanced accessory, effects of attacks that used Mana were amplified, so this was an extremely valuable item for not only Magicians, but everyone.
At the very least, it was an item worth 30 thousand gold.
“Thank you.”
“No. More importantly, there's something I want to ask…”
Weed's head dropped down, then, as if he'd suddenly come to, quickly raised it.
“W-What is it?”
This was a slack appearance of Weed that wouldn't ordinarily be seen.
Weed's efforts to stay in control by sheer force were obvious to the eye.
A smile formed on Herman's lips.
“I'm not trying to say something all that important, but what do you think about the mission of the Sculptor?”
“The mission?”
“I have a certain mission as a Blacksmith. Because of that, I'm making an effort to make one specific sword, but it's not easy. You probably have some kind of mission as a Sculptor as well… hey!”
In the middle of talking, Herman tched. It was because Weed's head had been falling down inch by inch and then completely folded forward.
“Look here!”
“Mmm-yeah.”
Weed must've fallen into a deep sleep, because he could not come to.
Herman looked over the area and found Dwarves tipsily drinking beer, same as ever. He saw many Dwarves who were so drunk that they'd spread-eagled their short two arms and legs and fallen asleep.
'Well, it figures that he's down after drinking one glass each from all those Dwarves.'
Herman shook his head back and forth.
“Pin, will you help me a bit? Grab that side a little.”
“Yes.”
“Now, let's move him.”
Then together with Pin, they laid Weed in a corner.
The drinking party looked like it would be going all through the night, and there were many Dwarves holding a glass of alcohol who came looking for him, so Herman was deeply immersed in conversation.
And then at some point, when he turned around he felt something was missing.
Weed, who had collapsed and fallen asleep because of his intoxication, had disappeared like magic!
“Oh, where'd this guy go?”
Herman hurried and searched.
“Is there any Dwarf who saw Art Hand?”
One dwarf pointed towards the exit leading above ground with his finger.
“He left that way earlier.”
“That—!”
Herman's tipsiness completely flew away. Then he hurriedly whispered Weed.
— Look here!
— …
— Look here!
After calling him several times, Weed's reply came through.
— Yes, Grandpa Herman.
— Humhum! Have you sobered up?
— No, not yet. I think I'm gonna die from nausea.
— It must be tough after drinking that much. Alright, when are you planning to come back.
— I was going to go aboveground to get some fresh outside air.
Even as Weed was replying, he was running toward the coal mine and was quickly making his escape.
He'd completely seen through it — he'd seen that the Dwarves had no inclination to pay as they drank the beer.
'Then it was arranged to have me pay this money.'
He didn't let his guard down even as he drank.
And the escape that utilized exquisite timing!
— Look here, how can you just leave like this?
— Why not. I thought the farewell party was pretty much over.
— That… You have to pay for the drinking tab.
— What did you say? Was I supposed to pay for that?
Weed sent the whisper with a tone that said that was ridiculous. It was a bewildering moment for Herman. Weed spoke again.
— You should have told me sooner, sir. If you had done so I would have paid before I left.
— Ahem. How about returning even now and paying. The drinking tab… let's see, it should be a little over 3,500 gold.
For them to have drunk over 3,000 gold of beer, it was something impossible if not for the Dwarves' stupidly enormous drinking ability.
— I have already left for the road, so how can I return.
— Even so…
— How about we do it like this. Please pay for it for now, Grandpa Herman. Next time I'll repay you.
— Sh-should we do that.
— Yes.
— Looks like we'll have to do that then. Alright. Later on you have to repay me for sure.
— Don't worry. Who am I? Hahaha!
— Ha, haha.
Weed came out of Kuruso Kingdom and arrived at Iron Hand Village to turn in the quest.
As a Sculptor, when he left the kingdom he was required to offer 1 sculpture, so he took out the parrot sculpture that he usually carved and had kept with him.
Compared to the Sculptor Weed's fame, it was a truly small item!
Although the sculpture would stay in Kuruso as something Weed had made, he had no interest in that kind of honor.
“Did you hear? The Resurrection Church has finally captured even the Phenomph Region.”
“Huh. That's really terrible.”
“Who can stop them? If this keeps up, even capturing the Versailles Continent is not far in the future.”
Weed also heard the conversation of the Dwarves in Iron Hand Village.
The powerful Resurrection Army that Daymond led was menacing the Versailles Continent.
Earlier they had avoided a monster swarm invasion, drought, and a flood, but Daymond's invasion this time was becoming the greatest crisis of the Versailles Continent.
The Dwarves whispered.
“They say that the kingdoms have decided to make their move.”
“They're going to form a league and block the Resurrection Army.”
“They must be fretting 'cause the Army is gonna cross over to their land too.”
“There's no need for other words, 'cause they've hung a 60 thousand gold bounty on Day's head.”
This talk was a topic in the Dark Gamer guild too.
60 thousand gold was an enormous sum. It was enough to get people aiming for a quick fortune and encouraged Daymond's assassination.
However, it was difficult to sneak through by routing the Demonic Spirts' attention, and there was also a lot of talk about waiting because of predictions that Daymond's bounty would increasingly rise.
“To get a somewhat stable income, chaos that's too drastic isn't good…”