Lizetta enters the guild''s workshop (atelier), curling her carefully combed hair around her fingers.


    (Hmmm.... Today is the day Roland-san is coming. I have to appeal to him as much as I can.)


    Hey. Lizetta."


    Hi, Lizetta. You''re looking better than ever today.


    Oh, Edgar, Charles. Good morning. Hey. Is Mr. Roland here already?"


    Edgar and Charles look at each other and grin wickedly.


    "We''ve lost our cooperation with the ''Golden Eagle''!"


    Lizetta said, sounding upset.


    ''What''s that? What do you mean?　Why on earth would it be so sudden ......"


    He said it was a fake.


    Fake?"


    It''s identity fraud. He''s a fraud.


    I knew something was fishy from the start.


    (Fake ...... that guy?)


    You were trying to get him to give you a job.


    I''m sorry to hear that. I guessed wrong."


    They giggle and laugh at each other.


    And where''s that guy?　Where is Roland now?"


    Lizetta asked in desperation.


    I think they have an alchemy guild on the outskirts of town," she said.


    An alchemy guild?


    Yes. I believe the name of the guild is ...... ''Arsenal of Spirits''?"


    I don''t know what the hell you want to do. Are you just guessing?


    ...... yes."


    Lizetta turns on her heel and heads for the exit.


    ''Hey, where are you going?''


    She didn''t answer it, but quickly left the room and closed the door with a loud, gruff thud.


    Tsk. What the hell? That guy.


    Leave it alone. It''s just a tantrum.


    After leaving the "Dragon''s Fireside," Lisetta headed straight for the "Arsenal of Spirits.


    (Whether Roland is really a fake or not. (I''ll see with my own eyes if Roland is really a fake.)


    Roland was also conducting interviews.


    (Extend Aina''s endurance (toughness). However, it is impossible for her to solve this problem by herself at present. We need to find someone with the skills and status to compensate for her weaknesses.)


    As the interview process was underway, a suitable candidate emerged.


    He was a young man with a tall, stout build and, despite his physique, a mild expression on his face.


    Status of Roddy Leavitt


    Arm strength (power): 60-80


    Endurance (toughness): 60-90


    Agility: 30-40


    Physical strength (stamina): 60-80


    (Found. Endurance (Toughness) Class A. (And ......)


    [Roddy Leavitt''s skills


    Ore Refining": C to B


    Metal Forming": D → C


    Product Design: D → A


    Silversmithing: E to C


    ("Product Design" also has A-class potential)


    My name is Roddy. My name is Roddy, and I''m here because the guild I work for now pays too little to support my brothers and sisters.


    I see. If you come to our company, we will pay you the salary as stated in the application guidelines. We will also help you improve your skills. However, we would like you to sub for us at first.


    I''m fine. If you hire me at this salary, I will do anything, even subbing.


    I understand. Then can you come tomorrow right away?"


    Yes!


    The interview was terminated that day.


    On the way to the workshop (atelier), Aina was walking, remembering yesterday.


    （Yesterday, I couldn''t meet my quota. (I didn''t meet my quota yesterday, so I have to work harder today to make 10 C swords.)


    Aina took a deep breath in front of the entrance door of the workshop (atelier) and opened the door.


    Good morning," she said. I look forward to working with you today. What?


    Aina opened the door to her workshop with a cheerful greeting, but when she noticed that Roland and a strange man were there, she cracked her eyes open.


    Good morning, Aina. You''re looking feisty."


    Oh, Mr. Roland, good morning. Um, ......, who is that guy?"


    Let me introduce you. I''d like to introduce you to Roddy, who will be working in our studio starting today.


    Oh, hi.


    Roddy bows his head.


    Nice to meet you," he says.


    Aina also bows her head.


    Aina, he will be your sub.


    What?　Sub?　For me?"


    Yes," he said. Is there a problem?"


    I''m not sure. I wondered if it was okay. I''m not sure if it''s okay for you to spend that kind of money on me. I''m only half a man.


    No problem. You deserve it!"


    Aina was taken aback by the way Roland said it.


    (Great confidence. It''s as if he''s convinced I''m going to grow ......)


    ''Well then, let''s get started. Aina, I''m going to need you to make 10 C-class swords today."


    Yes."


    Roddy, you are Aina''s support. First, I want you to work on putting this iron on the table. Also, follow Aina''s instructions to fine-tune the location and angle of the steel so that it will be easier for her to mold.


    I''m not sure what to expect. Is that all?"


    The rest of the time, when my hands are free, is spent boxing up the finished product and preparing the next piece of steel to be struck. One point I would like to make is to support Aina so that she can concentrate on molding as much as possible. I want to improve her skills in ''metal forming.


    I understand. I''m good at that kind of heavy work, so please leave it to me.


    Aina, you must concentrate on the molding work. If you have any orders, don''t hesitate to ask him.


    Yes, sir.


    I guess that''s about it for now. Well then. I''ll leave the details of the work to you two. Talk to each other about it.


    Yes."


    The two immediately set to work.


    Roddy put the steel on the workbench, and Aina hammered the steel to form and attach it.


    (Okay. The work of hardening the iron into one piece is finished. Next, we need to shape it.)


    Aina beats and shapes the steel light spots that can be seen by her skill "Metal Forming".


    (!　(The strike point is off.)


    Can you please shift the iron?　This part should come here."


    I understand. Is this okay?"


    Yes, sir. Ok."


    Aina strikes for a while and the light spot shifts again.


    Next time, turn it over.


    Good.


    And so they proceeded with their work.


    At first their joint work was awkward, but soon they were in sync, and Roddy was moving the iron without Aina''s direction.


    The two of them worked together like a pair of rice cake pounders, and the sword was made.


    (I see. This way, I don''t get too tired. (I see. This is less tiring than working alone, but I can concentrate on the "metal molding" more!)


    Roland continued to watch them work.


    (Sword C5. Yesterday, Aina''s arm strength (power) and endurance (toughness) really started to decline around this time. ......)


    [Aina''s status


    Arm strength (power): 40-50


    Endurance (toughness): 20-30


    Agility: 60-70


    Stamina: 50 (↓20) - 70


    （Only strength (stamina) is down. Okay, no problem. (I can do this.)


    As Roland watches them, Saki offers tea, just as she did yesterday.


    Here you go."


    Saki. I see. Is it time for tea already?"


    Oh?"　I see you have a new addition to your group. I should have brought another cup."


    It''s fine. As long as there is enough for those two. I''ll hold off for today."


    One, two, three, four......, now you are on your eighth sword? Aina, you don''t look tired today.


    Yeah, Roddy''s support has taken some of the load off of Aina.


    (After all, the extra work other than "metal molding" was damaging her endurance (toughness), wasn''t it?)


    Endurance (toughness) was a status that was removed by being attacked by monsters and other objects, but if too low, it could be removed even by normal work alone.


    It''s going to take more time and cost more than usual, but I''m sure this will ......


    Eventually, the iron for making the tenth sword of the day is placed on the table.


    (This is ...... the last!)


    Aina swings down the hammer, and the tenth sword, C, is ready.


    Ya, I did it. It''s done.


    Aina exclaimed in admiration as she wiped the sweat from her forehead.


    Wow. Amazing.


    Saki applauded.


    Roland-san, we''ve made ten C swords.


    I''m not sure I''m going to be able to do it. I was confident in my ability to do hard work, but this is really hard. My muscles are sore.


    Aina and Roddy come running up to Roland.


    Aina and Roddy ran up to Roland. Well done, but ......"


    Roland looks at Aina without blinking.


    ?"


    Let''s ...... do a little more today."


    Roland ......?"


    So, why don''t we take a tea break for some energy?"


    Saki said as she held up the pot.


    Aina and Roddy sat down on chairs for a moment to enjoy the tea.


    After a short break, they once again put their swords to the test.


    (I wonder what''s going on, Mr. Roland. (What''s going on, Roland? Suddenly you have an additional job. (What''s wrong with you, Roland? You usually take care of me so that I don''t work too hard.)


    Aina frowns and continues to hammer the iron.


    Roland appraised Aina''s skills.


    He could see it in her eyes.


    Signs of her growth.


    Aina''s skill improvement conditions


    Sword creation: 0/1


    Roland''s skills, "Skill Appraisal" and "Cultivation" can be combined to notice rare opportunities for skill improvement.


    (The flag for skill improvement has been raised. If she completes one more sword, her skills will be ......)


    Suddenly, Aina''s eyes saw the sword glowing in a way she had never seen before.


    (What?　(What? What? )


    Aina flinched.


    What''s wrong?"


    Roddy looks into Aina''s face quizzically.


    No, it''s that ......"


    （I wonder what it is. (I''m not sure, but it''s this part that is luminous. If I sharpen this part, it looks like I can make a better sword?)


    Aina!"


    Roland called out.


    ''Fine. Do as you please. You''ve done your quota for today.


    Aina hesitated for a moment, then let go of the hammer and took out a chisel.


    Aina?"


    Roddy. I''m going to sharpen this part here, so hold it up.


    Aina stands the chisel on the luminous part of the sword and swings the hammer down.


    The sword breaks unusually cleanly.


    This is ......


    Roddy blinked.


    (It''s only been shaved a little, but it clearly shines differently from the swords I''ve seen before. This is ......)


    The power of the sword has increased."


    Roland said.


    [Sword status.


    Power: 70


    Durability: 50


    Weight: 50


    Power 70 (Class B)!　Looks like Aina''s ''metal molding'' has gone up a notch."


    My skill set is ......."


    Aina involuntarily stares at her palm.


    (Indeed, ......, there was a response. But how is this possible after yesterday''s ......)


    [Aina''s skills


    Metal Forming": B (up)


    "Good."


    Roland lifts his sword.


    I think I''ll keep the sword," he said. It would be a shame to deliver it as sword C."


    Ha, yes."


    Roddy felt as if he had been pinched by a fox.


    (Sword B? So Aina''s skills have improved?　But it''s so abrupt. What in the world?　(No way, is this Roland''s skill?)


    Good job to you too, Roddy."


    Uh, yes.


    Aina, Roddy. That''s it for today. This is it for today. I''ll stay like this for a while. I''ll look forward to seeing you tomorrow.


    Yes."


    Roddy was enveloped in a strange sensation.


    (I wonder what it is...) It was obviously different from his previous workplaces. This place is ......, this person is ......)


    At that moment, the entrance door opened with a bang.


    We all turned and looked toward the entrance.


    There was a girl with red hair and twin-tail hair.


    "You are ......, I believe you are the ...... of "Dragon''s Fires".


    I''m Lizetta.


    She smiles smugly.


    I''ve been looking for you. Mr. Roland."


    A sweet voice echoed through the atelier.


    <>