The Heroine Catches the Scent
"It's true I'm entering it in the contest, but it's probably gonna flop anyway. So he told me to hand the sword over to you if it does."
"Ah, from you, Uncle? He said to give this to me? A sword this fine."
"Your reaction makes it worth forging."
Borudo bared his teeth in a grin, a smile spreading across his lips.
"But that guy's something else. I've always been amazed by his genius, even back when he had the nobles' situations all figured out. Never thought he had this thoughtful side, though. Elena, you never heard a peep from Eck about any of this?"
"No... Uncle never..."
Uncle never said a word. He never did. He'd just do what he wanted without excuses. He'd threaten you to your face but help from the shadows. Back when I first started adventuring and was fumbling around clueless, he'd teach me the ropes—how to fight, monster weak points, even traits that could've gotten me killed if I didn't know. He'd helped me every step.
Elis owes him a debt too.
Uncle never voiced it, but he was always looking out for us in his meticulous way. Words and actions at odds. The realization tickled deep in my chest.
"...I had no idea Uncle was preparing something like this."
"Eck's changed a lot since meeting you. Honestly, that's the most shocking part. What got into him? Hmm... Well, it means I get beat on less and gouged less, so I'm not complaining. This is all thanks to you, Elena. I'll let it go for a special 200 gold."
"T-Two hundred? It's not free?"
Borudo slapped his knee, doubling over in laughter.
"Kidding, kidding. Eck already paid up, so just wait till the contest ends and take it."
"Okay..."
Elena lifted the sword limply. A black-and-red blade. It resonated with her mana, practically screaming for her to claim it. She set it on the anvil.
"Uncle Borudo, has Eck seemed tired lately or anything?"
"What's that out of the blue?"
Borudo's expression turned subtle. He soon crossed his arms seriously, stroking his chin beard in thought.
"Well, yeah, he'd be beat. Guy's running all over the place these days. Even trekking to the Red Forest. Never would've imagined it before you came along."
"Really?"
"Yep. If he doesn't like something, he slacks off endlessly... Hmm... Come to think of it, it's like he's back to his early adventuring days?"
Borudo recalled Eck's hyperactive prime. Ruthlessly greedy for strength, clawing his way up through effort and intimidation. Brutish and menacing, but with a charisma that rallied people. Different in many ways now, but maybe the engine was revving again.
"Anyway, the slob who used to guzzle booze nonstop is suddenly grinding hard—who wouldn't be wiped? Even I'd ache all over after one day off. No reason Eck's any different."
"I knew it!"
"What, what?"
Elena cheered, her hunch confirmed.
"Why ask, though? Eck whining to you or something?"
"Nothing like that. But hearing what I hoped makes me happy!"
Borudo looked baffled, then waved her off with a farewell as she left the forge.
Elena had been to the Alchemist's District before. At Eck's suggestion, she'd delivered troll materials to a skilled alchemist living in a rundown place for reasons of his own.
Opening the workshop door unleashed a pungent herbal stench. Dorea was dumping herbs and water into a massive cauldron while hauling empty vials. Dozens of potion bottles cluttered the space excessively, tinkling a clear melody at the slightest jostle.
"Grandpa."
"Oh? Elena. What brings you?"
Dorea glanced back briefly before returning to the cauldron. He stirred the bubbling brew with a ladle, adjusting the flame on schedule, then scooped liquid into vials, corking and packaging them. But dozens more empties remained. Dorea hustled without a break.
She couldn't bring herself to ask about Eck.
"Why make so many potions?"
Dorea straightened his hunched back with a groan.
"What else? All because of your oh-so-great protector. Where the hell does that bastard plan to use this many? It'll take forever."
"Eck?"
Potions weren't his thing—where could he need them? Elena's party rarely used them. She'd always stepped in to prevent injuries before they needed healing. They never required this much.
"How many?"
"Thirty thousand. Thirty thousand."
"Th-Thirty th-thou..."
...Thirty thousand? She counted on her fingers, but even three couldn't grasp the scale. Dorea's fuss made it clear: an enormous number. Piles of dozens stared back. But why so many?
What if...
Elena recalled Eck's assignment: Scout the northern mountains for a month. A dungeon would appear. Everyone knew dungeons couldn't be managed by a few adventurers. They drew hordes, and Leator lagged behind other cities without one—why potion sales sucked, as Mira had said. Mira always handled their potions.
Dungeon. Potions. Linked by Eck, it clicked: his real intent.
Uncle's preparing thirty thousand potions... just in case I get hurt exploring the dungeon?
Regrettably, her mind didn't dig deeper. Only the image of Uncle quietly toiling for her lingered.
"Elena, if it's nothing, mind leaving? I'm swamped."
"One question."
"Out with it quick."
She asked about Eck's whereabouts but got no satisfying answer.
As sunset fell, Elena returned home. The women's dorm had a retired adventurer eyeing passersby at the entrance. The door creak made a flinch echo from inside the room.
"Sis?"
"Yeah, Elis. I'm back."
Little sister Elis threw off the blanket and toddled into her arms. Elena hugged her frail frame, rubbing her back.
"Scared by the door? Sorry."
"Nuh-uh. It's better since moving here. Don't worry, Sis."
Her sister's back trembled faintly despite the words. Last time, Darko's scheme let a thief invade. Alone, Elis had nearly been assaulted—a trauma etched deep. She claimed fuzzy memories, but Elena knew it was a lie.
Her heart grew heavy. She pressed her forehead to Elis's feverish one, soothing her.
"Plus, someone saved me then."
Elis continued slowly, pausing seconds between words.
"A reliable, cool guy. Showed up right when I wanted, saved me. Even tucked me in."
Elis beamed warmly, gripping Elena's hand tight.
"Not everyone's bad. I know that much."
"Elis."
A lump formed in Elena's chest. The savior was Uncle. Without him then, who knows how it'd gone. From Elis's tale, even a slight delay—or lack of care—meant Darko's thug would've defiled her sister. Leaving her alone risked it always, but the neighbor aunt checked often, easing worries. Still, skipping work meant starvation for both. In that brutal choice, Elena had gambled on the risk. Uncle blocked it.
His favors went beyond words. Elis's rescuer. Once cured, she'd imagined backing Uncle as he wished.
"Oh yeah."
Elis blinked hazily, fetching something from the table.
"Aunt Hans left this."
"Aunt Hans?"
The neighbor before moving had dropped off an item. A potion.
"Said drink it and hang in there, Sis works hard."
"I see."
She owed Hans too. In a way, their home stayed safe thanks to her. Gratitude welled.
She took the vial, twisting the lid—but paused.
"Not drinking?"
"...Not tired yet. Later."
Thrilled by Uncle's behind-the-scenes efforts, but he'd warned: Suspect gifts like this first. Especially fresh off hearing he'd been drugged.
Elena sharpened her caution from Eck's ordeal. She'd ask Uncle what kind it was. They met daily, but today reunion felt urgent.
Next morning, stepping from Pila's workshop, dazzling sunlight pierced my lashes. Morning air filled my lungs. Tortured all night, I hadn't slept well—joints ached everywhere.
Pila yawned languidly from the workshop. Her long, tousled pink hair was ink- and dust-streaked, messy, but glittered like fire in the dawn. Her robe's middle button undone, cleavage deep—she squinted, averting eyes.
"Haaah~ Thanks so much yesterday."
She finger-combed her disheveled locks, cheeks flushing sleepily. On the surface, a defenseless, ditzy beauty—pure, luscious, sensual. Any normal guy'd swallow hard, fantasizing pinning her to bed.
But knowing the truth, my fantasy hit the bedroom before chills ran down my spine.
"Never dreamed the aphrodisiac would help like that. Got great data. Really great."
Pila waved lazily with a goofy grin as I headed to the guild.
"Let's do it again next time."
"..."
I waved back wordlessly and turned away.
On the way, I lifted my arm and sniffed.
"Too iffy to head home now."
Mage workshops reeked. But not foul sweat—just wouldn't matter. I veered toward the guild, not the dorm.