The Tutorial Boss Prepares for Equipment Production
"Let's call it a day."
Elena lowered her sword, catching her breath. Sweat beaded on her forehead and trickled down her jawline. Footwork, slashes, thrusts, parries. She'd handled the four basics with ease, and the Eck inside me gave his assessment.
She picks it up fast.
Elena was a genius. No point saying more—it'd just hurt my throat. But for someone whose only sword experience was against wolves and goblins, she wielded it with skill that could rival a C-rank. Not quite on their level overall, but her technique was close.
So that's why that bastard Darko skipped lessons for side hustles.
In the game, his classes never happened properly. Not that he didn't want to—he couldn't. He had nothing to teach her.
I handed her a sheet of parchment.
"What's this?"
"A request form. Blade Mantis. They nest in the forest's central area."
Elena unrolled it. Her eyes widened at the reward listed.
"Twelve silver per one?"
"Different league from wolves or goblins."
I extended my sword as I continued. "A Blade Mantis's arms are blades. It fights like a swordsman, using both like proper swords."
Elena's eyes sharpened. The mention of sword-like movements had hooked her.
"Can I win?"
"Depends on you."
"...."
Elena eyed the illustration on the request form with premature dread.
"Don't worry. You think I'd stick you with something you can't handle if I'm using you like a patsy?"
"...."
She rolled up the form and tucked it away.
"But get cocky, and kiss one arm goodbye."
"...Got it."
Elena nodded and left.
I headed to Borudo's Blacksmith. The door was open. Stepping inside past the iron gate, the forge's heat hit my face like a wall.
"Borudo."
"You're here."
Borudo sat at the workbench, prepping leather. He pressed a sizzling hot stone on a frying pan against it, ironing it smooth. I scanned the materials stacked nearby. The red ogre leather was cut to size and hung on the drying rack. The bloodstains were gone, the texture transformed. The red hue had deepened into the hide, richer than in life.
"How's the leather?"
"Can't you see? Processed it in time, so barely any mana loss. Even saturation all the way through. First time it's come out this flawless. Fresh kill really is best cooked right away."
The tendons soaked in an oil barrel beside the bench.
"Tendons not ready yet?"
"You think tendons finish quick? I soaked 'em, dried 'em, fed 'em oil all night. Least you could do is say I worked hard."
"Good work."
Borudo grumbled, but his beard hid a smirk. Handling rare materials had him buzzing with job satisfaction. The log stood in the corner. Its red aura lingered, fainter than before processing.
"The log's a letdown. Woodwork ain't my specialty, so fixing the power in place has limits. Should've left it to an alchemist."
I picked up a shaving from the log. A faint pulse of Red Moon energy tingled in my palm.
"You paying?"
"Knew you'd ask. Can't stiff the guy who pulled an all-nighter."
"At least you got some conscience left."
I set gold coins on his bench.
"So what're you making with this haul? Enough for two, three sets of armor. Want me to?"
"You mean mine and Elena's?"
"Yeah. Matching gear would look sharp."
A knock echoed from the forge door. Knock knock. Borudo and I turned.
A man stood there in a neat overcoat, longsword at his hip. Clean clothes—not the alley-rat type who hits backstreet forges.
"Pardon the intrusion. I have a question..."
"Who the hell're you?"
Borudo bristled. The man ignored him, eyes locked somewhere. He approached the drying rack, rubbed the red leather with a finger.
"This..."
His gaze shifted.
"Excellent condition. Processed on the Red Moon day itself?"
"Hey! You learn to touch other people's stuff in their forge without asking from your mama?"
Borudo slammed the bench. The man pulled back, straightening.
"My apologies."
He drew a rolled parchment from his coat pocket and unfurled it. It bore an embossed seal—the local lord's family crest.
"I come by order of the lord. I'll be collecting all red materials here. Prepare them now."
Borudo tsked at the ID.
"It's legit."
"You recognize it?"
"Think I see the lord's crest once or twice? Spot-on. Ahem. How'd you find this place?"
"Checked gate logs. An A-rank adventurer returned from the forest on Red Moon. So I canvassed forges."
I leaned on the bench, arms crossed.
"Why now? They usually leave red stuff alone. What's the reason?"
"And you, sir?"
"The adventurer who hunted the red materials."
"An A-rank, then."
The messenger's eyes changed.
"The lord's daughter has her birthday soon. We're gathering red materials to craft gear for it."
A noble's birthday gift for his daughter. Fitting scale—way above commoners.
"So just hand it over?"
"The lord's will."
He flashed the ID again. I examined it. Couldn't read fluently, but Eck had memorized words that mattered. The crest was real. But the text only proved his identity.
"Did the lord really order you to take it?"
"Yes. Hunting grounds are the lord's by right. Everything born there is his property. He merely shows mercy by letting it lie. If he wishes it, yielding is proper."
"Lord's property. Fair. If he wants it, we hand it over."
"Then hurry..."
"But you're insulting the lord, you little shit."
The messenger's face hardened. He snapped back.
"How dare you speak like that!"
"Thought we peasants wouldn't know? Gathering materials from the grounds is a right the lord grants us. Only he can revoke it."
"That's why I showed the crest. I represent him."
Borudo elbowed my thigh to cool it. I kicked him off. Like hell I'd fall for obvious bullshit when he's after my stuff.
This clown not knowing better was the real joke.
"Forging the lord's orders now? To revoke our rights, send the lord himself or a command with his personal seal. Not some punk like you."
"I told you, this is the command!"
Earth experience shone here. Broad perspective. Peering into noble schemes like reading palms. Factor in the era, and his game was obvious.
"That's just your ID. Where's it say lord's command? Daring to impersonate him? You scum!"
"N-no..."
The messenger's eyes wavered. He backed up.
"Think the lord's seal on your ID makes you him?"
I slung an arm around him.
"Spill it. Our wise lord wouldn't send a nobody like you empty-handed. Can't ignore your cheap greed, right? Speak now."
I patted his cheek threateningly. Eck's glare alone could kill. He clammed up, so I accused.
"Lying about the lady's birthday too? What a scumbag! I'm reporting you to the lord!"
"N-no, wait! The lady's birthday is real! We were gathering materials for it!"
He cracked. Not a noble— a commoner following a noble's underling's orders. Commoners skimming off noble directives happened in alleys all the time.
"Spotting red materials was legit."
"So demanding it for free was all your greed."
"Urk..."
We chatted a while and got cozy. Cleared up the situation.
That event, huh.
Red Moon material collection event. A bit early, but timing fit the prep phase.
Around then.
"Hah!"
Elena's sword slashed diagonally, lopping off one of the insect's arms. The blade arm flew. She'd struck the joint beneath the hard carapace.
One-armed Blade Mantis lunged with its remaining blade. Elena twisted her foot, dodging the path. Her sword flashed.
Shwick!
The last arm went flying. The mantis froze in shock and pain. Her blade slipped through the gap in its chestplate-like shell.
Pfshk.
Clear fluid oozed down the blade. A feeble, scream-like cry echoed through the forest. The mantis crumpled forward like buckling knees.
"Whew... Easier than I thought."
Elena shook the fluid from her sword, exhaling roughly. Just like the old man said. No complacency, and it was winnable.
She butchered the Blade Mantis and headed back to the city.