18
My Villains Chapter 18
5-2. Maintenance (3)
I'm not sure whether I should be happy that she told me I'm young, or sad that she told me not to be an old fogy.
As I stared blankly, the girl who was getting irritated scratched the dirt floor with her foot, sighed, and said, "Phew, hey. You're going to the workshop later, right?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"I'm coming with you."
"You too? What for?"
"If I say let's go together, just go together."
"Come on, man. Did I leave my workshop access rights with you or something? You need to explain so I can decide whether to take you along or not."
I guess I should explain a bit about the reward I received regarding the workshop access rights.
I received quite a big reward for the battle at the docks. First, I got nine silver coins, and I was also supposed to receive a separate reward from the lord.
But before I could receive the reward, the South Harbor fleet was completely destroyed, wasn't it? In that situation, if I went and said ‘Please give me my reward~’, I felt like I might get hit for no reason, so I just kept quiet.
But while I was doing that, a messenger came looking for me. Apparently, they were giving out rewards to those who performed well in battle as part of the militia.
When asked what kind of reward I wanted, I immediately asked to be allowed to use the lord's workshop.
I learned about the lord's workshop through the Grania gang. Simply put, it was a place where artisans working for the city were gathered.
The lord's workshop was a place where all kinds of equipment were made exclusively for the lord and his subordinates.
Since the lord was the most powerful and wealthy entity in the city, naturally all the best artisans in the city were gathered in the lord's workshop.
Because of this situation, the lord's workshop was a facility that ordinary citizens couldn't use. I requested access rights to this facility.
Later, I found out that quite a few mercenaries, not just me, received the same benefit. The Grania gang, who had performed quite well, was one of them.
I immediately went to the workshop and disposed of the weapons and armor I had obtained as spoils of war, and purchased a helmet, gloves, and boots.
I wanted to buy shin guards too, but the money was woefully insufficient. Oh, that's when I ordered the shield to be made as well.
This is also the reason why Ellen is asking me to take her to the workshop. Of course, she didn't receive workshop access rights.
"I don't mind you coming along, but you'll have to answer if the guard uncles ask questions."
"Can't I just say I came to look around?"
"What if you end up buying something? You might get into unnecessary trouble, you know?"
"Ugh."
Ellen frowned, chewed on her lips for a moment, and then said, "I'm going to buy a crossbow. Even if it a small one."
"A crossbow? An arbalest?"
"No, a crossbow!"
"Crossbow or arbalest... But why suddenly that?"
To my incomprehensible question, she mumbled in a small voice, "...As someone said, I'm a useless person, aren't I? I need to be holding something to be worthy of a person. But since I don't know how to handle other weapons..."
A couple of reasons to stop her immediately came to mind, but I didn't bother to voice them out.
It was because her determination to contribute somehow was both pitiful and admirable.
So after hesitating for a moment, I carefully asked, "...But do you have money? A crossbow will be expensive. Oh, and-"
"Yeah?"
"Just in case you don't know. I don't do money transactions even with family."
Ellen looked at me with an expression that said, 'What kind of jerk is this?'
No, it's not like I'm such a strict character that not even a needle could get through, you know?
"Well, I could lend you some with proper collateral and interest..."
"I don't need it, you idiot."
"Oh, okay."
...Is this not it?
On the way to the workshop, Gillius, who had recovered from his hangover, joined us. He said he wanted to request repairs and reinforcement for his armor.
Gillius kept expressing his concerns all the way to the workshop.
He was worried about the shield I had ordered.
"No matter how I think about it, that's a mistake. No matter how strong you are, if it's made according to your order, it'll be difficult to handle properly."
"Don't worry. It'll be fine."
The kite shields used by Grania or Gillius were large enough to cover the entire upper body.
There was a lump of iron called a 'boss' in the middle, and it was covered with raw leather on the outside, but since the rest of the material was wood, it wasn't that heavy.
About 4-5 kilos, maybe? It felt a bit light to me.
When I told him my thoughts, Gillius frowned deeply.
"You say that's light? That's just right for use in actual combat."
"Actually, being light doesn't matter much. The problem is that it splits too easily."
"If a shield can block a few arrows, that's enough, what more do you want? What, are you trying to block a giant's axe?"
This uncle is a mercenary with as much experience as his bushy beard. So his words about combat and equipment were quite reliable.
"And, isn't it because they break easily that you're told to carry spare shields? How much was that shield you ordered?"
"Eight silver coins."
"This crazy- What a waste, you fool."
Gillius clicked his tongue, but I had my own thoughts.
If I were only going to participate in large-scale battles like the one at the docks, it would be better to use a light, regular shield.
It would crack and warp, but it could easily block three or four arrows, and when it came to close combat, I could quickly switch to a spare shield.
But I wanted to avoid war as much as possible.
I didn't like killing people, and I didn't like being in situations where I had to rely on luck, praying that blind arrows or spear tips would miss me in the chaotic melee.
And decisively, to progress the scenario, I needed to fight monsters, not wage war against people.
The monsters of this world would clearly launch attacks far more dangerous than human attacks.
It wasn't wise to stake my life on a light, cost-effective shield.
Anyway, I wasn't in a position to compare myself with ordinary mercenaries. Wasn't I in a position to save the Middle World while progressing the scenario?
Gillius, who had been constantly dissuading me, saw that my thoughts were quite firm and shifted his target, licking his lips.
"Then, has our little lady ever handled a crossbow?"
Gillius asked with a grin, but Ellen responded as usual.
As usual, meaning she completely ignored him.
I had become quite friendly with Grania's mercenary gang, but Ellen didn't even bother to deal with them.
At most, she seemed to talk with Sister Olga, who shared the same room. Although Sister Olga was working as a mercenary, she was originally a clergy, so Ellen seemed to show her some respect.
But other mercenaries had no chance. She treated them as if they didn't exist, you know?
When I asked what the problem was, her answer was quite something.
- You're asking because you don't know? All mercenaries are thieves and robbers. It's best to avoid those dirty strays.
- Come on, you and I are both in the same mercenary boat, you know?
- Don't say such creepy things, even as a joke. My essence is that of a mage, not a mercenary.
- Ha, then what about me?
- You... Well, I owe you one.
That expression of hers saying 'I'll make a special exception for you, so you should know that'...
I don't know what she's relying on, being a fake who can't even use magic. I have to admit, her self-esteem is something else.
I'm not sure if Ellen's behavior is due to her personal tendencies or if it's a common thought among mages from La-Palais Palace.
It's not like I, who even skipped the campaign text, would have looked at the background settings.
Despite being completely ignored, Gillius tried to speak to her several times, but Ellen just kept walking without even glancing at him.
"Hey, Ellen. The old man is asking you something."
"Don't talk to me, it's annoying."
...She's so haughty.
I'm not sure which is better between responding rudely and completely ignoring someone.
Still, it's probably better to give some response, right? I've heard that being completely ignored is scarier than being bullied.
"But you answer my words quite well? Why don't you ask on her behalf?"
"Knowing her personality, she won't answer. Just give her some advice when we're looking at items in the workshop later. Even though she's ignoring you, she's probably not really deaf."
"Hmm, you think so?"
While other mercenaries found Ellen's response quite unpleasant, Gillius was an exception. He said she reminded him of his son he left back home.
I don't think Gillius's son, who looks like an orc, would resemble Ellen, who looks like a typical noble lady. Is it their bad manners that are similar?
As I was thinking about this, we arrived at the workshop.
"Oh, Mr. Phoenix, Mr. Gillius! We've been waiting for you."
The freckled young man who greeted us with a familiar smile was named 'Ilton'.
Ah, I was mistaken last time, but Ilton wasn't the city's best artisan, but just one of the apprentices learning at the workshop.
He was like a receptionist who managed the work of other artisans.
Come to think of it, it was obviously impossible for one person, especially someone so young, to master all the advanced skills like armor crafting, leather working, and blacksmithing.
I had made this mistake because I skipped all of Ilton's dialogues during gameplay and didn't pay much attention to the surroundings.
I should have read some of the text and observed the surroundings better. It doesn't matter much now, but I'm quite worried about the future.
"The items? Are they all done?"
"Oh, of course. Please wait a moment!"
Ilton was big in stature, but his face still hadn't lost its youthful appearance. He was always bright and cheerful, making you smile just by looking at him.
Ilton navigated through the noisy workshop to bring my shield and Gillius's armor.
I wasn't particularly interested in the uncle's leather armor, which was just repaired and had its studs reinforced a bit, but my shield was different.
"Oh, it's heavy."
"Right? We matched the weight as you ordered... Is it not too heavy for you?"
"No! It's just right."
As I smiled with satisfaction, Ilton also let out a sigh of relief as if to say 'thank goodness'.
Well, not many people would order a shield with these specifications. If I didn't like it, it would have gone straight to storage.
The kite shield I received was about 70 centimeters in diameter, which was quite large even compared to the average.
It was also quite heavy, probably just under 10 kilos. If it was Kim Seung-soo's body, it would have been too much to even hold, but for Phoenix, it was just right, pleasantly heavy.
The outer surface was covered with thick leather around a steel boss, and on the inside, there was a '己' shaped handle that opened downwards and a leather strap that could be hung over the shoulder.
While I was examining the shield, Ilton added a detailed explanation.
"We used wood boards that were soaked for a week in a solution of cow urine mixed with the blood of Devellesh (small magical beasts). Drying them in the seaside sun for three days was a bonus."
"What? I only commissioned it five days ago?"
"Ah, of course, these were already in the workshop. It's the material used for the shields of the lord's personal guard. Well, the shields for the guards are heated and curved... But they're just as sturdy anyway."
"Oh, I see."
"We used two types of leather. We lined the inside with tanned cowhide, and covered the outside with the skin of an Aryu (Demi dragon) baked in an oven."
As Ilton spoke, I ran my hand over the surface of the shield, and indeed, I could feel the bumpy texture unique to reptile skin.
An Aryu is a monster that looks like a greatly enlarged Komodo dragon.
In the game, it was a tricky opponent with excellent overall physical specs and inflicting poison damage with its bite attack.
As far as I know, it doesn't appear in Chapter 2, does it?
"By the way, are there Aryu around here? How did you get it?"
"Of course there aren't any nearby. We obtained it in advance before the city was sealed off."
Saying that, Ilton scratched his cheek.
"Actually, half of the commission fee is for the Aryu skin. It's only this much because it's flank skin, if we had used back or head skin, the price would have easily doubled."
"Hmm, really? Anyway, I love it. Here's the balance."
"Hehe, thank you."
After handing over the balance of four silver coins, I hung the buckler I was originally carrying on my waist.
And when I slung the newly acquired kite shield over my shoulder... Whew, this heavy stability. I really like it.
After finishing my business, I chose a crossbow that Ellen could use.
She disposed of one of her rings to buy the crossbow. It wasn't a magical tool, just a silver ring with a cat's eye gem.
When I offered to take it as collateral and lend her money, she told me to get lost.... Was charging interest a bit too much?
Anyway, it seems it was something she didn't mind selling. The ring must have been quite valuable, as she received eight silver coins for it.
With the money prepared like that, an unexpected problem arose.