I, reincarnate as the leader of the villainous knight order

Chapter 64: Blacksmith Bosco

“Hmm… Your armor seems to be well maintained. Lift your arm a bit… Now, this side. It’s slightly warped and rubbed here.”

With a serious demeanor quite unlike the one when he was cracking jokes earlier, Bosco inspected Simon’s armor while taking notes. While he checked Simon’s armor, I also equipped mine and had it checked. In the end, both of us had our armor undergo minor maintenance, and we were instructed to pick up our swords the following evening.

“Oh right. Bosco, you’re a dwarf’s apprentice, right? Where did you learn from the dwarves? In which town?”

When I asked, Bosco awkwardly scratched the back of his head.

“Well… if you ask where, I can’t really give you a clear answer.”

Perhaps because I’m a noble or out of respect, Bosco seems to be making an effort to speak politely… or so it seems. But I understand that, except for merchants, commoners generally don’t use polite language. I, Justin, have never unreasonably gotten angry with craftsmen before, as long as I’m in a good mood.

“What do you mean?”

“It’s a story from the time when I finally learned to forge swords on my own… I wanted to make a sword using dragon scales, but the material was too expensive. Still, I really wanted it, and I had some confidence in my skills, so I secretly followed the adventurers who received requests for dragon scale collection.”

“That sounds quite reckless…”

Simon said in an astonished tone. If Simon, who tends to be reckless, says it’s reckless, it must be extremely risky.

“Hahaha, that’s just youthful foolishness. But thanks to collapsing on the way, I was saved by a passing dwarf and became his apprentice! If I hadn’t been carrying forging tools, I would have been left there. It was lucky that I had a hammer hanging on my waist, thinking that there might be places to mine!”

“So, where was that?”

“If I could remember… I was just following the adventurers, but I lost sight of them midway and collapsed. When I came to, I was in the middle of a dwarf settlement. On my way back, it seemed like I was taking a detour on purpose, so I have no idea of the exact location. But… it’s true that the adventurers were heading towards the mountains to the east of the Taleraan Marches. Occasionally, dragons visit the dwarf settlements, exchanging naturally shed scales…”

While Bosco was still chattering away, I was picturing the approximate location on a mental map.

“The mountains to the east of the Taleraan Marches… That matches what Jest said.”

“Commander, if that’s the case, isn’t Jest’s mother there?! But… if that’s true, it’s quite far.”

“Who’s Jest? Did you adopt a dwarf child?”

The fact that I made a pact with Jest, the dragon child, hasn’t been known to anyone other than nobles and temple personnel so far. Maybe a merchant with sharp ears who came to my trial knows. But if I talk about Jest, they might demand materials from me.

“Just so you know, I’ll never force Jest to do anything. Keep that in mind, okay? Jest has various circumstances and is the child of the dragon I made a pact with.”

“What?”

“Didn’t you hear the rumors about a dragon appearing recently? I made a pact with that dragon.”

“T-That’s… Wait, wha… Then, plea… pleease, sell me the shed scales!!”

Thud! Bosco knelt down in front of me with almost a bow.

“Can’t you procure materials with the national budget?”

“Well, yes, but the materials available are all old, and they’re nothing compared to the scales I saw in the dwarf settlement! If you can give them to me, I promise to provide you with better swords than what I offer now!!”

Despite being begged from below, the pressure is intense.

“Don’t get too carried away. I’ll make sure to ask Jest. Thank you.”

“Th-Thank youuuuuu!!”

With almost a bow, Bosco expressed his gratitude. He must be a real blacksmith fool to become a dwarf’s apprentice. By the way, how often do dragon scales shed? It seems like the amount of scales would change significantly between staying the same size as now and returning to their original size.

“Don’t get too excited and make sure to maintain them properly.”

“Of course! Leave it to me!! Anyway, choose any sword you like from the ones here while I’m holding onto them!”

Simon and I practiced with the swords lined up, choosing the one that felt most comfortable in our hands.

“Hmm… This one looks good, or maybe this one. Have you decided, Simon?”

Asking while comparing two swords with slightly different balances.

“I’ve decided! Do you need a sheath too? Here, big brother, this one’s for you.”

“Oh, thanks… Wait a minute!”

Receiving it without looking at Simon, I realized when he called me “big brother” and turned around, only to see Simon smiling as if to say, “Gotcha.”

“Hahaha! Maybe I’ll start calling you big brother from now on, Commander!”

Saying so, Simon dashed out of Bosco’s workshop.

“Wait! You, don’t mess around!”

Grabbing the sheath and still holding the drawn sword, I chased after Simon.

“I heard rumors that the Vandière Knights Commander had changed… Turns out they were true.”

Such murmurs from Bosco seemed to become the common understanding among the craftsmen a few days later.