Save log 10: The Blacksmith’s Helping Hands

The sound of the people chatting with each other, the transport carts rattle as they run over the stone path. We are walking through the crowd trying to get to Grodmin’s Weapon and Armory.

“It was a bad idea to walk all the way back here. My legs are all tired.” the tail that used to flip around with a lot of energy, now can’t move a muscle.

“You are the one who went “Let’s go!’ and marched us all the way here. My legs…”

“Walking is so painful.” Furara is also in a bad condition. We continued to walk through the market district path. I was following behind Lina and Furara was following me. If Furara didn’t get her memory wiped out, we might’ve been alright.

“Hey isn’t that the shop? Right ahead of us?”

“Huh?” Lina and I looked where Furara was pointing at. She was right, the shop was there just ahead. Finally, we almost reac…

There was a loud thud noise from my back. I turned around and found Furara lying on the ground with the face toward the ground.

“What the heck happened? Are feeling that weak?”

“I-I was trying to see the shop while leaning. I lost my balance after leaning too much.”

“What the heck..why would you do that? Here, get up.” I gave Furara a hand to help her get up from the ground.

“You sure are clumsy sometimes Furara. Well, we better get to our shelter and regain our energy.”

After Furara was on her legs, we continued to walk toward the shop slowly. Lina grabbed the door handle and opened it.

‘Kling’

The bell rang as we entered the shop. It drew the attention of Grodmin and Sylfia who were working.

“Welcome to Grodmin’s Weapon and Armory...oh, Hanjiro boy and your party. Are you guys alright?”

“Need.....water..”

“Hang on nii-san, nee-san. I will get the water.” Sylfia ran toward the back door. Grodmin helped us sit on the chairs. After we regained our energy drinking the water and resting, I finally remembered why we wanted to come here.

“Are ya guys alright now?”

“Yah, thanks Grodmin. I feel much better now. Aahh! My legs are in heaven.”

“Glad to know that. Why did you all came here? Any weapon or armors?”

“No, I still work here as a part-timer right? My holiday is over, and I guess it’s time to get back to work.”

“Yay! Nii-san is working again.” Sylfia cheered following with a cute smile. I want to pat that sweet little girl.

“I see. Welcome back boy. And why are you two here?”

“We just tagged along with him and planned to help ya. Also want to check if Hanji really works or not.”

“Hahah! He works fine alright. Hmm, it will be great you three helped the shop. That’s right, why don’t you three help me for the next two weeks?”

“Two weeks?” all of us became puzzled.

“Yes, two weeks. Don’t worry, I will pay you with a fair amount.”

“But why though?” asked Lina.

“You see, the harvest festival is almost near now. Two weeks left that is.”

“Harvest festival?”

“You don’t know nii-san? I guess you are an outsider after all. The Harvest Festival is celebrated every year on Autumn. 26th of Agrayon to be exact.”

“Agrayon?”

“Yes, Agrayon. The months of the year. Zyrentyr, Aribus, Marencole, Eyres, Zult, Harvio, Orainte, Rovah, Neithre, Desus, Agrayon, Gigarbe. You are pretty dumb nii-san.”

“Yeah, he is a real dumbass. Lol.”

“Don’t call me dumbass!”

So those are the names of the month. I've got to remember that.

“So what is about this Harvest Festival? I want to know too.” Furara was interested in the topic as well.

“The Harvest Festival is when the farmers cut the crops to serve the whole year. Paddies mainly. Rice is very essential food. We also make different items with the rice to celebrate for a whole week,”

“Oh cool. I think we had that in our country.”

The Tsukimi festival. We celebrate it on Autumn’s new moon. That’s when I get to eat all the dumplings I want to.

“Sounds like a delicious festival.”

“Furara is getting hungry already. Well, it’s a pretty neat festival I can say that as a residence of this town.”

“Oh that’s right. You were born in this town right Lina? Tell me, what kind of dish they prepare for the festival?” the pair of glowing blue eyes in that dark hood were sparkling.

“I will tell you the details later.”

“It’s a nice big festival alright. Anyway, since the festival is almost here, I want to sell everything at least half of my products. I am going to put everything on sale for the festival.”

“So you want us to help you with this?”

“Yes. With the help from three of you, I believe we can sell everything before the festival.”

“Alright, I am in. What about you Furara?”

“I also like to volunteer.” Furara also agreed to help.

“Are you sure Furara? You are pretty shy with people.”

“I- I am sure there is a role for me that will suit me.”

“You can be the receptionist. All you need is some accounting skills.”

“I am very well at counting and calculating. I learned to account from the school.” Furara instantly replied with an air of confidence.

“Alright, you will be the receptionist.”

“What about us Otosan?”

“Hmm, I was thinking about Lina to advertise our sale on the streets accompanied by you Sylfia. While Hanjiro will take care of the customers with what they want. Hanjiro has been working here for a long time, so it won’t be hard. Or you don’t feel like doing it?”

“No, it’s fine. I know how to handle customers now."

"What are you gonna do by the way?"

"I will be at my workshop and sharpen and fix the tools those farmers gave to me."

"Good luck papa. You can win this year."

"Win what this year?"

"You won't understand this Hanji. It's a battle between two blacksmiths." Lina said with a mysterious tone.

"....just tell me normally. Battle between two blacksmiths?"

"There is another blacksmith in this town. He is very good at blacksmithing. Every year on Harvest Festival, the farmers ask both the other blacksmith and my otosan to fix their tools. They are going to judge who did the best testing the sharpening and result fixing. They will announce the winner who did the best work."

"Ooh. Sounds cool. Wait, so Grodmin couldn't win because he is busy handling the store?"

"Technically, yes. It's hard to do both at the same time. That bastard has 5 workers working for him. I only have Sylfia to work with." Grodmin said.

"Don't worry Grodmin-sama. This time we will help you, so you don't have to worry about the shop."

"I guess I don't have to. Finally, I can work in peace. I will show them the true power of the Fiores Elvin blacksmith power."

Fiores Elvin?

"That's forest elf for you." the voice in my head replied.

"Yes otosan. You are going to show them how strong you are."

"Let's get down to business. Team Grodmin." Lina held her in front of her. All of us placed our's on top of that one by one.

"Team Grodmin!"

And so began our battle with the blacksmith and handling the shop.

"By the way lad and lasses, you are staying at my house these two weeks."

"Huh?" all of us became confused.