Save Log 24:Battle of the Smiths (Part Two)

"What do you mean Alfenzo?"

The man stood up from his chair. His and Grodmin's stares were clashing with each other.

"Oh boy. This is bad. Alfenzo dude is mad."

"Wh-what's gonna happen to o-oto-san Lina-san?"

"Don't worry Furara. I am sure he will figure this out. We are with him aren't we?"

He all replied with a big yes. We focused on the argument the smiths are having.

"I am pretty sure he is cheating. Yes, I have proof."

Proof?

"What is this proof you are saying about Alfenzo?"

The guy gave a nasty grin as he snapped his fingers.

"Everyone in the town knows that his shop was having a sale right?"

"Well yeah, he was."

"Was pretty awesome for Grodmin-san."

"What about it?"

Chatter can be heard from the crowd. He did put a sale on. What does that have to do with this?

"We have heard that, those kids right there helped him with it. Isn't that kind of cheating? I mean he is supposed to run the shop by himself." Alfenzo says pointing in our direction.

What the heck is this guy's problem?

"Are you stupid or something? They helped him out with the shop. How can that be considered cheating?" Grodmin said to Alfenzo.

"I-it is! You just don't get it. He is supposed to handle the shop and fix tools all alone with his daughter or employees. Why did they join?"

"I am an employee of that shop. And they joined me as well to help the shop. He paid us with food, shelter and money." I replied to Alfenzo.

"See, they are just employees of the shop Grodmin hired. You have 5 people working under you as well, no?" the head of the Gelvin's Farm commented.

"I-I I don't accept this! Why don't we have another match?"

Another one? Will this guy ever give up?

"What might that be?"

"We...we…." Alfenzo was lost in thought. He scratched his head to come up with an idea.

"Alfenzo went crazy again."

"That dude is pretty weird and stubborn."

"Aha! We will make farming tools right here right now. There will be a time limit and after that, you examine the tools in front of everyone."

"Hmm, not a bad suggestion. Alright, we will do it. Ladies and gentlemen, we will be having another round of the War of the Smiths."

The whole crowd cheered on their blacksmith. We also cheered for Grodmin.

"I hope oto-san wins."

"Are you stupid Sylfi? Of course, he will. Cheer up!"

"He managed to overcome just a few minutes ago. He can overcome Alfenzo as well." said Zefira.

Right after a few moments, Alfenzo's party put a long table in front of Grodmin and Alfenzo, with tools and materials to make the farm tools. Furara was looking at Alfenzo's tools intensively.

"Is something wrong Furara?"

"Hmm? Well, there is something that's bothering me.."

"What is.."

"Alright, on your mark. Get set, starto!"

Before I could finish my piece, one of the farmers whistled. Both of them started to make tools. Hammer beating, iron sharpening, metal boiling, all sorts of sounds can be heard coming from the long table they are working on. Alfenzo's support was happily cheering while Grodmin's were upset. He is behind 2 farming tools then Alfenzo. Alfenzo was cheerfully making his pieces.

"Something is wrong. I can feel it. I can smell."

"Stop smelling me you damn cat." I chopped on Lina's head who was sniffing my cloak. She wanted to punch me back but I dodged it.

"Say Sylfia, how long does it take to make an iron hoe?"

"Well, my father said that, if you are good enough, it will take about 8 minutes. But, Alfenzo made it in 4 minutes?"

"Something is wrong here." said Furara as she scratches her right cheek.

"You can sense it too Furara-sama?"

"What can she sense?"

"Well, you see, that hammer Alfenzo is using is possibly embedded with magic as well as that furnace."

"What?! We should obj-!"

"Buut, we don't have any evidence Hanjiro. That's the problem."

"Oh, I can check if there is any enchantment or not. I can prove it."

"Atta girl!"

"We have an objection!" just before Alfenzo could make another tool, Lina shouted out. Alfenzo's face turned black as if he was in danger.

"What do you want to say, three-tailed thief?"

"I say that guy is cheating right before our eyes."

Everyone in the crowd started to chat and whisper to each other.

"That's right, I also kinda feel that he is using an enchantment to win." one of the adventurers, who is a mage, commented.

"I can sense some magic flowing from that hammer." said the female priest.

"No-nonsense. This is all just lies."

"I will show it to you."

"Hey!" before Alfenzo can take it away, Sylfia scanned the hammer and showed its properties.

An iron hammer, a common tool for blacksmiths.

Buffs: +10 repairing; +6 hammering

"See he is cheating. With these buffs..thingie."

Everyone stared at Alfenzo, he was dumbfounded. After being silent for few moments, he finally spoke.

"What's a +10 repairing?"

This is guy is insane.

After that horrible lie, the farmers declared Grodmin to be the winner. We were delighted to see Grodmin finally won. I thought Alfenzo would object again. But I guess he gave up on it.

We feasted with food bought from the market and cooked by Sylfi, Zefira and Lina. Nothing beats homemade food if you know cooking.

"This mushroom soup is delicious. You made this right Sylfi?"

"Hai! I made it with Zefira-san."

"Oi, oi! What about mine? You didn't say anything about the vegetable stir fry I made?"

"Horrible."

"Wh-what?! Horrible? You know how hard it was to make it? How can you say that?!"

"Don't worry Lina-san. It's very good. I liked that you added honey."

That's the part I hated the most.

"Hmm, if you say so. Still, you can't say horrible Hanji!"

"Whatever."

"Hahaha! Today is a great day, isn't it? It's even better with all you lads. Hahaha!" Grodmin was laughing with joy. He is really happy today, isn't he?

"You enjoying Zefira?"

"Ye-yes I am enjoying. Ho-how was my...omelette?"

"It's pretty good. Pretty nice. Good work Zefira?"

She smiled and continued to eat her food.

"I learned it from my mother."

"I see."

"Oh, I forgot to ask about your family. As, sorry if it's something you don't want to talk about."

"You can't ask a maid about her family like that Lina-san."

"No, no. It's fine. I will gladly tell you all."

"I want to hear Zefira nee-san's story too."

The night was one delightful night for all of us.

"I want Mashiki wine."

"No wine in this house."

"Sorry."

I am pretty sure she wanted to get her hands on them since Grodmin is feeling happy today and would consider it.