“Master artisan... Luciel?”

It feels like I’ve heard that name somewhere before, or maybe not... I can't quite remember, but what about this master artisan? As seen in the appraisal result, our master's name is Welter, not Luciel.

“...Wait, you don’t know? It’s the master artisan Luciel!?”

Pressed by Miss Paula, who had introduced herself earlier, Rio and I exchanged looks and tilted our heads in unison.

“...Never heard of him.”

“Me neither~”

All four of us shook our heads, prompting Paula to take a step back. Please forgive us—we’re all completely clueless about the blacksmithing world.

“A-anyway, if a work by the master artisan Luciel is here, I have to inform the master!”

With just those words, she quickly rushed out of the room.

“Did our master ever go by the name Luciel?”

“Nah, never heard that before.”

“But doesn’t it sound kind of familiar…?”

“...You think so?”

Yeah, it does kind of ring a bell, but nothing concrete comes to mind.

“Ah, I remember now.”

“Huh?”

“That's right—wasn’t there a short Sword listed at the auction?”

The auction? That one in the trade city? The vampire slave left a big impression, but now that she mentions it, I do vaguely recall a short Sword being put up for sale before that.

“But why would they mistake it for one of master’s short Swords?”

“Exactly. I didn’t look at the auction Sword closely, so I can’t say for sure...”

As we were reminiscing, Paula returned with the master.

“...!?”

The master said something, but I didn’t catch a single word.

“He’s asking, ‘Is it true you have a work by the master artisan Luciel?’”

Ah, so he really did say something. I wasn’t sure he even vocalized it. More importantly, it’s impressive Paula can communicate with him so easily.

“No, I don’t have one...”

I replied while enhancing my hearing, but the master’s eyes remained fixed on the short Sword I held.

“...!”

His bearded mouth seemed to move, but seriously, is he actually speaking aloud?

“He says, ‘That can’t be. May I take a look at that short Sword?’”

So he really is talking. Even with enhanced hearing, I can’t hear a thing. Paula, you're amazing.

“S-sure.”

With a nervous heart, I handed him master’s short Sword. The master received it with great reverence, examining it thoroughly while it was still in its sheath. After a detailed inspection, he drew the blade and studied it carefully before suddenly raising his head and rushing toward me.

“...!!!”

Still no clue what he’s saying! Paula, interpreter please!

I looked around—Rio and Ivan were visibly overwhelmed, while Phonia was just playing with Nir as usual.

“He says, ‘There’s no doubt, this is the work of the master artisan Luciel. Where did you obtain it!?’”

Paula rushed forward too, adding to the pressure, but this room is too cramped for all this.

“I’ll tell you, just calm down!”

Putting on an air of “I’m not saying a word unless you chill,” I managed to get them to step back a little.

“Ahem. This short Sword... we received it from our master.”

After a clearing of the throat, I deliberately broke my sentence to tell them slowly.

“M-master!? Could it be...!”

“Yes. Our master is the one who made the short Sword.”

“W-what!? Then does that mean you two are... apprentices of the master artisan Luciel!?”

“Why would you think that!?”

Oops… I ended up yelling out a retort instinctively.

I’m not going to deny being our master’s disciple, but seriously—who the hell is this Luciel person?

“Our master’s name is Welter.”

““...!?””

The moment I said his name, both of them gasped. Their eyes darted between the short Sword and me, widening with each glance.

I was about to say “I told you it’s not Luciel,” but something felt off. The master’s hand trembled as he held the short Sword, then he said something again—still completely inaudible.

“M-may I see those short Swords as well?”

Paula timidly pointed at the short Swords we had made ourselves out of soil and iron. They're nothing compared to master’s work, but I had no reason to hide them either.

“Sure. These two were made by me.”

After taking back master’s short Sword, I handed over the ones I’d made. The master accepted them with the same solemnity. I guess that’s how a blacksmith should treat weapons.

He drew one from its sheath and let out a quiet “hoh” of admiration.

Since Paula looked eager to handle master’s short Sword, I handed it to her as well.

With six people and one creature squeezed into this cluttered room filled with weapons and armor, it was starting to feel cramped. Even after I clarified that I wasn’t holding something made by the famous Luciel, the two of them remained captivated by the short Swords.

Eventually, after seeming satisfied, they returned the short Swords, which I then set on the table.

Suddenly, the master turned to me with a serious expression and moved his mouth—or rather, his beard.

“...!”

Seriously, I still can’t hear a word you’re saying!?