Level Down 31 (Patreon)

Volume 1 Chapter 31 - Repair of the Beloved Sword

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After completing his deal with Iseria, Allen returned to his usual life. For the time being, he had improved his housing and eating conditions, which he had been dissatisfied with, and he didn’t feel any particular need regarding his clothing, as it was outside of his interest.

That's why these days, he did the Guild work late at night, and on his days off, he spent it training as Nera in a dungeon, and helping Dolban with his blacksmith work, but...

“Oi, Boy. The owner of that armor really didn't say anything, right?” (Dolban)

“That's what I’ve been saying. How many times do you have to ask before you’re satisfied?” (Allen)

“You damn idiot. That's the work of Zomar-shi, the living legend of the dwarves. I might never be able to work on such a work of art again after this. And you still ask if I'm satisfied, you damn bastard!” (Dolban)

“Like I care. Hurry up and concentrate on your work!” (Allen)

Allen prepared for blacksmithing while casually handling Dolban as he tried to attack him.

Ever since he saw Iseria's light armor that Allen requested him to repair, Dolban's behavior clearly became strange. He postponed the work for all the orders he received before that, and devoted himself to repairing the light armor, not caring for the fine he’d have to pay for some of those work for breach of contract.

The way Dolban worked was so ferocious that Allen didn’t want to get close to him and almost ran away, and Dolban was so burnt out for two or three days after completing the repairs that it was as if his soul had been drained out.

“Or rather, for Shishou to say that much, that dwarf called Zomar is an amazing guy, huh.” (Allen)

“It’s Zomar-shi!” (Dolban)

“Aa─h, yes, yes. Zomar-shi, right?” (Allen)

Allen smiled wryly as he listened to Dolban speak passionately. Allen had been in Dolban’s care for a long time, but he had never seen him so excited.

‘You’re letting me take this wonderful job, so I don’t need money’, Dolban said as he didn’t take any payment, Allen had expected that. But what he didn't expect is for his enthusiasm to not subside even after 20 days after the handover.

“I'll ask her if we meet again, so be patient. She won't know what it’s like until she uses it for a while anyway.” (Allen)

“Uh, huh. Well, I guess you’re right. You’ll definitely have to ask her.” (Dolban)

As Dolban said that while heading off to work, Allen turned on his back, let out a deep breath and began concentrating on his consciousness to learn the blacksmithing skill.

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After Dolban fell asleep after his usual continuous blacksmithing, Allen was alone in front of the furnace, lost in deep thought. There was already a fire in the furnace, and the flickering of that flame dyed Allen's face red.

Having helped Dolban with his blacksmithing and continuing to absorb his skills, coupled with his high stats, Allen was certain of one thing.

“As I thought, I can't just repair it normally.” (Allen)

Allen muttered while looking at his broken beloved sword hanging on the wall. He thought that with the skills he had acquired, he’d be able to remake it into the same shape as the original.

However, the process was not much different from remaking it from scratch, and Allen predicted that its strength would decrease rather than increase.

And that's not good enough.

It's true that Allen, who has stopped being an adventurer and takes on the form of Nera when he goes on adventures in secret, doesn't need that sword.

However, this was his beloved sword that he was so attached to, he wanted to at least show his gratitude and reborn it into something stronger and more wonderful, Allen thought.

Allen made a decision. He had already obtained the means, so all that’s left was for Allen to make up his mind.

Now that he had learned enough of Dolban's skills, Allen thought that he would be able to do it, ‘no, I’ll do it,’ he held that desire, and a flame lit up in his eyes.

Allen took his beloved sword that was hanging on the wall, and with his other hand he took out a palm-sized cloth bag that he carried on his waist.

That bag was stuffed with a red powder the size of a grain of sand. The red powder is actually the horn of the ogre king that has been crushed into powder.

It is a first-class material coveted by blacksmiths, as it has the property of increasing its strength when mixed with metal.

“Now then, let's get started.” (Allen)

Allen started walking. The expression on his face was one that could only be described as ferocious, like the one Dolban had just the other day.

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The next morning, Dolban woke up and got up from the bed where he had collapsed into, feeling a little displeased because he couldn't smell food.

The usual eating space near the entrance to the workshop was left clean and tidy, and there was no food prepared or even Allen there.

Dolban randomly grabbed some alcohol from the shelf near the wall and while gulping it down, opened the door to the smithy.

“Oi, Boy! You haven’t prepared the foo...” (Dolban)

Dolban said that was about to yell at him, but when he saw Allen lying on the ground, he stopped talking and rushed over in a panic.

“Boy! Wait, you’re just sleeping?” (Dolban)

As he got closer and heard his sleeping breath, as well as saw his soft sleeping face, Dolban felt relieved, and then lightly clicked his tongue.

He was seriously worried that something had happened to Allen, but it turned out he was just sleeping. That fact made him angry.

The race called dwarf don’t hold those feelings for long and just release it on the spot. This can be said to be a disadvantage of the race, but it can also be said to be an advantage since there is almost no chance of pulling it in again precisely because it was released on the spot.

As if following his racial instincts, Dolban sucked in a deep breath and tried to loudly wake Allen up, but just before he did that, his eyes were drawn to a sword placed on the stand and he closed his mouth.

What was there was a sword whose blade was slightly dyed red. Its rugged, unadorned appearance was very similar to the one Dolban made, but Dolban sensed a slight difference there.

Dolban checked that Allen's sword, which was supposed to be hanging on the wall, was missing.

“You finally made your decision? You idiot disciple.” (Dolban)

Dolban muttered as he turned his attention back to Allen. Contrary to his words, his expression seemed to be very happy.

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It was Dolban who instigated Allen to repair his sword. Dolban had mastered his skills to some extent, and even gained a position as a blacksmith, but recently he felt that he was at a dead end.

No matter how much work he did, he didn't feel like he was growing and he was starting to feel frustrated, that’s when Allen happened to come along.

Dolban liked Allen for his perseverance. ‘I had some time anyway, it might be a good idea to teach Allen until he can repair his sword,’ that's what he thought.

Seeing Allen's perfect preparation for the blacksmithing process, Dolban was excited, thinking about his future growth, but that turned to astonishment the next day after he finished the job.

Allen asked Dolban to check the swords to be delivered, and he did so even though he was a little irritated.

In fact, he told himself that ‘I'll just do what I usually do before I deliver items,’ and thought ‘I think I'll at least poke Allen's head later.’

Dolban was checking the swords smoothly, but he felt a slight discomfort with one of them.

It's not that it's different from others, or that it has something missing. If other people looked at them, all of them probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference between them, but that discomfort never went away.

Dolban thought for a while, then looked at Allen and finally felt all his doubt cleared away when he saw his expression.

That the sword was not made by him, but by Allen.

Dolban knew that his own thinking was unconventional. His own skills had been honed over many years. It was impossible for an amateur to do the same job.

But it actually happened. Dolban shuddered at that.

Because Dolban knew what he was like in the past, he understood that Allen may have had a talent for blacksmithing, but he knew it wasn't this irrational.

And what that meant.

(A first-class blacksmith must also be a first-class adventurer. I always thought that meant I’ve got to understand how to use weapons, but I guess it meant I’ve got to raise my level. Zomar-shi, your personality is just bad.) (Dolban)

Thinking that, Dolban looked at Allen and decided to overlook the fact that he had switched the weapons. He judged that the quality was more than enough for the order, so there was no problem.

And then he decided. That he will act as his master until Allen finishes repairing his sword. And when it's over...

(I'll raise my level to break through my own walls. I'll do it, I’ll become a first-class adventurer.) (Dolban)

He was holding such passionate feelings in his heart.

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