Level Down 11 (Patreon)

Volume 1 Chapter 11 - Benefactor Blacksmith Dolban

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Allen had conquered the Demon Dungeon alone, but he had a problem. That was...

“What do I do with these?” (Allen)

What Allen was troubled with was the 600 gold coins worth 6 million zenny on the table in his living room, these were the proceeds from selling the ogre king's magic stone and horn that he received from the Guild as Nera last night.

By the way, this was the amount for one time, so, having conquered it five times, Allen will have five times this amount, in other words, he will gather about 3,000 gold coins on hand.

It's possible that the number will be lower because it won’t necessarily sell at the same price, but there's no doubt that it will be a lot of money.

By the way, Allen's annual earnings during his time as an adventurer were around 3 million zenny. A guild employee’s salary is currently exactly 3 million zenny, so his income hasn't changed much from his adventurers’ days.

In other words, Allen had earned the equivalent of 10 years worth in just one month.

‘Having money is a good thing’ Allen thought. It's only natural since Allen himself has struggled a lot to raise his younger siblings. But when he suddenly had a lot of money, Allen had no idea what to do with it.

This money was earned as Nera, so if Allen used it ostentatiously, those around him would become suspicious of him. Allen himself would like to go on adventures with his increased stats, but he has no desire to live a life where he is trapped in troubles and fetters due to becoming famous. In fact, it’s because he didn't like that that he’s hiding himself.

“There’s also a problem with how to store it, but first...” (Allen)

Allen glanced toward the corner of the room. Laying there was Allen's partner, the sword that he had shared joy and suffering with for many years, quietly placed in its sheath. Of course, its blade was still broken from the practice swing he did in the Slime Dungeon.

Allen slowly approached the sword and lifted it into his arms as if holding a baby. The sheath had been used so much that there were thin scratches all over it, each one a trace of Allen's life so far.

“I've got to fix this guy. I've just gotten some money anyway.” (Allen)

Allen furrowed his brows in trouble as he said that. It is no exaggeration to say that he has no plans to use this sword as he will be going on adventures as Nera. However, the choice of not repairing his sword doesn’t exist for Allen. That’s how important this sword is.

However, the reason he has been putting off repairs until now while making excuses like he doesn't have enough money is...

“Oyassan. He’s going to get mad.” (Allen)

He just didn't want to get scolded by the craftsman who made his sword, that's all.

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Allen mulled it over for a while, but in the end he decided to resolve himself and take a short detour before heading to the workshop of a blacksmith he knew. However, his steps were not light. In fact, as he approached his destination, they became noticeably slower.

However, he did not stop, and after some time Allen arrived at his destination workshop.

“It's been a while since I came here. About two years, I guess.” (Allen)

The eastern district of Lilac City. This is the district where many so-called craftsmen live. Blacksmiths, pharmacists, seamstresses, and other craftsmen compete every day and improve their skills here. This is because this city, with four dungeons surrounding it, is a treasure trove of materials, and since many adventurers venture into the dungeons, there is a high demand for weapons, armor, and medicines.

However, not many people live in this eastern district for long. Although there are a good number of craftsmen, many of them are apprentices, and once these apprentices reach a certain level of skill, they move to another city.

This is because even if their skills are sufficient in other cities, they are treated as half-baked by this city's standards. On top of that, many of them have their ambition crushed by the work of craftsmen at a far higher level than they can actually see.

As a result, the only people left are skilled craftsmen who were born into the industry and promising people who greedily aim for the top.

The blacksmith workshop in front of Allen was relatively new among them. Although it was new, it had been here for 50 years, and the same person had been smithing here since then, so there was no doubt as to its competence.

Allen looked at the light brown brick workshop that still didn't make a sound even though the surrounding workshops were working, and smiled wryly.

(It sure hasn’t changed) (Allen)

While holding those impressions in mind, Allen slowly walked towards the workshop.

While many workshops are partly stores, Allen knew very well that his destination workshop is almost entirely a blacksmith workshop, with only one room just inside the entrance as a living space.

Allen stood in front of the entrance door and looked at the sign posted there with a wry smile. It hadn't changed at all since 10 years ago when Allen had his sword made.

[Dolban’s Workshop]

A simple signboard with only the owner's name on it. If that's all there is to it, there are other workshops that are similar. What made Allen smile wryly was the sentence posted next to it.

[If you have any business, just get in and wait.]

It was as if that sentence indicated an unwillingness to accommodate the customer's convenience. Moreover, Allen is well aware that this is not a metaphor.

In the past, Allen, who had no money at all, had to go to the store many times to ask for a sword to be made, and after being worked hard as a blacksmith's helper, or rather, servant, he finally received a sword, and that was the one he was planning to request for repair.

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Allen was 19 years old at the time. He was just starting to gain weight as an adventurer, and he happened to be blessed with good fortune and was able to work as a support role for high-ranking adventurers, so he had gotten some leeway if he just lived a normal life.

But that too, didn't last long. Those high-ranking adventurers disappeared, and at the same time, a situation occurred in which he needed money.

Even though he needed money, it wasn’t because of anything bad. Eric, the second son of a family of three boys and two girls, led by the eldest son, Allen, was recommended for the recruitment examination to become a soldier in this Lilac City.

Soldiers are usually chosen from people of solid background, so although they have citizenship, it would normally be impossible for people like Allen’s family, who live near the slums and have no parents, to be approached.

At that time, they happened to be recruiting a lot of soldiers, and the recommendation quota was so wide that Eric barely got one. Putting it the other way around, that was an opportunity that, if they let it pass, it would never come again.

Allen noticed Eric's talent with the sword when he attended a swordsmanship dojo with the dream of becoming an adventurer like Allen.

Excellent memory that can absorb his instructor’s teachings like a sponge, sharp intuition that allows him to react to unexpected attacks. The sight of Eric overtaking his seniors and steadily improving his skills, he was so good that you could even call him a true heaven-sent child of the sword.

However, no matter how talented he was, the only path ahead of him was that of an adventurer, which is fraught with the danger of death. Allen didn't want his precious younger brother Eric to go down that path.

That is why Allen jumped at that story. Being a soldier is by no means a safe job either, but compared to adventurers in terms of mortality rates, it is a world of difference.

That is because, if soldiers get injured, they will be treated, and what's more, compared to adventurers whose income tends to be unstable, soldiers are paid a salary, so their stability is different.

However, the problem was how to get equipment to be used in the exam. Eric was merely recommended for the recruitment exam, which included an actual serious match.

Of course, Allen, who was active as an adventurer, also used a sword. However, it was a battered thing that had been used so many times that he had to find some way to keep it from breaking. It was not something that could withstand a match against a sword user who would be recommended as a soldier.

That's why Allen scraped together all the money he had except for the bare minimum living expenses, and asked Dolban, who was rumored to be obstinate but first-class and not hard to talk to, to make Eric's sword.

After much struggle, he was able to successfully get Eric’s sword made, and Eric, who used the sword to take the recruitment exam, was splendidly recruited as a soldier.

By the way, the true identity of Allen’s sword that he broke is just a sword Dolban made just as a follow-up to Eric’s sword.

By the way, Allen didn’t pay for it. That's because Dolban stubbornly refused to accept it. Such a sword has saved Allen's life many times.

Due to these various circumstances, Allen couldn't raise his head in front of Dolban.

Thanks to the sword that he gave to Allen as if it were something he didn't need, he was able to easily fight monsters that he had struggled with before. Thanks to this, he was able to find leeway from his bare minimum living expenses, and his other younger brothers and sisters didn't have to live a hard life.

For Allen, Dolban is truly a benefactor.

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