「Wait, wait, Ichino-kun. I can’t keep up with what you’re saying—uh, is there really such a potion?」
「Ano, Ichino-kun, was it? How much does something like that cost?」
Mizuno-san and her mother asked.
「Well, yeah. I make them myself. They’re usually priced around several million.」
「「「—!?? 」」」
「But I can provide them for free. I have a lot of them, actually. If I flood the market with too many, it could impact the livelihoods of people who make a living through simple mixing and appraisal. So, I’m restricted from putting more than a certain number into the market. This is just between us.」
I shared this information because it was Mizuno-san and her family.
While it’s becoming less of an issue with the support of Danpon, the government, and the Oshino Group, it’s still good to be cautious.
「Just between us?」
「Yes, just because it’s Mizuno-san.」
I then reviewed the materials that Akashi-san had left behind.
「To reach level 10, you need 7,000 experience points, so drinking seven of these potions would get you there. After that, the required experience increases, so more potions will be needed. For instance, to go from level 29 to 30, you’d need over 1,000 potions.」
「1,000 bottles? That’s tens of billions of yen!」
「Don’t worry about the cost. As I mentioned, they’re basically free for me. Oh, and by the way, the ring and ribbon I have—each increases experience by 20%, so if you wear both, you get a 40% increase. How about we drink five or six bottles today and see if we can reach level 10?」
I pulled out five more experience potions.
「Ichino-kun? How much are you planning to sell these for?」
「I’m not charging anything. I have so many, it’s practically like throwing them away. I’m already level 36, so they don’t do much for me anymore. I sometimes use them as a substitute for water when I’m thirsty.」
I retrieved ten more experience potions from my inventory through my bag.
「Then, are you trying to use this as a condition to hire my daughter as a blacksmith?」
「Not at all. I just thought that if Mizuno-san wants to level up without fighting, this might be a way to do it.」
「…You said earlier that you drink these potions regularly. Are there any side effects? Any risk of addiction?」
「Father, what are you saying? It’s rude to Ichino-kun.」
「There are no side effects or risks. If you’re concerned about giving an unknown potion to your daughter, I can try it myself to show that there are no strange hallucinations or other effects.」
「Is that alright?」
「Of course. Mizuno-san’s father—have you ever been into a dungeon?」
「I’ve gone in as part of business dealings. My level is still 1, though.」
I wondered what kind of dealings those were, but since he had been into a dungeon, he should be able to check his stats.
「Here you go.」
I handed him another potion.
「Oh…」
Mizuno-san’s father sniffed the potion, took a sip, and then drank the rest in one gulp.
He then stared into the distance, probably checking his status.
「Father?」
「My level has increased. I’m now level 3. Other than that, I don’t feel any changes.」
「Really? Amazing—」
It seemed like he was convinced.
「Then, can I try one too?」
「Don’t forget the ring and ribbon.」
I had confirmed through both standard and detailed appraisal that there were no issues.
Mizuno-san tied the ribbon to the end of her braid and put the ring on her—
「Not the left ring finger.」
「I know that already!」
She put the ring on her right ring finger while being reminded by her father.
Then, Mizuno-san drank the experience potion.
「…! Wow, it’s amazing. My level has really gone up. I’m at level 4 now.」
「Then, let’s see if we can get to level 10.」
「Yeah.」
Mizuno-san drank four more experience potions.
Despite their small size, the fifth one seemed to be quite a challenge.
「I’m level 10 now. I’ve gained two new skills!」
「What skills?」
「Just a moment. I’ll read out my stats.」
Mizuno-san read out her stats:
――――――――――――――――――
Mizuno Mai: Level 10
Exchange Amount: 0 (Ranking: -)
Health: 23/23
Magic Power: 0/0
Attack: 95
Defense: 12
Dexterity: 91
Agility: 30
Luck: 7
Skills: Basic Blacksmithing, Equipment Repair, Equipment Strengthening
――――――――――――――――――
Her attack and skill stats are incredibly high.
On the other hand, her health and defense are quite low.
Even though it’s said that attack is the best defense, there are limits.
It’s easy to understand why blacksmiths are considered to be in a dangerous profession.
「Her health and defense are even lower than my level 3 stats…」
Mizuno-san’s father commented.
The three skills are commonly known online.
Basic Blacksmithing allows for creating equipment using materials.
Equipment Repair enables fixing damaged gear, which can be time-consuming for things like broken swords. Equipment Strengthening improves the sharpness of weapons or strengthens armor using materials.
These are fundamental blacksmith skills, but learning two at once at level 10 seems like a promising start.
「Father, mother, with these skills, I think I can really become a blacksmith.」
「However, you mentioned earlier that reaching level 29 to 30 would require over a thousand experience potions. I’ve heard that top blacksmiths need to reach levels 40 or 50. Will there be a point where you’ll be forced to go into dungeons?」
「If that happens, I might be able to provide high-quality experience potions from deeper dungeon levels. Also, if you’re concerned about being forced into dungeons, you could enter into a personal employment contract with me instead of a company contract. In that case, you wouldn’t be required to follow company orders and wouldn’t be forced into dungeons. You’d still receive company benefits and the salary I mentioned earlier would remain the same.」
I had discussed this in detail with Hime on Saturday.
I only just learned about the specifics of the benefits package.
「Hey, Ichino-kun, why are you going so far for me?」
「Why? Hmm… Maybe because it’s you, Mizuno-san. I wouldn’t do something like this to other blacksmiths.」
「Is it possible that…」
「If you end up unhappy, I’d get scolded by Kuro and Shiro. They both really like you. Also, I believe that those who work hard should be properly rewarded. If you can’t accept that, just think of it as you being lucky.」
「Lucky?」
「Yes. The reason I became a board member of an EPO and that I could get such a large amount of experience potions is because I’m lucky. So, you can think of yourself as lucky too.」
「I see… I’m lucky.」
Mizuno-san smiled.
It was her usual smile, but today was the first time she had shown it.
We decided to finalize the contract this Wednesday when school finishes early at the Umeda office.
I returned the ring and left a few experience potions with her before heading home.
If Mizuno-san decides not to become a blacksmith after all, then that’s how it is.
I’ve done everything I could.
The rest is up to her.
※ ※ ※
-Mizuno Mai’s POV-
After Ichino-kun left, I looked at my stats again.
I really had reached level 10.
It wasn’t a dream.
The dungeon bureau people said it would take many days of dungeon diving to reach level 10, and yet I achieved it so easily. If this got out, it would cause a huge uproar.
Could it be that he trusts us too much?
And also…
「Lucky, huh…」
「What’s wrong?」
「I’ve never thought of myself as unlucky. My parents are kind, Yuta and Airi are adorable, and I would want to be born as Mizuno Mai again even if I were to be reincarnated.」
「「—Mai…」」
「But other people don’t see it that way. They look at me with pity… Some even directly call me unfortunate. But Ichino-kun thinks I’m lucky… and that made me happy.」
Ichino-kun probably just said what he honestly thought.
But maybe it would have been better if he had said he wanted to help because he liked me?
I think Ichino-kun would have helped me just the same even if I were a boy.
He never asked for anything in return.
「So, Dad. Mom. Before we finalize the contract, I want to make one with you.」
「A contract?」
「I plan to start working soon. And I will contribute half of my salary to the household. You must accept it.」
「Mai…」
「It’s normal for employees to contribute part of their salary to their family. In return, I’ll save the other half properly. Don’t just put money into my account without asking again.」
I looked into their eyes as I spoke.
My parents exchanged glances and then nodded deeply.
Even Dad, who usually refuses to change his opinion.
If being a blacksmith means shaping hard iron into what one desires, then at this moment, by changing Dad’s rigid will through sheer force, I felt like I had taken my first step as a blacksmith.
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