During the sharpening process, I had to wash off the wet blade once again, and carefully dry it.

Afterwards, all that remained was to make a sheath for storing the knife in.

For the time being, it was completed—

—crackle, crackle…

“You’re amazing, Liliana-chan! As I thought, as a craftsman, you’re the best among the best!”

“Thank you.”

Doga was applauding while shedding tears.

The only person who’d be so amazed would be him, a fellow blacksmith.

While feeling happy, I naturally glanced at another person.

Perhaps Doga noticed as he pointed his finger.

“If you’re looking for Grave, he’s working over there?”

“Y, yes…”

“Hey, Liliana, can I see your knife up-close?”

Doga looked like an innocent child who had just obtained a new toy as he began to examine the knife I had crafted.

He’d touch it and let light shine upon it.

“This brilliance! This fineness! It has a sharpness that can be inferred from sight alone

In his hands was nothing more than a kitchen knife. From a bystander’s point of view, he looked like a strange person.

I turned to Grave with Doga standing beside me.

When I went to the table of the workshop, I found him scrutinizing the materials on the table. The moment he heard our footsteps, he turned towards me.

“Liliana? Have you finished making the knife?”

“Yes, I just completed it.”

“I see, thank you for your hard work.”

I asked, but when I looked at him, I could see his situation.

There were many materials lined up before him.

“This is only about 70% of them? There are more than I expected. The materials left by Ibris are too rare to be assessed.”

“Is that so?”

While I was crafting the knife, Grave was organizing the materials left by Ibris.

I noticed from the sound that he was coming and going. The problem seemed to be harder than I expected.

“Shall I help?”

“No, it’s alright. Liliana has other things to take care of, right?”

“That’s true.”

So far, I had only finished making one knife.

I also had to make other types to display at the rally.

Not to mention, I also want to craft some decorations.

“Liliana has a job that only she can do. I’ll take care of the rest so you can concentrate. Focus without worrying about anything else.”

“Alright.”

I could feel Grave’s consideration.

Rather than apologetic, it made me feel lonely.

Was it because it didn’t feel like we were actually working together despite being in the same place? It was as if we were looking at different things.

If so, I…

“Ah, I want to try cutting something with this knife! It doesn’t matter what! I want to test its actual sharpness!”

“…Isn’t it noisy over there?”

“Ahaha, then I’ll be back.”

“Alright.”

I felt like talking a little more, but he was also busy.

I turned my back to him and proceeded for the smithy.

“Liliana.”

Then, he called my name.

I turned around.

“Once this is over, can I see it, too?”

“Yes! Of course!”

Even though that was all he said, I was already excited.

How lucky!

***

If I were to concentrate on my work, time would fly by.

The setting sun was already shining through the window, and when I looked at clock, it was about 5 o’clock.

I had just completed the second knife, let’s call it a day.

The sound of setting down a hammer echoed in the room.

“Good work.”

Grave was the one who called out to me.

He held a towel in one hand.

“You’re covered in sweat.”

“Indeed, thank you.”

I wiped away the sweat with the towel.

I didn’t notice to concentrating so hard, but my throat was parched.

“Do you want something to drink?”

“Yes.”

I wanted to drink water so much.

Even if it was just water, it tasted especially great after one job.

“By the way, what about Doga?”

“He went back after you finished making the first one.”

“Really?”

“Yes. He was excited to give shape to his emotions after receiving some good stimulation.”

Really?

I didn’t remember much, but I felt like he had indeed said something along that line.

“What about you, Grave? Are you done with your work?”

“Since a little while ago. I started watching you afterwards. Your expression when you smith is as cool as always.”

“I, is that so?”

That was kind of embarrassing.

What kind of face did I make when I was concentrating?

I never cared about it before, but now I was curious.

But I was already tired, I’d think about it some other time.

“Let’s go home.”

“Alright, but I’m sweating a lot. Can I take a shower first?”

“Of course, I will be waiting.”

“Okay.”

Then, I took a shower on the second floor of the workshop.

I was so sweaty.

I could say that Grave didn’t care, but I was aware that I reeked of sweat.

Still he didn’t care about how I reeked of iron.

“I’m such a weird girl…”

However, I no longer felt pessimistic about it.

I became so optimistic, that I was happy to have such a title.

That was also thanks to Grave.

But it was not limited to just him, everyone was kind to me.

“I’m sorry for being so slow.”

“It’s alright, shall we go home?”

“Yes.”

It was a store that would carry our names on its back.

Therefore, I definitely want to make it successful, both with its interior and the products.

Once I finish making the remaining products, I shall try something new.

---

***T/N: Whenever I translate this story, I’d lost count on how many times Liliana only subserviently nod and say yes to everything everyone said.

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