"Danna, I'll be in your care from now on. For starters, I'll get to work on those weapons you ordered."

"I'm counting on you. I've got plenty of other ideas, so I'll bring more requests soon."

"Yeah, just say the word. Since you've got the [Blacksmith] Vocation yourself, you're welcome to hammer away alongside me."

"Really? Then... maybe next time I drop by—"

About ten days after returning from Lucraella, I exchanged greetings with Oyakata at the completed workshop.

Oyakata had declared he'd become the exclusive smith for my Knight Order, and he wasn’t kidding. He came to Erishe for a site visit almost immediately, and just a few days later, the workshop was built.

The location is near my mansion, right by a spot where a small stream flows. A merry band of his dwarf companions handled the construction, singing songs while hauling materials. It was finished in a matter of days… Dwarven architectural skill is honestly terrifying.

For timber, we used trees that Shamash-san had clear-cut in bulk, which were then flash-dried using the Priestess-chan's spirit magic. That "Forced Drying" spell is brutal—it evaporates the moisture from objects within a set range instantly. It cost one Spirit Stone, which I, of course, provided.

With the workshop done, Oyakata immediately took on five new apprentices and has been busily hammering away every day. For the time being, he's taking general commissions from the people of Erishe to cover living expenses.

Since I'm technically the employer, I'm free to watch.

Watching Oyakata swing his hammer with a strength that defies his age is something else. Sparks fly as the red-hot iron changes shape. Seeing him mold the metal so effortlessly makes him look like a sorcerer. He's a true blacksmith—the kind you rarely see in Japan anymore.

Yes. Blacksmithing.

For me, whose hobby is knife-making, this was a forge I had dreamed of.

In the modern world, the chance for an individual to actually forge something is slim to none. While I enjoy knife-making, "Japanese-style" forged knives are only a small subset of the hobby. Generally, knives are made via "stock removal"—cutting and grinding a steel plate.

Take kitchen knives, for example. Unless it's a traditional Japanese Wa-bocho, it's probably ground from a plate. The Yanagiba, Deba, or Takobiki used by professional chefs are forged. It's hard to explain the difference in one breath, but ultimately, forged blades are said to hold a superior edge—though the world of cutlery is far too deep to leave it at just that. Regardless, forging is pure romance.

At roughly the same time Oyakata finished his shop, Shamash-san finished building her own house.

To explain why, we have to go back a few days.

* * *

"Ayase-kun. The barrier around this mansion… it is a truly fine barrier, but… it is a bit difficult for me."

This was on Shamash-san's third day. She didn't have a place to stay yet and was living off my sofa. She looked quite apologetic.

"Is something wrong with the barrier?"

"It's not the barrier itself, but the spirit energy. Inside the barrier, it is overflowing with spirit power to an unthinkable degree. In exchange, the mana is incredibly thin. I don't know the secret behind it, but this barrier isn't just for keeping enemies out; it's designed to draw in and hold spirit energy. You said it was here when you moved in? The previous owner must have been an Elf."

"I see…"

The previous owner, huh? I'd never given it much thought, but obviously, someone built this place. It was a total wreck when I found it, so I assumed they were long gone, but if it was an Elf, there's a chance they're still alive somewhere.

Initially, I thought Shamash-san could just live in the mansion with us. Diana didn't seem to mind her as much as I expected, and building a whole house seemed like a massive, expensive pain.

However, the disparity between the spirit energy inside and the mana outside was physically taxing for her. She said it felt like being slightly "drunk," but having that feeling 24/7 would be exhausting. Plus, she wanted her own workshop anyway, so she was planning on building a shed regardless.

So, we decided to build her a house.

Once the decision was made, Shamash-san moved with lightning speed. She barely needed help. She chose a spot right next to the mansion, just barely outside the barrier's edge. It feels more like an "annex" to my house than a separate property.

As for materials, she secured stone by the "aggressive" method of helping out at the local quarry in exchange for a house's worth of rock. Quarry work is dangerous and accident-prone, but Shamash-san's summons made it trivial.

"Ai-chan" could cut stone perfectly with its laser, and her Golems could carry even the heaviest slabs. Better yet, summons don't get tired or complain, and you don't have to worry about worker's comp if an accident happens.

She even harvested the timber herself from the forest. With wood and stone in hand, she was in her element. She threw together a small log-cabin-style house in no time, even managing to put in a fireplace.

"By the way, Shamash-san, what actually are your Vocations?"

I asked while we were having a drink to celebrate her new home. She's technically my slave, so I figured it was okay to ask.

"Hm? Did I not mention it? I have four: [Magus], [Artist], [Craftsman], and [Summoner]. Hehe, I'm just a frail little magic user."

She laughed playfully, swirling a glass of whiskey and water.

"No, no, no. That's incredible. You're the first person I've met with four Vocations."

"Well, Elves and Nightmares are special. But Ayase-kun, you have seven Divine Vocations and two Unique Vocations, right? You're the real monster here. It wouldn't be a stretch to say you're loved by the gods. You're like a hero from the spirit civilization era reborn."

"Yeah, I do think it's a bit weird that I have so many. I wonder why."

"Hehehe, maybe the gods sent you here to accomplish something great. Cheers."

"I don't really like the sound of that… Cheers."

* * *

And that's how I learned Shamash-san's Vocations.

[Magus] is a high-tier version of the Mage Vocation, and apparently, it's almost guaranteed for members of the Nightmare race. The same goes for [Summoner].

So, Shamash-san's "personal" flairs are more the [Artist] and [Craftsman] side. That explains why she's so handy and can build just about anything. She mentioned that while [Craftsman] is common enough, the [Artist] Vocation is quite rare. Which makes sense—the world would be a scary place if everyone was an "Artist". Maybe I can start selling her work on an auction site later.

Now that her house is done, she spends her days in the annex and only comes to the mansion for meals. She says even coming over for dinner makes her feel a bit "drunk," but she insists on it, saying she needs to get used to it. Personally, I think she's just lonely, so I don't press the issue.

During the day, she hangs out with us at the shop or joins in our combat training. As a master of magic, she's terrifyingly strong. In our mock battles, the only one who could actually beat her was Shello-san. It's like bringing a sword to a gunfight, really. Shello-san is just a freak of nature for being able to win.

Watching Shello-san dodge "Ice Javelins" by a hair's breadth or deflect them with his sword as he charged her was so cool I could've charged admission for it. I finally understand why gladiator shows were so popular in ancient Rome.

Also, I finally told Aurica my secret and officially brought her into the "Clan." That brings our total membership to nine. If I can get Shello-san and Hetty-san to join, we'll have a seriously large group.

Aurica was so shocked when I told her that she literally fell out of her chair. She was most surprised by the "Unique Vocation" part.

…I guess in this world, having a Unique Vocation is seen as something truly extraordinary.

* * *

"Oyakata, sorry to keep you waiting."

One week after the workshop was completed, I hauled the steel I had gathered into the forge.

The haul consisted of leaf springs from buses and trucks. These are actually high-quality steel with a long history of being repurposed for knife-making. Since I couldn't get quite enough of those, I also picked up some scrap railway rails from a scrapyard owner I know—offered at a "friend price," of course.

Railroad tracks are made of high-carbon steel to ensure they don't rot or warp easily under the elements; as a raw material, they are impeccable. While they aren't ideal for hobbyist knife-making (which usually requires pre-rolled plates), they are perfect as bulk forging material. I couldn't haul a whole rail, so I borrowed a cutter and hacked them into thirty-centimeter segments.

Even so, leaf springs and rails are incredibly heavy.

Back in Japan, I can't use the [Clan Inventory]. My Divine Job board won't even manifest there. I suppose Earth simply doesn't have the spirits or mana required to power the system. This meant I had to move everything by hand, which took a considerable amount of time.

In exchange for the effort, I brought over about 500 kilograms of high-grade steel. That's enough to forge at least 200 swords—maybe more, depending on the design. It should be plenty for our initial run.

"Ooh… Ooooooh…!"

"O-Oyakata?"

Oyakata stood before the fresh pile of iron, trembling. He picked up one of the rail segments and closed his eyes. From the corners of those rugged eyes, a single, glittering tear escaped.

"I am… deeply moved. Danna… thank you. To go through such lengths to provide steel of this quality… a blacksmith couldn't ask for a greater honor."

"I'm glad. It was worth the backache."

I was actually suffering from some pretty serious muscle soreness. Even though I've been training, hauling heavy industrial scrap uses entirely different muscles. I used a dolly on flat ground, but the stairs at my house in Japan were brutal. I really should have realized sooner that I could have just moved the "Gate" mirror to the first floor.

Regardless, the material shortage is officially solved. The value of iron in this world vs. Japan is night and day. God bless Japan. If I tried to buy this much high-quality steel here, it would cost dozens of gold coins, and the quality wouldn't be nearly as consistent. Of course, this world has magical metals like Mithril, but apparently, those aren't direct substitutes for steel, so the demand for high-grade iron remains high.

"Since this is a new type of iron, I'll need to run some tests, but I'll get your swords ready as soon as possible."

"I appreciate it. And feel free to use the surplus for outside commissions—as long as you don't undersell it."

If Oyakata prospers, I prosper. He's a top-tier craftsman. If you combine his skill with my modern knowledge and ideas, it would be harder not to make money.

"That aside, there's something specific I want you to work on. It might take some research, so just do it in your spare time."

"What is it?"

"...It's called a Katana. I want to market them to the nobility."

I pulled out the books I had prepared.

There were plenty of resources on Japanese swords at the library, so I'd checked out a stack of them. I wished I could have brought an actual sword for reference, but since I don't own one, the books would have to do.

Oyakata can't read Japanese, so I'll have to explain the diagrams, but a veteran dwarf like him should be able to grasp the concepts.

The swords in this world are typical Western-style blades: double-edged, thick, and designed to crush or cleave through sheer weight. The concept of an incredibly sharp, single-edged curved blade like a Katana isn't really a thing here.

Plus, Katanas are beautiful. They are works of art that function as weapons. That value proposition alone should appeal to the nobles.

While traditional Katanas require "Tamahagane" (jewel steel), that's essentially just high-purity carbon steel. I'm sure Oyakata can replicate the properties. Honestly, it doesn't have to be a 100% historically accurate replica—we're not trying to copy a National Treasure. As long as the final product is "something Oyakata is proud of, looks cool, and cuts incredibly well," that's good enough for me.

"This is incredible. I've never even considered forging a blade specifically to highlight the grain pattern. I've made curved blades before, but this looks like it has serious structural integrity. Danna! This looks like a fascinating project!"

"What do you think? Does it look doable?"

"That's right. Getting the curve right during the quench looks tricky, but it's not impossible. It'll be a process of trial and error, so don't expect it tomorrow, but leave it to me."

He took the request much more readily than I expected. To an interdimensional dwarven smith, a Katana might just be one more unique weapon in a long career. I'll look forward to the prototype.

After that, we discussed the equipment for the Knight Order. I want him to create a cohesive set of gear, including armor. Since it's an all-female unit, I don't want them looking like a ragtag group of mercenaries or bandits. I want them to look professional.

Beautiful yet practical.

I want gear that makes them look like knights at a glance—something worthy of a grand stage. And I need to get their insignias made soon.

* * *

A few days prior…

While I was tending the shop, Priestess-chan dropped by.

Apparently, she had reported the Lucraella incident to the Mayor, and now the Mayor wanted to thank us personally. It sounded like Priestess-chan had been quite generous in her retelling of the story, as there was talk of a substantial reward.

The Mayor was particularly furious that the Elves—who were supposed to protect Lucraella—fled the scene. This made our intervention all the more appreciated. I set up an appointment to meet with the Mayor, Milkpearl-san. It had been a while since I'd seen her, though I see her husband, Bill-shi, fairly often.

"It's been a long time, Milkpearl-san."

"Jirou-san, it has indeed."

We met in a reception room at the Temple. Despite being the Mayor, Milkpearl-san only had one guard and one secretary with her—a surprisingly casual meeting. I brought Diana and Marina along.

As we exchanged greetings, Milkpearl-san scanned me from head to toe. I suppose my physique has changed quite a bit since we first met. I've put on muscle and lost the "office worker" soft edges.

"When we first met, you were a cute little gem merchant. You've become quite the imposing man," she remarked.

"Well, in this world, you have to protect yourself. One thing led to another, and here I am."

"Wonderful. Erishe's public safety has improved, but as we grow wealthier, we inevitably attract a bad element. We've increased the constabulary, but it's a constant battle."

"Oh, no, Erishe is peaceful. Surprisingly so. I'm grateful to be doing business in such a good environment."

"Thank you. Hearing that makes me proud to be Mayor."

She took a breath and shifted to the main topic.

"Now, about Lucraella. I've heard the details from Priestess-sama, and I am truly grateful. I intend to reward you to the best of my authority. Half of that incident was a failure on our part, and you risked your lives to fix it."

This was it. I actually had a specific request—something that only a Mayor could grant.

"You've heard that I've started a private Knight Order, right?"

"Yes, Priestess-sama mentioned it. That you're recruiting women with Knight-class Vocations."

"Exactly. Most of the credit for resolving the Lucraella incident without casualties goes to them. So, instead of a direct reward, I'd like you to host an official event in Erishe: a parade and an award ceremony to honor their achievements."

Milkpearl-san looked surprised. It was a sudden and unorthodox request.

"As you know, women with [Knight] Vocations haven't exactly been rewarded in this country. If we make this incident public, it proves they have the strength to suppress a major monster outbreak on their own. A parade of strong, beautiful female knights will draw plenty of attention. Even if it doesn't change the world overnight, it'll help improve their social standing."

The more glamorous the parade, the more people's perceptions of "female knights" would shift. It might even encourage other women stuck in menial jobs to come forward, and it could lead to official contracts for the Knight Order. Sure, there will always be skeptics, but it's better than doing nothing.

"I see… that sounds interesting. Could you tell me more?"

"With pleasure."

I spent the next hour plotting with a surprisingly enthusiastic Milkpearl-san. We decided to hold the parade in about a month.

If we're doing it, let's make it grand. Enough to shatter the stereotype that women couldn't be knights.

To show combat ability, a simple demonstration after the parade was planned—Shamash-san would battle summoned beasts.

Appearance was important too. While everyone was naturally beautiful, we'd bring cosmetics and accessories from Earth. Armor sets would need special attention—expensive, but necessary.

Publicity was essential. The story of the female knights stopping a sudden monster outbreak in Lucraella would be spread intentionally.

If word got out that "the rumored knight order will parade," many would attend. Events are rare in this world. Attendance would be high. Perhaps even stalls, though that might be too much.

As a side effect, the city agreed to use the knight order for security work. Since the parade is official, they can't ignore them afterward. Grateful indeed.

Our Knight Order had Shello-san, former vice-leader of the legendary mercenary group Scarlet Wedge, as advisor; leader Rebecca-san is a Dragon Knight, Marina has Magic Weapons, High Elf Diana, and even a squad-attached wizard (Shamash-san). While the city constables are competent, our squad would surely outshine them.

...The Lucraella incident was partly orchestrated by me, so it's a bit self-serving. But what matters is the result. I hoped this would boost the Knight Order's fame and, conveniently, my business too.