Chapter 312
Village Five, big ground in front of Youko’s mansion .
A lot of people have gathered .
It is very lively .
They are smiling too .
I’m sitting in a chair at the corner of the ground .
It is comfortable because there’s a roof that can block sunlight… . .
But what’s with the height of this chair?
Is this for guardsmen?
I can even see something far away .
Next to me, Youko made a grand declaration .
「Everyone, I have kept you waiting . From this moment, I declare the start of the blacksmith showdown! Participating teams come forward!」
According to Youko’s declaration, people moved to free the space at the center of the ground .
And there, the participants appear .
This showdown is a team battle .
It seems like it is not realistic to perform blacksmithing work alone .
Gutt and his two disciples showed up along with two unfamiliar beastkins as they formed the beastkin team .
Those two unfamiliar beastkins are helpers that Gutt called from Howling Village .
It seems like they’ll take on the challenge with the five of them .
On the other team is the group of dwarves that gave Youko an ax . They are the trigger of this event .
Their number is… . 6 people .
Without asking anyone, I named them ax dwarf team .
There are also three more dwarves only team aside from the team of dwarves that are supposed to pick up the imprisoned dwarves .
It seems like the imprisoned dwarves split into three teams and participate .
Let’s call them prison dwarf A, prison dwarf B, and prison dwarf C teams .
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtAnother team is a team with dwarf participants but there are demons too .
It seems like a team led by the dwarves of Village Five .
Let’s call them the Village Five team .
As I mentioned above, this will be a showdown of six teams .
After taking time to look around, Youko nods solemnly .
「Each team, declare your wishes . 」
This is a blacksmith showdown .
The winning team will have their wish granted .
Of course, only if their wish is feasible .
In order to not ask for anything impossible, they will need to declare their wishes before the showdown begins .
The first one to declare is Gutt from the beastkin team .
「We have no wish . However, that dwarf over there, if we win, you can’t say that we’re not skillful enough . 」
Gutt glares at the ax dwarf team .
On the other hand, the ax dwarf team
「We wish to buy magic iron powder at a low price . We can make better weapons than those beastkin blacksmiths over there . 」
The beastkin team and the ax dwarf team glare at each other .
Let’s ignore them, prison dwarf A, B, and C .
「「「Amnesty!」」」
Village Five team .
「Free eat-all-you-can-eat at the village council hall’s canteen . 」
Youko nodded and confirmed that there was no problem .
At the same time, Loch, who was next to her, records them on a paper .
「All right, then… . 」
Youko came to me .
Though I have been instructed to say things in advance, I’m still nervous .
「In this showdown, I want you to forge a sword hatchet . You are free to decide the blade length . Now, let the game begins!」
There was a loud cheer .
Then, each team heads towards the blacksmith workshop at the foot of Village Five .
For this match, that blacksmith workshop has been constructed .
One location for each team so six workshops .
Each of those places has the same thing .
A large amount of material is also prepared in the material storage area .
It is said that a craftsman has to think about everything else himself .
Good luck to all of you .
Now .
While sitting on the chair, I watch each team leave the ground .
The crowd stays where they are .
Their line of sight is concentrated to me .
I know .
「Then, let’s start the Village Five Festival . 」
After my declaration, there was a louder cheer than before .
Village Five festival .
The festival in Village Five that Youko and the holy maiden Celes had planned for a long time .
They prepared for it while preparing the place for Gutt and the dwarves to compete .
The residents of Village Five are more interested in festivals rather than the blacksmith showdown .
There are smells of various foods flowing from stall to stall around the ground and the main street .
Though it took ten days to prepare for the blacksmith showdown, everyone is also preparing for the festival at the same time .
In those ten days, people come from neighboring towns and villages .
Not only customers but also merchants .
Michael-san from Goroun Company was particularly enthusiastic .
There are a lot of stalls .
From Big Tree Village, several oni maids also participated .
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmUnlike the usual, they take a little more time to serve since they have to take payment but they are really popular .
I wonder if the camping coach I brought is conspicuous .
This festival is great since it is not limited to food, there are also entertainments like music and simple competitions .
It will last for one week .
Though you might think that a week-long festival is too long, the blacksmithing showdown takes place in over a week .
Youko said that she already adjusted things for it which means she has already assumed things will be like this from the beginning .
My participation is only at the beginning and at the end which is so simple… . .
Maa, I already left everything about Village Five to Youko .
I’ll get off this chair and enjoy the festival… . . ah, I have to go around with guards?
I enjoyed the festival .
Three days later .
One of the ax dwarves requested an audience to Youko .
「Acting village chief-dono, I wish to express our gratitude for preparing the location of the showdown… . 」
「Is there a problem?」
「There is, I’m losing focus on the showdown . 」
「Did something pick your interest? You are being served with food and alcohol, are you?」
「We are grateful for that too but… . there’s really something that caught my attention . 」
「If it is difficult for you to say, I won’t force you . Is it alright if I send spectators to the forge?」
「It’s dangerous so don’t . 」
「If you really want to, then do it but it is still too early . They won’t appreciate the current status of our work . 」
「Right . The blacksmith showdown is not really something that can attract guests . Don’t be angry . 」
「But that’s not… . . 」
「What is your request?」
「Hnn?」
「Don’t you have something to ask me?」
「… . . regardless of the result of the match, I want to know the mechanism of that transforming wagon . It is wonderful . 」
「Is that all?」
「The food and the alcohol they offer, the line is too long . We’re in the middle of a competition so we can’t line up . 」
「I understand . I’ll arrange it . By the way, that alcohol over there came from there… . do you want to give it a try?」
「Please, by all means . 」