There are several ways to acquire good items in the game Soul Academy.
One is to overcome trials and earn them, like how I obtained a shield with my grandfather.
Another way is to complete various quests to earn them.
You can also improve your blacksmithing skills and craft them yourself.
Finally, you can find a blacksmith capable of crafting certain items and have them make it for you.
The blacksmith who uses the seal on the armor I'm holding is definitely the type of NPC that falls into the last category.
Once a devotee of the God of the Forge, he handed down his role to the next generation and left the temple to live his life.
A quirky man who now strikes his hammer freely, having put down his burdens.
Among the blacksmith NPCs in the game, he was considered one of the best.
This content is taken from fгeewebnovёl.com.
“Who’s the irresponsible fool who left a half-wit like you behind?”
“His name is Anuki.”
Anuki. That’s one of the aliases he goes by.
My guess was right. This forge is where hidden items can be crafted.
Every time a new game starts, the location changes, so even veteran players must rely on luck to find this forge. I never imagined I would come across it like this.
It seems my luck is pretty good.
The frustration I felt from the so-called blacksmiths earlier vanished as I realized this, and I smiled. But then, I remembered one problem.
To commission Anuki to craft something, I would need to take a quest from him, but would it be possible for me to get a quest right now?
No matter how I phrase it, my words would end up being translated in a mesugaki way, and a proud eccentric blacksmith like him wouldn’t just accept it.
Having given up on most quests in the game due to my reputation, I felt frustrated in the face of reality.
...Honestly, the hidden items Anuki can craft aren’t really essential.
They’re just one of the materials for endgame equipment, but even without them, clearing the game wouldn’t be a problem.
Still, it’s a bit of a shame! Since this world isn’t a game, having overpowered items isn’t a matter of “no fun” – it’s a necessity!
As I continued to ponder, I decided to at least try meeting him and asked the blacksmith when Anuki would return.
“...I’m sorry, but I don’t know either. He left with a note saying he had to find a certain material and left in a hurry.”
The blacksmith, with a half-hearted laugh, didn’t seem to be lying.
Is there something Anuki needs to find at this point?
I don’t know. He always moves on his own terms, so it wouldn’t be strange if he was doing something unexpected.
“If Master returns, I’ll let him know that Lady Arlen is looking for him.”
Having agreed to that, I handed him the token and requested the armor and the sword for the bald man and the mangy dog.
If it’s not enough, I’ll pay the difference. Fortunately, it seemed the token given by the lord was valuable enough, as the blacksmith confirmed it would be sufficient.
“Please wait a moment. I need to adjust it to fit the Lady’s measurements.”
Anuki’s disciple had impressive skill. Without even measuring my body, just by looking at me once, he crafted armor that fit perfectly.
Even with Aesthetic Sense, I couldn’t find anything that needed changing on the armor. I couldn’t help but feel the desire to bring this blacksmith to the Arlen Territory.
If things go well when I meet Anuki later, maybe I’ll try to bring both of them.
But considering how the mesugaki skill translates, things might not go well, so I’ll need to find another way to approach them—perhaps a proposal they can’t refuse.
After returning to the Arlen Territory, I took a day’s rest before taking over the indoor training facility.
No one voiced any complaints. Who could object when I, the daughter of Benedict, wanted to use the facility?
In fact, there was no reason for anyone to object. The indoor training facility at the Arlen estate was mostly empty for about 300 days a year.
Whenever it rained, the crazy people would train outside because they liked the rain, and when it snowed, they’d train in the snow. So, there was rarely a need to use the indoor facility.
As a result, only Erin and I were using the large indoor training facility.
Honestly, I thought about sending Erin away, but she would get all upset, saying that if I told her to leave, she’d have no use there. So, it was impossible.
According to the housekeeper, when I’m not around, Erin manages to keep the older ones in line, but when I’m here, she acts all weak. I don’t get it.
What’s the deal?
I shook my head as I watched Erin, who was just smiling at me even though I glared at her.
I then looked at the full-length mirror in front of me and fixed my posture.
The reason I took over the indoor training facility was to get used to my new armor, but the real reason was different.
I wanted to use the mirror to observe my movements and then correct them using my Aesthetic Sense.
From what I’d experienced with the skill so far, it wasn’t just about outer beauty.
'Aesthetic Sense' seeks a deeper beauty, not just superficial appearances. Like how I found beauty in the hands of the sword, which might seem strange to others, or how I appreciated the almost collapsing forge as beautiful, Aesthetic Sense focuses on the inherent beauty, not just appearances.
This means if I can correct any awkward parts according to Aesthetic Sense, I should be able to move more efficiently.
With this conclusion in mind, I decided to train in the indoor facility to raise my stagnant skills and also to level up.
Hmm. First, I should practice swinging the mace.
I began the movements I had repeated thousands of times, and as I did, I realized there were more parts that needed fixing than I had expected. I tilted my head in confusion.
I had expected there to be some changes, but I didn’t think there would be so many.
No wonder, though. The way I’ve been swinging the mace is based on what my grandfather taught me directly.
What’s the problem? The weaknesses pointed out by Aesthetic Sense seem to be correct, so there must be something wrong.
I kept changing the shape of my swings, but I still couldn’t find an answer.
Ugh! This is so frustrating!
If something’s wrong, why doesn’t it tell me why it’s wrong?!
Just calling it “bad” isn’t enough!
It needs to be specific. What exactly is wrong so that I can improve!
As expected, the mesugaki skill is lacking in crucial areas.
I was wrong to expect anything from that crow.
As I grumbled while looking into the mirror, I eventually asked my grandfather for help.
“Grandfather, this might sound strange, but there are a few parts where I feel awkward when swinging the mace.”
<Apart from the awkwardness?>
“Yes, it’s... well...”
When I shared the awkward parts pointed out by Aesthetic Sense, my grandfather let out a hum.
<Hmm... You find that part awkward?>
“Yes. Why is that?”
<Wait a moment. Let me think.>
After thinking for a while, my grandfather finally chuckled and admitted that he had misunderstood something.
<Lucy, as you know, your physique is quite different from the other knights.>
“Well, that’s true.”
I didn’t find it hard to understand what he meant by “different.”
To put it simply, I’m really small.
Compared to girls my age, even Freya, who’s small, would need to be raised up.
<So, if I teach you the way I was taught, it’s bound to cause problems. My methods are based on the elite knights, and they don’t fit your body.>
My grandfather’s teachings were based on the elite knights.
No matter how much I adjust them to fit my body, there will always be awkwardness since they’re based on a standard of normal knights.
<You’ve been doing well following my methods so far, but if you’re feeling awkward, I’ll have to create a martial art specifically for you.>
“Is that even possible?”
<I couldn’t do it alone. The hero helped me a lot when I created my martial style.>
“Then what should we do? Should I find someone to help?”
<No need. The person who can help is already here.>
“Here? Erin... no, I don’t think the fox would know much about a mace. Is there someone I don’t know?”
<It’s you, Lucy. You’ll have to help me.>
“...Me?”
<Yes. I’ll try my various methods, and you tell me where the awkwardness is. Eventually, we’ll remove the awkwardness, and that’s when I’ll have created a martial art tailored for you.>
Understanding what my grandfather meant, I smiled as usual, then fixed my posture again.
“Well, I guess I have no choice. Since you’ve helped me so much, I’ll endure any shortcomings.”
<Haha! Yes, you endure! I’ll think desperately until I create something perfect!>
My grandfather, laughing loudly, suggested I try swinging differently, and as I mimicked him, I passed on what Aesthetic Sense pointed out to him.
Finding a way that suited me was not easy, but I didn’t feel any boredom or frustration.
After all, this grind was something I had done endlessly in Soul Academy, and more than that, talking with my grandfather and improving bit by bit was an enjoyable experience.
So, I spent my time in the indoor training facility, discussing with my grandfather until it was time to head to Soul Academy Street.
About a week before the Academy’s reopening, I returned to the Academy to unpack and head to my room.
Although I had been away for months, the room was spotless, not a speck of dust in sight.
It must have been thanks to the people who worked here, keeping it clean.
Since the fox had left to meet its real body, I was able to tidy up the room without any distractions. Just as I was organizing my things, someone knocked on the door.
“Lucy, are you in there?”
It was Freya. She usually arrived just before the Academy reopened in the game, so her early arrival surprised me.
I wondered what it was about, so I opened the door, and as soon as she saw my face, she broke into a bright smile.
“It’s been a while. I missed you.”
“So, what’s up, idiot knight?”
“Let’s duel. I’m going to win this time.”
...Right, she was like this.
I shouldn’t have worried.
Sighing deeply, I debated whether to just kick Freya out, but after hearing my grandfather’s words, I changed my mind.
<Isn’t she a good enough opponent to test what we’ve been working on?>
“That’s true. Her talent is real, after all.”
After finishing my internal debate, I met Freya’s pleading gaze and smirked.
“You’re going to win? Someone like you?”
“Yep. I’ll do it.”
“Pfft, go ahead. Try all you want. No matter how hard you try, all you’ll do is highlight your own incompetence.”