The following day, a visitor sought me out just outside Jephryn.
“Are you His Highness Wolfram von Roengreen?”
“Yes, but who are you?”
“It’s an honor to meet you. I’m Cotton from the Tristar family.”
The man introducing himself as Cotton handed me a bundle of documents.
The documents were densely packed with the names and prices of various ores, ranging from ordinary stones to Incandescent stones, Thunderstones, and more. There were all sorts of ores listed, even metals that had already been refined.
The prices… were lower than I had anticipated. They were approximately twice as high as what I had paid for them in the game. Considering that mining ores is quite challenging in this world, this price was practically a steal. The sword I had brought with me when I was chased out had sold for ten times its in-game price, so buying ores at twice the cost was a significant advantage.
Hmmm. If that were the case, I should have learned armor or weapon crafting. However, I eventually dismissed the idea. Unlike crafting, blacksmithing required physically hammering down on metal, which would be too demanding for Wolfram’s strength and stamina.
Normally, I would have taken more time to purchase ores, but now I had an immediate need for them.
“Hmm. I will draft a purchase order right away. It’s quite inconvenient to keep going back and forth to Jephryn several times, after all.”
Jephryn permits students who operate shops to place orders for ‘external’ items through special contracts. However, customs regulations are stringent, and inspections are thorough, making even a single trip quite a hassle.
Therefore, it’s more convenient to place bulk orders at once, and I decided to order the metals I currently require.
Let’s consider it. Metals that are lightweight and conduct magic swiftly, as well as metals that are robust… And let’s see.
“I’d like to place an order like this.”
“Yes. I’ve confirmed. I will procure the items.”
Cotton affirmed, bowed deeply, and then departed. Now, it’s time to find someone capable of processing the metal and… engaging in blacksmithing.
“It’s not that challenging, you know. There are quite a few skilled individuals around.”
***
The following day, three young chicks came to visit.
“Ah! Senior! Could we have some doughnuts, please? Doughnuts!”
“Hello, Senior Wolfram. Do you have any doughnuts?”
The yellow and green chicks immediately began searching for doughnuts upon arrival, while only the pink chick greeted me with a warm smile.
“Hello, Senior.”
“Hmm. You’ve kept your promise and found your way here.”
“…Yes! It’s a promise!”
Mille-feuille, beaming brightly, said so. I handed doughnuts to the other two chicks and initiated a conversation with Mille-feuille.
“That’s right. It was a promise.”
“Yes, Senior. Hehe. It’s our promise.”
Mille-feuille, who slightly tilted her head and looked up at me with a gentle smile.
Observing the pink chick, I nodded. It reminded me of the siblings at the orphanage. If it weren’t for Eve, they all seemed like adorable younger siblings. Why was my own sibling so repulsive and fierce? I pondered the mysteries of blood relations while gazing at the chick.
“Right. Let’s fulfill the promise then. It’s about how to deal with Gale Strike.”
“Yes!”
“But before that, Mille-feuille Phon Sabre, I want one promise from you.”
“Yes! I’ll make any promise! Just say it! I feel I can even keep a lifelong promise!”
“……..”
What kind of promise did she think I was going to ask for? Well, anyway, it’s not that grand of a promise.
“Don’t betray me.”
“…Yes?”
“That’s all. Can you keep it?”
Upon my words, Mille-feuille’s face turned blank, then she nodded with the most delighted expression.
“I will never betray you for my whole life.”
“Then that’s settled.”
“Eh, uh… Do you trust me?”
“Is it a lie?”
“No, no!”
“Then that’s settled.”
Why complicate it? I just wanted to hear a resolute answer once.
“Now I will explain the countermeasures. Let’s see. Gale Strike is a member of the Strike family, and that family is appropriately named for their proficiency in using greatswords. They may be slow, but they strike with great force.”
“Yes, yes…”
“The basic tactic remains the same. Utilize Half Berserk to swiftly conclude a short-term battle.”
“I see. The same strategy as last time…”
“It’s simple. With your stats not even reaching the average of the first year, in order to defeat the second-ranked student, who is on par with the top student, you must unequivocally enhance your stats.”
“Yes. That’s right… Because I’m lacking.”
“That’s right. You’re lacking.”
“…Yes.”
Mille-feuille nodded with uncertain eyes.
“Thus, you must determine your future path more quickly than others. The direction of your life.”
“Career? My, my life’s di, direction?”
Why did her face suddenly turn red? The pink chick was becoming a red chick, and I continued speaking without paying much attention.
“Yes, that’s correct. When you become a sophomore, you’ll need to decide which department to choose. What kind of weapon will you use to earn your diploma at Jephryn?”
“I see, that’s what you meant… Hmm, it looks like I’ll be joining the Knight Department since I don’t have a knack for magic.”
“Good. What skills or weapons will you focus on until your senior year?”
“……Ah.”
“Having low stats means you need to make your choices quickly and concentrate on them.”
If you lack talent, you must make choices and commit to them.
“Well, actually, I’ve thought about it.”
“Is that so?”
That’s unexpected. She’s put significant thought into her own future?
“Yes. Since I have inherently low stats, I figured magic would be challenging. With my stats being on the lower side overall, it seemed like anything I do would end up mediocre, so I really pondered it.”
“Go on.”
“That’s why I want to take a straightforward approach. I plan to balance offense and defense with a combination of a one-handed sword and a shield. I thought relying on shallow tricks would make me vulnerable in critical situations…”
“……Ha.”
“Eh, ah, is that not good?”
Not good? That was the most perfect answer I could have hoped for.
“Excellent, Mille-feuille Phon Sabre.”
“…Yes, yes?”
“You can sense that Jephryn’s status system is flawed. ‘Intelligence’ isn’t included as a stat, but it’s undoubtedly a factor.”
Jephryn’s, to be exact, D/Z SAGA’s stats are only five: strength, stamina, magic, and will. There is no ‘intelligence’ status anywhere. But it is a status that clearly exists. And just my opinion…this chick is quite intelligent.
She doesn’t resort to superficial tactics, acknowledges her limitations, and opts for a straightforward method. It may not be the best choice, but it aligns with her straightforward spirit.
“Good. Let’s add one more thing to that.”
“Just one thing?”
“With your stats, you might struggle to wield a shield for extended periods, and you could even drop your sword. Do you understand that?”
“Yes, yes…”
“So let’s determine a combat technique you can use in dire situations.”
“Ah, ah… Yes! I trust you and will follow your guidance, Senior!”
“Good. Let’s begin training now.”
“Eh, eh… Are you going to personally teach me, Senior?”
“Hmm?”
“I see… Just the two of us, training. Ehehe… Hehe… Just the two of us.”
“Unfortunately, that’s not the case.”
“…Yes?”
It’s about time for her to arrive. I heard the Wolf Rail approaching the convenience store, the carriage door opening, and the clicking sound as… she appeared.
“Wolfram, I’m here!”
“Hmm. Have you arrived?”
“Yes! It’s at Wolfram’s request, so I had to come!”
“…Eh, eh, Senior Aila?”
“It’s been a while, little chick! Still as adorable as ever!”
Aila beamed and approached me, casually placing her hand on Mille-feuille’s shoulder.
“So, I’m going to be training the little chick now?”
“Hmm. I’m counting on you.”
“…Eh, eh? You’re going to teach me… Senior Aila?”
“Of course! Wolfram specifically asked me to provide you with intensive training!”
“Hmm. So, both of you, do your best.”
“Yes, yes… I see. It’s not Senior Wolfram but Senior Aila.”
Mille-feuille once again wore the expression of a bewildered lone warrior. Didn’t Aila or Nephti train her during the last confrontation with Kelters? Is the training that rigorous?
“Let’s go.”
“…Yes.”
With that, Aila spirited away the young chick and vanished, leaving behind the voices of the remaining two chicks who had finished their doughnuts and were now staring blankly at me.
“Yogurt! Mille-feuille’s been kidnapped?!”
“I, I saw it too. Isn’t that Aila Tristar, the top senior of the third year?”
“Mi, Mille-feuille… What do we do? Should we save her?”
“Do you feel confident? I… I’m not sure about rescuing Mille-feuille.”
“Was giving us those delicious doughnuts from the start a plan to fatten us up and eat us…?”
“Vanilla, did you put on weight?”
“About 2 kilos… How about you?”
“…No comment.”
“Ah, stingy!”
They’re quite loud.
“Hey, you two chicks… No, the yellow one. Yes, you. Dwarf. Come here.”
“I think Yogurt would be more valuable than me, Senior!”
“Go Vanilla. Senior Wolfram is calling you. Senior Wolfram, Can I offer Vanilla as a sacrifice and go back?”
“No. You stay too. Listen. This concerns that pink chick.”
Upon hearing that, the two colorful chicks, who were jokingly concerned about the pink one being ‘kidnapped’, approached with serious expressions.
“Is this about Mille-feuille?”
“Yes, exactly. I’m talking about you, the yellow chick… Vanilla.”
“Yes, yes!”
Vanilla tensed up nervously.
These chicks can reach up to tier 3 when trained, but that’s only in combat. Especially Vanilla, based on her traits, could potentially aim for mid-tier 2.
Her trait is ‘blacksmithing’.
Vanilla.
To be precise, ‘Vanilla, the third daughter of the Fire Tribe’s elder.’
She is one of the early companions who can be relied upon for her talent in blacksmithing.
Of course, she’s not as skilled as those with nicknames like Godhand or Whitesmith, but she’s worth developing for later stages of the game.
“Do you possess blacksmithing skills?”
“Uh? Blacksmithing, you mean? Yes. Well, I’m a dwarf, so I did some forging before I enrolled?”
“Then, could you craft a piece of equipment for Mille-feuille? I’ll provide the ores.”
“…For Mille-feuille?”
“Yes. I’ll create the design.”
“Understood! I’m a dwarf who will give my all for a friend!”
The yellow chick nodded with a wide smile.
“So, you won’t charge for making something for a friend, right?”
“…What?”
***
Having received the ores and designs from Wolfram von Roengreen, Vanilla promptly rented a forge and began her work.
“Wow, you’ve thought of all this. You really are an interesting senior.”
Vanilla tied her hair back into a ponytail, donned a somewhat rugged outfit, and firmly grasped the blacksmith’s hammer.
Soon, the hammer started to glow with heat. This was a trait of the dwarf race, particularly the Fire Tribe. While a human blacksmith would typically require a blast furnace or even bellows, she could heat the hammer with her own power and shape the metal by striking it.
This talent alone was a significant advantage for a blacksmith, and she could have established herself among the elders of her dwarf tribe. However, instead of residing with the dwarf elders in her homeland, she chose ‘youth!’, ‘friendship!’, and ‘actual fun!’ as her goals and headed to Jephryn.
Now, Vanilla, who hadn’t held a hammer in a while, gripped it again for the sake of her friend.
“This is quite a fun weapon. Hmm… It might be enjoyable to craft!”
While she might have been hesitant if she were just making swords or armor, this task seemed particularly enjoyable. Above all, Wolfram’s words had touched her heart.
“Senior, could this equipment be more valuable than you think? Is it alright to simply hand over such designs?”
“It’s nothing.”
“I might even consider patenting this, you know?”
“Mille-feuille said she wouldn’t betray me. What about you?
“…I have no intention of betraying you either.”
“Then it’s settled. Craft it for a friend.”
“…Yes.”
More fun than she had anticipated, adept at making delectable treats, and a kind person. Vanilla was aware that Mille-feuille had a fondness for him, but her opinion of Wolfram von Roengreen had initially been that of a reasonably handsome senior who made delicious doughnuts. Now, Vanilla’s opinion of him had improved.
“I hope Mille-feuille and the senior get along well.”
Giggling, Vanilla raised the hammer.
Clang, clang, clang.
The rhythmic sound of the hammer echoed, and after three strikes, Vanilla glanced at the design once more, tilting her head as if she had suddenly remembered something.
“…Now that I think about it,”
The item in the design was a gauntlet.
“Didn’t he say this was for Mille-feuille to use?”
And it was a gauntlet so thick that it could be described as ‘bang!’ thick enough to strike someone on the head.
The following day, a visitor sought me out just outside Jephryn.
“Are you His Highness Wolfram von Roengreen?”
“Yes, but who are you?”
“It’s an honor to meet you. I’m Cotton from the Tristar family.”
The man introducing himself as Cotton handed me a bundle of documents.
The documents were densely packed with the names and prices of various ores, ranging from ordinary stones to Incandescent stones, Thunderstones, and more. There were all sorts of ores listed, even metals that had already been refined.
The prices… were lower than I had anticipated. They were approximately twice as high as what I had paid for them in the game. Considering that mining ores is quite challenging in this world, this price was practically a steal. The sword I had brought with me when I was chased out had sold for ten times its in-game price, so buying ores at twice the cost was a significant advantage.
Hmmm. If that were the case, I should have learned armor or weapon crafting. However, I eventually dismissed the idea. Unlike crafting, blacksmithing required physically hammering down on metal, which would be too demanding for Wolfram’s strength and stamina.
Normally, I would have taken more time to purchase ores, but now I had an immediate need for them.
“Hmm. I will draft a purchase order right away. It’s quite inconvenient to keep going back and forth to Jephryn several times, after all.”
Jephryn permits students who operate shops to place orders for ‘external’ items through special contracts. However, customs regulations are stringent, and inspections are thorough, making even a single trip quite a hassle.
Therefore, it’s more convenient to place bulk orders at once, and I decided to order the metals I currently require.
Let’s consider it. Metals that are lightweight and conduct magic swiftly, as well as metals that are robust… And let’s see.
“I’d like to place an order like this.”
“Yes. I’ve confirmed. I will procure the items.”
Cotton affirmed, bowed deeply, and then departed. Now, it’s time to find someone capable of processing the metal and… engaging in blacksmithing.
“It’s not that challenging, you know. There are quite a few skilled individuals around.”
***
The following day, three young chicks came to visit.
“Ah! Senior! Could we have some doughnuts, please? Doughnuts!”
“Hello, Senior Wolfram. Do you have any doughnuts?”
The yellow and green chicks immediately began searching for doughnuts upon arrival, while only the pink chick greeted me with a warm smile.
“Hello, Senior.”
“Hmm. You’ve kept your promise and found your way here.”
“…Yes! It’s a promise!”
Mille-feuille, beaming brightly, said so. I handed doughnuts to the other two chicks and initiated a conversation with Mille-feuille.
“That’s right. It was a promise.”
“Yes, Senior. Hehe. It’s our promise.”
Mille-feuille, who slightly tilted her head and looked up at me with a gentle smile.
Observing the pink chick, I nodded. It reminded me of the siblings at the orphanage. If it weren’t for Eve, they all seemed like adorable younger siblings. Why was my own sibling so repulsive and fierce? I pondered the mysteries of blood relations while gazing at the chick.
“Right. Let’s fulfill the promise then. It’s about how to deal with Gale Strike.”
“Yes!”
“But before that, Mille-feuille Phon Sabre, I want one promise from you.”
“Yes! I’ll make any promise! Just say it! I feel I can even keep a lifelong promise!”
“……..”
What kind of promise did she think I was going to ask for? Well, anyway, it’s not that grand of a promise.
“Don’t betray me.”
“…Yes?”
“That’s all. Can you keep it?”
Upon my words, Mille-feuille’s face turned blank, then she nodded with the most delighted expression.
“I will never betray you for my whole life.”
“Then that’s settled.”
“Eh, uh… Do you trust me?”
“Is it a lie?”
“No, no!”
“Then that’s settled.”
Why complicate it? I just wanted to hear a resolute answer once.
“Now I will explain the countermeasures. Let’s see. Gale Strike is a member of the Strike family, and that family is appropriately named for their proficiency in using greatswords. They may be slow, but they strike with great force.”
“Yes, yes…”
“The basic tactic remains the same. Utilize Half Berserk to swiftly conclude a short-term battle.”
“I see. The same strategy as last time…”
“It’s simple. With your stats not even reaching the average of the first year, in order to defeat the second-ranked student, who is on par with the top student, you must unequivocally enhance your stats.”
“Yes. That’s right… Because I’m lacking.”
“That’s right. You’re lacking.”
“…Yes.”
Mille-feuille nodded with uncertain eyes.
“Thus, you must determine your future path more quickly than others. The direction of your life.”
“Career? My, my life’s di, direction?”
Why did her face suddenly turn red? The pink chick was becoming a red chick, and I continued speaking without paying much attention.
“Yes, that’s correct. When you become a sophomore, you’ll need to decide which department to choose. What kind of weapon will you use to earn your diploma at Jephryn?”
“I see, that’s what you meant… Hmm, it looks like I’ll be joining the Knight Department since I don’t have a knack for magic.”
“Good. What skills or weapons will you focus on until your senior year?”
“……Ah.”
“Having low stats means you need to make your choices quickly and concentrate on them.”
If you lack talent, you must make choices and commit to them.
“Well, actually, I’ve thought about it.”
“Is that so?”
That’s unexpected. She’s put significant thought into her own future?
“Yes. Since I have inherently low stats, I figured magic would be challenging. With my stats being on the lower side overall, it seemed like anything I do would end up mediocre, so I really pondered it.”
“Go on.”
“That’s why I want to take a straightforward approach. I plan to balance offense and defense with a combination of a one-handed sword and a shield. I thought relying on shallow tricks would make me vulnerable in critical situations…”
“……Ha.”
“Eh, ah, is that not good?”
Not good? That was the most perfect answer I could have hoped for.
“Excellent, Mille-feuille Phon Sabre.”
“…Yes, yes?”
“You can sense that Jephryn’s status system is flawed. ‘Intelligence’ isn’t included as a stat, but it’s undoubtedly a factor.”
Jephryn’s, to be exact, D/Z SAGA’s stats are only five: strength, stamina, magic, and will. There is no ‘intelligence’ status anywhere. But it is a status that clearly exists. And just my opinion…this chick is quite intelligent.
She doesn’t resort to superficial tactics, acknowledges her limitations, and opts for a straightforward method. It may not be the best choice, but it aligns with her straightforward spirit.
“Good. Let’s add one more thing to that.”
“Just one thing?”
“With your stats, you might struggle to wield a shield for extended periods, and you could even drop your sword. Do you understand that?”
“Yes, yes…”
“So let’s determine a combat technique you can use in dire situations.”
“Ah, ah… Yes! I trust you and will follow your guidance, Senior!”
“Good. Let’s begin training now.”
“Eh, eh… Are you going to personally teach me, Senior?”
“Hmm?”
“I see… Just the two of us, training. Ehehe… Hehe… Just the two of us.”
“Unfortunately, that’s not the case.”
“…Yes?”
It’s about time for her to arrive. I heard the Wolf Rail approaching the convenience store, the carriage door opening, and the clicking sound as… she appeared.
“Wolfram, I’m here!”
“Hmm. Have you arrived?”
“Yes! It’s at Wolfram’s request, so I had to come!”
“…Eh, eh, Senior Aila?”
“It’s been a while, little chick! Still as adorable as ever!”
Aila beamed and approached me, casually placing her hand on Mille-feuille’s shoulder.
“So, I’m going to be training the little chick now?”
“Hmm. I’m counting on you.”
“…Eh, eh? You’re going to teach me… Senior Aila?”
“Of course! Wolfram specifically asked me to provide you with intensive training!”
“Hmm. So, both of you, do your best.”
“Yes, yes… I see. It’s not Senior Wolfram but Senior Aila.”
Mille-feuille once again wore the expression of a bewildered lone warrior. Didn’t Aila or Nephti train her during the last confrontation with Kelters? Is the training that rigorous?
“Let’s go.”
“…Yes.”
With that, Aila spirited away the young chick and vanished, leaving behind the voices of the remaining two chicks who had finished their doughnuts and were now staring blankly at me.
“Yogurt! Mille-feuille’s been kidnapped?!”
“I, I saw it too. Isn’t that Aila Tristar, the top senior of the third year?”
“Mi, Mille-feuille… What do we do? Should we save her?”
“Do you feel confident? I… I’m not sure about rescuing Mille-feuille.”
“Was giving us those delicious doughnuts from the start a plan to fatten us up and eat us…?”
“Vanilla, did you put on weight?”
“About 2 kilos… How about you?”
“…No comment.”
“Ah, stingy!”
They’re quite loud.
“Hey, you two chicks… No, the yellow one. Yes, you. Dwarf. Come here.”
“I think Yogurt would be more valuable than me, Senior!”
“Go Vanilla. Senior Wolfram is calling you. Senior Wolfram, Can I offer Vanilla as a sacrifice and go back?”
“No. You stay too. Listen. This concerns that pink chick.”
Upon hearing that, the two colorful chicks, who were jokingly concerned about the pink one being ‘kidnapped’, approached with serious expressions.
“Is this about Mille-feuille?”
“Yes, exactly. I’m talking about you, the yellow chick… Vanilla.”
“Yes, yes!”
Vanilla tensed up nervously.
These chicks can reach up to tier 3 when trained, but that’s only in combat. Especially Vanilla, based on her traits, could potentially aim for mid-tier 2.
Her trait is ‘blacksmithing’.
Vanilla.
To be precise, ‘Vanilla, the third daughter of the Fire Tribe’s elder.’
She is one of the early companions who can be relied upon for her talent in blacksmithing.
Of course, she’s not as skilled as those with nicknames like Godhand or Whitesmith, but she’s worth developing for later stages of the game.
“Do you possess blacksmithing skills?”
“Uh? Blacksmithing, you mean? Yes. Well, I’m a dwarf, so I did some forging before I enrolled?”
“Then, could you craft a piece of equipment for Mille-feuille? I’ll provide the ores.”
“…For Mille-feuille?”
“Yes. I’ll create the design.”
“Understood! I’m a dwarf who will give my all for a friend!”
The yellow chick nodded with a wide smile.
“So, you won’t charge for making something for a friend, right?”
“…What?”
***
Having received the ores and designs from Wolfram von Roengreen, Vanilla promptly rented a forge and began her work.
“Wow, you’ve thought of all this. You really are an interesting senior.”
Vanilla tied her hair back into a ponytail, donned a somewhat rugged outfit, and firmly grasped the blacksmith’s hammer.
Soon, the hammer started to glow with heat. This was a trait of the dwarf race, particularly the Fire Tribe. While a human blacksmith would typically require a blast furnace or even bellows, she could heat the hammer with her own power and shape the metal by striking it.
This talent alone was a significant advantage for a blacksmith, and she could have established herself among the elders of her dwarf tribe. However, instead of residing with the dwarf elders in her homeland, she chose ‘youth!’, ‘friendship!’, and ‘actual fun!’ as her goals and headed to Jephryn.
Now, Vanilla, who hadn’t held a hammer in a while, gripped it again for the sake of her friend.
“This is quite a fun weapon. Hmm… It might be enjoyable to craft!”
While she might have been hesitant if she were just making swords or armor, this task seemed particularly enjoyable. Above all, Wolfram’s words had touched her heart.
“Senior, could this equipment be more valuable than you think? Is it alright to simply hand over such designs?”
“It’s nothing.”
“I might even consider patenting this, you know?”
“Mille-feuille said she wouldn’t betray me. What about you?
“…I have no intention of betraying you either.”
“Then it’s settled. Craft it for a friend.”
“…Yes.”
More fun than she had anticipated, adept at making delectable treats, and a kind person. Vanilla was aware that Mille-feuille had a fondness for him, but her opinion of Wolfram von Roengreen had initially been that of a reasonably handsome senior who made delicious doughnuts. Now, Vanilla’s opinion of him had improved.
“I hope Mille-feuille and the senior get along well.”
Giggling, Vanilla raised the hammer.
Clang, clang, clang.
The rhythmic sound of the hammer echoed, and after three strikes, Vanilla glanced at the design once more, tilting her head as if she had suddenly remembered something.
“…Now that I think about it,”
The item in the design was a gauntlet.
“Didn’t he say this was for Mille-feuille to use?”
And it was a gauntlet so thick that it could be described as ‘bang!’ thick enough to strike someone on the head.
