Madman in a Fantasy World – Chapter 16

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Vine
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“An ultra greatsword.”

“…What’s that?”

The blacksmith’s innocent question didn’t match his gruff appearance.

“Come on, mister, that joke’s not funny.”

How could a blacksmith not know what an ultra greatsword was?

“I’m not joking. I’m asking what it is.”

“You’re serious?”

The blacksmith, arms crossed, nodded matter-of-factly.

“Luna, have you ever heard of an ultra greatsword?”

“I haven’t.”

How did this world even have double-sided axes then?

“Sigh… fine, I’ll explain.”

A blade at least 160cm long, 2cm thick, and 15cm wide.

A true man’s weapon, big, thick, and sturdy.

Luna shook her head, as if to say, “Here we go again.” The blacksmith just stared at him, dumbfounded.

“Sigh… kid, do you really think such a sword exists?”

“Of course.”

On Earth, even if you could make one, it would be too heavy and unwieldy for anyone but bodybuilders. But this was a fantasy world.

A world where the impossible was possible.

And his status window would compensate for any lack of strength.

The blacksmith rubbed his forehead.

“Let me explain why such a sword is impractical.”

The hilt would break under the weight of the blade.

It would be too unwieldy to swing.

Too cumbersome to carry around.

He listed numerous reasons, but Luke wasn’t swayed.

The wielder could worry about the weight.

And he wasn’t planning to carry it around anyway. He’d just keep it in his inventory and take it out when needed.

As for the hilt breaking…

“Just make the hilt and the blade one piece.”

“That’s ridiculous… although… it might be possible.”

The blacksmith stroked his beard thoughtfully.

“If I carve it from a single piece of material… forge the hilt and blade together…”

He muttered to himself. Luke couldn’t understand what he was saying.

“So, you can make it, right?”

“…Maybe.”

“Then I’ll leave it to you~”

“But I don’t have the materials.”

He just said it was possible.

“What materials do you need? Just iron, right?”

“Regular iron won’t do. The hilt will break, and it’ll be too heavy. A sword like that would weigh at least 200kg.”

That was a bit much, even for him.

He could probably swing it like a twig after leveling up a bit more, but not right now.

“Then what do you need?”

“A light but strong monster material.”

A light but strong material?

It sounded impossible, but this was a fantasy world.

“What kind of material?”

“You’ll have to find that yourself. I’m just making the sword.”

“But I’m paying you for this.”

“So?”

This blacksmith was infuriatingly consistent.

What kind of shop made the customer find the materials?

“Don’t you have any ideas?”

“I have a few in mind, but… what’s your adventurer rank, kid?”

“E-rank.”

“Then you can’t get any of them. The monsters I’m thinking of are C-rank and above.”

“Luna, you wouldn’t happen to know anything, would you?”

“No.”

Where was he supposed to find this information?

Then, Luna spoke up.

“Luke, maybe Adela knows something?”

“Oh, that’s a good idea.”

Adela, working at the reception desk, might know more about monsters than the blacksmith.

“And Luke, we should ask him about the War Wolf carcasses.”

“Oh, right, those.”

Having an assistant was so convenient.

Like having an external SSD: fast, accurate, and with excellent memory.

He took out the War Wolf heads and bodies from his inventory.

“Ugh! What’s that smell?!”

“…!”

Both the blacksmith and Luna recoiled from the stench.

Luke, having anticipated this, held his breath.

“We’ll leave the dismantling to you!”

He ignored the blacksmith’s protests and left the shop, heading straight for the Adventurers’ Guild.

“Adela!”

“…Why are you back?”

“Don’t be so cold. I can come back if I want to.”

“We’re not… friends.”

“We’re adventurers and receptionists.”

They didn’t have to be lovers to be friendly.

“Sigh…”

“You sigh a lot. Must be a tough job.”

“What do you need?”

She was ignoring him.

This was… strangely enjoyable.

Being berated by a beautiful woman was almost like a reward.

“Hehe.”

“…Luna.”

“I need a material for a weapon. A strong but light material. Do you know any monsters that would provide such a material?”

Adela and Luna started talking, completely ignoring him.

Being openly ignored was a novel experience.

Adela tapped her finger on her lips thoughtfully.

Then, she went to a bookshelf and pulled out a thick book, flipping through the pages rapidly.

“How about this?”

She pointed at a page.

“Rhino Horn?”

A detailed illustration of a rhinoceros-like creature with a large, blunt horn was accompanied by a short description.

The horn wasn’t sharp, but it looked like it could pulverize boulders.

“Anything else?”

“We don’t have much information on this monster. It’s a herbivore, so adventurers rarely hunt it.”

A herbivore?

That thing?

And were there even herbivore monsters?

They weren’t mentioned in the novel.

Well, there was no reason for them to be. The protagonist wasn’t a psychopath who went around killing peaceful creatures.

“I’ve heard that Rhino Horns are light but very strong.”

“If they’re so good, why don’t you have more information?”

“They’re herbivores, but they attack when provoked. But the reward isn’t worth the effort, so adventurers avoid them. We don’t get many requests for them.”

That was just cheap clients trying to pay less.

“How do we even find them if you don’t have any information?”

“I don’t know.”

“Your information network is surprisingly lacking.”

“…Can I punch you?”

“Huh? You’re going to hit me?”

He tilted his head like a sassy squirrel.

“Yes.”

Thwack!

And then, like a mischievous raccoon, she punched him.

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He began his investigation based on the information from the Adventurers’ Guild.

Which, in reality, meant having a late lunch with Luna.

“How am I supposed to find anything with no information?”

“What?”

“Nothing. Just thinking out loud.”

He hadn’t made any progress since talking to Adela.

Where else would have more information on monsters than the Adventurers’ Guild?

Maybe a neighborhood with Rhino Horns in their front yards.

He dipped his bread in jam and took a bite.

Then, he noticed his sleeve.

“Ah, there it is.”

“What is it?”

“The place to gather information.”

He looked down at his clothes.

He only had one outfit, so he kept forgetting what he was wearing.

“Let’s go to the academy.”

The academy. The setting of the novel.

It was bound to have information on monsters.

“But we’re not students… how are we going to get in…?”

Luna had a point.

But he wasn’t worried.

“I’m wearing the uniform. I’ll just walk in.”

“…I don’t have a uniform.”

“Just say you’re with me.”

The academy had no guards.

The students were capable of defending themselves, and the professors were powerful. No one would mess with them, except for demons or something.

Besides, the academy didn’t restrict students’ movements, as long as they took responsibility for their actions.

“What if we get caught?”

“If we get caught, we get caught.”

He wasn’t a thief.

He was just going to get some information and leave. He wasn’t scaling the walls or anything. There was no need to be sneaky.

And even if they got caught, Lucia Marigold, the Headmaster, would probably help them, not expel them.

“Let’s go after we finish eating.”

“Okay.”

He took another bite of his jam-covered bread.

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Somewhere beneath the imperial capital…

A spacious, luxuriously furnished underground room housed a large, ornate table and chairs fit for a noble.

A corpulent man sat in one of the chairs.

Knock knock.

“Lord Daine Buckley, may I enter?”

The man, the very image of wealth and prosperity, was the head of the Buckley family, a baron of the empire.

Daine Buckley, mid-chew, answered.

“Enter.”

“Excuse me.”

“What is it?”

“The slave transport carriage was attacked.”

“What?!”

“And the Imperial Guard has begun an investigation.”

The corpulent man continued chewing, then his expression darkened.

“Those damn mercenaries…! Did they get overwhelmed by monsters and screw everything up?!”

“They were attacked by humans.”

“…Are you sure?”

“I just came back from investigating.”

Crack.

The sound of bone crunching between his teeth.

“Which bastard…!”

“The mercenaries are all dead, and the slaves don’t know us, so we’re safe.”

The slaves were lowly commoners and beastfolk.

Daine Buckley hadn’t bothered to interact with them, too good to waste his precious time on mere merchandise.

There was no risk of them revealing his identity.

“What are your orders?”

Daine Buckley’s answer was immediate.

“Send them.”

“Them” were the assassins he employed to handle… messy situations.

He hadn’t needed their services lately, but thanks to this unknown meddler, he would have some fun.

“Understood.”

The butler left.

Daine Buckley tossed a bone into a nearby bucket.

Whoever you are, you dare interfere with me?

He would find them, torture them slowly, and then kill them.

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