Darius was working in the workshop when he stopped his hands abruptly.

Lately, with various people visiting for various reasons, Darius had become more vigilant, able to sense magical power in his surroundings.

It was because the reactions of the three people caught his attention during that task, which he had been performing almost unconsciously.

(...Hmm? This magical power... Baldus and Aldo? And I can feel the magical power of others too, but this person is someone I don't know, yet I feel quite a bit of magical power from them.)

Darius put down his unfinished sword, stood up, and headed for the entrance.

When he opened the door, standing there were Baldus and Aldo, just as the magical reaction indicated. And behind them, a man was waiting.

A man dressed in light clothing. He had a sword at his waist and a cheerful smile on his face.

He looked to be about the same age as him, but the aura emanating from his body was somehow distant.

The magical power emanating from his body was also considerable, rivaling that of Baldus and Aldo.

(...Could it be that this person wants me to make him a weapon or something?)

Given the recent string of such visits, Darius quickly reached that possibility and greeted the three with a slight bow.

"It's been a while, Baldus and Aldo. How are things on your end?"

"Darius-dono, it's been a while. This person here... well, he seems to want to speak with you, Darius-dono. But before that, I'd like to express my gratitude. Thanks to the sword you forged, my long-held wish has finally been fulfilled."

"Me too. Without this staff, my dreams wouldn't have come true. I am truly grateful."

Is that all? Darius thought.

"Oh, no. You don't need to worry about that. So, what was it you wanted to talk about?"

Darius felt a little embarrassed as he nodded back with a wry smile.

In response to Darius's question, the man who had been waiting stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

"Are you Darius-dono? ...Seeing you like this, you are indeed a formidable person."

"Thank you for that."

"No, I'm sorry. And so, I am called Riokuru. I have a small favor to ask of you, and I had Baldus and Aldo guide me here."

"Thank you for coming all the way here. That request, could it be that you want me to make weapons?"

"Yes... However... that monster is a somewhat special being."

"A special being, you say?"

"Yes... The opponent is a monster called the Tyranno Behemoth. Have you heard of it?"

"...Tyranno Behemoth. Yes, I've heard of it. I think it was in a picture book or something."

He remembers seeing a book like that a long time ago.

This workshop also stores discarded books and books blown in by the wind or something, and there should have been such a monster among those shown to Aria and the others.

"That's right... The Tyranno Behemoth was thought to be a legendary monster, but this time, that monster has been confirmed... To defeat it, we've come to need equipment made of Crystallium."

"...I see."

The Crystallium brought to mind the small mineral displayed in Darius's room.

The Crystallium was only discovered once within the dungeon. However, due to the small size of the ore itself and the fact that it was discovered nearly a decade ago, when technology was still relatively immature, it had previously been used as room decor.

It was something he had been saving, intending to keep it safe until he could process it properly someday.

"...However, there's a bit of a problem here... We haven't been able to find that Crystallium. When we consulted with Luna-dono about it, she mentioned that Darius-dono has it."

"So, you came to see me, is that right?"

"...That's how it is... To defeat the Tyranno Behemoth, the power of the Crystallium ore is absolutely necessary... We want to defeat the Tyranno Behemoth no matter what, and save the country, the city... the people."

There was no lie in his eyes when he spoke those words. Looking into those eyes, Darius felt a similar emotion to what he had felt toward Baldus and the others.

Being needed by someone.

This is different from when he was just forging for himself.

Since Aria and the others went outside, several people have visited this workshop. This has changed their perspective on blacksmithing, which they had previously done as a hobby, and their attitude has also shifted.

―He wants to help somehow. He wants to be of assistance.

(...For someone else. That's still the most important thing, isn't it?)

Perhaps the result of relentlessly pursuing his ideals with reckless abandon is what he is now, but to go further, that alone wasn't enough.

Darius looks at Riokuru, expressing his renewed gratitude to his daughters for giving him the chance to change himself.

He continued speaking quietly.

Chapter 47