The Kicked Out S-Rank Appraiser Creates The Strongest Guild - Chapter 64

Chapter 64    Sub-staff

Lizetta entered the guild’s atelier, twirling her meticulously brushed hair around her finger.

(Today’s the day Laurent is coming. I need to make a strong impression.)

“Hey, Lizetta!”

“Hey, Lizetta. You look even more put together than usual.”

“Good morning, Edgar, Charles. Has Laurent arrived yet?”

Edgar and Charles exchanged glances and smirked mischievously.

“The collaboration with ‘The Golden Hawk’ has been called off!?”

Lizetta spoke with evident concern.

“What? Why? How did that happen so suddenly?”

“Turns out he was a fraud.”

“A fraud?”

“Impersonating someone else. He’s a con artist.”

“I suspected something was off from the beginning.”

(A fraud… him?)

“You were trying to get work from him, weren’t you?”

“Tough luck. Looks like your plans fell through.”

The two laughed heartily.

“Where is he now? Where is Laurent?” Lizetta asked desperately.

“Seems he’s set up an alchemy guild on the outskirts of town,” replied Edgar.

“An alchemy guild?”

“Yeah, I think it’s called ‘Arsenal of the Spirits,’ or something like that.”

“What is he trying to do? Is it some kind of revenge?”

“…I see.”

Lizetta turned on her heel and headed towards the exit.

“Hey, where are you going?”

Without answering, she left the room, slamming the door shut in annoyance.

“What’s her problem?”

“Just let her be. It’s her usual tantrum.”

Lizetta left ‘Dragon’s Ember’ and went straight to ‘Arsenal of the Spirits.’

(I’m going to see for myself if Laurent is really a fraud.)

Laurent was conducting another round of interviews.

(I need to increase Aina’s endurance. But as it stands, she can’t solve this problem alone. I need to find someone whose skills and stats can complement her weaknesses.)

During the interviews, someone fitting the bill appeared.

A tall, well-built young man with a gentle expression, contrasting his sturdy frame, walked in.

[Rody Leavitt’s Stats]

• • • • Strength: 60-80

• • • • Endurance: 60-90

• • • • Agility: 30-40

• • • • Stamina: 60-80

(I found him. A-class endurance. And…)

[Rody Leavitt’s Skills]

• • • • Ore Refining: C→B

• • • • Metal Shaping: D→C

• • • • Product Design: D→A

• • • • Silversmithing: E→C

(He also has the potential to reach A-class in ‘Product Design.’)

“My name is Rody. Um, the reason I’m applying is that the pay at my current guild is too low to support my younger brothers.”

“I see. If you join us, we’ll pay you the salary listed in the job posting. We also support skill development. However, I’d like you to start as an assistant.”

“That’s fine. I’ll do anything as long as I get that salary.”

“Great. Can you start tomorrow?”

“Yes!”

With that, the interviews for the day were concluded.

As Aina walked to the workshop, she reflected on the previous day’s events.

(I couldn’t meet the quota yesterday. Today, I have to push myself to make all ten C-grade swords.)

She took a deep breath in front of the workshop door before opening it.

“Good morning! Let’s have a great day today. Huh?”

Aina greeted cheerfully as she entered the workshop but was surprised to see Laurent with an unfamiliar man.

“Good morning, Aina. You seem ready to go.”

“Oh, good morning, Laurent. Um… who is this?”

“Let me introduce you. This is Rody, who will be working with us starting today.”

“Oh, nice to meet you.”

Rody bowed his head politely.

“Nice to meet you too,” Aina said, bowing in return.

“Aina, he’ll be assisting you.”

“What!? Assisting… me?”

“Yes. Is there a problem?”

“N-no, I was just wondering if it’s okay to spend the budget on someone like me. I’m still just a novice.”

“No problem. You are worth it!”

Aina’s heart skipped a beat at Laurent’s confidence.

(Such confidence, as if he’s certain I’ll grow…)

“Alright, let’s get started. Aina, I want you to make ten C-grade swords again today.”

“Yes.”

“Rody, you’ll be supporting Aina. First, I need you to place this iron on the workbench. Also, follow her instructions to adjust the position and angle of the iron to make it easier for her to shape.”

“Is that all?”

“When you have free time, pack the finished products and prepare the next set of iron. The key point is to support Aina so she can focus on shaping. We want to improve her ‘Metal Shaping’ skill.”

“Got it. I’m good at this kind of work, so leave it to me.”

“Aina, you focus on shaping. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to tell him.”

“O-okay.”

“That’s about it. I’ll leave the detailed tasks to you two. Work together and figure it out.”

“Yes.”

They immediately started working.

Rody placed the iron on the workbench, and Aina hammered and shaped it.

(Alright. The task of combining the iron is done. Next is refining the shape.)

Using her ‘Metal Shaping’ skill, Aina struck the glowing points on the iron to shape it precisely.

(! I missed the mark.)

“Could you adjust the iron? I need this part to be here.”

“Got it. How’s this?”

“Yes, that’s perfect.”

After Aina hammered for a while, the glowing point shifted again.

“Next, flip it over.”

“Alright.”

They continued working in this manner. Initially, their coordination was awkward, but they gradually synced up, and Rody began moving the iron without needing Aina’s instructions.

They forged the swords in perfect harmony, like a well-coordinated mochi-pounding team.

(I see. This way, I don’t get too tired. It takes more time than working alone, but I can focus more on ‘Metal Shaping’!)

Laurent kept a close eye on their progress.

(Fifth C-class sword. This is about where Aina’s arm strength and durability started dropping off yesterday…)

[Aina’s Status]

• • • • Power: 40-50

• • • • Toughness: 20-30

• • • • Agility: 60-70

• • • • Stamina: 50 (↓20)-70

(Only her stamina is dropping. Good, no problem. This can work.)

As Laurent observed them, Saki came by with tea just like the day before.

“Here you go.”

“Saki, so it’s tea time already?”

“Oh? I see you have a new helper. I should have brought another cup.”

“It’s fine. As long as those two have tea. I’ll manage without.”

“One, two, three, four… This is the eighth sword, right? Aina doesn’t seem tired today.”

“Yes, Rody’s support has reduced her burden.”

(As I thought, the additional tasks outside of ‘Metal Shaping’ were affecting her toughness.)

Toughness is typically reduced by monster attacks, but when it’s too low, even regular tasks can deplete it.

“Although it takes more time and costs more than usual, with this method…”

Finally, the iron for the tenth sword of the day was placed on the workbench.

(This is… the last one!)

As Aina brought down her hammer, the tenth C-class sword was completed.

“I-I did it! It’s done!”

Aina exclaimed, wiping the sweat from her forehead.

“Wow, amazing!”

Saki clapped her hands in applause.

“Laurent, I’ve finished the ten C-class swords.”

“Ow, I was confident in my strength, but this is pretty tough. My arms are already sore.”

Aina and Rody hurried over to Laurent.

“Ah, well done. You did a great job, but…”

Laurent stared at Aina without blinking.

“?”

“Today… let’s try doing a bit more.”

“Laurent…?”

“How about we take a tea break to refresh ourselves?”

Saki suggested, holding up a teapot.

Aina and Rody sat down to enjoy some tea and rest for a while.

After the break, they resumed forging the swords.

(What’s going on with Laurent? Asking for additional work all of a sudden. He’s usually very considerate about not overworking us.)

Aina frowned as she continued to hammer the iron.

Laurent appraised Aina with his skill.

He could see it.

The signs of her growth.

[Aina’s Skill Advancement Conditions]

• • • • Sword Creation: 0/1

By combining Laurent’s skills, ‘Skill Appraisal’ and ‘Cultivation’, he could occasionally notice opportunities for skill advancement.

(A skill advancement flag has been triggered. If she completes just one more sword, her skill will…)

Suddenly, Aina saw the sword glowing in a way she had never seen before.

(Huh? What is this?)

Aina was taken aback.

“What’s wrong?”

Rody asked, peering at Aina’s face suspiciously.

“Well, um…”

(I’m not sure, but if I trim this glowing part, it seems like the sword will be even better?)

“Aina!”

Laurent called out.

“It’s okay. Do it however you like. You’ve already met today’s quota.”

After hesitating for a moment, Aina put down her hammer and picked up a chisel.

“Aina?”

“Rody, hold this part steady. I’m going to trim here.”

Aina positioned the chisel on the glowing part of the sword and struck it with a hammer.

The sword split apart unusually cleanly.

“What is this…”

Rody blinked in astonishment.

(Even though she just trimmed a little, this sword shines differently from the ones before. This is…)

“The sword’s power has increased,”

Laurent said.

[Sword Status]

• • • • Power: 70

• • • • Durability: 50

• • • • Weight: 50

“Power 70, B-Class! It seems Aina’s ‘Metal Shaping’ has leveled up.”

“My skill…”

Aina looked at her palms in disbelief.

(I did feel something… But for this to happen overnight…)

[Aina’s Skill]

• • • • ‘Metal Shaping’: B (↑)

“Well then.”

Laurent lifted the sword.

“Let’s keep this sword aside. It’s too good to be submitted as just a C-class.”

“Y-yes.”

Rody felt bewildered, as if he had been tricked.

(A B-class sword? Does that mean Aina’s skill has improved? But it was so sudden. What on earth happened? Could this be Laurent’s skill?)

“Rody, good job.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Aina, Rody. That’s all for today. We’ll continue with this setup for a while. I’m counting on you again tomorrow.”

“Yes.”

Rody was filled with a strange sensation.

(There’s something different here compared to my previous workplaces. This place… and this person…)

At that moment, the entrance door swung open forcefully.

Everyone turned to look at the entrance.

Standing there was a red-haired, twin-tailed girl.

“You are… from ‘Dragon’s Ember’…”

“Lizetta.”

She smiled sweetly.

“I’ve been looking for you, Laurent.”

Her overly sweet voice echoed through the workshop.