But it wasn't over.
The witch approached.
Unlike the others, she was the most mysterious figure in the tavern. There was no way Fron didn't feel wary of her.
"In the end, just a rookie, huh. Speaking of special, I do know one person. They're from my hometown too."
-----------------------------
After Syr bounced away happily, Fron wiped off nonexistent cold sweat.
Welf approached with a teasing expression:
"Fron, are you scared of that girl?"
Fron shot him a glare and began devouring his food as if venting his nerves.
"Where'd you get that idea—"
"Haha, you even sold out your hometown buddy—"
Fron's hand paused, his expression twitching slightly.
Yeah, he had told them about Bell Cranel. Whether it was true or not—it was all true.
After crossing over, Fron had lived in that village and met the boy.
That was why he could immediately confirm this world was anchored to that place.
As for the current timeline—he estimated Bell was 13, not yet 14, meaning it was about half a year before the story officially started.
That's what prompted him to quickly head for Orario. Otherwise, with how dangerous this world was, an ordinary human encountering monsters was basically a death sentence.
"By the way, are you free tonight? Come with me."
"?"
"Ah, didn't you ask me to teach you the basics of forging? Don't tell me you forgot!"
At the mention of that, Fron perked up.
Forging knowledge wasn't real knowledge? It was way more interesting than tales of heroes or idle gossip!
After all, it was one of the shortcuts to the "Divine Craft."
"Ok, shall we go now?"
"Hey hey hey—you don't have to be that eager!"
"I'm not in a hurry, but look—the food's almost gone!"
Welf froze at that—
What the heck, looking at the stack of plates in front of him, they were already all empty.
Even the wooden mugs were drained dry. Fron rubbed his stomach with a satisfied face.
"Man, you really eat a lot—"
Burp
"So full. Mainly because I haven't had such delicious food in ages, you know, the woes of the poor."
"..."
Then—when it was time to pay, Fron shed tears of poverty.
"13,000 valis, half a day's income, all gone in one meal…"
Mia weighed the coins and patted his shoulder with a grin:
"What are you talking about? Isn't this exactly what being an adventurer is about—eating meat and drinking booze to your heart's content."
"Y-Yes, boss, you're right."
His shoulder ached from the overwhelming strength of the slap, and Fron quickly yielded.
"Come again next time, nya~!"
Anya waved vigorously at the door, her eyes crescent-shaped and her brown tail wagging.
"See you next time, Anya-chan!"
"It's Anya-sis, nya!"
"Hahahahaha!"
The drinking had taken quite a while. The two staggered along Northeast Street.
"Hey, Fron. Do you know why I don't want to forge magic swords for others?"
After adventuring together and drinking together, a reliable friendship had quickly formed between the two men.
"Oh, that. Let me guess—could it be that you believe weapons should be an extension of their users, and since magic swords shatter after use and abandon their masters, you despise such weapons? Because an adventurer's taboo is—never abandon your comrades, right?"
"You…"
Welf was dumbfounded yet again.
This guy—can he actually read minds?
"I guessed right?"
"—M-More or less. I hate that. Those guys say they need magic swords to get famous, to become stronger, and want me to forge them— That's just wrong. I think weapons should grow with their master, become stronger together—not be disposable!"
Fron didn't have such troubles. He instinctively tried to put two fingers to his lips—only to remember there was no tobacco—so he chuckled awkwardly.
"Then you better work hard. From what I know, weapons that grow alongside their masters—those are divine weapons, only achievable through 'Divine Craft.'"
"Like your Familia's god, probably has that kind of skill."
"—Hey, don't crush my spirit like that."
"Aren't you guys chasing that dream? What—don't have any confidence? Then why'd you join Hephaestus Familia?"
"No way, no way, no way—was it for love???"
"Shut up."
"Ohohoh~ that hit a nerve, didn't it, young man—"
"I said shut up—damn it!"
"Hahahahahaha—"
When it came to verbal sparring, even ten Welf's couldn't beat Fron.
By the time they reached his secret base, the down-and-out noble of forging was already out of steam.
"It's a bit messy, bear with it."
Welf's secret base was on the edge of town near the wall.
The area was desolate and overgrown. Withered giant trees somehow enclosed the house, giving it the air of a boys-only secret hideout.
Or rather—maybe every boy dreams of having a place like this in childhood.
"It's got the vibe—messy yet orderly, just like my dream setup."
"What nonsense are you spouting now."
While Fron explored the forge, Welf had already donned his workman's outfit.
"No more talking, let's begin."
"Forging, put simply, is a craft anyone can learn if they memorize the process. But—'easy to learn, hard to master' is exactly what this kind of skill is."
Welf opened a bundle, revealing the "drop items" they'd collected from the dungeon that day.
"The forging process consists of five basic steps— Molding, Preparing materials, Smelting, Casting, Post-casting refinement."
"Almost all weapons and armor are made this way."
"Of course, that's just the basics. But for a newbie like you, it's enough for now."
"I'll try forging a set of light armor. You just watch. Ask if anything's unclear."
Fron nodded seriously as he watched Welf's movements.
Every skill is honed through relentless repetition before it becomes peerless.
Whether it's martial arts, swordsmanship, forging, alchemy, or gold craft.
Techniques and moves are static—only by applying them flexibly through experience can one become a master.
Late at night, in a deserted corner of the city, Fron eagerly absorbed this new knowledge, his heart brimming with joy.
...
Loki Familia Mansion — "Twilight Manor"
"Mr. Fron hasn't come back yet?"
Lefiya had been anxiously waiting on the garden bench for a while.
They'd agreed to team up for a dungeon run tomorrow, and she wanted to talk more before that.
"Lefiya, go to bed! Fron went out drinking!"
"B-But…"
"Relax, he won't forget. Besides, don't forget—he's a night owl!"
"Ugh—but I'm still so frustrated."
The elven girl puffed up her cheeks and pouted.
"Hahahaha, then just wow him in the dungeon tomorrow and make him take notice!"
With that, the human girl Elfy, Lefiya's roommate, nudged her shoulder.
The two of them chatted and bickered as they returned to their room.