That Time I Got Reincarnated By Veldanava

A few minutes before Henrik and Shizu heard a ruckus from inside his shop, the blacksmith Kaijin had an unwelcome but expected guest as he was about to close up and go for a drink to finish the night.

"Vesta, I was just closing up. Come back with your crap tomorrow," An exhausted Kaijin ordered.

"How dare you? Are you saying arming our soldiers is crap? That the defence of our nation is unimportant? With a monsters like the King of that forest appearing, and the whole west worried about what those Demon Lords are doing, the defence of our nation should be of the upmost importance. Surly even a ruffian like you can understand that," Vesta replied with an air of arrogance about him.

"HAHA. Like you're close enough to the King for him to actually tell you anything. You're just going off rumours. If the King actually thought there was a threat, he'd have his forces on high alert and more soldiers patrolling the city. With the exception of the mine, there's no cause for concern."

Vesta, starting to get annoyed at Kaijin's lack of respect for him, began raising his voice and towered over Kaijin trying to, and failing miserably, intimidate him. "Listen here. It was you who failed the king and got fired. With your screw up, I'm shocked you weren't exiled. But if you mess up this simple order of weapons, I doubt his majesty won't execute you. And if I tell him your treasonous words about hoping the city gets attacked, he'll have you arrested without batting an eye."

"NOW HOLD ON. I said nothing about hoping we get attacked, have you really gotten so desperate to be as good as me you'd make lies that up. I ought beat you senseless, maybe then you'll get some manners your mother didn't teach you boy."

"Threatening a government official Kaijin, how rebellious of you. Perhaps I should kill you here myself and report to the king of your attempt to overthrow the government."

Vesta begins to smile as he reaches for a sword lying on a table, he knows if he attacks Kaijin he'll only end up getting himself hurt, but the thought of harming Kaijin was too great and he was moving on instinct. Then, as his hand was inches away from the sword, the door shot open and Shizu appeared with her blade pointing at Vesta's throat.

Henrik quickly entered the shop and closed the door while putting up a barrier so no one could hear them.

"Everything okay in here fellas?" Henrik asked with a smile before he nodded to Shizu who lowered her sword and sheathed it. "Apologies for my friend here, but as The Conquerer of Flames, she couldn't stand by and watch you kill this man with a sword he made. I kinda ask you to step away from the weapons sir, or I might not be able to stop her next time," Henrik addressed Vesta.

The rage towards Kaijin had now disappeared and was replaced with pure fear of Shizu. Before he even registered the door moving slightly, Shizu already had a sword to his throat. She speed and control not to run him through was beyond anything he'd seen before and it terrified him. Slowly so Shizu wouldn't think he was trying something nefarious, he moved his hand away from the sword.

"You okay sir?" Henrik asked Kaijin.

"Yeah, thanks lady but I didn't need help. This guy can barely make a fist, all you really did was save him from cutting himself and crying from a graze," Kaijin replied and addressed Shizu which made her giggle a little.

"Hey, I can make a fist," Vesta retorted and threw a fist in the air. If a fist had his fingers apart and his thumb on the inside. The three other people in the room burst out laughing at him as Kaijin wasn't lying when he said Vesta couldn't make a fist. Vesta, feeling embarrassed, wanted to start screaming again but a quick glance from Shizu shut him up before he began.

"Ok, I'm sure you have better things to be doing for a man dressed so well. Go on, off with you. And I'm sure the guards won't hear about any of this will they? Or Shizu here might come to visit you," Henrik said with smile on his face to veil the threat.

Vesta, trying to save as much face as possible but also filled with fear and sweat, replied, "Yes of course I do. I'm a minister. I best get to my minister duties. And since I'm a mercy noble, I'll forgive this transgression against me. Just this once," Vesta said as he quickly moved past Shizu and Henrik and ran for the entrance. Satisfied with the answer, Henrik removed his barrier and allowed Vesta to escape.

"How nice of his noble self to show mercy," Henrik said while holding back a laugh.

"Yes, so nice of his noble ass," Kaijin joined in as Shizu began to look around the shop only to notice most of the place was empty. While there was a lot of shelves, they weren't filled with sword as you'd expect 'The best blacksmith in Dwargon' to be. It looked almost sad.

"Where's all your stock? Is that what the arguing was about?" Shizu asked curiously. The question made Kaijin's whole demeanour change as he slumped and took a long sigh after being asked.

"Well, that's a long story. And one I'm not in the mood to tell. Let's just say I'm not sure how much longer I'll be here."

"Have you spoken to Gazel about it?" Henrik asked.

"Yeah, like I have unlimited access to the King. Wait, how the hell did you know?" Kaijin asked as he is caught off guard by Henrik knowing it had something to do with Gazel.

"It's easy to guess. First off, with the exception of the inns and taverns, every other shop in the city shut hours ago. So that tells me it's obvious you're dedicated to your craft. Then, if someone is that dedicated to what they love, they wouldn't let their stocks get this low unless they had no other choice.

The only thing I can think off with all the current rumours in the world is that you got a request from someone you can't refuse. And were unable to complete it so you had to offer all the available weapons you had to try and make up for it. Given that guys attitude that was just here, my guess is that he upped the demand to a level you can't complete within the time given to you.

Am I close?" Henrik asked.

"Pretty much. More that that though, I have these three guys who work for me sometimes. They went to the mines a few hours ago. Recently, the mines have been more dangerous than usual and monsters that shouldn't be so close to the entrance are now.

I told them not to go, but there's magi ore down there. We need to make the swords. Then a few hours ago, I found a note saying they're going to the mine to get what we need. I'd hoped they'd be back by now but at this time, most guards up there will be switching. That takes a bit of time, and I'm not sure they're safe.

I was going to go see if they're at our favourite bar. It's this nice elven place. But if they're not their, then they might not be coming back."

Henrik began to worry for the brothers, if he'd come here when Velzard attacked, he'd have been able to help and the situation wouldn't be so dire.

"Then I guess we'll just have to help won't we. Hey Shizu..." Henrik said as he noticed Shizu wasn't here and the door was open.

"Where'd your lady friend go?" Kaijin asked.

"Helping. Best guess, when you said they could be in trouble at the mines, she was already half way there. Ok, she gets those three. I complete your order."

Kaijin was processing all the information that this strange man was saying, he heard him say he'd complete the order and his pride kicked in. "Hold up buddy. You said that friend of yours is the conqueror of flames. I'll gladly accept her help to save my friends and I'll pay her fee when she returns, but there ain't no way I'm letting some stranger do my work.

I may soon lose my head for failing this order, especially if Vesta tells his majesty what happened here, but for the moment I still have my pride."

"I see. And what about your friends? Even if Shizu saves them, who's to say they'll accept your answer to help. Do you have children?" Henrik asked.

"No I don't. I always like the thought of some mini dwarfs, or some dwarf-elf hybrids running around and seeing me as the coolest person in the world. But my job has never given me the time. Especially since I have to look out for those three as well."

"I see. Then you will die a fool," Henrik said judgementally.

"Excuse me. You want a thrashing' or something?"

"Maybe that's what you need. Some sense knocked into you. You can't have kids because of work, what kind of excuse is that? How many people, poorer than you with longer hours than you, work and have kids?

You don't have kids because you're a coward. I bet you go to that bar just to ogle the elves, when really what you want is to settle down with one and be happy.

Here and now, you choose your pride over help. Why? Because it makes you less of a man to accept help? Maybe realising when you need help will make you a better man. An old friend of mine once told me that a man only loses when he's got no one left. Everything else is just a challenge that should be faced with the people he loves.

So how about you accept my help, man up and find your happiness rather than make excuses. I'm sure the two of us different definitions of what is means to be a man. But one thing we can surly agree on is a man doesn't make excuses. Especially not over something as stupid as pride."

Kaijin was shook at how blunt Henrik had been with him for a complete stranger. But deep down, he knew he was right.

"Fine. Fine. I ain't gonna give you a hug and thank you. But I will shake hands with you and admit when I'm wrong. I think my friends being in danger and me not being able to help just had me acting like a fool. I'll accept your help and pay you for your time," Kaijin said as he reached his hand out to Henrik.

Henrik in turn took and shook it so hard he was practically picking Kaijin up, "Of course. You can pay me with a drink at the elf bar tomorrow. We've got to find you a beautiful elven wife after all. And as for your friends, in fact, pray for any monsters that might have harmed them. Because they're the ones who have to answer to Shizu. Now lets get crafting."

Kaijin then showed Henrik to the forge and offered to help him but Henrik insisted he'd be fine on his own, telling Kaijin to go relax with a nice drink.

"Who are you? From what I heard, the Conquerer of flames usually works alone. And yet she seemed to do as you told her. Just who in the hell are you?" Kaijin asked Henrik as he was leaving.

"Just a passer-by who gets along with her. Now, I need to focus so on your way. So off with you," Henrik said with a smile as he closed the door in front of Kaijin.

'Raphael, with [Crafting Master], can we do it?'

[Yes. Using unique skill crafting master will allow you to create the necessary materials to create a weapon at the rare grade. If analysed, I'll be able recreate it by using Crafting Master to summon materials. How many would you like me to create?]

'Well, we shouldn't go overboard and if my knowledge serves me right, Kaijin isn't the only blacksmith that has been ordered to make weapons for the army. Let's make 100. Any leftovers, Kaijin can sell himself for a nice profit. Make them out of magisteel.'

[Confirmed. Using unique skill Crafting Master and ultimate skill Raphael, Lord of Wisdom to craft 100 magisteel swords at rare grade..... Successful]

'Great, now just to relax and wait for Kaijin to return later. Best not let him know I completed it in a second. What to do until then though?

Hey I know, it's been a while since I read Black Clover. Raphael, make me some copies to read and kill time.'

[Confirmed, recreating Black Clover manga..... Successful]

With that, Henrik spent the next few hours reading manga while he awaited Kaijin and Shizu's return. Every so often, he'd use [Universal Sense] to check on Shizu but then remembered as she is now, she could easily beat some of the demon lords so he tried not to worry.

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Hi, Omni_God2000 here.

Next chapter is 'Saving Kaijin and the three brothers (II) – Pray for the monsters who face Shizu.'

Thanks for reading and stay tuned.