Read Novel Full Chapter 262
Chapter 262
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Chapter 262 – Balnir Blacksmith’s Workshop
I headed to the blacksmith’s shop called “Balnir” that Grom-san had told me about. I found a large, beautiful building, and it made sense that almost everyone in town knew about it, as it was so well-known.
However, when I entered, I wondered if it was actually a blacksmith’s shop.
Along the walls were pieces of equipment made from what seemed like lower-grade materials, but their designs were so stylish that I thought, “Wow, these are cool.”
At the long counter, I saw a dwarf, a human, and a beastwoman, representing different races. Glancing into the workshop in the back, I could see at least six male dwarves hard at work.
Four paintings of dwarves with different faces hung on the wall behind the counter, presumably representing the most skilled blacksmiths.
Grom-san had told me that this was the shop of the best blacksmith in town, but it seemed more like a general workshop that brought together blacksmiths.
“Um, I’m thinking about getting some new weapons and armor, and I’d like to talk to you about it.”
“Yes, thank you. Do you have any specific materials or designs in mind?”
“Materials? Um, I’m not really sure yet. I’d like something really good, if possible.”
I felt embarrassed even saying that.
But if money were no object, what could they make?
I had no basis for making a decision, so I asked them to start with the basics.
The female dwarf at the reception desk smiled briefly, then quickly regained her composure and took a large wooden board from under the counter.
“Our shop is led by ‘Bulk,’ who was selected as one of Rosberia’s four master craftsmen. We collaborate with the other three craftsmen to create equipment. We can make S-rank equipment, and we have experience making SS-rank equipment.”
“Oh…”
However, when I looked at the wooden board she handed me, I gasped at the price.
[Weapon Crafting Fees]
S-rank weapon (3rd grade): 150 million Beeke ~ ※Raw materials are sold separately. Blacksmith designation costs an additional 50 million Beeke.
A-rank weapon (4th grade): 30 million Beeke ~ ※Raw materials are sold separately. Blacksmith designation costs an additional 30 million Beeke.
B-rank weapon (5th grade): 8 million Beeke ~ ※Raw materials are sold separately. Blacksmith designation costs an additional 3 million Beeke, but nominating the four master craftsmen is not possible.
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[Armor Production Fee (Mineral Processing)]
S-rank armor (3rd grade): 350 million Beeke ~ ※Raw materials are sold separately. Blacksmith designation costs an additional 80 million Beeke.
A-rank armor (4th grade): 100 million Beeke ~ ※Raw materials are sold separately. Blacksmith designation costs an additional 50 million Beeke.
B-rank equivalent armor (5th grade): 30 million Beeke ~ ※Raw materials are sold separately. The blacksmith designation costs an additional 5 million Beeke, but nominating the four master craftsmen is not possible.
・・・
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No way! This is way too expensive.
I’m only interested in the higher ranks, so I focused on those; however, the armor production costs are extremely high.
Well… I can kind of understand why, though.
It’s probably because of the dungeon. For some reason, even if you get the actual item or a special bonus, only weapons and accessories drop.
There’s no way around it—you have to commission a highly skilled and exceptionally crafty dwarf to make armor.
That’s why it’s expensive, yet people still commission it.
That’s probably how it works.
However, this…
“Does ‘minimum’ mean the absolute lowest price?”
“That’s correct. That’s the price for a small size, like a dagger.”
“If I were to have a short sword the same size as this weapon made with S-rank materials, how much would the crafting fee be?”
“For a short sword of that size, it would be an additional 20 million, so the total crafting fee would be 170 million Beeke.”
“So, how much would the raw materials cost?”
“Adamantium is a highly rare and popular material. Even for a short sword of that size, the cost would easily exceed 500 million… First, gathering that much material would be extremely difficult. Most people spend years gradually collecting the materials. If money is no object, you could use our material collection service to significantly shorten the process.”
“…”
Huh?
You don’t have to make it sound like an MMO.
Spending years gathering materials to make a weapon? This is like the games I used to play!
After reviewing the total cost and production time if it were dropped to A rank, as well as the meaning and effect of the nomination fee, I began to understand what Malta’s guild master, Orlando-san, meant by “extortionate business.”
For better or worse, the dwarves here are smart.
Since only a few people can craft decent high-tier equipment, they’ve formed an alliance to standardize prices.
Furthermore, the dwarves known as the “Four Master Craftsmen,” who have a significant reputation, have stopped accepting direct commissions. Instead, they have centralized all requests through the “Balnir” company.
That is why there is a referral fee.
Consequently, craftsmen can focus on their specialized work, and order management is streamlined to avoid unnecessary overlap or downtime. Additionally, since customers are unaware of the allocation, they’re required to pay an extra fee if they request a specific craftsman.
The referral fee is paid voluntarily by some customers simply because the point of contact is centralized, which wouldn’t be possible if each craftsman worked independently.
From the customer’s perspective, if the market is small, they may not notice the high prices.
Even if they do, when they consider the time and effort required to find another service provider—especially for high-end customers—they have no choice but to accept the prices.
The fact that they haven’t been weeded out suggests that they must provide quality service that truly satisfies their customers.
[Armor Crafting Fee (Leather Processing)]
S-Rank Equivalent Armor (3rd Grade): 300 million Beeke ~ ※Raw materials are sold separately. Blacksmith designation costs an additional 80 million Beeke.
A-Rank Equivalent Armor (4th Grade): 60 million Beeke ~ ※Raw materials are sold separately. Blacksmith designation costs an additional 50 million Beeke.
B-Rank Equivalent Armor (5th Grade): 20 million Beeke ~ ※Raw materials are sold separately. Blacksmith designation costs an additional 5 million Beeke, but nominating four master craftsmen is not possible.
The price list for leather processing equipment is written on the wooden board that was shown to me.
Considering that I had my current B-rank armor made for 2.5 million Beeke, this price seems like a joke.
But it’s not a bad thing.
I feel terrible about it, but this is something that would be done without question in a country like Japan with a proper legal system.
It just gives a glimpse into the ugly side of people who become cunning for money.
I wonder if the dwarf in Lowenfort was ostracized by the village.
At times like this, it’s those who can’t keep in step who suffer.
No matter how honest and virtuous their actions may be, humans will often clash when their interests are at odds.
It’s something I’ve known since childhood—something that’s just the way things are.
(I hate it.)
Only the people involved know what really happened.
All I know is that someone completed a 20-million-Beeke order for 2.5 million Beeke. Even though it was a rush order requiring an additional fee, the person finished it in six days, instead of the standard 20 days here.
I thanked them and left the shop.
If possible, I’d still like to ask that person.
It’s not just about the money. I want to entrust the order to someone who is a good person. With that in mind, I took a detour to Lowenfort.
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