Senjata Besi Pertama - 20

Senjata Besi Pertama

Aku lebih suka barang yang punya banyak hiasan. Gagangnya harus gampang dipegang, bilahnya lurus, fleksibel, dan bermata dua…

Kepadatan logam juga penting. Partikelnya harus kukumpulin, terus kupadatkan.

Di sekelilingku terdengar suara tarikan napas, tapi aku cuekin. Yang ada di kepalaku cuma pedang ini. Guru seniku dulu selalu memuji kemampuanku. Waktunya unjuk gigi. Bayangin setiap detail dengan jelas.

"….Oke."

Hasilnya bagus, meskipun prosesnya cukup cepat. Kecepatan ini bukan karena asal-asalan, tapi karena penguasaan. Buktinya ada di tanganku—pedang yang megah. Panjangnya sekitar enam puluh sentimeter, lebar bilah di pangkal sekitar lima belas sentimeter. Hiasannya juga keren.

Aku nyengir sambil nyodorin pedang itu ke Ksara.

"Kamu bakal jadi pelanggan pertamaku. Buat ngerayain momen bersejarah ini, aku kasih hiasan ekstra."

Ksara nerima pedang itu dengan tangan gemeteran, lalu entah ken malah diangkat ke langit.

"Wah, wah, wah!"

Apaan sih? Aku jadi takut. Nggak tahu lagi ngapain, tapi aku nggak mau diganggu pas lagi bikin pedang.

Aku mingkir pelan-pelan dari Ksara, lalu sentuh gumpalan besi yang berjejer di tanah. Langkah berikutnya tinggal manjangin dan ngasih desain keren. Pedang nggak susah buat dibayangin.

Gumpalan logam mulai melar kayak tanah liat, lalu tiba-tiba memadat jadi bentuk pedang. Kubikin panjang satu meter biar Ksara nyaman megangnya.

Dari belakang denger suara Ksara teriak aneh, tapi aku cuek bebek. Diem, Van-sama lagi bikin longsword.

Meskipun mikir yang nggak-nggak, gambaran pedang di kepalaku nggak terganggu. Sihirnya ngucur lancar. Kalau bisa nyempurnain teknik ini, mungkin nanti bisa sambil nyanyi-nyanyi.

"…Oke, jadi. Pedang ini lumayan."

Aku ngacungin longsword yang keren tapi juga sangar. Gagangnya hampir tiga puluh sentimeter—bisa buat dua tangan tapi nggak ganggu kalau pake satu tangan. Bilahnya tujuh puluh sentimeter, lurus. Tebalnya sekitar lima belas sentimeter di pangkal.

Keliatannya kokoh dan tajam. Wajar aja, nilai seniku di sekolah dulu tinggi.

Puas banget sama diri sendiri, aku serahin longsword ke Ksara.

Dia masih megang pedang pendek dengan hati-hati, lalu terima longsword pake dua tangan.

"Ohoho!"

Suara aneh keluar. Pria edan itu bahkan mulai kayak nari-nari suku, lompat-lompat di tempat.

Bunyinya keras banget sampe penduduk desa keluar rumah buat liat sumber keributan.

Ksara senengnya nggak normal. Orto dan kawan-kawan mulai liatin aku dengan mata serakah.

"Van, Tuan Van! Kasih aku pedang! Aku mau longsword kayak punya si bodoh Ksara!"

"Aku mau pedang pendek! Yang tajam!"

Para petualang tiba-tiba heboh. Apa pedang-pedang ini sekeren itu?

Aku senyum tipis ke Orto dan teman-temannya.

"Harganya tiga sampe lima koin emas. Mungkin sepuluh buat yang lebih gede."

"Harganya naik!"

"Naik dalam sedetik! Ada apa ini!"

Aku coba dobel harganya, tapi kayaknya mereka pada protes. Apa kegedean?

Waktu aku mikir gitu, Pluriel liat pedang Ksara dengan alis berkerut.

"Tiga koin emas…….berat juga. Aku tadinya mau minta bikinin pedang pendek."

Hati kecilku tertusuk liat Pluriel nyesel gitu. Dasar goblok, bikin cewek sedih.

Jadi tanpa sadar aku manggil Pluriel.

"……..Ya udah deh. Satu koin emas aja, spesial. Cuma sekali ini, ya?"

Pura-pura jadi tsundere, aku ngomong sambil noleh. Pluriel mengedip, liatin aku.

"Beneran? Sumpah?"

"Cuma sekali ini."

Pluriel senyum seneng pas aku jawab iya. Orto yang denger dia dapet harga murah, langsung menghampiri dengan muka ceria.

"Beneran! Satu koin emas kali ini?!"

"Untuk Tuan Orto, tiga koin emas. Oh, buat longsword lima koin. Tujuh koin buat yang lebih gede."

"Nggak masuk akal! Yang lain nggak ada yang murah!"

Udah, jangan ribut. Nggak bakal bikin harga turun.

"Great sword mau? Bikin sekarang."

Pas aku tawarin dengan senyum nakal, Orto cepet-cepet lambaikan tangan.

"Tunggu, tunggu! Ya udah, aku ambil longsword! Longsword!"

"Oke, lima koin emas."

"Gluk."

Orto nyodorin lima koin emas sambil nangis. Ternyata punya. Keren, Orto. Kamu udah jadi orang yang rela ngeluarin jutaan yen. Petualangan jantung berdebar dengan ancaman bangkrut.

Belakangan, petualang lain pada mantap dan ikut pesen. Total mereka bayar dua puluh koin emas buat senjata baru.

"Makasih udah belanja. Karena kalian bayar mahal, nanti aku kirim furnitur gratis ke rumah kalian."

"Hm? Jadi inget, meskipun kita bayar mahal buat pedang, kita dapet rumah dan furnitur gratis."

"Kayaknya malah kebanyakan servis."

Sore harinya, tembok pertahanan luar hampir kelar, bahkan ada parit kecil di sekelilingnya. Tapi nggak ada bandit dateng. Yah, waktu munculnya emang nggak pasti.

"Dengan situasi begini, kita bisa mulai bikin perlengkapan pertahanan."

Waktu aku bergumam gitu, Till liat sekeliling desa.

"Van-sama udah bangun banyak rumah dalam sekejap. Tapi, sihir Van-sama nggak pernah habis?"

" Capek. Kalau udah capek, berhenti."

"Kukira kita bakal bangun terus seharian…"

Till bingung, tapi aku geleng. Kebanyakan rumah penduduk sederhana banget—cuma dua-tiga ruangan dan toilet. Suatu hari nanti bakal kubangun ulang kalau dapet batu banyak. Tapi buat sekarang, udah cukup.

Meski gitu, penduduk desa bersyukur banget. Mereka bahkan sujud pas kami jalan, ngasih hasil panen dan barang-barang lain.

Hmm, hargai niatnya, tapi ini bukan yang kumau. Tolong kasih uang, bukan barang campur aduk.

Rumah-rumah desa dibikin empat sekaligus, ditata rapi berbentuk grid. Jalan gede di antara grid-grid biar gampang mobilisasi pasukan.

Kalau dilihat dari langit, area pemukiman keliatan kayak kotak raksasa. Di blok tengah ada rumah bangsawan. Di blok sebelahnya ada rumah Dee dan kepala desa. Karena Orto dan rombongan sering keluar masuk desa, blok mereka deket gerbang.

Sekarang kita kelebihan rumah, tapi kayaknya ide bagus buat nambah jumlah hunian nantinya.

Urusan pemukiman kelar. Sekarang fokus cari dana, kumpulin bahan, dan bikin perlengkapan pertahanan.

Untuk sementara, aku fokus bikin perlengkapan individu kayak pedang dan perisai. Tapi harus ingat juga soal perlengkapan pertahanan skala gede.

Aku butuh tenaga, tapi cuma sedikit orang berkualitas di desa.

Karena nggak cukup tenaga buat bikin senjata rumit, terpaksa bikin ballista sederhana. Talinya dari kulit monster, bukan karet. Depannya bentuk kayak crossbow, ada platform buat naruh panah gede.

Bagian depan ballista dilengkapi perisai gede dari bahan balok kayu, biar nggak gampang diserang musuh dan bisa nembak panah segede tombak.

Ngomong-ngomong, aku pake tuas buat ngurangin beban tarik, tapi tetap susah.

Delapan ballista udah kupasang di sekeliling desa. Bisa diarahkan ke atas-bawah, kiri-kanan, tapi nggak bisa nengok ke dalam desa.

Semuanya udah kupasang panah, siap dipake kapan aja musuh dateng.

"Meskipun udah gini, aku masih perlu perkuat pertahanan."

Aku bukan tipe orang yang lengah.

Chapter 21: First Iron Weapons

I prefer things with lots of decorative features. The hilt should be easy to grip, the blade straight, flexible, and double-edged….

Metal density matters too. Gotta gather the particles, then condense them.

I heard gasps around me, but I ignored them. All I could think about was this sword. My art teacher always praised my ability. Time to show it. Imagine every detail crystal clear.

"….Good."

The result was well-made, even though the process was pretty fast. That speed wasn't from laziness—it came from mastery. Proof's in my hand—this magnificently decorated sword. About sixty centimeters long, blade width at the base around fifteen centimeters. The ornaments are cool too.

I smirked as I handed the dagger to Ksara.

"You'll be my first ever customer. To commemorate this historic moment, I threw in extra decorations."

Ksara received the sword with trembling hands, then for some reason raised it to the sky.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!"

What the… I'm scared. Dunno what he's doing, but I don't wanna be disturbed while making his sword.

I gently distanced myself from Ksara, then touched an iron chunk lined up on the ground. Next step's simple—lengthen it and add fancy design. Swords aren't hard to visualize.

The metal lump started stretching like clay, then suddenly condensed into sword shape. I made it one meter long so Ksara could wield it comfortably.

Behind me, I heard Ksara making weird screeching sounds, but I totally ignored him.

Shut up, Master Van's making a longsword right now.

Even with those random thoughts, the sword image in my mind stayed clear, magic flowing evenly. If I perfect this technique further, maybe I could hum a song without messing up the product.

"…Okay, done. This sword looks pretty good."

I held up a beautiful yet powerful longsword. Hilt length nearly thirty centimeters—big enough for two hands but fine for one-handed use. Blade length seventy centimeters, straight edge. Thickness about fifteen centimeters at the base.

Looked both powerful and sharp. Expected, considering my high art grades back in school.

Extremely pleased with myself, I handed the longsword to Ksara.

He was still carefully holding the dagger, then dexterously received the longsword with both hands.

"Ohoho!"

Strange noises escaped. The deranged man even started what looked like a tribal dance, jumping up and down.

He made so much noise villagers came out to see what caused that terrible sound.

Ksara was insanely happy. Orto and his comrades started looking at me with greedy eyes.

"Van, Master Van! Give me a sword! I want a longsword like that idiot Ksara has!"

"I want a dagger! One that pierces well!"

The adventurers suddenly got super excited. Gee, are these swords really that impressive?

I smiled gently at Orto and his adventurer friends.

"They'll cost you three to five gold coins. Maybe ten for larger weapons."

"The price went up!"

"It shot up in a second! What's going on!"

I tried doubling the price, but it seemed to rile up my potential customers. Too high?

While I was thinking that, Pluriel looked at Ksara's sword with her eyebrows tightly creased.

"Three gold coins…….that's a bit harsh. I had a dagger I wanted you to make."

My conscience hurt seeing Pluriel mutter regretfully. I'm an idiot for making a girl sad.

So unconsciously I called out to Pluriel.

"……..I can't help it. I'll make it for you for one gold coin as a service. Just this once, okay?"

Pretending to be a tsundere, I told her while turning away. Pluriel blinked and looked at me.

"Are you sure? Really?"

"Just this once."

Pluriel smiled happily when I answered affirmatively. Then Orto, who'd heard her get such a sweet deal, came up with a happy face.

"Are you sure! Just one gold coin this time?!"

"For Mr. Orto, it'll be three gold pieces. Oh, five gold for a longsword. Seven gold for anything bigger."

"Nonsense! None of those prices got cheaper!"

Stop being so noisy, it won't bring prices down.

"Great sword sound good? I'll make it right away."

When I offered with a mischievous smile, Orto quickly waved his hands.

"Wait, wait, okay! Well, I'll take the longsword then! The longsword!"

"Alrighty then, five gold pieces."

"Gulp."

Orto handed me five gold coins in tears. He actually had them. That's great, Orto. You've become someone who easily throws away millions of yen. Embarked on a heart-stopping adventure featuring monetary ruin.

Later, other adventurers made up their minds and submitted orders too. In total, they paid twenty gold coins for new weapons.

"Thank you for your purchase. Considering you paid so well, I'll send over some furniture to your homes, free of charge."

"Hmm? Come to think of it, although we paid a lot for swords, we got houses and furniture for free."

"If anything, I think you're over-serving us."

By evening, the outer defensive wall was mostly complete, even sporting a small moat around its border. But no bandits came. Well, their appearance time was always variable anyway.

"With this situation, we have leeway to start building defensive equipment."

As I muttered that, Till looked around the village.

"You've built so many houses in the blink of an eye. But, Van-sama? Doesn't your magic ever run out?"

"I do get tired. When I do, I stop for the rest of the day."

"I thought we'd be building things all day long…"

Till gave me a puzzled look, but I just shook my head. Most villagers' houses are incredibly simple—only two or three rooms and a toilet. One day I'll rebuild if I get access to lots of stones. But for now, this should be enough.

Even so, the villagers were incredibly thankful. They even bowed when we walked out, giving us crops and other assorted goods.

Mm, I appreciate the sentiment but this isn't what I want. Please give me money rather than homemade sundries.

The village houses were made in sets of four, arranged in a grid pattern. Larger streets occupied spaces between individual grids for easy movement and faster troop mobilization.

If one looked from the sky, the residential area would look like a giant square. In the central block is the lord's mansion. Neighboring blocks hold Dee's and the village chief's houses. Since Orto's group often needs to go in and out, their block is very close to the gate.

Right now we have a housing surplus, but I think increasing residences in the future would be good.

With residential concerns taken care of, I now need to focus on raising funds, gathering materials, and making defense equipment.

For now, I'll focus on personal equipment like swords and shields. However, I also need to keep larger defensive equipment in mind.

I need manpower, but there are only a few qualified individuals in the village.

Seeing not enough manpower for sophisticated weapons, I had no choice but to make simple ballistae. The string is made of monster skin instead of rubber. The front is shaped like a crossbow, with a platform to hold a large arrow.

The ballista's front is equipped with a large shield made from woodblock material, preventing enemy attacks and allowing it to shoot destructive, spear-like arrows with impunity.

Incidentally, I used a lever to reduce draw weight, but it was still hard to draw.

I've built eight such ballistae around the village for now. They can aim up and down, left and right, but can't look back into the village.

I've set arrows in all of them, so they can be used as soon as the enemy comes.

"Although this is nice, I still need to strengthen our defenses."

I'm not one to let my guard down.

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