Chapter 65: Chapter 065 ⤞ New Equipment — The Kage Cloak
After a few days, the Dullahan's influence on the beginner's village vanished completely.
Since then, the party had grown lively and energetic, causing quite a stir in the village. Fortunately, with Adam keeping them in check, they remained relatively well-behaved without any major incidents.
Still, their lack of restraint meant they needed occasional disciplining.
Though everyone was somewhat idle due to their lack of equipment, Adam found himself enjoying this leisurely pace of life.
However, these peaceful days came to an end when a guest arrived at the mansion.
"Welcome, Bill, please come in." Adam led him to the reception room, "What would you like to drink? Hot water? Tea? Or bubble wine?"
"Bubble wine..." Bill hesitated, "Though I'd love some, I have work later. I'll have hot tea instead."
"Very well, just a moment." Adam turned to prepare the tea.
Thanks to the master-level tea brewing skills he had copied from Amane Ubuyashiki, he prepared a cup of black tea that was both fragrant and smooth — a worthy use of such fine tea.
This high-grade black tea, incidentally, had been bought on credit by Aqua at the tea house for over ξ30,000.
Bill's eyes lit up at his first sip, "Delicious!"
"Thank you for the compliment." Adam accepted graciously.
"Adam, I never expected you to be the one who bought this mansion."
Most master blacksmiths were homebodies, focused solely on their forge and oblivious to the outside world. No wonder people didn't know he had purchased this haunted mansion.
"You've got yourself a wonderful house!" Bill looked around enviously, "Spacious, well-lit, perfectly suitable, affordable, and in a great location — I'm truly jealous!"
"It's nice, isn't it?" Adam smiled, pleased with his home, "Bill, you could move in too, since you're the party's exclusive blacksmith."
"No, I'll pass." Bill quickly declined, "I prefer my shop — the furnace and charcoal fire are a blacksmith's true romance!"
"Your idea of romance is rather peculiar." Adam quipped, then asked, "But let's be honest — you're not here just for a visit, are you?"
His eyes fixed on the long, carefully wrapped object behind Bill — something he had been eagerly awaiting.
"Indeed. As requested, I completed your weapon first. I brought it for your inspection." Bill produced the object and began carefully unwrapping it.
Inside lay a long sword with a black scabbard.
The scabbard was unadorned, its handle unremarkable — so ordinary it could easily be overlooked.
Upon drawing the blade, it revealed a silvery-white surface that could mirror one's reflection. Under the breathing technique, it gradually darkened, as if painted with ink.
"This is truly amazing!"
Bill was shocked. Though Adam had told him about the extraordinary properties of the Scarlet Ore, he had remained skeptical until now. Seeing it with his own eyes finally convinced him.
Drawing the blade and swinging it lightly, he immediately noticed something different about this new Nichirin sword.
"Hmm... it's quite heavy."
Listening carefully to the swoosh as it cut through the air, he could tell the weapon was sharper than before, though considerably heavier.
"That's because of the Adamantite ore!" Bill quickly explained, worried he might think it was poor craftsmanship, "Although Adamantite ore is incredibly hard, it's also much heavier than ordinary ores."
"So higher density means increased mass..." Adam smiled reassuringly at his anxious expression, "Don't worry, this isn't a bad thing. The increased blade weight actually allows me to deliver more powerful strikes."
Thanks to the〔Body Enhancement〕skill, his physical abilities far surpassed normal humans. The previous Nichirin sword had felt too light and insubstantial, but this Adamantite-enhanced version had just the right weight.
"Phew~ I'm glad you're satisfied." Bill finally relaxed with a long sigh.
This wasn't just another commission — it was a test of his craftsmanship to prove he deserved to be the party's exclusive blacksmith. Adam's nod of approval sealed his contract with the 『Hero』 Party.
"Oh right, I brought that other thing we discussed." Bill turned and produced a small package, "Here you go."
"Oh! It's finished already? So fast?"
"Of course! My old friend is quite skilled in this area!"
"That mohawk guy who goes around bare-chested wearing overalls?" Adam asked skeptically.
That's right — the muscular artisan weaver who visited the Succubus Cafe with Kazuma!
"Don't underestimate him, he used to be my teammate!... Well, never mind." Bill wanted to share stories from his adventuring days, but seeing his attention drift, he let it go.
Adam eagerly opened the package to reveal a white cloak inside.
It resembled the Fourth Hokage's cloak from " Naruto ", but with light blue bottom patterns and the characters 愛田夢 (meaning 'Adam') replacing the original design. Everything else remained nearly identical!
The fabric was soft and elastic, both comfortable and stylish. The large kanji characters on the back perfectly matched his aesthetic.
"Ohhh—! This looks really good!" Adam tried it on, gaining new respect for the mohawk guy.
"I'm glad you like it." Bill grinned broadly, being someone who took more joy in his friends receiving praise than himself.
Adam had longed for this cloak ever since crossing over to " Demon Slayer " and seeing the Demon Slayer Corps Pillars in their striking cloaks and haori. Now, at last, he had one of his own.
"The Earth Spirit Silkworm's silk is remarkably durable and offers strong resistance to various status effects. Its only drawback is the high price." Bill explained.
"Indeed." Adam nodded in agreement. The old saying that quality comes at a price held true across all worlds.
Bill drained his teacup and rose to leave, "I should get going — there's work waiting for me."
Adam walked him to the door, "Take care. I'm counting on you for our future weapons and armor."
Bill gave a casual wave, signaling his commitment.
That evening, Adam's appearance in the cloak drew admiration from everyone, especially after he announced they could all have equipment made from the same silk.
The news was met with jubilation.
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