I worked steadily through the afternoon, the recurring clang of hammer on metal a comforting backdrop. A drop of sweat trickled down my face and splashed onto the floor. I took a breather, wiping the perspiration off my forehead. The forge was a world unto itself, filled with the scent of hot iron and the warm glow of smelting fires. As the hours passed, I lost myself in the process, shaping and refining my creations.
Suddenly, the clatter of approaching wagons broke my concentration. I glanced up, catching sight of two hefty transport carts drawn by sturdy horses making their way toward the forge. My heart skipped a beat as I recognized the figure seated beside the driver on the lead wagon.
“Ossan! It’s Dax!” I called out, my voice echoing through the forge.
Dax is a gremlin, small and wiry, with sharp features and a mischievous glint in his eye. His race is known for their entrepreneurial spirit, and Dax works as a merchant for the online store that serves the Midoris. One thing I find unsettling about Dax is his adeptness with words, just like I do; likely because he’s a salesman and possesses the typical skill of persuading customers to buy products or enticing them with business proposals.
Bromir glanced up from his workbench, his brow furrowed with concern. “Hide your things, kid!” he barked, prompting me to swiftly drape a canvas cloth over my latest creation—parts of a gun I had been meticulously assembling.
Dax entered the forge with a wide smile. “Hello, Bromir,” he greeted cheerfully, before turning to me with a respectful nod. “And you too, Kira-san.”
Arms folded across his chest, Bromir eyed the gremlin warily. “Why are you here this time, Dax?”
Dax’s grin widened as he explained, “To deliver goods for my Dunverholm customers, of course.”
I narrowed my eyes skeptically, mirroring Bromir’s guarded posture. “That’s amusing. I thought your assistants handled all the deliveries.”
Dax chuckled in a squeaky tone. “Oh, come on, Kira-san... You and Bromir are my favorite customers and inventors. I simply must visit to express my gratitude for your patronage.” His gaze shifted back to Bromir. “I noticed you’ve stopped ordering from me.”
“Oh! About that,” Bromir stammered, tilting his head toward me, clearly wanting me to back him up. But instead, I glanced at the ceiling and whistled nonchalantly.
“I asked someone else to help me order the things I need,” Bromir finally mustered a lie. “Durak! Yes, Durak’s been handling my orders.”
“Ah, I see,” Dax said, nodding. “I thought you’d switched to a new trader.” His laughter was met by Bromir’s visible sigh of relief.
“Cut the sales pitch, Dax,” I interjected firmly. “Tell us the real reason for your visit.”
Dax’s eyes gleamed eagerly as he rubbed his hands together. “My boss has a proposal for you, Kira-san.”
“The boss of the online shop you’ve never met?” I raised an eyebrow skeptically.
“Yes.”
“The one whose office is in the online merchant guild building you’ve never visited before?”
Dax nodded, his grin unwavering. “Exactly.”
“Do you take me for a fool, Dax?”
“I assure you, Kira-san, I’m just the middleman,” Dax protested innocently. “I handle customer orders, and the items magically appear in my Grimlock warehouse a few days later.”
“Fine, fine, I’ll humor you,” I relented with a sigh. “What does your boss want?”
Dax’s eyes gleamed as he spoke. “He wants you to invent a new thing—a modification, to be precise.”
“A modification of what?” I asked, intrigued.
Dax’s eyes darted to the object on my workbench. “That.”
“The figurine?” I narrowed my gaze suspiciously. “Does your boss want a new dress this time? Would a school uniform suffice?”
Dax’s eyes lit up with sudden inspiration. “A school uniform! Why didn’t I think of that? Brilliant, Kira-san!”
“Of course,” I replied confidently.
“But that’s not it, Kira-san.” Dax’s smile grew more sinister, probably because he’s a gremlin. “My boss wants a larger version of it, around four to five feet.”
“You want the kid to make a full-size bronze statue?” Bromir asked, puzzled. “Is your boss trying to make a shrine and worship that thing?”
“No, no, no,” Dax said, shaking his head. “With softer materials, you know, for customers to use... as a bolster pillow.”
A heavy silence hung in the air before I spoke again. “Oi, you twisted gremlin, you’re not suggesting what I think you are, are you?”
As if he knew what was on my mind, Dax responded with an imploring tone. “The customers will hold you in high esteem, Kira-san. If you can create this bolster pillow doll, they might confer you with an honorary title.”
My eyes lit up with pride. “Of course... I am Akira the Cogmaster, after all!” I announced, placing my hands on my hips and looking contemptuously. “The greatest inventor in this tower.” Though I found it odd that my player status hadn’t updated my title. “Competent Inventor” or something similar would surely be more fitting, given my track record over the past two years. Bromir’s raucous laughter in the background underscored the moment.
“So, what materials do we need to make the bolster doll?” Dax asked enthusiastically, producing a notebook and quill from his leather bag.
“First, artificial hair. And none from deceased donors,” I warned him with a wag of my finger.
“Why not?”
“They’ll come back and haunt you to ask for their hair back.” I replied.
“Really?”
“Yep, happens a lot back in my world,” I nodded. “Imagine waking up at night and seeing yourself spooning a ghost instead of your bolster doll.”
Dax’s body shivered slightly before asking, “What about elf female hair? Will that do?”
“Hmm... I haven’t encountered an elf ghost yet.” I rubbed my chin thoughtfully. “If their hair resembles human hair, sure, why not.”
“Great! What’s next?” Dax scribbled in his notebook.
“Well, we need to make a metal skeleton for it,” I replied. “A flexible steel should suffice. It provides structural support and allows the doll to be posed in various positions.”
“Okay, okay, what’s next?” Dax’s scribbling became faster.
“Hmm... we can use latex from the Plum Blossom peach fruit tree that grows around here as a substitute for silicone. It will suit the doll’s skin due to its soft, lifelike texture and durability, and can be molded and shaped to replicate the feel of human skin. Of course, the latex needs to undergo treatment with chemicals initially to prevent allergies in some individuals.”
“Fantastic!” Dax beamed, revealing his sharp teeth in a wide grin.
A chill ran down my spine as I finally realized his intentions. My expression changed from delight to shock as I stared at the gremlin with my jaw dropped. Gritting my teeth, I approached him closer and knuckled his head. “I’m not making you a sex doll, you bastard!”
An hour later, Dax departed for the tavern, likely nursing his disappointment with ale. I agreed to come up with a few different dress designs for the smaller figurines, but the idea of a full-sized version was off the table.
As the sun dipped toward the horizon, Durak and his brother Gromli arrived at the forge.
“Hey, Bromir!” Durak exclaimed. “Come on, let’s go. Our wives left for Hillstone ages ago.”
Bromir pressed his hand to his head. “Ah, the celebration! Give me fifteen minutes to close up.”
“You can leave now, Ossan,” I said with a smile. “I’m not joining you guys. I’ll handle things here.”
“Thanks, kid!” Bromir grinned. “All right, guys!” He pumped a fist in the air. “Let’s party!”
“Let’s do something epic tonight!” Durak suggested. “It’s Gromli’s son’s birthday.”
“Sure, why not!” Bromir replied. “My fists are getting itchy, and I’m always up for something crazy.”
I watched them leave, laughing and talking enthusiastically as they headed toward the tavern. Shaking my head in amusement, I thought about their antics. Those old guys never acted their age. It would probably end in another brawl with the younger dwarves, something they did every time they got drunk.
I tidied up the forge, the clatter of metal tools echoing softly in the now-quiet building. Afterward, I sat down to enjoy a quick dinner of instant ramen and an onigiri I’d bought from the online store, the savory aroma filling the air. As I finished, night had fallen, and the moon cast a silver glow over the hills. With a sense of anticipation, I made my way to my secret rendezvous—a hot spring tucked away on the outskirts of the village, reserved solely for dwarven women. The crisp night air enveloped me as I walked, the gentle rustle of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl adding to the serene ambiance. Each step brought me closer to my favorite spot, where the allure of the night and the promise of relaxation awaited.
Ten minutes later, I arrived at my destination and climbed a steady slope overlooking the hot spring. Hidden behind a thick bush, I took out a small telescope—another of my inventions.
“Well, ladies, forgive me for this,” I chuckled softly, bringing the telescope to my eye.
Instead of seeing Thrainna, Durrina, and Brundis, a sight beyond my wildest imagination greeted me. Knee-deep in the bubbling hot spring stood three unexpected individuals. Linked in a row with their arms draped casually over one another’s shoulders, they swayed in unison, clutching mugs of ale. Their mouths moved animatedly, as though belting out a rowdy chorus. To top it off, these familiar old dudes were completely naked, devoid of towels.
“Arghhh! My eyes!” I exclaimed, my horrified cry piercing the night and sending the forest’s nocturnal creatures into a frenzy.
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